Parliamentary questions

Elaine Smith

1,153 questions tabled in the Scottish Parliament, most recent first.

31 Mar 2000 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what specific measures it is taking to ensure that priorities with regard to tackling domestic abuse and violence against women are being fully reflected and implemented as a priority at a local level.

Answer · Jackie Baillie: The determination of local priorities for tackling domestic abuse at local level is provided for in COSLA's Guidance on Preparing and Implementing a Multi-Agency Strategy to Tackle Violence Against Women. Monitoring and evaluating the implementation of this g…

18 Feb 2000 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what the total value of Right to Buy discounts were for years 1997-98 and 1998-99, and to provide a detailed breakdown of this total by each local authority area.

Answer · Wendy Alexander: The information requested is set out in the following table. Information for the fourth quarter of 1998-99 is not yet available. The figures given include right to buy, rent to mortgage and voluntary sales, all of which were made under the right to buy legisl…

18 Feb 2000 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive to detail, for each local authority the number of council houses affected by (a) dampness, (b) condensation and (c) both dampness and condensation for the years 1997-98 and 1998-99, and to express each category as a percentage of the total number of local authority houses in the area.

Answer · Wendy Alexander: The following table sets out local authorities' estimates of the number of council houses affected by dampness and condensation as at 31 March 1998. These are the latest available figures.Local Authority Dwellings Affected by Damp…

28 Jan 2000 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, in the light of the recent publication of reports and recommendations from the NHS Pay Review Body (PRB) and subsequent announcements regarding pay rises for staff covered by the PRB, how it intends to address the issues of recruitment, retention and morale associated with pay settlement…

Answer · Susan Deacon: There is no evidence held centrally to suggest any widespread recruitment and retention issues surrounding this staff group.However, the recent pay offer to biomedical scientists, if accepted, will mean, increases of up…

24 Jan 2000 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what benefits it envisages for housing associations in pursuing charitable status and whether it intends to bring forward legislative proposals to amend the existing charity laws which could subsequently change the status and rights of tenants of registered charitable housing associations.

Answer · Wendy Alexander: It is for housing associations to evaluate the full implications for themselves of seeking recognition from the Inland Revenue that their association should enjoy charitable status. Charitable status could affect their tax liability, but they would also need …

24 Jan 2000 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will provide to MSPs a copy of the survey and sources of information referred to in its document A New Single Social Housing Tenancy for Scotland: Rights and Obligations and Opportunities which support the conclusion that "Some 83% of all Scots aspire to own their own homes an…

Answer · Wendy Alexander: I would refer Elaine Smith to Tables 1 and 2 of the recently published information paper Evolving the Right to Buy: Evidence for Scotland. A copy has been placed in the Scottish Parliament Information Centre. The figure of 83% relates to Heads of House…

19 Jan 2000 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what information and statistics it has on the number of incidences where local authorities are unable to upgrade their tenants' homes due to adjoining owner-occupiers refusing to give permission or being unable to afford to participate in the upgrading.

Answer · Frank McAveety: No such information is collected. However, we are aware of the problem, particularly through our discussions with councils on new housing partnerships. The forthcoming Housing Bill will include provisions relating to repairs by owner-occupiers.

12 Jan 2000 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will supplement the work of the Drug Enforcement Agency by reviewing and amending existing drug treatment programmes for addicts, such as the methadone programme, in the light of the death of 15 year old Kerry-Ann Kirk, from Coatbridge.

Answer · Angus MacKay: It is for the statutory authorities, in liaison with local Drug Action Teams, to ensure that there is an appropriate range of treatment services for drug misusers in line with the national objectives set out in Scotland's drugs strategy. The success of methad…

16 Dec 1999 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how much funding was spent on research into the causes of myalgic encephalomyelitis in the last five years for which figures are available and what is the projected funding for the next five financial years or those years for which figures are available.

Answer · Susan Deacon: The table below gives the relevant information about research on myalgic encephalomyelitis which has been directly funded by the Chief Scientist Office (CSO) in the past five years. CSO has no current projects or applications for future funding under consider…

2 Dec 1999 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what steps it is taking to promote "family friendly" employment policies within the business community in Scotland as part of the Childcare Strategy for Scotland.

Answer · Peter Peacock: Family friendly employment is key to allowing people to achieve a balance between home and family life. The Scottish Executive is in contact with Her Majesty's Government on a wide range of issues including proposals for a campaign on a UK basis. This will c…

1 Dec 1999 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what steps it is taking to promote "family friendly" employment policies within the business community in Scotland as part of the Childcare Strategy for Scotland.

25 Jun 1999 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will provide a detailed breakdown of the allocation that each local authority will receive of the additional #5 million over each of the next 3 years earmarked for increasing the provision of respite care in Scotland.

Answer · Iain Gray: The Grant Aided Expenditure shares for 1999-2000 of the £5.1 million provided to assist the development of respite care and other services to help carers are set out below. GAE allowances are not expenditure guidelines and it is for individual autho…

16 Jun 1999 · SPCB Written Question

To ask the Presiding Officer what plans the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body has to make alternative arrangements for childcare provision, given that there is no creche facility available in the Parliament's temporary accommodation.

Answer · David Steel: Prior to the election, a questionnaire was issued to all prospective candidates in an attempt to gauge the possible requirement for childcare provision in the Scottish Parliament. Based on the responses received, no arrangements were made.The question of …