Questions · Linda Fabiani

29 Mar 2005 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive who provides guidelines on commercial confidentiality to (a) its agencies, (b) non-departmental public bodies and (c) the Executive.

Answer · Margaret Curran: Commercial confidentiality is a subject which has a wide range of application. The nature and source of advice on that subject will depend on the context in which it is required. There are a number of guidance documents which cover commercial confidentiality.…

29 Mar 2005 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what the criteria are for determining which projects the PPP protocol that it agreed with the Scottish Trades Union Congress (STUC) in 2002 applies.

Answer · Tom McCabe: I refer the member to the answer to question S2W-15656 on 13 April 2005. 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/webapp/…

29 Mar 2005 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive to which projects the PPP protocol that it agreed with the Scottish Trades Union Congress (STUC) in 2002 applies.

Answer · Tom McCabe: The PPP Staffing Protocol agreed between the Scottish Executive and the Scottish Trades Union Congress in 2002 applies to all Scottish PPP projects, in all sectors, from that date.

29 Mar 2005 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answers to questions S2W-14302, S2W-14303 and S2W-14830 by Cathy Jamieson and Rhona Brankin on 9 March, 7 March and 14 March 2005 respectively, what guidance is given to NHS staff on the classes of persons, other than police officers, authorised to apply restraint to perso…

Answer · Rhona Brankin: No central guidance has been supplied to NHS staff on the classes of persons authorised to apply restraint in a public place. Most NHS employers have regular local police contact and we would expect this kind of general information and guidance to be sought f…

29 Mar 2005 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answers to questions S2W-14302, S2W-14303 and S2W-14830 by Cathy Jamieson and Rhona Brankin on 9 March, 7 March and 14 March 2005 respectively, what steps are taken to verify that the restraint is lawful before treatment is carried out.

Answer · Rhona Brankin: The answer in S2W-14302 outlines the range of agencies that can use physical restraint. As the answer states, the legal authority underpinning the use of restraint equipment depends on the circumstances. The steps taken to verify whether restraint is appropri…

29 Mar 2005 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S2W-11571 by Nicol Stephen on 18 November 2004, how many broadband connections have now been made as a direct result of its Pathfinder project and how many are expected to be made by the end of 2005.

Answer · Nicol Stephen: There have been no broadband connections made as a result of the Pathfinder projects to date. Local councils are directly responsible for this project and have notified this to the European Commission for State Aid approval.

29 Mar 2005 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S2W-11571 by Nicol Stephen on 18 November 2004, what exchanges are not enabled for broadband by BT.

Answer · Nicol Stephen: There are 130 exchanges in Scotland due to be enabled for broadband by BT as part of its commercial activities between now and the end of July 2005. Without intervention, this would leave 399 exchanges in Scotland unenabled. 21 of these exchanges are in the…

29 Mar 2005 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S2W-11573 by Nicol Stephen on 26 November 2004, whether its targets in respect of its commitment to ensure broadband access in every community in Scotland by the end of 2005 are being met.

Answer · Nicol Stephen: Yes. Broadband is currently available to about 94% of households and businesses in Scotland, and this will rise to nearly 98% by the summer. As a result of an open procurement exercise, a contract has this month been awarded to BT to provideaccess to ADSL b…

29 Mar 2005 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S2W-8744 by Peter Peacock on 16 June 2004, whether the target of achieving an average pupil to modern computer ratio of 7.5:1 for primary schools has now been met.

Answer · Peter Peacock: The latest information, from the 2004 pupil census (available online at <ahref="http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Publications/2005/04/11114958/50011">http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Publications/2005/04/11114958/50011</a>) shows that the pupil:modern computer ratio in p…

29 Mar 2005 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it, any of its agencies or non-departmental public bodies have promoted the formulation of a policy of support for new art.

Answer · Tom McCabe: We are not aware of any such policy promotion in relation to new capital projects commissioned by the Executive and refer you to the answer to S2W-15648, answered on 17 May 2005. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament's…

29 Mar 2005 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S2W-10920 by Mr Tom McCabe on 8 October 2004, whether any steps have been taken to establish a policy on commissioning new art when it commissions new capital projects and, if so, what these steps are.

Answer · Tom McCabe: No steps have been taken to establish a formal policy on commissioning new art when the Executive commissions new capital projects. We remain content to address the issue on a project-by-project basis.

29 Mar 2005 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive who advises it on the incorporation of art works in capital projects.

Answer · Tom McCabe: In relation to the mostrecent capital project within the Scottish Executive’s own core estate duringwhich advice was sought on the incorporation of art works into that project,the refurbishment of St Andrew’s House, that advice was provided by Art inPartnersh…

29 Mar 2005 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S2W-10921 by Mr Tom McCabe on 11 October 2004, which capital projects have had art works included in the capital costs in the last six years and what percentage of total capital expenditure this represented in each case.

Answer · Tom McCabe: The only significant capitalproject within the Scottish Executive’s core estate where art works wereincluded in the capital cost over the period was the refurbishment of StAndrews House. In this case, the budget was £100,000 – 0.5% of the capitalrefurbishment…

14 Mar 2005 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S2W-14071 by Malcolm Chisholm on 14 February 2005, what percentage of people lived in overcrowded housing in (a) each year before 1999 for which figures are available and (b) 2004, broken down by local authority area.

Answer · Malcolm Chisholm: Information is not available centrally on numbers of overcrowded households prior to 1999 by local authority consistent with the information provided in the previous reply. Information for 2004 will be published in August as part of the Annual Report of the S…

9 Mar 2005 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many properties have become tenanted under the mortgage to rent scheme in each year since the scheme was introduced, broken down by local authority area.

Answer · Johann Lamont: I have asked Angiolina Foster, Chief Executive of Communities Scotland, to respond. Her response is as follows: Since the launch of the mortgage to rent scheme in February 2002, a total of 126 households across 25 local authority areas have avoided hom…

2 Mar 2005 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what influence or direct input it will have on the UK Government's contribution to the G8 summit discussions on climate change in respect of the development of technology and other measures necessary to meet the threat of climate change.

Answer · Ross Finnie: I refer the member to the answer to question S2W-14837 on 17 March 2005. 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…

2 Mar 2005 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what influence or direct input it will have on the UK Government's contribution to the G8 summit's discussions on climate change in respect of reaching agreement on how to assist in research into climate change.

Answer · Ross Finnie: I refer the member to the answer to question S2W-14837 on 17 March 2005. 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…

2 Mar 2005 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what influence or direct input it will have on the UK Government's contribution to the G8 summit's discussions on climate change in respect of the relationship between greenhouse gas emissions and the associated level of climate change.

Answer · Ross Finnie: I refer the member to the answer to question S2W-14837 on 17 March 2005. 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…

2 Mar 2005 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what influence or direct input it will have on the European Council's contribution to the G8 summit's discussions on climate change on the issue of engaging countries outside the G8 which have growing energy needs, such as China and India, on how these needs can be met in a sustainable w…

Answer · Ross Finnie: I refer the member to the answer to question S2W-14837 on 17 March 2005. 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…

2 Mar 2005 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what influence or direct input it will have on the European Council's contribution to the G8 summit's discussions on climate change in respect of the development of technology and other measures necessary to meet the threat of climate change.

Answer · Ross Finnie: I refer the member to the answer to question S2W-14837 on 17 March 2005. 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…

2 Mar 2005 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what influence or direct input it will have on the European Council's contribution to the G8 summit's discussions on climate change in respect of reaching agreement on how to assist in research into climate change.

Answer · Ross Finnie: I refer the member to the questionS2W-14837 answered on 17 March 2005. 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…

2 Mar 2005 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what influence or direct input it will have on the European Council's contribution to the G8 summit's discussions on climate change in respect of the relationship between greenhouse gas emissions and the associated level of climate change.

Answer · Ross Finnie: I refer the member to the question S2W-14837 answered on 17 March 2005. 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.…

2 Mar 2005 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what input it will have to the G8 summit's discussions on climate change in respect of engaging countries outside the G8 which have growing energy needs, such as China and India, on how these needs can be met in a sustainable way.

Answer · Ross Finnie: I refer the member to the question S2W-14837 answered on 17 March 2005. 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.…

2 Mar 2005 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what input it will have to the G8 summit's discussions on climate change in respect of the development of technology and other measures necessary to meet the threat of climate change.

Answer · Ross Finnie: I refer the member to the questionS2W-14837 answered on 17 March 2005. 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…

2 Mar 2005 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what input it will have to the G8 summit's discussions on climate change in respect of reaching agreement on how to assist in research into climate change.

Answer · Ross Finnie: I refer the member to the questionS2W-14837 answered on 17 March 2005. 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…

2 Mar 2005 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what input it will have to the G8 summit's discussions on climate change in respect of the relationships between greenhouse gas emissions and the associated level of climate change.

Answer · Ross Finnie: I refer the member to the questionS2W-14837 answered on 17 March 2005. All answers to written parliamentary questions are availableon the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at <a href="http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/wa.…

2 Mar 2005 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what influence or direct input it will have on the European Council's contribution to the G8 summit's discussions on the Africa Action Plan in respect of improving water resource management.

Answer · Patricia Ferguson: I refer the member to the answer to question S2W-14838 on 24 March 2005. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament's website, the search facility for which can be found at: <ahref="http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/…

2 Mar 2005 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what influence or direct input it will have on the European Council's contribution to the G8 summit's discussions on the Africa Action Plan in respect of increasing agricultural productivity.

Answer · Patricia Ferguson: I refer the member to the question S2W-14872, answered on 14 March 2005. 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/webapp/…

2 Mar 2005 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what influence or direct input it will have on the European Council's contribution to the G8 summit's discussions on the Africa Action Plan in respect of expanding knowledge.

Answer · Patricia Ferguson: I refer the member to the answer to question S2W-14872 on 14 March 2005. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament's website, the search facility for which can be found at <ahref="http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/w…

2 Mar 2005 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what influence or direct input it will have on the European Council's contribution to the G8 summit's discussions on the Africa Action Plan in respect of implementing debt relief.

Answer · Patricia Ferguson: I refer the member to the answer to question S2W-14872 on 14 March 2005. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament's website, the search facility for which can be found at <ahref="http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/w…