Elaine Murray

13 Nov 2003 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S2W-315 by Peter Peacock on 2 June 2003, under what circumstances Scottish ministers would refuse consent for a council to close a school (a) which was more than 80% full, (b) where the alternative school was five or more miles distant in the case of a p…

Answer · Peter Peacock: Proposals by educationauthorities to close schools can raise a range of different issues according tothe circumstances of the school and the local area. Consequently, whenproposals require ministerial consent, we look at each proposal on its individualmerits …

13 Nov 2003 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive when it expects a decision to be made on the options proposed in Appliance Contractors-Consultation Document.

Answer · Tom McCabe: My officials are currentlyconsidering the responses received on the appliance contractors consultationand I anticipate announcing a decision in the new year.</p>

13 Nov 2003 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S2W-3760 by Mr Tom McCabe on 12 November 2003, how the three options proposed in Appliance Contractors - Consultation Document would affect the supply of ostomy and incontinence appliances and trusses to NHS patients.

Answer · Tom McCabe: The options presented in theconsultation document are intended to maintain and improve the provision of aquality service that meets all patients’ needs, no matter which type ofappliance they may require.</p>

13 Nov 2003 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether NHS boards are permitted to assist patients with travel expenses to access NHS dental treatment in other board areas when no such treatment is available locally.

Answer · Tom McCabe: NHS boards can apply toScottish ministers for approval of schemes to assist eligible patients withtravel expenses to access primary care NHS dental treatment. The funding forsuch schemes comes from within the board’s unified budget. Patients who fallwithin el…

7 Nov 2003 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S2W-315 by Peter Peacock on 2 June 2003, what the further provisions are under which proposals to close a denominational school are referred to ministers.

Answer · Peter Peacock: Sections 22C and 22D of theEducation (Scotland) Act 1980 cover circumstances where pupils would no longerbe able to attend a school of the denomination concerned, or where, followingrepresentations from the church or denominational body concerned, ministersco…

5 Nov 2003 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Executive when it last communicated with Dumfries and Galloway Council regarding its public private partnership proposals for rebuilding and refurbishing its school estate.

Answer · Peter Peacock: The Scottish Executive made the council a conditionaloffer of revenue support on 31 March 2003for a public private partnership schools project. Scottish Executive and council officials have sincebeen in regular communication in connection with the council’s d…

30 Oct 2003 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it expects local authorities to work in partnership with the voluntary sector in the provision of child care.

Answer · Euan Robson: The ChildcareStrategy aims to provide accessible, affordable, quality child care to supportfamilies. The strategy is part of theintegrated agenda for the delivery of children's services to which child careand child care provision makes an important contributi…

30 Oct 2003 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how much funding it has made available for the provision of child care in the current financial year and what proportion of this funding is ring-fenced, broken down by local authority area.

Answer · Euan Robson: The Scottish Executive’s Childcare Strategy aims to provide accessible, affordable, goodquality child care for children in all neighbourhoods. To meet the aims of thestrategy at a local level, the Executive allocates funding to local authoritiesthrough a numb…

30 Oct 2003 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether the prescription of stoma appliances is currently under review and, if so, what aspects of the provision of such appliances are being reviewed and what options are under consideration.

Answer · Tom McCabe: No. There is no review underway at present, and we have no plans to review the prescribing of stomaappliances.</p>

27 Oct 2003 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what the breakage costs associated with any redemption of residual debt resulting from the transfer of local authority housing stock were in (a) Scottish Borders Council, (b) Dumfries and Galloway Council and (c) Glasgow City Council and what the estimated servicing costs of any such res…

Answer · Margaret Curran: I refer the member to the answer given to question S2W-3645 on 14 November 2003 which is available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility forwhich can be found at <a href="http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/search_wa">http://www.scottish.parli…

27 Oct 2003 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what housing debt remained after the transfer of local authority housing stock in (a) Scottish Borders Council, (b) Dumfries and Galloway Council and (c) Glasgow City Council and what proportion of such housing debt has subsequently been redeemed in each local authority, in each case spe…

Answer · Margaret Curran: Details of the debt andbreakage costs associated with the three housing transfers is set out in thefollowing table. HM Treasury provided the resources to redeem all residualPublic Works Loan Board housing debt and breakage costs on the date oftransfer, where …

22 Oct 2003 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has issued any regulations or guidance that prevent an individual from buying offal from a slaughterhouse for the purpose of feeding a dog.

Answer · Ross Finnie: The statutory controls onthe treatment of animal by-products were updated with effect from 1 October,but the legal requirements with regard to the sale of offal have not changed.Provided statutory requirements to safeguard public and animal health areobserved…

21 Oct 2003 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what assessment it has made of the value of the science centre network to delivering the (a) educational, (b) lifelong learning, (c) economic and (d) tourism aspects of the Executive's agenda.

Answer · Jim Wallace: The Executive recognisesthat science centres are valuable assets in helping to create a moreenterprising, pro-science country. The direct benefits of science centres are,however, very difficult to measure objectively. A study conducted in November2002 by HM I…

21 Oct 2003 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what support is planned for Scotland's science and discovery centre network following the closure of the Big Idea.

Answer · Jim Wallace: Ministers have agreed tocommission a study to consider options for the possible future support ofscience centres in Scotland. Ministers will consider the findings of the studyin the New Year. In the meantime, Dynamic Earth has accepted an offer of grantfrom t…

21 Oct 2003 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what information it has on when Her Majesty's Government's review of its policies on science and discovery centres will be concluded and how this review might impact on Scotland.

Answer · Jim Wallace: I understand that HerMajesty’s Government is planning to conclude its review of English sciencecentres by the end of this year. The Scottish Executive will, of course, consider theimplications for Scotland of any decisions that follow from this.</p>

10 Oct 2003 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what funding it has provided to develop the tourism cluster in each year since 2001; where these funds have been invested, and what outcomes been achieved.

Answer · Frank McAveety: Over the past three years, the Executive through its various agencies has provided funding for the tourism sectorof £74 million in 2000-01, £82.3 million in 2001-02 and £82.6 million in 2002-03.In addition local authorities have provided area tourist boards w…

10 Oct 2003 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what funding it has provided to develop the optoelectronics cluster in each year since 2001; where these funds have been invested, and what outcomes have been achieved.

Answer · Jim Wallace: The Executive providesScottish Enterprise with funds for economic development, including clusteractivity.</p><p>Scottish Enterprise investsin the strategic priorities of establishingScotland as an international centre for design and innovation, evolving Scotl…

10 Oct 2003 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what funding it has provided to develop the microelectronics cluster in each year since 2001; where these funds have been invested, and what outcomes have been achieved.

Answer · Jim Wallace: The Executive providesScottish Enterprise with funds for economic development, including clusteractivity. Scottish Enterprise invests in the strategic priorities of establishing Scotland as an international centre fordesign and innovation; evolving Scotland’s…

10 Oct 2003 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what funding it has provided to develop the forest industry cluster in each year since 2001; where these funds have been invested, and what outcomes have been achieved.

Answer · Allan Wilson: Enterprise Networks are responsible forsupporting cluster development and details of support are an operational matterfor the networks. The information requested is not held centrally.</p><p>However,Forestry Commission Scotland also contributes to many of the…

10 Oct 2003 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what funding it has provided to develop the food and drink cluster in each year since 2001; where these funds have been invested, and what outcomes have been achieved.

Answer · Ross Finnie: The Scottish food and drinkcluster, which led to the Scottish food and drink strategy, is a ScottishEnterprise initiative, facilitated and co-ordinated by them and supported bythe Scottish Executive and Highlands and Islands Enterprise.</p><p>Since 2001, Scot…

10 Oct 2003 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what funding it has provided to develop the creative industry cluster in each year since 2001; where these funds have been invested, and what outcomes have been achieved.

Answer · Frank McAveety: The information requested isgiven in the Scottish Enterprise information paper ‘Digital Media and CreativeIndustries (“DMCI”)’ a copy of which has been placed in the Parliament’sReference Centre (Bib. number 29746).</p>

10 Oct 2003 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what funding it has provided to develop the biotechnology cluster in each year since 2001; where these funds have been invested, and what outcomes have been achieved.

Answer · Jim Wallace: The Executive providesScottish Enterprise with funds for economic development, including clusteractivity.</p><p>Scottish Enterprise investsin strategic priority areas such as commercialisation of the research base;accessing finance for start-up and growth; im…

10 Oct 2003 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what action it is taking to improve transport links to Dumfries and Galloway.

Answer · Nicol Stephen: The Scottish Executive is substantially improving the A77 linking central Scotlandwith Dumfries and Galloway, by constructing the M77, upgrading the Whitlettsroundabout in Ayr, and providing new overtaking opportunities between Ayr andStranraer. The M74 motor…

3 Oct 2003 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answers to questions S2W-921 and S2W-1711 by Ross Finnie on 14 July and 21 August 2003 respectively, and to question S2W-1713 by Mrs Mary Mulligan on 22 August 2003, when it now expects the contract for Dumfries and Galloway Council' s waste management and recycling PPP co…

Answer · Ross Finnie: Negotiations between Dumfries andGalloway Council and the PPP contract preferred bidder are still taking place.The outcome of these negotiations will determine when the waste management andrecycling PPP contract is signed.</p><p>The Scottish Executive is curr…

3 Oct 2003 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S2W-2537 by Ross Finnie on 25 September 2003, whether it will consider taking forward recommendations 6.5, 6.6, 6.7 and 6.8 of the Water Customer Consultation Panels' report Principles of Charging for Water and Waste Water.

Answer · Ross Finnie: For the financial year2004-05, the recommendations at 6.5, 6.6, and 6.8 will be considered byScottish Water and the Water Industry Commissioner as part of that year’s chargesscheme. With regards to recommendation 6.7, the current transitional householdreducti…

11 Sep 2003 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what funding is available to assist students wishing to study the sign language interpreters course at Heriot-Watt University.

Answer · Jim Wallace: At undergraduate level supportis generally provided to students undertaking courses leading to a higher educationqualification up to first degree or equivalent level which has been validated by aUKuniversity or a national examining body such as the Scottish Q…

11 Sep 2003 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how much funding it has made available to each drug action team in each of the last four years.

Answer · Hugh Henry: Resources to tackle drug misuseare allocated through a number of funding streams and not directly to drugaction teams, who are not constituted bodies. All funding cannot be separately identifiedas much of it is spent through generic expenditure programmes, e.…

11 Sep 2003 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive which of its departments, Executive agencies or non-departmental public bodies are currently considering relocation and when decisions on any relocations are expected to be made.

Answer · Tavish Scott: The Scottish Executive is committed to the relocation policy and there is currently 13 relocationreviews under way or planned.</p><table class=MsoNormalTable border=1 cellspacing=0 cellpadding=0 width=462> <tr> <td> <p> Accountant in Bankruptcy</p> </td> …

11 Sep 2003 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what it estimates is the average annual cost of a community warden scheme.

Answer · Margaret Curran: I refer the member to the answergiven to question S2W-2338 on 16September 2003. All answers to writtenparliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facilityfor which can be found at:</p><p><ahref="http://www.scottish.parliament…

11 Sep 2003 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how it will respond to the concerns raised in the Water Customer Consultation Panel report on water charges to small businesses.

Answer · Ross Finnie: I am currently considering howbest to take forward the recommendation of the recent report by the Water CustomerConsultation Panels for a public consultation on the principles of charging. I believethat a public debate on these principles, during the course o…