Linda Fabiani

29 Nov 2005 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many schools have signed up to its Healthy Living campaign.

Answer · Andy Kerr: There is no “signing up” involved in the Healthyliving Campaign. The Healthyliving Campaign is a public health information campaign using a multi-media, multi-component approach to communicate information, and positive messages about healthy eating and physic…

28 Nov 2005 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S2W-18632 by Cathy Jamieson on 15 September 2005, whether there is a recommended length of time for 24-hour video surveillance to continue in a private, occupied dwelling where the equipment has been installed at the request of the police and whether the…

Answer · Cathy Jamieson: The length of time for which surveillance continues is an operational matter for those conducting it. This is considered on a case by case basis. There are, however, mechanisms in place to ensure that surveillance is not carried out over and above what is nec…

28 Nov 2005 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what the guidelines and standards are for the use of police surveillance equipment within private dwelling houses.

Answer · Cathy Jamieson: The use of surveillance equipment is strictly monitored and Codes of Practice exist to be used by those who carry out surveillance.</p> <p>An authorisation must be obtained from a Surveillance Commissioner when surveillance equipment is to be used by police w…

28 Nov 2005 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S2W-18632 by Cathy Jamieson on 15 September 2005, whether there is any route of appeal open to residents of a private, occupied dwelling where a video camera has been installed in respect of a subsequent refusal to release images.

Answer · Cathy Jamieson: In the event that an individual is refused access to images obtained from surveillance, they may appeal to the Chief Constable of the police force concerned. It is also open to the person to contact the Investigatory Powers Tribunal.</p>

28 Nov 2005 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S2W-18632 by Cathy Jamieson on 15 September 2005, under what circumstances images of suspects which have been collected by police as a result of their request for a video camera to be installed in a private, occupied dwelling and forwarded to the procura…

Answer · Elish Angiolini: When the procurator fiscal decides to proceed with a case, the procurator fiscal becomes responsible for the appropriate release of evidential items provided by the police in connection with a report of an alleged criminal incident. This type of image can for…

28 Nov 2005 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answers to questions S2W-18233 and S2W-18632 by Cathy Jamieson on 2 and 15 September 2005, whether householders are entitled to view the photographic images that are collected during surveillance of their properties and, in particular, those that are forwarded to the procu…

Answer · Cathy Jamieson: A person may request to see the images that are obtained as a result of surveillance, they do not however, have any legal right to be granted access to it. This includes cases that are forwarded to the Procurator Fiscal.</p>

28 Nov 2005 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many graduate endowments were paid using the student loan option.

Answer · Nicol Stephen: The Student Awards Agency havereceived 695 applications from students choosing to pay their graduate endowmentby taking out a student loan.</p>

28 Nov 2005 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many graduate endowments were due to be paid this year and, of these, how many were paid.

Answer · Nicol Stephen: The Student Awards Agency forScotland have identified that 1,081 students were liable to pay their graduate endowmentthis year and 929 (86%) had paid as at  29 November.</p>

23 Nov 2005 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what recourse is available to an applicant who is refused entry to the police service and who believes that this refusal is in error and is based on a misinterpretation of the guidelines on eyesight standards.

Answer · Cathy Jamieson: While the Scottish Executive has issue guidance on eyesight standards, appointment to the police service is ultimately a matter for the Chief Constable.</p> <p>Any applicant who has been refused entry to the police service on medical grounds may write to the …

23 Nov 2005 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive when it will update the guidance to the police on the eyesight standards for entry to the police service contained in police circular 08/2003.

Answer · Cathy Jamieson: We have no current plans to update Police Circulars 08/2003.</p>

23 Nov 2005 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether anomalous trichromacy would be regarded as a sufficient reason to debar an applicant from entry to the police service.

Answer · Cathy Jamieson: The Scottish Executive has issued guidance to the effect that mild anomalous trichomats should be treated as normal whereas severe anomalous trichomats, while still acceptable, should nonetheless be considered in the context of their impact on certain policin…

23 Nov 2005 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether police forces should consider the guidelines contained in police circular 08/2003 on eyesight standards for entry to the police service as being mandatory.

Answer · Cathy Jamieson: No. Appointment to the police service is a matter for the Chief Constable rather than the Scottish Executive.</p>

17 Nov 2005 · Written Question

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

Answer · Tom McCabe: The Scottish Executive intends to engage with, and mobilise, the diaspora to further Scotland’s interests for the long-term benefit of our economy and society. We aim to encourage the diaspora’s active participation and engagement in promoting Scotland as a g…

17 Nov 2005 · Written Question

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

Answer · Tom McCabe: The Scottish Executive intends to engage with and mobilise the Scottish diaspora to further Scotland’s interests for the long-term benefit of our economy and society. We aim to encourage the diaspora’s active participation and engagement in promoting Scotland…

17 Nov 2005 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how it plans to promote Scotland as a country to visit, if not to live in, to help boost the economy.

Answer · Patricia Ferguson: VisitScotland promotes Scotland as a great country to visit both within the UK and overseas. VisitScotland’s marketing strategy shows clear benefits to the Scottish economy with figures for the first half of 2005 showing an increase of 57% in the number of vi…

17 Nov 2005 · Written Question

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

Answer · Tom McCabe: The Scottish Executive intends to engage with and mobilise the Scottish diaspora to further Scotland’s interests for the long-term benefit of our economy and society. We aim to encourage the diaspora’s active participation and engagement in promoting Scotland…

16 Nov 2005 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what assistance and support it gives to police forces in meeting their obligations under the Disability Discrimination Act 1995.

Answer · Cathy Jamieson: We have on-going dialogue with Association of Chief Police Officers in Scotland where the cost of meeting new legislative burdens is concerned, such as capital works to make buildings more accessible etc. However employment matters (including those obligation…

16 Nov 2005 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether any police force has been required to pay compensation under the Disability Discrimination Act 1995.

Answer · Cathy Jamieson: The Executive has not been made aware of any such payments. Employment matters (including any compensation due under the Disability Discrimination Act) are for the Chief Constable and the Police Board in the first instance.</p>

16 Nov 2005 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what guidelines or guidance it has issued to police forces regarding recruitment practices in line with the Disability Discrimination Act 1995.

Answer · Cathy Jamieson: Guidance was issued on 17 September 2004 which provided general advice for managers together with more detailed information on how the provisions of the act will impact on the police service in relation to recruitment, career development and training, and pen…

16 Nov 2005 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what information it has on how many cases of discrimination against police forces under the Disability Discrimination Act 1995 have been presented to industrial tribunals in each year since the Act came into force.

Answer · Cathy Jamieson: This information is not held centrally. Employment matters are in the first instance for the Chief Constable and the Police Board.</p>

16 Nov 2005 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many cases of discrimination have been brought against police forces under the Disability Discrimination Act 1995.

Answer · Cathy Jamieson: This information is not held centrally. Employment matters are in the first instance for the chief constable and the police board.</p>

16 Nov 2005 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many police officers with a disability, as defined in the Disability Discrimination Act 1995, have been employed in each police force in each of the last 10 years and what percentage of the force strength this represents.

Answer · Cathy Jamieson: This information is not held centrally. Employment matters are in the first instance for the Chief Constable and the Police Board.</p>

11 Nov 2005 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what percentage of road traffic accidents resulting in injury or death involved motorcyclists in each year since 1999.

Answer · Tavish Scott: Data about injury road accidents are collected by the police and reported to the Scottish Executive using the “STATS 19” statistical report form.</p> <p>The following table gives the percentage of injury road accidents which were identified in the “STATS 19” …

11 Nov 2005 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what funding it has allocated, or will allocate, to the Bikesafe initiative.

Answer · Tavish Scott: The Scottish Executive has not allocated funding to the Bikesafe initiative and has no plans to do so.</p> <p>Bikesafe is run by police forces throughout Scotland. Individual chief constables are responsible for decisions on the allocation of resources for ro…

11 Nov 2005 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it supports the Bikesafe initiative.

Answer · Tavish Scott: The Scottish Executive supports Bikesafe as an initiative which seeks to improve the safety of motorcyclists by encouraging them to improve their skills.</p> <p>An Evaluation of Bikesafe Scotland, published by the Executive in 2003, found that participants fo…

11 Nov 2005 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what steps it is taking within its responsibilities to make motorcycling safer.

Answer · Tavish Scott: The Scottish Executive is concerned about the number of motorcyclists injured in road accidents in Scotland and is committed to reducing casualties. Measures to improve motorcyclist safety involve a combination of engineering, enforcement and education.</p> <…

3 Nov 2005 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S2W-19552 by Lewis Macdonald on 27 November 2005, what controls are in place to ensure that meat imported from outwith the European Union is subject to the feed ban that prohibits the feeding of processed animal protein to livestock kept for the producti…

Answer · Lewis Macdonald: The Food Standards Agency advises me that currently there is no requirement for countries outwith the EU to have a permanent feed ban in place prohibiting the feeding of processed animal protein to livestock kept for the production of food. The Commission req…

3 Nov 2005 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S2W-19552 by Lewis Macdonald on 27 October 2005, whether the approved countries and the countries designated BSE-free are obliged to have controls to ensure that cattle feed used in those countries is free from Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease prions.

Answer · Lewis Macdonald: The Food Standards Agency advises me that Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease prions can only be present in humans.</p> <p>I refer the member to the answer to question S2W-20315 on 16 November 2005 for more information. All answers to written parliamentary questions ar…

3 Nov 2005 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S2W-19552 by Lewis Macdonald on 27 October 2005, which countries are approved for the purpose of importing meat.

Answer · Lewis Macdonald: The Food Standards Agency advises me that lists of establishments in non-EU countries currently approved to supply animal products to the EU, are available on the Commission website listed by country and listed by animal product.</p> <p>Country: <a href="http…

3 Nov 2005 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S2W-19552 by Lewis Macdonald on 27 October 2005, which countries are designated BSE-free.

Answer · Lewis Macdonald: The Food Standards Agency advises me that the following countries are designated exempt from the requirements of the TSE Regulation (EC/999/2001): Australia, Argentina, Botswana, Brazil, Chile, El Salvador, Iceland, Namibia, New Caledonia, New Zealand, Nicara…