- Asked by: Rob Gibson, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish National Party
-
Date lodged: Wednesday, 19 May 2004
-
Current Status:
Answered by Frank McAveety on 2 June 2004
To ask the Scottish Executive how the Culture Commission intends to address the role of Scots and Gaelic as part of the future of arts in Scotland.
Answer
Theremit for the Cultural Commission was set out in the Scottish Executive’s Cultural Policy Statement on 22 April 2004.It provides that the Commission’s findings will be informed by the diverse culturaland linguistic communities within Scotland, with particular regard to Gaelic language and culture.
The Scottish Executive has provided the followingGaelic translation:
Bha raon-ùghdarrais Coimiseana’ Chultair air a mhìneachadh ann an Cunntas Poileasaidh Cultarach Riaghaltais nah-Alba air 22 Giblean 2004. Tha ullachadh ann airson gun tig am fiosrachadh airsonco-dhùnaidhean a’ Choimisein bho na coimhearsnachdan cultair agus cànain eadar-dhealaichteann an Alba, le aire shònraichte do chultar agus cànan na Gàidhlig.
- Asked by: Rob Gibson, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish National Party
-
Date lodged: Wednesday, 12 May 2004
-
Current Status:
Answered by Jim Wallace on 27 May 2004
To ask the Scottish Executive what action it is taking to address the decrease in the number of young people in the Highlands and Islands in light of figures from the General Register Office for Scotland that state that by the year 2018 there could be a 50% decrease in young people living there.*The member has provided the following Gaelic translationA dh' fhaighneachd de Riaghaltas na h-Alba dh tha e a' dhanamh a thaobh an lyghdachaidh ann an `ireamh de dh' rigridh air a' Gh`idhealtachd agus anns na h-Eileanan an dhidh do dh' Oifis Choitcheann a' Chl`raidh airson na h-Alba figearan fhoillseachadh a tha a' sealltainn gum faoidte an `ireamh de dh' rigridh anns na h-`iteachan sin lyghdachadh le 50% ron bhliadhna 2018.
Answer
The Scottish Executive and its agencies are working to deliver sustainable economic and socialdevelopment in the Highlands and Islands, not least to attract and retain young people. This willattract and retain young people. Highlands and Islands Enterprise is working ona number of strategically significant projects to broaden the economic base of thearea and generate high quality jobs and long-term opportunities for the young peopleof the Highlands and Islands.
The Executive’s Fresh Talentinitiative will also ensure that skilled workers and graduates who express an interestin living and working in the Highlands and Islands have the necessary information and support to help themrelocate.
- Asked by: Rob Gibson, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish National Party
-
Date lodged: Thursday, 29 April 2004
-
Current Status:
Answered by Andy Kerr on 17 May 2004
To ask the Scottish Executive what requests it received seeking its support for events outwith Scotland requesting Scottish participation in each year from 1999 to 2004.
Answer
The Scottish Executive has received a large number of requests of support for events outwith Scotland requestingScottish participation since 1999. Each request is considered on its merits accordingto our strategic objectives for external relations.
- Asked by: Rob Gibson, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish National Party
-
Date lodged: Thursday, 29 April 2004
-
Current Status:
Answered by Andy Kerr on 13 May 2004
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it received any requests to support Tartan Day 2004 in Paris; when any such requests were received, and what response it made.
Answer
A formal request for fundingto support a Tartan Day in Paris in 2004 was received by the Scottish Executive from AssociationFrance Celtic Tartan Day in September 2003. Further electronic requests followed.The requests were declined because it was a commercial venture.
- Asked by: Rob Gibson, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish National Party
-
Date lodged: Thursday, 22 April 2004
-
Current Status:
Answered by Lewis Macdonald on 5 May 2004
To ask the Scottish Executive how many wind farm applications have been approved, broken down by region.
Answer
The information in the formatrequested for wind farms in excess of 1MW is available on the Executive website:
http://www.scotland.gov.uk/about/ELLD/EN-CS/00017058/page1711523477.aspx.
- Asked by: Rob Gibson, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish National Party
-
Date lodged: Monday, 19 April 2004
-
Current Status:
Answered by Andy Kerr on 4 May 2004
To ask the Scottish Executive what its policy is in respect of the use of videoconferencing in the conduct of its business.
Answer
The Scottish Executive encourages the use of videoconferencing as a cost and time effective optionfor holding meetings. The facilities available and instructions for their use arepublicised on the Scottish Executive Intranet.
- Asked by: Rob Gibson, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish National Party
-
Date lodged: Monday, 19 April 2004
-
Current Status:
Answered by Andy Kerr on 4 May 2004
To ask the Scottish Executive how often it used videoconferencing in the conduct of its business with stakeholders in each year from 1999 to 2003, broken down by department.
Answer
Videoconferencing suites are provided as shared facilities within certain Scottish Executive buildings and are available for use by ministers and by all staff regardless of their department.Bookings are not recorded by department. The number of bookings and the hours ofuse are recorded, and this information is provided in the following table.
| Year | Bookings | Usage (hrs) |
| 1999 | 594 | 1,023 |
| 2000 | 801 | 1,433 |
| 2001 | 759 | 1,241 |
| 2002 | 899 | 1,548 |
| 2003 | 1,064 | 1,835 |
- Asked by: Rob Gibson, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish National Party
-
Date lodged: Monday, 19 April 2004
-
Current Status:
Answered by Andy Kerr on 4 May 2004
To ask the Scottish Executive what facilities are available in each of its departments for the use of videoconferencing, broken down by si'e and accessibility.
Answer
Video conferencing suites are provided, as shared facilities accessible to ministers and all staff, within the following Scottish Executive offices:
| Location | Office |
| Edinburgh | St Andrews House |
| Edinburgh | Victoria Quay |
| Edinburgh | Saughton House |
| Edinburgh | Pentland House |
| Glasgow | Meridian Court |
| Glasgow | Europa Building |
| Perth | Strathearn House |
| Inverness | Longman House |
| Dundee | Wellgate |
| Aberdeen | Greyfriar's House |
These video conferencing rooms can each accommodate eight to 10 people. Their use is not restricted to particular departments.
In addition, video conferencing facilities have been ordered for the Scottish Executive Environment and Rural Affairs Department Area Offices in Inverurie, Portree and Inverness.
- Asked by: Rob Gibson, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish National Party
-
Date lodged: Monday, 19 April 2004
-
Current Status:
Answered by Ross Finnie on 4 May 2004
To ask the Scottish Executive whether additional powers are required to increase the effectiveness of the Deer Commission for Scotland (DCS) in exercising its statutory duties.
Answer
At the Stage 2 debate on theNature Conservation Bill,
we said we would consider any clear specific evidencefrom DCS that current legislation is insufficient, or cannot be made to work.
However, we consider that thepresent legislation is adequate and the DCS has shown it can use its regulatorypowers to take effective action to control deer where required.
- Asked by: Rob Gibson, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish National Party
-
Date lodged: Monday, 19 April 2004
-
Current Status:
Answered by Andy Kerr on 4 May 2004
To ask the Scottish Executive how much it cost to hire videoconferencing facilities in remote locations for the conduct of its business in each year from 1999 to 2003.
Answer
The Scottish Executive has no records to indicate that any videoconferencing facilities were hired within the period1999 to 2003. It is possible that individuals within departments could have madeuse of non Scottish Executive videoconferencing facilities, within other publicsector organisations or commercially available for hire, but no central recordsof such activities are maintained.
