Parliamentary questions

Linda Fabiani

2,507 questions tabled in the Scottish Parliament, most recent first.

21 Sep 2006 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what guidance it has issued to local authorities in relation to treatment of asylum seekers under the Mental Health (Care and Treatment) (Scotland) Act 2003.

Answer · Lewis Macdonald: The Scottish Executive has notissued guidance on the treatment of asylum seekers under the Mental Health (Careand Treatment) (Scotland) Act 2003.

21 Sep 2006 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what powers local authorities have to assist asylum seekers who have been assessed as having mental health problems under the terms of the Mental Health (Care and Treatment) (Scotland) Act 2003.

Answer · Lewis Macdonald: Local authorities generally havethe same powers to assist asylum seekers under the 2003 act as they do to assistany other person under the act. Local authorities have a number of functions inrelation to persons who are not in hospital and who have or have had…

21 Sep 2006 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what information it has on whether Home Office procedures in respect of the treatment of asylum seekers who have been assessed as having mental health problems ensure compliance with the Mental Health (Care and Treatment) (Scotland) Act 2003.

Answer · Lewis Macdonald: In general all patients in Scotland willhave access to mental health services under the 2003 act. The Scottish Executivehas no specific obligations towards asylum seekers under the 2003 act. The HomeOffice has an interest in relation to asylum seekers and oth…

21 Sep 2006 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it advocates the concept of a lead professional to help provide services for asylum seekers who have been assessed as requiring care under the Mental Health (Care and Treatment) (Scotland) Act 2003.

Answer · Lewis Macdonald: The Scottish Executive expects NHS boards and partners to plan and arrangeservices that meet the needs of asylum seekers. We have not issued guidance on whetherthey should appoint a lead professional for asylum seekers.

21 Sep 2006 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what enquiries it is making into the circumstances surrounding the suicide of Zamira Sadigova.

Answer · Malcolm Chisholm: The Scottish Executive is notcurrently making enquiries into this individual case. The Mental Welfare Commissionhas powers to investigate individual cases if they have concerns about the careand treatment received.

21 Sep 2006 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what benefits have accrued to Scotland from the sister state agreement signed with the Australian state of Victoria and what benefits it expects will accrue.

Answer · Tom McCabe: The Scottish Executive and theState of Victoria are currently developing an action plan for co-operation over a numberof initiatives in areas such as health and life sciences. There has already beenvaluable co-operation over Glasgow’s 2014 Commonwealth Games …

21 Sep 2006 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how successful Scottish Development International has been in creating business links between Scotland and Australia.

Answer · Nicol Stephen: Scottish Development International(SDI) is currently engaging with major Australian companies at executive level toexplore opportunities for investment in Scotland.Recent successes include theappointment of John Stewart, Managing Director and Group Chi…

21 Sep 2006 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how successful Scottish Development International has been in attracting inward investment from Australia.

Answer · Nicol Stephen: Scottish Development International’s(SDI’s) focus is on areas that offer the best potential and we intend to targetthe larger companies in the life sciences, energy, financial and related servicesand micro and opto electronics sectors. We are currently workin…

21 Sep 2006 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what links it has with the Scots Australian Council and how it intends to develop these links.

Answer · Tom McCabe: The Scottish Executive engageswith the Scottish Diaspora to further Scotland’s interests for the long-term benefit of our economyand society. We aim to encourage the diaspora’sactive participation and engagement in promoting Scotland as a great country tovisi…

21 Sep 2006 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what steps it has taken, and intends to take, to encourage the Scottish diaspora in Australia to invest in the Scottish economy.

21 Sep 2006 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how it intends to encourage the Scottish diaspora in Australia to contribute to reducing the skills shortage in Scotland.

Answer · Tom McCabe: The Scottish Executive engageswith the Scottish diaspora to further Scotland’s interests for the long-term benefitof our economy and society. We aim to encouragethe diaspora’s active participation and engagement in promoting Scotland as a greatcountry to visi…

21 Sep 2006 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how it intends to encourage the Scottish diaspora in Australia to return to Scotland to live and to help reverse the population decline.

21 Sep 2006 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what business links it has promoted with Australia and the Australian states and what steps it will take to enhance these links.

Answer · Nicol Stephen: The Scottish Executive, throughits trade and investment arm Scottish Development International (SDI), has beeninvolved in a number of marketing activities to promote business links. These includeattendance at AusBiotech 2005, the main conference and exhibitio…

21 Sep 2006 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what monies are spent abroad on advertising Scotland as a place to invest.

Answer · Nicol Stephen: The Scottish Executive, throughits trade and investment arm, Scottish Development International (SDI), plans tospend £225,000 abroad in 2006-07 on advertising Scotland as a place in which andwith which to do business.SDI’s total overseas marketingbudge…

21 Sep 2006 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what steps it is taking to promote investment opportunities in Scotland to businesses in Australia.

Answer · Nicol Stephen: The Scottish Executive, throughits trade and investment arm Scottish Development International (SDI), has had part-timerepresentation in Australia since 2003.In January 2006 SDI appointeda full-time country manager for Australia and New Zealand to incr…

21 Sep 2006 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how it ensures that part-time staff in the public sector receive appropriate training for their continuing professional development.

Answer · Tom McCabe: Part-time workers are protectedagainst discrimination by the Part Time Workers (Prevention of Less Favourable Treatment)Regulations 2000. Under the regulations part-time workers are entitled to receivethe same access to training and development opportunities …

21 Sep 2006 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what action it takes to encourage fair trade for Scottish producers.

Answer · Ross Finnie: When I meet the majorretailers, I emphasise how seriously the Executive views the importance ofmaintaining a sustainable food chain with healthy trading relationships betweensuppliers and retailers. I also recommended that the Competition Commission’scurrent …

21 Sep 2006 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what action it takes to protect the cultural heritage of indigenous crafts within the global market place.

Answer · Patricia Ferguson: Support for craft sectorbusinesses is available as part of the generic business support programmesprovided by the enterprise networks and Scottish Development International.

21 Sep 2006 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what action it takes to encourage the maintenance and future sustainability of indigenous crafts.

Answer · Patricia Ferguson: The Scottish Arts Council (SAC)supports many traditional craft makers and organisations. Indigenous craft makersare also supported through wider crafts initiatives such as the web promotion toolwww.craftscotland.org. This web resource, initiated by SAC as par…

21 Sep 2006 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what action it takes to protect the cultural heritage of indigenous crafts within the global market place.

Answer · Patricia Ferguson: The protection of intellectualproperty rights (IPR) in overseas markets is a matter for the IPR owner.

21 Sep 2006 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what action it takes to protect the cultural heritage in relation to indigenous crafts.

Answer · Patricia Ferguson: The Scottish Arts Council andthe National Museums of Scotland (NMS), both non-departmental public bodiessponsored by the Scottish Executive, are currently preparing an exhibition of contemporaryScottish crafts, Cutting Edge, which will run from February to…

20 Sep 2006 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what impact the new funding arrangements for Scottish Enterprise have had on potential integration of refugees through enterprise.

Answer · Nicol Stephen: There are no new fundingarrangements for Scottish Enterprise. Scottish Enterprise producedan operating plan that outlines its spending plans and operational activities forthe current financial year. A copy of the plan can be viewed on the S…

20 Sep 2006 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what steps it is taking to support migrant workers working in Scotland on contracts of less than one year in opening accounts with Scottish banks.

Answer · Nicol Stephen: The Scottish Executive offersa range of support to migrant workers in Scotland. This includes workers’ information guides in Polishand English, which reflects the fact that over 65% of workers from the new accessionstates are Polish. The guide is available on…

20 Sep 2006 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what barriers to progress are encountered by refugees and migrants who wish to start new businesses.

Answer · Nicol Stephen: Assessment of the barriers tobusiness start-up, and the mechanisms to addressing these constraints, is an operationalmatter for the Enterprise Networks.

20 Sep 2006 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what steps it is taking to support refugees and migrants who wish to start new businesses but are unable to access start-up funding from banks and other lending institutions.

Answer · Nicol Stephen: Responsibility for assistingindividuals wishing to start a new business rests with Scottish Enterprise and Highlands andIslands Enterprise. In the Scottish Enterprise area, Business Gateway can provideaccess to information and advice, including on aspects rel…

20 Sep 2006 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what assistance it gives to promote new business start-ups by immigrants from the EU accession states.

Answer · Nicol Stephen: I refer the member to the answer to question S2W-28516 on 4 October 2006. All answers to writtenparliamentary questions are available on the Parliaments website, the search facilityfor which can be found at <ahref="http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/wa.…

20 Sep 2006 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what funding it has committed to the promotion of business creation in the refugee community in each year since 1999.

Answer · Nicol Stephen: Scottish Enterprise andHighlands and Islands Enterprise undertake promotion events to encourage individualsto start-up in business. Details on the funding spent on this activity is an operationalissue for the Enterprise Networks.

20 Sep 2006 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what assistance it gives to promote new business start-ups in the refugee community.

Answer · Nicol Stephen: The promotion of new businessstart-ups in Scotland is an operational matter for the Enterprise Networks.

20 Sep 2006 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what consideration has been given to entrepreneurship among refugees when compiling the Scottish Refugee Integration Forum action plan.

Answer · Malcolm Chisholm: Six themed sub-groups contributedto the development of the Scottish Refugee Integration Forum (SRIF) action planincluding New Roots Scotland, a partnership of organisations involved in the economicintegration of refugees. New Roots Scotland considered a range…

20 Sep 2006 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S2W-27024 by Malcolm Chisholm on 17 July 2006, when it will publish the results of the review of the action plan for race equality in Scotland, incorporating the revised Scottish Refugee Integration Forum action plan.

Answer · Malcolm Chisholm: The Scottish Executive’s nationalstrategy and action plan for race equality in Scotland is due to be publishedin November 2006.