Parliamentary questions
Dorothy-Grace Elder
645 questions tabled in the Scottish Parliament, most recent first.
7 Jul 2000 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-6644 by Susan Deacon on 26 June 2000, when the report by the Independent Expert Group on Mobile Phones will be made available to the Parliament; whether the research which it is commissioning as a result of this report will include an investigation i…
Answer · Susan Deacon: The Scottish Executive and UK Government have accepted the recommendation of the Independent Expert Group on Mobile Phones for a substantial UK research programme. The IEGMP identified a number of areas for further research including epidemiological studies o…
5 Jul 2000 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it plans to increase social work funding to enable children in residential care to have more outings during the summer holidays.
Answer · Sam Galbraith: It is for local authorities to determine how best to allocate resources locally. Since 1997, Grant Aided Expenditure for children's services has increased from £194.7 million to £215.6 million in the current year.
5 Jul 2000 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has any plans to promote the art of Asian Scots.
Answer · Rhona Brankin: The National Cultural Strategy, which we shall launch later this summer, will promote and celebrate Scotland's cultural life in its full diversity.
5 Jul 2000 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-8486 by Mr Jack McConnell on 4 July 2000, whether the #34 million from the central reserve being diverted towards health-related spending will be allocated to areas of special need such as Glasgow.
Answer · Susan Deacon: As the Deputy First Minister announced on 4 July, the Cabinet has guaranteed that at least £34 million of the central reserve will be committed to health-related spending. Some of the elements of this spending have already been announced, including money to t…
5 Jul 2000 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will provide immediate funding to the charity Glasgow the Caring City.
Answer · Iain Gray: No. Our policy is that funding for local voluntary organisations is a matter for local agencies. It is open to this organisation to apply for funding from the National Lotteries Charities Board.
5 Jul 2000 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to prevent English football hooligans travelling abroad from Scotland.
Answer · Jim Wallace: We are in discussion with the Home Office about measures that may be needed to ensure that the legislation planned for England and Wales is effective in Scotland. We have no plans for legislation in Scotland.
4 Jul 2000 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-7161 by Susan Deacon on 3 July 2000, how many heart transplant patients at Glasgow Royal Infirmary have been advised on arrival at the hospital that their post-operative appointment has been re-arranged for another date.
Answer · Susan Deacon: None. Where it is necessary to reschedule an appointment, as much notice as possible is given.
4 Jul 2000 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-7161 by Susan Deacon on 3 July 2000, how many heart transplant patients at Glasgow Royal Infirmary have been referred to another hospital outwith Glasgow for rescheduled post-operative appointments.
Answer · Susan Deacon: None.
4 Jul 2000 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-7161 by Susan Deacon on 3 July 2000, how many heart transplant patients at Glasgow Royal Infirmary have died while awaiting for post-operative appointments to be rescheduled.
Answer · Susan Deacon: None.
4 Jul 2000 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-8011 by Mr Sam Galbraith on 29 June 2000, whether the review of social work services in all local authorities being undertaken by the Social Work Services Inspectorate has revealed any discontent among social workers in Glasgow which requires further…
Answer · Sam Galbraith: The annual review of social work services in Scottish local authorities will be published in the autumn. The review of Glasgow has not yet been completed.
4 Jul 2000 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether any firms or hospitals have been commissioned to undertake research into the human genetic code.
Answer · Susan Deacon: The Scottish Executive is funding research relevant to the human genetic code. The projects have not been commissioned: the funding has been allocated following consideration of applications by a process of Research Committee and peer review. Details of curre…
4 Jul 2000 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what provision is made to compensate Lothian and Borders Police for the loss of police officers from usual duties as a result of the police presence required at the Palace of Holyroodhouse at times when the Queen is present.
Answer · Angus MacKay: Funding for the police is provided annually through the GAE process, which, for the current year, was based on estimates supplied by police forces. Funding is allocated in its entirety and not on the basis of specific operational requirements or policing task…
27 Jun 2000 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive,further to the answer to question S1O-2010 by Peter Peacock on 22 June 2000, whether it will review the nutritional guidelines for catering specifications for the public sector contained in the Scottish Diet Action Plan Eating for Health and targeted at pre-school and school-age children …
Answer · Peter Peacock: No. The Scottish Diet Action Plan 'Eating for Health', which provides the framework for the Scottish Executive's drive towards healthier eating, makes it clear that schools should take steps to ensure that tuck shops and vending machines provide a range of he…
23 Jun 2000 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what measures it will take to make the streets of Glasgow a safer environment for older people.
Answer · Angus MacKay: Crime and the fear of crime reduce the quality of life for many older people although they are less likely to be victims. We have established partnerships led by local authorities and the police to tackle crime and community safety at local level and we encou…
23 Jun 2000 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many attacks involving firearms there were against unarmed individuals in public places in Glasgow each year from 1995 to 1999 and how many (a) deaths and (b) convictions resulted from such attacks in each year.
Answer · Jim Wallace: The available information is given in the table below. It is not possible from the information held centrally to separately identify crimes of violence where the victim was unarmed or the outcome of proceedings other than in cases of homicide.<P ALIGN="JUSTIF…
23 Jun 2000 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many attacks involving weapons there were against unarmed individuals in public places in Glasgow in each year from 1995 to 1999; how many deaths and how many (a) deaths and (b) convictions resulted from such attacks in each year.
Answer · Jim Wallace: Information at the level of detail requested is not available except for homicides. It is not possible from the information held centrally to separately identify cases where the victim was unarmed.<P ALIGN="JUSTIFY">Homicide cases outwith dwellings involving …
23 Jun 2000 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many attacks there were against unarmed individuals in public places in Glasgow in each year from 1995 to 1999 and how many (a) deaths and (b) convictions resulted from such attacks in each year.
Answer · Jim Wallace: It is not possible from the information held centrally to separately identify crimes of violence where the victim was unarmed or, with the exception of homicides, those crimes which took place in public places. The number of homicides which took place outwith…
23 Jun 2000 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether any of its departments have received complimentary tickets, either directly or through any third party, to the Mike Tyson fight on 24 June 2000, and whether any of these invitations have been accepted.
Answer · Sam Galbraith: If officials are offered a gift in an official capacity the Scottish Executive rules require that approval must be obtained before it can be accepted, and no such approvals were sought or granted.
23 Jun 2000 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what action it will take following the recent Police Complaints Authority report stating that it has dealt with a rising number of allegations of sexual harassment perpetrated by police officers and that, in some cases, officers have formed sexual relationships with the victims of domesti…
Answer · Jim Wallace: Any reports of sexual harassment by police officers are taken extremely seriously in Scotland. Criminal complaints are referred to the Regional Procurator Fiscal for independent investigation.
23 Jun 2000 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what arrangements it will make to facilitate the coming forward of individuals who claim to have been the victim of an assault or sexual assault while in police custody.
Answer · Jim Wallace: Later this year I will be publishing a consultation paper on the investigation of complaints against the police in Scotland. One of the issues that we will consider is the way in which complaints can be made. It should be emphasised that complaints against th…
23 Jun 2000 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many publicly funded close circuit television cameras are located in Glasgow and what percentage of these are in full working order.
Answer · Angus MacKay: Since the launch of the CCTV Challenge Competition in 1996, awards have been made to install systems involving 238 cameras in the City of Glasgow area. Some of those systems, particularly those approved in the 2000-01 round of the competition, are not yet up …
23 Jun 2000 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will recommend to police forces that closed circuit television cameras be installed in every police cell and, if so, whether it will provide financial assistance to make this possible.
Answer · Jim Wallace: Chief Constables alone are responsible for operational matters within their force. No specific money is provided to the police or local authorities for the siting of CCTV cameras in police cells, expenditure for which would be met from their existing settleme…
23 Jun 2000 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what financial assistance it will give to police forces, further to the recommendations of the Police Complaints Authority that every custody suite should have at least one female officer on duty.
Answer · Jim Wallace: Chief Constables deploy officers and other resources at their own discretion. No specific money is provided to the police or local authorities to organise custody suites in the way suggested.
23 Jun 2000 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what measures it will take to ensure that drugs used in "drug rape", including Rohypnol and Gamma-hydroxybutate, are only available to those with legitimate prescriptions and whether it will commission further research into the use of these drugs in cases of "drug rapes".
Answer · Susan Deacon: Rohypnol (flunitrazepam) is a licensed medicine and is included in Schedule 4 to the Misuse of Drugs Regulations 1985 thus making possession of the drug without authority an offence. Rohypnol is not prescribable on the NHS and may only be prescribed by doctor…
23 Jun 2000 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what action it will take to ensure that police forces are sympathetic and open minded in their treatment of victims of "date rape".
Answer · Jim Wallace: The importance of tact and sensitivity in handling all rape victims, including victims of date rape, has long been recognised by the Scottish Executive and the police. Guidance on this was first issued by the Scottish Office to Chief Constables in 1976, and m…
23 Jun 2000 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will recommend that universities take action to protect students from the dangers of "drug rape", given that a recent Home Office report found that 20% of reported victims were students, and that most of the victims knew their attackers.
Answer · Susan Deacon: I refer the member to the answer to question S1W-8226.
23 Jun 2000 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether, in the light of a recent Home Office study into "drug rape" which found that nearly half of all offences take place in either pubs or clubs, it will urge owners of such establishments to publicly display literature warning of the risks of having drinks bought by others and of le…
Answer · Susan Deacon: There has been considerable publicity about the danger of drug rape. The Executive has no current plans for any publicity campaign.
23 Jun 2000 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what changes it will introduce to legislation in order to facilitate prosecutions on the charge "drug rape".
Answer · Jim Wallace: There are no separate sub-divisions of the offence of rape in law. All allegations of rape are treated with equal importance. The Scottish Executive has no plans to change the substantive law.
23 Jun 2000 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what action it will take to educate the public of the dangers of "drug rape", and particularly about the drugs Rohypnol and Gamma-hydroxybutate.
Answer · Susan Deacon: Rohypnol is not available on NHS prescription, and Gamma-hydroxybutate is not a licensed medicine in the UK. Possession of either drug without authority is an offence. The danger of "drug rape", whether involving these or other drugs, has been well …
21 Jun 2000 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether the Scottish Executive has any plans to launch an intensive education and publicity campaign to counter prejudice against refugees seeking shelter in Scotland.
Answer · Iain Gray: No.