Parliamentary questions
Fiona Hyslop
940 questions tabled in the Scottish Parliament, most recent first.
11 Apr 2001 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1O-3221 by Jackie Baillie on 29 March 2001, how many interim leaflets on its central heating scheme have been distributed in the Orkney Islands Council area and how it plans to further publicise the scheme in this area.
Answer · Jackie Baillie: I refer the member to the answer given to question S1W-14987.
11 Apr 2001 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1O-3221 by Jackie Baillie on 29 March 2001, how many interim leaflets on its central heating scheme have been distributed in the Scottish Borders Council area and how it plans to further publicise the scheme in this area.
Answer · Jackie Baillie: I refer the member to the answer given to question S1W-14987.
11 Apr 2001 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1O-3221 by Jackie Baillie on 29 March 2001, how many interim leaflets on its central heating scheme have been distributed in the Glasgow City Council area and how it plans to further publicise the scheme in this area.
Answer · Jackie Baillie: The leaflet concerned has been sent to a large number of organisations in the private, public and voluntary sectors throughout Scotland who have been asked to make it widely available. Thousands of copies have been distributed across Scotland and additional s…
22 Mar 2001 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether any of the central heating units which will be installed under its central heating programme have yet been ordered; if so, how many, from whom and what has been the total cost of these units to date.
Answer · Jackie Baillie: I refer the member to the answer given to question S1W-14423.
22 Mar 2001 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive where the central heating units which will be installed under its central heating programme will be constructed.
Answer · Jackie Baillie: I refer the member to the answer given to question S1W-14423.
22 Mar 2001 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive from which budgets Scottish Homes' #40 million contribution to the central heating programme will be allocated.
Answer · Jackie Baillie: I refer the member to the answer given to question S1W-14423.
22 Mar 2001 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many qualified central heating engineers there currently are for each type of central heating system and what the current annual number of installations of each type is.
Answer · Jackie Baillie: I refer the member to the answer given to question S1W-14423.
22 Mar 2001 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many people are expected to qualify as central heating engineers in each of the next five years.
Answer · Jackie Baillie: I refer the member to the answer given to question S1W-14423.
22 Mar 2001 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many central heating engineers will be required to install the central heating units under its central heating programme.
Answer · Jackie Baillie: I refer the member to the answer given to question S1W-14423.
22 Mar 2001 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many central heating system units are currently available for installation as part of its central heating programme.
Answer · Jackie Baillie: I refer the member to the answer given to question S1W-14423.
22 Mar 2001 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many central heating systems it estimates will have to be ordered in order to meet installation needs under its central heating programme, broken down for each of the next five years.
Answer · Jackie Baillie: I refer the member to the answer given to question S1W-14423.
22 Mar 2001 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what steps it has taken to ensure that there will always be a ready supply of central heating units for installation under its central heating programme.
Answer · Jackie Baillie: When first planning for the central heating programme, we used the 1996 Scottish House Condition Survey to make an estimate of requirements and estimated that 140,000 dwellings required action. Earlier this year we asked councils and housing associations to l…
22 Mar 2001 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many voluntary organisations with a remit for training people with learning disabilities receive objective 2 funding from Europe.
Answer · Angus MacKay: <B><FONT FACE="Arial" SIZE=2>This information is not held centrally.</B></FONT>
22 Mar 2001 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what powers it has to restrict haulage vehicles from using routes on which schools are located.
Answer · Sarah Boyack: Road authorities are responsible for all aspects of road safety, road maintenance and traffic management on roads in their area. They have powers under the Road Traffic Regulation Act 1984 to prevent the use of roads by vehicular traffic of a kind, or in a ma…
22 Mar 2001 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether licensing and operation of haulage vehicles weighing 45 tons or over on roads on which schools are located is compatible with its policy on safer routes to schools.
Answer · Sarah Boyack: The regulation and licensing of vehicles is a reserved matter. Roads authorities have powers to prevent the use of specified roads by particular types of vehicle. In addition, they are required to be notified of any proposed movement on public roads of vehicl…
21 Mar 2001 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive which voluntary organisations receive European funding, listed by constituency.
Answer · Peter Peacock: A list of voluntary organisations in Scotland which are designated as lead sponsors for live ERDF and ESF projects is being placed in the Parliament's Reference Centre. This information is not available broken down at constituency level.
12 Mar 2001 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what progress it has made in conjunction with the Scottish Federation of Housing Associations, the Convention of Scottish Local Authorities and any other organisations in widening the availability of low cost insurance with rent schemes.
Answer · Jackie Baillie: The extent of current provision by local authorities and the housing association movement has been established. We now intend to bring deliverers and providers together to discuss the best way to widen the availability of low cost insurance with rent schemes.
12 Mar 2001 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what action it has taken and what success it has had in putting the issue of debt onto the agenda of the Joint Ministerial Committees on Poverty.
Answer · Jack McConnell: The Memorandum of Understanding and supplementary agreements between the United Kingdom Government, Scottish Ministers and the Cabinet of the National Assembly for Wales, which was laid before the Scottish Parliament in October 1999 (SE/99/36), indicates that…
12 Mar 2001 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what models of delivery it is considering for the provision of debt advice.
Answer · Jackie Baillie: The Executive's pilot debtline in Fife will test out the provision of debt advice over the telephone. The debtline will be additional to, and complement, debt advice that is currently delivered face to face.
12 Mar 2001 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-12497 by Jackie Baillie on 30 January 2001, what stage discussions have reached with the Convention of Scottish Local Authorities on how the money and debt advice services provided by local authorities can be improved.
Answer · Jackie Baillie: Discussions are linked to the Executive's work on the proposed telephone debtline. CoSLA is represented on the debtline project team and discussions will continue as the pilot project develops.
12 Mar 2001 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1O-2707 by Jackie Baillie on 14 December 2000, which institutions it has worked with in order to encourage the provision of basic bank accounts, what the nature has been of any encouragement given and what the response has been.
Answer · Jackie Baillie: The Executive has been working with the four Scottish clearing banks, through the Committee of Scottish Clearing Banks (CSCB), and CoSLA to encourage both the provision and uptake of basic bank accounts. A working group has been established to explore new way…
12 Mar 2001 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-12849 by Jackie Baillie on 9 February 2001, what resources will be allocated to support its development strategy with credit unions.
Answer · Jackie Baillie: The Executive will provide £1.5 million over three years to implement the credit union action plan for Scotland. Additional resources will also<B> </B>be available to fund volunteering initiatives and improvement of IT systems.
12 Mar 2001 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-880 by Ms Wendy Alexander on 24 August 1999, which organisations it has been working with to improve access to financial services for people on low incomes.
Answer · Jackie Baillie: To improve access to financial services for people on low incomes the Executive has been working with a wide range of interested parties as described below: <P>Wester Hailes Representative Council <P>Royal Bank of Scotland<P>Bank of Scotland <P>Clydesdale Ban…
27 Feb 2001 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will amend the Housing (Scotland) Bill to allow local authorities more powers to rent or lease vacant domestic property to assist in ending homelessness.
Answer · Jackie Baillie: Local authorities currently have the power under section 2(1)(c) of the Housing (Scotland) Act 1987 to acquire housing by leasing. This could include renting or leasing vacant domestic property to assist in ending homelessness.
27 Feb 2001 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will facilitate schemes for owners to voluntarily lease vacant domestic properties to local authorities in order to assist in ending homelessness.
Answer · Jackie Baillie: Owners of vacant domestic properties who wish to lease their property to assist in ending homelessness can approach local authorities who currently have the power under section 2(1)(c) of the Housing (Scotland) Act 1987 to acquire such housing by leasing.
27 Feb 2001 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether, in the light of its recent report An Evaluation of the Empty Homes Initiative, it will reallocate money earmarked for the Empty Homes Initiative in this coming financial year to alternative measures to tackle homelessness.
Answer · Margaret Curran: Funds earmarked for the Empty Homes Initiative in this coming financial year have already been allocated to local authorities and there is currently no scope to reallocate these funds. However, we will be monitoring progress during the year.<P>In terms of mak…
27 Feb 2001 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how it intends to support mortgage rescue schemes.
Answer · Jackie Baillie: Mortgage rescue provides support to homeowners in mortgage difficulties and can help families to remain in their homes and avoid the negative effects of repossession. We are aware of a number of mortgage rescue schemes operating in Scotland with support from …
21 Feb 2001 · General Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what percentage of the New Housing Partnership budget for 2000-01 has been spent.
Answer · Jackie Baillie: The New Housing Partnerships budget for 2000-01 amounts to £114.5 million. In addition, £25.3 million has been carried forward from last year. This reflects slippage in councils' expenditure on approved projects, largely resulting from their commitment to ful…
9 Feb 2001 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what analysis it has done of the efficacy of the Rough Sleepers Initiative.
Answer · Jackie Baillie: An interim evaluation of the RSI was published in June 1999. During 2001 we shall be carrying out local rough sleepers prevalence studies alongside an assessment of services and accommodation available to people who are sleeping rough. This will enable an ass…
9 Feb 2001 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether there are sufficient hostel places available for homeless people in Edinburgh.
Answer · Jackie Baillie: In June 2000, through the Rough Sleepers Initiative, the Executive allocated £1.32 million to the City of Edinburgh Council, to provide additional interim and permanent direct access accommodation in Edinburgh. This allocation was in recognition t…