Parliamentary questions
Christine Grahame
3,532 questions tabled in the Scottish Parliament, most recent first.
27 Sep 2001 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what the target timescale is for completion of an appeal regarding a Record of Needs.
Answer · Jack McConnell: There is no target timescale in legislation for completion of Record of Needs appeals referred to Scottish ministers. The time taken to complete individual cases can vary depending on a variety of factors.<P ALIGN="JUSTIFY">The Record of Needs process, includ…
27 Sep 2001 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many successful appeals regarding Records of Needs there have been in 1998-99, 1999-2000 and 2000 to date and what this figure is as a percentage of the number received.
Answer · Jack McConnell: <TABLE BORDER CELLSPACING=1 CELLPADDING=2 WIDTH=597><TR><TD WIDTH="15%" VALIGN="TOP" HEIGHT=39><P ALIGN="JUSTIFY">Year </TD><TD WIDTH="38%" VALIGN="TOP" HEIGHT=39><P ALIGN="JUSTIFY"> Decisions in the parents' favour </TD><TD WIDTH="47%" VALIGN="TOP" HEIGHT=39…
27 Sep 2001 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many appeals have been received regarding Records of Needs in 1998-99, 1999-2000 and 2000 to date.
Answer · Jack McConnell: The Scottish Executive received 24 appeals in 1998-99, 32 appeals in 1999-2000, 31 appeals in 2000-01 and has received 22 to date in 2001-02.
27 Sep 2001 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what the average time taken to finalise appeals regarding Records of Needs has been for 1998-99, 1999-2000 and 2000 to date.
Answer · Jack McConnell: The average times are 66 weeks in 1998-99, 74 weeks in 1999-2000 and 39 weeks in 2000-01 for the 13 completed so far. No appeals received in 2001-02 have yet reached decision. The number of appeals received in each year is 24, 32, 31 and 22 to date, respectiv…
26 Sep 2001 · SPCB Written Question
To ask the Presiding Officer when the written answers search engine will again be fully functional.
Answer · David Steel: The written answers database and search engine was added to the redesigned website on 18 June. Towards the end of August, problems were encountered in loading the latest answers into that database. Extensive investigations have shown that this is a complex ma…
7 Sep 2001 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what action it has taken in response to the letter of 10 August 2001 from the Director of Transport and Environmental Standards of Scottish Borders Council asking it to make representations to Her Majesty's Treasury regarding an exemption from the landfill tax for the council in respect o…
Answer · Rhona Brankin: I replied to the letter from Scottish Borders Council on 5 September 2001 advising that the Scottish Executive would not be prepared to make representations to Her Majesty's Treasury on its behalf as requested.
6 Sep 2001 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has put in place any new environmental strategies designed to help local authorities in relation to the recycling of waste paper and cardboard, given the current situation in the waste paper and cardboard recycling market.
Answer · Rhona Brankin: The Scottish Executive supports the Waste and Resources Action Programme which is a major programme (with over £40 million public funding) for England, Wales and Scotland aimed at creating and developing stable and efficient markets for recycled materials. On…
5 Sep 2001 · General Question
To ask the Scottish Executive when it last met representatives of Scottish Borders Council and what issues were discussed.
Answer · Angus MacKay: There have been a number of recent meetings between Scottish Borders Council and officials of the Scottish Executive and associated agencies at which various routine business matters have been discussed.
4 Sep 2001 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many Scottish Borders residents formerly employed at Viasystems' Scottish Borders plants will be made redundant in the event of Viasystems' North Tyneside plant closing.
Answer · Wendy Alexander: <B><FONT SIZE=2>The Scottish Executive does not have access to individual firms' employee residence data. However, I understand that Scottish Enterprise Borders estimates that around 12 such individuals may be made redundant.</B></FONT>
4 Sep 2001 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-1096 by Henry McLeish on 11 October 1999 and in the light of the recent announcement of redundancies at Viasystems' Tyneside plants and reports that it intends to close its UK operations, whether it plans to discuss issues relating to the award of re…
Answer · Wendy Alexander: The Scottish Executive maintains regular contact with the Department of Trade and Industry with regard to the administration of Regional Selective Assistance and where necessary, discusses individual cases which may impact on employment in different regions o…
30 Aug 2001 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many questions to the Minister for Justice have been passed to Tony Cameron, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service (SPS), for answer.
Answer · Jim Wallace: This information is provided in the SPS Annual Reports, copies of which are available in the Parliament's Reference Centre (Bib. number 7929). It is also available on the SPS website.
30 Aug 2001 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answers to questions S1W-17668 and S1W-17536 on 28 August 2001 by Mr Jim Wallace, why these questions on HM Prison Kilmarnock were referred for answer by Tony Cameron, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service, when the Scottish Prison Service does not hold informatio…
Answer · Jim Wallace: Paragraph 4.40 of the Framework Document governing the relationship between ministers and the Scottish Prison Service (SPS), provides for parliamentary questions related to matters delegated to the SPS to be referred to the Chief Executive for a response.<P A…
21 Aug 2001 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether there is a high incidence of staff bullying at HM Prison Kilmarnock and, if so, what action it is taking in response.
Answer · Jim Wallace: I have asked Tony Cameron, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service (SPS) to respond. His response is as follows:<P>The SPS do not collect such information which is solely a matter for Premier Prison services Ltd, the operators of Kilmarnock.
21 Aug 2001 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether the Scottish Prison Service is or has been locating possible sites for building private prisons and, if so, where these sites are.
Answer · Jim Wallace: I have asked Tony Cameron, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service to respond. His response is as follows:<P>Work is under way to identify possible sites for new prisons in the central belt.
21 Aug 2001 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-16978 by Mr Jim Wallace on 9 August 2001, how it intends to utilise the #17 million underspend in the Scottish Prison Service budget for 2000-01.
Answer · Jim Wallace: No final decisions have yet been taken on the allocation of End Year Flexibility accruing from 2000-01 budgetary underspends to any Scottish Executive Department/Agency. The Minister for Finance and Local Government hopes to announce these allocations shortly…
21 Aug 2001 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many acts of self-harm were logged at HM Prison Kilmarnock in (a) 1999-2000, (b) 2000-01 and (c) 2001 to date.
Answer · Jim Wallace: I have asked Tony Cameron, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service (SPS) to respond. His response is as follows:<P>The numbers of acts of self-harm reported to SPS by Premier Prison Services Ltd, the operators of Kilmarnock have been:<P>1999-2000:	&…
21 Aug 2001 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many acts of self-harm were logged at each Scottish Prison Service prison in (a) 1999-2000, (b) 2000-01 and (c) 2001 to date.
Answer · Jim Wallace: I have asked Tony Cameron, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service, to respond. His response is as follows:<TABLE BORDER CELLSPACING=1 CELLPADDING=7 WIDTH=491><TR><TD WIDTH="30%" VALIGN="TOP" HEIGHT=4><P></TD><TD WIDTH="20%" VALIGN="TOP" HEIGHT=4><P AL…
21 Aug 2001 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what the staffing levels have been at each house-block in HM Prison Kilmarnock for (a) 1999-2000, (b) 2000-01 and (c) 2001 to date.
Answer · Jim Wallace: I have asked Tony Cameron, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service to respond. His response is as follows:<P>The Scottish Prison Service does not hold such information. It is a matter for Premier Prison Services who operate the establishment.
21 Aug 2001 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what the staffing levels have been at each house-block in each Scottish Prison Service prison for (a) 1999-2000, (b) 2000-01 and (c) 2001 to date.
Answer · Jim Wallace: I have asked Tony Cameron, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service (SPS) to respond. His response is as follows:<P>Information in the form requested is not readily available and could not be produced except at disproportionate cost. SPS staffing figure…
21 Aug 2001 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many misconduct reports were lodged at each Scottish Prison Service prison in (a) 1999-2000, (b) 2000-01 and (c) 2001 to date.
Answer · Jim Wallace: I have asked Tony Cameron, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service (SPS) to respond. His response is as follows:<P>This information is not readily available in the form requested. However, details of breaches of discipline committed by type, and by mal…
21 Aug 2001 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many misconduct reports were logged at HM Prison Kilmarnock in (a) 1999-2000, (b) 2000-01 and (c) 2001 to date.
Answer · Jim Wallace: I have asked Tony Cameron, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service to respond. His response is as follows:<P>I refer the member to the answer given to question S1W-17666 on 6 September 2001.
21 Aug 2001 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will detail (a) the training given to newly recruited prison officers and (b) the in-service training given to prison officers at HM Prison Kilmarnock.
Answer · Jim Wallace: I have asked Tony Cameron, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service to respond. His response is as follows:<P ALIGN="JUSTIFY"> Newly recruited Scottish Prison Service prison officers spend one week at their establishment followed by five weeks at the Sc…
21 Aug 2001 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive when the Prison Estates Review will be published.
Answer · Jim Wallace: I propose to consult on the published review later this year.
21 Aug 2001 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what the Scottish Environment Protection Agency's recommended level is of authorised emissions of dioxins to air from cement factories burning waste known as "recycled liquid fuel" and what levels are recommended by the World Health Organisation and EU respectively.
Answer · Rhona Brankin: The use of substitute liquid fuel in a cement kiln is treated by the Scottish Environment Protection Agency as a process of co-incineration falling within the scope of the EC Hazardous Waste Incineration Directive. That directive requires a dioxin limit of 0.…
21 Aug 2001 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether, in light of the report in the Sunday Herald on 19 August 2001 regarding toxin emissions in cement production at the Blue Circle factory near Dunbar, it will commission a study into any impact on cows' milk, farm crops and other food, whether for human or animal consumption, produ…
Answer · Malcolm Chisholm: This area of work is now the responsibility of the Food Standards Agency (FSA) which informs me that it currently has no plans to commission a study of food and feedstuffs produced in the vicinity of the Blue Circle cement factory.<P>However, I am advised tha…
21 Aug 2001 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether, in light of the report in the Sunday Herald on 19 August 2001 regarding toxin emissions in cement production at the Blue Circle factory near Dunbar, it will commission an independent analysis of the production processes there and what the reasons are for its position on this matt…
Answer · Rhona Brankin: The Executive has no plans to commission an analysis of the production processes at the Dunbar plant. The toxicity of substances used in building materials is controlled through environmental and health and safety legislation. Responsibility for assessing the…
21 Aug 2001 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it is satisfied that the cement production methods at the Blue Circle factory near Dunbar give no cause for concern either to the health of those living in the vicinity or to those who occupy buildings built with cement from there.
Answer · Malcolm Chisholm: The Executive is satisfied with the monitoring procedures in place for measuring emissions from the Blue Circle factory at Dunbar and with the environmental and health and safety legislation which regulates the cement manufacturing process.
21 Aug 2001 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether, following the report in the Sunday Herald on 19 August 2001 regarding toxin emissions in cement production at the Blue Circle factory near Dunbar, it will commission a study into the incidence of cancer or foetal abnormalities in or around the area.
Answer · Malcolm Chisholm: The Executive is satisfied with the monitoring procedures in place for measuring emissions from the Blue Circle factory at Dunbar and has no plans to commission such a study.
21 Aug 2001 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether, following the spillage of 6,000 litres of ha'ardous liquid fuel at the Blue Circle factory near Dunbar last month, it is satisfied with production procedures at the factory.
Answer · Rhona Brankin: The Executive is satisfied with the environmental and health and safety legislation which regulate the cement manufacturing process. Assessment of the effectiveness of pollution controls and health and safety procedures at particular sites is a matter for the…
21 Aug 2001 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether cement kilns when combusting waste known as "recycled liquid fuel" emit up to ten times more dioxins than purpose-built incinerators.
Answer · Rhona Brankin: There is no evidence to indicate that higher levels of dioxins are emitted when recycled liquid fuel is used to provide energy in cement kilns compared with emissions from purpose-built incinerators. The use of this type of fuel in cement kilns is treated by …