Karen Whitefield

14 Jun 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will list all medical specialisms offered in the accident and emergency department at Monklands Hospital on 6 June 2007.

Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: This is a matterfor NHS Lanarkshire.</p>

10 Jan 2007 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what steps it is taking to ensure that there is disabled access at all railway stations.

Answer · Tavish Scott: This is a reserved matter.</p><p>However, through the Access forAll Programme we are providing up to £12 million over the next three years, forNetwork Rail to improve access at stations. I have also recently announced £9.4million for station improvements incl…

14 Nov 2006 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what steps are being taken to help people who are currently waiting for central heating systems and Warm Deal measures.

Answer · Malcolm Chisholm: To address the continuing highdemand for the Executive’s successful central heating and Warm Deal Programmes weare allocating an additional £5 million, between now and the end of this financialyear to help an additional 5,000 householders who are currently wa…

6 Nov 2006 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has decided what action it will take to address the issue of trustee remuneration and the provision of trustee indemnity insurance under the Charities and Trustee Investment (Scotland) Act 2005.

Answer · Johann Lamont: Following consideration of theissue, it is clear that the restrictions the 2005 act places on the provision oftrustee indemnity insurance are the cause of considerable concern within the charitysector. The issue of the provision of trustee indemnity insurance…

28 Sep 2006 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will list the voluntary organisations to which it has allocated (a) direct grants, indicating the amount awarded and (b) indirect grants, indicating the amount offered in each case in 2006-07.

Answer · Johann Lamont: I have today arranged for therelease of a spreadsheet detailing direct and indirect grants to voluntary organisationsin 2006&#8209;07. In 2006&#8209;07 the Executive will be providing £517 milliondirectly and £160 million indirectly - £677 million in total - …

26 Sep 2006 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what information it has on the total amount spent by Scottish households on (a) gas and (b) electricity in the most recent year for which information is available.

Answer · Malcolm Chisholm: The information requested isnot held centrally. Statistics are available from the Department for Trade and Industryon total energy consumption by domestic users separately for gas and electricity.These are available, together with information on their derivat…

26 Sep 2006 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what proportion of Warm Deal insulation grants have been given to households with children in each year since the inception of the initiative and how many of these households were removed from fuel poverty as a result.

Answer · Johann Lamont: I have asked Angiolina Foster, Chief Executive of Communities Scotland to respond. Her response is asfollows:</p><p>Since 2001, the proportionof grants provided under the Warm Deal Programme to households with children, isas shown in the table below. This rel…

26 Sep 2006 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many central heating systems provided under its heating programmes have been installed in households with children in each year since the inception of the programmes and how many of these households were removed from fuel poverty as a result.

Answer · Johann Lamont: I have asked Angiolina Foster, Chief Executive of Communities Scotland to respond. Her response is asfollows:</p><p>Since 2001, the number ofhouseholds with children in local authority and housing association properties,which received central heating systems,…

26 Sep 2006 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive by how much income levels for the lowest income groups have changed in each of the last five years.

Answer · Malcolm Chisholm: Please refer to the tables inthe answer to question S2W-28661 on 24 October 2006,for estimates and levels of change in Scotland’s (equivalised net disposable household) income for thelowest groups over the last five years.</p><p>All answers to writtenparliame…

26 Sep 2006 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive by how much average income levels in Scotland have changed in each of the last five years.

Answer · Malcolm Chisholm: The following income estimatesare based on the Family Resources Survey. As such, year-on-year changes should betreated with caution due to sampling variation. Identification of trends must bebased on data for several years. The Scottish Executive has funded a…

26 Sep 2006 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what information it has on what proportion of homes are heated by (a) gas and (b) electricity.

Answer · Malcolm Chisholm: The Continuous Scottish HouseCondition Survey collects information on the primary heating fuel of occupied dwellings.</p><p>For the year October 2003 toSeptember 2004, the survey estimate is that in 74% of homes gas was the main heatingfuel and in 18% of home…

14 Jul 2006 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive when it will announce the outcome of its consultation on the local tax liability of residents in shared accommodation and in receipt of a housing support service.

Answer · Tom McCabe: I am pleased to inform the Parliament that we have asked all Scottish local authorities to work with us toensure that individuals in receipt of a housing support service and residing incertain defined shared accommodation are granted either a refund of all co…

19 Jun 2006 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what further changes it will make to the warm deal programme.

Answer · Malcolm Chisholm: From January 2007 eligibilityfor the Warm Deal will be expanded to include households with a child in receiptof Disability Living Allowance.</p><p>In addition, we are working withCOSLA and the Scottish Federation of Housing Associations to have Warm Deal inst…

14 Jun 2006 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what steps it is taking to improve the learning environment for schoolchildren.

Answer · Peter Peacock: We are engaged in the biggestnew school building and refurbishment programme in modern times, in expanding thenumbers of teachers and support staff for teachers, and in creating more learningopportunities choices for pupils through curriculum reform. All thes…

7 Jun 2006 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what information it has on when the revised Civil Service Code, on which the First Civil Service Commissioner and UK Cabinet Secretary consulted earlier this year, including a version relevant to staff employed by the Executive and its agencies, will be published.

Answer · Tom McCabe: The revised <i>Civil ServiceCode</i> has now been published.</p><p>The revised code maintains thecore values of the Civil Service - integrity, honesty, objectivity and impartiality– but updates the language of the code to be clearer and more relevant to the w…

13 Mar 2006 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what the future is of its central heating programmes.

Answer · Malcolm Chisholm: Both programmes will continue beyond 2006. From 1 January next year, the central heating programme will be widened so that pensioners in receipt of the guarantee element of Pension Credit will be able to get upgrades if they currently have a central heating s…

22 Feb 2006 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what progress is being made in the design of the footbridge at Harthill service station.

Answer · Tavish Scott: Consultantshave prepared several design options with cost estimates for the new footbridge.Their report was received yesterday in Transport Scotland and I will consider how this should be taken forward after receivingmy engineer’s advice.</p>

16 Dec 2005 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive when it intends to publish an analysis of comments received in response to the White Paper, Modernising the Planning System.

Answer · Malcolm Chisholm: When the white paper was issued in June, we undertook to publish an analysis report of comments received by 16 September. Some 358 comments were received and an analysis report has been prepared by an independent consultant. I am happy to announce the publica…

14 Dec 2005 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what action it is taking to ensure that young people contribute to ensuring the sustainability of the environment for future generations.

Answer · Rhona Brankin: <i>Choosing Our Future – Scotland’s Sustainable Development Strategy</i> sets out how we intend to ensure that young people are equipped with the skills and knowledge to make informed, sustainable choices. Examples of action include our commitment to increasi…

11 Oct 2005 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether there are any surgeons in Scotland who are trained, or are training, to carry out hip and knee replacement procedures by minimally invasive surgery.

Answer · Andy Kerr: Information on staff in post in NHS Scotland is published on the Scottish Health Statistics website under Workforce Statistics, at <b><a href="http://www.isdscotland.org/workforce">www.isdscotland.org/workforce</a></b>.</p> <p>Section B gives details of medic…

7 Jul 2005 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it plans to reimburse the residents of Abbeyfield Homes for council tax they have paid since April 2005.

Answer · George Lyon: Local authorities have no powers to backdate council tax discount entitlement retrospectively.</p>

7 Jul 2005 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive when it expects to reach a conclusion on whether or not the residents of Abbeyfield Homes should be required to pay council tax for their individual rooms.

Answer · George Lyon: Responses to the consultation paper issued on 14 July 2005 have been requested by 2 September. Once we have analysed those responses, we will seek to reach a conclusion as early as possible.</p>

7 Jul 2005 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many people living in Abbeyfield Homes have been required to pay council tax since the start of 2005-06 as a result of the implementation of an amendment to the Local Government Finance Act 1992.

Answer · George Lyon: This information is not held centrally.</p>

7 Jul 2005 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what progress is being made in respect of the consultation process in relation to council tax levels for people living in Abbeyfield Homes following an amendment to the Local Government Finance Act 1992.

Answer · George Lyon: A consultation paper, titled <i>Local Tax Liability of Residents in Housing Support Accommodation</i>, was issued on 14 July 2005. Copies have been sent to interested organisations (including Abbeyfield Homes) and individuals. The closing date for responses i…

28 Jun 2005 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive when it will publish its consultation paper on the recommendations of Phase II of the adoption policy review.

Answer · Peter Peacock: I am pleased to announce that we are today publishing our detailed response to the report of the second phase of the adoption policy review, which was published on 10 June 2005.</p> <p>The Executive accepts almost all of the report’s recommendations, and stro…

14 Jun 2005 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has any plans for considering the location of Communities Scotland.

Answer · Malcolm Chisholm: Communities Scotland is a key delivery arm of the Executive and its recently published Corporate Plan sets out the vital role that it has in delivering our housing and regeneration policies.</p> <p>Communities Scotland has about 500 staff working from eight l…

20 Apr 2005 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what steps it is taking to support people moving from long-stay mental health hospitals into the community.

Answer · Rhona Brankin: We are working with the agencies to provide comprehensive single shared assessments of need are applied in each case to identify the supports and services necessary to maintain the individual successfully in a community setting. This will include an assessmen…

14 Mar 2005 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what action it is taking to support financial education.

Answer · Malcolm Chisholm: As part of our Closing the Opportunity Gap commitment to tackling financial exclusion and as highlighted in our recent Financial Inclusion Action Plan, we are committed to working at ways of increasing individuals’ levels of financial literacy. We are explori…

3 Mar 2005 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive when it plans to publish revised arrangements for the governance of the Scottish Prison Service.

Answer · Cathy Jamieson: I have today published a new framework document for the improved governance, operation and accountability of the Scottish Prison Service (SPS).</p><p>Copies of the Scottish Prison Service framework document have been placed in the Parliament’s Reference Centr…

18 Feb 2005 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what proposals the Scottish Law Commission has for future law reform projects.

Answer · Cathy Jamieson: I have recently agreed with the Scottish Law Commission its Seventh Programme of Law Reform. This was presented to Parliament and published today. Copies will be placed in the Parliament’s Reference Centre (Bib. number 35282). The new programme, which consoli…