Jackie Baillie

1 Jul 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has agreed performance measures for 2002 for the Scottish Qualifications Authority.

Answer · Nicol Stephen: I have today written to the Acting Convenor of the Education, Culture and Sport Committee informing her that performance measures have been agreed for this year and enclosed these for the committee's interest. I have placed copies of my letter, and its enclos…

1 Jul 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether all non-departmental public bodies and executive agencies have carried out a pay systems review to establish whether there is any gender pay gap in line with the Equal Opportunities Commission's Code of Practice on Equal Pay.

Answer · Andy Kerr: In line with the UK Government, all Scottish non-departmental public bodies and executive agencies have been requested to conduct an equal pay review by April 2003.

1 Jul 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether all non-departmental public bodies and executive agencies have an equal pay policy and which Executive department has responsibility for monitoring and encouraging compliance with good practice on equal pay.

Answer · Andy Kerr: Currently, 62% of executive agencies and 35% of non-departmental public bodies (NDPBs) have a stated policy on equal pay. Not all of the remaining bodies/agencies actually employ staff, but all of those that do have an equal opportunities policy, which provid…

1 Jul 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has a single job evaluation system covering all employees to determine who is performing equal work.

Answer · Andy Kerr: The Scottish Executive has two job evaluation systems. Senior Civil Service posts are evaluated using Job Evaluation for Senior Posts (JESP) while Job Evaluation and Grading Support (JEGS) is used for all other posts. The purpose of both systems is to establi…

1 Jul 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has carried out a pay systems review to establish whether there is any gender pay gap in line with the Equal Opportunities Commission's Code of Practice on Equal Pay.

Answer · Andy Kerr: I refer the member to the answer given to question S1W-27237 on 29 July 2002.

1 Jul 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive which department has responsibility for the implementation of its equal pay policy.

Answer · Andy Kerr: Equal pay policy in the Scottish Executive is the responsibility of the Directorate of Personnel and Pay within Corporate Services department.

1 Jul 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how it has communicated its equal pay policy to employees and recognised trade unions.

Answer · Peter Peacock: I refer the member to the answer given to question S1W-27237.

1 Jul 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has a stated policy on equal pay.

Answer · Andy Kerr: The Scottish Executive's policy on equal pay is currently covered by its general policy on equal opportunities which provides that staff should be treated equally in respect of all matters. This policy is set out in the Staff Handbook which is available to st…

27 Jun 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has any plans to withdraw the School Census September 2002 in its current form and replace it with a revised framework in line with the principles of a modern and inclusive Scotland.

Answer · Nicol Stephen: The Scottish Executive Education Department (SEED) has no plans to withdraw the September 2002 School Census in its current form. The format of the School Census is reviewed each year to ensure it remains relevant to the priorities of the Scottish Executive.

27 Jun 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has considered the Race Equality Advisory Forum report, Making it Real: A Race Equality Strategy for Scotland, and, in particular, the section on ethnic origin classification and what action has been taken to ensure that the report's recommendations are reflected in every area …

Answer · Margaret Curran: The Scottish Executive published <I>Committing to Race Equality, a response from the Scottish Executive to the report from the Race Equality Advisory Forum (REAF)</I> on 12 March this year.<P>Chapter one, "Building a Solid Statistical Base" discusses the issu…

27 Jun 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has responded to any concerns of parents expressed in May 2002 on the framework of, and questions to be used in, the School Census September 2002.

Answer · Nicol Stephen: The Scottish Executive Education Department (SEED) has received a number of representations regarding the Scottish Exchange of Educational Data (ScotXed) project. Most of these representations have been queries from parents asking for clarification on issues …

27 Jun 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it is appropriate to mix colour and ethnic origin in the ethnic background classification in the School Census September 2002.

Answer · Nicol Stephen: The categories to be used for the collection of ethnicity information in the September 2002 School Census were selected to match closely those used in the 2001 Census of Population, to ensure consistency and comparability across different data sources. <P>The…

27 Jun 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it is appropriate to include a category for asylum seekers and refugees in the nationality classification in the School Census September 2002.

Answer · Nicol Stephen: Information on national identity and ethnic background is being collected in the School Census through the ScotXed project for the first time in September 2002.<P>As part of this exercise, it is important to collect information on asylum seekers and refugee c…

27 Jun 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it is appropriate to mix ethnic origin and nationality classifications in the School Census September 2002.

Answer · Nicol Stephen: The categories to be used for the collection of ethnicity information in the September 2002 School Census were selected to match closely those used in the 2001 Census of Population, to ensure consistency and comparability across different data sources. <P>A q…

27 Jun 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether the Pupil Support and Inclusion Division of its Education Department consulted with its Equality Unit, the Commission for Racial Equality, the Centre for Education for Racial Equality in Scotland and the General Register Office for Scotland on the framework of, and questions to b…

Answer · Nicol Stephen: The Scottish Executive has consulted widely with both internal and external colleagues on the framework and classifications to be used in the school census.<P>The Commission for Racial Equality (CRE) and the General Register Office for Scotland (GROS) were no…

19 Jun 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how much it will cost annually to provide free milk for children aged (a) three to five years old, (b) five to seven years old and (c) all primary school children.

Answer · Nicol Stephen: Data related to the age groups requested is not available centrally. We can, however, make estimates based on what would be approximately the same groups using numbers of (a) nursery children, (b) pupils in stages P1 to P3 in publicly funded primary schools a…

19 Jun 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what measures are in place to tackle the high incidence of dental caries among children throughout Scotland.

Answer · Malcolm Chisholm: The Action Plan for Dental Services in Scotland was launched in August 2000, with the aim of improving dental health of children and increasing access to dental services.<P>A number of measures have been implemented nationally which target oral health and hyg…

19 Jun 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how it plans to develop volunteering in the public sector in light of the report by Community Service Volunteers, The State of the Volunteering Nation.

Answer · Hugh Henry: Volunteering in the public sector is being driven forward by the Active Communities Initiative, which is designed to bring about more positive attitudes towards volunteering, locate volunteering at the heart of policy and to broaden the range and numbers of p…

13 Jun 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive when the report of the Expert Working Group on Nutritional Standards will be published.

Answer · Mary Mulligan: Subject to approval by the Scottish Cabinet, the Scottish Executive's Expert Panel on school meals will publish recommendations for consultation over the summer months.

6 Jun 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether there are any plans to amend legislation in order to provide a simpler mechanism to allow enforcement of correct use of parking bays for disabled people.

Answer · Lewis Macdonald: The Scottish Executive is participating in the review of the Blue Badge Scheme being conducted on behalf of all four UK administrations by the Department for Transport.<P>This review covers all aspects of the scheme including enforcement.

6 Jun 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether there is any duty on local authorities to enforce correct use of parking bays for disabled people.

Answer · Lewis Macdonald: Under the Road Traffic Regulation Act 1984, roads authorities have a general duty to secure the expeditious, convenient and safe movement of traffic. This general duty is met by the local authority making Traffic Regulation Orders (TROs) which can be introduc…

6 Jun 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive which local authorities enforce penalties on improper use of parking bays for disabled people.

Answer · Lewis Macdonald: This information is not held centrally.

6 Jun 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has received a report from the Scottish Higher Education Funding Council on contract research staff and, if so, what the key findings of the report are; what follow-up action is planned, and whether the report will be published.

Answer · Iain Gray: In the ministerial guidance to the Scottish Higher Education Funding Council (SHEFC) in December 2001, which applies to the year 2002-03, the council was asked to supply an annual report on the position with regard to information on contract research staff wi…

6 Jun 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, with regard to its news release SE5003/2001 of 10 December 2002, what difference the guidance to the Scottish Higher Education Funding Council on contract research staff and the #500,000 funding for human resource management have made.

Answer · Iain Gray: The Scottish Higher Education Funding Council (SHEFC) has allocated the £500,000 funding to assist with the implementation of the new condition of grant on human resource policies and management. This condition of grant covers the management of all staff, inc…

30 May 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what action it is taking to encourage an increase in the number of alternative format books available in public libraries for people with a visual impairment.

Answer · Elaine Murray: Statutory responsibility for local libraries lies with local authorities. Each local authority is responsible for determining the level of resources allocated for the library service which they provide for the residents of their area. This includes the purcha…

30 May 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether housing association tenants will still be liable for any rent arrears incurred during existing tenancy agreements when the new Scottish Secure Tenancy is implemented.

Answer · Margaret Curran: The interpretation of statute is a legal matter which is ultimately for the courts. However, it is the Executive's view that the implementation of the Scottish secure tenancy (converting existing tenancies to Scottish secure tenancies) will not of itself affe…

30 May 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what action it is taking to ensure that housing associations will be able to recover rent arrears from tenants once tenants have signed the new Scottish Secure Tenancy.

Answer · Margaret Curran: Rent arrears management is a matter for individual housing associations and the question of recoverability of rent arrears in any case will depend very much on the facts and circumstances of that case.

30 May 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what further action it is taking to address the mismatch effect as identified by Professor Arthur Midwinter in his report Grant Distribution and the Mismatch Effect: An Assessment of its Impact on Councils since Reorganisation.

Answer · Andy Kerr: I am due to meet with COSLA again next month to talk about the Spending Review and the distribution of resources for all local authorities. This will be the forum to discuss such matters. Any other meetings will be considered after my discussions with COSLA.

23 May 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how much money has been secured from non-Executive sources for participants in the Microcredit scheme since the programme was launched.

Answer · Iain Gray: This is a matter for Scottish Enterprise. The information requested is not held centrally.

23 May 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many prosecutions have been sought for the illegal killing of red kites in each of the last five years.

Answer · Colin Boyd: The information requested is not available