- Asked by: Kenneth Gibson, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 02 November 1999
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Current Status:
Answered by Rhona Brankin on 16 November 1999
To ask the Scottish Executive whether the three year contract from 1 January 1999 worth #160,000 a year between AR Ltd and the National Stadium plc is consistent with the assurances regarding the future management of the project to which its contribution of #2 million was subject, whether there is any provision in the contract for a one-off payment of #160,000 to Austin Reilly or AR Ltd in the event of termination of the contract by The National Stadium plc and, if so, whether any of its contribution of #2 million could be used to fund this payment.
Answer
The details of the contract between The National Stadium plc and AR Ltd are a matter for the two parties concerned. One of the conditions attaching to the further financial contributions of all the co-funders' is that a new management structure is put in place. The role of TNS in the future management of the stadium is therefore an element in the ongoing negotiations and discussions.None of the Scottish Executive's contribution of £2m to the rescue package will be paid over until the co-funders' pre-conditions have been met. The co-funders' money will be used to help pay off debts to Queen's Park Football Club's creditors.
- Asked by: Kenneth Gibson, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 02 November 1999
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Current Status:
Answered by Rhona Brankin on 16 November 1999
To ask the Scottish Executive whether the resignation of William Samuel this month as a Director of The National Stadium plc has any implications for compliance with the assurances regarding the future management of the National Stadium project to which its contribution of #2 million was subject.
Answer
Only to the extent that the role of The National Stadium generally is being reviewed as part of putting in place a new management structure for the ongoing stadium operation.
- Asked by: Kenneth Gibson, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Monday, 01 November 1999
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Current Status:
Answered by Rhona Brankin on 15 November 1999
To ask the Scottish Executive whether the funding gap in respect of the National Stadium project currently stands at #6 million.
Answer
It is for Queen's Park Football Club plc and The National Football Stadium plc to decide what information it wishes to make publicly available about its financial position.
- Asked by: Kenneth Gibson, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Monday, 01 November 1999
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Current Status:
Answered by Rhona Brankin on 15 November 1999
To ask the Scottish Executive further to the answer to question S1W-1960 by Mr Sam Galbraith, to what specific assurances regarding the future management and business plan of the National Stadium project its contribution of #2 million was subject.
Answer
The Scottish Executive wishes to see new management arrangements which reflect the fact that the construction phase of the project is virtually complete and that the project is now mainly a marketing and management operation. We also wish to see a fully developed business plan which demonstrates that the stadium operation is commercially viable on a long term basis.
- Asked by: Kenneth Gibson, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Friday, 29 October 1999
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Current Status:
Answered by Henry McLeish on 12 November 1999
To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to emulate the Small Business Service operational in other parts of the United Kingdom and what measures it intends to implement to encourage more effective and efficient partnerships between the various business support organisations such as chambers of commerce, enterprise trusts, local councils and LECs.
Answer
We are currently considering the Scottish implications of the Small Business Service proposals published by the Department of Trade and Industry. Our assessment will take account of the fact that economic development issues are devolved to the Scottish Parliament and the existence of Scotland's distinctive business support structure, including the role of Scottish Enterprise and Highlands and Islands Enterprise and the wider enterprise network.
- Asked by: Kenneth Gibson, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Friday, 29 October 1999
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Current Status:
Answered by Henry McLeish on 12 November 1999
To ask the Scottish Executive what measures it is taking to address the comprehensive needs of business; what action it intends to take to encourage greater integration of business support services between the public and private sectors, and what plans it has to look at the current business support structure.
Answer
The Enterprise networks provide a comprehensive range of business support services to help business formation, survival and growth. We keep under constant review existing arrangements for business support in Scotland to monitor the effectiveness of services and to identify ways of improving efficiency and service delivery. We will continue to work with SE and HIE to improve the quality and consistency of business support services, for example, through implementing the recommendations of the Review into Business Support in Scotland concluded earlier this year. The Parliament's Enterprise and Lifelong Learning Committee is currently undertaking an inquiry into business support services at the local level including examination of the co-ordination of services. The Executive will study the Committee's findings and conclusions with keen interest in considering whether further improvements are required in our business support arrangements.
- Asked by: Kenneth Gibson, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Thursday, 21 October 1999
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Current Status:
Answered by Jack McConnell on 28 October 1999
To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to relax capping limits for Scottish local authorities.
Answer
The Executive has no plans to issue capping limits to Scottish local authorities.
- Asked by: Kenneth Gibson, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 20 October 1999
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Current Status:
Answered by Jack McConnell on 28 October 1999
To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to relax capping limits for Scottish local authorities.
Answer
The Executive has no plans to issue capping limits to Scottish local authorities.
- Asked by: Kenneth Gibson, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 13 October 1999
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Current Status:
Answered by Henry McLeish on 27 October 1999
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will consider the implementation of a national careers advice service for Scotland along similar lines to the system to be adopted by the National Assembly for Wales.
Answer
On 6 October 1999 I announced that I wanted to review the Careers Service using the remit: "To examine the role of the careers service in Scotland, and the scope for change and development of that role in the light of trends and initiatives in education, lifelong learning, and the labour market."This review will consider all the options for the future of the careers service. The independently chaired committee is expected to report by the middle of 2000.
- Asked by: Kenneth Gibson, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 13 October 1999
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Current Status:
Answered by Jack McConnell on 27 October 1999
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will detail how much each Scottish local authority spent on (a) internal and (b) external public relations consultants, advisors and lobbyists in the financial year 1998-99 or in the most recent financial year for which this information is available.
Answer
The Scottish Executive does not hold this information centrally.