- Asked by: Lord James Douglas-Hamilton, MSP for Lothians, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Thursday, 07 December 2000
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Current Status:
Answered by Colin Boyd on 6 February 2001
To ask the Scottish Executive how many cases before sheriff courts have been abandoned or lost as a result of pressure on the courts; what it intends to do to prevent such occurrences, and whether it has consulted victims of crime in relation to its policy in this area.
Answer
The records of all Procurator Fiscal Offices have been checked. During the year to December 2000 no cases are recorded as abandoned or lost because of pressure on sheriff courts.
- Asked by: Lord James Douglas-Hamilton, MSP for Lothians, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 22 November 2000
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Current Status:
Answered by Jim Wallace on 30 January 2001
To ask the Scottish Executive when it will make legal aid available to people pursuing cases through employment tribunals and how much it will cost in the current financial year and each of the next 10 financial years to extend legal aid to this group.
Answer
On 15 January 2001, legal representation at employment tribunals became available under the Assistance by Way of Representation scheme for certain types of case. The costs will depend on the number of eligible cases and the way the Scottish Legal Aid Board interpret the Regulations. We cannot predict with any accuracy the likely cost over 10 years but we estimate that the cost in the first year will be of the order of £200,000.
- Asked by: Lord James Douglas-Hamilton, MSP for Lothians, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Monday, 18 December 2000
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Current Status:
Answered by Jim Wallace on 17 January 2001
To ask the Scottish Executive what assessment it has made of any impact of the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR) on (a) civil liberties, (b) policing generally and (c) the operation of its departments; whether ECHR has had any impact on the spending levels of (i) its departments and (ii) non-departmental public bodies (NDPBs) in the current financial year and whether it will detail any estimated impact on spending levels in the next three years, broken down by department and NDPB and showing any costings.
Answer
The UK has been bound by the European Convention of Human Rights since 1951. The principal effect of the Human Rights Act is to allow UK citizens to assert their Convention rights in domestic courts, rather than having to take their cases to Strasbourg. As such, it will have a positive impact on civil liberties, by bringing human rights home and giving them a place at the heart of civic society.
As far as the impact on policing is concerned, it is in the first instance for Chief Constables to assess the implications of the legislation for operational policing. The Association of Chief Policy Officers in Scotland (ACPOS) has put arrangements in place to assess the policies and procedures of Scottish forces in the light of their obligations under the Convention, and a range of awareness-raising and training activities have been organised for police officers.
The Scottish Executive has carried out an audit of all areas of activity in order to identify any potential incompatibilities with the Convention; and it has taken prompt and appropriate action, including legislation, where problems have been identified.As far as costs are concerned, I refer to my answers to questions S1W-2571 and 2572. The Executive has made provision for the Crown Office, the Legal Aid Fund and the Scottish Courts Service to take account of ECHR issues arising in criminal and civil proceedings under the Scotland Act and Human Rights Act. The total provision for these services principally in respect of the ECHR was £6.5 million in 1999-2000; £10.6 million in 2000-01, and £8.9 million in 2001-02. Nothing has happened since then to cause us to revise those estimates. However, costs resulting from the consideration of ECHR issues cannot readily be disaggregated from other costs incurred in civil or criminal proceedings. The same difficulty arises in relation to any ECHR-related spending by departments of the Executive and non-departmental public bodies. The detailed breakdown requested by Lord James Douglas-Hamilton is therefore not available.
- Asked by: Lord James Douglas-Hamilton, MSP for Lothians, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 27 June 2000
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Current Status:
Answered by Angus MacKay on 4 December 2000
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-3949 by Mr Jack McConnell on 19 June 2000, to list (a) all Non-Departmental Public Bodies (NDPBs) which have awarded contracts in the absence of competitive tendering since May 1997 and (b) all such contracts involving NDPBs, giving the reason for not using competitive tendering in each case.
Answer
The detailed information requested is not held centrally. I would refer Lord James to my previous answer. It is a current requirement that NDPBs ensure that appropriate procedures are in place in line with current Scottish Executive policy relating to procurement and tendering issues. The exact nature of the procedures and delegated limits agreed form part of individual Management Statements and Financial Memoranda. These documents not only set parameters within which bodies operate but also reflect the requirements and individual circumstances of each body. It is important to emphasise that in making such decisions all NDPBs have a responsibility to ensure fairness, accountability and value for money.
- Asked by: Lord James Douglas-Hamilton, MSP for Lothians, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 07 November 2000
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Current Status:
Answered by Wendy Alexander on 21 November 2000
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will hold discussions with Scottish Enterprise on the prospects for a new Scottish slate industry, given that over 300,000 homes will require roofing renewal over the next 30 years.
Answer
The Scottish Stone Liaison Group, funded by Historic Scotland, is considering a pilot project to quarry a small amount of Scottish slate. Such an exercise would involve discussions with Local Enterprise Companies. Scottish Enterprise is willing to consider proposals to establish individual operations for stone production, including slate, at Local Enterprise Company level, once the location is known and following the preparation of a business plan. This would enable a view to be taken on the commercial viability of individual proposals and a decision on the appropriate form of support which can be offered.
- Asked by: Lord James Douglas-Hamilton, MSP for Lothians, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 07 November 2000
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Current Status:
Answered by Sam Galbraith on 21 November 2000
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will give the City of Edinburgh Council expert advice and guidance in connection with any need for additional flood prevention measures alongside the Water of Leith.
Answer
The need for additional flood prevention measures for the Water of Leith is entirely a matter for the City of Edinburgh Council. However, the Executive is in contact with the council and, should the council decide to take such measures, the Executive stands ready to advise and offer guidance on the procedures involved.
- Asked by: Lord James Douglas-Hamilton, MSP for Lothians, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 25 October 2000
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Current Status:
Answered by Sam Galbraith on 20 November 2000
To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to conduct research or a feasibility study on the best use of water which is surplus to requirements in Scotland in view of the increasing demand for water throughout the world.
Answer
The Executive has no present plans of this nature.
- Asked by: Lord James Douglas-Hamilton, MSP for Lothians, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 25 October 2000
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Current Status:
Answered by Wendy Alexander on 2 November 2000
To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has for promotion and encouragement of a Scottish slate industry.
Answer
The Executive recognises the role of indigenous Scottish slate in preserving the characteristics of historic Scottish buildings. In early November Historic Scotland is co-hosting the Traditional Scottish Roofing Conference and launching two commissioned research studies on the use and potential of Scottish slate. Historic Scotland also funds the Scottish Stone Liaison Group, which brings together players interested in the revitalisation of the Scottish slate and stone industries.
- Asked by: Lord James Douglas-Hamilton, MSP for Lothians, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Monday, 30 October 2000
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Current Status:
Answered by Henry McLeish on 2 November 2000
To ask the First Minister whether the Scottish Executive will, as a matter of priority, conduct relevant research and put in place contingency arrangements to deal with predicted increased flooding in Scotland.
Answer
The Scottish Executive has already commissioned research studies to consider the impact of climate change on the frequency of flooding, design standards to protect against flooding and, more generally, adaptation measures required to address the threat of climate change.The outcome of these studies will be disseminated widely, including to local authorities who have responsibility for dealing with flooding in their area. This will enable councils to take account of climate change in the development of flood prevention measures.
- Asked by: Lord James Douglas-Hamilton, MSP for Lothians, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 11 October 2000
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Current Status:
Answered by Rhona Brankin on 27 October 2000
To ask the Scottish Executive when funds will be provided for redevelopment and utilisation of the East Side of the National Portrait Gallery.
Answer
I refer the member to the answer I gave to question S1W-10332 on 20 October.
