Parliamentary questions
Linda Fabiani
2,507 questions tabled in the Scottish Parliament, most recent first.
23 Nov 2000 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what percentage of pensioner households had incomes (a) before housing costs and (b) after housing costs of less than (i) 70%, (ii) 80%, (iii) 90% and (iv) 100% of the relevant year's Great Britain mean income in (i) 1979-81, (ii) 1988-89, (iii) 1992-93, (iv) 1996-97, (v) 1997-98 and (vi)…
Answer · Jackie Baillie: The information which is readily available is shown in the following table:<P ALIGN="JUSTIFY">Scotland: Percentage of pensioners in households with income below various income thresholds, both before (BHC) and after housing costs (AHC):<TABLE BORDER CELLSPACI…
20 Nov 2000 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what percentage of students at Scottish universities come from (a) outwith Scotland; (b) other EU countries, and (c) outwith the EU.
Answer · Wendy Alexander: The answer given is based upon percentages of undergraduate and postgraduate students at Scottish higher education institutions (HEIs) and includes both full-time and part-time students.<P>Higher Education students in Scottish HEIs - 1998-99<TABLE BORDER CELL…
12 Nov 2000 · General Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what role it plays as Scotland's representative in the European Union.
Answer · Andy Kerr: The Scottish Executive’s role as Scotland’s representative is to advocate,represent and promote Scottish devolved policy interests in the EU. the Executive engages actively with the European Commission, the EuropeanParliament, the other EU institutions and ot…
2 Nov 2000 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-10427 by Mr Sam Galbraith on 30 October 2000, whether in the light of the evidence submitted by the interim Chief Executive of the Scottish Qualifications Authority (SQA) to the Education, Culture and Sport Committee which related only to national qu…
Answer · Jack McConnell: The qualifications covered in the evidence given by the Chief Executive of the SQA to the Education, Culture and Sport Committee were Standard Grade, SCE Higher, Certificate of Sixth Year Studies and the new National Qualifications at Intermediate 1, Intermed…
31 Oct 2000 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-5715 by Susan Deacon on 26 April 2000, why it believes that the General Agreement on Trade in Services will not have any impact on health services.
Answer · Susan Deacon: As stated in my reply to question S1W-5715, services supplied in the exercise of government authority, including health services, are excluded from the General Agreement on Trade in Services (GATS). The UK Government is clear that any liberalisation under GAT…
31 Oct 2000 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-5715 by Susan Deacon on 26 April 2000, why it believes that the Government Procurement Agreement will not have any impact on health services.
Answer · Susan Deacon: As stated in my reply to question S1W-5715, contracts for the procurement of health services are excluded from the scope of the Government Procurement Agreement. There are currently no plans to include EC health services within the scope of the agreement.
27 Oct 2000 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how much money has been spent in Scotland on research into multiple sclerosis since 1 July 1999 by (a) it and (b) other bodies.
Answer · Susan Deacon: At present, the Scottish Executive is largely a response mode funder of research and this role is well advertised throughout the medical and academic community. The Chief Scientist Office (CSO) has received no research proposals of a sufficiently high standar…
24 Oct 2000 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-5715 by Susan Deacon on 26 April 2000, why it believes that the General Agreement on Trade in Services does not apply to services provided by central or local governments nor to services provided in the exercise of government authority.
Answer · Malcolm Chisholm: International trade agreements such as GATS are a reserved matter; the Department of Trade and Industry take the lead. The General Agreement on Trade in Services ("GATS") excludes from its coverage any service supplied in the exercise of governmenta…
24 Oct 2000 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-9958 by Sarah Boyack on 9 October 2000, when the consultation pack will be issued.
Answer · Sam Galbraith: My intention is to issue the consultation package in November.
24 Oct 2000 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-9958 by Sarah Boyack on 9 October 2000, whether the proposed consultation will focus only on ground-based masts and will exclude other installations, such as those sited on buildings such as schools and hospitals.
Answer · Sam Galbraith: The consultation exercise will extend beyond the installation of ground-based telecommunications masts.
24 Oct 2000 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-9958 by Sarah Boyack on 9 October 2000, why it considers a further consultation necessary, given the existence of reports of the Transport and the Environment Committee and the Independent Expert Group on Mobile Phones.
Answer · Sam Galbraith: The consultation exercise will provide an opportunity to comment on the Executive's detailed proposals for planning legislation and guidance.
24 Oct 2000 · SPCB Written Question
To ask the Presiding Officer to what extent, for what reason, and by whom the communications of MSPs and their staff are monitored, with particular reference to telephone calls, postal communications and electronic communications which originate from or are directed towards the offices at Parliament Headquarters.
Answer · David Steel: Mail coming in to PHQ is screened for security purposes but no other monitoring takes place. Outgoing mail is logged so that each member's usage can be reported, as required by the Equipment and Furniture Allowance Scheme.<P ALIGN="JUSTIFY">Automated call log…
17 Oct 2000 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-8570 by Donald Dewar on 28 September 2000, whether it will detail any international organisations which it has met with since 1 July 1999 specifically to discuss the World Trade Organisation's activities and their effect on the responsibilities of th…
Answer · Wendy Alexander: There have been no such meetings. The regulation of international trade is a reserved matter but the Scottish Executive works closely with the UK Government where appropriate.
13 Oct 2000 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what the current status is of plans to create a second diet of examinations each year and whether these plans have been affected by the Scottish Qualifications Authority's problems in processing the results of the single diet of exams in academic session 1999-2000.
Answer · Jack McConnell: I understand from the Scottish Qualifications Authority that the winter diet in 2001-02 will take place as intended.
13 Oct 2000 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many candidates for each of the different qualifications for which the Scottish Qualifications Authority (SQA) has responsibility were affected by the recent problems at the SQA and whether any candidates are still waiting for awards due to delays in confirming their results or delays…
Answer · Sam Galbraith: This is a matter for the Scottish Qualifications Authority. Evidence submitted by the interim Chief Executive of the SQA to the Education, Culture and Sport Committee for its meeting on 9 October provides the information requested. A copy of this evidence is …
13 Oct 2000 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-8570 by Donald Dewar on 28 September 2000, what the cost of answering the question as asked would have been.
Answer · Henry McLeish: To answer the question in its original form, that is, to identify the international organisations each Minister has been in touch with since 1 July 1999, would have required a very extensive trawl of Scottish Executive Departments. It is not possible to say p…
20 Sep 2000 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether any problems are anticipated to arise from Her Majesty's Prison, Kilmarnock operating a system of governance within the prison which is different from the system employed in the rest of the prison estate.
Answer · Jim Wallace: I have asked Tony Cameron, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service to respond. His response is as follows:<P ALIGN="JUSTIFY">There are no problems anticipated to arise from the system of governance in place within Her Majesty's Prison Kilmarnock. It is…
20 Sep 2000 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what the total cost of the contract for Her Majesty's Prison, Kilmarnock will be to the Scottish Prison Service and what proportion of this is the capital element.
Answer · Jim Wallace: I have asked Tony Cameron, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service to respond. His response is as follows:<P ALIGN="JUSTIFY">The total cost over the 25-year period of the contract is approximately £130 million in Net Present Value terms. The capital el…
20 Sep 2000 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what vetting was done of the organisations who form Premier Prison Services Limited prior to the awarding of the contract for Her Majesty's Prison, Kilmarnock in 1997.
Answer · Jim Wallace: I have asked Tony Cameron, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service to respond. His response is as follows:<P ALIGN="JUSTIFY">All consortia bidding for the contract were subject to extensive evaluation and vetting as part of the procurement process.
19 Sep 2000 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what the current status is of the Larkhall to Milngavie rail link.
Answer · Sarah Boyack: The Larkhall to Milngavie rail route project is the responsibility of the Strathclyde Passenger Transport Authority as the public passenger transport body for the area. The Scottish Executive has still to receive the authority's Full Business Case for the pro…
19 Sep 2000 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what the outcomes were of the planning and telecommunications summit held at Victoria Quay on 4 September 2000 and what its current position is on this issue in the light of the summit.
Answer · Sarah Boyack: The Summit helped the Executive to gauge the views of a number of interested parties, including telecommunications operators and environmental bodies, on the issues surrounding telecommunications development in the wake of the reports of the Transport and the…
13 Sep 2000 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-4862 by Henry McLeish on 15 March 2000, which Ministers have been in contact with the Department of Trade and Industry regarding issues arising from the activities of the World Trade Organisation and their effect on the responsibilities of the Scotti…
Answer · Henry McLeish: The Scottish Executive has been in regular contact with the Department of Trade and Industry since July 1999, both at Ministerial and official level, on a range of issues including those arising from the World Trade Organisation.
7 Jul 2000 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-4862 by Henry McLeish on 15 March 2000, what assessment it has made of any impact which trade issues arising from the activities of the World Trade Organisation will have on the responsibilities of the Executive.
Answer · Nicol Stephen: The Scottish Executive regularly assesses the impact of the World Trade Organisation's activities on its responsibilities working together with Scottish Trade International, the Scotland Office and the Department of Trade and Industry.
5 Jul 2000 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-2981 by Mr Jim Wallace on 28 April 2000, whether it will list, by Minister, the international organisations each has been in touch with since 1 July 1999 and when those contacts took place.
Answer · Donald Dewar: The question in this form could only be answered at disproportionate cost. We would be happy to consider requests for more specific information.
5 Jul 2000 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many road traffic accidents took place on the A725 in each of the last five years, broken down by local authority and specifying in each case the number of fatalities and serious injuries.
Answer · Sarah Boyack: The number of road traffic accidents on the A725 trunk road in the last five years, broken down by local authority, and the number of fatalities and serious injuries is as follows:<P ALIGN="JUSTIFY">South Lanarkshire<TABLE BORDER CELLSPACING=1 CELLPADDING=7 W…
5 Jul 2000 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive when the last safety audit was carried out on the A725 and which parts of the route were covered by it.
Answer · Sarah Boyack: Safety audits are only undertaken when road improvements are constructed. However, a Route Accident Reduction Plan (RARP) study was carried out in 1999 on the A725 trunk road between Whirlies Roundabout, East Kilbride and Whistleberry Toll, Bothwell.<P ALIGN=…
5 Jun 2000 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what the average daily population of prisoners (a) was in each of the last three financial years and (b) is projected to be in each of the next three financial years in (i) penal establishments directly operated by the Scottish Prison Service, (ii) legalised police cells and (iii) private…
Answer · Jim Wallace: I have asked Tony Cameron, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service, to respond. His response is as follows:<P ALIGN="JUSTIFY">The available information on the numbers of prisoners in Scottish penal establishments is given in the table below. The prison…
5 Jun 2000 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what the maximum number of available spaces in (a) penal establishments directly operated by the Scottish Prison Service, (b) legalised police cells and (c) privately operated penal establishments (i) was in each of the last three financial years and (ii) is anticipated to be in each of t…
Answer · Angus MacKay: The information is as follows:<TABLE BORDER CELLSPACING=1 CELLPADDING=7 WIDTH=590><TR><TD WIDTH="25%" VALIGN="TOP"> </TD><TD WIDTH="25%" VALIGN="TOP"><P ALIGN="CENTER">(a)</TD><TD WIDTH="25%" VALIGN="TOP"><P ALIGN="CENTER">(b)</TD><TD WIDTH="25%" VALIGN=…
5 Jun 2000 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-4825 by Sarah Boyack on 21 March 2000, how it defines (a) a cluster of accidents and (b) a route with a high accident rate.
Answer · Sarah Boyack: A cluster of accidents is defined as three or more accidents resulting in injury occurring on any 200 metre stretch of road.<P ALIGN="JUSTIFY">A route with a high accident rate is one where the number of injury accidents per million vehicle kilometres is high…
5 Jun 2000 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-4825 by Sarah Boyack on 21 March 2000, what steps it takes to monitor clusters of accidents at particular locations and routes with high accident rates on roads other than trunk roads.
Answer · Sarah Boyack: None. Local authorities have a duty under the Road Traffic Act 1988 to carry out a programme of measures designed to promote road safety. This includes carrying out studies into accidents on roads other than trunk roads.