Parliamentary questions
Linda Fabiani
2,507 questions tabled in the Scottish Parliament, most recent first.
22 Aug 2002 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether (a) its or (b) local authorities' powers to make compulsory purchase orders are limited by the European Convention on Human Rights and, if so, in what way they are limited.
Answer · Hugh Henry: Under the Human Rights Act 1998, all public authorities, including local authorities, are required by law to act compatibly with the European Convention on Human Rights (the Convention).<P>Article 1 of Protocol 1 of the Convention states "No one shall be depr…
22 Aug 2002 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what powers are currently available to local authorities to make compulsory purchase orders.
Answer · Hugh Henry: Local authority compulsory purchase powers are contained in the following general Acts of Parliament:<P>Acquisition of Land (Authorisation Procedure) (Scotland) Act 1947<P>Education (Scotland) 1980<P>Housing (Scotland) Act 1987<P>Local Government (Scotland) A…
6 Aug 2002 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it plans to publish full details of the (a) best public/private partnership bid for the Stonehouse Hospital and (b) public sector option for the hospital.
Answer · Malcolm Chisholm: Revised guidance HDL(2002)49 was issued to the service earlier this year reminding NHS trusts and boards that key documents relating to all Business Cases must be made publicly available and that it is the responsibility of the NHS body to do so.<P>With regar…
2 Aug 2002 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what percentage of ScottishPower's renewables obligation will be met by the proposed wind farm at Whitelees Forest.
Answer · Ross Finnie: The way in which ScottishPower meets its obligation under the Renewables Obligation Scotland is a commercial matter for that company.
2 Aug 2002 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what the effect on ScottishPower's renewables obligation will be if work on the proposed wind farm at Whitelees Forest does not proceed as currently programmed.
Answer · Ross Finnie: The obligation on ScottishPower will not be affected. It would remain for ScottishPower to decide how it meets that obligation.
2 Aug 2002 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what the effect on Scottish Power's renewables obligation will be if the proposed wind farm at Whitelees Forest does not proceed.
Answer · Ross Finnie: The obligation on ScottishPower will not be affected. It would remain for ScottishPower to decide how it meets that obligation.
2 Aug 2002 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-25833 by Lewis Macdonald on 27 May 2002, whether it will publish the results of the consultation exercise relating to the proposed wind farm at Whitelees Forest.
Answer · Lewis Macdonald: The issues raised in the course of the consultation are still under consideration. When the matter is determined the reasons for that determination will be published.
2 Aug 2002 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive when a decision will be made in respect of the proposed wind farm at Whitelees Forest.
Answer · Lewis Macdonald: The issues raised in the course of the consultation are still under consideration. I refer the member to the answer given to question S1W-28169 today.
2 Aug 2002 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it is considering any proposals to effect changes in respect of consents under section 36 of the Electricity Act 1989 in relation to on-shore wind farms.
Answer · Lewis Macdonald: No such proposals are being considered at present. Our procedures are, however, kept under review and if improvements were needed in the way that applications for consent are dealt with, we would consult widely on these matters before any changes were impleme…
2 Aug 2002 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-25833 by Lewis Macdonald on 27 May 2002, whether it will institute a public inquiry to examine issues surrounding the planning application for a proposed wind farm at Whitelees Forest.
Answer · Lewis Macdonald: This matter is still under consideration and whether it will be referred to a public local inquiry will be determined in due course.
2 Aug 2002 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what consultation and representations it has had with the Meteorological Office with regard to the radar station located on the site of the proposed wind farm at Whitelees Forest.
Answer · Lewis Macdonald: Defence Estates submitted a representation on behalf of the Meteorological Office in response to the consultation on the application by ScottishPower to build a wind farm at Whitelee Forest. The Meteorological Office's concerns are about the possible impact o…
2 Aug 2002 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how much electricity generation has been cut at Cocken'ie and Longannet power stations as a direct consequence of generation from wind power.
Answer · Ross Finnie: It is not possible to calculate this precisely. Coal fired generation is flexible, and varies in response to the demand on the electricity network. The Renewables Obligations Scotland sets specific targets for renewables which can be assumed to displace gener…
2 Aug 2002 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many sites utilising wind turbines are currently operational; what the generation capacity of each site is and what amount was generated by each site in 2001 and so far in 2002.
Answer · Ross Finnie: There are 14 wind turbine developments currently registered with the electricity regulator (Ofgem) as accredited generating stations under the Renewables Obligation Scotland. Details are contained in the table. Information about electricity generation by ind…
2 Aug 2002 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what consultation has taken place with the European Commission with regard to the proposed wind farm at Whitelees Forest and the effects on the six bird species which Scottish Power has confirmed are present on Eaglesham Moor, given that the birds' priority habitat or species is defined i…
Answer · Lewis Macdonald: There is no requirement on the Scottish Executive to consult the European Commission on this issue since the area is not designated as being of national or international importance for bird species or habitats. Scottish Natural Heritage was among the bodies c…
30 Jul 2002 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many dedicated anti-drugs police officers there have been in each police force in each of the last five years.
Answer · Jim Wallace: Information on the number of police officers engaged on anti-drugs work in each police force in the last five years is provided in the following table. It should be noted that for 2000-01 and 2001-02 the figures include the 100 additional police officers, fun…
30 Jul 2002 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive (a) how many and (b) what percentage of teachers have a classroom computer.
Answer · Nicol Stephen: The information requested is not held centrally. Schools and authorities decide how computers should be deployed within the school.
30 Jul 2002 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many new hospital developments have begun in the NHS since May 1999 and how many such developments have been funded by public private partnership (PPP) or private finance initiative (PFI).
Answer · Malcolm Chisholm: In addition to a number of major projects under construction in May 1999, building has begun on a further 11 new hospital developments in NHSScotland since the beginning of May 1999. Of these, four have been funded publicly and seven through PPP/PFI. <P>Deta…
30 Jul 2002 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive (a) how many and (b) what percentage of school classes have exclusive access to a minimum of four modern computers.
Answer · Nicol Stephen: The information requested is not held centrally. The latest School Census, carried out in September 2001, showed that the pupil:computer ratio was 11:1 in primary schools and 5:1 in secondary schools. The targets for 2002 are 7.5:1 in primary schools and 5:1 …
30 Jul 2002 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive (a) how many and (b) what percentage of school classrooms are equipped with a minimum of four modern computers.
Answer · Nicol Stephen: The information requested is not held centrally. The latest School Census, carried out in September 2001, showed that the pupil:computer ratio was 11:1 in primary schools and 5:1 in secondary schools. The targets for 2002 are 7.5:1 in primary schools and 5:1 …
30 Jul 2002 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many new school developments have begun in the public sector since May 1999 and how many such developments have been funded by public private partnership or private finance initiative.
Answer · Nicol Stephen: Information is only collected centrally about numbers of new public sector schools completed, rather than begun, in each financial year. For the period April 1999 to March 2001, 20 such new schools were completed, of which six were funded by public private pa…
30 Jul 2002 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many modern apprenticeships have been created since May 1999.
Answer · Iain Gray: 35,700.
30 Jul 2002 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how much each school has spent on books in each of the last five years.
Answer · Nicol Stephen: The information requested is not collected by the Scottish Executive.
30 Jul 2002 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether all local authorities will meet the criteria for education under the Disability Discrimination Act 1995 by the implementation date of 1 September 2002.
Answer · Cathy Jamieson: The Disability Rights Commission has sent copies of <I>its Code of Practice (Schools)</I> to all schools and local authorities in Scotland. Local authorities and schools will be able to use this code to ensure that they understand and meet their new duties un…
30 Jul 2002 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what steps it has taken and is taking to raise general awareness of disability rights issues and, in particular, changes made to such rights by the Disability Discrimination Act 1995.
Answer · Hugh Henry: I refer the member to the answer given to question S1W-28019.
30 Jul 2002 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to extend the Disabled Students' Allowance to postgraduate education.
Answer · Iain Gray: The Disabled Students' Allowance is currently available to all full-time postgraduate students in receipt of support towards tuition fees and/or living costs from the Students Awards Agency for Scotland. <P>While we have no current plans to extend these arran…
30 Jul 2002 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what additional resources are available or will be made available to allow local authorities to ensure that all of their educational establishments comply with the Disability Discrimination Act 1995.
Answer · Cathy Jamieson: An extra £9 million will be available in 2003-04 in Revenue Support Grant to assist local authorities in preparing and implementing their accessibility strategies under the Education (Disability Strategies and Pupils' Educational Records) Act 2002. <P>In addi…
30 Jul 2002 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what steps it has taken and is taking to ensure that local authorities (a) are aware of their responsibilities under the Disability Discrimination Act 1995 and (b) comply with the act.
Answer · Hugh Henry: I refer the member to the answer given to question S1W-28019.
30 Jul 2002 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what steps it has taken and is taking to ensure that civic and business communities are aware of their responsibilities under the Disability Discrimination Act 1995.
Answer · Hugh Henry: The Disability Discrimination Act (DDA) is reserved to the UK Parliament. The Department of Work and Pensions (DWP) is working to ensure that service providers and employers, including local authorities, are informed of the current requirements and are prepar…
30 Jul 2002 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what steps it has taken and is taking to ensure that all of its buildings comply with the letter and spirit of the Disability Discrimination Act 1995.
Answer · Andy Kerr: The Executive commissioned Access Audits in 1996 on the office buildings it is responsible for. Following consideration of the audits a rolling programme of work was agreed in order to ensure that the buildings comply by January 2004, in line with the timing …
30 Jul 2002 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what internal auditing procedures it has in place to ensure that it complies with the Civil Service Commissioners' Recruitment Code.
Answer · Andy Kerr: The recruitment procedures of the Scottish Executive are subject to audit by the Internal Audit Unit as part of the rolling programme of internal audits. An audit was carried out by the Internal Audit Unit in January 2002.