Parliamentary questions
Irene McGugan
716 questions tabled in the Scottish Parliament, most recent first.
31 Oct 2000 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-10326 by Mr Sam Galbraith on 26 October 2000, over what timescale and by what means it intends to (a) monitor the implementation of the Child Strategy Statement by local authorities and other public bodies and (b) evaluate the effectiveness of the st…
Answer · Nicol Stephen: The Child Strategy Statement is primarily a document for the Scottish Executive. Its effectiveness in that context will be monitored by the Scottish Executive Education Department who will report to me. This will include monitoring of Scottish Cabinet papers …
30 Oct 2000 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what circumstances prompted the merger of the Scottish Consultative Council on the Curriculum and the Scottish Council for Educational Technology to form Learning and Teaching Scotland and what the implications of the merger are for the work plans and development strategies for both organ…
Answer · Jack McConnell: The merger followed Policy Reviews of the Scottish Consultative Council on the Curriculum (SCCC) and the Scottish Council for Educational Technology (SCET) in 1997 and 1998 respectively and subsequent extensive Government consultation.<P ALIGN="JUSTIFY">The d…
30 Oct 2000 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether there will be a shortage of teachers by 2004 and, if so, what action it is taking to address any such shortfall in teacher numbers.
Answer · Nicol Stephen: I have recently sent a report on the supply of teachers to the Convener of the Education, Culture and Sport Committee detailing the background to the current position on the collection of information relevant to teacher supply and outlining planned improvemen…
16 Oct 2000 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive why Miller Civil Engineering are continuing to collect tolls on the Skye Bridge, given that they are effectively dormant for the purposes of VAT.
Answer · Sarah Boyack: Miller Civil Engineering Limited do not collect tolls on the Skye Bridge. The right to collect tolls has been assigned to Skye Bridge Limited, while the operation and maintenance of the bridge is carried out on SBL's behalf by the joint venture Miller Dywidag…
6 Oct 2000 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will make representations to Her Majesty's Government on why Articles 1 and 13 of ECHR, which deal with the securing and enforcement of citi'ens rights, were not included in the Human Rights Act 1998 which came into force on 2 October 2000 and whether this will have any implica…
Answer · Jim Wallace: No. Article 1 provides simply that the contracting parties to the Convention "shall secure to everyone within their jurisdiction the rights and freedoms defined in section 1 of this Convention". That objective is achieved by the Human Rights Act its…
6 Oct 2000 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what progress has been made in implementing the requirements of the Child Strategy Statement.
Answer · Sam Galbraith: The Child Strategy Statement was published in January 1998 requiring all departments of the Scottish Office to identify and take account of the interests of children when developing policy. The Statement has recently been re-issued in updated form. I wrote to…
6 Sep 2000 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what impact any proposed relocation of Her Majesty's Customs and Excise Collection and Co-ordination Unit in Paisley would have on its efforts to tackle drug problems in the north east of Scotland, in particular as regards any implications any such proposal would have for the co-ordinatio…
Answer · Jim Wallace: HM Customs and Excise have sought to give assurances that a reduction in the number of Collection and Co-ordination Units would have no effect on the ability of HM Customs and Excise to mount anti-drugs operations in Scotland.
31 Aug 2000 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it is making any representations to Her Majesty's Government regarding the loss of VAT jobs in the north east of Scotland.
Answer · Henry McLeish: The Scottish Executive is in regular contact with the United Kingdom government on a wide range of issues including the administration of VAT.
22 Aug 2000 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what the total annual spend on mental health services in Scotland was in each of the last five years.
Answer · Iain Gray: Health boards and local authority Social Work departments incur expenditure in relation to mental health.<P>In terms of NHS expenditure, mental illness is equated with the specialties of general psychiatry, adolescent psychiatry, child psychiatry and geriatri…
22 Aug 2000 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether there are plans to divert some of the additional money allocated to health services towards the establishment of specialist units dedicated to the treatment of eating disorders in Scotland.
Answer · Iain Gray: I refer the member to the answer given today to question S1W-9335.
22 Aug 2000 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-8219 by Susan Deacon on 7 July 2000, when the provision of an inpatient facility for the care and treatment of eating disorders in Scotland might be achieved.
Answer · Iain Gray: Local or national decisions on financial and other support for a care network can only be made following detailed consideration of the proposals, once finalised. Existing centres of specialist knowledge will contribute and the overall level of inpatient provi…
22 Aug 2000 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-8219 by Susan Deacon on 7 July 2000, how much government funding will be allocated to support and develop the proposed managed care network for eating disorders.
Answer · Iain Gray: I refer the member to the answer given today to question S1W-9335.
22 Aug 2000 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-8219 by Susan Deacon on 7 July 2000, how much government funding is allocated to support and develop the Scottish Eating Disorders Interest Group.
Answer · Iain Gray: It is not possible to disaggregate the contribution made to the Scottish Eating Disorders Interest Group by the NHS and other agency staff. This is an informal group of service providers, users of services and carers drawing local and national attention to ea…
12 Jul 2000 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how much funding it is contributing to the pilot study into the boosting of consumption of berries to be undertaken by the Soft Fruit Growers Association; in which areas and over what timescale the pilot study will take place; whether the findings of the study will be made publicly availa…
Answer · Ross Finnie: I have encouraged the Scottish Soft Fruit Growers to submit a proposal for a pilot study. I would not wish to speculate on the details of a proposal which I have not yet received.
12 Jul 2000 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive who has responsibility for public liability insurance in respect of claims relating to the Skye Bridge.
Answer · Sarah Boyack: The Concessionaire is responsible for maintaining third party insurance.
6 Jul 2000 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, in respect of the Skye Bridge, why the Assignation Statement was not published in accordance with regulations SI 1991/2152.
Answer · Sarah Boyack: I refer the member to the answers I gave to questions S1W-4183 and S1W-8363.
6 Jul 2000 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive why the unsigned and undated Assignation Statement has been the basis for prosecution of non-payers of the Skye Bridge tolls.
Answer · Sarah Boyack: Prosecution for non-payment has been under section 38 of the New Roads and Street Works Act 1991.
6 Jul 2000 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will undertake a review of the legal status of the Skye Bridge toll regime in the light of Professor Robert Black's opinion.
Answer · Sarah Boyack: I refer the member to the answers I gave to questions S1W-8259 and S1W-8363.
29 Jun 2000 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what response it will give to the opinion of Professor Robert Black that the Assignation Statement in respect of the Skye Bridge tolling regime is not a probative document.
Answer · Sarah Boyack: The statement assigning the rights to charge and collect tolls for the Skye Bridge crossing is valid even though it is not a probative (or self-evidencing) document. It complies with the requirements of paragraph 14A of schedule 1 to the Roads (Scotland) Act …
28 Jun 2000 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive when the outcome of the consultation on The Physical Punishment of Children in Scotland: A Consultation will be published.
Answer · Jim Wallace: We are currently analysing the many responses which we received, and we hope to publish the outcome in the autumn.
28 Jun 2000 · General Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has endorsed an amended timescale for completion of the Acute Services Review in Tayside.
Answer · Susan Deacon: The timescale of the Acute Services Review is a matter for the health board to consider. The Executive is keen however to see the review completed as soon as is practicable.
23 Jun 2000 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, in the light of its agreement to free'e the level of tolls on the Skye Bridge, what the implications are of the recent opinion of the Advocate General of the European Court of Justice that crossing tolls are liable for VAT and, in particular, whether it intends to absorb the cost of this…
Answer · Sarah Boyack: The decision of the European Court of Justice is not due until 12 September.
22 Jun 2000 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what percentage of the #23.64 million used to fund the Skye Bridge was public money.
Answer · Sarah Boyack: The information requested is in Parts 3 and 4 of the National Audit Office Report on the Skye Bridge published on 23 May 1997.
16 Jun 2000 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1O-1941 by Rhona Brankin on 15 June 2000, whether the #50,000 awarded to the Scottish National Dictionary Association is a one-off payment or is a permanent increment to their annual award from the Scottish Arts Council.
Answer · Rhona Brankin: The funding has been provided specifically for the current financial year.
16 Jun 2000 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to ensure that the NHS responds effectively to the increased number of people diagnosed with diabetes.
Answer · Susan Deacon: I refer Irene McGugan to the answers I gave to questions S1W-7460 and S1W-7462.
13 Jun 2000 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what assurance can be given that adequate financial resources will be made available to Angus Council to fund the replacement of the road bridge over the River South Esk at Montrose, given that the likely cost of a replacement bridge is estimated at #6 to #7 million and the council's anti…
Answer · Sarah Boyack: I refer the member to the reply given to question S1W-7474.
7 Jun 2000 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-4663 by Mr Sam Galbraith on 31 May 2000, what action will be taken to distribute lottery funding more evenly next year.
Answer · Rhona Brankin: All lottery distributors are developing strategies to provide better advice and support to applicants and potential applicants.
30 May 2000 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the recent announcement that local authorities have been allocated #5.2 million in this financial year for safe routes to school, whether there will be similar levels of expenditure available in subsequent years for this initiative.
Answer · Sarah Boyack: The Executive's current spending plans for 2001-02 and later years do not make specific provision for further expenditure by local authorities on safer routes to school. Local authorities will, however, continue to receive a block allocation for expenditure o…
30 May 2000 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the recent announcement that local authorities have been allocated #5.2 million for safe routes to school, whether any of this money can be spent on cycle proficiency training.
Answer · Sarah Boyack: Local authorities have been allocated additional capital consents, totalling £5.2 million, to take forward work on the implementation of safer routes to school. It will be for individual authorities to take decisions on the specific measures to be implemented…
30 May 2000 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what progress has been made in reducing the costs to health boards and NHS Trusts of prescribing generic drugs.
Answer · Susan Deacon: The UK Government announced on 20 April proposals to set from 1 August 2000 maximum prices for generic drugs. The consultation period ended on 24 May and there has subsequently been a further limited consultation with the Industry on revised maximum prices. M…