- Asked by: Michael Russell, MSP for South of Scotland, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 06 December 2000
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Current Status:
Answered by Allan Wilson on 8 January 2001
To ask the Scottish Executive what representations it has made to the Natural Heritage Lottery Fund to ensure that Tobar an Dualchais receives sufficient lottery funding to activate match funding for its project to conserve and disseminate the Gaelic and other material in its archives.
Answer
The Heritage Lottery Fund, like the other National Lottery distributing bodies, makes its decisions on applications independently. The Executive therefore does not make any such representations.
- Asked by: Michael Russell, MSP for South of Scotland, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 25 October 2000
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Current Status:
Answered by Jack McConnell on 8 January 2001
To ask the Scottish Executive what the anticipated deficit of the Scottish Qualifications Authority is for the end of this financial year.
Answer
As a result of the additional work undertaken to resolve the problems with Diet 2000, the Scottish Qualifications Authority (SQA) has incurred additional costs. The full financial implications are currently being quantified and will be discussed with SQA in detail. I will ensure they are reported to Parliament.
- Asked by: Michael Russell, MSP for South of Scotland, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 13 December 2000
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Current Status:
Answered by Jack McConnell on 4 January 2001
To ask the Scottish Executive how the closure of the regional offices of the British Council in Germany and the centralisation of activity in Berlin will assist the promotion of Scottish culture and Scottish life throughout Germany.
Answer
We have been assured by the council that the closures will have no effect on the level of activity to promote Scottish life and culture in Germany and the extensive use of IT will help maintain comprehensive coverage. However, we are advised that the closures will release funds to increase programme expenditure in other countries to promote both Scottish and UK interests.
- Asked by: Michael Russell, MSP for South of Scotland, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 13 December 2000
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Current Status:
Answered by Jack McConnell on 4 January 2001
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will make representations to Her Majesty's Government regarding the closure of the British Council regional offices in Germany, given the Executive's policy of developing links with the regions of Germany.
Answer
No. The development of Scottish Executive links with German Länder will not be affected by the closures.
- Asked by: Michael Russell, MSP for South of Scotland, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 13 December 2000
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Current Status:
Answered by Jack McConnell on 4 January 2001
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will encourage the British Council to retain regional offices in Germany in order to make the implementation of the Executive's policy on contact with the German lander easier to achieve.
Answer
No. The British Council have assured the Executive that programme expenditure in Germany has not been reduced and that activity will continue at current levels. Management of the British Council's assets is a matter for the council.
- Asked by: Michael Russell, MSP for South of Scotland, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Monday, 11 December 2000
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Current Status:
Answered by Ross Finnie on 3 January 2001
To ask the Scottish Executive what financial assistance for farm diversification is available in the Clydesdale constituency.
Answer
I hope to announce shortly the launch of a new grant scheme to assist farmers and their immediate family members who wish to create new income-generating enterprises or expand existing diversified activities, either on-farm or off-farm. The scheme will apply to the Clydesdale constituency area, and to all rural areas in lowland Scotland. A separate scheme for the Highlands and Islands was launched at the end of October.
- Asked by: Michael Russell, MSP for South of Scotland, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Monday, 11 December 2000
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Current Status:
Answered by Ross Finnie on 3 January 2001
To ask the Scottish Executive what new schemes of financial assistance for farmers in all sectors are available to farms within the Clydesdale parliamentary constituency.
Answer
Three new schemes of financial assistance for farmers opened for applications in December. These are the Less Favoured Area Support Scheme, the Rural Stewardship Scheme and the Pig Industry Restructuring Scheme (Outgoers element). The Agricultural Marketing and Processing Scheme, the Pig Industry Restructuring Scheme (Ongoers element) and a farm diversification scheme will open early next year. All of these schemes are available within the Clydesdale parliamentary constituency area.
- Asked by: Michael Russell, MSP for South of Scotland, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Monday, 11 December 2000
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Current Status:
Answered by Sam Galbraith on 3 January 2001
To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions or meetings it has held with representatives of City of Edinburgh Council regarding the planning application for the development of greenfield land adjacent to Edinburgh for a possible film studio and whether it has any plans to meet with council representatives to discuss the application and its progress once the council starts its inquiry into the application.
Answer
No planning application has been submitted for the development of greenfield land adjacent to Edinburgh for a possible film studio. The Scottish Executive has not held any discussions or meetings with representatives of the City of Edinburgh Council to discuss such an application nor does it have any plans to do so.
- Asked by: Michael Russell, MSP for South of Scotland, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Monday, 11 December 2000
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Current Status:
Answered by Susan Deacon on 3 January 2001
To ask the Scottish Executive what the nearest acute and maternity hospitals will be to (a) Abington, (b) Crawford, (c) Leadhills, (d) Lanark, (e) Carluke and (f) Biggar by the end of 2001.
Answer
I refer the member to the answer given to question S1W-11893.
- Asked by: Michael Russell, MSP for South of Scotland, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Monday, 11 December 2000
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Current Status:
Answered by Susan Deacon on 3 January 2001
To ask the Scottish Executive how many hospital beds are currently available within the Clydesdale parliamentary constituency and how many will be in 12 months time.
Answer
This is an operational matter for Lanarkshire Health Board and the NHS Trust. I have asked the Chairman of the health board to write with the details sought. A copy of the letter will be placed in the Parliament's Reference Centre.
