- Asked by: Christine Grahame, MSP for South of Scotland, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Friday, 21 July 2000
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Current Status:
Answered by Susan Deacon on 21 August 2000
To ask the Scottish Executive, with reference to its news release SE0028/2000 of 10 January 2000, what the criteria are for diagnosing influen'a in Scotland and how these differ from the criteria for diagnosing influen'a in England and Wales.
Answer
The press release was referring to differences between Scotland and England in methods of surveillance of the incidence of patients consulting general practitioners about "flu-like symptoms".
When a patient consults a general practitioner it cannot be determined immediately whether the "flu-like symptoms" are due to influenza or some other cause and it takes time for confirmatory tests to be carried out. Nevertheless, such consultations are counted in order to provide an immediate picture from week to week, so as to determine as early as possible whether numbers of cases are growing.
The surveillance scheme co-ordinated by the Scottish Centre for Infection and Environmental Health counts "consultation for 'flu-like illness" whereas the English scheme counts "first consultation for 'flu-like illness". Despite this difference, reporting rates are classified using similar criteria. Because they are categorised in the same way in Scotland and England, influenza rates can legitimately be compared.
- Asked by: Christine Grahame, MSP for South of Scotland, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Thursday, 20 July 2000
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Current Status:
Answered by Sarah Boyack on 21 August 2000
To ask the Scottish Executive, with reference to the Scott Wilson Scottish Borders railway feasibility study (summary report), whether it will commission a supplementary report to address the potential impact on the tourist industry in the Borders if the entire line from Edinburgh to Carlisle were to be re-instated.
Answer
The Scottish Executive does not intend to commission a supplementary report on the potential impact on tourism of reopening the Borders railway. This issue was addressed in the full Borders railway feasibility study which concluded that full reinstatement of the line beyond central Borders would incur very high additional capital costs in return for capturing little additional demand. When analysing the impact on tourism of reopening the line, the report did not rule out the possible southerly extension of the line as a tourist attraction.
- Asked by: Christine Grahame, MSP for South of Scotland, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Thursday, 27 July 2000
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Current Status:
Answered by Susan Deacon on 17 August 2000
To ask the Scottish Executive what applications were made to the New Opportunities Fund under the initiative "Living with Cancer", which applications were (a) successful and (b) unsuccessful and what the reasons were for decisions under both categories.
Answer
I refer to the answer given to question S1W-8899.
- Asked by: Christine Grahame, MSP for South of Scotland, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Thursday, 27 July 2000
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Current Status:
Answered by Iain Gray on 17 August 2000
To ask the Scottish Executive when I will receive a reply to my letter of 22 March 2000 to the Deputy Minister for Health and Community Care regarding my proposed Al'heimer's and Dementia Care Bill.
Answer
I issued a reply to your letters of 22 March and 28 March on 28 April. I have arranged for a copy of my letter to be sent to you.
- Asked by: Christine Grahame, MSP for South of Scotland, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Thursday, 27 July 2000
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Current Status:
Answered by Nicol Stephen on 17 August 2000
To ask the Scottish Executive what the names are of the members of the Scottish Textile Forum (STF), what the dates were of any meetings already held or will be of any meetings planned and whether the minutes of STF meetings will be made public.
Answer
The members of the Scottish Textile Forum, which met for the first time on 12 June 2000 are:
| Henry McLeish | Minister for Enterprise and Lifelong Learning |
| Tracey White | STUC |
| Gerry Skelton | Transport and & General Workers Union |
| John Steel | KFAT |
| Emma Harcus | Scottish Trade International |
| Jim McFarlane | Scottish Enterprise Borders |
| Helen Bottle | Scottish Enterprise Borders |
| Julia Scott-Barrett | Scottish Textile Network |
| Tony Taylor | Scottish Textile Manufacturers Association |
| James Sugden | Scottish Textile Manufacturers Association |
| Graeme Millar | Scottish Consumer Council |
| Patrick Browne | Scottish Retail Consortium |
| Robert Mather | Heriot-Watt University |
| John Wilson | British Apparel Textile Council |
| Ray Symons | Department of Trade and Industry |
| Blair McNaughton | Scottish Textile Manufacturers Association |
| Peter Brooks | Scottish Textile Manufacturers Association |
| Prof. George Stylios | Heriot Watt University |
| Colin Clarke | CAPITB |
| Michael Bentley | Textiles NTO |
| Hugh McNab | Highlands & Islands Enterprise |
| John Mason | Scottish Executive |
| Andy Bishop | Scottish Executive |
| Claire Smith | Scottish Executive |
The next meeting is planned for 12 September and the Forum plans to meet quarterly thereafter. The views of the Forum members will be sought at the next meeting on whether to publish minutes of these meetings.
- Asked by: Christine Grahame, MSP for South of Scotland, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Thursday, 27 July 2000
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Current Status:
Answered by Iain Gray on 17 August 2000
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-4278 by Iain Gray on 23 February 2000, whether the target dates for implementation of the four recommendations in the Scottish Health Advisory Service report referred to have been met, and what the current status is of the Health Improvement Plan for Highland, specifically with reference to the improvement of services for older people.
Answer
Responsibility for implementing the recommendations of the SHAS report lies with Highland Health Board and Highland Primary Care NHS Trust. I understand that these bodies are implementing the recommendations in line with the proposed target dates.
The Health Board and its partners have prepared a Health Improvement Programme covering the period 2000-2005. The Programme sets out the principles which the Board and its partners will follow in providing services for older people. I understand that these have been developed in the light of the SHAS recommendations and of best practice generally.
- Asked by: Christine Grahame, MSP for South of Scotland, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 26 July 2000
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Current Status:
Answered by Henry McLeish on 16 August 2000
To ask the Scottish Executive how many Borders small businesses applied for funding from Scottish Enterprise Borders in 1998-99, 1999-2000 and so far this year, how much each application was for and, of those that were successful, what amount was allocated to each.
Answer
Details of individual applications for grant from local enterprise companies are not published to protect the commercial confidentiality of businesses. A summary of awards to small businesses in the Borders is given in the tables below:
| 1998-1999 | Approved Applications | SE Borders Funding | Private Funds Levered |
| Start-up | 290 | £235,800 | £1,808,984 |
| Small Firms Development Programme | 93 | £64,400 | £64,400 |
| New Venture Development Programme | 29 | £132,000 | £264,000 |
| Total | 412 | £432,200 | £2,137,384 |
| 1999-2000 | Applications/ Approvals | SE Borders Funding | Private Funds Levered |
| Start-up | 275 | £206,969 | £1,572,964 |
| Small Firms Development Programme | 154 | £102,800 | £102,800 |
| New Venture Development Programme | 64 | £199,000 | £398,000 |
| Total | 493 | £508,769 | £2,073,764 |
| 2000-2001 (to 31 July) | Applications/ Approvals | SE Borders Funding | Private Funds Levered |
| Start-up | 112 | £66,500 | £505,400 |
| Small Firms Development Programme | 45 | £49,760 | £49,760 |
| New Venture Development Programme | 36 | £119,800 | £239,600 |
| Total | 193 | £236,060 | £794,760 |
- Asked by: Christine Grahame, MSP for South of Scotland, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 26 July 2000
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Current Status:
Answered by Henry McLeish on 16 August 2000
To ask the Scottish Executive whether the #600,000 spent by Scottish Enterprise Borders on securing and adapting premises in Selkirk specifically as a call centre and the further #70,000 spent retraining redundant workers as call centre operators was an appropriate expenditure of public funds given the failure so far to secure a call centre.
Answer
In its Final Report in March 1999 the Borders Working Party highlighted a shortage of readily available industrial premises as being a major impediment to the attraction of inward investment into the area.
The Borders Working Party also highlighted the success which Scotland is enjoying in the attraction of call centres and proposed that an advanced build call centre facility be created in the Borders. That facility was created at Selkirk.
- Asked by: Christine Grahame, MSP for South of Scotland, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 26 July 2000
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Current Status:
Answered by Henry McLeish on 16 August 2000
To ask the Scottish Executive, following expenditure of #600,000 by Scottish Enterprise Borders (SEB) on securing premises in Selkirk for a call centre and #70,000 on retraining redundant workers specifically as call centre operators, what efforts are being made by it and SEB to ensure that call centre companies are located in the Borders.
Answer
The Selkirk call centre is being actively promoted by Scottish Enterprise Borders and the Rural Unit of Locate in Scotland.
Locate in Scotland has considerable experience in attracting call centre operators to Scotland and this expertise is being used in relation to Selkirk. Confirmation of the inclusion of Selkirk in the recently approved Assisted Areas Map for Scotland will be an additional marketing advantage in favour of Selkirk.
- Asked by: Christine Grahame, MSP for South of Scotland, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 26 July 2000
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Current Status:
Answered by Henry McLeish on 16 August 2000
To ask the Scottish Executive who authorised payment of #670,000 for a call centre in Selkirk.
Answer
Authority for the conversion of the Claridge Mill property in Selkirk was granted by the Boards of Scottish Enterprise Borders and Scottish Enterprise (Projects Advisory Group).
