- Asked by: Fergus Ewing, MSP for Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Friday, 01 March 2002
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Current Status:
Answered by Allan Wilson on 15 March 2002
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-10883 by Ms Wendy Alexander on 16 January 2001, what progress has been made in the delivery of online public services; whether it supports the delivery of such services through post offices and sub-post offices; whether the appropriate equipment will be provided to every sub-post office to enable them to deliver such services, and what other options are being considered for the delivery of online public services.
Answer
Our modernising agenda is about improving choice in the way services are delivered. The Scottish Executive is therefore committed to a multi-channel approach for the delivery of online public services and is continuing to explore a variety of platforms, including the use of interactive digital television, public kiosks, Personal Digital Assistants, the internet and WAP phones. As part of this, the Scottish Executive is paying close attention to the development of the Your Guide pilot project in Post Offices in Leicestershire and Rutland. Arrangements have been made for ministers and officials from the Scottish Executive to see the project first hand. The pilot will of course have to be comprehensively evaluated to assess the case for national roll out. In particular those organisations wishing to use Your Guide will need to examine carefully how a national service could fit in with their wider service delivery plans, how far it could help in achieving greater efficiencies and whether it would provide value for money compared with alternative direct channels to the public. Until these evaluations are complete, it would be premature to discuss details such as responsibility for the provision of equipment. I can assure you, however, that the Scottish Executive is examining this project and its potential implications for Scotland with great care and that we are committed to finding ways to achieve citizen-centred public service delivery.As regards progress in the delivery of online public services, the Electronic Service Delivery Progress Report, published on 16 November 2001, details the services provided by the Scottish Executive, its agencies and non-departmental public bodies. That report shows that 66% of services are now available online, though the majority of these relate to the provision of information. The second Electronic Service Delivery Progress Report is currently being prepared and will be published shortly.
- Asked by: Fergus Ewing, MSP for Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Monday, 18 February 2002
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Current Status:
Answered by David Steel on 13 March 2002
To ask the Presiding Officer, further to the answer to question S1W-22708 by Sir David Steel on 15 February 2002, which design services were not completed by Flour City Architectural Metals (UK) Ltd and what the cost of completing these services (a) would have been and (b) will now be.
Answer
The design services not completed by Flour City Architectural Metals (UK) Ltd mainly comprised detailing of interfaces between complex cladding elements and the cost of completing that work would have been £117,500. I understand from the Convener of the Holyrood Progress Group that the cost of this work being completed by the Design Team is still being assessed and has yet to be agreed.
- Asked by: Fergus Ewing, MSP for Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Thursday, 28 February 2002
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Current Status:
Answered by David Steel on 13 March 2002
To ask the Presiding Officer, further to his answer to question S1W-22708 on 18 February 2002, which design services that Flour City Architectural Metals (UK) Ltd was under contract to provide were not completed; what the cost of those services was to have been and, if no specific sum was stipulated under the contract with the company, what the estimated cost would have been had all of the design services been provided.
Answer
The design services not completed by Flour City Architectural Metals (UK) Ltd mainly comprised detailing of interfaces between complex cladding elements and the cost of completing that work would have been £117,500. I understand from the Convener of the Holyrood Progress Group that the cost of this work being completed by the Design Team is still being assessed and has yet to be agreed.
- Asked by: Fergus Ewing, MSP for Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 27 February 2002
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Current Status:
Answered by Allan Wilson on 13 March 2002
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-22875 by Allan Wilson on 22 February 2002, which locations are being considered for the relocation of the headquarters of Scottish Natural Heritage as part of the relocation review.
Answer
As stated in my reply of 22 February to the member, Scottish Natural Heritage (SNH) will undertake a review of its headquarters locations. No targets have been set for relocating public sector posts and all areas of Scotland will be considered. The review has not yet started. The target date for completion of the review is mid-2002 and ministers will take a decision on the most suitable HQ location for SNH based on the review findings.
- Asked by: Fergus Ewing, MSP for Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 26 February 2002
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Current Status:
Answered by Peter Peacock on 12 March 2002
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will give details of any payments made to individuals following any finding of maladministration by any ombudsman and whether the powers to increase the level of awards that can be made are to be reviewed.
Answer
I am able to respond in respect only of ombudsmen whose jurisdiction covers Scottish public bodies for which the Scottish ministers have responsibility.Information on payments made to individuals following recommendations by Scottish public sector ombudsmen is not held centrally.There are no specific powers relating to awards to individuals following a finding of maladministration by a Scottish public sector ombudsman. Where an ombudsman determines that a person has suffered an injustice or hardship as a result of maladministration, he may recommend whatever action he considers appropriate to remedy that injustice or hardship. This may involve financial redress, the amount of which is wholly dependent on the circumstances of the particular case.
- Asked by: Fergus Ewing, MSP for Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Thursday, 28 February 2002
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Current Status:
Answered by Mike Watson on 12 March 2002
To ask the Scottish Executive whether there is one minister responsible for policy on architecture and, if so, which minister that is.
Answer
I have overall portfolio responsibility for architecture. My deputy, Dr Elaine Murray has direct ministerial responsibility for policy on architecture.
- Asked by: Fergus Ewing, MSP for Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 26 February 2002
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Current Status:
Answered by Allan Wilson on 12 March 2002
To ask the Scottish Executive what investment it has made in fish farming since May 1999 in (a) 1999-2000, (b) 2000-01 and (c) 2001-02 and whether it will give a breakdown of how the investment was spent in each case.
Answer
The Executive routinely makes direct investment in aquaculture through research and development work, in support of its statutory responsibilities for disease control and improving understanding of impacts on the marine environment; and through FIFG Structural Funds, where the priorities of the aquaculture scheme remain the efficient and hygienic production of quality fish and shellfish. In recent years, there has also been exceptional expenditure through the Highlands and Islands Enterprise Infectious Salmon Anaemia (ISA) Re-Start Scheme, to facilitate the sustainability of employment and business activity in fish and shellfish farming businesses in the Highlands and Islands, which had been adversely affected by ISA, as well as the payment of formation grant to a producer organisation. This is detailed in the following table:
Item | 1999-2000 (£ million) | 2000-01 (£ million) | 2001-02 (£ million) |
Research and development - costs incurred | 1.4 | 1.1 | 1.3 |
FIFG Structural Funds - awards approved in aquaculture scheme | N/A | N/A | 2.1 |
Formation grant to Scottish Salmon Producers' Organisation | N/A | 0.1 | N/A |
Highlands & Islands Enterprise ISA Re-Start Scheme - funds approved | N/A | 3.0 | 0.8 |
Totals | 1.4 | 4.2 | 4.2 |
For both FIFG and the ISA Re-Start Scheme, although awards may be approved in a particular financial year, funds may not necessarily be drawn down by the recipient in that same year.
- Asked by: Fergus Ewing, MSP for Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 26 February 2002
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Current Status:
Answered by Allan Wilson on 12 March 2002
To ask the Scottish Executive what measures it (a) has taken and (b) plans to take in order to promote the fish farming industry.
Answer
The Executive's aim is to secure a sustainable and competitive future for the aquaculture industry in Scotland, as one of our most important rural employers. We will achieve this through a partnership with all the relevant stakeholders, working together to balance their social, economic and environmental aspirations. We are currently consulting on a strategic framework which will shape the development of the industry for the medium-term. This will build on recent work, through the Tripartite Working Group, to maintain a healthy stock of wild fish; through the Aquaculture Health Joint Working Group, to prevent disease and improve fish health; and to streamline and improve the regulation of the industry.
- Asked by: Fergus Ewing, MSP for Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Monday, 25 February 2002
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Current Status:
Answered by Ross Finnie on 11 March 2002
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has received any research entitled "The Conflicting Government 1959 and 1967 Statements on Trespass" from Alan Blackshaw, OBE, VRD of Newtonmore, Inverness-shire, and what its position is on this research and Mr Blackshaw's conclusions and, in particular, on whether there is a law of trespass in Scotland.
Answer
I am aware of the research conducted by Mr Blackshaw relating to the current legal position in respect of access by the public to land. The conflicting evidence on this subject to the Justice 2 Committee from Mr Blackshaw and others, including the Law Society of Scotland, reinforces our view of the need for legislation to establish clear rights of responsible access as set out in Part 1 of the Land Reform (Scotland) Bill.
- Asked by: Fergus Ewing, MSP for Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Monday, 11 February 2002
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Current Status:
Answered by Lewis Macdonald on 11 March 2002
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will ensure that BEAR Scotland Ltd meets representatives of the community in Mallaig in relation to the complaints from Mallaig Community Council in regard to the condition of the A830, and whether it will require BEAR Scotland Ltd to produce an action plan for the community of Mallaig to deal with pot holes and repairs to the A830 trunk road.
Answer
BEAR Scotland Ltd. met with representatives of Mallaig Community Council on 20 February 2002 to discuss their concerns regarding the condition of the A830, in particular the section of the road east of Arisaig.To address those concerns, a structural maintenance scheme has been identified for implementation this autumn. An interim strategy to undertake urgent repairs and increase the frequency of safety inspections, has also been formulated to ensure road safety is maintained.