Elaine Smith

2 Apr 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether ministers have any plans to visit the Summerlee Heritage Museum in Coatbridge to view the facilities available there and to help market the museum.

Answer · Elaine Murray: I have not received any invitation to visit the museum but would be happy to consider any request if received.

2 Apr 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to establish state-run hotels, similar to the Spanish parador, where listed buildings could be restored to provide accommodation for tourists and where holiday itineraries could include visits to facilities such as the Summerlee Heritage Museum in Coatbridge.

Answer · Elaine Murray: The Scottish Executive has no plans to establish state-run hotels or to restore listed buildings to provide accommodation for tourists.

2 Apr 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it supports North Lanarkshire Council in their policy of allowing free entry to the Summerlee Heritage Museum in Coatbridge.

Answer · Elaine Murray: The Scottish Executive has responsibility for the national museums and galleries. The responsibility for non-national museums, such as the Summerlee Heritage Museum, Coatbridge, lies with local agencies. The Public Libraries Consolidation (Scotland) Act 1887 …

2 Apr 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what consideration it has given to the facilities provided at the Summerlee Heritage Museum in Coatbridge including working trams, the reconstruction of a drift mine, the exhibition hall, the miners row cottages and the facilities and events specifically for children.

Answer · Elaine Murray: The Scottish Executive has responsibility for the national museums and galleries of Scotland, whereas responsibility for non-national museums, including Summerlee Heritage Museum, lies with local agencies i.e. local authorities. North Lanarkshire Council has …

2 Apr 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether its plans for the tourism industry include looking at ways to market ex-industrial areas throughout Scotland such as Coatbridge.

Answer · Mike Watson: This is an operational matter for VisitScotland. I understand that they intend to market Scotland's industrial heritage as part of their new product based marketing strategy.

25 Mar 2002 · First Minister's Question

To ask the First Minister what action is being taken in order to ensure the adequate provision of paediatric specialists throughout Scotland.

Answer · Jack McConnell: NHS boards are responsible for deciding the number of consultants employed locally. They are best placed to determine the staff needed to meet demands in their areas. However, The Scottish Executive carry out an annual review of the Specialist Registrar estab…

4 Mar 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, if tenants choose to vote against stock transfer in the forthcoming ballot, what action the Executive proposes to take to facilitate a step change in investment in Glasgow's housing.

Answer · Margaret Curran: Should tenants vote against the proposed housing transfer, the stock will be retained by Glasgow City Council. In these circumstances the council would continue to receive their share of existing Housing Revenue Account resources.

4 Mar 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether the forthcoming ballot on the transfer of Glasgow City Council's housing stock will include an option for tenants to indicate positively a wish to remain tenants of the council as an alternative to simply voting against the transfer.

Answer · Margaret Curran: No. The content of the ballot paper is a matter for Glasgow City Council.

4 Mar 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how much it has provided in (a) grants, subsidies or any other non-repayable finance and (b) loans or any other repayable finance in respect of the transfer of Glasgow City Council housing stock.

Answer · Margaret Curran: To date a total of almost £20 million has been made available to the Glasgow Housing Association and Glasgow City Council, for costs in respect of the Glasgow housing transfer.

4 Mar 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how it will finance training in order to address vacancies arising from construction industry shortages following the transfer of Glasgow City Council's housing stock, in light of research commissioned by the council, Scottish Enterprise Glasgow and Communities Scotland forecasting approx…

Answer · Margaret Curran: Skills training for construction will be funded through Scottish Enterprise working in partnership with employers, local authorities and colleges. Various training programmes will be involved including, Modern Apprenticeships, Skillseekers, Training for Work …

4 Mar 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether the ballot on the Glasgow housing stock transfer will be under way before the second stage consultation is completed and what measures it will take should any new information emerge from the consultation process after tenants have returned ballot papers.

Answer · Margaret Curran: The ballot will be under way before the second stage consultation is completed. Any representations received from tenants will be taken into account by Scottish ministers when the application for formal consent to transfer is received.

4 Mar 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, with regard to the statement that it "is committed to the transfer of council housing to community ownership, both in Glasgow and throughout Scotland" in the October 2001 issue of The Key - Special Edition for Home Owners, whether the proposed transfer of housing stock in Glasgow is the …

Answer · Margaret Curran: Transfers of council housing to community ownership offer substantial benefits to tenants, councils and communities. It is for councils and tenants to decide whether to pursue housing stock transfer.

28 Jan 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what monitoring processes are planned to ensure that local authorities' homelessness strategies are drawn up in accordance with equal opportunity requirements under the Housing (Scotland) Act 2001.

Answer · Iain Gray: The Housing (Scotland) Act 2001 requires each local authority to state in its homelessness strategy how it will comply with its equal opportunities duty under section 106 of the act, so far as relating to the matters included in the strategy. Communities Scot…

28 Jan 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what support is available to local authorities in respect of meeting obligations under the Housing (Scotland) Act 2001 to draw up housing strategies in accordance with equal opportunity requirements.

Answer · Iain Gray: A plan is being considered by the Scottish Executive on how best to take forward the equal opportunities agenda in housing as well as the support that can be offered to local authorities to meet their obligations under the Housing (Scotland) Act 2001, includi…

23 Jan 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what level of consultation with the public and any other interested parties it would expect to be undertaken in respect of any permanent change in service provision at Monklands Hospital.

Answer · Malcolm Chisholm: NHS boards are expected to consult with <I>all</I> affected communities about any significant service change or development whether these are new or existing services, or a change in the way health services are used.<P>Boards should agree a process that provi…

23 Jan 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what level of consultation with the public and any other interested parties it would expect to be undertaken in respect of any temporary removal of in-patient medical services for children from Monklands Hospital to Wishaw General Hospital.

Answer · Malcolm Chisholm: I would expect Lanarkshire Acute Hospitals NHS Trust to formally consult with the Local Health Council and to seek the views and thoughts of parents and children who have had long-term contact with the paediatricians at Monklands Hospital. <P>I understand fro…

23 Jan 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether sick children requiring in-patient services should be cared for as close to their home as possible.

Answer · Malcolm Chisholm: The Child Health Support Group <I>Template for Child Health Services within Unified NHS Board Areas </I>sets out that, where possible, in order to minimise anxiety for the child, the chosen model of acute care should be out-patient provision located as near a…

23 Jan 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what statistical information it holds in respect of any increase in the number of children requiring admission to hospitals in Lanarkshire over the winter period.

Answer · Malcolm Chisholm: The following table provides information on the number of patients under the age of 16 years that were admitted to Lanarkshire acute hospitals for in-patient and day case treatment during the period April 1998 to March 2001, the most up to date figures availa…

23 Jan 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what its position is on the provision on site of children's in-patient medical services in general hospitals such as Monklands Hospital in Airdrie.

Answer · Malcolm Chisholm: The Executive expects NHS boards and trusts to design and operate health services, including children's services, so that they meet local needs and adhere to overall Scottish and other policies and frameworks where relevant.<P>The Child Health Support Group p…

23 Jan 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what steps it is taking to address any national shortage of paediatric specialists.

Answer · Mary Mulligan: The number of higher specialist training posts available in Scotland is regularly adjusted to meet the projected number of new consultants needed to meet known and anticipated turnover and local service developments. We will consider whether additional traini…

28 Nov 2001 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what progress is being made by the National Group to Address Domestic Abuse in Scotland towards the establishment of specific issue-based working groups, as detailed in Preventing Violence Against Women: Action Across the Scottish Executive.

Answer · Margaret Curran: Three issue-based working groups have recently been established by the National Group to Address Domestic Abuse in Scotland. These are: a working group to review all current legislation relating to domestic abuse, a working group to review current recommendat…

7 Nov 2001 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has regarding the export of Scottish agricultural produce.

Answer · Ross Finnie: <I>A Forward Strategy for Scottish Agriculture</I>, which I published in June, outlined the need to improve the identification of markets at home and abroad for Scottish agricultural produce. In the awarding of grants for the processing and marketing of agric…

23 Oct 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what information it has relating to any current use of organophosphates on farms.

Answer · Ross Finnie: The information requested is not held centrally.

23 Oct 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has taken any action to ban the use of organophosphates on farms.

Answer · Ross Finnie: Veterinary medicines remain the responsibility of the Westminster Parliament. The marketing authorisations for organophosphate (OP) sheep dips has been suspended, pending satisfactory completion of plans being developed by marketing authorisation holders for …

23 Oct 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it plans to implement any strategies in order to make farm environments safer for children.

Answer · Ross Finnie: Health and safety in the workplace is a matter reserved to the UK Parliament and remains the responsibility of the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions.

23 Oct 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it plans to implement any strategies in order to make the agriculture industry safer for workers.

Answer · Ross Finnie: Health and safety in the workplace is a matter reserved to the UK Parliament and remains the responsibility of the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions.

23 Oct 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive when the cross-sector group referred to in Action 54 of A Forward Strategy for Scottish Agriculture will meet; whether the group will include any trade union representatives, and what strategy the Executive has to ensure gender balance within the group.

Answer · Ross Finnie: No date has yet been arranged for a meeting of the cross-sector steering group referred to in Action 54 of <I>A Forward Strategy for Scottish Agriculture</I>. The main trade union involved with the agriculture industry was offered the opportunity to contribut…

19 Sep 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what mechanisms were used to try to ensure gender balance on the sounding board and academic panel established in connection with its review of cities and what assessment it has made of the appropriateness of the mechanisms used in the light of the final membership of the board and panel.

Answer · Angus MacKay: In appointing the membership of the sounding board and the academic panel, the Scottish Executive sought to achieve a mix of experience, organisational affiliations, geographical coverage and gender. Unfortunately not all the women who were asked to participa…

19 Sep 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how the members of the sounding board and academic panel established in connection with its review of cities were chosen.

Answer · Angus MacKay: I refer the member to the answer given to question S1W-18259.

12 Sep 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to establish a Scottish Forestry Forum.

Answer · Rhona Brankin: I have asked the Forestry Commission to invite different groups with an interest in the social, economic and environmental benefits of forestry, to participate in a Scottish Forestry Forum. Key tasks of the forum will be to promote discussion about how to max…