Parliamentary questions
Linda Fabiani
2,507 questions tabled in the Scottish Parliament, most recent first.
1 Oct 2002 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-29339 by Ms Margaret Curran on 30 September 2002, whether house-breaking is the only criminal activity that indicates a gap between deprived areas and the rest of Scotland.
Answer · Margaret Curran: House-breaking was chosen from a number of possible indicators as it is appropriate for monitoring area-based deprivation relevant to the national average and because the necessary data will be available at local area level for the baseline year of 2003-04.
1 Oct 2002 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-29340 by Ms Margaret Curran on 30 September 2002, whether its spending proposals for 2003-06 will lessen the gap in the figures for entry into higher and further education between people from deprived areas and those from the rest of Scotland.
Answer · Iain Gray: Widening access to learning opportunities for those from disadvantaged areas continues to be a priority. Funds awarded for the period from 2003-06 will continue to support initiatives in this area and the Executive will continue to monitor the impact of these…
1 Oct 2002 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-29338 by Ms Margaret Curran on 30 September 2002, whether it intends to use the small basket of indicators rather than those in Social Justice Annual Report Scotland 2001 - A Scotland where everyone matters to measure progress on social justice.
Answer · Margaret Curran: No. The small basket of indicators, which are based on existing targets including social justice milestones, is intended to offer an additional means of measuring progress on social justice.
1 Oct 2002 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-29338 by Ms Margaret Curran on 30 September 2002, how it reached its decisions on which indicators relate to the achievement of specific outcomes and which are relevant for monitoring area-based deprivation.
Answer · Margaret Curran: The decisions were reached on the basis of the criteria set out in the answer given to question S1W-29338 on 30 September 2002. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament's website, the search facility for which can be foun…
1 Oct 2002 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-29338 by Ms Margaret Curran on 30 September 2002, what its definition of a deprived area is.
Answer · Margaret Curran: Deprived areas will be identified using the results from our programme of work to develop area-based deprivation measures, which will be available in time to allow us to develop baseline information for 2003-04.
1 Oct 2002 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-29340 by Ms Margaret Curran on 30 September 2002, whether figures on entry into higher and further education indicate a gap between deprived areas and the rest of Scotland.
Answer · Iain Gray: Yes. However, the most recent data available indicates that this gap is narrowing. Between 1998-99 and 2000-01 the percentage of further education students from "High Deprivation" areas increased from 18% to 24% and from "Above Average" de…
24 Sep 2002 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what impact the recent comments made by the Home Secretary to the House of Commons Home Affairs Select Committee may have on its core message against racism that "racist behaviour is unacceptable. It's not just about physical violence, it's also about our language and attitudes", as detai…
Answer · Margaret Curran: I refer the member to the answer given to question S1W-29863 today. 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/sear…
24 Sep 2002 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has any plans to encourage all families to speak English in their homes and what the reason is for its position on the matter.
Answer · Margaret Curran: We have no such plans. This is a matter for individuals.
24 Sep 2002 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what assessment it has made of any impact that recent comments made by the Home Secretary to the House of Commons Home Affairs Select Committee may have on combating racism against refugees.
Answer · Margaret Curran: I refer the member to the answer given to question S1W-29863 today. All answers to written PQs are available on the Parliament's website, the search facility for which can be found at: <A HREF="http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/search_wa">http://www.sc…
24 Sep 2002 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what assessment it has made of any impact that recent comments made by the Home Secretary to the House of Commons Home Affairs Select Committee may have on combating racism against asylum seekers.
Answer · Margaret Curran: I refer the member to the answer given to question S1W-29863. All answers to written PQs are available on the Parliament's website, the search facility for which can be found at: <A HREF="http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/search_wa">http://www.scottish…
24 Sep 2002 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what assessment it has made of any impact that recent comments made by the Home Secretary to the House of Commons Home Affairs Select Committee may have on its campaign against racist attitudes.
Answer · Margaret Curran: The Executive's Anti-Racism Campaign confronts and challenges all racist behaviour throughout Scotland, whatever form it takes and whichever community it is aimed at, regardless of its motivation.
24 Sep 2002 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what steps it is taking to combat racism against refugees.
Answer · Margaret Curran: I refer the member to the answer given to question S1W-29860. All answers to written PQs are available on the Parliament's website, the search facility for which can be found at <A HREF="http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/search_wa">http://www.scottish.…
24 Sep 2002 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what steps it is taking to combat racism against asylum seekers.
Answer · Margaret Curran: I refer the member to the answer given to question S1W-29860. All answers to written PQs are available on the Parliament's website, the search facility for which can be found at: <A HREF="http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/search_wa">http://www.scottish…
24 Sep 2002 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what steps it is taking to combat racism.
Answer · Margaret Curran: The Executive launched a high profile anti-racism campaign on 24 September which received cross-party support during Parliament's debate on racism on 26 September. The campaign is founded on practical action by the Executive, often in partnership with the pub…
24 Sep 2002 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-28989 by Mr Andy Kerr on 19 September 2002, whether any of the 28 senior civil servants were recruited from civil service departments outwith the Scottish Executive.
Answer · Andy Kerr: One senior civil servant was recruited from a civil service department outwith the Scottish Executive.
24 Sep 2002 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-28989 by Mr Andy Kerr on 19 September 2002, how many senior civil servants it expects to recruit during 2002-03.
Answer · Andy Kerr: The number of senior civil service recruits needed in 2002-03 has not yet been determined.
24 Sep 2002 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-28989 by Mr Andy Kerr on 19 September 2002, why it expected that 19 senior civil servants would be needed during the period January 2002 to June 2003.
Answer · Andy Kerr: The Scottish Executive estimated that 19 senior civil servants would be needed between January 2002 and June 2003 to cover supply and demand. This estimate was arrived at following discussion with senior management and took into account retirals plus potentia…
24 Sep 2002 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-28989 by Mr Andy Kerr on 19 September 2002, how many of the 28 senior civil service appointments were made through open competition.
Answer · Andy Kerr: Twenty-eight appointments were made through open competition.
24 Sep 2002 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-28989 by Mr Andy Kerr on 19 September 2002, how many heads of division changed posts in each year since May 1999.
Answer · Andy Kerr: The numbers of senior civil service heads of division who have changed post since May 1999 in the Scottish Executive core departments is as follows:<TABLE BORDER CELLSPACING=1 BORDERCOLOR="#000000" CELLPADDING=2 WIDTH=200><TR><TD WIDTH="76%" VALIGN="TOP" HEIG…
24 Sep 2002 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-28989 by Mr Andy Kerr on 19 September 2002, how many of the senior civil service appointments were recruited from (a) external and (b) internal sources.
Answer · Andy Kerr: Of the 28 senior civil servants recruited during 2001-02, 18 were from internal sources and 10 from external.
24 Sep 2002 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-28989 by Mr Andy Kerr on 19 September 2002, how many senior civil servants (a) retired, (b) left and (c) were promoted during 2001-02.
Answer · Andy Kerr: Six senior civil servants (SCS) retired, two left and 18 were promoted to SCS posts via a generic open recruitment campaign.
24 Sep 2002 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-28989 by Mr Andy Kerr on 19 September 2002, how many of the senior civil service appointments were for head of division posts.
Answer · Andy Kerr: Of the 28 people recruited, 27 were appointed at head of division and one at head of department. These are detailed in Appendix A of Civil Service Commissioners annual report 2001-02.
24 Sep 2002 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-28989 by Mr Andy Kerr on 19 September 2002, why 19 pool members were recruited before vacancies occurred.
Answer · Andy Kerr: It is standard human resource practice to have people ready to fill vacancies as they occur. The people making up the pool were recruited to create a ready source to meet demand. They were appointed and became employees only at the point they took up post.
24 Sep 2002 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-28989 by Mr Andy Kerr on 19 September 2002, what the duties were, or are, of the pool members recruited prior to vacancies occurring.
Answer · Andy Kerr: Pool members took up head of division appointments and became employees as and when posts became available. Their duties were those of the posts they were assigned to.
24 Sep 2002 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-28989 by Mr Andy Kerr on 19 September 2002, what new senior civil service posts were created during 2001-02.
Answer · Andy Kerr: Nine new posts at head of division level were created during 2001-02.
24 Sep 2002 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what steps it is taking to ensure that ministers' use of language helps to combat racism.
Answer · Margaret Curran: I refer the member to the answer given to question S1W-29842 today. 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/sear…
24 Sep 2002 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what the role of ministers is in changing attitudes in order to combat racism.
Answer · Margaret Curran: The Executive takes the view that ministers should provide national leadership for tackling racism across Scotland and as such should promote through their policies, behaviour and attitudes commensurate with that aim.
23 Sep 2002 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, with regard to recent comments by the Home Secretary to the House of Commons Home Affairs Select Committee, what assessment it has made of any impact of the comments on its ability to provide services to asylum seekers and refugees and, in particular, Afghani asylum seekers and refugees …
Answer · Margaret Curran: The Executive is committed to ensuring that good quality and co-ordinated services are provided to all asylum seekers and refugees living in Scotland and continues to work in partnership with a range of bodies to achieve this.<P>I and my officials are in regu…
20 Sep 2002 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what steps it is taking, and intends to take, to ensure that Afghani asylum seekers and refugees feel welcome in Scotland.
Answer · Margaret Curran: The Scottish Executive has made it very clear that we are intent on ensuring that Scotland is a welcoming place for all people coming to live here. Specifically, we have established the Scottish Refugee Integration Forum, which I chair and which has been char…
20 Sep 2002 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what steps it has taken, or is taking, to help higher education institutions meet the recommendations of the Lisbon/Bologna seminar of April 2002 on the harmonisation of higher education.
Answer · Iain Gray: I refer the member to the answer given to question S1W-29668. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament's website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/search_wa.