Parliamentary questions
Karen Whitefield
555 questions tabled in the Scottish Parliament, most recent first.
19 Sep 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to develop a system of registration for jobs for classroom assistants to raise standards and promote their education and training.
Answer · Maureen Watt: The suggestion thatthe General Teaching Council for Scotland (GTCS) should register classroomassistants was raised in the Equal Opportunities Commission’s report <i>ValuableAssets – a general formal investigation into the role and status of Classroom Assistan…
19 Sep 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it plans to support the development of a new support for learning higher national certificate to develop and promote the role and progression of classroom assistants.
Answer · Maureen Watt: The development ofa Support for Learning national qualification is one of the recommendations in theEqual Opportunities Commission’s (EOC) report into the role of classroomassistants. The Scottish Government has previously supported the development of the Pro…
19 Sep 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to establish a Scotland-wide training and qualifications framework to ensure a path of career development and progression for classroom assistants.
Answer · Maureen Watt: The question raisestwo issues which are contained in the recent Equal Opportunity Commission’s (EOC)report into the role of classroom assistants.</p><p>The Scottish Governmenthas previously published guidance for local authorities on the implementation ofclas…
19 Sep 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to develop a national framework of job roles to ensure proper recognition of the role and responsibilities of classroom assistants.
Answer · Maureen Watt: The developmentof job roles for classroom assistants is a matter for local authorities toconsider as employers.</p>
19 Sep 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, in light of the findings of the Equal Opportunities Commission’s report, Valuable Assets, what plans it has to encourage local authorities to revisit the job evaluation of classroom assistants’ roles and to carry out equal pay audits using a non-discriminatory job evaluation system.
Answer · Maureen Watt: Job evaluationand the determination of the pay and conditions of service of classroom assistantsare matters for local authorities to consider as employers.</p>
19 Sep 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, in light of the findings of the Equal Opportunities Commission’s report, Valuable Assets, how it plans to tackle the undervaluing of the work of classroom assistants in schools, particularly in respect of low pay.
Answer · Maureen Watt: Scottishministers hold all school support staff in the highest regard and value the importantcontribution they make towards the benefit of all children in schools. However,the pay and conditions of service of classroom assistants are matters for localauthorit…
17 Sep 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what consultation it has carried out with the people of Plains in relation to a new station at Plains on the Airdrie to Bathgate rail line.
Answer · Stewart Stevenson: In addition toconsultation with individual home owners and other landowners adjacent to theproposed line, Network Rail, the project promoters, held public meetings in Plainsin September 2005 and again in January 2006, prior to submission of the PrivateBill to…
17 Sep 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what studies it has carried out into the economic viability of a station at Plains on the new Airdrie to Bathgate rail line.
Answer · Stewart Stevenson: Work was carriedout on the economic viability of all proposed additional stations on theAirdrie to Bathgate Rail Link during the Initial Technical Feasibility Study in2004 and this work was taken forward into the 2006 Design DevelopmentAppraisal. Both these r…
17 Sep 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what studies it has carried out into the demand for a station at Plains on the new Airdrie to Bathgate rail line.
Answer · Stewart Stevenson: Work was carried outon the likely demand of all proposed additional stations on the Airdrie to BathgateRail Link during the Initial Technical Feasibility Study in 2004 and this work wastaken forward into the 2006 Design Development Appraisal. Both these repor…
17 Sep 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what studies it has carried out into the technical viability of a station at Plains on the new Airdrie to Bathgate rail line.
Answer · Stewart Stevenson: Provision of a stationat Plains was considered as part of the <i>Initial Technical</i> <i>FeasibilityReport</i> in 2004 and this work was taken forward into the Design Development Appraisalin 2006. A further feasibility study has recently been completed follo…
17 Sep 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what steps it is taking to deliver a station at Plains on the new Airdrie to Bathgate rail line, as committed to by the previous administration.
Answer · Stewart Stevenson: I understand thatthe commitment of the previous administration was to a feasibility study. I willbe writing to the convener of the Transport, Infrastructure and Climate Change committeeshortly, providing information from the feasibility study commissioned by …
17 Sep 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions it has had with North Lanarkshire Council regarding stations at Blackridge and Plains on the new Airdrie to Bathgate rail line.
Answer · Stewart Stevenson: Officials metwith North Lanarkshire Council on 20 September 2007 to discuss this issue. Discussions focussed on theoutput from the feasibility study on the provision of a station at Plains. Theissue of station provision is also covered at the regular meetings…
17 Sep 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions it has had with West Lothian Council regarding stations at Blackridge and Plains on the new Airdrie to Bathgate rail line.
Answer · Stewart Stevenson: Officials metWest Lothian Council officials on 9 August 2007 todiscuss this issue. Discussions focussed on cost, funding and construction ofBlackridge Station which the Scottish Government wishes to see delivered, atminimum cost to the public purse. The issue…
31 Aug 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has any plans to introduce a national landlord accreditation scheme, based on the Edinburgh Landlord Accreditation Scheme, to promote higher standards in private accommodation and, if so, whether it will provide financial incentives for landlords to opt into such a scheme.
Answer · Stewart Maxwell: I announced on 26 August 2007 that the Scottish Government will provide start-up fundingfor a National Private Landlord Accreditation Scheme to promote high standards inthe private rented sector.</p><p>The Scottish Governmentis currently seeking applications …
31 Aug 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has any plans to introduce a mandatory national tenant deposit scheme for private landlords and tenants, on similar lines to the scheme introduced in April 2007 in England and Wales.
Answer · Stewart Maxwell: Provisions in theHousing (Scotland) Act 2006 give ministers the power to introduce a mandatorytenancy deposit scheme in Scotland. A working group of stakeholdersrepresenting the interests of private landlords and tenants has agreed thatfurther work should be …
31 Aug 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will introduce a rebate on visa fees for international students to attract them to study in Scotland.
Answer · Fiona Hyslop: This is currentlya reserved matter for the UK Government.</p>
31 Aug 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, in light of its decision to abolish the graduate endowment scheme, how it will fund university access funds and whether it will ensure that the level of funding is maintained in line with student numbers and inflation.
Answer · Fiona Hyslop: Access funds in highereducation are now known as Discretionary Funds, and are funds intended to providenon-repayable assistance for students in financial difficulties in order for themto access and/or continue in higher education and are paid in addition to a…
23 Aug 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it plans to place any trading restrictions on shops and retail establishments in order to preserve the special nature and status of the New Year’s Day holiday in Scotland.
Answer · Kenny MacAskill: The Scottish Executivehas no plans to introduce restrictions on trading on New Year’s Day.</p>
23 Aug 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how it will assess any evidence that shopworkers are being required to work on New Year’s Day.
Answer · Kenny MacAskill: The Scottish Executivehas no plans to make an assessment of shop working on New Year’s Day.</p>
23 Aug 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how it now intends to assess the economic impact, and the impact on family life, of large shops opening on New Year’s Day.
Answer · Kenny MacAskill: The Scottish Executivehas no plans to assess the economic impact and the impact on family life of largeshops opening on New Year’s Day.</p>
23 Aug 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether any consultations took place with interested parties regarding the decision not to proceed with the research study on New Year’s Day trading and, if they did, when, where and how they took place.
Answer · Kenny MacAskill: No consultations tookplace regarding the Scottish Executive’s decision. The views of interested partieswere evident throughout discussion of the Christmas Day and New Year’s Day Trading(Scotland) Bill.</p>
23 Aug 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, in light of its decision not to proceed with research into the impact of New Year’s Day trading on the Scottish economy, how often the working group established to commission the research met prior to this decision and who attended any meetings.
Answer · Kenny MacAskill: No working group tocommission research into the impact of New Year’s Day was established.</p>
21 Aug 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what percentage of custodial sentences it expects to shift towards community based non-custodial sentences; what the annual cost will be of any increase in the number of community based sentences; what the savings in terms of reduced prison costs will be from any increase in the number of…
Answer · Kenny MacAskill: It is a matter forthe judge in each particular case to consider the appropriate sentence, having regardto the nature of the offence, the offender and any other relevant circumstances.It is for the Scottish Government to ensure that the courts have a good rang…
21 Aug 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive when it plans to introduce the new grant to enable Scottish artists to reclaim the cost of tax paid on work they have sold, as outlined in the 2007 SNP manifesto; how many artists will benefit from this grant, and how much this new grant will cost each year.
Answer · Linda Fabiani: The schemereferred to continues to be developed. An announcement will be made in duecourse about the detailed arrangements involved in its implementation.</p>
21 Aug 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how it plans to reduce bureaucracy and any over-assessment within the education system.
Answer · Maureen Watt: This government recognisesthat, over a number of years, some teachers and parents have expressed concern aboutthe level of pressure which they feel that staff and pupils are under to provideperformance information and measures of attainment for accountability…
21 Aug 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to transfer the functions of Communities Scotland to local authorities and, in particular, which functions will be transferred, when these functions will be transferred and whether appropriate funding will be transferred to local authorities along with these functions.
Answer · Stewart Maxwell: I refer the memberto the answer to question S3W-125 on 7 June 2007. All answers to written parliamentary questions are availableon the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at <ahref="http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/wa.sear…
21 Aug 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to enhance the powers of community councils.
Answer · John Swinney: We have begunconsulting stakeholders, through the Community Council Working Group, ondeveloping the role of community councils. This will include identifying pilotsfor supporting community councils to play a greater role in Community Planningand also for allo…
21 Aug 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to devolve budgets from local authorities to community level.
Answer · John Swinney: We have begunconsulting stakeholders, through the Community Council Working Group, ondeveloping the role of community councils as an existing statutoryrepresentative body at community level. This includes identifying pilots for supportingcommunity councils in…
21 Aug 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to devolve power from local authorities to community level.
Answer · John Swinney: We have begunconsulting stakeholders, through the Community Council Working Group, ondeveloping the role of community councils as an existing, statutory,representative body at community level. This includes inviting the group to considerdefining some potentia…
21 Aug 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what steps it is taking to improve the provision of community based sports facilities.
Answer · Stewart Maxwell: I refer the memberto the answer to question S3W-2256 on 1 August 2007. All answers to written parliamentary questions are availableon the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at <ahref="http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/wa.s…