Jackie Baillie

22 Sep 2003 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive when the child witness support guidance pack will be issued.

Answer · Hugh Henry: The first two documents in aseries of guidance documents making up a Child Witness Support Guidance Packare being issued today. They will cover “Interviewing Child Witnesses” and “QuestioningChildren in Court” and are the outcome of detailed consultation with…

17 Sep 2003 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what action it has taken, and will take, to improve the quality of bathing water and beaches.

Answer · Allan Wilson: The Scottish Executive is committed to working for a cleaner and safer environment and works closelywith the Scottish Environmental Protection Agency (SEPA), Scottish Water and theagricultural sector to ensure that all sectors play their part in reducing poll…

5 Sep 2003 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will remove any threat of defamation action against a young person who reports a concern to an appropriate authority where that authority takes no action against the person about whose conduct the complaint is made; whether legislation will be required to achieve this, and, if…

Answer · Cathy Jamieson: The Scottish Executive takes child protection very seriously and is committed to protectingchildren and young people from all forms of abuse. We have made firmcommitments to improving child protection services in Scotlandthrough a programme of reform over the…

26 Aug 2003 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how it will involve appropriate trade unions in the discussions on the formation of the Strategic Transport Authority, as referred to in A Partnership for a Better Scotland.

Answer · Nicol Stephen: The consultation on the proposednew transport agency and regional transport partnerships will continue until 17December. The consultation paper <i>Scotland</i><i>’s Transport, Proposals for a New Approach to Transportin </i><i>Scotland</i> is available in the…

26 Aug 2003 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will ensure that the regulation of fares, frequency of service and standards of employment are included in future quality contract schemes.

Answer · Nicol Stephen: Quality contracts are a toolprovided by the Transport (Scotland) Act 2001 for use by local transport authorities. Theact refers to fares and frequency of service as matters which may be included ina quality contract submitted to Scottish ministers for approva…

26 Aug 2003 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many quality contract schemes have been established under the Transport (Scotland) Act 2001.

Answer · Nicol Stephen: No quality contract schemes haveso far been established.</p>

26 Aug 2003 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how it monitors the implementation of the Transport (Scotland) Act 2001 and, in particular, the sections relating to quality partnership schemes.

Answer · Nicol Stephen: As outlined in <i>A Partnershipfor a Better Scotland</i>,<i> </i>the Executive is committed to monitoring whetherthe quality partnership powers included in the Transport (Scotland) Actare adequate to protect and enhance evening, weekend and rural bus services…

26 Aug 2003 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what steps it is taking to encourage the establishment of quality partnership schemes in all areas and what the timescale is for so doing.

Answer · Nicol Stephen: The Transport (Scotland) Act2001 provides a toolkit of options for local transport authorities to revitaliselocal bus services; this toolkit includes quality partnerships. Comprehensive guidanceon the act was published in October 2001 and it is now for local …

26 Aug 2003 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many quality partnership schemes have been established under the Transport (Scotland) Act 2001; where such schemes have been established, and who the partners are in each scheme.

Answer · Nicol Stephen: While there are examples in manyparts of Scotland of close partnership working between local transportauthorities and bus operators, there are no statutory quality partnerships. Initiativesby transport authorities include bus priority lanes, new and improved …

26 Aug 2003 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S2W-1614 by Cathy Jamieson on 18 August 2003, where information on contact orders by non-resident fathers can be obtained; why this information is not available centrally, and whether it has any plans to collect such information centrally in future.

Answer · Cathy Jamieson: Information on contact ordersby non-resident fathers is located within the individual court records where theorders were sought. Easily accessible, in-depth national information on contactorders (and, more broadly, civil actions) is not available centrally. O…

26 Aug 2003 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will conduct a review of local government boundaries and, if so, what the timescale for conducting such a review will be.

Answer · Andy Kerr: The Executive indicated in theWhite Paper <i>Renewing Local Democracy: The Next Steps</i> that there would beno major review of local authority administrative boundaries in the foreseeablefuture. We continue to take that view, although views are being sought …

7 Aug 2003 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what influence local communities and patients have in any consultation with local health boards and in what circumstances, if an overwhelming view is expressed by a local community, that view can be ignored.

Answer · Malcolm Chisholm: We expect NHS boards tofollow national guidance on public engagement and consultation. One of the keyprinciples of effective engagement with individuals and local communities overproposals for service change is that NHS boards are explicit about why changeis …

7 Aug 2003 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it expects NHS boards to work across administrative boundaries in the delivery of services, in the interest of patients, and, if so, how it monitors compliance with this approach.

Answer · Malcolm Chisholm: Yes. The health department issuedguidance to NHS boards on regional planning in March 2002. The guidanceincluded advice on planning and provision of services across NHS boardboundaries. A copy can be found at:</p><p><ahref="http://www.show.scot.nhs.uk/sehd/me…

7 Aug 2003 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many meetings were held by Argyll and Clyde NHS Board with Greater Glasgow NHS Board in relation to the review of maternity services; what the names and designations were of those present at the meetings; what issues were discussed, and what specific conclusions were agreed by both bo…

Answer · Malcolm Chisholm: While I am aware that there have been a number of meetings between NHS Argyll and Clyde and NHS Greater Glasgow in relation the former’s review of maternity services, I have asked the Chief Executive of Argyll and Clyde NHS Board to write with the details. A …

7 Aug 2003 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will identify the &#145;risks', as referred to by executive directors at the Argyll and Clyde NHS Board meeting on 29 July 2003 in the context of justification of the siting of consultant-led maternity services at Paisley as an alternative to enabling women to access consultan…

Answer · Malcolm Chisholm: Argyll and Clyde NHS Boardoutlines their view of the risks attached to providing Glasgow basedconsultant-led maternity care to their residents who live north of the RiverClyde on page VII of the executive summary in their <i>Report on the Review andConsultati…

7 Aug 2003 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what the process and timescale will be for ministerial consideration of the decision by Argyll and Clyde NHS Board on 29 July 2003 to reorganise maternity services.

Answer · Malcolm Chisholm: As with any proposals for significant service change or closure approved by NHS boards, I would only make a decision on whether to endorse the preferred option or not following careful consideration of the relevant local review.</p><p>In the case of maternity…

30 Jul 2003 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive when the Registrar General for Scotland will publish his Annual Report for 2002.

Answer · Hugh Henry: <I>Scotland's Population 2002: the Registrar General's Annual Review of Demographic Trends </I>is published today. The report focuses on one of the major issues affecting Scotland's population - declining fertility. A copy of the report is available in the Sc…

21 Jul 2003 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many contact orders applied for by non-resident fathers were granted by the courts in each year since 1999, broken down into orders for direct unsupervised contact, direct supervised contact and indirect contact.

Answer · Cathy Jamieson: I refer the member to the answer given to question S2W-1614 today. All answers to written parliamentary questions 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…

21 Jul 2003 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many contact orders applied for by non-resident fathers were not granted by the courts in each year since 1999.

Answer · Cathy Jamieson: I refer the member to the answer given to question S2W-1614 today. All answers to written parliamentary questions 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…

21 Jul 2003 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many contact orders were applied for by non-resident fathers in each year since 1999.

Answer · Cathy Jamieson: This information is not available centrally.

14 Jul 2003 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what progress has been made in the development of a strategic approach to animal health and welfare.

Answer · Ross Finnie: Following extensive consultation earlier in the year, we have published today an <I>Outline of an animal health and welfare strategy for Great Britain</I>. This document builds on the wide range of views which emerged from the consultation. It sets out a clea…

24 Jun 2003 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how interested organisations will be able to become conservation bodies for the purpose of the Title Conditions (Scotland) Act 2003.

Answer · Hugh Henry: The Title Conditions (Scotland) Act 2003 provides a property law regime for enforcing conditions in the title deeds of land which safeguard conservation interests. It provides for a conservation body, prescribed by Scottish ministers, to be able to enforce a …

23 Jun 2003 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive when the appointed person's report under section 291 of the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002 will be laid before the Parliament.

Answer · Cathy Jamieson: The appointed person's report is being laid before the Parliament and is also being published today.<P>Copies of the report have been placed in the Parliament's Reference Centre (Bib. number 28075).

17 Mar 2003 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether national targets for the Scottish Police Service for 2004 to 2006 have been set.

Answer · Jim Wallace: Rolled forward targets, for the areas presently covered, have been arrived at following detailed consultation with the Association of Chief Police Officers in Scotland and the Convenors of police authorities. These new targets are being set for the Scottish p…

17 Mar 2003 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has agreed performance measures, similar to those for previous years for the Scottish Qualifications Authority, in regard to the authority's performance in 2003.

Answer · Nicol Stephen: I have written to the Convenor of the Education, Culture and Sport Committee advising that performance measures have been agreed for this year and enclosed these for the committee's interest. I have lodged copies of my letter and its enclosure with the Parlia…

12 Mar 2003 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what progress has been made in carrying out the second stage of the policy and financial management review of the Scottish Qualifications Authority.

Answer · Nicol Stephen: The second, and final, stage of the Policy and Financial Management Review of the Scottish Qualifications Authority (SQA) has now been completed and I have placed copies of the steering group's report in the Parliament's Reference Centre (Bib. number 26920). …

12 Mar 2003 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will clarify the position in the McCrone agreement in relation to promoted posts for teachers and the advice that it gave to local authorities on the implementation of the agreement.

Answer · Nicol Stephen: The agreement <I>A Teaching Profession for the 21st Century</I> sets out an improved and simplified career structure for all teachers which is being implemented through the Scottish Negotiating Committee for Teachers. This committee includes representatives f…

12 Mar 2003 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what action it can and will take to ensure that local authorities comply with the McCrone agreement in relation to promoted posts for teachers.

Answer · Nicol Stephen: The new promoted post structure is detailed in the agreement <I>A Teaching Profession for the 21st Century</I>. The Scottish Negotiating Committee for Teachers - a tripartite body with representatives from local authorities, teacher organisations and the Scot…

12 Mar 2003 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether the proposal of Argyll and Bute Council to reduce the number of promoted posts for teachers is in keeping with the McCrone agreement.

Answer · Nicol Stephen: It is a matter for local authorities to determine local staffing requirements.

12 Mar 2003 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what representations it has received about the proposed promoted posts structure for teachers in the Argyll and Bute Council area.

Answer · Nicol Stephen: The Scottish Executive has not received any representations about the proposed promoted posts structure for teachers in the Argyll and Bute Council area.