- Asked by: Alex Neil, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Friday, 10 September 1999
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Current Status:
Answered by Henry McLeish on 4 November 1999
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will provide details of the expenditure on external contracts for public relations and lobbying activities by Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE) for each of the past two years and its budgets for these activities for the current financial year.
Answer
This is an operational matter for Highlands and Islands Enterprise and I have asked the Chairman to write to the Member and will arrange for copies of the replies to be placed in the Scottish Parliament Information Centre (SPICe).
- Asked by: Alex Neil, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Friday, 15 October 1999
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Current Status:
Answered by Jim Wallace on 3 November 1999
To ask the Scottish Executive to provide detailed breakdowns of staffing at Kilmarnock Prison by occupation category and of what proportion of staff live in the Kilmarnock and Louden post code areas.
Answer
Kilmarnock Prison is currently operated by 10 senior managers and 289 prison staff. 37.5% of staff live in Kilmarnock and Loudoun post code areas. 77% live in Ayrshire.
- Asked by: Alex Neil, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Friday, 15 October 1999
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Current Status:
Answered by Jim Wallace on 3 November 1999
To ask the Scottish Executive what are the levels of staff turnover at Kilmarnock Prison, Barlinnie Prison, Edinburgh Prison, Peterhead Prison and Perth Prison since April 1999.
Answer
The numbers of staff who have left each of these prisons is as shown in the following table:
Prison | Number of Leavers |
Barlinnie | 30 |
Edinburgh | 22 |
Kilmarnock | 45 |
Perth | 23 |
Peterhead | 10 |
I should add that long established prisons are likely to experience a lower staff turnover than is likely in the start up phase of a new prison.
- Asked by: Alex Neil, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 13 October 1999
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Current Status:
Answered by Sarah Boyack on 2 November 1999
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-318 by the Minister for Transport and the Environment on 14 July 1999, whether it will give details of how, in each year, the money given to the Royal Society for Protection of Birds (RSPB) was spent, who the money in each year was paid to, what were the performance targets of the RSPB in each of these years and whether these targets were achieved.
Answer
Basic information on each individual project grant aided by SNH can be obtained from SNH's publication Facts and Figures (a companion publication to its Annual Report) which is laid before Parliament. The level of information requested could, however, only be obtained at disproportionate cost. Projects grant aided by SNH must be consistent with SNH's aims and objectives and grant applications are subject to normal grant conditions. These include the setting of specific targets, where appropriate, and their performance monitoring.
- Asked by: Alex Neil, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Monday, 18 October 1999
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Current Status:
Answered by Sarah Boyack on 1 November 1999
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-1209 by Sarah Boyack on 13 September 1999, whether it has any development plans for the A71 and, if so, what they are.
Answer
The A71 is a local rather than a trunk road and as such any development plans are entirely a matter for the local authorities concerned.
- Asked by: Alex Neil, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Monday, 18 October 1999
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Current Status:
Answered by Henry McLeish on 1 November 1999
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will set out in detail how the quantitative surveys into New Deal participants will evaluate and analyse the scheme.
Answer
Employment Policy is reserved to the UK Government which, therefore takes the lead on the funding and delivery of the New Deal throughout Great Britain, although in close consultation with its partners, including the Scottish Executive. Many partner organisations at local level also provide New Deal Services under contract or provide funds and other resources, including training funds to enhance the quality of New Deal in their areas.A Scottish survey of individuals entering New Deal is being carried out to boost the sample of a GB wide survey and enable fuller analysis at a Scottish level.The results of the first stage of the Scottish quantitative survey will be available early next year. This will give information on individual characteristics, previous work history and New Deal experience: what clients have done in New Deal, their feelings about New Deal and their destinations after New Deal.The GB survey is now proceeding to the second Stage. This will consist of follow up interviews to explore experience of New Deal, labour market outcomes, job search, attitudes, and changes in employability.A decision will be made as to whether the Scottish survey will proceed to stage two depending on the outcome of the first stage work.
- Asked by: Alex Neil, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Monday, 18 October 1999
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Current Status:
Answered by Henry McLeish on 1 November 1999
To ask the Scottish Executive when the major quantitative survey of New Deal participants in Scotland was commissioned.
Answer
Employment Policy is reserved to the UK Government which, therefore takes the lead on the funding and delivery of the New Deal throughout Great Britain, although in close consultation with its partners, including the Scottish Executive. Many partner organisations at local level also provide New Deal Services under contract or provide funds and other resources, including training funds to enhance the quality of New Deal in their areas.The initial phase of the booster survey of New Deal participants in Scotland was commissioned in June 1999.
- Asked by: Alex Neil, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Monday, 18 October 1999
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Current Status:
Answered by Henry McLeish on 1 November 1999
To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to make Local Enterprise Companies accountable to the Parliament for their actions.
Answer
Local Enterprise Companies (LECs) are contracted by Scottish Enterprise and Highlands and Islands Enterprise to deliver economic development and training services and are already accountable through their parent organisations to Scottish Ministers who are accountable to Parliament.
- Asked by: Alex Neil, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Monday, 18 October 1999
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Current Status:
Answered by Henry McLeish on 1 November 1999
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will provide a breakdown of the number of open cast developments by Local Enterprise Company area.
Answer
This information is not held centrally. Local authorities, as planning authorities, would hold this information for each authority area.
- Asked by: Alex Neil, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Friday, 15 October 1999
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Current Status:
Answered by Wendy Alexander on 29 October 1999
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-884 by Ms Wendy Alexander on 27 September 1999, what reporting requirements it places on Social Inclusion Partnerships in respect of their expenditures.
Answer
The expenditure on Social Inclusion Partnerships' support costs referred to in my previous answer (S1W-884) is governed by a financial memorandum which specifies that partnerships provide an annual expenditure programme prior to the start of the relevant financial year, detailing spending plans for the forthcoming financial year, and including profiles and target output measures for proposed expenditure; and provide an annual progress report within 3 months of the end of the relevant financial year, detailing progress made against target output measures.
