Christine Grahame

29 Nov 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many NHS staff are tasked with assessing and banding colleagues under Agenda for Change, broken down by NHS board.

Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: This information isnot held centrally.</p><p>The implementationof Agenda for Change locally, including populating job matching and evaluation panels,is a matter for each individual health board in partnership with the NHS tradesunions and professional organis…

29 Nov 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how much backpaid salary NHS boards estimate that they will have to pay in the next 24 months to staff who have yet to be banded under Agenda for Change, broken down by (a) profession and (b) board.

Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: This information isnot held centrally.</p><p>I can report howeverthat health boards are making steady progress towards the conclusion of the implementationof Agenda for Change pay, and the vast majority of staff now assimilated have alreadyreceived arrears of…

28 Nov 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-3598 by Michael Russell on 5 September 2007, how many applications for flood prevention funding are in progress, broken down by (a) local authority and (b) amount applied for.

Answer · Michael Russell: Since 5 September,grant applications from the following local authorities are in progress:</p><table border=1 cellspacing=0 cellpadding=3> <thead> <tr> <td width=124 valign=top> <p align=center>Local Authority</p> </td> <td width=127 valign=top> <…

28 Nov 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-3598 by Michael Russell on 5 September 2007, which local authorities applied for flood prevention funding but were unsuccessful and for what reasons they were unsuccessful.

Answer · Michael Russell: Grant is only availableto those authorities carrying out this year confirmed flood prevention schemes whichmeet our criteria. No others applied.</p>

28 Nov 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-3598 by Michael Russell on 5 September 2007, to which local authorities the £19.5 million for flood prevention was allocated, showing the original bid made by each.

Answer · Michael Russell: The following awardshave been made;</p><table border=1 cellspacing=0 cellpadding=3> <thead> <tr> <td width=151 valign=top> <p align=center>Local Authority</p> </td> <td width=120 valign=top> <p align=center>Grant Offer</p> </td> </tr> </thead> …

28 Nov 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it intends to continue the Strategic Timber Transport Fund in its current form or to review it after 31 March 2008.

Answer · Michael Russell: I have today announcedthat the fund will continue for a further three years until March 2011. I have agreedan allocation of £5 million per annum, a total of £15 million, to finance carry-overprojects approved before 31 March 2008 and future projects thatcompl…

28 Nov 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S2W-27234 by Rhona Brankin on 20 July 2006, whether it will list subsequent (a) projects and (b) applicants seeking financial assistance from the Strategic Timber Transport Fund, also showing whether each application was successful and, if so, the amount…

Answer · Michael Russell: To date, 20 projectshave been approved and awarded financial support through the Strategic Timber TransportFund. Six further projects are under consideration with another four under revisionby the applicants. Three projects have been rejected, but two of thes…

28 Nov 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how much of the Strategic Timber Transport Fund remains unallocated.

Answer · Michael Russell: The value of the currentfund is £13 million. To date £9 million has been allocated from the fund, therefore,at this time £4 million is unallocated.</p><p>However, six additionalprojects to the value of £1.3 million are currently under consideration throughthe…

26 Nov 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what procedures and protocols are in place with (a) the Home Office and (b) other nations in respect of Scottish nationals who are the victims of forced marriages and who have been removed from Scotland.

Answer · Stewart Maxwell: The Scottish Governmentworks with the joint Home Office/Foreign and Commonwealth Office Forced MarriageUnit in relation to policy development in this area. Organisations that directlysupport those affected by forced marriage in Scotland work closely with the …

26 Nov 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what specific support there is for victims of forced marriages.

Answer · Stewart Maxwell: The Scottish Governmentis working with partners in the public and voluntary sector to progress action inScotland on this matter. Currently, there are a rangeof organisations working with those affected by forced marriage, including Shaktiand Hemat Gryffe Wome…

26 Nov 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to raise awareness of the unacceptability of forced marriages in Scotland and to ensure that relevant support services have the necessary access and resources to offer assistance to individuals who are subject to or under threat of forced marriages.

Answer · Stewart Maxwell: In 2008 the ScottishGovernment plans to consult the people of Scotland on whether civil legislationshould be introduced to protect those affected by forced marriage, or that thereis currently sufficient legal protection. This consultation will link with the w…

26 Nov 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many (a) women and (b) men have contacted Scottish Government agencies or departments seeking assistance or advice about forced marriages in each year since 2002.

Answer · Stewart Maxwell: This information isnot available.</p>

26 Nov 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many forced marriages have been annulled by Scottish courts in each year since 1999.

Answer · Fergus Ewing: The information requestedis not held centrally.</p>

20 Nov 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what the average waiting time has been for a first appointment with a psychologist from referral in each year since 1999, broken down by NHS board area.

Answer · Shona Robison: This information isnot held centrally.</p><p>We are working toimprove the availability of mental health information through the NHS Scotland NationalBenchmarking Project.</p>

20 Nov 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S2W-22125 by Andy Kerr on 19 January 2006, how many psychologists have been employed by each NHS board in each year since 2004, broken down by category and expressed also on a per capita basis.

Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: The following tablesshow the whole-time equivalent (WTE) of NHS employed psychologists by NHS boardarea and the ratio per capita population per one WTE of all NHS-employedapplied psychologists. Whole-time equivalent adjusts head count to take accountof part-t…

7 Nov 2007 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will increase funding to the Chief Scientist for medical research purposes, in light of media reports of a lack of research, among other things, into inter alia the causes of multiple sclerosis.

Answer · Shona Robison: Following yesterday’sspending review announcement, I am pleased to report that the funding provided tothe Chief Scientist Office will be increased by £3.3 million, £5.2 million and £8.7million during the next three years.</p>

1 Nov 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what the average waiting times have been in the Scottish Borders from (a) application to assessment and (b) assessment to installation under the central heating programme in each year since its inception.

Answer · Stewart Maxwell: I have askedJames Hynd, Acting Chief Executive of Communities Scotland to respond. Hisresponse is as follows:</p><p>Information inthe format requested is not held centrally.</p>

1 Nov 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what the average waiting times have been from (a) application to assessment and (b) assessment to installation under the central heating programme in each year since its inception.

Answer · Stewart Maxwell: I have askedJames Hynd, Acting Chief Executive of Communities Scotland to respond. Hisresponse is as follows:</p><p>Information inthe format requested is not held centrally. However, information is held on theaverage waiting time from application to installat…

1 Nov 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many applications under the central heating programme have been made in each year since its inception.

Answer · Stewart Maxwell: I have askedJames Hynd, Acting Chief Executive of Communities Scotland to respond. Hisresponse is as follows:</p><p>Information inthe format requested is not held prior to 2006-07.</p><p>In 2006-07,25,133 householders applied to the Programme and in 2007-08 1…

1 Nov 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many central heating systems have been installed in the Scottish Borders under the central heating programme in each year since its inception.

Answer · Stewart Maxwell: I have askedJames Hynd, Acting Chief Executive of Communities Scotland to respond. Hisresponse is as follows:</p><p>Information aboutthe central heating programme is only available by postcode area.</p><p>The number ofsystems installed in the TD postcode area…

1 Nov 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-3407 by Stewart Maxwell on 4 September 2007, how many of the 31,720 applications to Scottish Gas for central heating since October 2006 have (a) been assessed, (b) been approved and (c) resulted in installation of a heating system.

Answer · Stewart Maxwell: I have askedJames Hynd, Acting Chief Executive of Communities Scotland to respond. Hisresponse is as follows:</p><p>The ProgrammeManaging Agent (Scottish Gas) has indicated that all applicants to the programme,as at 4 September, have been assessed through the…

10 Oct 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it intends to introduce legislation on common good funds.

Answer · John Swinney: There are no plansat present, however, the future management of common good funds and assets willbe considered as part of a review of asset management across the public sector.</p>

9 Oct 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive which bodies have submitted proposals to Transport Scotland for voluntary purchase schemes and what stage each such proposal has reached.

Answer · Stewart Stevenson: Transport Scotland are in receipt of one application for funding of a voluntarypurchase scheme, submitted by the Waverley Railway Partnership. Transport Scotlandhas analysed the WRP’s proposal and provided appropriate feedback. Dialogue betweenTransport Scotl…

9 Oct 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how much has been set aside by Transport Scotland to fund local voluntary purchase schemes.

Answer · Stewart Stevenson: Costs relating toland purchase whether by voluntary, advanced or compulsory purchase schemesemployed by project promoters are included in the estimates of land costssubmitted as part of the capital cost of the project, and it is this total costthat Transport …

8 Oct 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many headstones have been lowered or taken down by local authorities for health and safety reasons in cemeteries operated by local authorities in each year since 1999, broken down by local authority.

Answer · Shona Robison: This informationis not held centrally.</p>

8 Oct 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many burials were organised and paid for by each local authority in each year since 1999.

Answer · John Swinney: This information isnot held centrally.</p>

8 Oct 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many cases involving fraudulent motoring documents being issued by garage owners have been notified to the authorities in each year since 1999, broken down by category of document.

Answer · Kenny MacAskill: The availableinformation is given in the following table. The Road Traffic Act 1988 Section173 deals with the forgery of documents such as licences, test certificates,and plating certificates. It is not possible to identify garage owners orcategories of docum…

8 Oct 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many foreign-registered vehicles stopped by police were found not to be in a roadworthy condition in each year since 1999.

Answer · Kenny MacAskill: This informationis not held centrally.</p>

8 Oct 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many foreign-registered vehicles have been involved in road traffic accidents in each year since 1999.

Answer · Stewart Stevenson: Data about injuryroad accidents are collected by the Police and reported to the ScottishExecutive using the Stats 19 statistical report form. These returns cover onlyroad accidents in which one or more people were injured and which become knownto the police. …

8 Oct 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many notices of intended prosecution were served to drivers of foreign-registered vehicles in each year since 1999 and, of these, how many resulted in (a) a fine being paid by the owner or driver and (b) no fine being paid.

Answer · Kenny MacAskill: It is not possibleto identify prosecutions of drivers of foreign-registered vehicles from other driversfrom the data held centrally.</p>