Parliamentary questions
Elaine Smith
1,153 questions tabled in the Scottish Parliament, most recent first.
28 Jun 2001 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it intends to set targets for the Scottish Drug Enforcement Agency in 2001-02 and whether these will be published.
Answer · Jim Wallace: The Scottish Drug Enforcement Forum which, under the chairmanship of the Deputy Minister for Justice, oversees the work of the Scottish Drug Enforcement Agency (SDEA), formally endorsed the SDEA's objectives, key activities, performance indicators and targets…
15 Jun 2001 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will consider ways in which the further education sector might move towards collective bargaining at a national level in order to rectify any disparities in pay and conditions that exist in colleges and minimise any possible disruption to students through industrial action by s…
Answer · Wendy Alexander: The Boards of Management of FE colleges are each legally responsible for matters relating to the contracts of employment of staff within their college, including pay and conditions. This offers boards the flexibility, as they see fit, to reflect local conditi…
15 Jun 2001 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many incidents of industrial action by staff in the further education sector there have been since incorporation.
Answer · Wendy Alexander: This information is not held centrally.
11 Jun 2001 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what its response is to the report of the Expert Panel on Sex Offending.
Answer · Jim Wallace: I welcome the Expert Panel's report, <I>Reducing the Risk: improving the response to sex offending</I>. It is an important contribution to the debate on a subject of public concern. The report will now go out for public consultation, which will inform decisio…
30 May 2001 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive when the victim awareness training for the judiciary referred to in its Scottish Strategy for Victims will start.
Answer · Jim Wallace: Judicial training in Scotland is a matter for the independent Judicial Studies Committee. The committee are aware of the terms of the Executive's policy and they are already planning to include victims' issues in a programme of refresher courses for sheriffs …
30 May 2001 · SPCB Written Question
To ask the Presiding Officer what facilities there will be in the new Parliament building for MSPs, staff and visitors who are nursing mothers.
Answer · David Steel: The plans for our new accommodation in Holyrood provide space for one "Rest Room/Nursing Mother Room" in an area accessible to the public and another in the MSP and staff area. Each room will have an en-suite WC/wash-hand basin compartment and a mob…
30 May 2001 · SPCB Written Question
To ask the Presiding Officer what facilities are currently provided within the Parliamentary complex for members of the public and visitors who are breastfeeding.
Answer · David Steel: There are no breastfeeding facilities provided in the interim accommodation for members of the public and visitors. They do have access to baby changing facilities in the Committee Chambers, PHQ and the Assembly Hall.
30 May 2001 · SPCB Written Question
To ask the Presiding Officer what support and facilities are currently provided for MSPs who are nursing mothers.
Answer · David Steel: There is currently no formally adopted policy on breastfeeding by members in meetings of the Parliament or its committees. MSPs who are nursing mothers do have access to a room in 375 High Street for the purpose of feeding or expressing milk. There are also b…
30 May 2001 · SPCB Written Question
To ask the Presiding Officer what support and facilities are currently provided for Parliament staff returning to work who are still breastfeeding.
Answer · David Steel: Staff returning to work are supported through our policy of flexible working hours. As far as is practicable, line managers are encouraged to adapt the pattern of working hours to suit the needs of the nursing mother. Staff also have access to a room in 375 H…
30 May 2001 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what support and facilities it currently provides for its staff returning to work who are still breastfeeding.
Answer · Angus MacKay: The Scottish Executive provides dedicated accommodation for women wanting to breastfeed or to express milk in four offices in Edinburgh and two offices in Glasgow. The accommodation provided includes a nursing chair, fridge for storing milk and baby changing …
30 May 2001 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether the Housing (Scotland) Bill would require local authorities to develop a temporary accommodation strategy and, if so, what guidance it would issue on developing such a strategy.
Answer · Jackie Baillie: The Housing Bill will require local authorities to carry out assessments into the extent and nature of homelessness in their areas and to develop homelessness strategies. These strategies will include an assessment of accommodation requirements, and will indi…
30 May 2001 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what assessment has been made of the support needs of people eligible for temporary accommodation under section 3 of the Housing (Scotland) Bill and how these support needs would be met.
Answer · Jackie Baillie: Section 3 of the Housing (Scotland) Bill is concerned with the provision of temporary accommodation and advice and assistance. It is for local authorities, in consultation with other organisations as necessary, to consider the support needs of applicants. Hom…
30 May 2001 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what expenditure by local authorities would qualify for funding from the #27 million announced on 18 December 2000 by the Minister for Social Justice to help them meet their duties under the Housing (Scotland) Bill.
Answer · Jackie Baillie: The Executive has made available £27 million over three years (£3 million/£12 million/12 million) to meet the additional costs of implementing the homelessness provisions of the Housing Bill. This will include costs associated with the development of strategi…
30 May 2001 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many non-priority homeless people would become eligible for temporary accommodation under section 3 of the Housing (Scotland) Bill.
Answer · Jackie Baillie: Section 3 of the Housing Bill will give homeless or potentially homeless people not in priority need an enhanced package which ensures them advice and assistance and access to temporary accommodation while this advice and assistance is given. Take-up of the n…
30 May 2001 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many additional temporary accommodation places would be required following implementation of the Housing (Scotland) Bill and what type of accommodation this is likely to be.
Answer · Jackie Baillie: This will be a matter for local assessment as part of the development of homelessness strategies.
30 May 2001 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will detail (a) the number of temporary accommodation places and (b) the type of accommodation used for these places currently available to homeless households.
Answer · Jackie Baillie: The provision of appropriate temporary accommodation is a matter for local authorities. Assessing the need for such accommodation will form part of the development of local authority homelessness strategies. The type of temporary accommodation provided will d…
2 May 2001 · General Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether consideration is given to the environmental impact of disposable nappies in the development of local waste strategies.
Answer · Rhona Brankin: The development of local area waste plans by the Scottish Environment Protection Agency involves consideration of the environmental impact of various management options (landfill, recycling, recovery) for municipal waste in order to identify the best practica…
26 Apr 2001 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will report on the outcome of the Fisheries Council in Luxembourg on 25 April 2001.
Answer · Rhona Brankin: I and Elliot Morley MP, the MAFF Fisheries Minister, represented the UK at the Council.<P>The Commission reported on the progress of discussion on stock recovery plans for cod and hake and addressed some of the concerns which had been expressed by member stat…
25 Apr 2001 · General Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what measures are in place to support young people in making the transition from education to employment.
Answer · Wendy Alexander: There is a wide range of such measures. Free guidance, information and referral services are available to young people through the Careers Service Companies. The Executive also supports a wide range of activities in schools designed to develop links between e…
22 Mar 2001 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether the findings of Power Frequency Electromagnetic Fields and the Risk of Cancer by the National Radiological Protection Board give rise to any concerns about the health implications of electro-magnetic radiation from telecommunications masts located in residential areas.
Answer · Malcolm Chisholm: This review was carried out by the Advisory Group on Non-ionising Radiation (AGNIR) on behalf of the NRPB Board to assess the potential risks of cancer from electromagnetic fields and to recommend any further steps that should be taken to protect the health o…
21 Mar 2001 · General Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many patients benefit from free prescriptions in Scotland and what measures are in place to help patients who require repeat prescriptions.
Answer · Susan Deacon: Around 90% of prescriptions are dispensed free of charge and pre-payment certificates are available to help non-exempt patients.
8 Nov 2000 · General Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what action it is taking to support local partnerships which will tackle social exclusion.
Answer · Margaret Curran: We are providing £150 million to fund 48 Social Inclusion Partnerships over the next three years. Over £1 million is being invested in "Working Together, Learning Together" a training programme to improve partnership working and support community involvement …
3 Nov 2000 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive when it intends to make an announcement about future initiatives in health, education and the environment to be funded by the National Lottery's New Opportunities Fund.
Answer · Sam Galbraith: On Monday 6 November the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport will publish in London and lay before Parliament a consultation document, <I>New</I> <I>Opportunities</I> <I>from</I> <I>the</I> <I>Lottery</I>. This will be an important consultation fo…
5 Oct 2000 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the publication in June 2000 of a Charter for Scottish Executive Inspectorates, whether the "departmental" operational charters, specifically the Charter for Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Schools, will be subject to consultation by interested bodies prior to completion in Dece…
Answer · Sam Galbraith: The Charter for Her Majesty's Inspectors of Schools will be available in December following discussions with key interested bodies.
8 Sep 2000 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many posts of Commissioner and/or Ombudsperson have been created since 1 July 1999, what these posts are, and whether it is proposed to create more such posts.
Answer · Jack McConnell: The Water Industry Act 1999 provided for the appointment of a Water Industry Commissioner, who was appointed on 1 November 1999. The Ethical Standards in Public Life etc. (Scotland) Act 2000 provides for the appointment of a Standards Commission for Scotland …
8 Sep 2000 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, regarding action taken by schools and teachers throughout Scotland to assist in resolving the difficulties experienced by the Scottish Qualifications Agency in exam result notification, whether it will reimburse local authorities for any additional monies spent as a consequence of these …
Answer · Sam Galbraith: We would consider any claims submitted by authorities.
5 May 2000 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the publication Safer Routes to School in December 1999, how many safer routes to school partnership initiatives have been established throughout Scotland and whether it will list those currently in operation.
Answer · Sarah Boyack: The most recent information on the number of Safer Route to School Schemes in Scotland is contained in <I>Review of Safer Routes to School in Scotland</I> published by the Scottish Executive in December 1999. That indicated a total of 89 projects in Scotland.…
17 Apr 2000 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many local authorities have made representations to it on plans to extend the right to buy and how many have expressed concerns on this issue.
Answer · Wendy Alexander: 14 local authorities have made representations. The majority are supportive of our plans to introduce a single social tenancy although concerns do exist principally about how the revised right to buy will impact on rural areas, the issue of whether it will be…
17 Apr 2000 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many registered social landlords have made representations to it on plans to extend the right to buy and how many have expressed concerns on this issue.
Answer · Wendy Alexander: 47 registered social landlords have made representations. The majority are supportive of our plans to introduce a single social tenancy although concerns do exist principally about how the revised right to buy will impact on rural areas, the issue of whether …
17 Apr 2000 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many representations it has received on plans to extend the right to buy to tenants of registered social landlords, including non-charitable housing associations, which (a) support the plans and (b) oppose the plans.
Answer · Wendy Alexander: Over 950 representations have been received in response to the Executive's housing bill proposals. The majority were part of an organised postcard campaign concerned with the possible impact of an extended Right to Buy on housing associations' viability. Some…