Seòmar agus comataidhean

There has been no change in policy since May 2007. The Scottish Government has a process in place, as required by Standing Orders, that aims to answer written parliamentary questions within 10 counting days (20 during recess). When replying to questions the Scottish Government provides as full and as helpful answers as possible.

I visited the Department for International Development (DFID) in East Kilbride on 7 November 2008 where I met the Head of DFID''s Headquarters in Scotland who is also the Director of East and Central Africa. We discussed the Scottish Government''s International Development Policy.

I wrote to the Secretary of State for International Development on 6 July 2007 expressing the hope that we could meet in the near future. I have not had a response to that request.

There are currently three Scottish Government Senior Civil Servants on either domestic career break or special leave.

Last year Scottish ministers passed a Direction in exercise of the powers conferred in section 15(3) of the Local Government (Scotland) Act 1973. This instructed the Local Government Boundary Commission for Scotland not to undertake a review of any local government area from 1 April 2008 to 31 March 2011, other than (a) a review of boundary issues between two or more local authority areas, which potentially directly affects not more than 300 electors, or (b) a review which is required by a direction made under section 15(2) of the Local Government (Scotland) Act 1973.

The Local Government Boundary Commission is currently conducting reviews in three areas. The commission published its proposals for the local authority area boundary between Glasgow City and North Lanarkshire at Cardowan by Stepps on 31 October 2008. The commission has commenced reviews concerning two other locations where housing development has taken place across a local authority boundary. These are at Fithiebank, on the boundary between Dundee City and Angus, and at Robroyston, on the boundary between Glasgow City and East Dunbartonshire.

The commission completed its most recent statutory reviews wards for local government in 2006. Its next reviews of these have not begun, and are due to report between 2014 and 2018.

Exact costs cannot be disclosed as this would prejudice future commercial negotiations, however the project is estimated to cost £235 to £295 million (at quarter 4, 2012 prices). The significant level of benefits the project will deliver has been assessed against the costs in the Business Case, calculating a positive Benefit to Cost Ratio of 1.44.

One reference has been made to the Scottish Law Commission since May 2007, in November 2007. Ministers invited the Commission to consider the law relating to Rights of Appeal, Double Jeopardy and Evidential Questions. The Scottish Law Commission is dealing with the reference as three separate projects. Its Report on Crown Appeals was published in July 2008. The Double Jeopardy report is expected later in 2009 with the report on the other matters in 2010 or 2011.

The information requested is not held.

I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-17445 on 10 November 2008. 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/Apps2/Business/PQA/Default.aspx.

UK General elections and by-elections raise different issues to those which arise at Scottish Parliament elections and, as during the 2001 and 2005 UK General election campaigns, business will continue as normal. Guidance has been issued to all Scottish Government staff on their role and conduct during the period of a UK General Election or by-election campaign. The guidance has been posted on the Scottish Government website at:

http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Publications/2008/07/uk-election-guidance/.

The Scottish Government and its agencies, covered by its Resourcing Policy, carries out pre-appointment checks for all staff employed either on permanent or fixed term contracts. These include nationality checks and where necessary asking prospective applicants to provide documentary evidence that they have the right to work in the UK.

There have not been any changes in the way the Scottish Government handles applications specifically from foreign nationals since May 2007. However, in January 2008 tighter checks were put in place for all applicants, which require them to provide photographic ID, utility bills and more comprehensive information about their employment history.

The Scottish Executive''s main bank account is held at HM Office of Paymaster General. The Executive also maintains commercial bank accounts at both the Royal Bank of Scotland and Halifax Bank of Scotland. There has been no change in the banking arrangements since May 2007.

The routine re-tendering exercise for supplementary banking services was advertised in accordance with European procurement legislation in July 2008 and is currently in progress.

The following is the original answer (published on 15 January 2009); see below

The Scottish Executive''s main bank account is held at HM Office of Paymaster General. The Executive also maintains commercial bank accounts at both the Bank of Scotland and Halifax Bank of Scotland. There has been no change in the banking arrangements since May 2007.