Parliamentary questions
Linda Fabiani
2,507 questions tabled in the Scottish Parliament, most recent first.
14 Mar 2006 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many police hours have been freed up so far as a result of the operation of the Reliance contract.
Answer · Cathy Jamieson: This information is not heldcentrally. The deployment of police officers is an operational matter forindividual chief constables.</p>
14 Mar 2006 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what percentage of officers at each rank within (a) each police force and (b) the Scottish Drug Enforcement Agency have been female in each of the last 10 years.
Answer · Cathy Jamieson: The information requested isshown in the following tables.</p><p>Percentage of Female Police Officersby Rank</p><p>Central Scotland Police</p><table border=1 cellspacing=0 cellpadding=3> <thead> <tr> <td width=82 valign=top> <p> </p> </td> <td …
14 Mar 2006 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what percentage of officers at each rank within (a) each police force and (b) the Scottish Drug Enforcement Agency have been from ethnic minority groups in each of the last 10 years.
Answer · Cathy Jamieson: The information requested isshown in the following tables.</p><p>Percentage of Officers fromEthnic Minority Groups by Rank</p><p>Central Scotland Police</p><table border=1 cellspacing=0 cellpadding=3> <thead> <tr> <td width=170 valign=top> <p> </p>…
13 Mar 2006 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it considers that retained firefighters should be allowed to join the existing firefighters’ pension scheme.
Answer · Hugh Henry: Consideration of access tothe current firefighters pension scheme will be made once the EmploymentTribunal has fully considered the recent House of Lords ruling. Retainedfirefighters will be eligible to join the new Firefighters Pension Scheme from6 April 200…
13 Mar 2006 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it considers that firefighters should work until their 60th birthday and, if so, whether it has taken into account any evidence that the required fitness level for firefighters can be maintained until that age.
Answer · Hugh Henry: The physical nature offirefighting, as part of a firefighter’s role, has been taken into account inthe development of the new firefighters’ pension scheme together with evidencethat supports greater longevity and improvements to risk management andtraining. T…
13 Mar 2006 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what regulations it will introduce in respect of the new pension scheme for firefighters.
Answer · Hugh Henry: Based on the agreed newscheme Blueprint, a draft set of regulations will shortly be finalised andissued for consultation. Following consultation, a Statutory Instrument will beprepared and an Order introducing the new scheme from 6 April 2006 will bemade.</p>
13 Mar 2006 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it, or any of its agencies, has raised revenues from the sale of carbon rights in trees and, if so, what revenues have been raised in each of the last three years and how these revenues were then used.
Answer · Ross Finnie: No revenues have been raiseddirectly by the Executive or its agencies from the sale of carbon rights in trees.However, Forestry Commission Scotland is part of the Scottish Forest Alliance –a collaboration working to expand native woodland on sites managed by …
3 Mar 2006 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S2W-23485 by Mr Andy Kerr on 3 March 2006, whether it will publish the formula referred to in the answer.
Answer · Andy Kerr: The formula referred to in the answer to question S2W-23485 is the Arbuthnott Formula adjusted for cross boundary flows and weighted for theprovision of regional specialities. Island boards, due to low population levels, receive anadditional uplift to obtain …
3 Mar 2006 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has received a copy of the report by Lucy Johnston and Mike Martin, for South Lanarkshire Council’s Social Work Resources’ Adult Services, Older Family Carers and Learning Disabled Adults Cared for at Home: their views, experiences and thoughts on future care, and, if so, when …
Answer · Lewis Macdonald: The Scottish Executive has receivedthe report by Lucy Johnston and Mike Martin: <i>Older family carers and learningdisabled adults cared for at home</i> commissioned by South Lanarkshire Council’sSocial Work Services. The report, received on 28 February 2006…
3 Mar 2006 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it intends to carry out a safety audit on the A726 between Strathaven and East Kilbride and whether it is aware of any safety study being carried out on this stretch of road by any other authority, agency or company.
Answer · Tavish Scott: The A726 between Strathaven andEast Kilbride is a local road and is therefore the responsibility ofSouth Lanarkshire Council as the local roads authority.</p><p>The Scottish Executive and TransportScotland have no knowledge of any safety audit being carried o…
3 Mar 2006 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive when the last safety audit was carried out on the A726 and which parts of the route were covered by this audit.
Answer · Tavish Scott: Every year the Scottish Executivecarries out an analysis of accidents that have occurred on the trunk road networkin Scotland. The A726 is reviewed annually as part of this process.</p><p>Transport Scotland hasoperational responsibility for this area, and can…
3 Mar 2006 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many (a) road traffic accidents and (b) fatalities and serious injuries there were on the A726 in each of the last 10 years.
Answer · Tavish Scott: The number of injuryaccidents, fatalities and serious injuries on the A726 trunk road betweenCarmunnock Bypass Roundabout and Birniehill Roundabout in each of the last 10years is in the following table:</p><table border=1 cellspacing=0 cellpadding=3 width=50…
3 Mar 2006 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it is aware of research carried out by the Institute of Health Research at Lancaster University, on behalf of the Department of Health, on future need and demand for supported accommodation for people with learning disabilities in England; whether any similar research has been car…
Answer · Lewis Macdonald: The Scottish Executive is awareof the research on future needs and demand for supported accommodation for peoplewith learning disabilities in England, by Eric Emerson. We do not consider there is a needfor similar research in Scotland but we will take account…
3 Mar 2006 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S2W-22931 by Tavish Scott on 2 March 2006, whether it will give consideration to establishing public transport links by one single mode of transport between (a) Glasgow International and Edinburgh Airports, (b) Glasgow International and Glasgow Prestwick…
Answer · Tavish Scott: The Scottish Executive has nocurrent plan to consider establishing single mode public transport links betweenthese airports.</p>
24 Feb 2006 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what steps it will take to reduce the regulatory burden on small housing associations.
Answer · Malcolm Chisholm: I have asked Angiolina Foster,Chief Executive of Communities Scotland, to respond. Her response is as follows:</p><p>Communities Scotland regulatesand inspects Registered Social Landlords (RSLs) on behalf of Scottish ministers.We are aware of the disproportio…
24 Feb 2006 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what resources it is directing towards sex education in schools.
Answer · Peter Peacock: The development of sex and relationshipseducation programmes, including specific teaching materials, is a matter for localauthorities and schools. All schools arerequired to provide health education, including sex education, within the frameworkof Health Educ…
24 Feb 2006 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what resources it is directing towards reducing the incidence of sexually transmitted disease.
Answer · Andy Kerr: The national sexual healthstrategy Respect and Responsibility contains a number of initiatives to improvesexual health in Scotland. That includes tackling the high incidence ofsexually transmitted infections. Indeed, this was one of the primary driversfor dev…
24 Feb 2006 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many local authorities have used prudential borrowing to provide social rented housing.
Answer · Malcolm Chisholm: During 2004-05, 13 local authoritiesused prudential borrowing to spend on social rented housing. In 2005-06, 17 localauthorities estimate that they will use prudential borrowing.</p>
24 Feb 2006 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what recommendations have been made by the Judicial Appointments Board in relation to each judicial appointment made since its inception.
Answer · Cathy Jamieson: To date, the Scottish Executive has accepted all the recommendations of the board for appointments to judicial office. The names of people who have been appointed are in the public domain. A list is available on the board’s website. The web address is:</p> <p…
24 Feb 2006 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what rules it has in respect of ownership by judges, sheriffs and stipendiary magistrates of a financial interest in private prisons and what action it takes to monitor the observance of any such rules.
Answer · Cathy Jamieson: The Scottish Executive does notmake rules about the conduct of the independent judiciary. Members of the judiciaryare expected to conduct personal business in a way which avoids the risk of anycompromise to their independence when handling cases which come be…
24 Feb 2006 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what information it has on the involvement to date of small and medium-sized enterprises in PPP/PFI projects and private prison projects.
Answer · Tom McCabe: This is a matter for each publicsector body procuring a PPP project. The information requested is not held centrally.</p>
24 Feb 2006 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what action it is taking to encourage the involvement of small and medium-sized enterprises in PPP/PFI projects and private prison projects.
Answer · Tom McCabe: <i>The Infrastructure InvestmentPlan,</i> which was published in February2005, outlines the detail of the Executive’s investment plans by ministerial portfolioand confirms the major investment opportunities available within Scotland. Thisis the first such <i>…
24 Feb 2006 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what recommendations it has made to public authorities to ensure that, where such an authority makes a change in its policy requiring an adaptation to infrastructure owned or leased by a PFI/PPP contractor, such an adaptation does not cause the authority to incur costs above those that it…
Answer · Tom McCabe: I refer the member to the answerto question S2W-23496 on 9 March. All answers to written parliamentaryquestions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for whichcan be found at <a href="http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/wa.search…
24 Feb 2006 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what steps it has taken to ensure that, where it makes a change in its policy requiring an adaptation to infrastructure owned or leased by a PFI/PPP contractor, such an adaptation does not cause the Executive to incur costs above those that it would incur if it were to make such an adapta…
Answer · Tom McCabe: I refer the member to the answerto question S2W-23495 on 9 March 2006. All answers to written parliamentaryquestions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for whichcan be found at <a href="http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/wa.s…
24 Feb 2006 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what recommendations it has made to public authorities in respect of their PFI/PPP contracts to ensure that the introduction of new technology requiring a change to infrastructure owned or leased by a PFI/PPP contractor does not cause the authorities to incur costs above the market rate f…
Answer · Tom McCabe: The standard form of PPP contractreflects key principles and terms used for PPP projects in all sectors and is adoptedas a standard throughout the UK. The standard form includes provision for a variationand for the variation to be brought about in accordance …
24 Feb 2006 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what steps it has taken in respect of its own PFI/PPP contracts to ensure that the introduction of new technology requiring a change to infrastructure owned or leased by a PFI/PPP contractor does not cause the Executive to incur costs above the market rate for installation of such technol…
Answer · Tom McCabe: I refer the member to the answerto question S2W-23496 on 9 March 2006. 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…
24 Feb 2006 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what information it has on the costs incurred by other Scottish public authorities in enforcing their PFI/PPP contracts.
Answer · Tom McCabe: I refer the member to the answerto question S2W-23493 on 9 March 2006. All answers to written parliamentaryquestions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for whichcan be found at <a href="http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/wa.s…
24 Feb 2006 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what information it has on measures taken by other Scottish public authorities to enforce their PFI/PPP contracts.
Answer · Tom McCabe: The enforcement of a PPP contractis a matter for the relevant public sector procuring body concerned.</p>
24 Feb 2006 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what measures it takes to enforce each of its PFI/PPP contracts; what the cost of these measures was in each of the last three financial years, and what it estimates the costs will be in each of the next 15 financial years at current prices.
Answer · Tom McCabe: In each of the Executive’s PPPcontracts management and monitoring has been conducted by and within Departmentalunits and separate costs for specific contract management are not readily available.</p>
24 Feb 2006 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will write off the capital housing debt of local authorities.
Answer · Malcolm Chisholm: No. Local authorities’ housingdebt in Scotland totals around £2 billion. Redeeming this level of debtis not affordable without impacting on other key public services such as healthand education.</p>