Parliamentary questions
Karen Whitefield
555 questions tabled in the Scottish Parliament, most recent first.
14 Apr 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what the installation rate under the central heating programme was in Lanarkshire in each year since 2004-05, broken down by postcode.
Answer · Alex Neil: The number of central heating systems installed, under the central heating programme, is held by main postcode area. The main postcode covering Lanarkshire is ML.</p> <p >The number of systems installed in the ML postcode area, since 2004-05 is shown in the …
26 Mar 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what was discussed in meetings between the Minister for Children and Early Years and the Commissioner for Children and Young People in Scotland since May 2007 in relation to looked-after and accommodated children.
Answer · Adam Ingram: The meeting on 4 September 2007 discussed a number of issues which impact on looked after children, including guidance on overnight stays, the independent historical abuse systemic review by Tom Shaw and the Joint Independent Inquiry on Kerelaw Residential Sc…
26 Mar 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive on what dates since May 2007 the Minister for Children and Early Years met the Commissioner for Children and Young People in Scotland to discuss looked-after and accommodated children.
Answer · Adam Ingram: I met with Scotland''s Commissioner for Children and Young People on 4 September 2007 and 5 June 2008 to discuss looked after children.</p>
26 Mar 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many times since May 2007 the Minister for Children and Early Years has met the Commissioner for Children and Young People in Scotland to discuss looked-after and accommodated children.
Answer · Adam Ingram: I have met Scotland''s Commissioner for Children and Young People on two occasions since May 2007 to discuss looked after children.</p>
26 Mar 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, in light of the publication by the Commissioner for Children and Young People in Scotland of Sweet 16? One Year On – Is Life Any Sweeter?, what steps it is taking to monitor the extent to which local authorities are meeting their obligations and duties as corporate parents.
Answer · Adam Ingram: Local authorities are subject to inspection and regulation which includes scrutiny of the extent to which they are meeting their obligations and duties towards looked-after children. A self-evaluation guide, <i >How Good a Corporate Parent Are You?</i> by HM …
26 Mar 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, in light of the publication by the Commissioner for Children and Young People in Scotland of Sweet 16? One Year On – Is Life Any Sweeter?, what steps it is taking to monitor delivery of the recommendations in the report, Sweet 16? The Age of Leaving Care in Scotland.
Answer · Adam Ingram: The Scottish Government is working with COSLA and local authorities to address the issues faced by young people leaving care. On 1 April 2009 we held, in partnership with the Scottish Throughcare and Aftercare Forum, a seminar for local authorities to examine…
26 Mar 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, in light of the publication by the Commissioner for Children and Young People in Scotland of Sweet 16? One Year On – Is Life Any Sweeter?, what steps it is taking to ensure that local authorities fulfil their statutory duties in relation to young people leaving care.
Answer · Adam Ingram: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-22339 on 20 April 2009. 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/Apps2/…
26 Mar 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, in light of the publication by the Commissioner for Children and Young People in Scotland of Sweet 16? One Year On – Is Life Any Sweeter?, what action it is taking to introduce a system of classification for hostels for homeless people that indicates their suitability for care leavers.
Answer · Alex Neil: The Support and Assistance of Young People Leaving Care (Scotland) Regulations 2003 and associated guidance are clear that a local authority providing accommodation for care leavers must ensure that this accommodation is suitable. The guidance is also clear t…
26 Mar 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, in light of the publication by the Commissioner for Children and Young People in Scotland of Sweet 16? One Year On – Is Life Any Sweeter?, what plans it has to add registered social landlords to the list of those required to co-operate with local authorities in discharging their responsi…
Answer · Adam Ingram: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-22337 on 20 April 2009. 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/Apps2/…
26 Mar 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, in light of the publication by the Commissioner for Children and Young People in Scotland of Sweet 16? One Year On – Is Life Any Sweeter?, what steps it is taking to prohibit the use of bed and breakfast accommodation for care leavers.
Answer · Alex Neil: The Scottish Government is discussing amendment of the Homeless Persons (Unsuitable Accommodation) (Scotland) Order 2004 with COSLA. The Order currently applies to homeless households containing pregnant women and/or children and sets standards for temporary …
24 Mar 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, with regard to priced option 23 of the extension of the ScotRail franchise, whether it has had to make any payments of a profit element consequential to paragraph 2.1 of the priced option.
Answer · Stewart Stevenson: No payments have been made to ScotRail as a consequence of paragraph 2.1 of priced option 23.</p>
24 Mar 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, with regard to priced option 23 of the extension of the ScotRail franchise, what the marginal additional costs of changing the branding to Scottish Rail have been since the extension of the ScotRail franchise.
Answer · Stewart Stevenson: A cost of £36,102 was incurred in the development work for the initial ScotRail branded train.</p> <p >The substantive work to implement the new brand across ScotRail trains and stations will take place during routine maintenance cycles, paid through existin…
23 Mar 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-21649 by Adam Ingram on 19 March 2009, which political party provides the leadership in each of the councils with which the Minister for Children and Early Years has had a meeting, excluding those to discuss Pathfinder Projects.
Answer · Adam Ingram: Information on the political control of Scottish local authorities is available on COSLA''s website, at: </p> <p ><a href="http://www.cosla.gov.uk/political_control.asp?leftId=10001AA3F-10766746&rightId=10001AA3F-11002366&hybrid=false">http://www.cos…
23 Mar 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-21649 by Adam Ingram on 19 March 2009, on what basis it was decided to meet the local authorities listed.
Answer · Adam Ingram: These meetings with local authorities were prompted by a range of issues of importance to the Scottish Government and the local authority involved.</p>
23 Mar 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-21649 by Adam Ingram on 19 March 2009, what topics were discussed by the Minister for Children and Early Years at each meeting with the listed local authorities.
Answer · Adam Ingram: At these meetings, issues of importance to the Scottish Government and the local authority were discussed.</p>
23 Mar 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-21648 by Adam Ingram on 19 March 2009, for what reasons the Cabinet Secretary for Education and Lifelong Learning considered it necessary to discuss child protection matters with Renfrewshire Council twice in a five-month period.
Answer · Adam Ingram: These meetings were in relation to national policy and local best practice.</p>
23 Mar 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-21648 by Adam Ingram on 19 March 2009, what topics were discussed by the Cabinet Secretary for Education and Lifelong Learning at each meeting with the listed local authorities.
Answer · Adam Ingram: At these meetings, issues of importance to the Scottish Government and the local authority were discussed.</p>
23 Mar 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-21648 by Adam Ingram on 19 March 2009, on what basis the Cabinet Secretary for Education and Lifelong Learning decided to meet each of the local authorities listed.
Answer · Adam Ingram: These meetings with local authorities were prompted by a range of issues of importance to the Scottish Government and the local authority involved.</p>
23 Mar 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive on what the dates the Cabinet Secretary for Education and Lifelong Learning has met officials from HM Inspectorate of Education other than HM Senior Chief Inspector of Education since May 2007 and what topics were discussed at each meeting.
Answer · Fiona Hyslop: I met with officials from HM Inspectorate of Education on 3 December 2008, 7 January 2009 and 5 February 2009 to discuss current educational issues and they have also been present at numerous wider meetings that have taken place periodically throughout the y…
23 Mar 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive on what dates the Cabinet Secretary for Education and Lifelong Learning has met HM Senior Chief Inspector of Education since May 2007 and what topics were discussed at each meeting.
Answer · Fiona Hyslop: I met with Graham Donaldson, HM Senior Chief Inspector on 28 June 2007, 8 September 2008, 29 October 2008, 10 December 2008, 7 January 2009 and 12 February 2009 to discuss current educational issues and he has also been present at numerous wider meetings tha…
23 Mar 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answers to questions S3W-21644, S3W-21645 and S3W-21648 by Adam Ingram on 19 March 2009, for what reasons the Minister for Children and Early Years answered questions about the diary commitments of the Cabinet Secretary for Education and Lifelong Learning.
Answer · Adam Ingram: I am the lead minister for child protection and therefore answered questions S3W-21644, S3W-21645 and S3W-21648.</p>
23 Mar 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive on what dates the Minister for Children and Early Years has met officials from HM Inspectorate of Education other than HM Senior Chief Inspector of Education since May 2007 and what topics were discussed at each meeting.
Answer · Adam Ingram: I have met with officials from HM Inspectorate of Education on 22 May 2008, 18 November 2008 and 7 January 2009 to discuss current educational issues and they have also been present at numerous meetings that have taken place periodically throughout the year.…
23 Mar 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive on what dates the Minister for Children and Early Years has met HM Senior Chief Inspector of Education since May 2007 and what topics were discussed at each meeting.
Answer · Adam Ingram: I have met with Graham Donaldson, HM Senior Chief Inspector on 22 September 2007, 22 May 2008, 18 November 2008 and 7 January 2009 to discuss current educational issues and he has also been present at numerous meetings that have taken place periodically thro…
23 Mar 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive on what dates the Minister for Children and Early Years has met officials from the Social Work Inspection Agency other than the chief executive since May 2007 and what topics were discussed at each meeting.
Answer · Adam Ingram: The Minister for Children and Early Years met formally with officials from the Social Work Inspection Agency (SWIA) on 23 October 2007 and 2 April 2009 to discuss current social work issues. He also met SWIA officials with others at various meetings and even…
23 Mar 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive on what dates the Minister for Children and Early Years has met the chief executive of the Social Work Inspection Agency since May 2007 and what topics were discussed at each meeting.
Answer · Adam Ingram: The Minister for Children and Early Years met formally with the Chief Executive of the Social Work Inspection Agency (SWIA) on 7 June 2007 to discuss current social work issues. The Minister also met formally with the Chief Executive and SWIA officials on 23 …
23 Mar 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-21643 by Adam Ingram on 16 March 2009, what groups of children form the proportion of the 40-60,000 who may be affected by parental drug misuse who are not among the 10-20,000 children who may be living with at least one parent with a drug misuse pro…
Answer · Adam Ingram: Where children are not living with a parent with a drug misuse problem “ for instance, because they are being looked after by a grandparent or other kinship carer, are in foster care or otherwise being looked after by their local authority “ they are not reco…
23 Mar 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-21643 by Adam Ingram on 16 March 2009, how it calculated the figure of 10-20,000 children who may be living with at least one parent with a drug misuse problem.
Answer · Adam Ingram: Estimates for numbers of children who may be living with at least one parent with a drug misuse problem in the UK Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs report <i >Hidden Harm</i> (2003) were based on work carried out by Glasgow University''s Centre for Drug…
23 Mar 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-21643 by Adam Ingram on 16 March 2009, how it calculated the figure of 40-60,000 children who may be affected by parental drug misuse.
Answer · Adam Ingram: Estimates for numbers of children who may be affected by parental drug misuse published in the UK Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs report <i >Hidden Harm</i> <i >(2003)</i> were based on work carried out by Glasgow University''s Centre for Drug Misuse …
23 Mar 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-21643 by Adam Ingram on 16 March 2009, what the source and dates are of the estimates provided.
Answer · Adam Ingram: Estimates for the numbers of children in Scotland who may be affected by parental drug misuse were published in the UK Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs report <i >Hidden Harm</i> <i >(2003).</i></p> <p >The estimate for children who may be affected by…
23 Mar 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many central heating systems have been installed under the central heating programme in each year of the programme, broken down by local authority area.
Answer · Alex Neil: Information is not held by local authority area.</p>