Christine Grahame

12 Jan 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-11248 by Malcolm Chisholm on 29 November 2000, whether it will give a breakdown by local authority of the distribution of the #10 million earmarked to support carers.

Answer · Malcolm Chisholm: The £10 million allocated to local authorities in 2000-01 under the <I>Strategy for Carers in Scotland</I> for services to support carers was distributed as follows:<TABLE BORDER CELLSPACING=1 CELLPADDING=7 WIDTH=363><TR><TD WIDTH="53%" VALIGN="TOP"><FONT FAC…

12 Jan 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-11248 by Malcolm Chisholm on 29 November 2000, how it intends to monitor the allocation of the #10 million earmarked to support carers.

Answer · Malcolm Chisholm: Under the <I>Strategy for Carers in Scotland </I>local authorities have been asked to spend £10 million a year from this year on supporting carers, double the funding previously earmarked. The strategy requires<I> </I>authorities to report to the Executive in…

12 Jan 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1O-2707 by Jackie Baillie on 14 December 2000, how many credit unions were extant in 1997-98, 1998-99, 1999-2000 and in the current financial year; where those currently extant are located, and how many low cost insurance with rent schemes currently exi…

Answer · Jackie Baillie: Figures on credit unions are available from the Registrar of Credit Unions now part of the Financial Services Authority. In 1997-98 the Registrar's annual report recorded that there were 124 credit unions in existence in Scotland. In 1998-99 this had risen to…

11 Jan 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-11489 by Mr Jim Wallace on 12 December 2000, whether enhanced criminal record certificates will be available without charge to voluntary organisations working with other vulnerable people such as disabled and elderly people.

Answer · Jim Wallace: Enhanced criminal record certificates for those working with vulnerable people aged 18 or over would become available only after regulations are made under section 115(4) of the Police Act 1997. The question of charging volunteers working with vulnerable adul…

11 Jan 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what representations it has made to the Department of Social Security on any impact which the current level of Invalid Care Allowance has on its National Strategy for Carers and, in particular, on the living standards of carers.

Answer · Malcolm Chisholm: <I>The Strategy for Carers in Scotland </I>is aimed at addressing the needs of carers for better information and more flexible health and social care support. Financial support to carers through the social security and benefits system remains the responsibili…

11 Jan 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether, as part of the inquiry into the Chokkar case, Sir Anthony Campbell will be interviewing the former Lord Advocate, Lord Hardie, and what the reasons are for the position in this matter.

Answer · Colin Boyd: This is a matter for Sir Anthony Campbell and not for the Lord Advocate or the Scottish Executive. Sir Anthony Campbell will conduct his inquiry independently of the Lord Advocate and the Scottish Executive. Lord Hardie has stated that he will co-operate with…

11 Jan 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive (a) what criteria will be used in prioritising those eligible under its central heating programme, (b) how many households it estimates will have central heating installed under the programme before winter 2001 and (c) how the allocation of the funding is to be administered, monitored and…

Answer · Jackie Baillie: The Central Heating Working Group is considering the question of priority need and a report will be published shortly. No estimate of the kind described at (b) has yet been made. Funding will be administered by local authorities, Scottish Homes and a managing…

11 Jan 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-10406 by Sarah Boyack on 29 November 2000, (a) what funding sources are available for cycle projects, (b) how much funding is available from each of these sources, (c) which bodies and individuals have made funding applications to these sources, (d) …

Answer · Sarah Boyack: Responsibility for the provision of cycling infrastructure rests with the local authorities. They receive a block allocation for expenditure on a number of services including transport. It is for the local authorities to allocate resources in accordance with …

11 Jan 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-10405 by Sarah Boyack on 29 November 2000, (a) whether any funding will be available to the Borders Rail project from the Public Transport Fund for walking and cycling projects as an integral part of the rail development, (b) whether there are budget…

Answer · Sarah Boyack: The Public Transport Fund (PTF) is supporting cycling and walking measures both as part of wider public transport improvements but also as stand-alone projects. The award to Scottish Borders Council for the development of the railway to the Central Borders is…

10 Jan 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many claimants who are currently receiving funds from the Independent Living Fund also pay part of their own care costs; what this figure is as a percentage of the total number of claimants receiving funds from the fund in Scotland, and what the total amount of care costs contributed…

Answer · Malcolm Chisholm: The Independent Living Fund is funded by DSS and data relating to this matter is not held by the Scottish Executive.

9 Jan 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many (a) ministerial and (b) non-ministerial letters providing information requested in parliamentary questions have been lodged in the Scottish Parliament Information Centre since the inception of the Parliament and whether there has been an increase in this practice.

Answer · Tom McCabe: The information requested is not held by the Scottish Executive.

9 Jan 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will review its current procedure of providing information requested in parliamentary questions by letter and lodging a copy of the letter in the Scottish Parliament Information Centre where currently the time of lodging the letter is not intimated to members and the response i…

Answer · Tom McCabe: The Executive has no plans to review its current procedure of providing information requested in certain parliamentary questions by letter and lodging a copy of the letter in the Parliament's Reference Centre. However, in consultation with the parliamentary a…

9 Jan 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many applications by elderly people for day care centre places have been refused in the last 12 months, broken down by local authority.

Answer · Malcolm Chisholm: The information requested is not held centrally.

3 Jan 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will make representations to Her Majesty's Government to seek a change in the rules for Crisis Loans so that an applicant need not apply in person in remote areas of Scotland.

Answer · Jackie Baillie: Benefits, including the provision of Crisis Loans, are a matter reserved to the UK Government. It is therefore for the DSS to decide how they should best be administered. The Scottish Executive will continue its regular dialogue with UK Ministers on how the S…

3 Jan 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether, as part of its social inclusion policy, it will make representations to all banks in Scotland to seek changes in the rules on verification framework and regarding the production of original bank books, building society accounts and other documents, in particular in relation to ol…

Answer · Jackie Baillie: Regulation of financial services is a reserved matter. The Scottish Executive is working with the Scottish financial institutions to encourage the promotion of more inclusive products and practices.

22 Dec 2000 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what percentage of (a) people receiving Council Tax Benefit but not 100% benefit and (b) people not in receipt of Council Tax Benefit were in payment arrears in (i) 1996-97, (ii) 1997-98, (iii) 1998-99, (iv) 1999-2000 and to date in the current financial year.

Answer · Peter Peacock: This information is not held centrally. Social security benefits including Council Tax Benefit are reserved matters and are the responsibility of the Department of Social Security.

22 Dec 2000 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what the percentage increases were in (a) water and (b) sewerage charges in (i) 1996-97, (ii) 1997-98, (iii) 1998-99, (iv) 1999-2000 and (v) 2000-01, using 1995-96 as the base figure and broken down by water authority.

Answer · Sam Galbraith: The percentage increases in water charges are shown in the following table, for each former regional council area. The results vary within water authority areas as the charges were progressively harmonised from the different levels charged by the former regio…

20 Dec 2000 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many elderly people currently attend day care centres in total and as a percentage of those aged over 65, broken down by local authority.

Answer · Malcolm Chisholm: The table details the number of people attending day centres primarily intended for older people in 1998. 1998 is the latest year for which data are available as this census is now conducted on a triennial basis.<P ALIGN="JUSTIFY">People Attending <SUP>1</SUP…

13 Dec 2000 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive (a) what the percentage take-up of the flu vaccine is to date in the target groups and (b) how long before exposure to the flu virus people should be vaccinated for the vaccination to be effective.

Answer · Malcolm Chisholm: 701 (66.5%) of all general practices in Scotland have so far responded to requests for influenza immunisation uptake data for the 65-year-old and over at risk group up to the end of November. From the responses received, 62% (365,526) of the total number of p…

13 Dec 2000 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-8830 by Sarah Boyack on 11 December 2000, how MSPs will be notified when its directions and guidance to the Strategic Rail Authority are available in the Scottish Parliament Information Centre.

Answer · Sarah Boyack: The Scottish Executive will formally notify the Scottish Parliament of the publication of its directions and guidance in the usual manner. At the same time a copy of the directions and guidance will be placed in the Parliament's Reference Centre.

13 Dec 2000 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-9974 by Susan Deacon on 11 December 2000, how and when the #14.5 million to be used for care for elderly people will be allocated.

Answer · Malcolm Chisholm: £10 million was allocated to health boards on 22 February to work with local authorities building on initiatives for older people undertaken over the winter. The balance of £4.5 million has been allocated for a range of other initiatives benefiting older peop…

8 Dec 2000 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many elderly people in hospital or at home who had been assessed for nursing/residential care died before securing a placement, in each local authority area, in the years 1996-97, 1997-98, 1998-99 and 1999-2000.

Answer · Malcolm Chisholm: This information is not held centrally.

8 Dec 2000 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what criteria are used to define prisoners as having mental health problems.

Answer · Iain Gray: I have asked Tony Cameron, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service to respond. His response is as follows:<P ALIGN="JUSTIFY">Unlike mental disorder or illness where medical diagnostic categories may be applied, there are no established criteria for det…

8 Dec 2000 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many prisoners there are with mental health problems expressed as a percentage of each prison's population for the last year for which figures are available.

Answer · Jim Wallace: I have asked Tony Cameron, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service to respond. His response is as follows:<FONT FACE="Arial" SIZE=2><P>For the reasons set out in the answer to question S1W-11880, this information is not recorded.

8 Dec 2000 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive why the roster agreed and accepted by the Governor of Peterhead prison, within the Scottish Prison Service (SPS) guidelines of achieving 5-10% staff savings, has been rejected by the SPS.

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">No final decisions have yet been decided by the SPS on new attendance patterns in respect of any SPS establishments.

8 Dec 2000 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether at a recent meeting of Governors-in-Charge a vote of no confidence in the Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service, Mr Tony Cameron, was taken and, if so, what the result was.

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">No.

6 Dec 2000 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether the absence of central heating in a pensioner household is the only criterion used to estimate that 70,000 pensioner households will benefit from its proposed central heating scheme or whether other criteria are used to arrive at this figure and, if so, what the criteria are.

Answer · Jackie Baillie: The estimate that 70,000 pensioner households will benefit from the central heating initiative was based solely on the number of such households who do not have central heating.

6 Dec 2000 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what steps it is taking to reduce the level of personal debt.

Answer · Jackie Baillie: Tackling debt is a key element of the Scottish Executive's Social Justice agenda and we have been working in partnership with a wide range of organisations to improve the financial services available to people on low incomes. Measures being developed or under…

5 Dec 2000 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-11098 by Mr Sam Galbraith on 23 November 2000, whether it will appoint and fund a water safety officer, similar to the post that already exists in England, with the remit of preventing drowning and other accidents.

Answer · Sam Galbraith: Question S1W-11098 was answered in the belief that it referred to the regulation of drinking water quality, which is the responsibility of the Scottish Executive. Prevention of drowning and other accidents is a matter for the Health and Safety Executive.

5 Dec 2000 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-7091 by Susan Deacon on 8 September 2000, how many accident and emergency ambulance crew left the ambulance service in (i) 1995-96, (ii) 1996-97, (iii) 1997-98, (iv) 1998-99, (v) 1999-2000 and (vi) 2000 to date because of (a) ill health, (b) early re…

Answer · Susan Deacon: The information requested is not available centrally. The Scottish Ambulance Service however may hold the data locally and you may therefore wish to write to Mr Adrian Lucas, Chief Executive, Scottish Ambulance Service, National Headquarters, Tipperlinn Road,…