- Asked by: Alex Neil, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 06 February 2001
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Current Status:
Answered by Wendy Alexander on 20 February 2001
To ask the Scottish Executive how many Modern Apprenticeships there were in May 1997 and how many there are on the latest available figures.
Answer
In May 1997 there were 5,236 Modern Apprentices in training: at January 2001 there were 16,924. In May 1997, 398 young people had completed their Modern Apprenticeship: at January 2001, 6,125 had completed their Modern Apprenticeship.
- Asked by: Alex Neil, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 06 February 2001
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Current Status:
Answered by Susan Deacon on 20 February 2001
To ask the Scottish Executive how many times the methodology for compiling hospital waiting lists has been amended since May 1999.
Answer
There have been no amendments to the methodology for compiling inpatient/day case hospital waiting lists since 31 March 1988.
- Asked by: Alex Neil, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 06 February 2001
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Current Status:
Answered by Wendy Alexander on 20 February 2001
To ask the Scottish Executive how much funding will be committed to National Training Organisations over the next three years.
Answer
National Training Organisations attract funding from employers, government departments and other public sector and commercial sources. £1.5 million has been allocated by the Scottish Executive over the financial years 2001-2002 to 2003-2004 to assist the further development of the NTO network in Scotland, with a particular focus on promoting skills, employability and work-based learning at sectoral level.
- Asked by: Alex Neil, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 06 February 2001
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Current Status:
Answered by Angus MacKay on 20 February 2001
To ask the Scottish Executive how many civil servants in total it employed in (a) May 1999 and (b) May 2000 and how many it employs now.
Answer
The full time equivalent number of permanent staff employed in the Core Departments, Agencies and Associated Departments of the Scottish Executive are shown in the table below. The figures include the Scottish Prison Service, which accounts for around one third of all staff.
The definition of the Executive has changed over the last 3 years, following movements of responsibilities - most notably the creation of the Scottish Parliament and the Scotland Office. The figures shown below have been backdated as far as possible for comparison purposes.
| May 1999 | May 2000 | February 2001 |
Number of Staff (FTE) | 13290.8 | 13649.1 | 13708.3 |
- Asked by: Alex Neil, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 06 February 2001
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Current Status:
Answered by Wendy Alexander on 20 February 2001
To ask the Scottish Executive what the total budget for National Training Organisations is for the financial year 2001-02.
Answer
National Training (NTOs) are employer-led sectoral bodies which operate across the UK as the bridge between employers and those involved in the policy and provision of education and training. They attract funding from employers, government departments and other public sector and commercial sources. £0.5 million will be allocated to NTOs by the Scottish Executive in the financial year 2001-2002 to assist the further development of the network in Scotland, with a focus on promoting skills, employability and work-based learning at sectoral level.
- Asked by: Alex Neil, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Monday, 05 February 2001
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Current Status:
Answered by Jack McConnell on 19 February 2001
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will provide a detailed update on the preparations by the Scottish Qualifications Authority for the 2001 exam diet.
Answer
I announced in response to S1W-12934 that a copy of my first report to Parliament on SQA's progress towards Diet 2001 was sent to the Convenor of the Education, Culture and Sport Committee on 31 January. A copy has also been placed in the Parliament's Reference Centre (bib number 11055).
- Asked by: Alex Neil, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Monday, 05 February 2001
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Current Status:
Answered by Sarah Boyack on 19 February 2001
To ask the Scottish Executive, in relation to ex-gratia payments to the Scottish Transport Group Pension scheme members, what the anticipated allocation will be between the Transport Operatives Pension Scheme and the Staff Pension Fund.
Answer
Scottish Ministers are considering the basis for distribution and following the wind-up of the Scottish Transport Group we will be bringing forward proposals on distribution for the approval of the Scottish Parliament.
- Asked by: Alex Neil, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Friday, 02 February 2001
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Current Status:
Answered by Wendy Alexander on 16 February 2001
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will list all development areas as defined under the regional selective assistance scheme; what proportion of the Scottish population lives in each, and how much grant assistance has been made available to each in each year since May 1999.
Answer
The GB Assisted Areas map (defining the areas in which Regional Selective Assistance can be given) was approved by the European Commission on 26 July 2000. This map comprised of amalgamations of 1991 local authority wards rather than development areas. A list of the 656 Scottish wards included in the map was published when the map was approved and is accessible on the Scottish Executive website (http://www.scotland.gov.uk/who/elld/_Forms/aawards.prn).
These 656 wards are of varying size and population coverage, but overall the Assisted Areas map covers 48% of the Scottish population.Data in respect of grant assistance offered in each individual 1991 ward is not readily available and could only be provided at disproportionate cost. However, details (including Travel to Work Area locations) of individual offers of Regional Selective Assistance over £75,000 are, after the first instalment of grant has been paid, published quarterly in Labour Market Statistics which is available in the Parliament's Reference Centre.
- Asked by: Alex Neil, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Thursday, 01 February 2001
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Current Status:
Answered by Jackie Baillie on 15 February 2001
To ask the Scottish Executive what percentage of children live in the bottom (a) decile, (b) quarter and (c) half of households in terms of household income and what the equivalent figures were in 1997.
Answer
The information is detailed in the table.Percentage of Children in Specified Areas of the Income Distribution, Scotland 1996-97 and 1998-99
| | Bottom Decile | Bottom Quartile | Below Median |
1996-97 | Before Housing Costs | 16% | 38% | 62% |
After Housing Costs | 11% | 34% | 62% |
1998-99 | Before Housing Costs | 14% | 33% | 59% |
After Housing Costs | 12% | 31% | 59% |
Source: DSS Households Below Average Income.Notes:1 Income is net equivalised household income; equivalisation takes account of the number of individuals living in the household.2 Deciles, quartiles and medians are based on the GB distribution of income.3 Estimates are based on sample counts, and are therefore subject to sampling variability.4 Caution should be exercised in drawing conclusions about changes over time due to the small sample sizes in Scotland.5 Figures for the bottom decile should be treated with caution as the bottom decile of reported incomes cannot safely be construed as the bottom decile of living standards.
- Asked by: Alex Neil, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Thursday, 01 February 2001
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Current Status:
Answered by Wendy Alexander on 15 February 2001
To ask the Scottish Executive what representations it has had from employers' organisations regarding the New Deal for Disabled People.
Answer
Employment Policy is reserved to the UK Government. The New Deal for Disabled People is delivered in Scotland in partnership with the Scottish Executive and other Scottish organisations.The Scottish Executive has had no representations made from employers' organisations about the New Deal for Disabled People.