- Asked by: Michael Russell, MSP for South of Scotland, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Thursday, 08 March 2001
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Current Status:
Answered by Henry McLeish on 22 March 2001
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-13519 by Mr Sam Galbraith on 2 March 2001, whether adherence to the ministerial code is checked or supervised by the First Minister and, if so, whether the First Minister will provide an answer to the question, rather than the Minister whose actions the question pertains to.
Answer
I am satisfied that the Minister has complied with the terms of the Ministerial Code.
- Asked by: Michael Russell, MSP for South of Scotland, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Thursday, 08 March 2001
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Current Status:
Answered by Henry McLeish on 22 March 2001
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-13048 by Henry McLeish on 16 February 2001, how many copies of Working together for Scotland: A Programme for Government have to date been (a) distributed free of charge to recipients and (b) sold, and how many people have accessed the document on the Executive's website.
Answer
1,867 copies of Working together for Scotland: A Programme for Government have been distributed free of charge to recipients, and 35 copies have been sold through The Stationery Office Bookshop.Information on the number of people who have accessed the document on the Executive's website is not available.
- Asked by: Michael Russell, MSP for South of Scotland, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Thursday, 08 March 2001
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Current Status:
Answered by Alasdair Morrison on 22 March 2001
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will consult widely within the tourist industry and, in particular, with tourist businesses in Dumfries and Galloway so that it is fully aware of any hardship and difficulties being caused for the industry as a result of the outbreak of foot and mouth disease, and whether it will consider a compensation scheme for the industry.
Answer
I am fully aware of the problems that the tourism industry is facing. I met representatives of tourism businesses in Dumfries and Galloway on 16 March. I had a meeting earlier in the week with businesses in Perthshire. We are looking at ways in which we can assist the industry both at the UK and Scottish level.
- Asked by: Michael Russell, MSP for South of Scotland, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Thursday, 08 March 2001
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Current Status:
Answered by Alasdair Morrison on 22 March 2001
To ask the Scottish Executive what consultation it is undertaking on providing support for tourism in Dumfries and Galloway in the light of the anticipated downturn as a result of the foot and mouth disease outbreak.
Answer
I visited Dumfries and Galloway Tourist Board on Friday 16 March, to discuss the position at first hand with tourism businesses.
- Asked by: Michael Russell, MSP for South of Scotland, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Thursday, 08 March 2001
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Current Status:
Answered by Alasdair Morrison on 22 March 2001
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-13203 by Mr Alasdair Morrison on 22 February 2001, when it will announce the date of commencement of training of Gaelic-medium teachers at Lews Castle College.
Answer
The establishment of the proposed course is a matter for the College in consultation with Strathclyde University and the Scottish Higher Education Funding Council. I expect an announcement to be made in due course.
- Asked by: Michael Russell, MSP for South of Scotland, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Thursday, 08 March 2001
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Current Status:
Answered by Alasdair Morrison on 22 March 2001
To ask the Scottish Executive what estimates it has made of (a) the loss to tourism in the light of the immediate restrictions on travel and visiting recommended as a result of the foot and mouth disease outbreak, (b) the medium-term impact on tourism and tourist businesses if the restrictions were to continue in place for more than one month and (c) the long-term impact on tourism and tourist businesses through adverse publicity generated by the outbreak, broken down by electoral region.
Answer
Visitscotland estimate that the cost to the tourism industry in Scotland is currently £10 million per week. The month of April is normally worth around £230 million. Looking further ahead, we have put in place an Economic Impact Group to estimate the effects on the tourism and other industries. That Group is collecting comprehensive information from around Scotland. In due course we will provide reliable estimates of the medium and long term effects.
- Asked by: Michael Russell, MSP for South of Scotland, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Thursday, 01 February 2001
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Current Status:
Answered by Jim Wallace on 20 March 2001
To ask the Scottish Executive how many prosecutions have been brought since May 2000 against parents whose children were absent from school without authorisation, how many such prosecutions were successful and what sentences have been imposed by the courts after any such convictions.
Answer
The information requested is not available from the information held centrally. The statistical data held by Scottish Executive Justice Department (SEJD) on the outcome of court proceedings are based on information provided by police records offices. Prosecutions for Education Act offences are now generally taken by the local authority rather than the Procurator Fiscal.
- Asked by: Michael Russell, MSP for South of Scotland, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Friday, 02 February 2001
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Current Status:
Answered by Jack McConnell on 19 March 2001
To ask the Scottish Executive what arrangements it is making with the Roman Catholic Church to ensure that continuing professional development for teachers includes optional elements of specific relevance to teachers in Catholic schools.
Answer
Consultation on a framework for teachers' continuing professional development will be as wide as possible and will take in all stakeholders, including the Catholic Education Commission.The Catholic Education Commission will also be given a specific opportunity to highlight issues of particular relevance to Catholic teachers to the Ministerial Strategy Committee for Continuing Professional Development.
- Asked by: Michael Russell, MSP for South of Scotland, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 31 January 2001
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Current Status:
Answered by Jack McConnell on 19 March 2001
To ask the Scottish Executive how many Gaelic medium units are currently short of teachers.
Answer
No information is currently collected centrally on teacher vacancies in Gaelic-medium units. As you are aware I have sent a report on the supply of teachers to the Convener of the Education, Culture and Sport Committee detailing the background to the current position on the collection of information relevant to teacher supply and outlining planned improvements to current methods. Copies of this report have been made available to committee members and it has been placed in the Parliament's Reference Centre (Bib. no. 10751). A response to your question can be found at paragraphs 28-36 of the report.
- Asked by: Michael Russell, MSP for South of Scotland, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 31 January 2001
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Current Status:
Answered by Jack McConnell on 19 March 2001
To ask the Scottish Executive how many teachers Gaelic medium units will be short of in (a) August 2001 and (b) August 2002.
Answer
I refer the member to the answer given to question S1W-12961.
