Elaine Murray

1 Aug 2011 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it is committed to providing allowances for kinship carers of looked-after children equivalent to those provided to foster carers.

Answer · Angela Constance: The level of kinship care payments are the responsibility of local authorities, who are best placed to determine local need. The Scottish Government recognises progress so far on delivering kinship care payments and we are committed to working with local auth…

1 Aug 2011 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what funding it allocated for the provision of kinship care allowances in (a) 2008-09, (b) 2009-10 and (c) 2010-11.

Answer · Angela Constance: The local government funding package for 2008-11, agreed as part of the concordat, was not agreed item by item, but rather as a total amount within which it was agreed that local government would deliver a specified set of commitments. As part of the package …

1 Aug 2011 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive for what reason its budget agreement with COSLA for 2011-12 makes no reference to kinship care as a specific commitment.

Answer · Angela Constance: The Scottish Government made a commitment in 2007 to recognise kinship carers for the first time. This was recognised through subsequent legislation and specific additional funding to local authorities, set out in previous Budget agreements. Funding for kinsh…

1 Aug 2011 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many looked-after children were in kinship care in 2010-11, broken down by local authority.

Answer · Angela Constance: Information on the number of looked after children in kinship care for 2010-11, broken down by local authority, is not currently available. This information will be obtained from the Scottish Government’s 2010-11 Children Looked After Survey, results of which…

29 Jul 2011 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive which office in which of its directorates is responsible for policy in relation to people with a hearing loss and which official has lead responsibility for rehabilitation services.

Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: The Healthcare Planning and Strategy division in the Health and Healthcare Improvement Directorate has responsibility for taking forward the policy on hearing loss rehabilitation.

29 Jul 2011 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what resources it has provided to ensure that lipreading classes are held in each area since 2006.

Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: Lipreading classes in Scotland are funded in a variety of ways: sources include health boards, local authorities and the lottery. The Scottish Government provided very significant resources to health boards and local authorities in these years to meet the nee…

29 Jul 2011 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what resources it has provided to enable lipreading teachers to be trained in 2011.

Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: The Scottish Government provided very significant resources in 2011 to health boards and local authorities to enable them to meet the needs of their populations. In addition to this, specific grants for the purpose of training lipreading tutors were not provi…

29 Jul 2011 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what resources it provided to enable lipreading teachers to be trained in (a) 2006, (b) 2007, (c) 2008, (d) 2009 and (e) 2010.

Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: The Scottish Government provided funding to the Scottish Course to Train Tutors of Lipreading totalling £28,975 in the calendar year 2006, £13,360 in 2007, £7,920 in 2008: no funding was provided in 2009 or 2010.

29 Jul 2011 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive which office in which of its directorates is responsible for policy in relation to lipreading and which official has lead responsibility.

Answer · Michael Matheson: The Adult Care and Support Division, which sits within the Health and Social Integration Directorate, are responsible for policy in relation to lipreading. The lead official responsible is Peter Kelly.

20 Jul 2011 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what its position is on local authorities providing school transport only as far as the three mile limit for secondary school pupils living over three miles from their school.

Answer · Alasdair Allan: Local authorities have a duty under section 51 of the Education (Scotland) Act 1980 to make such arrangements as they consider necessary for the transport between home and school of pupils residing, and attending schools, in their area. In considering these a…

20 Jul 2011 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what legislation regulates the provision of transport of school pupils by local authorities.

Answer · Alasdair Allan: The provision of school transport in Scotland is a local authority responsibility. Section 51 of the Education (Scotland) Act 1980 sets out that authorities have a duty to make such arrangements as they consider necessary for the provision of school transport…

20 Jul 2011 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what recent guidance it has issued to local authorities regarding the provision of transport for school pupils.

Answer · Alasdair Allan: Scottish Executive Education Department Circular (No.7 of 2003), a copy of which is available in the Scottish Parliament Information Centre (Bib. number 29135), offered extensive guidance on all aspects of school transport, as did the more recent School Trans…

18 Jul 2011 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive when Transport Scotland's review of traffic speed on the A7 through Langholm is expected to be completed and when the findings will be published.

Answer · Keith Brown: Revised guidance issued by the Scottish Government on Setting Local Speed Limits in August 2006 outlined the framework for roads authorities to determine speeds on all A and B class roads so that they are consistent, understood by drivers and appropriate for …

18 Jul 2011 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how the consultation on Transport Scotland's review of traffic speed on the A7 through Langholm was carried out.

Answer · Keith Brown: I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-01777 on 17 August 2011. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/parliamentarybu…

18 Jul 2011 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether, as part of its review of traffic speed on the A7 through Langholm, Transport Scotland consulted on reducing the speed limit on the road to 20 mph.

Answer · Keith Brown: I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-01777 on 17 August 2011. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/parliamentarybu…

18 Jul 2011 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive which organisations and individuals were invited to make submissions to Transport Scotland's review of traffic speed on the A7 through Langholm.

Answer · Keith Brown: I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-01777 on 17 August 2011. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/parliamentarybu…

8 Jul 2011 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether a local authority may compulsorily purchase a property on which a dangerous buildings order has been served if the owner is unwilling to sell.

Answer · Aileen Campbell: No. The Building (Scotland) Act 2003 only gives power to compulsory purchase the building where the local authority carried out work and the owner cannot be found.

8 Jul 2011 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what guidance is issued to local authorities regarding the compulsory purchase of derelict properties.

Answer · Aileen Campbell: Circular 42/1976: Compulsory Purchase Procedures provides local authorities with general guidance on the use of their compulsory purchase powers. In February 2011, draft revised guidance was published by the Scottish Government on the use of compulsory purch…

4 Jul 2011 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many seals were killed in the first quarter of 2011 in accordance with licences issued under Part 6 of the Marine (Scotland) Act 2010.

Answer · Richard Lochhead: I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-01494 on 4 August 2011. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/parliamentarybus…

4 Jul 2011 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many (a) grey and (b) common seals were shot in the first quarter of 2011 under licence by marksmen qualified in terms of the new seal licence under the Marine (Scotland) Act 2010.

Answer · Richard Lochhead: Licences to shoot seals only permit shooting by marksmen who Marine Scotland is satisfied have adequate skills and experience in using firearms. Information on skills and experience of marksmen is collected as part of the licensing process.

4 Jul 2011 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many seals were killed in the first quarter of 2011 during attempts to take them in accordance with a seal licence issued under the Marine (Scotland) Act 2010.

Answer · Richard Lochhead: In the first quarter of operation of the seal licensing system, no seals were killed during attempts to take them in accordance with a seal licence issued under the Marine (Scotland) Act 2010.

4 Jul 2011 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many carcasses of (a) grey and (b) common seals shot under licence were returned in the first of quarter 2011.

Answer · Richard Lochhead: In the first quarter of operation of the seal licensing system, a total of five seal carcasses (three grey and two common) were recovered by licence holders.

4 Jul 2011 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many (a) grey and (b) common seals were shot by each licence holder in the first quarter of 2011.

Answer · Richard Lochhead: Information on numbers of seals shot under licence during the first quarter of operation of the seal licensing system can be found on the Marine Scotland website at http://www.scotland.gov.uk/topics/marine/licensing/seallicensing.

4 Jul 2011 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many (a) grey and (b) common seals were taken in the first quarter of 2011 under licences issued under section 110(1)(f) and (g) of the Marine (Scotland) Act 2010.

Answer · Richard Lochhead: No licences were issued to take any seals under sections 110 (1) (f) or 110 (1) (g) of the Marine (Scotland Act) 2010. A single licence was issued to take seals under section 110 (1) (a) for research purposes.

4 Jul 2011 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether any seals were injured in the first quarter of 2011 during attempts to kill or take them in accordance with a seal licence issued under the Marine (Scotland) Act 2010.

Answer · Richard Lochhead: In the first quarter of operation of the seal licensing system, no seals were reported injured during attempts to kill or take them in accordance with a seal licence issued under the Marine (Scotland) Act 2010.

4 Jul 2011 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether appropriate assessments have been carried out for the issuing of licences under Part 6 of the Marine (Scotland) Act 2010 in special areas of conservation where (a) grey and (b) common seals are designated features.

Answer · Richard Lochhead: Marine Scotland carried out Appropriate Assessments before issuing seal licences under the Marine (Scotland) Act 2010 for all licences within 20 km of grey seal Special Areas of Conservation (SAC) and within 50 km of common seal SACs.

4 Jul 2011 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many (a) grey and (b) common seals were shot under licence in special areas of conservation where they are designated features, in the first quarter of 2011.

Answer · Richard Lochhead: In the first quarter of operation of the seal licensing system, no seals were shot under licence in any Special Areas of Conservation where they are designated features.

4 Jul 2011 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many licences have been issued under Part 6 of the Marine (Scotland) Act 2010 that allow the shooting of (a) grey and (b) common seals in special areas of conservation where they are designated features and how many seals may be shot under those licences.

Answer · Richard Lochhead: Only one licence has been issued to permit the shooting of one common seal at the edge of a Special Area of Conservation (SAC) where seals are designated features. This licence includes strict conditions governing the location and circumstances in which this …

27 Jun 2011 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it plans to amend section 28 of the Family Law (Scotland) Act 2006 and, if so, when.

Answer · Roseanna Cunningham: We have no current plans to amend section 28 of the Family Law (Scotland) Act 2006. The Scottish Law Commission, in its report on Succession http://www.scotlawcom.gov.uk/download_file/view/390/, has recommended changes to section 29 of the 2006 Act.

27 Jun 2011 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it provides guidance on the hierarchy of tests in section 28 of the Family Law (Scotland) Act 2006.

Answer · Roseanna Cunningham: No. The Government does not provide guidance to the courts on these matters. However, information on section 28 is available in the explanatory notes to the Act at www.legislation.gov.uk/asp/2006/2/notes/contents and in our publication Family Matters: Living …