- Asked by: Christine Grahame, MSP for South of Scotland, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Thursday, 27 July 2000
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Current Status:
Answered by Susan Deacon on 17 August 2000
To ask the Scottish Executive what applications were made to the New Opportunities Fund under the initiative "Living with Cancer", which applications were (a) successful and (b) unsuccessful and what the reasons were for decisions under both categories.
Answer
I refer to the answer given to question S1W-8899.
- Asked by: Christine Grahame, MSP for South of Scotland, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Thursday, 27 July 2000
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Current Status:
Answered by Nicol Stephen on 17 August 2000
To ask the Scottish Executive what the names are of the members of the Scottish Textile Forum (STF), what the dates were of any meetings already held or will be of any meetings planned and whether the minutes of STF meetings will be made public.
Answer
The members of the Scottish Textile Forum, which met for the first time on 12 June 2000 are:
| Henry McLeish | Minister for Enterprise and Lifelong Learning |
| Tracey White | STUC |
| Gerry Skelton | Transport and & General Workers Union |
| John Steel | KFAT |
| Emma Harcus | Scottish Trade International |
| Jim McFarlane | Scottish Enterprise Borders |
| Helen Bottle | Scottish Enterprise Borders |
| Julia Scott-Barrett | Scottish Textile Network |
| Tony Taylor | Scottish Textile Manufacturers Association |
| James Sugden | Scottish Textile Manufacturers Association |
| Graeme Millar | Scottish Consumer Council |
| Patrick Browne | Scottish Retail Consortium |
| Robert Mather | Heriot-Watt University |
| John Wilson | British Apparel Textile Council |
| Ray Symons | Department of Trade and Industry |
| Blair McNaughton | Scottish Textile Manufacturers Association |
| Peter Brooks | Scottish Textile Manufacturers Association |
| Prof. George Stylios | Heriot Watt University |
| Colin Clarke | CAPITB |
| Michael Bentley | Textiles NTO |
| Hugh McNab | Highlands & Islands Enterprise |
| John Mason | Scottish Executive |
| Andy Bishop | Scottish Executive |
| Claire Smith | Scottish Executive |
The next meeting is planned for 12 September and the Forum plans to meet quarterly thereafter. The views of the Forum members will be sought at the next meeting on whether to publish minutes of these meetings.
- Asked by: Christine Grahame, MSP for South of Scotland, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Thursday, 27 July 2000
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Current Status:
Answered by Iain Gray on 17 August 2000
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-4278 by Iain Gray on 23 February 2000, whether the target dates for implementation of the four recommendations in the Scottish Health Advisory Service report referred to have been met, and what the current status is of the Health Improvement Plan for Highland, specifically with reference to the improvement of services for older people.
Answer
Responsibility for implementing the recommendations of the SHAS report lies with Highland Health Board and Highland Primary Care NHS Trust. I understand that these bodies are implementing the recommendations in line with the proposed target dates.
The Health Board and its partners have prepared a Health Improvement Programme covering the period 2000-2005. The Programme sets out the principles which the Board and its partners will follow in providing services for older people. I understand that these have been developed in the light of the SHAS recommendations and of best practice generally.
- Asked by: Christine Grahame, MSP for South of Scotland, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Thursday, 27 July 2000
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Current Status:
Answered by Iain Gray on 17 August 2000
To ask the Scottish Executive when I will receive a reply to my letter of 22 March 2000 to the Deputy Minister for Health and Community Care regarding my proposed Al'heimer's and Dementia Care Bill.
Answer
I issued a reply to your letters of 22 March and 28 March on 28 April. I have arranged for a copy of my letter to be sent to you.
- Asked by: Christine Grahame, MSP for South of Scotland, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 26 July 2000
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Current Status:
Answered by Henry McLeish on 16 August 2000
To ask the Scottish Executive who authorised payment of #670,000 for a call centre in Selkirk.
Answer
Authority for the conversion of the Claridge Mill property in Selkirk was granted by the Boards of Scottish Enterprise Borders and Scottish Enterprise (Projects Advisory Group).
- Asked by: Christine Grahame, MSP for South of Scotland, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 26 July 2000
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Current Status:
Answered by Henry McLeish on 16 August 2000
To ask the Scottish Executive whether the #600,000 spent by Scottish Enterprise Borders on securing and adapting premises in Selkirk specifically as a call centre and the further #70,000 spent retraining redundant workers as call centre operators was an appropriate expenditure of public funds given the failure so far to secure a call centre.
Answer
In its Final Report in March 1999 the Borders Working Party highlighted a shortage of readily available industrial premises as being a major impediment to the attraction of inward investment into the area.
The Borders Working Party also highlighted the success which Scotland is enjoying in the attraction of call centres and proposed that an advanced build call centre facility be created in the Borders. That facility was created at Selkirk.
- Asked by: Christine Grahame, MSP for South of Scotland, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 26 July 2000
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Current Status:
Answered by Henry McLeish on 16 August 2000
To ask the Scottish Executive, following expenditure of #600,000 by Scottish Enterprise Borders (SEB) on securing premises in Selkirk for a call centre and #70,000 on retraining redundant workers specifically as call centre operators, what efforts are being made by it and SEB to ensure that call centre companies are located in the Borders.
Answer
The Selkirk call centre is being actively promoted by Scottish Enterprise Borders and the Rural Unit of Locate in Scotland.
Locate in Scotland has considerable experience in attracting call centre operators to Scotland and this expertise is being used in relation to Selkirk. Confirmation of the inclusion of Selkirk in the recently approved Assisted Areas Map for Scotland will be an additional marketing advantage in favour of Selkirk.
- Asked by: Christine Grahame, MSP for South of Scotland, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 26 July 2000
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Current Status:
Answered by Henry McLeish on 16 August 2000
To ask the Scottish Executive how many Borders small businesses applied for funding from Scottish Enterprise Borders in 1998-99, 1999-2000 and so far this year, how much each application was for and, of those that were successful, what amount was allocated to each.
Answer
Details of individual applications for grant from local enterprise companies are not published to protect the commercial confidentiality of businesses. A summary of awards to small businesses in the Borders is given in the tables below:
| 1998-1999 | Approved Applications | SE Borders Funding | Private Funds Levered |
| Start-up | 290 | £235,800 | £1,808,984 |
| Small Firms Development Programme | 93 | £64,400 | £64,400 |
| New Venture Development Programme | 29 | £132,000 | £264,000 |
| Total | 412 | £432,200 | £2,137,384 |
| 1999-2000 | Applications/ Approvals | SE Borders Funding | Private Funds Levered |
| Start-up | 275 | £206,969 | £1,572,964 |
| Small Firms Development Programme | 154 | £102,800 | £102,800 |
| New Venture Development Programme | 64 | £199,000 | £398,000 |
| Total | 493 | £508,769 | £2,073,764 |
| 2000-2001 (to 31 July) | Applications/ Approvals | SE Borders Funding | Private Funds Levered |
| Start-up | 112 | £66,500 | £505,400 |
| Small Firms Development Programme | 45 | £49,760 | £49,760 |
| New Venture Development Programme | 36 | £119,800 | £239,600 |
| Total | 193 | £236,060 | £794,760 |
- Asked by: Christine Grahame, MSP for South of Scotland, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Thursday, 08 June 2000
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Current Status:
Answered by Nicol Stephen on 14 August 2000
To ask the Scottish Executive what contacts it has had with whom and when with regard to the Borders cashmere industry and the implications of a possible 100% or more import tariff being imposed by the industry's main export market, the USA, and what assessment it has made of any effect this will have on the 2,000 industry workers and the current value of the industry's order book.
Answer
Ministers fully recognise the importance of the cashmere industry to the Borders and the potential impact on it of US punitive import tariffs. The Scottish Executive is working closely with Scottish Trade International, the Scotland Office, the Department of Trade and Industry and the sector itself to deal with the threat.
- Asked by: Christine Grahame, MSP for South of Scotland, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 26 July 2000
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Current Status:
Answered by Nicol Stephen on 14 August 2000
To ask the Scottish Executive how many of the young people in the Borders who have found employment through the New Deal since its introduction are still in employment and what the nature of that employment is.
Answer
Employment policy is reserved to the UK Government which therefore takes the lead on the funding and delivery of New Deal throughout Great Britain, although in close consultation with its partners, including the Scottish Executive.
This information is not available.
