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Questions and answers

Parliamentary questions can be asked by any MSP to the Scottish Government or the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body. The questions provide a means for MSPs to get factual and statistical information.

Written questions must be answered within 10 working days (20 working days during recess)
Other questions such as Topical, Portfolio, General and First Minister's Question Times are taken in the Chamber

Urgent Questions aren't included in the Question and Answers search. There is a SPICe fact sheet listing Urgent and emergency questions.

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Question reference: S1W-20144

Asked by: Christine Grahame, MSP for South of Scotland, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 20 November 2001
Current Status: Answered by David Steel on 4 December 2001

To ask the Presiding Officer what the current maximum number of remote access users is that may be connected to the Parliament's IT network at any one time.

In the answers to this question, S1W-20145 and S1W-20146, remote access is taken to encompass all forms of secure dial-in to the Parliament's IT network. The Parliament's network is currently configured to allow a maximum of 58 remote access users to connect at the same time. Since May of this year the highest number of concurrent users on the system has been 20. IT Services keep the use and performance of the secure access systems under review to ensure sufficient capacity is available to meet requirements.

Question reference: S1W-20145

Asked by: Christine Grahame, MSP for South of Scotland, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 20 November 2001
Current Status: Answered by David Steel on 4 December 2001

To ask the Presiding Officer how many calls and complaints have been logged to the Parliament's IT Helpdesk concerning any failures of the remote access service since 1 January 2001.

Question reference: S1W-20160

Asked by: Christine Grahame, MSP for South of Scotland, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 20 November 2001
Current Status: Answered by Wendy Alexander on 4 December 2001

To ask the Scottish Executive, with reference to the letter to me from the Minister of State for Employment Relations and the Regions, of 16 November 2001 copied to the Minister for Enterprise and Lifelong Learning, whether it will make representations to Her Majesty's Government to request that part of the #17 million grant to be recovered from Viasystems as a result of the closure of its north Tyneside plant be used for investment in the manufacturing industry in the Scottish Borders.

Question reference: S1W-20146

Asked by: Christine Grahame, MSP for South of Scotland, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 20 November 2001
Current Status: Answered by David Steel on 4 December 2001

To ask the Presiding Officer what steps will be taken to ensure a reliable and enhanced service for remote access users of the Parliament's IT network.

Currently there are some 400 users enabled to connect to the Parliament's network remotely. A number of constituency and local offices successfully use this service regularly. As part of on-going service enhancement, an end to end review of the remote access service has been initiated. Phase 1, aimed at identifying improvements that can be made from the Parliament site is complete and the recommendations are currently being implemented. Phase 2 concerns the suitability of external telecomm equipment and services currently used to access the Parliament's network remotely, this study is in progress following on-site inspection of some constituency offices and recommendations are in preparation. Phase 3 will concern the provision of user guidance and training to assist remote users in utilising the service to best advantage.

Question reference: S1W-18995

Asked by: Christine Grahame, MSP for South of Scotland, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 10 October 2001
Current Status: Answered by Jim Wallace on 4 December 2001

To ask the Scottish Executive when an announcement will be made with regard to a replacement block at Polmont Young Offenders Institution, as identified in the Visiting Committee of Polmont Young Offenders Institution Annual Report 1 April 2000-31 March 2001.

Question reference: S1W-20092

Asked by: Christine Grahame, MSP for South of Scotland, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Monday, 19 November 2001
Current Status: Answered by Colin Boyd on 3 December 2001

To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has for an independent inquiry into the recent failed prosecution of Andrew Aspinall.

Question reference: S1W-20093

Asked by: Christine Grahame, MSP for South of Scotland, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Monday, 19 November 2001
Current Status: Answered by Colin Boyd on 3 December 2001

To ask the Scottish Executive what the cost was of the investigation, prosecution and trial of Andrew Aspinall.

Question reference: S1W-19958

Asked by: Christine Grahame, MSP for South of Scotland, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 15 November 2001
Current Status: Answered by Wendy Alexander on 28 November 2001

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will designate the Borders area for priority investment in the light of (a) Signum Circuits, Selkirk, going into receivership with resulting redundancies and (b) the Report on Foot-and-Mouth Disease by the Director of Lifelong Care at Scottish Borders Council dated 7 November 2001.

The Scottish Executive is fully aware of the challenges facing the Borders economy, and works closely with local agencies to help create sustainable employment opportunities. In recognition of this, Scottish Enterprise Borders have been awarded an additional £6.096 million for the period 1999-2002 to further support economic development in the area. The Executive has also worked closely with local agencies on planning for recovery from the recent foot-and-mouth disease outbreak, and has provided significant funding for the actions identified in their Foot-and-Mouth Disease Recovery Plan.

Question reference: S1W-19957

Asked by: Christine Grahame, MSP for South of Scotland, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 15 November 2001
Current Status: Answered by Wendy Alexander on 28 November 2001

To ask the Scottish Executive what its response is to the Economic Impact section (paragraph 12.0) of the Report on Foot-and-Mouth Disease by the Director of Lifelong Care at Scottish Borders Council dated 7 November 2001, with particular reference to the financial consequences for the Borders economy of the foot-and-mouth disease outbreak and the downturn in electronics production there which the report estimates will represent a total loss of #71 million to the local economy, representing 7% of Borders Gross Demestic Product over the next year.

In recognition of the challenges facing the Borders economy, the Scottish Executive has worked closely with local agencies and provided significant funding for the actions identified in their Foot-and-Mouth Recovery Plan. The figures cited in the question are taken directly from the Borders Foot-and-Mouth Recovery Plan, which was presented to the Executive in May of this year. The Executive continues to monitor the impact of the foot-and-mouth disease outbreak nationally. The Scottish Executive's Impact Assessment Group has undertaken three surveys of non-agricultural businesses - in April, June and October. The first two surveys have already been published and the third survey results will be published on 19 December.

Question reference: S1W-19105

Asked by: Christine Grahame, MSP for South of Scotland, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Monday, 15 October 2001
Current Status: Answered by Iain Gray on 26 November 2001

To ask the Scottish Executive, with reference to the Annual Report of the Cornton Vale (under 21) Visiting Committee, how many "lock-ups" there were at the prison in 1999-2000, 2000-01 and 2001 to date.