Parliamentary questions
Irene McGugan
716 questions tabled in the Scottish Parliament, most recent first.
25 Jul 2002 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what the nature is of any alleged legal difficulties currently facing the Scottish Football Partnership; what action is being taken in order to address any such situation, and when it is expected that any such difficulties will be resolved.
Answer · Elaine Murray: I refer the member to the answer given to question S1W-27903.
25 Jul 2002 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, with regard to its news release SE4896/2001, how many grants have been awarded by the Scottish Football Partnership and what the total sum is of monies disbursed under this scheme to date.
Answer · Elaine Murray: I refer the member to the answer given to question S1W-27903.
25 Jul 2002 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, with regard to its news release SE4896/2001, what budget is currently available to the Scottish Football Partnership and whether this budget is more or less than that announced by the Deputy Minister for Sport, the Arts and Culture when the scheme was launched in November 2001.
Answer · Elaine Murray: I refer the member to the answer given to question S1W-27903.
25 Jul 2002 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, with regard to its news release SE4896/2001, whether it will outline the range of youth development schemes that have been financially assisted by the Scottish Football Partnership and to what extent young Scots have been encouraged and coached in football skills.
Answer · Elaine Murray: I refer the member to the answer given to question S1W-27903.
25 Jul 2002 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, with regard to its news release SE4896/2001, how, and to what extent, Scottish football has benefited from the Scottish Football Partnership since the partnership was launched in November 2001.
Answer · Elaine Murray: Following the launch of the Scottish Football Partnership in November 2001, there have been a number of legal issues which have had to be addressed to allow the Partnership to become operational.<P>However, following a recent exchange of correspondence betwee…
16 Jul 2002 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-26613 by Mr Frank McAveety on 2 July 2002, whether local outcome agreements with individual councils are already in place, giving the position for each local authority.
Answer · Frank McAveety: We are progressing towards having agreements in place by 30 September 2002.
16 Jul 2002 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-26614 by Mr Frank McAveety on 2 July 2002, whether guidance issued to local authorities on 8 December 1999, in addition to confirming that community care plans should be used to report on the use of resources, also requires local authorities to consu…
Answer · Frank McAveety: The requirement that local authorities consult local carers' organisations on the use of the resources ear-marked under the Carers Strategy is set out in the strategy itself. This requirement was re-conveyed to local authorities in guidance issued by the Scot…
11 Jul 2002 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what powers it has in respect of the Stone of Scone and to whom issues concerning its proprietorship should now be addressed.
Answer · Jim Wallace: The Stone of Scone is the property of the Crown. By Royal Warrant dated 12 November 1996 Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth the Second appointed commissioners in Scotland and their successors in Office to guard the Stone. Those commissioners are the Keeper of the Gr…
11 Jul 2002 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-25867 by Lewis Macdonald on 28 May 2002, whether the Invergarry-Kyle of Lochalsh A87 Extension (Skye Bridge Crossing) Toll Order (SI 1992/1501) in any legal sense regulates the use of the A87.
Answer · Lewis Macdonald: The Invergarry-Kyle of Lochalsh Trunk Road (A87) Extension (Skye Bridge Crossing) Toll Order 1992 authorises Scottish Ministers to charge tolls in respect of the Skye Bridge and to assign their rights to charge and collect tolls to a concessionaire. The order…
11 Jul 2002 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-25867 by Lewis Macdonald on 28 May 2002, whether the Invergarry-Kyle of Lochalsh A87 Extension (Skye Bridge Crossing) Toll Order (SI 1992/1501) specifically does not itself contain the power to (a) charge tolls and (b) assign toll-charging powers to …
Answer · Lewis Macdonald: The power to charge tolls at the Skye Bridge is set out in section 27 of the New Roads and Street Works Act 1991, and is implemented in The Invergarry-Kyle of Lochalsh Trunk Road (A87) Extension (Skye Bridge Crossing) Toll Order 1992. The power to assign the …
11 Jul 2002 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-25582 by Colin Boyd QC on 16 May 2002, what its position is on the statement made by Lord Sutherland in his opinion of 16 December 1999 in Smith and Others that "if some person using the bridge could establish that he or she was wholly unaware of the…
Answer · Elish Angiolini: Lord Sutherland's opinion is consistent with the answer Colin Boyd gave to question S1W-25582 and that given by Lord Hardie to S1W-1350. In the passage quoted Lord Sutherland is discussing those statutory instruments that require to be published where the def…
11 Jul 2002 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-25632 by Patricia Ferguson on 20 May 2002, whether the legal requirements concerning subscription in connection with a statutory instrument also apply to a statutory statement.
Answer · Patricia Ferguson: The term "statutory statement" is not one which has any particular meaning in law. Where a statute provides for a statement to be made, issues of whether that statement must be made in writing and, if so, whether it must be subscribed fall to be det…
10 Jul 2002 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to Item 12 of the Action Plan for Social Services Workforce, whether Joint Ministerial Meetings will recommend a generic or specialist training for social workers.
Answer · Cathy Jamieson: In introducing the Action Plan to Parliament on 18 April, I made clear that there would be a generic core to the new honours degree for social workers. The project group are currently considering the balance between generic and care group specific competences…
10 Jul 2002 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to Item 12 of the Action Plan for Social Services Workforce, whether it will provide details of the statements provided by all centres on their best role in 2005 and how they are preparing for that, and whether this work was undertaken within the specified timescale of nine weeks…
Answer · Cathy Jamieson: The Executive has met regularly with the centres and discussed their contribution to the Action Plan. The centres have been asked to provide a statement describing how they see the role of their individual initiative developing over the next three years and h…
10 Jul 2002 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to Item 11 of the Action Plan for Social Services Workforce, whether it will provide details of the survey of improving access arrangements to professional training and whether the survey commenced within the specified timescale of nine weeks and what the reasons are for the posi…
Answer · Cathy Jamieson: As a first step we have provided an additional £400,000 for bursaries for postgraduate students. This was achieved within the nine-week timescale. We are currently considering what further steps might be taken to improve access arrangements to professional tr…
10 Jul 2002 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to Item 10 of the Action Plan for Social Services Workforce, whether meeting and planning got underway with the WEA programme co-ordinator on Return to Learn courses for social care workers in local authorities and whether this work was undertaken within the specified timescale o…
Answer · Cathy Jamieson: I can confirm that three meetings have taken place between Unison, WEA and my officials, most recently on 18 June and that the first Return to Learn programme will have started by October. I will formally launch this initiative on 12 September.
10 Jul 2002 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to Item 9 of the Action Plan for Social Services Workforce, whether it will provide details of the Integrated Human Resources working group report, and whether this was published within the specified timescale of nine weeks and what the reasons are for the position on this matter.
Answer · Cathy Jamieson: The Integrated Human Resources Working Group Report was published on 24 May 2002, well within the specified timescale. The report is available on the Scottish Executive Website at: <A HREF="http://www.scotland.gov.uk/pages/news/2002/05/SEhd063.aspx">http://ww…
10 Jul 2002 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to Item 8 of the Action Plan for Social Services Workforce, whether it will provide details of the scoping study of the labour market of children's services in Scotland, and whether the first report will be published in July as specified and what the reasons are for the position …
Answer · Cathy Jamieson: The Executive received the draft report from DTZ Pieda Consulting on 12 July 2002 and this is currently being considered by the steering group. Further work is required by the contractors. The Action Plan did not stipulate a date for publication and no decisi…
10 Jul 2002 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to item 8 of the Action Plan for Social Services Workforce, who is conducting the economic study of the labour market of children's services in Scotland.
Answer · Cathy Jamieson: Following a formal tendering process, the contract was awarded to DTZ Pieda Consulting.
10 Jul 2002 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to Item 7 of the Action Plan for Social Services Workforce, whether it will provide details of the analysis of future needs for training in leadership and management, and whether the first report will be published in July as specified and what the reasons are for the position on …
Answer · Cathy Jamieson: I can confirm that my officials have met with the Scottish Leadership Foundation and are currently considering a proposal from them to take this work forward. The Action Plan did not stipulate a date for publication of the analysis of future needs for trainin…
10 Jul 2002 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to Item 7 of the Action Plan for Social Services Workforce, what the membership and remit of the Scottish Leadership Foundation are.
Answer · Cathy Jamieson: The remit of the Scottish Leadership Foundation is to raise the quality of public service leadership. The current membership is:<P>Aberdeen City Council<P>ACOSVO<P>Angus College<P>Arts and Business<P>Association of Scottish Colleges<P>Audit Scotland<P>Communi…
10 Jul 2002 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to Item 6 of the Action Plan for Social Services Workforce, whether it will provide the Association of Directors of Social Work's action plan for promoting employer investment in better support for front-line staff, and whether this plan was prepared within the specified timescal…
Answer · Cathy Jamieson: I await proposals from the Association of Directors of Social Work which will enable me to release the funds set aside for this work.
10 Jul 2002 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to Item 5 of the Action Plan for Social Services Workforce, whether it is intended that the voluntary sector should benefit from the #3.5 million additional funding for social services staff training.
Answer · Cathy Jamieson: It is intended that the voluntary sector should benefit from the additional £3.5 million. Local authorities were asked to advise the Executive by 26 July of their plans for expenditure. They were asked to set out in their responses how they will involve indep…
10 Jul 2002 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to Item 5 of the Action Plan for Social Services Workforce, how local authorities are utilising the #3.5 million additional funding for local authority social services staff training, and whether the decisions on this were made within the specified timescale of nine weeks and wha…
Answer · Cathy Jamieson: Local authorities were asked to advise the Executive of their plans for the additional £3.5 million by 26 July 2002.
10 Jul 2002 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to Item 4 of the Action Plan for Social Services Workforce, what the priorities are for attention by the new Director for Co-ordinating Social Services Policy and Performance, and whether these were agreed by a Joint Ministerial Meeting within the specified timescale of nine week…
Answer · Cathy Jamieson: The priorities for the new Director, agreed by the Joint Ministerial Meeting, are:<P>a. future workforce planning and staff recruitment and training, and<P>b. performance reporting on social work services.
10 Jul 2002 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to Item 3 of the Action Plan for Social Services Workforce, what the timescale is for agreeing the content and arrangements for the proposed new social work qualifications in order to ensure introduction of the new degree in 2004.
Answer · Cathy Jamieson: I have asked the project groups to report to me by December 2002.
10 Jul 2002 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to Item 3 of the Action Plan for Social Services Workforce, whether the Joint Ministerial Meetings are considering a social work qualification without a practice placement as an integral part of the training.
Answer · Cathy Jamieson: The role of practice placements within the new degree course is currently being considered by the project groups who are examining the detailed elements of the degree course. Both groups are of the view that supervised practice placements are an essential ele…
10 Jul 2002 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to Item 3 of the Action Plan for Social Services Workforce, whether it will outline details of the membership of the project group on professional and vocational education reforms and the workplan, and whether the workplan was agreed by a Joint Ministerial Meeting within the spec…
Answer · Cathy Jamieson: The membership of the project group on professional and vocational education reforms is as follows:<TABLE BORDER CELLSPACING=1 CELLPADDING=7 WIDTH=540><TR><TD WIDTH="35%" VALIGN="TOP"><P>Sandy Cameron</TD><TD WIDTH="65%" VALIGN="TOP"><P>Association of Directo…
10 Jul 2002 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to Item 3 of the Action Plan for Social Services Workforce, whether it will outline details of the membership and workplan on workforce and recruitment, and whether these were agreed by a Joint Ministerial Meeting within the specified timescale of nine weeks and what the reasons …
Answer · Cathy Jamieson: Ministers have instructed the Social Work Services Inspectorate to consult with the sector to determine the way forward in the context of the development of Sector Skills Councils. Consultations with the Scottish Social Services Council are currently on-going…
10 Jul 2002 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to Item 2 of the Action Plan for Social Services Workforce, whether it will outline details of the progress report on the workforce action plan, and whether the next steps were approved by a Joint Ministerial Meeting within the specified timescale of nine weeks and what the reaso…
Answer · Cathy Jamieson: I have had oral reports from officials and have approved the current course of action. The next joint meeting of ministers will take place later this year. I refer the member to the answers given to questions S1W-27467 to S1W-27469 and S1W-27471 to S1W-27487,…