Parliamentary questions
Elaine Murray
2,411 questions tabled in the Scottish Parliament, most recent first.
15 Oct 1999 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will consider extending the support offered by the New Opportunities Fund for after school care by extending the period of funding available and allowing existing groups to apply for funding.
Answer · Peter Peacock: Policy directions to the New Opportunities Fund were issued in August 1998 by the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport after consultation with interested colleagues, including the Secretary of State for Scotland, and the Fund's Board.<P ALIGN="JUST…
7 Oct 1999 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how it will promote the use of Fair Trade products in its offices and premises.
Answer · Jack McConnell: Procurement of goods and services by the Scottish Executive is on the basis of value for money. However, we are committed to promoting and supporting fair and ethical trading where possible. For example, we are in discussion with our catering contractors rega…
7 Oct 1999 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether the proposed legislation on feudal reform will prevent individuals or companies buying up the titles of properties owned by other individuals and thereafter charging dues or evicting those individuals from their own homes.
Answer · Jim Wallace: Abolition of the feudal system will mean that superiority interests will disappear and all remaining feuduties will be extinguished. Individuals and companies will no longer be able to buy up superiority interests with the specific intention of charging vassa…
22 Sep 1999 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what steps it will consider taking to reduce the level of violence experienced by social workers and whether plans to reduce violence and stress affecting social workers will be considered by the forthcoming General Social Care Council as a matter of priority.
Answer · Sam Galbraith: In a speech to the Association of Directors of Social Work in May 1998 I enumerated a 7 point plan to modernise social work. This included the need to support front-line staff. They undertook to take forward action on this topic and have been developing a gui…
22 Sep 1999 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will provide an estimate of the financial value to the farming industry in Dumfries and Galloway of the new aid to sheep and beef farmers announced by Her Majesty's Government's Minister for Agriculture on 20 September 1999.
Answer · Ross Finnie: The nature and application of measures announced make it very difficult to arrive at an accurate figure for any particular region. However, we estimate that over the next 2 years the aid package could be worth about £7.5m to Dumfries and Galloway.
23 Aug 1999 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it intends to review the indicators of social deprivation to take into account rural population patterns.
Answer · Wendy Alexander: The<FONT SIZE=2> Scottish Executive intends to construct a new index of rural deprivation using the detailed results of the next census of population which will take place in 2001. In the meantime, the Scottish Executive is exploring ways to examine rural dep…
23 Aug 1999 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive to provide details of the additional funding made available to local authorities for repairs to school buildings since May 1997.
Answer · Peter Peacock: An additional £115.7 million over 5 years was announced in the July 1997 Budget. Following the Comprehensive Spending Review, additional expenditure of £185 million on school buildings is expected under the local authority capital allocation arrange…
23 Aug 1999 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive to provide details of the financial aid provided to local Women's Aid groups (a) in total and (b) as received by each group over the past two years, and whether it plans to disburse funds directly to local Women's Aid Groups in future years.
Answer · Jackie Baillie: The Scottish Executive provides financial aid to the national office of Scottish Women's Aid through grants under sections 9 and 10 of the Social Work (Scotland) Act 1968 and section 197 of the Housing (Scotland) Act 1987.<P>The funding of local Women's Aid g…
23 Aug 1999 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to upgrade the A7 Carlisle to Edinburgh route, and in particular to tackle the problem of traffic congestion and public safety in Langholm.
Answer · Sarah Boyack: The Scottish Executive is responsible for the A7 from Galashiels to the English Border. The A7 from Edinburgh to Galashiels is non-trunk and is therefore the responsibility of the local roads authorities.<P ALIGN="JUSTIFY">Some £7.5 million has been spent on …
23 Aug 1999 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to designate the A701 Edinburgh to Moffat road as (a) a scenic trail or (b) an alternative tourist route.
Answer · Sarah Boyack: The A701 at Moffat is a local road for which Dumfries and Galloway is responsible. I will consider the case for designation once I have received a full submission from the Council.
23 Aug 1999 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it supports the use of job-sharing and under what circumstances it would refuse a request to job-share.
Answer · Jack McConnell: The Scottish Executive fully supports staff who want to combine work with domestic responsibilities and has offered job sharing, part time work and other flexible working patterns for a considerable time. Job sharing involves identifying two members of staff …