Parliamentary questions
Dorothy-Grace Elder
645 questions tabled in the Scottish Parliament, most recent first.
12 Mar 2003 · General Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has any emergency plans in respect of the termination on 31 March 2003 of an employment programme for 300 people by the East End Partnership Ltd and Glasgow Access to Training and Employment Ltd following budget reductions by Scottish Enterprise.
Answer · Iain Gray: This scheme is being discontinued throughout Scotland. There are now alternative training programmes such as New Deal, Glasgow Works and the Glasgow Challenge which permit Scottish Enterprise Glasgow to support the same people in ways which are better suited …
11 Feb 2003 · SPCB Written Question
To ask the Presiding Officer how many hits there have been on each of the Parliament's interactive discussion boards on the internet.
Answer · David Steel: Since February 2002 in total 994,015 hits have been recorded on the parliament's interactive forum web pages. Statistics on the number of hits, broken down by individual interactive forum, are not, however, available<P>"Hits" measure the volume of d…
7 Feb 2003 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what the current position is regarding reviewing the availability of grants under section 54 of the Housing Act 1988 that are presently paid to registered social landlords in order to mitigate their liability for corporation tax.
Answer · Margaret Curran: I have asked Mr Bob Millar, Chief Executive of Communities Scotland to respond. His response is as follows:<P>A working group was established to review the impact of the withdrawal of tax relief grants. The working group's recommendation has been accepted tha…
7 Feb 2003 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how much has been paid in each of the last five years to registered social landlords in grants under section 54 of the Housing Act 1988 to offset corporation tax liabilities incurred by housing associations.
Answer · Margaret Curran: I have asked Bob Millar, Chief Executive of Communities Scotland, to respond. His response is as follows:<P>The table details the Scottish Executive's expenditure to Registered Social Landlord's in grants under section 54 (tax relief grants) over the last fiv…
6 Feb 2003 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what guidance has been issued to the Scottish Environment Protection Agency about the prosecution of environmental cases.
Answer · Allan Wilson: Decisions on whether to prosecute those who breach environmental legislation are entirely matters for the Crown Office and the Procurators Fiscal Service. Guidelines have been issued to the Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA) by the Crown Office to …
6 Feb 2003 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what guidance has been issued to the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service about the prosecution of environmental cases.
Answer · Colin Boyd: With input from the Scottish Environmental Protection Agency, the Crown Office has provided detailed guidance on environmental crime to prosecutors to assist them in dealing with these cases.
6 Feb 2003 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many cases referred to the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service by the Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA) the service has declined to proceed with in each year since SEPA was established.
Answer · Colin Boyd: This information is not held centrally at present, but action is currently being taking to improve how this type of information is recorded. It is hoped that it should be possible to complete the improvements to our record keeping systems within the next few …
6 Feb 2003 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many cases have been referred by the Scottish Environment Protection Agency to the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service in each year since its inception.
Answer · Colin Boyd: This information is not held centrally at present, but action is currently being taking to improve how this type of information is recorded. It is hoped that it should be possible to complete the improvements to our record keeping systems within the next few …
6 Feb 2003 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how much public funding has been allocated to the Scottish Environment Protection Agency in each year since its inception.
Answer · Allan Wilson: The level of grant-in-aid awarded to the Scottish Environment Protection Agency since its inception is shown in the following table:<TABLE BORDER CELLSPACING=1 CELLPADDING=7 WIDTH=179><TR><TD WIDTH="47%" VALIGN="TOP"><P>Year</TD><TD WIDTH="53%" VALIGN="TOP"><…
6 Feb 2003 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it plans to give the Scottish Environment Protection Agency any additional powers in order to improve its ability to become more involved in environmental regulation.
Answer · Allan Wilson: The Scottish Executive has consulted on a range of proposals to give additional powers to the Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA). These include the following proposals, many of which are described in detail in consultation papers published on the S…
6 Feb 2003 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it plans to give the Scottish Environment Protection Agency any additional powers in order to improve its ability to become more involved in the planning process, including by making objections to planning proposals.
Answer · Allan Wilson: There are no plans at present to give additional powers to the Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA) to become more involved in the planning process. SEPA is already a statutory consultee in defined circumstances under the Town and Country Planning (G…
27 Jan 2003 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-20100 by Malcolm Chisholm on 8 January 2002, when the results of the randomised controlled trial to evaluate a specialist nurse-led model of early discharge from hospital following axillary clearance surgery for breast cancer, which ended in December…
Answer · Malcolm Chisholm: The report on the trial is expected to be received by the Chief Scientist Office (CSO) by 31 March 2003. Thereafter, the report will be considered by CSO's Health Services Research Committee at its meeting in May. If it is considered satisfactory, an executiv…
27 Nov 2002 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how much has been spent in each year since 1998 by each local authority on section 13 payments under the Social Work (Scotland) Act 1968.
Answer · Cathy Jamieson: The information requested is not held centrally.
22 Nov 2002 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will invite the Health Technology Board for Scotland to consider the availability of MSPs to attend its seminars and briefings on Health Technology Assessments and Comments when the board is considering the most suitable time for such seminars.
Answer · Malcolm Chisholm: The Health Technology Board for Scotland (HTBS) has held seminars, briefings, consultation meetings and board meetings at a variety of times and in a range of locations. Additionally, the HTBS now makes videos of major meetings available to people who are una…
22 Nov 2002 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has any plans to encourage shorthand and other forms of speed writing in schools and colleges.
Answer · Nicol Stephen: The Scottish Executive has no plans to encourage shorthand and other forms of speed writing in schools and colleges. However, National Qualifications and Higher National Units include provision for the learning and teaching of shorthand and speed writing.
21 Nov 2002 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what guidance has been issued to local authorities in relation to the power to make payments under section 13 of the Social Work (Scotland) Act 1968.
Answer · Cathy Jamieson: Circular SWSG 13/76 gives guidance about civil emergencies. This circular was agreed with central government departments and with the Convention of Scottish Local Authorities.
21 Nov 2002 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what assessment has been made of the Good Neighbour Agreement between Dundee City Council, Dundee Energy Recycling Limited, Friends of the Earth Scotland and local community groups in Dundee.
Answer · Allan Wilson: The Scottish Executive is funding research by Friends of the Earth to assess the effectiveness of Good Neighbour Agreements. This work will include looking at the agreement involving the waste to energy plant at Baldovie, Dundee.
21 Nov 2002 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how much money has been allocated to (a) the Scottish Environment Protection Agency and (b) any other organisations in relation to the Good Neighbour Agreement between Dundee City Council, Dundee Energy Recycling Limited, Friends of the Earth Scotland and local community groups in Dundee.
Answer · Allan Wilson: No funding has been allocated by the Scottish Executive to the Scottish Environment Protection Agency or any other organisation in relation to the Good Neighbour Agreement involving the waste to energy plant at Baldovie, Dundee.
21 Nov 2002 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answers to questions S1W-29496 and S1W-29959 by Allan Wilson on 25 September and 9 October 2002, how much has been allocated to the Scottish Environment Protection Agency specifically to improve public access to pollution data through a web-based pollution emissions invent…
Answer · Allan Wilson: No element of the grant-in-aid allocated to the Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA) is ring-fenced for any specific purpose. Under the Spending Review 2002 SEPA has been allocated, subject to parliamentary approval, additional resources of £11.2 mil…
21 Nov 2002 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-29959 by Allan Wilson on 9 October 2002, whether there will be an announcement in November 2002 about progress in the preparation of data by the Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA) in relation to the web-based pollution emissions inventory.
Answer · Allan Wilson: No, but I will make an announcement about SEPA's plans shortly.
1 Nov 2002 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1O-5350 by Malcolm Chisholm on 20 June 2002, what Health Technology Board for Scotland Comments on National Institute for Clinical Excellence guidance will be reviewed.
Answer · Malcolm Chisholm: The Health Technology Board for Scotland (HTBS) will review Comments on National Institute for Clinical Excellence guidance if new evidence about the Scottish context emerges which results in the HTBS Comment being inaccurate or out of date. HTBS has conducte…
4 Oct 2002 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether there are any plans to increase spending on flood prevention following the press statement of 26 September 2002 by the Association of British Insurers on flood insurance for homeowners.
Answer · Allan Wilson: The Spending Proposals for years 2003-04 to 2005-06 announced by the Executive on 12 September already include for substantially increased spending on flood prevention. Although the Association of British Insurer's press statement of 26 September will not lea…
2 Oct 2002 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive when it intends to make an announcement concerning its discussions with Her Majesty's Government in regard to people who were affected by the recent flooding in the east end of Glasgow and were uninsured.
Answer · Hugh Henry: I refer the member to the answer given to question S1W-30203 today. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament's website, the search facility for which can be found at: <a href="http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/sear…
2 Oct 2002 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions have taken place with the Department for Work and Pensions concerning the provision of assistance to victims of the flooding in the east end of Glasgow.
Answer · Hugh Henry: The Scottish Executive contacted the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) to confirm that the local Social Security Office was fully prepared to provide the appropriate support, including through the Social Fund, to people adversely affected by the flooding…
2 Oct 2002 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what steps it is taking to assist the victims of the flooding in the east end of Glasgow.
Answer · Allan Wilson: The Executive has been in contact with the Department for Work and Pensions about the financial help it can give to people affected by the recent Glasgow floods. The Executive is in discussion with landlords and the Association of British Insurers to ensure t…
25 Sep 2002 · General Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has any plans to meet Glasgow Housing Association and Glasgow City Council concerning the timetable for the proposed Glasgow housing stock transfer.
Answer · Margaret Curran: The Glasgow stock transfer is a highly complex and ambitious project to improve housing conditions for around 80,000 tenants, and the Scottish Executive is in regular contact with both Glasgow City Council and Glasgow Housing Association to take it forward.
18 Sep 2002 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions it has had with the Glasgow Housing Association regarding the impact on its future capital programme of the recent decision by Glasgow City Council to finance the costs of the recent flooding from its housing revenue account capital programme.
Answer · Margaret Curran: There have been no discussions between the Executive and the Glasgow Housing Association in this regard.
18 Sep 2002 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has any plans to give financial assistance to Glasgow City Council to tackle the cost of the recent flooding in the city.
Answer · Andy Kerr: I refer the member to the answer given to question S1W-29553 today. All answers to written PQs are available on the Parliament's website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/search_wa.
18 Sep 2002 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has received any representations from Glasgow City Council in respect of the recent flooding in the east end of Glasgow.
Answer · Andy Kerr: We are in contact with Glasgow City Council, but no request for financial assistance has been received.
1 Aug 2002 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive on what grounds a person may be excluded from joining the committee of (a) a local housing steering group, (b) a local housing organisation, (c) a housing association and (d) an area housing partnership.
Answer · Margaret Curran: The information requested is as follows:<P>(a) There are no standard membership criteria set for organisations who are working towards registration. Membership criteria will vary depending on individual steering groups, and their local communities.<P>(b) If a…