- Asked by: Kenneth Gibson, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Thursday, 29 March 2001
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Current Status:
Answered by Alasdair Morrison on 12 April 2001
To ask the Scottish Executive how much additional tourist revenue has been generated as a result of the activities of Scotland House in Brussels.
Answer
No estimates are available of the additional tourist revenue generated directly by Scotland House.Scotland House is an inclusive body that involves a range of interests. Its principal components are the Scottish Executive EU Office (SEEUO) and Scotland Europa, which in turn houses a number of its subscribers. Scotland House does not have direct responsibility for generating additional tourist revenue. Most of the bodies located in Scotland House have the following functions in common:
- Maintaining close contact with key people in the EU institutions, including the Scottish MEPs
- Following the European legislative process and highlighting issues of relevance to Scotland
- Sharing information and resources between the Scotland House residents as appropriate
- Increasing the range and depth of information on EU affairs flowing back to Scottish bodies - including visitscotland
- Advising Scottish bodies about EU procedures and how to become more involved - including the highlighting of Scottish best practice in Europe.
Scotland House is also active in raising Scotland's profile in the EU. This has included some tourism aspects, namely:
- visitscotland promoted a travel offer between Scotland and the Benelux countries to coincide with the October 1999 Scotland Week organised by Scotland House
- Scotland House has supported a number of festivals/events celebrating links between the Low Countries and Scotland and also supported tourism to Scotland
- Scotland House recently organised a cultural tourism seminar examining other European approaches to cultural tourism with a view to developing further the Scottish approach
- Literature from visitscotland is prominently displayed in Scotland House for all visitors and enquiries.
In addition, visitscotland is a member of Scotland Europa and both it and the Tourism Cluster Group of Scottish Enterprise are alerted to all EU opportunities and developments by Scottish Enterprise International Operations.
- Asked by: Kenneth Gibson, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Thursday, 29 March 2001
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Current Status:
Answered by Wendy Alexander on 12 April 2001
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-11853 by Ms Wendy Alexander on 16 March 2001, how many additional jobs will have to be created in Glasgow before the employment rate of working age males rises from 65.2% to the Scottish average of 77.4% and over what time period it would be possible for this to be achieved.
Answer
To increase the male employment rate in Glasgow from 65.2% to 77.4%, an extra 24,000 men in Glasgow need to move into work. No forecasts for the number of male workers in Glasgow have been made by the Executive.
- Asked by: Kenneth Gibson, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Thursday, 29 March 2001
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Current Status:
Answered by Wendy Alexander on 12 April 2001
To ask the Scottish Executive how much inward investment has been attracted to Scotland directly as a result of the activities of Scotland House in Brussels.
Answer
Scotland House has a critical role in representing and promoting Scotland in a wide range of interests. It is not in itself directly responsible for inward investment projects although it continues to offer support and assistance to Locate in Scotland in this regard. As of September 2000, Locate in Scotland has run its field operations for France and Benelux from an office in Scotland House.
- Asked by: Kenneth Gibson, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 28 March 2001
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Current Status:
Answered by Angus MacKay on 11 April 2001
To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to further disperse Scottish Executive staff from Edinburgh.
Answer
The Executive has made progress in locating public sector jobs outwith Edinburgh by establishing the Food Standards Agency in Aberdeen, by establishing the Enterprise and Lifelong Learning Department in its entirety in Glasgow and setting up the new Public Guardian's Office in Falkirk.Subject to Parliament approving the principles of the Regulation of Care Bill, it is proposed to co-locate the Scottish Social Services Council and the headquarters of the Scottish Commission for the Regulation of Care in Dundee. The headquarters building will also serve as the commission's regional office for that region. Decisions regarding the locations of the other regional offices of the commission are expected soon. We are also undertaking detailed reviews of the Edinburgh operations of six public bodies based on lease breaks and other operational factors.We expect to be in a position to make a decision on the location of the Scottish Public Pensions Agency shortly and on the Health Education Board for Scotland by mid-2001.
- Asked by: Kenneth Gibson, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Friday, 23 March 2001
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Current Status:
Answered by Tom McCabe on 6 April 2001
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-8508 by Mr Tom McCabe on 30 August 2000, on how many occasions since 10 July 2000 it has asked back-bench MSPs to lodge parliamentary questions in order to enable it to make an announcement; whether it will provide a list of such questions, including the date on which they were lodged and the MSP who lodged them; and whether it can provide similar details of any inspired (a) oral and (b) First Minister's questions lodged since May 1999.
Answer
There are occasions when, for the convenience of members, the Executive brings a matter to the attention of the Parliament by means of a written Parliamentary question. The Procedures Committee has acknowledged this to be a useful and appropriate mechanism. The following 159 questions lodged between 10 July 2000 and 22 March 2001 inclusive were used by the Executive as a means of bringing matters to the Parliament's attention. Oral Parliamentary questions and First Minister's questions are not suited to this purpose because of the random selection process that applies to these questions and the time limits on when these questions can be answered.
| PQ ID S1W- | MSP | Date lodged* |
| 8646 | Rhoda Grant | 7 - 13/07/00 |
| 8666 | Rhoda Grant | 7 - 13/07/00 |
| 8655 | Karen Gillon | 7 - 13/07/00 |
| 8725 | Tavish Scott | 14 - 20/07/00 |
| 8796 | Dr Sylvia Jackson | 14 - 20/07/00 |
| 8835 | Karen Gillon | 21 - 27/07/00 |
| 8900 | Rhoda Grant | 21 - 27/07/00 |
| 8865 | Allan Wilson | 21 - 27/07/00 |
| 8923 | Karen Gillon | 21 - 27/07/00 |
8935 | Maureen MacMillan | 28/07/00 - 3/08/00 |
8954 | Rhoda Grant | 28/07/00 - 3/08/00 |
| 8978 | Scott Barrie | 28/07/00 - 3/08/00 |
| 9020 | Duncan McNeil | 28/07/00 - 3/08/00 |
| 9077 | Elaine Thomson | 4 - 10/08/00 |
| 9155 | Cathy Jamieson | 11 - 17/08/00 |
| 9212 | Scott Barrie | 11 - 17/08/00 |
| 9332 | Rhoda Grant | 18 - 24/08/00 |
| 9385 | Karen Gillon | 18 - 24/08/00 |
| 9311 | Karen Gillon | 18 - 24/08/00 |
| 9481 | Scott Barrie | 29 - 30/08/00 |
| 9489 | Rhoda Grant | 29 - 30/08/00 |
| 9824 | Rhoda Grant | 14/09/00 |
| 9834 | Scott Barrie | 13/09/00 |
| 9874 | Maureen MacMillan | 14/09/00 |
| 9921 | Dr Sylvia Jackson | 15/09/00 |
| 9967 | Duncan McNeil | 19/09/00 |
| 9968 | Duncan McNeil | 19/09/00 |
| 10051 | Scott Barrie | 21/09/00 |
| 10059 | Lewis Macdonald | 22/09/00 |
| 10166 | Scott Barrie | 2/10/00 |
| 10257 | Karen Whitefield | 4/10/00 |
| 10267 | Duncan McNeil | 4/10/00 |
| 10279 | Karen Whitefield | 5/10/00 |
| 10331 | Margaret Curran | 6/10/00 |
| 10347 | Scott Barrie | 9 - 11/10/00 |
| 10365 | Scott Barrie | 9 - 11/10/00 |
| 10413 | Duncan McNeil | 12 - 18/10/00 |
| 10414 | Dr Sylvia Jackson | 12 - 18/10/00 |
| 10557 | Mary Mulligan | 23/10/00 |
| 10563 | Scott Barrie | 23/10/00 |
| 10588 | Des McNulty | 24/10/00 |
| 10601 | Scott Barrie | 24/10/00 |
| 10623 | Pauline McNeill | 25/10/00 |
| 10624 | Hugh Henry | 25/10/00 |
| 10672 | Andy Kerr | 26/10/00 |
| 10779 | Scott Barrie | 31/10/00 |
| 10873 | Dr Elaine Murray | 2/11/00 |
| 10889 | Johann Lamont | 3/11/00 |
| 10890 | Rhoda Grant | 2/11/00 |
| 10912 | Michael McMahon | 3/11/00 |
| 10937 | Rhoda Grant | 6/11/00 |
| 10997 | Maureen MacMillan | 7/11/00 |
| 11084 | Maureen MacMillan | 8/11/00 |
| 11141 | Marilyn Livingstone | 9/11/00 |
| 11167 | Johann Lamont | 10/11/00 |
| 11177 | Rhoda Grant | 13/11/00 |
| 11229 | Mike Watson | 15/11/00 |
| 11307 | Andy Kerr | 16/11/00 |
| 11343 | Karen Whitefield | 16/11/00 |
| 11410 | John Home Robertson | 20/11/00 |
| 11436 | Kenneth MacIntosh | 21/11/00 |
| 11440 | Trish Godman | 22/11/00 |
| 11479 | Mike Rumbles | 22/11/00 |
| 11492 | Scott Barrie | 23/11/00 |
| 11507 | Trish Godman | 23/11/00 |
| 11516 | Helen Eadie | 23/11/00 |
| 11478 | Dr Sylvia Jackson | 22/11/00 |
| 11556 | Duncan McNeil | 27/11/00 |
| 11558 | Pauline McNeill | 27/11/00 |
| 11559 | John Home Robertson | 27/11/00 |
| 11585 | Kate MacLean | 28/11/00 |
| 11588 | Helen Eadie | 28/11/00 |
| 11596 | Andy Kerr | 28/11/00 |
| 11703 | Andy Kerr | 30/11/00 |
| 11704 | Cathy Peattie | 30/11/00 |
| 11776 | Duncan McNeil | 5/12/00 |
| 11777 | Dr Sylvia Jackson | 6/12/00 |
| 11799 | John Munro | 6/12/00 |
| 12063 | Karen Whitefield | 14/12/00 |
| 12073 | Jamie Stone | 18/12/00 |
| 12074 | Janis Hughes | 18/12/00 |
| 12075 | Dr Sylvia Jackson | 18/12/00 |
| 12090 | Elaine Thomson | 18/12/00 |
| 12091 | Karen Gillon | 19/12/00 |
| 12127 | Cathy Jamieson | 19/12/00 |
| 12160 | Irene Oldfather | 20/12/00 - 4/01/01 |
| 12161 | Maureen MacMillan | 20/12/00 - 4/01/01 |
| 12162 | Maureen MacMillan | 20/12/00 - 4/01/01 |
| 12163 | Des McNulty | 20/12/00 - 4/01/01 |
| 12270 | John Home Robertson | 20/12/00 - 4/01/01 |
| 12393 | Margaret Jamieson | 11/01/01 |
| 12476 | Paul Martin | 12/01/01 |
| 12478 | Scott Barrie | 15/01/01 |
| 12484 | Karen Gillon | 15/01/01 |
| 12491 | Karen Whitefield | 15/01/01 |
| 12539 | Dr Elaine Murray | 16/01/01 |
| 12447 | Dr Sylvia Jackson | 15/01/01 |
| 12632 | Maureen MacMillan | 19/01/01 |
| 12726 | Des McNulty | 23/01/01 |
| 12806 | Margaret Jamieson | 24/01/01 |
| 12824 | John McAllion | 25/01/01 |
| 12848 | Elaine Thomson | 26/01/01 |
| 12877 | Rhoda Grant | 29/01/01 |
| 12847 | Marilyn Livingstone | 25/01/01 |
| 12893 | Kate MacLean | 30/01/01 |
| 12902 | Mary Mulligan | 30/01/01 |
| 12934 | Karen Gillon | 31/01/01 |
| 12935 | Cathy Peattie | 31/01/01 |
| 12936 | Scott Barrie | 31/01/01 |
| 12937 | Cathy Jamieson | 31/01/01 |
| 12984 | Bristow Muldoon | 1/02/01 |
| 12938 | Mike Watson | 31/01/01 |
| 13043 | Karen Whitefield | 2/02/01 |
| 13044 | Mary Mulligan | 2/02/01 |
| 13067 | Rhoda Grant | 5/02/01 |
| 13100 | Karen Whitefield | 6/02/01 |
| 13192 | Andy Kerr | 7/02/01 |
| 13030 | John Home Robertson | 2/02/01 |
| 13167 | Dr Elaine Murray | 7/02/01 |
| 13198 | Paul Martin | 8/02/01 |
| 13220 | Maureen MacMillan | 8/02/01 |
| 13221 | Janis Hughes | 8/02/01 |
| 13296 | Michael McMahon | 13/02/01 |
| 13376 | Margaret Jamieson | 14/02/01 |
| 13413 | Bill Butler | 14/02/01 |
| 13377 | Cathy Jamieson | 14/02/01 |
| 13419 | Bristow Muldoon | 14/02/01 |
| 13477 | Johann Lamont | 15/02/01 |
| 13479 | Des McNulty | 15/02/01 |
| 13528 | Dr Elaine Murray | 16 - 23/02/01 |
| 13514 | Scott Barrie | 16 - 23/02/01 |
| 13515 | Cathy Jamieson | 16 - 23/02/01 |
| 13534 | Lewis Macdonald | 16 - 23/02/01 |
| 13592 | Cathie Craigie | 16 - 23/02/01 |
| 13732 | Kenneth MacIntosh | 28/02/01 |
| 13762 | Euan Robson | 28/02/01 |
| 13825 | Dr Elaine Murray | 1/03/01 |
| 13879 | Maureen MacMillan | 5/03/01 |
| 13911 | Scott Barrie | 6/03/01 |
| 13912 | John Home Robertson | 6/03/01 |
| 13980 | Marilyn Livingstone | 7/03/01 |
| 14021 | Dr Elaine Murray | 8/03/01 |
| 14026 | Cathy Jamieson | 8/03/01 |
| 14147 | Frank McAveety | 13/03/01 |
| 14154 | Rhoda Grant | 13/03/01 |
| 14162 | Tavish Scott | 14/03/01 |
| 14179 | Dr Elaine Murray | 14/03/01 |
| 14180 | Janis Hughes | 14/03/01 |
| 14181 | Irene Oldfather | 14/03/01 |
| 14182 | Dr Sylvia Jackson | 14/03/01 |
| 14235 | Dr Richard Simpson | 16/03/01 |
| 14238 | Des McNulty | 16/03/01 |
| 14299 | Margaret Jamieson | 20/03/01 |
| 14322 | Cathy Jamieson | 21/03/01 |
| 14323 | Bristow Muldoon | 21/03/01 |
| 14350 | Mary Mulligan | 21/03/01 |
| 14142 | Gordon Jackson | 13/03/01 |
| 14392 | Trish Godman | 22/03/01 |
| 14393 | Maureen MacMillan | 22/03/01 |
*These dates have been taken from the appropriate Business Bulletins.
- Asked by: Kenneth Gibson, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Friday, 23 March 2001
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Current Status:
Answered by Susan Deacon on 6 April 2001
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-12259 by Susan Deacon on 6 March 2001, whether the #2,263,000 deficit incurred by South Glasgow University NHS Trust in 1999-2000 has impacted or will impact on patient care and staffing levels in the current and any future financial years and, if so, how.
Answer
During 1999-2000 South Glasgow University Hospitals NHS Trust agreed a recovery plan with Greater Glasgow Health Board. Plans were drawn up that protect patient services and restore financial balance where necessary. Details of the impact of the measures identified under the recovery plan are not held centrally. In 2001-02 Greater Glasgow Health Board received an increased allocation of 7.72%, an extra £60.6m, which should ensure standards of patient care continue to improve.
- Asked by: Kenneth Gibson, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Friday, 23 March 2001
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Current Status:
Answered by Susan Deacon on 6 April 2001
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-12259 by Susan Deacon on 6 March 2001, whether the #8,706,000 deficit incurred by North Glasgow University NHS Trust in 1999-2000 has impacted or will impact on patient care and staffing levels in the current and any future financial years and, if so, how.
Answer
During 1999-2000 North Glasgow University Hospitals NHS Trust agreed a recovery plan with Greater Glasgow Health Board. Plans were drawn up that protect patient services and restore financial balance where necessary. Details of the impact of the measures identified under the recovery plan are not held centrally. In 2001-02 Greater Glasgow Health Board received an increased allocation of 7.72%, an extra £60.6m, which should ensure standards of patient care continue to improve.
- Asked by: Kenneth Gibson, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Friday, 23 March 2001
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Current Status:
Answered by Ross Finnie on 6 April 2001
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-13199 by Mr Sam Galbraith on 22 February 2001, what impact the reduction in grant to North of Scotland Water Authority from #24.4 million in 1996-97 to #1.2 million in 2001-02 will have on average domestic water and sewerage charges.
Answer
The grant payments relate mainly to specific schemes that have now ended. As the grants scored against the Authority's external finance limit, they effectively reduced the amount available to be borrowed. The effect on charges is therefore equivalent to the saving on interest charges.
- Asked by: Kenneth Gibson, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Friday, 23 March 2001
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Current Status:
Answered by Angus MacKay on 6 April 2001
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-12051 by Angus MacKay on 8 February 2001, why the number of full-time staff it employs in North Lanarkshire fell from 660 in 1999 to 585 in 2000.
Answer
The change in staff numbers relates to the Scottish Prison Service. I have asked the Chief Executive to respond. His response is as follows:-"The decline in staff numbers is due to the closure of Longriggend"
- Asked by: Kenneth Gibson, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Thursday, 22 March 2001
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Current Status:
Answered by Susan Deacon on 5 April 2001
To ask the Scottish Executive how many renal consultants were employed by head count and by full-time equivalent in each of the last three years, broken down by health board.
Answer
The latest information available is shown in the table, which should be read in conjunction with the notes following:
| Renal Consultants by Health Board area at 30 September |
| | Headcount | WTE |
| | 1997 | 1998 | 1999 | 1997 | 1998 | 1999 |
| Scotland | 17 | 21 | 29 | 15.9 | 19.2 | 26.5 |
| Ayrshire & Arran | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1.0 | 1.0 | 1.0 |
| Fife | 0 | 0 | 1 | - | - | 1.0 |
| Grampian | 1 | 1 | 2 | 1.0 | 1.0 | 1.6 |
| Greater Glasgow | 8 | 9 | 11 | 8.0 | 9.0 | 11.0 |
| Lanarkshire | 0 | 0 | 1 | - | - | 1.0 |
| Lothian | 4 | 7 | 9 | 2.9 | 5.2 | 6.8 |
| Tayside | 3 | 3 | 4 | 3.0 | 3.0 | 4.0 |
Note:1. Source: Medical and Dental Manpower Census, ISD Scotland2. Latest information available is as at 30 September 1999. Data from the 2000 census will be available in the next few months.3. Figures given include honorary consultants.4. Health Board areas that did not have consultants working solely in the specialty of renal medicine in any of the years 1997, 1998 or 1999 are not shown.5. It should be noted that in addition to those consultants in the table above, there are also a large number of general physicians with a subspecialty interest in renal medicine working in all areas of Scotland. Subspecialty statistics are not collected centrally, so it is not possible to give an exact figure for these.