Parliamentary questions
Elaine Murray
2,411 questions tabled in the Scottish Parliament, most recent first.
29 Aug 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how much funding was provided to agencies in Dumfries and Galloway from the Community Safety Partnership Award Programme in (a) 2005-06 and (b) 2006-07 and how much will be provided in 2007-08.
Answer · Fergus Ewing: Dumfries and Galloway Community Safety Partnershiphas been awarded funding as detailed in the following table:</p><table border=1 cellspacing=0 cellpadding=3> <thead> <tr> <td width=71 valign=top> <p> </p> </td> <td width=122 valign=top> <p a…
29 Aug 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how much funding was provided to agencies in Dumfries and Galloway from the programme for prevention of domestic abuse in (a) 2005-06 and (b) 2006-07 and how much will be provided in 2007-08.
Answer · Stewart Maxwell: Funding was providedto a variety of organisations in Dumfries and Galloway to address domestic abuse and violence against women.In 2005-06 £184,630 was provided, in 2006-07 £319,865 was provided and in 2007-08£327,255 has been allocated. This amounts to a tot…
29 Aug 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how much funding was provided to agencies in Dumfries and Galloway from the Working for Families Programme in 2006-07 and how much will be provided in 2007-08.
Answer · Stewart Maxwell: Dumfries and Galloway received £600,000 per annum from the Working for Families programme in 2006-07and 2007-08.</p>
29 Aug 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how much funding was provided to agencies in Dumfries and Galloway from the antisocial behaviour programme in (a) 2004-05, (b) 2005-06 and (c) 2006-07 and how much will be provided in 2007-08.
Answer · Fergus Ewing: The following table shows what core antisocial socialbehaviour funding has been provided to Dumfries and Galloway Council:</p><table border=1 cellspacing=0 cellpadding=3> <thead> <tr> <td width=71 valign=top> <p align=center>Year</p> </td> <td width…
29 Aug 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how much funding was provided to agencies in Dumfries and Galloway from the Rural Service Priority Area Programme in 2006-07.
Answer · Richard Lochhead: Dumfries and Galloway received a total of £500,000 in 2006-07. This represented £100,000 for eachof the five Rural Service Priority Areas identified in the area under the previousadministration’s Closing the Opportunity Gap initiative.</p>
29 Aug 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how much funding was provided to agencies in Dumfries and Galloway from the Quality of Life Initiative in 2006-07 and how much will be provided in 2007-08.
Answer · John Swinney: Dumfries and Galloway’s allocation under the Quality of Life fund for 2006-07 was £1.519 million.For the financial year 2007-08 the allocation is £1.517 million. The Quality ofLife Fund has the scope for funding a wide range of initiatives that respond toloca…
29 Aug 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how much funding was provided to agencies in Dumfries and Galloway from the Community Regeneration Programme in (a) 2005-06 and (b) 2006-07 and how much will be provided in 2007-08.
Answer · Stewart Maxwell: I have asked Angiolina Foster, Chief Executive of Communities Scotland to respond. Her response is as follows:</p><p>Over 2005-08 Dumfries and Galloway Community Planning Partnership has beenallocated the following resources from the Community Regeneration Fu…
23 Aug 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether members of the armed forces serving overseas are required to pay council tax on empty properties on the same basis as the owners of holiday homes in Scotland.
Answer · John Swinney: Members of thearmed forces serving overseas are treated the same for council tax purposes asany other citizen. This means that if they own an empty property in Scotland, it will be exempt from council tax for up to six months. If it is still emptyafter that, …
20 Aug 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what support is available to further education students under 19 from low-income families domiciled in Scotland but studying in England, other than the educational maintenance allowance.
Answer · Fiona Hyslop: The education maintenanceallowance is the main form of support for students under 19 regardless of wherethey study. Students can contact their local authority to find out what other supportoptions may be available.</p><p>Scottish domiciledstudents studying da…
20 Aug 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what guidance it provides to NHS boards on the use of locum consultant surgeons.
Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: A<i> </i><i>Code Of Practice In The Appointment And EmploymentOf Locum Doctors - NHS Circular: PCS (DD) 1998/1 </i>was issued to health boards in Scotland on 23 January 1998.<i> </i>A copy ofthis guidance is available in the Scottish Parliament Information Ce…
20 Aug 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what guidance it provides to NHS boards on the appointment of consultant surgeons.
Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: The appointment ofconsultants is governed by the National<i> </i>Health Service Appointment of Consultants(Scotland) Regulations 1993. These regulations requirethe appointing authority to constitute an Advisory Appointments Committee, whichmust include member…
20 Aug 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it is considering extending community right to buy to urban areas.
Answer · Michael Russell: There are no plansat present to do so.</p>
20 Aug 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many residents in care homes received free (a) personal care and (b) nursing care payments in (i) 2004-05, (ii) 2005-06 and (iii) 2006-07, broken down by local authority area.
Answer · Shona Robison: The information requestedis given in the following tables:</p><table border=1 cellspacing=0 cellpadding=3> <thead> <tr> <td nowrap valign=bottom> <p align=center>Local Authority</p> </td> <td nowrap valign=bottom> <p align=center>2004-05</p> </td…
20 Aug 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how members of the public may contribute to Lord Sutherland's review of free personal care.
Answer · Shona Robison: I refer the memberto the answer to question S3W-3484 on 6 September 2007. 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/w…
20 Aug 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive when it expects to receive the interim report of Lord Sutherland's review of free personal care.
Answer · Shona Robison: The review will providea short update following its meeting in September.</p>
20 Aug 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether the membership and terms of reference of Lord Sutherland’s review of free personal care have been announced.
Answer · Shona Robison: The membership of the Independent Funding Review of Free Personal and Nursing Care, chaired by LordSutherland, was announced on 30 August 2007. The group is dueto meet during September when it will consider its terms of reference and optionsfor consultation a…
17 Aug 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether registered social landlords are required to offer accommodation to homeless applicants referred to them by local authorities under section 5 of the Housing (Scotland) Act 2001 if the applicants’ homelessness was caused by their eviction by any registered social landlord on the gro…
Answer · Stewart Maxwell: Section 5 of the Housing(Scotland) Act 2001 requires that a registered sociallandlord (RSL) must comply, within a reasonable period, with a local authority’srequest to provide accommodation for a homeless household, which is unintentionallyhomeless with a pri…
17 Aug 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether registered social landlords (RSL) may designate certain properties or property types as suitable for tenants with particular needs, such as elderly or disabled people, and whether such designation can exempt these properties from being (a) allocated through the RSL's general housi…
Answer · Stewart Maxwell: Registered sociallandlords (RSL) can exempt from the general housing needs list properties whichhave been designed or substantially adapted for occupation by persons of a particularage group, or properties allocated to persons who are, or are to be, in receip…
17 Aug 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether registered social landlords are required to offer accommodation within a specified time period to homeless applicants referred to them by local authorities under section 5 of the Housing (Scotland) Act 2001.
Answer · Stewart Maxwell: Section 5 of the Housing(Scotland) Act 2001 requires that a registered sociallandlord (RSL) must comply, within a reasonable period, with a local authority’srequest to provide accommodation for a homeless household, which is unintentionallyhomeless with a pri…
17 Aug 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what sanctions can be applied by Communities Scotland to registered social landlords that fail to offer accommodation to homeless applicants referred to them by local authorities under section 5 of the Housing (Scotland) Act 2001 and under what circumstances such sanctions would be applie…
Answer · Stewart Maxwell: I have asked Angiolina Foster, Chief Executive of Communities Scotland to respond.</p><p>Her response is asfollows:</p><p>Where a registered social landlord (RSL)does not comply with a request to provide housing for a homeless person within areasonable period…
25 Jul 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether any Scottish or UK legislation prevents the exchange of tenancies for properties owned by local authorities or registered social landlords where one property is in Scotland and the other in England.
Answer · Stewart Maxwell: No. Exchange cantake place provided both landlords have given their consent.</p>
25 Jul 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what action can be taken by local authorities against (a) private sector and (b) registered social landlords that fail to take action to control the antisocial behaviour of their tenants.
Answer · Stewart Maxwell: (a) If a privatelandlord fails to take action to control the antisocial behaviour of tenants,despite advice, the local authority may serve an Antisocial Behaviour Notice,specifying actions the landlord is required to take to address the situation. Failureto c…
25 Jul 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what action can be taken by tenants against (a) private sector and (b) registered social landlords that fail to take action to control the antisocial behaviour of other tenants.
Answer · Stewart Maxwell: (a) Neighbourswho are affected by antisocial behaviour by tenants of privately rented housingshould contact their local authority, who can take action against theindividual or, if necessary, against the landlord as described in the answer toquestion S3W-2404 …
25 Jul 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what percentage of households presenting as homeless under section 5 of the Housing (Scotland) Act 2001 were offered a secure tenancy by the local authority or registered social landlord in (a) 2004-05 and (b) 2005-06 operating in that authority’s area, broken down by local authority area.
Answer · Stewart Maxwell: The informationrequested has been presented in a table showing the percentage of homelessapplications, and those assessed as being unintentionally homeless in priorityneed (for whom a local authority has a duty to secure permanent accommodation),in each local…
25 Jul 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what percentage of local authority and registered social landlord vacancies in (a) 2004-05 and (b) 2005-06 were offered to households presenting as homeless under section 5 of the Housing (Scotland) Act 2001, broken down by local authority area.
Answer · Stewart Maxwell: Table 1 shows thepercentage of permanent lets by local authorities to homeless households for2004-05. Figures for 2005-06 can be found in the Scottish GovernmentStatistical Bulletin (Housing Series)<i> Housing trends in </i><i>Scotland</i><i>: quarters ending…
25 Jul 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will increase funding for theatre.
Answer · Linda Fabiani: I refer the memberto the answer to question S3W-2577 on 20 August 2007. 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.…
23 Jul 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-1933 by Stewart Maxwell on 20 July 2007, whether it will make the Homestake Open Market Scheme available to disabled residents in Dumfries and Galloway.
Answer · Stewart Maxwell: The HomestakeOpen Market Scheme is a limited pilot which is subject to on-going review andevaluation and there are no plans at present to extend the scheme to Dumfries and Galloway.</p>
17 Jul 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive by what date it expects all local authorities to have an operational common housing register.
Answer · Stewart Maxwell: There is no fixed deadlinefor all local authorities to have an operational common housing register. The need to use the powers provided in section 8 of theHousing (Scotland) Act 2001 for Scottish Ministers torequire the establishment of commonhousing register…
17 Jul 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-1473 by Nicola Sturgeon on 16 July 2007, which local authorities are not expected to have an operational common housing register by the end of 2007-08.
Answer · Stewart Maxwell: The following localauthorities do not expect to have an operational common housing register (CHR)by the end of 2007-08: Clackmannanshire, Dumfries and Galloway, Dundee, East Ayrshire, East Lothian, Falkirk,South Ayrshire, South Lanarkshire, Stirling and West …
17 Jul 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-1475 by Nicola Sturgeon on 16 July 2007, how much funding was made available to Dumfries and Galloway Council from 2004 to 2007 to support the development of a common housing register.
Answer · Stewart Maxwell: Dumfries and Galloway Council received an allocation of£100,000 to support development on a common housing register (CHR) as part of the CHR Development Programme 2004-06. At the end of 2006-07, £30,000 remainedunclaimed and, exceptionally, this has been made…