Parliamentary questions
Linda Fabiani
2,507 questions tabled in the Scottish Parliament, most recent first.
9 Jan 2002 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answers to questions S1W-19311, S1W-19312, S1W-19313, S1W-19314, S1W-19315, S1W-19316, S1W-19317, S1W-19318, S1W-19319 and S1W-19320 by Ms Wendy Alexander on 6 November 2001, whether it intends to collect and hold centrally such information on job losses.
Answer · Wendy Alexander: The Scottish labour market is dynamic. The monthly labour market statistics from the Office of National Statistics give employment changes from quarter to quarter. There are large shifts between employment, unemployment and inactivity each month/quarter. Any …
9 Jan 2002 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-20044 by Mr Jim Wallace on 30 November 2001, whether it has researched, or intends to research, the reasons behind the continued decline in the use of alternatives to court action in the case of custody/access disputes.
Answer · Jim Wallace: The figures contained in the answer to question S1W-20044 were the official figures of Family Mediation Scotland (FMS). In the light of the information supplied in that answer, I caused further enquiries to be made. I understand a new monitoring system was in…
9 Jan 2002 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-19947 by Malcolm Chisholm on 17 December 2001, whether it is satisfied that Lanarkshire Primary Care NHS Trust ensures that high quality primary care services continue to be available for the people of Lanarkshire.
Answer · Malcolm Chisholm: Arrangements are in place across Scotland to enable the Health Department to monitor NHS performance and quality of service, and to support independent verification of service quality. On the basis of these arrangements, I am satisfied that in general terms L…
9 Jan 2002 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-20065 by Mr Jim Wallace on 17 December 2001, what legal opinion it or the Scottish Prison Service has obtained on the compliance of the Visitor Identity System with the provisions of the European Convention on Human Rights.
Answer · Jim Wallace: I have asked Tony Cameron, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service to respond. His response is as follows:<P>The Visitor Identity Systems have been introduced to prevent prisoners escaping and to prevent prohibited visitors from entering prison. Legal …
9 Jan 2002 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-20062 by Mr Jim Wallace on 17 December 2001, whether the electronically scanned image of a visitor's right index finger and/or the digital image of a visitor's face is forwarded to the police national database, kept on record within HM Prisons Barlin…
Answer · Jim Wallace: I have asked Tony Cameron, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service to respond. His response is as follows:<P>Neither the scanned image of a finger nor the digital image of a visitor's face is forwarded to the police national database. This information …
9 Jan 2002 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answers to questions S1W-20062 and S1W-20064 by Mr Jim Wallace on 17 December 2001, under what legislation the Scottish Prison Service is allowed to take digital images of visitors as part of the Visitor Identity System in place at HM Prisons Barlinnie and Edinburgh.
Answer · Jim Wallace: I have asked Tony Cameron, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service to respond. His response is as follows:<P>The Visitor Identity Systems have been introduced to prevent prisoners escaping and to prevent prohibited visitors from entering prison. In ter…
9 Jan 2002 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-21089 by Iain Gray on 3 January 2001, when the membership of the Scottish Refugee Integration Forum will be agreed; when the forum will be launched, and when the research commissioned on the impact of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999 will be publi…
Answer · Iain Gray: The first meeting of the Scottish Refugee Integration Forum will take place on 21 January 2002.<P>The members for the Scottish Refugee Integration Forum will be:<P>Sally Daghlian		- Chief Executive of the Scottish Refugee Council<P>Professor David Walsh…
9 Jan 2002 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether any waiting lists have been closed, including any which have been subsequently re-opened, in any hospital in the Lanarkshire Health Board area in 2001.
Answer · Malcolm Chisholm: Lanarkshire Primary Care Trust was one of several NHS Trusts which revealed restrictions to outpatient lists in a very small number of highly-specialist areas. Where a GP considers that referral to the Clinical and Counselling Psychology Service in Lanarkshir…
9 Jan 2002 · General Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has agreed to write off the capital housing debt of each local authority actively considering whole stock transfer.
Answer · Margaret Curran: The Executive has given a commitment that, subject to value for money considerations, resources will be made available to tackle the outstanding HRA debt of those authorities who undertake whole stock transfers.
7 Jan 2002 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what policy reviews it has undertaken since May 1999.
Answer · Andy Kerr: Reviews of policy at various levels are carried out as appropriate on an on-going basis across the Executive. No central record is held of policies under review.
7 Jan 2002 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many central heating units had been installed under its central heating installation programme at 31 December 2001.
Answer · Iain Gray: Eaga had installed 289 central heating systems in the private sector. They are on target to install over 3,500 systems by 31 March 2002. Information is currently being collected from the social rented sector landlords, but indications show that they will have…
14 Dec 2001 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether the improvement of the school experience for pupils is a priority for Scottish ministers and what support it has given to local authorities to safeguard the pay and working conditions of Education Advisers to achieve this.
Answer · Nicol Stephen: The improvement of the school experience for pupils is a high priority for Scottish ministers. The pay and conditions of service for education advisers is currently under review by the Scottish Negotiating Committee for Teachers (SNCT) Psychologists and Advis…
11 Dec 2001 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether there are any circumstances in which education advisers employed by local authorities should be paid substantially less than the senior school managers and principal teachers whom they support and advise.
Answer · Nicol Stephen: The pay and conditions of service for education advisers is currently under review by the Scottish Negotiating Committee for Teachers (SNCT) Psychologists and Advisers Working Group. They expect to make recommendations to the full SNCT early in the New Year.
11 Dec 2001 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what guidance it has issued to local authorities regarding pay and conditions of education advisers employed by them.
Answer · Nicol Stephen: Guidance has not been given to local authorities as the pay and conditions of service for education advisers is currently under review by the Scottish Negotiating Committee for Teachers (SNCT) Psychologists and Advisers working group. They expect to make reco…
11 Dec 2001 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it is its policy that education advisers working for local authorities should receive salary increments and enhancements in line with those awarded to teachers.
Answer · Nicol Stephen: The pay and conditions of service for education advisers is currently under review by the Scottish Negotiating Committee for Teachers (SNCT) Psychologists and Advisers working group. They expect to make recommendations to the full SNCT early in the New Year.
11 Dec 2001 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether education advisers working for local authorities received an increase in pay consistent with the increase awarded to teachers earlier this year.
Answer · Nicol Stephen: No, not all. The pay and conditions of service for education advisers is currently under review by the Scottish Negotiating Committee for Teachers (SNCT) Psychologists and Advisers working group. They expect to make recommendations to the full SNCT on 28 Febr…
16 Nov 2001 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether employees of local authorities who carry out duties within Dungavel Detention Centre have been subject to fingerprinting and/or photographic records being taken.
Answer · Jim Wallace: Immigration matters are reserved and are the responsibility of the Home Office Immigration Service; this includes the running of Dungavel Detention Centre.
16 Nov 2001 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether the practice of fingerprinting and/or photographic records being taken of visitors to penal establishments complies with the provisions of the European Convention on Human Rights.
Answer · Jim Wallace: I have asked Tony Cameron, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service (SPS) to respond. His response is as follows:<P>SPS considers that the Visitor Identity Systems described in answer to question S1W-20062 do not breach the provisions of the European Co…
16 Nov 2001 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether Scots law allows or prohibits the practice of fingerprinting and/or photographic records being taken of visitors to penal establishments.
Answer · Jim Wallace: I have asked Tony Cameron, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service (SPS) to respond. His response is as follows:<P>SPS have a legal duty to keep in custody prisoners who have been committed to prison by the courts. The Visitor Identity Systems describe…
16 Nov 2001 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether prison visitors to prisons run by private companies are subject to fingerprinting and/or photographic records being taken.
Answer · Jim Wallace: This is a matter for the operators, Premier Prison Services.
16 Nov 2001 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether prison visitors to establishments run by the Scottish Prison Service are subject to fingerprinting and/or photographic records being taken.
Answer · Jim Wallace: I have asked Tony Cameron, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service to respond. His response is as follows:<P>To improve security and speed up entry at Barlinnie and Edinburgh a Visitor Identity System is in place which involves taking an electronically…
16 Nov 2001 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what research it has carried out into the benefits of befriending and mentoring and whether it has a strategy to ensure the future of befriending and mentoring in the voluntary sector.
Answer · Iain Gray: The Scottish Executive has not carried out research into the benefits of befriending and mentoring and does not have a specific strategy to ensure the future of befriending and mentoring in the voluntary sector. However, the Executive recognises that befriend…
16 Nov 2001 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what the benefits are of the befriending and mentoring services offered by the member organisations of Befriending Network (Scotland) and whether it has any plans to ensure the continuation of this umbrella organisation.
Answer · Iain Gray: The Scottish Executive has no plans specifically in relation to the Befriending Network (Scotland). However, national voluntary organisations are free to seek financial support from the Scottish Executive's direct grant schemes. Details of how voluntary organ…
16 Nov 2001 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how much funding has been granted to the Befriending Network (Scotland) since May 1999.
Answer · Iain Gray: The Scottish Executive does not fund this organisation.
16 Nov 2001 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what the cost was to the public purse of resolving custody/access cases in each of the last three years including (a) payments made by the legal aid board, (b) the administrative costs incurred by the board in processing these payments and (c) the costs borne by the courts' administration…
Answer · Jim Wallace: Detailed information on the payments in such cases by, and the associated administrative costs of, the Scottish Legal Aid Board are matters for the Scottish Legal Aid Board. This information, and that on the costs borne by the courts, is not held centrally.
16 Nov 2001 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what alternative conflict resolution procedures are available to assist parties to custody/access disputes to reach agreement without recourse to the courts and how many cases were diverted from court proceedings through reference to such procedures in each of the last three years.
Answer · Jim Wallace: Procedures are in place which enable the courts in any family action in which an order in relation to parental responsibilities or parental rights is in issue, to refer that issue to a mediator accredited to a specified family mediation organisation.<P>Accord…
16 Nov 2001 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive in how many cases legal aid was awarded in respect of applications to vary existing custody/access arrangements in each of the past three years and what procedure the Scottish Legal Aid Board has in place to prevent the use of legal aid to pursue vexatious claims for variations of existin…
Answer · Jim Wallace: This is a matter for the Scottish Legal Aid Board. The information requested is not held centrally.
16 Nov 2001 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what assessment the Scottish Legal Aid Board makes of the impact on the child or children involved of granting legal aid to one party, and not to the other party, in custody/access cases.
Answer · Jim Wallace: Whilst I can appreciate the concerns of the member about the potential impact on any children that might be involved in any such court action, consideration of individual cases is a matter for the Scottish Legal Aid Board. I have, however, asked my officials …
16 Nov 2001 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many applications for legal aid in relation to custody/access cases were made to the Scottish Legal Aid Board and how many were granted (a) where both parties were awarded legal aid, (b) where only the party pursuing the access/custody award or variation was awarded legal aid and (c)…
Answer · Jim Wallace: This is a matter for the Scottish Legal Aid Board. The information requested is not held centrally.
15 Nov 2001 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what explanation it has received from Lanarkshire Primary Care NHS Trust on the reasons for the incidence of senior management departures, following the recent resignations of the Trust's Directors of Nursing, Planning and Estates and the Medical Director in the past two months, and what …
Answer · Malcolm Chisholm: These are matters for the trust. I understand from the trust that the departures are unrelated; appointments have already been made to two of the posts mentioned and an appointment to the post of Medical Director will be made as soon as possible.<P>It is for …