Parliamentary questions
Irene McGugan
716 questions tabled in the Scottish Parliament, most recent first.
31 May 2001 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, with regard to the key priority 2.1 outlined in its National Cultural Strategy, what progress has been made in establishing an action group to consider how the languages and cultural traditions of Scotland's ethnic minorities can be supported and how their contribution to Scotland's cult…
Answer · Allan Wilson: I refer the member to the answer given to question S1W-16061.
31 May 2001 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, with regard to the key priority 2.1 outlined in its National Cultural Strategy, what progress has been made in continuing to support the production of education resources which encourage language diversity and encourage learning about all the languages spoken in Scotland.
Answer · Allan Wilson: I refer the member to the answer given to question S1W-16061.
31 May 2001 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, with regard to the key priority 2.1 outlined in its National Cultural Strategy, what progress has been made in ensuring that, through their initial training and continuing development, teachers are well prepared to promote and develop all pupils' language skills.
Answer · Allan Wilson: I refer the member to the answer given to question S1W-16061.
31 May 2001 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, with regard to the key priority 2.1 outlined in its National Cultural Strategy, what progress has been made in examining the feasibility of a centre for the languages of Scotland covering Gaelic and the varieties of Scots which could incorporate the Scottish National Dictionary.
Answer · Allan Wilson: I refer the member to the answer given to question S1W-16061.
31 May 2001 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, with regard to the key priority 2.1 outlined in its National Cultural Strategy, what progress has been made in continuing to support, where demand is sufficient, Gaelic-medium pre-school and primary education.
Answer · Allan Wilson: I refer the member to the answer given to question S1W-16061.
31 May 2001 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, with regard to the key priority 1.3 outlined in its National Cultural Strategy, what progress has been made in promoting partnerships by public and private bodies which support the production of the highest standards of cultural work.
Answer · Allan Wilson: I refer the member to the answer given to question S1W-16061.
31 May 2001 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, with regard to the key priority 1.3 outlined in its National Cultural Strategy, what progress has been made in identifying and promoting the national roles and responsibilities and realising the full potential of funded arts companies which work across Scotland.
Answer · Allan Wilson: I refer the member to the answer given to question S1W-16061.
31 May 2001 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, with regard to the key priority 1.3 outlined in its National Cultural Strategy, what progress has been made in enhancing existing structures and arrangements for recognising achievement in arts and cultural activity.
Answer · Allan Wilson: I refer the member to the answer given to question S1W-16061.
31 May 2001 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, with regard to the key priority 1.3 outlined in its National Cultural Strategy, what progress has been made in investigating the feasibility of identifying national centres of excellence in traditional arts.
Answer · Allan Wilson: I refer the member to the answer given to question S1W-16061.
31 May 2001 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, with regard to the key priority 1.2 outlined in its National Cultural Strategy, what progress has been made in investigating the feasibility of building on existing work involving a range of bodies to establish a national product design network.
Answer · Allan Wilson: I refer the member to the answer given to question S1W-16061.
31 May 2001 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, with regard to the key priority 1.2 outlined in its National Cultural Strategy, what progress has been made in supporting Scottish Screen's development of a Film Charter for Scotland and the exploration of the feasibility of establishing a film studio.
Answer · Allan Wilson: I refer the member to the answer given to question S1W-16061.
31 May 2001 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, with regard to the key priority 1.2 outlined in its National Cultural Strategy, what progress has been made in working with the Department for Culture, Media and Sport to assure the contribution of the broadcast media to Scotland's cultural life, including plans to capitalise upon the op…
Answer · Allan Wilson: I refer the member to the answer given to question S1W-16061.
31 May 2001 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, with regard to the key priority 1.2 outlined in its National Cultural Strategy, what progress has been made in promoting the contribution of new technologies to the cultural life of Scotland in partnership with Scottish Screen, the Scottish Arts Council, Scottish Enterprise and Highlands…
Answer · Allan Wilson: I refer the member to the answer given to question S1W-16061.
31 May 2001 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, with regard to the key priority 1.1 outlined in its National Cultural Strategy, what progress has been made in creating opportunities for networking amongst those working in the cultural sector to stimulate sharing of experience and good practice and the agreement of common objectives.
Answer · Allan Wilson: I refer the member to the answer given to question S1W-16061.
31 May 2001 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, with regard to the key priority 1.1 outlined in its National Cultural Strategy, what progress has been made in reviewing existing forums for gathering the views of those working in the cultural sector about the ways in which national arrangements might be adjusted and improved.
Answer · Allan Wilson: I refer the member to the answer given to question S1W-16061.
31 May 2001 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, with regard to the key priority 1.1 outlined in its National Cultural Strategy, what progress has been made in improving access to advice, relevant business skills and training for those working in the cultural sector.
Answer · Allan Wilson: I refer the member to the answer given to question S1W-16061.
31 May 2001 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, with regard to the key priority 1.1 outlined in its National Cultural Strategy, what progress has been made in continuing to audit the availability of opportunities for training and continuing professional development for those working in the cultural sector in order to identify areas wh…
Answer · Allan Wilson: The <I>National Cultural Strategy</I> states that progress reports will be made to the Scottish Parliament annually. I look forward to giving the first such report later this year.
21 May 2001 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether visitscotland will maximise the potential of Scottish traditional arts, culture and language to attract overseas visitors by highlighting them on its website.
Answer · Alasdair Morrison: I refer the member to the answer given to question S1W-15887.
21 May 2001 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive why information about traditional arts, culture and the Scots language is not available on the visitscotland website.
Answer · Alasdair Morrison: Decisions about the content of the website are an operational matter for visitscotland. The website links in to other sites that provide much of this information. visitscotland is currently redeveloping the website form, content and links.
21 May 2001 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether the NHS24 service will provide better value for money than the present system and, if so, on what figures this assertion is based.
Answer · Susan Deacon: NHS 24 will provide a consistent, quality assured nurse consultation and assessment service across Scotland. This is a new service, which will complement existing local NHS services and is not a replacement for any existing service.<P>NHS 24 will improve acce…
21 May 2001 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what is being done to raise public awareness of the NHS24 service.
Answer · Susan Deacon: The concept of NHS24 is the product of extensive consultation with public and service stakeholders across Scotland. Current work on developing an implementation plan for NHS24 envisages the service being rolled out across Scotland from spring 2002. A phased p…
21 May 2001 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what consulation has taken place with NHSiS staff, unions, patients or patient representative groups regarding the introduction of the NHS24 service.
Answer · Susan Deacon: The NHS24 concept was the product of an extensive public consultation process across Scotland involving a wide range of public and service stakeholders in national and local seminars.<P ALIGN="JUSTIFY">The NHS24 Project team has adopted a similar open and inc…
21 May 2001 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what evidence exists to show that a centralised NHS24 doctor on call system delivers a better service to patients than the current local provision.
Answer · Susan Deacon: NHS 24 is not a doctor on-call system.<P>NHS 24 service will deliver high quality nurse consultation and assessment by telephone. As a new patient-centred service, NHS 24 will complement existing local services, allowing better access and a consistent standar…
21 May 2001 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how much has been spent to date on preparations for the introduction of the NHS24 service and what the total cost of implementation will be.
Answer · Susan Deacon: Expenditure on the development of the NHS24 project to date is £1.7 million. This includes the cost of an extensive consultation with public and service stakeholders across Scotland, developing a service design blueprint and implementation plan and establishi…
21 May 2001 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what the timescale is for the introduction of the NHS24 service.
Answer · Susan Deacon: An implementation plan is being developed to allow NHS 24 to roll-outbe introduced across Scotland in a phased managed way. Currently, this envisages the service going live in one areaa phased rollout of the service beginning in spring 2002.
21 May 2001 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether health boards are required to replace current out of hours services with the NHS24 service.
Answer · Susan Deacon: The NHS24 service is being designed to complement and enhance existing health services throughout Scotland and is being developed in partnership with them. It will work with and not replace local GP out-of-hours services.
17 May 2001 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what measures it will take to ensure the survival of the berry industry in the light of any reduction in payments to growers from Scottish Soft Fruit Growers Ltd for last year's crop.
Answer · Ross Finnie: I refer the member to answer given to question S1W-15781 on 22 May 2001.
17 May 2001 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what measures it will take to increase the production of raspberries to ensure that any marketing opportunities which exist can be utilised to the greatest extent possible.
Answer · Ross Finnie: I refer the member to the answer given to question S1W-15781 on 22 May 2001.
17 May 2001 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what representations it has received and what response it has made or plans to make on the proposal for a flexible retirement policy for staff at the National Museums of Scotland.
Answer · Allan Wilson: I refer the member to the answer given to question S1W-15686.
17 May 2001 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what representations it has received and what response it has made or plans to make on the amended terms and conditions for gallery attendants at the National Museums of Scotland.
Answer · Allan Wilson: None. Under the terms of the National Heritage (Scotland) Act 1985, the terms and conditions of employment of the staff of the National Museums of Scotland are determined by the Board of Trustees.