- Asked by: Alex Neil, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 30 June 1999
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Current Status:
Answered by Henry McLeish on 14 July 1999
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will publish details of the expenditure on and number of people covered by all post 16 education and training programmes in Scotland funded by Scottish Enterprise, Highlands and Islands Enterprise, the Scottish Higher and Further Education Funding Councils and the European Social Fund for the last financial year.
Answer
For the financial year 1998/99, financial allocations to the following bodies for post 16 education and training, and the number of places covered, were as follows:
£m Numbers
Further Education Institutions 288 1 411,408 2
Scottish Higher Education Funding Council 431 1 118,700 3
Scottish Enterprise 136 4 45,534 5
Highlands and Islands Enterprise 11 4 3,320 5
Notes:1
Figures exclude tuition fee income.2
The latest figure is for 1997/98 and covers all FE student enrolments. A student enrolled on more than one FE course is counted for each course. 84% of FEI enrolments are part time. FE enrolments include a number of students aged 16.
3
The SHEFC figure covers the main teaching grant allocated to Institutions, but not research and relates to full time equivalent places funded. 47% of HEI enrolments are part time. 4
Figures exclude ESF funds.
5 Average numbers in training at end year.
- Asked by: Alex Neil, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 30 June 1999
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Current Status:
Answered by Wendy Alexander on 14 July 1999
To ask the Scottish Executive what the implications would be for Scottish local authority budgets and any related budgets for which it is responsible if Housing Benefit is abolished.
Answer
A number of options for improvements to the way in which Housing Benefit is provided are being considered by the UK Government. Since Housing Benefit is administered by local authorities, any change to Housing Benefit is likely to have some resource implications for local authorities. However, until clear options have been identified and published, it will not be possible to establish with any certainty the implications for particular budgets.
- Asked by: Alex Neil, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 30 June 1999
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Current Status:
Answered by Henry McLeish on 14 July 1999
To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to adress the unemployment situation in Lanarkshire.
Answer
I refer Mr Neil to question S1W-308, answered today.
- Asked by: Alex Neil, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 30 June 1999
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Current Status:
Answered by Henry McLeish on 14 July 1999
To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to address the unemployment situation in Ayrshire.
Answer
The Scottish Executive is committed to promoting environmentally and socially sustainable economic development, through working in partnership with local agencies. We are very conscious of the particular problems of areas such as Ayrshire and we shall seek to ensure through investing in jobs and skills, fostering enterprise and encouraging the growth of new businesses that we create sustainable economic growth and employment opportunities for all members of the community. The Scottish Executive will also take this approach to tackle the challenges facing Lanarkshire and Falkirk about which Mr Neil asked in questions S1W-309 and S1W-311 respectively, also answered today.
- Asked by: Alex Neil, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 30 June 1999
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Current Status:
Answered by Susan Deacon on 14 July 1999
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will take immediate steps to ensure that the additional funding needed for the Methadone Prescription Programme, as agreed in principle by Ayrshire and Arran Health Board, will be made available this year.
Answer
Health Boards are given an annual general revenue allocation. It is for Health Boards to determine, within the funds available, how to manage and deliver local health care services that meet the healthcare needs of their resident population.
- Asked by: Alex Neil, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 30 June 1999
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Current Status:
Answered by Henry McLeish on 14 July 1999
To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to address the unemployment situation in Falkirk.
Answer
I refer Mr Neil to question S1W-308, answered today.
- Asked by: Alex Neil, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 30 June 1999
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Current Status:
Answered by Sarah Boyack on 14 July 1999
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will provide details of all grants, loans and contracts awarded by Scottish National Heritage to the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds for each of the last three years.
Answer
The information requested is given in the table.
Year | Grants £ | Loans £ | Contracts £ |
1998/99 | 220,212 | 0 | 144,916 |
1997/98 | 190,462 | 0 | 48,696 |
1996/97 | 174,501 | 0 | 79.074 |
Full details of individual grants are listed each year in SNH's published Annual Report, a copy of which is laid before Parliament. Contracts, which are in the main for research commissioned by SNH, are subject to normal protocol concerning commercially sensitive information.In addition to the payments listed in the table, the RSPB also received the sums of £61,340, £69,204 and £41,731 over the years 1996/97 to 1998/99 respectively in respect of management agreements. These management agreements, details of which are also published in SNH's Annual Report, cover payments made to the RSPB for the management of designated sites such as SSSIs on its land in order to safeguard the natural heritage importance of the site.
- Asked by: Alex Neil, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 30 June 1999
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Current Status:
Answered by Jack McConnell on 14 July 1999
To ask the Scottish Executive which European Union Council (Committee) meetings it will be attending in the next three months and those which it will not together with the reasons for not doing so.
Answer
Officials from the Scottish Executive will regularly attend EU Council Working Group meetings, as part of the UK delegation, when issues of importance to Scotland are being discussed. Each decision on attendance will be based on the subject matter under discussion.
- Asked by: Alex Neil, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 30 June 1999
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Current Status:
Answered by Sarah Boyack on 14 July 1999
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will provide the most recent estimate of the capital cost for upgrading the A77 between Fenwick and Malletsheugh to motorway standard.
Answer
The most recent estimate of the cost of constructing a motorway between Fenwick and Malletsheugh is £60.4m exclusive of VAT based on the prices current in the second quarter of 1998.
- Asked by: Alex Neil, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 30 June 1999
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Current Status:
Answered by Wendy Alexander on 14 July 1999
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has been consulted by Her Majesty's Government regarding the possible abolition of Housing Benefit and, if so, what representations it has made on the matter.
Answer
A number of options are being considered by the UK Government for improvements to the way in which Housing Benefit is provided. We will continue to liaise closely with the relevant Whitehall departments to ensure that Scottish interests are taken into account as policy in this area is developed. We also expect Housing Benefit issues to be included in a Green Paper to be published by the UK Government later in the year, which will provide a further opportunity for all interested parties, including the Scottish Parliament and Executive, to express their views.
