Parliamentary questions

Karen Gillon

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

15 Mar 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what it is doing to ensure that Amey will act in accordance with the Statement of Practice on Staff Transfers in the Public Sector, particularly in relation to the protection of occupational pensions of staff who are transferring employers, following the recent tendering process for the …

Answer · Sarah Boyack: I refer the member to the answer given on 22 March to question S1O-3171 and the supplementary questions.

15 Feb 2001 · Written Question

Answer · Sam Galbraith: The grants made by The Scottish Executive to industrial museums are set out in the following table:<TABLE BORDER CELLSPACING=1 CELLPADDING=7 WIDTH=609><TR><TD WIDTH="24%" VALIGN="TOP">Museum</TD><TD WIDTH="25%" VALIGN="TOP">1998-99</TD><T…

5 Feb 2001 · First Minister's Question

To ask the First Minister how the Scottish Executive plans to make Scotland more attractive as a venue for major sporting events.

Answer · Henry McLeish: Our bid for the Ryder Cup has been based on a partnership between the Executive its agencies and the private sector. We shall build on that experience in developing our wider strategy for major events in the course of this year.

31 Jan 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive when the Minister for Education, Europe and External Affairs will make his first report to the Parliament on the Scottish Qualifications Authority's progress in delivering the Diet of examinations for 2001.

Answer · Jack McConnell: I have today written to the Convenor of the Education, Culture and Sport Committee enclosing the Executive's first report on progress towards implementing the actions agreed following the publication of the Deloitte Touche report on 3 November 2000. Copies ha…

15 Jan 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-11436 by Mr Jack McConnell on 22 November 2000, whether the Scottish Qualifications Authority has completed its review of markers' fees and what decisions have been taken on the fees for 2001 and subsequent exam diets.

Answer · Jack McConnell: The SQA has now recommended to me a 50% increase in fees for its markers, members of examining teams, moderators and other appointees for 2001. I have agreed that the Executive will fund this increase in full.In addition, I am setting up an in-depth review…

10 Jan 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what support is being provided to the workforce of DAKS Simpson in Larkhall following recent redundancies.

Answer · Wendy Alexander: A response team comprising local public agencies has been formed under the Scottish Executive's Partnership Action for Continuing Employment (PACE) initiative. All those affected by this announcement will be offered support to help find new employment. The Sc…

10 Jan 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive when it expects a decision to be made on the extension of rail services to Larkhall.

Answer · Sarah Boyack: I refer the member to the answer given to question S1W-9959 on 9 October 2000.

19 Dec 2000 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has any plans to extend regulation beyond the scope announced in Regulation of Early Education and Childcare - The Way Ahead.

Answer · Nicol Stephen: In the paper Regulation of Early Education and Childcare - The Way Ahead, published in May, we proposed that regulation involving examination of the quality of care should extend to care for children of primary school age, rather than being limited to …

15 Sep 2000 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how the new money it will receive as a result of the decision by Her Majesty's Treasury regarding the status of London Transport will be spent.

Answer · Jack McConnell: This new money will contribute to the record level of spending in Scotland in 2001-02, 2002-03 and 2003-04 and will support a range of new initiatives in transport and other areas.

11 Sep 2000 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what action is being taken to ensure that catering establishments comply with health and safety regulations.

Answer · Susan Deacon: The Scottish Executive has no functions in relation to health and safety regulations. This is a matter for the Health and Safety Executive.

24 Aug 2000 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what progress has been made with providing the Scottish Environment Protection Agency with the additional regulatory powers for any necessary strengthening of existing water pollution control legislation as identified in the report Improving Scotland's Water Environment which the Minister…

Answer · Sarah Boyack: I am determined to reduce water pollution. The environmental quality of Scotland's waters is generally very good, but there are some significant problems, for example in some bathing waters. We need to ensure that SEPA has the tools to tackle those.<P ALIGN="…

21 Aug 2000 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what the position is with respect to designations under the Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive in Scotland.

Answer · Sarah Boyack: The Scottish Executive has decided to withdraw the designation of 9 High Natural Dispersion Areas around the Scottish Coast, as set out in the table below. This means that Water Authorities will provide secondary treatment at all discharges to coastal waters …

11 Aug 2000 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what measures are in place to tackle cruelty to children.

Answer · Peter Peacock: Local authorities have a duty under the Children (Scotland) Act 1995 to promote and safeguard the welfare of children in need. Responsibility is exercised through the provision of appropriate services and, if necessary, by applying to the court for orders to …

11 Aug 2000 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how it intends to respond to Lord MacFadyen's judgement in the case of County Properties Ltd against the Scottish Ministers.

Answer · Sarah Boyack: We have today intimated our intention to appeal the case.

9 Aug 2000 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether rural communities have any difficulties accessing emergency services and what action it is taking to address any such problems.

Answer · Angus MacKay: Emergency services are available in all parts of Scotland, but attendance times are inevitably longer in more rural areas. The emergency services keep these matters under constant review.

4 Aug 2000 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what support it has provided to credit unions in the past year and what plans it has to promote them in the future.

Answer · Wendy Alexander: The Scottish Executive has supported moves to establish a central support organisation for credit unions as recommended in the Treasury Taskforce report. The Executive has contributed to a programme to design and deliver health checks for credit unions in Sco…

3 Aug 2000 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what measures it is taking to promote blood donation.

Answer · Susan Deacon: I refer to the answer given to S1O-509.The Scottish National Blood Transfusion Service launched a successful new campaign earlier this summer to encourage donors to boost donation over the holiday period.1999-2000 saw an …

3 Aug 2000 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what measures are in place to support families of the victims of violent crime.

Answer · Jim Wallace: Victim Support Scotland is funded by the Scottish Executive to provide emotional and practical help to victims of crime, including violent crime. In serious crimes of violence that support often extends to the family of the victim. In addition, the Support Af…

27 Jul 2000 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what the position is regarding implementation of EC Directive 97/52 relating to public contracts.

Answer · Jack McConnell: This particular directive, which predates devolution, makes relatively minor technical amendments to existing directives on public procurement which have already been given effect in UK law. Separate implementation for Scotland would simply create two sets of…

25 Jul 2000 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what guidelines are currently in place relating to school visits to working farms.

Answer · Sam Galbraith: Guidelines detailing the precautions that should be taken when visiting farms and a leaflet for teachers Health Tips for Teachers Leading School Trips to Farms were issued to Directors of Education for distribution to schools on 28 April 2000.

25 Jul 2000 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to raise public awareness of epilepsy and issues relating to the condition.

Answer · Susan Deacon: The Executive provides grant funding under both Section 16B of the NHS (Scotland) Act and Section 10 of the Social Work (Scotland) Act to the Epilepsy Association of Scotland, which works very effectively to keep epilepsy issues in the public eye.

24 Jul 2000 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive when it will respond to the report from the Committee on Medical Aspects of Food and Nutrition Policy which concluded that all flour should be fortified with folic acid to prevent neural tube defects.

Answer · Susan Deacon: The UK Health Departments and the Food Standards Agency have today published a joint public consultation document on this issue. The consultation period runs until 31 October. The document has been placed in SPICe and on the websites of the Health Departments…

21 Jul 2000 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many voluntary sector projects operating in Clydesdale will benefit from a share of the #8 million announced on 19 July 2000 under the vulnerable projects scheme.

Answer · Jack McConnell: The database of organisations in receipt of assistance under the Vulnerable Projects Scheme is not categorised by the parliamentary constituency within which such organisations operate.A full list of organisations to benefit will be provide…

11 Jul 2000 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive when it proposes to make regulations to introduce a system of tagging of sheep and goats in Scotland.

Answer · Ross Finnie: A number of detailed procedural questions have arisen in relation to the construction of the Scottish legislation to introduce tagging of sheep and goats. These have now been resolved and I can announce that the draft Scottish legislation, which will be simil…

7 Jul 2000 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many young people in Clydesdale have found work through the New Deal since its introduction.

Answer · Henry McLeish: Employment Policy is reserved to the UK Government which therefore takes the lead on the funding and delivery of New Deal throughout Great Britain, although in close consultation with its partners, including the Scottish Executive.442 young…

7 Jul 2000 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-5956 by Sarah Boyack on 22 May 2000, when it will bring forward the Dissolution Order to wind up the Scottish Transport Group and allow the surplus in its pension scheme to be paid out.

Answer · Sarah Boyack: I refer Karen Gillon to the answer I gave to question S1W-6117 on 26 June 2000.

6 Jul 2000 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what measures it is introducing to take preventative action in respect of childhood autistic spectrum disorders.

Answer · Sam Galbraith: There are no primary prevention measures at present because the origins and causes of autism are not fully understood. There is no known risk factor which could prevent an individual being affected if it was identified and remedied. In terms of secondary prev…

5 Jul 2000 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what progress has been made with its policy on the location and relocation of public service jobs in Scotland.

Answer · Jack McConnell: We have already announced the establishment of the Food Standards Agency in Aberdeen, and have completed the relocation of the Enterprise and Lifelong Learning Department of the Scottish Executive to Glasgow. The First Minister's Answer of 15 September 1999 (…

5 Jul 2000 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-5363 by Mr Sam Galbraith on 29 March 2000, whether it will provide details of the review of the first year of Higher Still implementation.

Answer · Sam Galbraith: Henry McLeish and I have decided that this review should cover the impact of Higher Still on teaching and learning, on the curriculum, the workloads of teaching staff and students, assessment - both internal and external - and staff development and other supp…

4 Jul 2000 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, with reference to Making it Work Together: A Programme for Government, whether it will detail its commitments relating to (a) the independent inspection of care services, (b) establishing a new independent regulatory body to ensure high quality care for children and (c) establishing a Sc…

Answer · Susan Deacon: We are today publishing a policy position paper entitled The Way Forward for Care. This sets out our proposals for modernising the regulation of care services and early education and ensuring that we have a confident and competent social services workf…