Parliamentary questions

Irene McGugan

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

15 May 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-25456 by Mr Andy Kerr on 10 May 2002 what the total amount is, in accordance with the Barnett formula, of the allocations from the Capital Modernisation Fund for new or refurbished community sports facilities and how these funds will be allocated.

Answer · Andy Kerr: The consequentials for Scotland calculated in accordance with the Barnett formula from the round four Capital Modernisation Fund allocation for community amateur sports clubs is £1.95 million. We were already aware that we would receive consequentials from th…

15 May 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-25459 by Ms Margaret Curran on 13 May 2002, what the outcomes were of the seven cases referred to it involving the possible loss of playing fields.

Answer · Hugh Henry: Of the seven cases notified to the Scottish ministers since December 1997, two were cleared back to the local authority and approval was granted (Glasgow, Edinburgh); one was called in and subsequently refused (Aberdeen); another case was later withdrawn (Edi…

14 May 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether a traffic regulation order authorising the charging of tolls on a trunk road regulates in any sense the use of that road.

Answer · Lewis Macdonald: Tolls are charged on trunk roads at the Erskine and Skye Bridges. The power to levy tolls is set out in primary legislation - the Erskine Bridge Tolls Act 2001 and the New Roads and Street Works Act 1991 respectively - not in traffic regulation orders.

14 May 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, given that there is no definition of the term "order" in the Roads (Scotland) Act 1984 nor in the New Roads and Street Works Act 1991, that the New Roads and Street Works Act 1991 amends the definition contained in section 2 of the Road Traffic Regulations Act 1984 and that all three act…

Answer · Lewis Macdonald: The three main orders issued in relation to the Skye Bridge crossing are The Invergarry - Kyle of Lochalsh Trunk Road (A87) Extension (Skye Bridge Crossing) (Detrunking) Order 1992, The Invergarry - Kyle of Lochalsh Trunk Road (A87) Extension (Skye Bridge Cro…

10 May 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, with regard to its news release SEed005/2002 of 18 April 2002, what the remit is of the Joint Ministerial Meetings on social work and social services and who will attend the meetings.

Answer · Cathy Jamieson: The remit of the Joint Ministerial Meetings on social work and social services is to ensure good co-ordination of social work and social care policy issues across the Executive.The meeting will be chaired by the Minister for Education and Young People. The…

7 May 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what legal advice it has received on whether a statutory instrument which is required to be made by the Scottish ministers is lawfully made in circumstances where it bears no name or subscription.

Answer · Patricia Ferguson: A statutory instrument which is required to be made by the Scottish ministers is lawfully made when it is signed by one of those ministers, or by a junior minister or an official on their behalf.

7 May 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1O-4432 by Cathy Jamieson on 17 January 2002, what aspects of fostering have been considered by the working group undertaking the review of adoption and fostering; whether any further aspects of fostering will be considered by the group and, if so, when…

Answer · Cathy Jamieson: Fostering was identified as an important option in the first phase of the adoption policy review, but was not considered in any detail. It will be considered in depth in phase two which will start later this year.

7 May 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive when its review of fostering and adoption will be completed and when the findings will be published.

Answer · Cathy Jamieson: Phase one of the adoption policy review, on the service provided by adoption agencies, has been completed and is being considered by the Executive. One of its recommendations - that Scotland join the national adoption register being created in England and Wal…

2 May 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether the compulsory purchase order drafted in relation to the Invergarry-Kyle of Lochalsh Trunk Road (A87) Extension (Skye Bridge Crossing) Special Road Scheme Order 1992 (SI 1992/1499) was ever made.

Answer · Lewis Macdonald: The Invergarry to Kyle of Lochalsh Trunk Road (A87) Extension (Skye Bridge Crossing) Compulsory Purchase Order 1992 was made on 23 June 1992 and was recorded in the General Register of Sasines on 2 September 1992.

2 May 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether there is a statutory defence available to persons being prosecuted for alleged non-compliance with legislation contained in unpublished statutory instruments.

Answer · Colin Boyd: I refer the member to the answer given to question S1W-1350 on 17 September 1999. The statutory defence provided by section 3(2) of the Statutory Instruments Act 1946 does not apply if the statutory instrument is exempt from publication in terms of Regulation…

2 May 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what the statutory definition of "prescribe" was in 1991 and 1992 as used in Scottish legislation on roads.

Answer · Lewis Macdonald: I refer the member to the answer given to question S1W-24918 on 7 May 2002.

29 Apr 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what representations it has made to (a) the City of Edinburgh Council and (b) sportscotland in regard to the future of Scotland's only velodrome at Meadowbank Sports Centre, Edinburgh.

Answer · Elaine Murray: No representations have been made. However, sportscotland is considering with relevant councils issues relating to the provision of national sports facilities including those at Meadowbank.

29 Apr 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what assistance, financial or otherwise, will be available to community sports clubs which are not registered charities following the restriction of water rates relief to charities under the Water Industry (Scotland) Act 2002.

Answer · Ross Finnie: The Water Industry (Scotland) Act 2002 contains no provisions whose effect is to restrict relief on water and sewerage charges to charities. Section 40 of the act enables Scottish ministers to make regulations reducing the water and sewerage charges, or ex…

29 Apr 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-23884 by Nicol Stephen on 21 March 2002, what guidelines sportscotland follow when considering planning applications and developments likely to prejudice or lead to the loss of playing fields and what guidance it gives to sportscotland on this issue.

Answer · Margaret Curran: National Planning Policy Guideline (NPPG) 11: Sport, Physical Recreation and Open Space provides guidance to planning authorities on the protection of playing fields. This confirms that playing fields should not be redeveloped except where:the reten…

29 Apr 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-23884 by Nicol Stephen on 21 March 2002, how many proposals which would involve the loss of a playing field have been referred to it by planning authorities as a result of sportscotland advising against the proposal.

Answer · Margaret Curran: Since December 1997, when the requirement to notify such applications to the Scottish ministers was introduced, seven cases involving the possible loss of playing fields have been referred to ministers for consideration.

26 Apr 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what percentage of the #20 million allocated from the Capital Modernisation Fund for new or refurbished community sports facilities in the UK 2002 Budget will be apportioned to Scotland.

Answer · Andy Kerr: Consequentials from all relevant Capital Modernisation Fund allocations are calculated according to the Barnett formula and added to the Scottish Consolidated Fund. It is for Scottish ministers to determine how these funds are allocated.

9 Apr 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what the source is of the statutory definition of "prescribe" as relied upon by sections 7 and 8 of the Roads (Scotland) Act 1984.

Answer · Lewis Macdonald: The word "prescribe" does not have a single statutory definition. Sections 7 and 8 of the Roads (Scotland) Act 1984 are silent on a specific meaning of the term. It is therefore taken to have its meaning in common usage, which is "to specify, state or set out…

9 Apr 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answers to questions S1W-23115 and S1W-24243 by Lewis Macdonald on 7 March and 3 April 2002 respectively and given that the Roads (Scotland) Act 1984 referred to does not itself contain or repeat any definition of "prescribes", whether his use of the word "prescribes" comp…

Answer · Lewis Macdonald: The definitions of "prescribes" under the Road Traffic Acts 1972 and 1988 and the Road Traffic Regulations Act 1984 relate to secondary legislation made under those acts. They are not relevant to the Skye Bridge Special Road Scheme which was made under sectio…

3 Apr 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what assessment has been made or will be made of the impact on core social work and education services of initiatives in the early years sector such as the Sure Start programme and new community schools.

Answer · Cathy Jamieson: Initiatives like Sure Start Scotland and New Community Schools offer exciting new and integrated ways of delivering core social work, education and health services. We are evaluating their impact both on services and service users and expect to report by mid …

3 Apr 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many project bids have been received for the Changing Children's Services Fund at 31 March 2002, broken down by local authority area.

Answer · Cathy Jamieson: Proposals for the drugs strand of the fund (£18 million over the years 2001-04) were invited by 1 April 2001. All 32 local authorities have had proposals approved and have taken up their allocation. Proposals for the main part of the fund (£63.5 million over …

3 Apr 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether all local authorities have been asked to account for their use of the funds allocated for education resources for looked-after children and, if not, which local authorities have not and whether it will explain why.

Answer · Cathy Jamieson: As I announced on 10 January, all local authorities have been asked to report to us at the end of this academic year on what they have achieved with the fund of up to £10 million for educational resources for looked-after children announced last October. Info…

20 Mar 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to answer to the question S1W-23115 by Lewis Macdonald on 7 March 2002, whether his use of the word "prescribes" complies with the definition contained in the New Roads and Street Works Act 1991.

Answer · Lewis Macdonald: The Invergarry - Kyle of Lochalsh Trunk Road (A87) Extension (Skye Bridge Crossing) Special Road Scheme 1992 was made under section 7 of the Roads (Scotland) Act 1984, not the New Roads and Street Works Act 1991. The Executive is satisfied that the scheme com…

14 Mar 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answers to questions S1O-4829 and S1O-4736 by Cathy Jamieson on 7 March 2002 and 28 February 2002 respectively, whether its forthcoming plans and strategies regarding social workers will address (a) a review of payscales and other terms and conditions, (b) meaningful super…

Answer · Cathy Jamieson: Issues of pay and other terms and conditions for social work staff are matters for employers and are not centrally determined.Supervision, support and caseload size are operational matters, determined locally.The Action Plan launched on 18 April outline…

14 Mar 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to the supplementary question from Alasdair Morgan to question S10-4829 by Cathy Jamieson on 7 March 2002, what will form the basis of its forthcoming national and local strategies to address the issue of social worker recruitment and retention.

Answer · Cathy Jamieson: The Executive's plans are set out in the Action Plan for the Social Services Workforce, which was published on 18 April 2002.

14 Mar 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to the supplementary question from Karen Whitefield to question S10-4829 by Cathy Jamieson on 7 March 2002, whether it will outline the detail of its plans for improving and upgrading social work training.

Answer · Cathy Jamieson: The Action Plan for the Social Services Workforce launched on 18 April 2002 set out the main points. Implementation will be taken forward by a project delivery group, involving representatives from the relevant professional associations, employers and trainin…

4 Mar 2002 · Written Question

Answer · Nicol Stephen: Information about the fees paid to the markers of the Scottish Qualifications Authority (SQA), is an operational matter for the SQA and is not held centrally by the Scottish Executive. However, I have passed your question to the Chair of the SQA.

21 Feb 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether the number of full-time places for four-year-olds at nursery school will be cut in order to meet the commitment to extend a guaranteed part-time place to all three-year-olds whose parents wish such a place by 2002.

Answer · Cathy Jamieson: From April 2002 local authorities will have a duty, under the Standards in Scotland's Schools etc Act 2000, to provide a funded quality part-time education place, of at least 412.5 hours per session, for all three- and four-year-olds whose parents wish it. We…

20 Feb 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, with regard to its news release SE2935/2000 of 14 November 2000, whether it has met its target of attracting 5,000 new workers into the childcare sector by 2002.

Answer · Cathy Jamieson: Between 1 October 1999 and 31 December 2001, 3,715 childcare workers were trained. We expect to meet the target of training 5,000 new childcare workers before the end of this calendar year.

20 Feb 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive on what basis the higher per capita costs for pre-school provision in local authorities with large rural populations are calculated.

Answer · Cathy Jamieson: Twelve local authorities are considered as delivering pre-school education in "very rural" areas, i.e. areas where more than 15% of the population live in communities of less than 1,000. The distribution methodology used in respect of the rural elem…

20 Feb 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what resources are available to families seeking pre-school provision in intermediate and remote rural areas.

Answer · Cathy Jamieson: I refer the member to the answer given to question S1W-23305.