Parliamentary questions
Christine Grahame
3,532 questions tabled in the Scottish Parliament, most recent first.
7 Mar 2006 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what central funding is available to either local authorities or the police for speed restriction signs such as mobile “smiley face” signs.
Answer · Tavish Scott: The Scottish Executive provideslocal authorities with revenue and capital allocations for expenditure on a numberof services, including roads and transport, which can be used for the provisionof traffic signs, including speed limit signs.</p><p>Local authorit…
2 Mar 2006 · SPCB Written Question
To ask the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body how many snagging issues are still outstanding, broken down by priority criteria.
Answer · George Reid: The Defects Liability Periodended on 17<sup> </sup>February 2006. This was preceded by a series of final defectsinspections. Prior to this, there were 73 outstanding snagging items from theoriginal list, the majority of which relate to mechanical and ele…
2 Mar 2006 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what contingency plans it has in place for the Parliament to meet in the event of temporary closure of the Holyrood site.
Answer · George Reid: I refer the Member to myletter to all MSPs of 11 May 2006. A copy of the letter is available at <ahref="http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/nmCentre/news/news-06/pa06-046.htm">http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/nmCentre/news/news-06/pa06-046.htm</a>.</p>
2 Mar 2006 · SPCB Written Question
To ask the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body what contingency plans are in place should the debating chamber be temporarily unavailable.
Answer · George Reid: The SPCB adopted contingencyplans for the loss of the Holyrood Chamber in September 2005, following areport by officials on alternative venues considered or used by the parliamentsince 1999. These plans address the implications of using various alternativeven…
22 Feb 2006 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions it has had with NHS boards regarding the savings to them as a result of the national concessionary fare scheme being extended to community transport schemes.
Answer · Tavish Scott: No such discussions havebeen held with NHS boards.</p>
22 Feb 2006 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions it has had with local transport operators with regard to delivery and operation of the national concessionary travel scheme.
Answer · Tavish Scott: The Confederation ofPassenger Transport (CPT) and local authority representatives were included on theseven task groups set up to advise on the development and implementation of theScotland-wide Free Bus Scheme for Older and Disabled people.</p>
22 Feb 2006 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive which local authorities have demand response travel schemes which currently are part of the concessionary fare scheme and whether these will automatically be available to anyone using the national concessionary travel scheme.
Answer · Tavish Scott: Demand Responsive Transport serviceswhich are registered as a local bus service will be included as eligibleservices in the Scotland–wide Free Bus Scheme for Older and Disabled People.</p><p>Information is not held centrally detailing the demand responsive tr…
22 Feb 2006 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executivewhat research (a) has been and (b) will be undertaken into the operation of the national concessionary travel scheme in rural areas.
Answer · Tavish Scott: The procedures which we areputting in place will allow reports to be produced to monitor the usage ofcards in rural as in other areas once the national travel scheme is up andrunning.</p>
22 Feb 2006 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive which local authorities provide escorts for elderly and infirm people wishing to access public transport.
Answer · Tavish Scott: We do not hold thisinformation centrally. However, the Executive is committed to enabling accessby disabled people to public transport. Research has been commissioned toexamine how to improve transport for disabled people. This will include anassessment of th…
22 Feb 2006 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive which local authorities make provision for mobility training.
Answer · Tavish Scott: We do not hold suchinformation centrally. However, the Mobility and Access Committee for Scotland(MACS) which advises ministers on the transport needs of disabled people acrossScotland, have produced extensive disability awareness guidance fororganisations su…
22 Feb 2006 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what research has been undertaken into the health benefits of a concessionary travel scheme.
Answer · Tavish Scott: None.</p><p>It is widely accepted thatone of the benefits of a concessionary travel scheme is that it will have apositive health benefit by enabling those eligible to travel to visit friendsand relatives, access services and generally to be more actively invo…
22 Feb 2006 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what training is provided to personnel on buses regarding the operation of the national concessionary travel scheme.
Answer · Tavish Scott: The Executive is producing guidancefor drivers on the operation of the Scotland–wide Free Bus Scheme for Older andDisabled People. The guidance will make clear the drivers must look after the well-beingof people who travel under the scheme. Individual trainin…
22 Feb 2006 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what analysis has been done of the availability of low rise buses, in light of 20% of the population having mobility difficulties.
Answer · Tavish Scott: We encourage bus operators toprovide a range of buses including low floor buses.</p>
22 Feb 2006 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what research it has done into the numbers and location of people entitled to the national concessionary fare scheme who will be unable to access transport.
Answer · Tavish Scott: Research has been carried outas part of the Partnership Agreement commitment to assess improved concessions forpeople with disabilities. It aims to identifythe latent demand for transport and considers why people do not travel and whatwould encourage them to …
22 Feb 2006 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive why it did not extend the concessionary fare scheme to community transport services.
Answer · Tavish Scott: The introduction on 1 April 2006 of theScotland-wide Free Bus Scheme for Older and Disabled People 2006 meets the PartnershipAgreement commitment to a national free off-peak bus scheme for older people andpeople with disabilities.</p><p>The scheme includes bu…
21 Feb 2006 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many people aged 16 to 18 were living independently having left foster care in each year since 1999, broken down by local authority area.
Answer · Rhona Brankin: The search consultantsOdgers are acting on behalf of the Scottish Executive to identify potentialcandidates for appointment as interim Chair of Scottish Water.</p><p>The Executive first madecontact with Odgers in respect of this matter on 2 February 2006 as a…
21 Feb 2006 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many people aged 16 to 18 remained with foster carers in each year since 1999, broken down by local authority area.
Answer · Rhona Brankin: The position in respect of the <i>ex-gratia</i> payment made to Professor Alexander was set out in theExecutive’s answer to question S2W-23460 on 8 March 2006.All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament's website, the search…
21 Feb 2006 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many pregnancies there were amongst (a) 12, (b) 13, (c) 14, (d) 15 and (c) 16 year olds in each year since 1999, broken down by NHS board area.
Answer · Rhona Brankin: Copies of ProfessorAlexander’s letters of appointment as Chair of Scottish Water can be viewed onthe Scottish Executive website at:</p><p><ahref="http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Topics/Environment/Water/17583/resignation">http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Topics/Environm…
21 Feb 2006 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what weekly payment is made to 16 to18 year olds who are living independently, are not in full time education and not entitled to job-seekers allowance, broken down by local authority area.
Answer · Rhona Brankin: The Executive considered ingeneral that Scottish Water’s delivery plan for 2006-10 was too provisional innature and identified potential obstacles to Scottish Water being able toachieve the Executive’s objectives for it without identifying how suchobstacles m…
21 Feb 2006 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what supported accommodation is currently available for 16 to 18 year olds who are not entitled to jobseekers allowance but who are living independently, broken down by local authority area.
Answer · Rhona Brankin: Professor Alan Alexanderresigned as Chair of Scottish Water because he disagreed with the view of the Scottish Executive that Scottish Water’s 2006-10 delivery plan did not providea clear and convincing basis upon which Scottish Water would, as a minimum,achi…
21 Feb 2006 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what funding was allocated to social work departments to provide allowances for 16 to 18 year olds in each year since 1999 and broken down by local authority.
Answer · Rhona Brankin: Professor Alan Alexanderresigned as Chair of Scottish Water because he did not agree with the ScottishExecutive, the Drinking Water Quality Regulator for Scotland and the otherregulators that Scottish Water’s 2006-10 delivery plan fell short of theirrequireme…
21 Feb 2006 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-23721 by Lewis Macdonald on 18 March 2002, which local authorities have concessionary travel schemes for (a) children aged under 16, (b) 16 to 18 year olds in full time education courses and (c) 16 to 18 year olds who are not on full time education c…
Answer · Rhona Brankin: Professor Alan Alexanderresigned as Chair of Scottish Water because he did not agree with the ScottishExecutive, the Water Industry Commission for Scotland and the other regulators thatScottish Water‘s 2006-10 delivery plan fell short of their requirements fo…
21 Feb 2006 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions it has had with the voluntary sector regarding the operation and extent of the national concessionary travel scheme.
Answer · Tavish Scott: Voluntary organisations wereincluded in the consultation, which was run between 24 October to 5 December 2005, onthe orders for the Scotland-wide Free Bus Scheme for Older and Disabled people towhich over 130 responses were received.</p><p>In addition the Roy…
21 Feb 2006 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions it is having with local authorities and transport providers to ensure equity of access for people with nationwide concessionary travel passes.
Answer · Tavish Scott: The Confederation of PassengerTransport (CPT) and local authority representatives were included on the seven taskgroups set up to advise on the development of the Scotland-wide Free Bus schemefor Older and Disabled people. These included task groups which con…
21 Feb 2006 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what measures it is taking to ensure, so far as practicable, equity of access to transport for which the national concessionary travel scheme is available.
Answer · Tavish Scott: The Scotland-wide Free Bus Schemefor Older and Disabled People which begins on 1 April 2006 willprovide access to card holders from anywhere in Scotland to a very wide range ofservices. The scheme will encompass bus and coach available to the general public,b…
21 Feb 2006 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what progress it has made with regard to extending the nationwide concessionary travel scheme to identified carers of people who qualify for the scheme.
Answer · Tavish Scott: The Scotland-wide Free Bus Scheme for Older and Disabled People will provide free travel for companions where assistance is required to travel. The eligibility criteria for companions will be set out in the draft order for The National Bus Travel Concession S…
21 Feb 2006 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what monitoring has taken place of the existing concessionary travel scheme.
Answer · Tavish Scott: Local travel concession schemescurrently employ a range of measures for monitoring and verifying travel concessiondata. These measures include data analysis, compliance audits of bus operators andsurveys of bus services and passengers.</p>
21 Feb 2006 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many people aged 16 to 18 were living independently having left foster care in each year since 1999, broken down by local authority area.
Answer · Robert Brown: The information requested is not held centrally.</p>
21 Feb 2006 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many people aged 16 to 18 remained with foster carers in each year since 1999, broken down by local authority area.
Answer · Robert Brown: The numbers of looked after children aged 16 or 17 years old in foster care on the 31 March each year since 1999, broken down by local authority area, are shown in the following table. It should be noted that figures exclude children on short-term placements …
21 Feb 2006 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many pregnancies there were amongst (a) 12, (b) 13, (c) 14, (d) 15 and (c) 16-year-olds in each year since 1999, broken down by NHS board area.
Answer · Lewis Macdonald: The information requested isshown for each full financial year from 1998-99 to 2003-04 in the table <i>Pregnanciesamongst females aged 12 to 16 years at conception from 1998-99 to 2003-04</i>, acopy of which has been placed in the Scottish Parliament Informat…