- Asked by: Michael Russell, MSP for South of Scotland, Scottish National Party
-
Date lodged: Friday, 15 November 2002
-
Current Status:
Answered by Elaine Murray on 26 November 2002
To ask the Scottish Executive what specific action has been taken to encourage new partnerships in both public and private sectors and further collaboration within the library sector to include the exploitation of information and communication technologies and the development of policies for national collections, particularly in relation to Scottish material, as referred to in key priority 2.2 of strategic objective 2 of Creating our Future: Minding our Past.
Answer
As reported in the National Cultural Strategy Annual report 2002, the New Opportunities Fund award of £4 million to Resource for Learning in Scotland, a consortium of the National Library of Scotland, the National Archives of Scotland, the Scottish Resource Access Network, and over 100 Scottish archives and libraries will create tens of thousands of newly digitised multimedia resources. The Scottish Library and Information Council (SLIC) has also funded digitisation programmes in Perth, East Dunbartonshire and the Royal Botanic Garden. The Ayrshire Libraries Forum, with SLIC funding, is developing a collaborative framework for the procurement of generic Scottish material. SLIC has also established a group to "bookmark" websites covering a wide range of subjects including Scottish material. This will prevent duplication of effort and ensure a common approach to standards.Also reported, is an e-Government initiative now being developed by SLIC, with Executive funding, to demonstrate how cultural information and content can be used and shared, and how existing websites may be linked. The SLIC website carries information on Scottish writers both present and past.In addition, SLIC, which receives core funding of £160,000 from the Executive, has an important role in liasing with COSLA and a wide range of other organisations, including Scottish Enterprise, SUFI, Scottish Further Education Unit, NHS Scotland and the New Opportunities Fund.
- Asked by: Michael Russell, MSP for South of Scotland, Scottish National Party
-
Date lodged: Friday, 15 November 2002
-
Current Status:
Answered by Elaine Murray on 26 November 2002
To ask the Scottish Executive who participates in the action group established to consider how the languages and cultural traditions of Scotland's ethnic communities can be supported, as referred to in key priority 2.1 of strategic objective 2 of Creating our Future: Minding our Past; how many meetings the group has had, and whether any findings have been published.
Answer
As stated in the first annual report of Scotland's National Cultural Strategy, published October 2001, the Executive considered the proposal to establish such a group in light of a commitment in the Executive's Equality Strategy's to develop consultation methods acceptable to minority ethnic communities, and also in light of the Equal Futures Project and November 2001 conference. The Executive is exploring ways to develop more effective consultation and dialogue with minority ethnic communities. In the meantime we have concluded that the best approach is to pursue the Equal Futures Project. This aims to bring together children and young people to explore issues of identity, ethnicity and culture, and address racism, empowering all Scotland's young people to celebrate the positive benefits of a multi-cultural society. To support this, the Executive has invested £150,000 in the project over a two-year period, to March 2004.
- Asked by: Michael Russell, MSP for South of Scotland, Scottish National Party
-
Date lodged: Friday, 15 November 2002
-
Current Status:
Answered by Elaine Murray on 26 November 2002
To ask the Scottish Executive what specific action has been taken to identify and promote the national roles and responsibilities and realise the full potential of the funded companies that work across Scotland, as referred to in key priority 1.3 of strategic objective 1 of Creating our Future: Minding our Past.
Answer
The Scottish Arts Council provides core funding to those arts bodies it considers have strategic national and regional roles to play. The council works closely with those bodies to ensure that such responsibilities are fully discharged. One hundred and ten arts bodies and organisations across Scotland are to receive core funding totalling some £27.8 million in 2002-03.
- Asked by: Michael Russell, MSP for South of Scotland, Scottish National Party
-
Date lodged: Friday, 15 November 2002
-
Current Status:
Answered by Elaine Murray on 26 November 2002
To ask the Scottish Executive what specific action has been taken to create opportunities for networking amongst those working in the culture sector to stimulate sharing of experience and good practice and the agreement of common objectives, as referred to in key priority 1.1 of strategic objective 1 of Creating our Future: Minding our Past.
Answer
As stated in the second annual report of Scotland's National Cultural Strategy, reviews of the Scottish Arts Council and Scottish Screen will report shortly. These have considered the sectoral interface and opportunities for networking and creative dialogue, and the findings will be reported. Specific examples of networks engaging the cultural agencies, local authorities and the sector appeared in the first annual report.
- Asked by: Michael Russell, MSP for South of Scotland, Scottish National Party
-
Date lodged: Friday, 15 November 2002
-
Current Status:
Answered by Elaine Murray on 26 November 2002
To ask the Scottish Executive what actions have been taken to promote the contribution of new technologies to cultural life, as referred to in key priority 1.2 of strategic objective 1 of Creating our Future: Minding our Past.
Answer
As reported in the Scottish National Cultural Strategy Annual Report 2001, there are in place a number of actions to promote the contribution of new technologies to cultural life. There are further examples in the Scottish National Cultural Strategy Annual Report 2002.
- Asked by: Michael Russell, MSP for South of Scotland, Scottish National Party
-
Date lodged: Friday, 15 November 2002
-
Current Status:
Answered by Elaine Murray on 26 November 2002
To ask the Scottish Executive what progress has been made on establishing a national product design network, as referred to in key priority 1.2 of strategic objective 1 of Creating our Future: Minding our Past.
Answer
A number of meetings took place with potential members to progress the idea of a national product design network, as part of the Glasgow Design Project, but this network has not yet been established.However, the Lighthouse's Creative Entrepreneurs Networking Club, which is supported by NESTA, Scottish Enterprise and Cap Gemini, has over 600 members, which include a substantial number of product designers. The club meets monthly and members are offered professional development, industry updates and access to a range of advice as well as contact with others in the field across Scotland.Also, over the next three years, the newly formed European Design Forum, which is funded by Culture 2000, will mount six workshops on a range of matters related to product design and manufacturing. During that period 30 Scottish design companies will have opportunities to network with their peers and meet a variety of businesses based in Europe.
- Asked by: Michael Russell, MSP for South of Scotland, Scottish National Party
-
Date lodged: Wednesday, 13 November 2002
-
Current Status:
Answered by Ross Finnie on 25 November 2002
To ask the Scottish Executive what complaints from interested parties (a) it, (b) its executive agencies, (c) non-departmental public bodies and (d) relevant police forces have received with regard to the eviction of the tenants of Powhillon Farm, Dumfriesshire on 15 June 1999; what the outcome of any such complaints has been, and what complaints are still being investigated.
Answer
Complaints were received from relatives of the tenant involved in the eviction. These were investigated but found to be without substance. No outstanding complaints are under investigation.
- Asked by: Michael Russell, MSP for South of Scotland, Scottish National Party
-
Date lodged: Wednesday, 13 November 2002
-
Current Status:
Answered by Ross Finnie on 25 November 2002
To ask the Scottish Executive what involvement it had in the eviction of the tenants of Powhillon Farm, Dumfriesshire on 15 June 1999.
Answer
None.
- Asked by: Michael Russell, MSP for South of Scotland, Scottish National Party
-
Date lodged: Monday, 11 November 2002
-
Current Status:
Answered by Andy Kerr on 25 November 2002
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-29152 by Mr Andy Kerr on 11 October 2002, whether Mr John McTernan sought permission to take up a post with the Scottish Arts Council at any time in the last six months and, if so and permission was given, what the reason was for giving such permission.
Answer
The answer given to question S1W-29152 explained the rules on the acceptance of business appointments within two years of leaving Crown employment. Former special advisers are subject to the rules and it is for their judgement whether, in the circumstances, agreement should be sought. Mr John McTernan did not do so in this case and I am not aware that he is engaged in anything which would have required agreement.
- Asked by: Michael Russell, MSP for South of Scotland, Scottish National Party
-
Date lodged: Monday, 11 November 2002
-
Current Status:
Answered by Elaine Murray on 21 November 2002
To ask the Scottish Executive what consultation took place with the Scottish Libraries and Information Council with regard to the recent appointment of a new chair for that organisation.
Answer
No consultation took place. The Scottish Libraries and Information Council is an independent organisation.