Parliamentary questions

Margaret Curran

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

13 Jan 2000 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how it intends to tackle social and economic inequality in Glasgow and reduce the gap between poverty levels in Glasgow and other parts of Scotland.

Answer · Wendy Alexander: The Executive recognises the particular problems facing Glasgow. We are already providing over £1.8 billion from the Scottish Block this year to various agencies in the city. In addition, we have announced that a special deprivation payment of almost £3 milli…

13 Jan 2000 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what steps it intends to take in order to reduce the number of cancer deaths in Glasgow.

Answer · Susan Deacon: Greater Glasgow Health Board is working in partnership with all the other agencies in Glasgow to tackle the life circumstances underlying health inequalities and so improve the health of their population. It also targets considerable resources on the promotio…

18 Nov 1999 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what action it plans to take following the publication of Greater Glasgow Health Board's health report into the Paterson's landfill site at Mount Vernon.

Answer · Alasdair Morrison: The Scottish Executive is aware of the Greater Glasgow Health Board Report and of public concerns about the health of communities living close to this landfill site. I understand that the report established no causal links between ill-health and Paterson's la…

17 Nov 1999 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what action it plans to take following the publication of Greater Glasgow Health Board's health report into the Paterson's landfill site at Mount Vernon.

15 Nov 1999 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what the plans are for the continued evaluation and assessment of landfill sites within the Greater Glasgow area.

Answer · Sarah Boyack: The Scottish Environment Protection Agency, as waste regulation authority, monitors to ensure that landfill sites comply with conditions set out in the waste management licence for the site.The UK Government and the Scottish Execu…

15 Nov 1999 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what steps it is taking to monitor the disposal of natural waste, particularly at landfill sites close to residential areas.

Answer · Sarah Boyack: Under the Environmental Protection Act 1990, the Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA) is the waste regulation authority. Operators of waste management facilities, including landfills, are required to apply to SEPA for a licence to operate the site. I…

15 Nov 1999 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what the Warm Deal budget will be in 2000-01 and 2001-02.

Answer · Wendy Alexander: The new Warm Deal began on 1 July and we plan to spend £10.5 million on it during the current financial year. We plan to increase the Warm Deal budget to £13 million in 2000-01 and to £14.5 million in 2001-02. Over the 3 years, with £38 million available, we …

20 Aug 1999 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it intends to amend the list of courts attracting a #50 addition to the core payment prescribed in the Criminal Legal Aid (Fixed Payments (Scotland)) Regulations 1999.

Answer · Jim Wallace: The 9 courts prescribed in the Regulations were selected by application of a formula. The 15 sheriff courts with the lowest throughput of persons called to court were identified from published 1996 statistics. Those which were less than 40 miles from the near…

20 Aug 1999 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what key performance targets have been set for the Scottish Office Pensions Agency for 1999-2000, and what the Agency is to be called following the creation of the Scottish Executive.

Answer · Sam Galbraith: I have set the Agency the following key performance targets for 1999-00:<UL><LI>ensure each award/transfer payment is accurate. The performance target is 98% for manual and 99.5% for fully computerised cases;</LI></UL><UL><LI>pay on time the pensions comprisi…

20 Aug 1999 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive when it plans to publish guidance setting out its standards and procedures.

Answer · Donald Dewar: I have today published two documents taking forward the commitment to collective responsibility contained in Partnership for Scotland. The first is the Scottish Ministerial Code which provides a code of conduct and …

27 Jul 1999 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive when the Twelfth Annual Report of the Committee for Monitoring Agreements on Tobacco Advertising and Sponsorship will be published.

Answer · Susan Deacon: The report was published yesterday. Copies will be placed in the Scottish Parliament Information Centre.

26 Jul 1999 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will publish the key performance targets it has set Historic Scotland for 1999-2000.

Answer · Donald Dewar: I have set Historic Scotland the following key performance targets for 1999-2000:-<TABLE BORDER CELLSPACING=1 CELLPADDING=7 WIDTH=630><TR><TD WIDTH="76%" VALIGN="TOP">Key Performance Area</TD><TD WIDTH="24%" VALIGN="…

26 Jul 1999 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what arrangements have been made regarding its Next Steps Agencies.

Answer · Donald Dewar: The Executive has decided to retain the current management system. Ministers will take an active interest in setting targets and monitoring the progress of Agencies within their areas of responsibility.The Executive has sole responsibility for ten Agencie…

8 Jul 1999 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what its plans are for consultation on the proposed level of fees for cattle passports.

Answer · Ross Finnie: The Cattle Tracing System (CTS) was launched in September 1999 and is run by the British Cattle Movement Service (BCMS). It supports our European and domestic obligations and provides for full traceability of cattle throughout their lives, enabling the lives…