Parliamentary questions
Irene McGugan
716 questions tabled in the Scottish Parliament, most recent first.
19 Mar 2001 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what progress has been made in providing out of school care places for 100,000 children by 2003, as set out in Making it work together: A programme for government.
Answer · Nicol Stephen: We are making good progress towards the target of out-of-school places for 100,000 children. The number of children benefiting from out of school care is just under 38,000. This includes children who are taking up places created through the New Opportunities …
19 Mar 2001 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what progress has been made in examining the feasibility of a centre for the languages of Scotland, as outlined in Creating our Future, Minding our Past.
Answer · Allan Wilson: A group chaired by Professor Ron Asher of the Royal Society of Edinburgh has put forward a proposal for a centre for the languages of Scotland. The Executive does not in general provide direct support for cultural projects and has no funding available to supp…
19 Mar 2001 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what progress has been made towards training 5,000 new childcare workers by 2002, as set out in Making it work together: A programme for government.
Answer · Nicol Stephen: Almost 2,000 workers have been trained to date. We are on target to deliver this commitment.
9 Mar 2001 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what response it will make to the findings of the report by The Prince's Trust It's Like That, in particular regarding the feelings of alienation amongst young people, including offenders and the unemployed, and how it will ensure that it is responsive to the needs and concerns of such y…
Answer · Nicol Stephen: Prince's Trust representatives in Scotland have been invited to make a presentation to Executive officials on the report which raises some important and challenging issues. Many of its findings are relevant to current policy initiatives or developments affect…
9 Mar 2001 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive when the evaluation of new community schools will be completed.
Answer · Jack McConnell: A three-year national evaluation of the New Community Schools pilot programme started in April 2000. Following a tendering and assessment process, it is being undertaken by a team from the Institute of Education in the University of London. They have research…
9 Mar 2001 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how implementation of the recommendations of the Youth Crime Review Advisory Group is being monitored for effectiveness across Scotland.
Answer · Nicol Stephen: All councils have been asked to carry out an audit of local needs to identify the range of challenging programmes required in their area. These programmes should have in-built monitoring to allow for evaluation of their effectiveness. The first formal reports…
9 Mar 2001 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive when the draft National Strategy and Framework arising from on the Youth Crime Review will be published.
Answer · Nicol Stephen: The draft national strategy on youth crime is still being developed and will now be circulated for consultation in the summer. Meantime, councils have been advised to work to the core objectives set out in the Advisory Group report.
9 Mar 2001 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to develop a national parenting strategy.
Answer · Nicol Stephen: Executive officials have met a range of voluntary and statutory agencies and parents themselves to discuss the provision of parenting support. We are giving careful consideration to the best way forward, recognising the importance of building upon existing su…
9 Mar 2001 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how it plans to reduce the level of social problems such as drug abuse, ill-health and crime through the introduction and development within the school curriculum of a sporting culture for children and young people.
Answer · Jack McConnell: Existing guidance provided by the Scottish Executive Education Department and Learning and Teaching Scotland to education authorities and schools already emphasise the benefits to pupils' health and general well-being of providing a balanced and varied progra…
9 Mar 2001 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-12944 by Mr Jack McConnell on 14 February 2001, whether the attainment of Governing Body Accredited Coaching Qualifications will be recognised as continuing professional development for teachers.
Answer · Jack McConnell: The framework for CPD which is currently being developed will be sufficiently flexible to meet the specific training needs of individual teachers and schools. This could include training in sports coaching and physical activity where appropriate.
9 Mar 2001 · SPCB Written Question
To ask the Presiding Officer, further to the answer to question S1W-13566 by Sir David Steel on 7 March 2001, which languages are being considered for use on the Parliament's website to provide public information resources and whether Scots is likely to be one of these languages.
Answer · David Steel: Consideration is being given to making public information about the Parliament available in ethnic and European languages on the website. One of these languages is likely to be Scots.
1 Mar 2001 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-13209 by Ross Finnie on 22 February 2001, why it considers that there is no need for specific research into the impact of farmers' markets and whether the work done by its Rural Affairs Department, Scottish Enterprise and the Scottish Agricultural Or…
Answer · Ross Finnie: My answer to question S1W-13209 on 22 February said that we do not consider that there is a need for specific research into the impact of farmers' markets at the present time. It did not rule out such research in the future.<P>The Scottish Association of Farm…
1 Mar 2001 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether the alternative route described in the Invergarry-Kyle of Lochalsh Trunk Road (A87) Extension (Skye Bridge Crossing) Special Road (Side Roads) Order 1992 (SI 1992/1500) has been completed.
Answer · Sarah Boyack: No alternative route is described in the Order. All of the works specified in that Order have been completed.
1 Mar 2001 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether the public were advised that the concessionaire under the New Roads and Street Works Act 1991, who was authorised to charge and collect tolls, had changed its name in 1993 and, if so, how and when.
Answer · Sarah Boyack: The change of the concessionaire's name from Skye Bridge Tolls Limited to Skye Bridge Limited in 1993 did not otherwise affect the rights or obligations of either party to the Concession Agreement. No formal notice of this change was therefore published.
1 Mar 2001 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether the public were advised that the effect of the Invergarry-Kyle of Lochalsh Trunk Road (A87) Extension (Skye Bridge Crossing) Special Road Scheme Order 1992 (SI 1992/1499), the Invergarry-Kyle of Lochalsh Trunk Road (A87) Extension (Skye Bridge Crossing) Special Road (Side Roads) …
Answer · Sarah Boyack: The Concession Agreement between the then Secretary of State for Scotland, now Scottish Ministers, and the Concessionaire forms part of the contract documentation relating to the Skye Bridge crossing. It is subject to provisions regarding confidentiality, as …
1 Mar 2001 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether there was any type of bridge in place between Skye and Eilan Ban or the UK mainland in June 1992 when the notice required by Schedule 2 to the Roads (Scotland) Act 1984, concerning the validity and date of operation of toll orders and schemes, was published in accordance with sec…
Answer · Sarah Boyack: No.
1 Mar 2001 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive why the Invergarry-Kyle of Lochalsh A87 Extension (Skye Bridge Crossing) Toll Order (SI 1992/1501) was classified as a "local and private non-print" with its effect described as "none".
Answer · Sarah Boyack: Certification as a local instrument reflected the fact that the impact of the 1992 Toll Order was confined to the Skye Bridge crossing. The Appeal Court, High Court of Justiciary, in its decision dated 16 December 1999, rejected the submission that the Order …
28 Feb 2001 · General Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will help to fund the establishment of football supporters' trusts and what the reasons are for its position on this matter.
Answer · Allan Wilson: The Scottish Executive wishes to see responsible supporters' groups have the opportunity to contribute to the development of their clubs but we have no plans to help fund the establishment of football supporters' trusts.<P>If a sufficient number of supporters…
20 Feb 2001 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what mechanism exists for liaison between the Scottish Arts Council and local authorities.
Answer · Allan Wilson: The Scottish Arts Council (SAC) has three funding programmes specifically designed to support local authority arts provision and policies. It liaises with individual local authorities both directly and collectively via the Convention of Scottish Local Authori…
20 Feb 2001 · SPCB Written Question
To ask the Presiding Officer why a Scots language version of the Scottish Parliament website has not been made available.
Answer · David Steel: The Scottish Parliament's website publishes information in English in line with Standing Orders, Rule 7.1 which states, "The Parliament shall normally conduct its business in English......".<FONT FACE="Arial" SIZE=2><P>There are no plans to create a…
20 Feb 2001 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what it is doing to address any difficulties in the teaching of the Scots language caused by scarcity of qualified teachers and materials and small number of pupils and whether it will introduce a pilot project on Scots language teaching similar to the approach to Latin teaching currently…
Answer · Jack McConnell: The Scots language is not taught as a course, as the subject of Latin is, but is an element of more general language work aimed at giving children experience of and teaching them about Scots language and literature.
15 Feb 2001 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive when the study into supporting and developing rural communities following the disbandment of the Rural Forum will be published.
Answer · Ross Finnie: The Executive, together with Highlands and Islands Enterprise, Scottish Enterprise, Scottish Natural Heritage, Scottish Homes and CoSLA, has commissioned EKOS Limited to investigate the mechanisms which exist or are required to support rural communities. I un…
15 Feb 2001 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive which Scottish Enterprise staff have (a) expertise in rural development issues and (b) responsibilities including the implementation of Scottish Enterprise's commitment to rural communities.
Answer · Wendy Alexander: This is an operational matter for Scottish Enterprise. I will ask the Chairman of that organisation to write to Ms McGugan.
13 Feb 2001 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-12112 by Sarah Boyack on 18 January 2001, whether the assignation to Skye Bridge Limited (SBL) of the right to collect tolls on the Skye Bridge and the operation of the bridge by Miller Dywidag on SBL's behalf means that Miller Civil Engineering is a…
Answer · Sarah Boyack: Miller Civil Engineering Ltd does not have the authority to charge tolls on the A87 in its own right. As I made clear in my answers to S1W-10325 on 5 December and S1W-12112 on 18 January, the right to collect tolls has been assigned to Skye Bridge Limited whi…
8 Feb 2001 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it intends to undertake any research into the impact of farmers' markets and what the reason is for its position on this matter.
Answer · Ross Finnie: Interest in farmers' markets is growing and the Rural Affairs Department, together with Scottish Enterprise and the Scottish Agricultural Organisation Society, has worked closely with the industry in supporting the formation of the Scottish Association of Far…
1 Feb 2001 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether Miller Civil Engineering Ltd, as a discrete personality in law, has the authority to charge tolls on the A87 in its own right.
Answer · Sarah Boyack: Miller Civil Engineering Ltd does not charge tolls on the A87 in its own right nor does it have the authority to do so. As I made clear in my answer to question S1W-10325 on 5 December, the right to collect tolls has been assigned to Skye …
31 Jan 2001 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how it will ensure fair public access to a percentage of the ticket allocation should the bid for the 2009 Ryder Cup be successful.
Answer · Allan Wilson: The Scottish Executive will not be responsible for staging the Ryder Cup but we would wish to see the general public have the opportunity to attend all or part of the event.
31 Jan 2001 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether the various initiatives included in the bid for the 2009 Ryder Cup will go ahead if the bid is unsuccessful.
Answer · Allan Wilson: Many of the initiatives referred to in our bid are already being implemented. Others are contingent to a greater or lesser extent on our bid being successful but the Scottish Executive and its public sector partners are strongly committed to the development o…
31 Jan 2001 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether, if the bid for the 2009 Ryder Cup is successful, it will consider funding a bid for the 2008 European football championships on a similar basis.
Answer · Allan Wilson: I refer the member to the answer I have given to her question S1W-12949. The key factors involved in deciding whether to assist the SFA in a bid for the 2008 Championship are the realistic prospects of a bid by the SFA being successful, Scotland's capacity to…
31 Jan 2001 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive why it will not finance a bid for the 2008 European football championships on a similar basis to its support for the 2009 Ryder Cup bid.
Answer · Allan Wilson: The bidding process devised by the Ryder Cup Committee for the 2009 event involves countries or regions of countries making bids to stage the event. That is why the Scottish Executive has led the bid to bring the event to Scotland. The bidding for the Europea…