- Asked by: Christine Grahame, MSP for South of Scotland, Scottish National Party
-
Date lodged: Tuesday, 10 June 2003
-
Current Status:
Answered by Malcolm Chisholm on 23 June 2003
To ask the Scottish Executive what measurable improvements in staffing levels there have been following the agreement between NHS employers and trade unions to introduce the minimum pay rate of #5.18 per hour, as announced by the Minister for Health and Community Care on 30 January 2003 in response to the Audit Scotland report, Hospital cleaning.
Answer
The information requested is not held centrally.
- Asked by: Christine Grahame, MSP for South of Scotland, Scottish National Party
-
Date lodged: Thursday, 29 May 2003
-
Current Status:
Answered by Peter Peacock on 18 June 2003
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will now consider rucksack funding of children with special educational needs which follows the child throughout his or her education, in light of paragraph 4.44 of chapter 4 of the Auditor General's report Moving to mainstream : The inclusion of pupils with special educational needs in mainstream schools.
Answer
The Scottish Executive is planning to provide 35% more in additional grant funding next year than at present, lifting new annual spending to over £50 million per year, to support children with special educational needs. This funding, together with local government general revenue, allows education authorities to allocate resources according to the needs of children in their area. We have no plans to introduce rucksack funding.
- Asked by: Christine Grahame, MSP for South of Scotland, Scottish National Party
-
Date lodged: Wednesday, 04 June 2003
-
Current Status:
Answered by Jim Wallace on 16 June 2003
To ask the Scottish Executive what measures it is taking to increase the level of average gross weekly earnings in the East Lothian Council area from #399.60, as referred to in Scottish Economic Statistics 2003, to the national average.
Answer
Scottish Enterprise is charged with pursing the strategic priorities for economic development contained in A Smart Successful Scotland. These priorities include improving productivity and competitiveness to enhance the long-term growth rate of the economy of East Lothian, to generate greater prosperity and employment and reduce poverty.
- Asked by: Christine Grahame, MSP for South of Scotland, Scottish National Party
-
Date lodged: Wednesday, 04 June 2003
-
Current Status:
Answered by Jim Wallace on 16 June 2003
To ask the Scottish Executive ,further to the answer to question S1W-34524 by Iain Gray on 19 March 2003, how many business start-ups there were in (a) 1999-2000, (b) 2000-01, (c) 2001-02 and (d) 2002-03 in the East Lothian Council area and what percentage of such start-ups in each year for which such figures are available were still in business after (i) one year, (ii) two years and (iii) three years.
Answer
The following table shows business starts measured by VAT registrations in the East Lothian council area for 1999, 2000 and 2001. Figures for 2002 will not be available until October 2003.
| VAT Registrations | 1999 | 2000 | 2001 |
| East Lothian | 180 | 185 | 185 |
Source: Small Business Service at
http://www.sbs.gov.uk/content/statistics/vat9401.xls.Data on the proportion of start-ups still in business after one, two and three years is not available by local authority.
- Asked by: Christine Grahame, MSP for South of Scotland, Scottish National Party
-
Date lodged: Wednesday, 04 June 2003
-
Current Status:
Answered by Jim Wallace on 16 June 2003
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-34524 by Iain Gray on 19 March 2003, how many business start-ups there were in (a) 1999-2000, (b) 2000-01, (c) 2001-02 and (d) 2002-03 in the Scottish Borders Council area and what percentage of such start-ups in each year for which such figures are available were still in business after (i) one year, (ii) two years and (iii) three years.
Answer
The following table shows business starts measured by VAT registrations in the Scottish Borders Council area for 1999, 2000 and 2001. Figures for 2002 will not be available until October 2003.
| VAT Registrations | 1999 | 2000 | 2001 |
| Scottish Borders | 325 | 280 | 265 |
Source: Small Business Service at
http://www.sbs.gov.uk/content/statistics/vat9401.xls.Data on the proportion of start-ups still in business after one, two and three years is not available by local authority area.
- Asked by: Christine Grahame, MSP for South of Scotland, Scottish National Party
-
Date lodged: Wednesday, 04 June 2003
-
Current Status:
Answered by Peter Peacock on 16 June 2003
To ask the Scottish Executive how parents can access reports by HM Inspectorate of Education (HMIE).
Answer
Upon publication, all parents and guardians are issued with copies of inspection reports on schools which their children attend. In addition, parents can access copies of any published report via the HMIE website. Copies can also be requested by contacting any HMIE office.
- Asked by: Christine Grahame, MSP for South of Scotland, Scottish National Party
-
Date lodged: Wednesday, 21 July 1999
-
Current Status:
Answered by Jim Wallace on 16 June 2003
To ask the Scottish Executive what measures it is taking to increase the level of average gross weekly earnings in the Scottish Borders Council area from #346.20, as referred to in Scottish Economic Statistics 2003, to the national average
Answer
Scottish Enterprise is charged with pursing the strategic priorities for economic development contained in A Smart, Successful Scotland. These priorities include improving productivity and competitiveness to enhance the long-term growth rate of the economy of the Scottish Borders, to generate greater prosperity and employment and reduce poverty.
- Asked by: Christine Grahame, MSP for South of Scotland, Scottish National Party
-
Date lodged: Wednesday, 14 May 2003
-
Current Status:
Answered by Nicol Stephen on 13 June 2003
To ask the Scottish Executive whether funding will be made available for the installation of rail loops at Reston and, if so, when it will be made available.
Answer
I understand that there are no current plans for funding rail loops at Reston. The Strategic Rail Authority are the lead body for the enhancement of the east coast main line.
- Asked by: Christine Grahame, MSP for South of Scotland, Scottish National Party
-
Date lodged: Thursday, 22 May 2003
-
Current Status:
Answered by Nicol Stephen on 13 June 2003
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will explain and expand on the meaning of "supporting", as used in the statement "supporting the construction of the Borders Rail Line" in A Partnership for a Better Scotland.
Answer
The Scottish Executive is supporting the work undertaken to prepare the business case and the private bill by awarding Scottish Borders Council over £2 million from the Public Transport Fund. The Scottish Executive will continue its support through the parliamentary process and will support the construction, including the provision of an appropriate funding contribution, subject to the project, as for all such projects, satisfying its business case objectives. The Scottish Executive has £3 billion of investment for capital infrastructure projects over the next 10 years, within which we have the necessary resources to implement the Borders railway.
- Asked by: Christine Grahame, MSP for South of Scotland, Scottish National Party
-
Date lodged: Thursday, 15 May 2003
-
Current Status:
Answered by Nicol Stephen on 13 June 2003
To ask the Scottish Executive how much money is guaranteed for "supporting construction of the Borders Rail Line" as referred to in the transport section of A Partnership for a Better Scotland.
Answer
For capital infrastructure projects over 10 years, we have £3 billion of investment moneys, within which we have the necessary resources to implement a Borders railway project, subject to the appraisal being conducted under the Scottish Transport Appraisal Guidance.
