- Asked by: Fergus Ewing, MSP for Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Monday, 20 March 2000
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Current Status:
Answered by Henry McLeish on 3 April 2000
To ask the Scottish Executive whether the total cost of funding of the learning resource centre at Inverness College was #4,806,000 and, if it was not, what was the actual cost, and whether it will (a) provide a breakdown of the cost between the services diversion, departmental relocation, learning resource centre, front-of-house professional fees and value added tax, and (b) provide a breakdown of how the total costs were funded between the following contributory bodies, (i) the Millennium Commission, (ii) European Regional Development Fund, (iii) Inverness and Nairn Enterprise, (iv) Highland Council (v) Inverness College, showing in each case the actual amount contributed by each of the funding bodies.
Answer
This information is not held centrally.
- Asked by: Fergus Ewing, MSP for Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Monday, 20 March 2000
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Current Status:
Answered by Henry McLeish on 3 April 2000
To ask the Scottish Executive whether an independent inquiry will be conducted into the financial accounts of Inverness College to investigate (a) the reasons for the accumulated deficit and (b) all capital projects including building works and alteration works, and in particular, (i) why the total cost of "department relocations" for the learning resource centre amounted to #823,000, (ii) where the accounts show any entry in respect of revenue accruing as a result of the sale, to the contractors, of the design of the proposed learning resource centre, (iii) whether the works in the training workshop were commenced and completed prior to obtaining the required Building Warrant under the Building (Scotland) Act 1959 as amended and (iv) whether the cost of construction of the learning resource centre per square meter was in line with the national average costs expected for such work.
Answer
No. The Scottish Further Education Funding Council is assisting Inverness College to review its current activities, income and expenditure, on the basis of which the College is preparing a plan to recover its financial situation and to eliminate the accumulated deficit.
- Asked by: Fergus Ewing, MSP for Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Monday, 20 March 2000
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Current Status:
Answered by Henry McLeish on 3 April 2000
To ask the Scottish Executive what the cost was of the consultancy report by Ben Johnston Hill of Nottingham regarding the financial position of Inverness College.
Answer
This information is not held centrally.
- Asked by: Fergus Ewing, MSP for Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 29 February 2000
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Current Status:
Answered by Jack McConnell on 3 April 2000
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-3497 by Mr Jack McConnell on 25 January 2000, whether it will describe, elucidate and specify any instances where Ministerial access has been, or may in future be, granted to papers dated before 1 July 1999, particularly in relation to the Agricultural Business Improvement Schemes, both original and revised, and, if not, why not.
Answer
My answer of 25 January to S1W-3497 outlined the position, and I can, therefore, confirm that pre-1 July 1999 papers relating to the Agricultural Business Improvement Schemes are treated no differently from other pre-1 July papers.
- Asked by: Fergus Ewing, MSP for Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Friday, 25 February 2000
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Current Status:
Answered by Sarah Boyack on 3 April 2000
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will review the its approval of the increase in salary for the Chief Executive of North of Scotland Water Authority to circa #120,000 and 10% bonus and, if not, why not.
Answer
The exact remuneration packages for the Chief Executives will be a matter for negotiation between the Board of each authority and the successful candidates. The final packages agreed will be subject to Ministerial approval; I have indicated to the authorities what may be considered as an upper limit for their negotiations.
- Asked by: Fergus Ewing, MSP for Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Monday, 28 February 2000
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Current Status:
Answered by Henry McLeish on 3 April 2000
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-3734 by Henry McLeish on 27 January 2000, what its estimate is of the number of new businesses created as a result of the measures outlined, for the year from 1 July 1999.
Answer
Published figures from Scottish Enterprise/Committee of Scottish Clearing Banks indicate that during the three month period July-September 1999, a total of 4,412 new businesses were created throughout Scotland. The measures referred to in my earlier answer related to improving public sector support to small business generally. No record is kept of their impact on the creation of new businesses.
- Asked by: Fergus Ewing, MSP for Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Monday, 28 February 2000
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Current Status:
Answered by Henry McLeish on 3 April 2000
To ask the Scottish Executive whether the Improving Regulation in Scotland Unit will conduct an audit of each sector of industry as to existing regulations and issue proposals for simplifying, reducing or removing such regulations and, if not, why not.
Answer
A series of seminars is being arranged to enable businesses to present their concerns about the burden of regulation. In the light of feedback from these seminars and issues raised directly with the IRIS unit, the Scottish Executive will consider what further action is appropriate including whether existing legislation and regulations need to be reviewed to create a more positive attitude to risk-taking and entrepreneurship.
- Asked by: Fergus Ewing, MSP for Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Friday, 03 March 2000
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Current Status:
Answered by Sarah Boyack on 31 March 2000
To ask the Scottish Executive what criteria were used in determining the allocation of (a) public funds, whether from Scottish Natural Heritage or other sources and (b) funding from the National Heritage Lottery Fund to the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds.
Answer
The allocation of public funds to RSPB by Scottish Natural Heritage is made on exactly the same criteria as for any other applicant. Applications for funding are subject to a detailed assessment process, the key criterion of which is that the project for which funds are being sought should contribute to SNH's policy objectives and priorities.
The Scottish Executive gives a grant to RSPB for work connected with the prevention and detection of wildlife crime in addition to several small payments amounting to some £2,620. These small payments are contributions towards work undertaken by the RSPB at the behest of the Executive or one of its working groups established to consider specific policy issues such as the Scottish Biodiversity Group. The main criterion used for any payments made to the RSPB is if the work undertaken is consistent with the policies of the Executive or the relevant working group.With regard to the allocation of funds from the National Heritage Lottery Fund, this is a matter for them.
- Asked by: Fergus Ewing, MSP for Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Thursday, 02 March 2000
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Current Status:
Answered by Jack McConnell on 31 March 2000
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will announce details of the funding available under the "Modernising Government" initiative and whether this funding will be available to (a) small businesses (b) the voluntary sector (c) The Family Association for Children with Extra-Special Needs (d) other voluntary bodies and (e) national park areas.
Answer
I announced the establishment of the £25 million Modernising Government Fund during the parliamentary debate on modernising government on 23 February. Applications for funds will be invited from a wide range of public sector bodies, including Scottish Executive departments and agencies, health authorities, non-departmental public bodies and local government authorities. Bids will be accepted from bodies which include a partnership with others whether they are in the public, private or voluntary sectors, where the public sector body is the lead partner.Full details of the bidding criteria will be issued in the next few weeks.
- Asked by: Fergus Ewing, MSP for Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 14 March 2000
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Current Status:
Answered by Sarah Boyack on 30 March 2000
To ask the Scottish Executive whether any studies have been carried out as to the effect on local traders of bus corridors.
Answer
The Scottish Executive recently commissioned a research project entitled
A Comparative Evaluation of Greenways and Conventional Bus Lanes. This research focuses on bus corridors in Edinburgh and includes a section on Business Frontage Interviews. The project was concluded recently and its findings should be published later in the spring. A copy will be placed in SPICe.
I understand that Glasgow City Council have carried out studies on the effect of bus lanes on the Victoria Road/Gorbals Street bus corridor. This involved a survey of public opinion and before and after surveys of retail unit occupancy.
