Parliamentary questions

Margaret Curran

254 questions tabled in the Scottish Parliament, most recent first.

19 Oct 2010 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what consultation process is necessary prior to the alteration of commercial bus services and whether there are plans to enhance this process.

Answer · Stewart Stevenson: Bus operators are required to inform local transport authorities of service changes 14 days prior to notifying changes to the Traffic Commissioner. This allows local transport authority officers time to spot errors in timetables or maps and advise operators o…

19 Oct 2010 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what plans there are to maintain the provision of bus services in isolated urban communities reliant on public transport.

Answer · Stewart Stevenson: The Scottish Government is committed to bus services in Scotland. We are working with local government partners and bus operators to maintain and improve bus services. The Scottish Government is providing funding to the bus industry of over £240 million in th…

23 Sep 2010 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what the participation rate in further education was, including provision of HNC and HND level courses for local residents, in Glasgow Baillieston and what the national average was in (a) 2007-08, (b) 2008-09 and (c) 2009-10.

Answer · Keith Brown: The following table shows participation figures for Glasgow Baillieston and for Scotland as a whole for academic years 2007-08 and 2008-09. Data relating to academic year 2009-10 will not be available until 2011. Participation per thousand of working…

23 Sep 2010 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what the participation rate was in higher education, excluding HNC and HND provision by further education colleges, in Glasgow Baillieston and what the national average was in (a) 2007-08, (b) 2008-09 and (c) 2009-10.

15 Sep 2010 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many (a) school leavers and (b) adult returners in Glasgow Baillieston enrolled at the University of (a) St Andrews, (b) Edinburgh, (c) Aberdeen and (d) Glasgow and what the total number of enrolled students was in (i) 2007-08, (ii) 2008-09 and (c) 2009-10

Answer · Keith Brown: Table 2 in the statistical publication Students in Higher Education at Scottish Institutions 2008-09 shows the number of enrolments at each Scottish higher education institution for academic years 2007-08 and 2008-09. Enrolment data for the academic y…

8 Sep 2010 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has taken measures to address homelessness in Scotland since the announcement of the UK Budget in June 2010 or is planning to do so.

Answer · Alex Neil: The joint Scottish Government/COSLA 2012 steering group met in June and September 2010. The meeting in September 2010 discussed measures to assist local authorities in maintaining progress towards the 2012 homelessness target and the potential implications of…

8 Sep 2010 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions it has had with the UK Government regarding issues arising from the changes in housing benefit proposed in the UK Budget in June 2010.

Answer · Alex Neil: The Scottish Government is considering the possible impact of the changes to housing benefit proposed by the UK Government. It is essential that the effects of these changes are fully understood, particularly with regard to vulnerable households and critical …

8 Sep 2010 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what the homelessness figures are for (a) Scotland, (b) the Glasgow City Council area and (c) Glasgow Baillieston.

Answer · Alex Neil: Homelessness figures are collected and published only at a local authority and Scotland level. The figures for Glasgow City and Scotland are available on the reference tables on Scottish Government website through the following link: http://www.scotl…

8 Sep 2010 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-35567 by Kenny MacAskill on 26 August 2010, how long prior to the release of a prisoner on temporary licence a local police force will be informed.

Answer · Kenny MacAskill: I have asked John Ewing, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service, to respond. His response is as follows: There is no prescribed timescale for the passing of this information. On average local police are notified 24 to 48 hours in advance …

8 Sep 2010 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-35568 by Kenny MacAskill on 26 August 2010, who the other justice sector colleagues are, with whom arrangements exist for sharing information on a prisoner's release.

Answer · Kenny MacAskill: I have asked John Ewing, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service, to respond. His response is as follows: The Scottish Prison Service shares information with community-based social work and police colleagues in relation to throughcare and …

12 Aug 2010 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it plans to increase funding to local authorities given the statutory requirement to increase the pre-school education entitlement for every eligible child from 474 to 570 hours per year.

Answer · Adam Ingram: Funding to support expansion of pre-school education in line with the concordat commitments was included in the current Spending Review settlement for local government. Future funding for local government, including support for pre-school education, will be d…

3 Aug 2010 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many prisoners on temporary release (a) failed or have failed to return to prison or (b) committed or have committed an offence while on release in (i) 2007, (ii) 2008, (iii) 2009 and (iv) 2010.

Answer · Kenny MacAskill: I have asked John Ewing, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service, to respond. His response is as follows: (a) The table below gives the number of prisoners who have failed to return to prison following temporary release: <table border=1 …

3 Aug 2010 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what body is responsible for monitoring the behaviour of prisoners on temporary release.

Answer · Kenny MacAskill: I have asked John Ewing, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service, to respond. His response is as follows: The conduct of prisoners on temporary release is governed by licence conditions, set by the Scottish Prison Service. Any breaches of thes…

3 Aug 2010 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many complaints have been received regarding the failure of adequate notification of a prisoner’s release in each year since 1999.

Answer · Kenny MacAskill: I have asked John Ewing, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service, to respond. His response is as follows: The Scottish Prison Service do not record the information requested.

3 Aug 2010 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive who must be informed of a prisoner’s release; whether this is laid out in statute, and how many times it was not complied with in (a) 2007, (b) 2008 and (c) 2009 and has not been complied with in 2010.

Answer · Kenny MacAskill: I have asked John Ewing, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service, to respond. His response is as follows: There are arrangements in place with other Justice Sector colleagues for sharing information on a prisoner''s release, but none are spec…

3 Aug 2010 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what the procedure is for notifying local police forces of prisoners released on temporary licence in their areas.

Answer · Kenny MacAskill: I have asked John Ewing, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service, to respond. His response is as follows: The local police forces are notified of all prisoners who are due to be going on temporary licence to their particular area. This is achi…

3 Aug 2010 · Written Question

Answer · Kenny MacAskill: I have asked John Ewing, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service, to respond. His response is as follows: The following table gives the weekly average number of prisoners temporarily released on licence for home leave from 2007 to 11 August 20…

2 Jul 2010 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde has set timescales to respond to correspondence from elected members on matters concerning constituents and, if so, whether such timescales are in line with other NHS boards across Scotland.

Answer · Shona Robison: NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde have confirmed that all correspondence from elected members concerning constituent complaints are handled in accordance with the national NHS Complaints Procedure. Most complaints raised under the national NHS Complaints Procedur…

2 Jul 2010 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many aids and adaptations were or have been undertaken in homes in the Glasgow Baillieston constituency by Glasgow City Council in (a) 2007, (b) 2008, (c) 2009 and (d) 2010 and what budgets were allocated to each project.

Answer · Shona Robison: This is a matter for Glasgow City Council. The information requested is not held centrally.

1 Jul 2010 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether there are plans to close any of the three mental health resource centres operating in the east end of Glasgow.

Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde has confirmed that the development plan for the east of Glasgow community health and care partnership (CHCP) identified the possibility of a move from three to two resource centres. However, the board is clear that s…

1 Jul 2010 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what resources have been lost to mental health services in the east end of Glasgow since May 2007; what savings target has been proposed for 2010-11, and what actual savings have been implemented.

Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde has confirmed that the relevant budget has risen from £4,120,266 in 2007-08 to £4,382,921 in 2010-11; an increase of £262,655. We understand that the board has a savings target of £100,000 in 2010-11 for this particular …

1 Jul 2010 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether the Cabinet Secretary for Health and Wellbeing has received recommendations from NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde for the closure of Parkhead Hospital.

Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: No.

1 Jul 2010 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions have taken place between Glasgow City Council’s social work department and NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde concerning bed or ward closures at Lightburn Hospital.

Answer · Shona Robison: NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde have confirmed that discussions were held with Glasgow City Council''s Social Work Department in 2007 about changes in the bed configuration at Lightburn Hospital at that time. The NHS board has been clear that any future bed re-…

1 Jul 2010 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has received proposals for the closure of Lightburn Hospital and, if so, what alternative plans have been recommended to accommodate the needs of patients.

Answer · Shona Robison: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-35055 on 23 July 2010. 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/Apps2/B…

1 Jul 2010 · Written Question

Answer · Shona Robison: The information is presented in the following table. <table border=1 cellspacing=0 cellpadding=0 > <thead> <tr > <td width=209 valign=top >   </td> <td width=59 valign=top > 2007 </t…

1 Jul 2010 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether the Cabinet Secretary for Health and Wellbeing has received a recommendation from NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde for the closure of Lightburn Hospital.

Answer · Shona Robison: No recommendations have been received.

1 Jul 2010 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many posts in NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde have been subject to a change of qualification requirements since May 2007 and what those changes are.

Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: This is a matter for NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde. The information requested is not held centrally.

1 Jul 2010 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many posts have been removed in NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde since May 2007; how many posts are vacant; how long they have been vacant, and how many are in frontline services.

Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: This is a matter for NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde. The information requested is not held centrally.

13 May 2010 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it is aware of any plans for all drivers employed by Network Private Hire Ltd, Glasgow, to have enhanced disclosure certification.

Answer · Stewart Stevenson: The Scottish Government has no knowledge of Network Private Hire''s intentions with regard to the matter of enhanced disclosure certification for the company''s employees.

13 May 2010 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what percentage of taxis requested by NHS patients to Network Private Hire Ltd, Glasgow, has failed to arrive since the company gained the award of the contract to provide taxi services in the Greater Glasgow area of NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde and how many times this was due to the tax…

Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-33601 on 24 May 2010. 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/Apps2/Bu…