Parliamentary questions

Irene McGugan

716 questions tabled in the Scottish Parliament, most recent first.

18 Oct 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how it ensures that the judiciary conducts itself in a properly impartial manner.

Answer · Jim Wallace: It is a fundamental principle of our justice system that the judiciary are independent of ministers. There are, therefore, no standing arrangements for ministerial review of judicial conduct.Any specific complaints about judicial conduct addressed to minis…

18 Oct 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-29174 by Mr Jim Wallace on 25 September 2002, what investigation the Deputy First Minister and Minister for Justice has made into the role and influence of the Speculative Society; when any such investigation took place, and what evidence was conside…

Answer · Jim Wallace: I made clear in the answer given to question S1W-29174 that I did not consider that membership of the Speculative Society was a matter requiring investigation by ministers.

2 Oct 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether the statutory requirements for chaplaincy support for prisoners are being met currently throughout Scotland and in particular at HM Prison Noranside.

Answer · Jim Wallace: I have asked Tony Cameron, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service (SPS) to respond. His response is as follows:Due to difficulties in sustaining provision of the appropriate level of chaplaincy services to all prisoners, the SPS is moving towards a…

11 Sep 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what consideration it gave, when appointing Lord Cameron of Lochbroom, Lord Coulsfield and Lord MacLean as High Court judges, to whether they were or had been members of the Speculative Society of Edinburgh and, if any were members, whether it is aware of whether they still are.

Answer · Jim Wallace: The judges referred to were appointed in 1989, 1987 and 1990 respectively. The Speculative Society was founded in 1764, and is a debating society for lawyers, advocates and other professionals. I did not consider it appropriate for ministers to take any inter…

10 Sep 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive when the proposals for implementation of the recommendations in the report by the Scottish Recruitment and Selection Consortium, Safer Recruitment and Selection for Staff Working in Child Care - A Tool Kit, will be made publicly available.

Answer · Cathy Jamieson: Proposals for implementation of the recommendations will be guided by the consultation responses. We anticipate the proposals will be made available early in the New Year.

10 Sep 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what progress has been made in considering the report by the Scottish Recruitment and Selection Consortium, Safer Recruitment and Selection for Staff Working in Child Care - A Tool Kit.

Answer · Cathy Jamieson: Extensive consultation on the report has taken place, including a number of consultation seminars. Analysis of the responses to the consultation will be completed in October.

10 Sep 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether levels of funding for substance misuse projects for children and young people will be maintained at present levels, increased or decreased in the next three years.

Answer · Cathy Jamieson: I refer the member to the answer given to question S1W-29147. All answers to written PQs are available on the Parliament's website, the search facility for which can be found at <A HREF="http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/search_wa">http://www.scottish.…

10 Sep 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what plans are being made to ensure that the core services provided by substance misuse programmes for children and young people will continue to be provided when short-term project funding expires.

10 Sep 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how substance misuse projects established with support from the Children's Change Fund will be funded after 2004.

Answer · Cathy Jamieson: New resources, additional to those already in departmental baselines, amounting to £4.3 million in 2004-05, £17.8 million in 2005-06 and £19.3 million in 2006-07, will be available from the spending review to support integrated services for children. Most of …

2 Sep 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-27519 by Patricia Ferguson on 8 August 2002, where a statute imposes a duty on a minister to make a statement concerning the identity of a person to whom entitled rights and official authority have been transferred, and that identity must include the…

Answer · Patricia Ferguson: Where a statute imposes a duty on a minister to make a statement concerning the identity of a person to whom entitled rights and official authority have been transferred, the issue of whether this form of statutory statement must be subscribed would be determ…

26 Aug 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether any confirmation that employment and accrued entitlements will be protected by the Transfer of Undertakings (Protection of Employment) Regulations 1981 on transfer of the Northern Isles ferry service to Northlink ferries will be given before the workforce is transferred.

Answer · Lewis Macdonald: While P&O Scottish Ferries have taken the view that the Transfer of Undertakings (Protection of Employment) Regulations 1981 (TUPE) applies, Northlink have taken the view that it does not. It is not possible to indicate conclusively before a transfer take…

1 Aug 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how much it pays to the London based company reSearchWeb for work in respect of the social work research website www.researchweb.org.uk and why this contract was awarded to a company outwith Scotland, given its position on the importance of the knowledge-based economy in Scotland.

Answer · Cathy Jamieson: The contract for reSearchWeb was awarded in 1999 as part of the Scottish Executive's contribution to this UK organisation agreed with other parts of the UK. The National Institute for Social Work (NISW) owns the international research database at the heart of…

30 Jul 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many local authorities have submitted bids in respect of Phase 4 of the New Community Schools initiative and how many further bids are anticipated.

Answer · Cathy Jamieson: Thirty-one local authorities have submitted bids for funding in respect of the new community school roll-out approach. It is hoped to receive a bid from the remaining authority in the near future.

30 Jul 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, with regard to the findings of the Scottish Museums Council following its national audit of Scotland's museums and galleries, what steps will be taken to increase capacity within the museum sector in order to develop and deliver services for the future.

Answer · Elaine Murray: I refer the member to the answer given to question S1W-28053.

30 Jul 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, with regard to the findings of the Scottish Museums Council following its national audit of Scotland's museums and galleries, what measures will be introduced to raise standards and modernise practice in order to meet "rising user expectations in the 21st century".

Answer · Elaine Murray: I refer the member to the answer given to question S1W-28053.

30 Jul 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, with regard to the findings of the Scottish Museums Council following its national audit of Scotland's museums and galleries, what measures will be introduced in order to actively build museum audiences and encourage access for all.

Answer · Elaine Murray: I refer the member to the answer given to question S1W-28053.

30 Jul 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, with regard to the findings of the Scottish Museums Council following its national audit of Scotland's museums and galleries, what steps will be taken to work in close partnership with the formal and informal education sectors in order to ensure an effective contribution to learning.

Answer · Elaine Murray: I refer the member to the answer given to question S1W-28053.

30 Jul 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, with regard to the findings of the Scottish Museums Council following its national audit of Scotland's museums and galleries, what measures will be introduced to reform historic funding structures in order to address inconsistency of museum provision.

Answer · Elaine Murray: I refer the member to the answer given to question S1W-28053.

30 Jul 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, with regard to the findings of the Scottish Museums Council following its national audit of Scotland's museums and galleries, what measures will be introduced in order to ensure effective stewardship of the distributed national collections.

Answer · Elaine Murray: I refer the member to the answer given to question S1W-28053.

30 Jul 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, with regard to the findings of the Scottish Museums Council following its national audit of Scotland's museums and galleries, whether there is a need for a national framework that recognises the principle of a distributed national collection and within which a sustainable future can be b…

Answer · Elaine Murray: The Executive announced on 10 July, following the publication of the Scottish Museums Council's national audit of Scottish museums and galleries, that a consultation exercise would be launched in mid-August to assist in developing an action plan for Scotland'…