- Asked by: Kenny MacAskill, MSP for Lothians, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 09 March 2004
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Current Status:
Answered by Margaret Curran on 24 March 2004
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S2W-5903 by Margaret Curran on 17 February 2004, how many unit approvals are proposed for 2004-05 and 2005-06, broken down by local authority.
Answer
I have asked Angiolina Foster, Chief Executive of Communities Scotland to respond. Her response is asfollows:
I refer the member to the answer given to question S2W-2344 on 24 March 2004.All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament's website, the search facility for which can be found at:
http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/search_wa.
- Asked by: Kenny MacAskill, MSP for Lothians, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 09 March 2004
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Current Status:
Answered by Frank McAveety on 23 March 2004
To ask the Scottish Executive what input it will have into the BBC Charter Review; whether its evidence to the review will be published, and what the reasons are for its position on the matter.
Answer
Although broadcasting is areserved matter, the Scottish Executive has been invited by the Department of Culture, Mediaand Sport to be a member of the internal UK Government officials group whichwill be considering the responses to the current consultation on the BBCCharter Review. The Scottish Executive will therefore not be responding formally to theconsultation exercise.
- Asked by: Kenny MacAskill, MSP for Lothians, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Monday, 08 March 2004
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Current Status:
Answered by Frank McAveety on 22 March 2004
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will consult grass roots organisations involved in football, as well as the Scottish Football Association (SFA), in respect of the support and development of the game at grass roots level and, if so, what organisations it will consult and when they will be consulted.
Answer
The Executive has been fullyinvolved in the independent review of youth football commissioned by the SFA.The consultants’ approach to the review was consultative and inclusive andinvolved consultations, including a series of stakeholder workshops, withorganisations and individuals in football, local authorities and others. We andthe SFA have been considering how best the recommendations stemming from thereview can be progressed and implemented and we hope to make an announcementsoon.
- Asked by: Kenny MacAskill, MSP for Lothians, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Monday, 08 March 2004
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Current Status:
Answered by Frank McAveety on 22 March 2004
To ask the Scottish Executive what involvement it had in the recent appointment of a new Controller of BBC Scotland.
Answer
The Scottish Executive had no involvement in this internal BBC appointment.
- Asked by: Kenny MacAskill, MSP for Lothians, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Monday, 08 March 2004
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Current Status:
Answered by Nicol Stephen on 22 March 2004
To ask the Scottish Executive what transport infrastructure projects are scheduled to commence construction in each of the next seven years; what the estimated costs are of each such project, and what the estimated additional costs are of any delay in any such project.
Answer
I refer the member to the answer given to question S2W-5044 on 27 January 2004.All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at
http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/search_wa.
- Asked by: Kenny MacAskill, MSP for Lothians, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Monday, 08 March 2004
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Current Status:
Answered by Frank McAveety on 22 March 2004
To ask the Scottish Executive what input it has had into the appointment of a Director of OFCOM for Scotland.
Answer
The recruitment of theDirector of OFCOM in Scotland is a matter for the regulator itself. Although OFCOMhas updated us with progress on this appointment, the Executive has no formalrole in the process.
- Asked by: Kenny MacAskill, MSP for Lothians, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Monday, 08 March 2004
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Current Status:
Answered by Frank McAveety on 22 March 2004
To ask the Scottish Executive what protocol is being developed to allow for interaction between it and the Director of OFCOM for Scotland and whether there are any plans for the Executive to have involvement in, and the Parliament to scrutinise, OFCOM's annual plan.
Answer
Broadcasting regulation isreserved. However, the Executive expects to have close working relationshipswith OFCOM, including with its office and Director in Scotland. Weare in discussion with OFCOM over our arrangements for engagement with the newregulator. The Executive has submitted a response to OFCOM’s draft annual planand this will be available on OFCOM’s web-site,
www.ofcom.org.uk, in due course.
- Asked by: Kenny MacAskill, MSP for Lothians, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Thursday, 04 March 2004
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Current Status:
Answered by Andy Kerr on 18 March 2004
To ask the Scottish Executive what costs it has incurred on parking fines in each year since 1999, broken down by local authority area.
Answer
The Scottish Executive Staff Handbook makes it clear that staff incurring car parking fines for parking illegally whilst on official business will not be reimbursed from official funds.
However there are occasions when circumstances arise which are beyond the control of officials and which prevent officials returning to parked vehicles in time to avoid incurring parking fines. Such occasions are very exceptional but do occasionally arise. Examples are where meetings involving ministers and visitors supported by an official from another building overrun the scheduled time allocated. Between 2000-04 13 occasions have arisen where the Scottish Executive has reimbursed officials for car parking fines incurred. A clear audit trailoutlining the individuals reasons for applying for reimbursement is held onfile for audit inspection.
There were also four occasions during the period 2002-04 where government car service drivers received a parking ticket. This occurred when drivers were dropping off papers or ministerial boxes to destinations where no immediate parking provision existed. Also the Scottish Executive van service has incurred three parking tickets when transporting secure mail where the driver has required to park the vehicle directly outside a building and visit a reception area to obtain a signature before handing over official papers.
Information about parking fines (which is only available from year 2000) is as follows:
| Year | Number of Parking Fines | Area | Costs Incurred |
| 2000 | 4 | Edinburgh | £80 |
| 2001 | 2 | Edinburgh Glasgow | £70 |
| 2002 | 7 | Edinburgh | £240 |
| 2003 | 5 | Edinburgh Glasgow | £135 |
| 2004 | 2 | Edinburgh Highland | £50 |
- Asked by: Kenny MacAskill, MSP for Lothians, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Thursday, 04 March 2004
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Current Status:
Answered by Frank McAveety on 18 March 2004
To ask the Scottish Executive what steps it will take to promote Scotland as a cruise liner destination; what steps are being taken to market theme cruises in particular; which organisations are responsible for each such promotion and marketing activity; what mechanisms are available to deliver such activities; what the role of Cruise Scotland is in relation to such activities, and what funding will be provided to Cruise Scotland or any other appropriate body for these purposes.
Answer
Cruise Scotland wasformed in 2001 as marketing consortium, funded entirely by membership fees, topromote Scotland as a destination for cruise liners. With amembership consisting of a group of area tourist boards and ports, for whichcruise liner business is a relevant market, Cruise Scotland iscurrently the only mechanism available to continuously promote Scotland asa cruise liner destination. On a national scale Cruise Scotlandalso works in joint promotions with Cruise UK, a VisitBritain fundedinitiative.
Cruise Scotland hasdeveloped themed itineraries in the past according to demand from operators. Itis developing further suggested itineraries based on ports of call, timeavailable onshore and various themes including golf, gardens and historicattractions.
Apart from some relevantoverseas destination marketing carried out by VisitScotland and the localactivities of other marketing consortia and private businesses, only Cruise Scotland iscurrently promoting such activity specifically for Scotland.
- Asked by: Kenny MacAskill, MSP for Lothians, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Friday, 06 February 2004
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Current Status:
Answered by Nicol Stephen on 9 March 2004
To ask the Scottish Executive what powers it has regarding the granting of rebates in respect of modes of transport other then buses, including aviation fuel for piston engines.
Answer
Taxation, including thelevel of duty applicable to transport, is a matter reserved to the UKGovernment. However, the Scottish Executive has general provision whichenables it to provide grants towards transport. Such grants are subject tospecific criteria as is the case with the Bus Service Operators Grant.
