BUSINESS BULLETIN 149 / 2000

Tuesday 3 October 2000

Section E - Written questions lodged on 2 October 2000

S1W-10164 Mr Murray Tosh: To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-9784 by Sarah Boyack on 22 September 2000, whether it will clarify (a) how many funds are administered under the Powershift programme for Scotland, (b) whether a separate fund is available for applicants only from the Highlands and Islands, (c) whether a separate fund is maintained for applicants from other rural areas of Scotland, (d) how a priority for rural motorists is otherwise defined and administered and (e) how rural motorists are defined.

S1W-10165 Mr Murray Tosh: To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will consider allowing local authorities to retain income from fines for litter offences to offset enforcement costs and to fund anti-litter initiatives.

S1W-10166 Scott Barrie: To ask the Scottish Executive when it will publish a consultation paper on arrangements for establishing a permanent Scottish Parliamentary Ombudsman as required by section 91 of the Scotland Act 1998.

S1W-10167 Mr Jamie Stone: To ask the Scottish Executive what the current position is in relation to the availability of funding for the planning of farm woodlands.

S1W-10168 Fergus Ewing: To ask the Scottish Executive what impact it estimates the proposed climate change levy will have on the forestry industry.

S1W-10169 Fergus Ewing: To ask the Scottish Executive whether any records exist of its quarterly liaison meetings with the Scottish Qualifications Authority (SQA) since March 1999 which contain more detailed information than the minutes made available to the Enterprise and Lifelong Learning Committee; whether any such records are held by the Scottish Executive or the SQA, and whether it will place copies of any such records in SPICe.

S1W-10170 Fergus Ewing: To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will place in SPICe copies of all the letters or other representations which it received from schools and colleges reporting difficulties with the electronic transfer of information to the Scottish Qualifications Authority or other aspects of the handling of this year's exams, referred to by the Minister for Children and Education in his statement to the Parliament on 6 September (Official Report, col. 21).

S1W-10171 Fergus Ewing: To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will place in SPICe copies of all the tender documents for the contract to conduct an investigation into the handling of this year's exams, in particular the letter or other document specifying the remit of the inquiry, any other specific instructions and the proposed contract terms.

S1W-10172 Fergus Ewing: To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-9737 by Mr Sam Galbraith on 28 September 2000, on what specific date it first received any report from any school or college of any difficulties in the collection of internal assessment data.

S1W-10173 Fergus Ewing: To ask the Scottish Executive on what date Deloitte & Touche were appointed to carry out the independent inquiry into the exams crisis.

S1W-10174 Fergus Ewing: To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will place in SPICe a copy of the contract under which Deloitte & Touche have been appointed to conduct the independent inquiry into the handling of this year's exam results.

S1W-10175 Christine Grahame: To ask the Scottish Executive, with regard to the reports in the Scotland on Sunday and Business AM of a possible takeover of Dawson International by Prada, what representations have been made to the Department of Trade and Industry and what steps have been taken to safeguard jobs in the Borders' cashmere industry should any takeover succeed.

S1W-10176 Mr John Munro: To ask the Scottish Executive what action is being taken to ensure that there will be a Gaelic news broadcast following the announcement by Comataidh Crailaidh Gaidhlig that it will not renew the Grampian Television contract when it expires on 31 December 2000.