- Asked by: Fergus Ewing, MSP for Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Thursday, 22 November 2001
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Current Status:
Answered by Lewis Macdonald on 14 January 2002
To ask the Scottish Executive what criteria are used in assessing whether a speed limit should be 40, 30 or 20 miles per hour and what criteria are used when considering any requests or representations for reductions in speed limits.
Answer
The criteria used by the Scottish Executive in determining speed limits on trunk roads are set out in Scottish Office Industry Department Circular 1/93, copies of which are available in the Parliament's Reference Centre (Bib. number 17782). Requests and representations for reductions in speed limits are considered in accordance with the criteria. The Executive commends the use of the criteria to local roads authorities for application to decisions concerning speed limits on local roads. It is, however, for each authority to decide whether or not to apply the criteria in any particular case.On 17 August 2001 the Executive issued revised guidance to local authorities on 20 mph speed limits. Scottish Executive Development Department Circular 6/2001, copies of which are available in the Parliament's Reference Centre (Bib. number 17781), provides advice on the setting of mandatory and advisory 20 mph speed limits.
- Asked by: Fergus Ewing, MSP for Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Thursday, 06 December 2001
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Current Status:
Answered by Lewis Macdonald on 11 January 2002
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will give a breakdown of the #18 million to be distributed to members under the Scottish Transport Group pension Scheme and how much of this amount derives from the (a) reduction in tax from 40% to 35% and (b) increase in the value of the surplus from 31 March 2000 to 31 March 2001.
Answer
The additional £18 million secured by Scottish ministers for distribution to former members of the Scottish Transport Group pension schemes represents the estimated increase in the surplus of the schemes to 31 March 2001 of some £8 million; the remainder of the additional distribution of some £10 million is as a result of tax changes.
- Asked by: Fergus Ewing, MSP for Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 06 November 2001
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Current Status:
Answered by Andy Kerr on 11 January 2002
To ask the Scottish Executive whether any of its special advisers have any entitlement to terminal payments in the event of termination of their employment and what the full details of any such entitlements are.
Answer
In accordance with the terms of their employment, special advisers are entitled to a severance payment in the event of termination of employment without notice. The amount of entitlement is currently calculated as follows:Advisers whose appointment is terminated within six months of appointment receive one month's salary regardless of age.Advisers under age 34 when appointment terminates receive three months salary.Advisers aged 34 on termination of appointment receive a severance payment at a rate half-way between three months' pay and the appropriate over 35 rate.Advisers aged 35 or over receive three months pay if appointment terminates during the first year of service and thereafter an extra one month's pay for each completed year of service after the first, subject to a maximum of six months' pay.
- Asked by: Fergus Ewing, MSP for Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 06 November 2001
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Current Status:
Answered by Andy Kerr on 11 January 2002
To ask the Scottish Executive whether there are any plans to reduce the number of special advisors to the First Minister.
Answer
Under the terms of the Civil Service Order in Council 1995 as amended by the Civil Service (Amendment) Order in Council 1999, which is still in force, up to 12 special advisers can be appointed by the First Minister. There are no current plans to change that order.
- Asked by: Fergus Ewing, MSP for Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 06 November 2001
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Current Status:
Answered by Andy Kerr on 11 January 2002
To ask the Scottish Executive whether former special advisers to it, following termination of employment, are immediately eligible for any appointment to posts in non-governmental organisations or for other appointments within the recommendation, gift or nomination of the Executive or First Minister.
Answer
The contract of employment for special advisers states that in certain circumstances Advisers should obtain the agreement of the Crown before accepting any offer of employment outside the civil service which would start within two years of leaving Crown employment. In common with other members of the public, there is nothing to prohibit former special advisers from applying for an appointment to a public body. All such appointments are made on merit after a fair, open and transparent process, which is subject to independent scrutiny.
- Asked by: Fergus Ewing, MSP for Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Monday, 03 December 2001
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Current Status:
Answered by Lewis Macdonald on 11 January 2002
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-18626 by Lewis MacDonald on 28 November, whether the information provided was available to it before 18 December 2000 and, if so, on what date and whether the ex-gratia payments to Scottish Transport Group pension schemes members that it announced on the 18 December 2000 were discussed at any meeting of the Cabinet and, if so, on what dates.
Answer
I understand that the Report and Accounts of the Scottish Transport Group pension schemes for the year ended 31 March 2000 were published by the trustees prior to 18 December 2000. Publication and timing of publication is a matter for the trustees.It would be inappropriate to provide information which would harm the frankness and candour of discussion and advice, including the proceedings of Scottish Cabinet.
- Asked by: Fergus Ewing, MSP for Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Thursday, 06 December 2001
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Current Status:
Answered by Lewis Macdonald on 10 January 2002
To ask the Scottish Executive what representations it has made, or plans to make, to the board of management at Caledonian MacBrayne in relation to the current industrial dispute in the Clyde division, in particular to ascertain whether they have considered making any economies to their management operations, structure, directors' bonuses and termination payments, and what plans it has to seek to make a ministerial statement on these matters.
Answer
I have no plans to make a statement on matters relating to the general management of Caledonian MacBrayne Ltd.Scottish Executive officials kept in close touch with the company throughout the recent industrial dispute on the Clyde with the objective of ensuring that adequate lifeline ferry services were maintained. We also funded connecting bus services to help foot passengers use the sailings that the company continued to provide to Arran and Bute.
- Asked by: Fergus Ewing, MSP for Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 11 December 2001
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Current Status:
Answered by Jim Wallace on 10 January 2002
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it plans to amend the Licensing (Scotland) Act 1976 so that licensed premises and the licensee are covered by separate three-year licences.
Answer
We have put in place an independent committee, led by Sheriff Principal Nicholson, to carry out a fundamental review of Scotland's liquor licensing law and practice. The committee has received submissions on this issue. The committee is expected to report early in 2003 and we await its recommendations.
- Asked by: Fergus Ewing, MSP for Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 11 December 2001
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Current Status:
Answered by Malcolm Chisholm on 10 January 2002
To ask the Scottish Executive how many elderly people in the Highland Council area have been unable to receive free NHS dental treatment in the past 12 months because of a lack of dental surgeons.
Answer
This information is not held centrally. We are aware that there are access problems to NHS dentistry in Highland and will be meeting the Primary Care Trust to discuss the situation.
- Asked by: Fergus Ewing, MSP for Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Monday, 29 October 2001
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Current Status:
Answered by Nicol Stephen on 9 January 2002
To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to ensure that those who wish to pursue a career in teaching by way of the Postgraduate Certificate of Education and who are leaving a career in the private or public sector are not deterred from doing so by reason of the level of starting salary.
Answer
There have been significant improvements in pay, conditions and opportunities for teachers arising from the Agreement on a Teaching Profession for the 21st Century, in addition to the positive benefits of joining a re-invigorated profession.Negotiations on a range of issues relating to pay and conditions are continuing through the Scottish Negotiating Committee for Teachers (SNCT). A proposal from the SNCT Working Group on Conditions of Service that all probationers would start on the probationer point on the pay scale (£16,644 as from August 2002, rising to £18,000 from August 2003) will be considered at the next meeting of the SNCT on 31 January.