Parliamentary questions

Christine Grahame

3,532 questions tabled in the Scottish Parliament, most recent first.

19 Apr 2006 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S2W-24499 by Cathy Jamieson on 13 April 2006, when it is appropriate to comment on operational matters relating to the Security and Intelligence Service.

Answer · Cathy Jamieson: I refer the member to the answer to question S2W-25269 on 8 May 2006. All answers to writtenparliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website the search facilityfor which can be found at <ahref="http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/wa.sear…

19 Apr 2006 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what powers it has to counter any potential threat to undermine parliamentary democracy in Scotland by (a) senior British military officers and (b) the British Security Service in light of recent reported allegations anent plans to undermine the Wilson government in the 1960s.

Answer · Cathy Jamieson: I refer the member to the answer to question S2W-25269 on 8 May 2006. All answers to written parliamentary questions are availableon the Parliament’s website the search facility for which can be found at <ahref="http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/wa.sea…

19 Apr 2006 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S2W-24499 by Cathy Jamieson on 13 April 2006, whether it is in the public interest to know whether Scottish ministers are aware of any potential subversive activity to undermine the democracy of Scotland by (a) senior British military officers and (b) th…

Answer · Cathy Jamieson: The Security Service, SecretIntelligence Service, Government Communications Headquarters and the armed forcesare all subject to the rule of law. Evidence of criminal offences committed by membersof these organisations is subject to investigation and prosecuti…

19 Apr 2006 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S2W-24499 by Cathy Jamieson on 13 April 2006, when the established practice of not commenting on operational matters related to the Security and Intelligence Service began.

Answer · Cathy Jamieson: The functions of the SecurityService, Secret Intelligence Service and Government Communications Headquartersare reserved. It has been established practice for the Scottish Executive not tocomment on operational matters relating to these organisations since th…

19 Apr 2006 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions it has had with Her Majesty’s Government in respect of whether the Wilson Doctrine has been extended to cover MSPs and, if the convention does not apply to MSPs, whether it will be extended to do so.

Answer · Cathy Jamieson: The Wilson Doctrine is a matterfor the Prime Minister.Authority to authorise interceptionof communications for persons located in Scotland, for the purpose of preventingor detecting serious crime, has been transferred to Scottish ministers but the rele…

19 Apr 2006 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it is aware of any public transport provider that indicates on its timetables whether or not there is disabled access on each service and what the Executive’s position is on the matter.

Answer · Tavish Scott: The Scottish Executive is committedto removing barriers to public transport and to improving accessibility for disabledpeople. The Disability Discrimination Act 1995 (DDA) places a duty on transportproviders to avoid discrimination against disabled people in …

10 Apr 2006 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has concerns about any confusion that may arise for Scottish donors to English-based charities which use the term “UK” to describe themselves despite having no base in Scotland or locus in Scotland and, if so, what discussions it has had with HM Treasury about this matter.

Answer · Malcolm Chisholm: The Charities and Trustee Investment(Scotland) Act 2005 addresses this issue.If the body is registered asa charity in Scotland and entered on the Scottish Charity Register the Office of the Scottish Charity Regulator is able to require it to change its…

5 Apr 2006 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions it has had with the UK Government regarding any increase in funds provided under the Barnett formula in the event of it having powers, either in whole or part, for funding Scottish post offices after 2008.

Answer · Ross Finnie: The future of the postoffice network beyond 2008 is the subject of on-going consideration acrossGovernment. No decisions have yet been taken and it would be premature tospeculate about what might be done.

5 Apr 2006 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions it has had with the UK Government regarding the funding of Scottish post offices after 2008.

Answer · Ross Finnie: Officials meet regularly todiscuss the future of the post office network. I have recently metrepresentatives from Royal Mail Group and Post Office Ltd, on 14 February 2006,to hear about their trials of innovative methods for postal service provision:and Barry…

5 Apr 2006 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, in light of the recent announcement by the Department of Trade and Industry of funding for the rural post office network to 2008, whether the Executive anticipates that it will have any powers to fund Scottish post offices after 2008.

Answer · Ross Finnie: The Executive already hassome, limited, powers to support individual post office businesses. Anamendment to the Scotland Act makes an exception to the reserved status ofpostal services for “financial assistance for the provision of services (otherthan postal …

5 Apr 2006 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S2W-12708 by Nicol Stephen on 20 December 2004, what funding has been allocated to each community transport scheme in the current year, broken down by source; which of these scheme can be utilised by pass holders of the national concessionary fare scheme…

Answer · Tavish Scott: Information is not held centrallyon which community transport schemes can be utilised by pass holders of the NationalConcessionary Travel Scheme.For those services funded directlyby the Executive through the Rural Community Transport Initiative, the fo…

5 Apr 2006 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S20-5408 by Nicol Stephen on 10 February 2005, what number of community transport projects it will support in (a) 2005-06 and (b) subsequent financial years and how much funding it has allocated for such projects.

Answer · Tavish Scott: The Executive supported 106 communitytransport projects in 2005-2006 under the Rural Community Transport Initiative,Urban Community Transport Initiative and Rural Demand Responsive Transport Initiative.To date, the Executive has awarded grant to 86 community …

5 Apr 2006 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S2W-23411 by Tavish Scott on 6 March 2006, whether it will now hold discussions with NHS boards regarding extending the nationwide concessionary fare scheme to community transport schemes utilised by hospitals.

Answer · Tavish Scott: The Scotland-wide Free Bus Schemefor Older and Disabled People fully meets our commitment to extend concessionarytravel for people in the groups concerned. It is a major achievement under which over a million older anddisabled people can travel free on buses …

5 Apr 2006 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to monitor any impact on bus service levels arising as a consequence of local authority obligations to fund the national concessionary fare scheme.

Answer · Tavish Scott: There are no consequences onlocal authorities to fund the Scotland-wide Free Bus Scheme for Older and DisabledPeople as it is funded by the Scottish Executive through Transport Scotland. Whenthe Scheme was being set up, a fair split of resources was agreed wi…

5 Apr 2006 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it considers that local authorities may cut bus services to fund the national concessionary fare scheme.

Answer · Tavish Scott: The Scotland-wide Free BusScheme for Older and Disabled People is being run by Transport Scotlandusing resources withdrawn from the local government finance settlement whichwere previously used for funding the free local off-peak bus schemes andadditional res…

5 Apr 2006 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many people have been entitled to local authority “companion cards” allowing a companion to travel free with them in each year since 1999, broken down by local authority area.

Answer · Tavish Scott: Seven of the 16 local concessionarytravel schemes included arrangements which enabled eligible people to travel witha companion either free or at a discounted rate. The schemes were the responsibilityof local authorities and information is notheld centrally o…

5 Apr 2006 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive who is entitled to a “companion card” allowing a companion to travel free with them under the national concessionary fare scheme.

Answer · Tavish Scott: Under the Scotland-wide FreeBus Scheme for Older and Disabled People, people who are eligible for the Schemeand who require assistance to travel are entitled to a companion travelling free.The criteria which apply are as follows.People are entitled to …

5 Apr 2006 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many community transport permits were issued under section 19 of the Transport Act 1985 in each year since 1999, broken down by local authority area.

Answer · Tavish Scott: This information is not heldcentrally.

5 Apr 2006 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many community bus permits, as specified in section 22 of the Transport Act 1985, were issued in each year since 1999, broken down by local authority area.

Answer · Tavish Scott: This information is not heldcentrally.

5 Apr 2006 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, in light of Scottish Enterprise’s reported overspend of £30 million in 2005-06, what economic development projects in the Scottish Borders the Executive would wish to see continued.

Answer · Nicol Stephen: Discussions continue with ScottishEnterprise on its budget and operating plan. However, it will continue to be forScottish Enterprise to make detailed budget allocations at local level. In allocatingits budget, Scottish Enterprise must take into account the s…

4 Apr 2006 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what comparisons it has made of the effectiveness of the education of children with autistic spectrum disorder in mainstream schools and in specialist schools, such as Struan House.

Answer · Robert Brown: No comparisons have beenmade. The most important principle is to meet the needs of the individual childor young person in the most appropriate setting, whether that is in amainstream school, a special school, a specialist school like Struan House or acombinat…

4 Apr 2006 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what research it has undertaken on the effectiveness of the mainstreaming of children with autistic spectrum disorder.

Answer · Robert Brown: I refer the member to theanswers to questions S2W-24996 and S2W-24998 on 27 April 2006. All answers towritten parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament's website,the search facility for which can be found at: <ahref="http://www.scottish.parliame…

4 Apr 2006 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what research it is undertaking on the effectiveness of the mainstreaming of children with additional support needs.

Answer · Robert Brown: In 2003, the Executivecommissioned the Scottish Council for Research in Education (SCRE) to examinethe impact of the policy that requireseducation authorities to, wherever possible, mainstream pupils with specialeducational needs (SEN). The research assessed …

4 Apr 2006 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many (a) primary and (b) secondary pupils there were with autistic spectrum disorder in each year since 1999, broken down by local authority area.

Answer · Robert Brown: The information requested isprovided in the following tables. It should be noted that prior to and including2001 the data was based on pupils with Records of Needs only. From 2002 onwardsthe data includes pupils with Records of Needs and/or Individualised Edu…

4 Apr 2006 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many learning support units there are in mainstream schools suitable for children with autistic spectrum disorder, in each year since 1999, broken down by local authority area.

Answer · Robert Brown: The information requested isnot collected centrally.

4 Apr 2006 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many requests for placement were made by local authorities to (a) Struan House School, Alloa and (b) New Struan in each year since 1999, broken down by local authority.

Answer · Robert Brown: The information requested isnot collected centrally.

4 Apr 2006 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many placements were made by local authorities in Struan House School, Alloa (a) including and (b) excluding placements in New Struan in each year since 1999, broken down by local authority.

Answer · Robert Brown: The number of placements in theschool, broken down by local authority, produces figures which are too small topublish under the Executive’s standard procedures. The following table shows theaverage number of placements over the seven year period. It is not po…

31 Mar 2006 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has obtained any legal advice as to whether a property owner completing an information sheet about that property could be described as an “independent expert” under the terms of article 10 of the EU Energy Performance of Buildings Directive and, if so, what that legal advice is.

Answer · Johann Lamont: I have asked Dr. Paul Stollard,Chief Executive of the Scottish Building Standards Agency (SBSA), to answer. Hisresponse is as follows:The SBSA works closely with theOffice of the Solicitor to the Scottish Executive (OSSE) on all matters concerningScott…

31 Mar 2006 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, in implementing the Energy Performance of Buildings Directive, what the advantages will be of using Reduced Data Standard Assessment Procedure as an alternative methodology to the Scottish Energy Rating Tool.

Answer · Johann Lamont: I have asked Dr. Paul Stollard,Chief Executive of the Scottish Building Standards Agency (SBSA), to answer. Hisresponse is as follows:The work on the Scottish EnergyRating Tool (SERT) is currently in progress. If the research work is successfulthen SER…

31 Mar 2006 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive why, in implementing the EU Energy Performance of Buildings Directive, it is considering using the Reduced Data Standard Assessment Procedure as an alternative methodology to the Scottish Energy Rating Tool.