Parliamentary questions
Margaret Jamieson
534 questions tabled in the Scottish Parliament, most recent first.
19 Nov 2002 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what action it is taking to ensure the sustainability of milk production.
Answer · Ross Finnie: The Executive supports the continuation of milk quotas which is the main element of the EU support regime providing market stability. We will continue to fight for the interests of Scottish dairy producers in the current discussions under the Mid-Term Review …
19 Nov 2002 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what action it is taking to ensure country-of-origin traceability for milk products.
Answer · Mary Mulligan: I have been advised by the Food Standards Agency that the packaging of all milk products within the EU must have a health mark which indicates the country of origin among other things. Milk products imported into the EU must be accompanied by a health certifi…
19 Nov 2002 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what action it is taking to ensure that local authorities spend grant-aided expenditure allocations in the areas intended.
Answer · Andy Kerr: Grant-aided expenditure assessments are not ring-fenced allocations. They are elements in a distribution formula which determines the allocation of block grant to local authorities. We expect authorities to make their own decisions about how to spend that blo…
19 Nov 2002 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what evidence it has that supports the reported suggestion in the special report on children's hearings by the Scottish Committee of the Council on Tribunals that social work departments may have "tailored their recommendations to their resources rather than what was in the child's best i…
Answer · Cathy Jamieson: Individual children's hearings can review social work recommendations as part of their decision-making process. Once the children's hearing determines the child's needs and makes a decision, it is the duty of the local authorities to give effect to the decisi…
19 Nov 2002 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what information is held on any children's panel recommendations that are not implemented owing to lack of local authority funding and by whom any such information is held.
Answer · Cathy Jamieson: The Scottish Executive does not hold any such information. The responsibility for giving effect to decisions by children's hearings rests with local authorities.
19 Nov 2002 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what action it is taking to ensure that the role of reporter to children's hearings is standardised throughout Scotland.
Answer · Cathy Jamieson: The standardisation of the role of the reporter is primarily a matter for the Principal Reporter. It is responsibility of the Principal Reporter to ensure consistency of practice. Practice guidance is currently under review.
19 Nov 2002 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what timescale has been set by the Scottish Children's Reporter Administration within which all children's hearing centres must meet the property standards schedule.
Answer · Cathy Jamieson: The Scottish Children's Reporter Administration advises that it aims to have all core properties compliant with the property standards schedule by October 2004.
19 Nov 2002 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what action it is taking in light of the special report on children's hearings by the Scottish Committee of the Council on Tribunals.
Answer · Cathy Jamieson: I intend to respond to the report in the near future.
5 Nov 2002 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive when it will receive the preliminary report on the Expert Group on Financial and Other Support.
Answer · Malcolm Chisholm: I discussed the preliminary report of the Expert Group on Financial and Other Support with the Health and Community Care Committee today. Copies of the preliminary report have been placed in Parliament's Reference Centre (Bib. number 25060) today and it is al…
16 Oct 2002 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what action it is taking to ensure that all schools have fire safety certificates.
Answer · Richard Simpson: Schools are not designated under section 1 of the Fire Precautions Act 1971 and therefore do not require fire certificates.
16 Oct 2002 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what regulations are in place to inspect fire safety within schools.
Answer · Richard Simpson: Schools, as places of work, are subject to the provisions of the Fire Precautions (Workplace) Regulations 1997. These regulations place general duties on employers regarding the provision and maintenance of fire safety measures. The regulations are enforced b…
3 Oct 2002 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many voluntary community responders currently operate within the Scottish Ambulance Service, broken down by NHS board area.
Answer · Malcolm Chisholm: Community First Responder schemes are part of the Scottish Ambulance Service's implementation of priority-based dispatch. All of the service's divisions are developing these schemes and all are currently engaged in the process of identifying and recruiting su…
3 Oct 2002 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many permanent posts in the Scottish Ambulance Service have been replaced by voluntary community responders.
Answer · Malcolm Chisholm: No permanent posts in the Scottish Ambulance Service have been replaced by voluntary community responders. Indeed, the service's modernisation programme will result in the biggest recruitment drive in its history, recruiting over 200 new staff in addition to …
3 Oct 2002 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what action it has taken to provide legal protection in any negligence claims against Scottish Ambulance Service voluntary community responders.
Answer · Malcolm Chisholm: All voluntary community responders, like all Scottish Ambulance Service personnel or volunteer ambulance car drivers who attend patients, are covered by the Clinical Negligence and Other Risks Indemnity Scheme which operates throughout NHSScotland.
3 Oct 2002 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what budget is made available to each emergency service for training in emergency procedure operations.
Answer · Malcolm Chisholm: The Executive has allocated over £108 million to the Scottish Ambulance Service this year. This represents a 7.4% increase on last year and reflects the Executive's support for the service's modernisation agenda, including the implementation of priority-based…
3 Oct 2002 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what level of training is provided to Scottish Ambulance Service voluntary community responders.
Answer · Malcolm Chisholm: The Scottish Ambulance Service will train volunteers to first aid, lifesaving or Heartstart qualification standards. The service is working towards enabling these first responders to be accredited to the Institute of Health Care Development "first person…
3 Oct 2002 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what provision is in place within the contract for the operation of HM Prison Kilmarnock to vary the contract to take account of any changes in policy relating to prisoners.
Answer · Jim Wallace: I have asked Tony Cameron, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service (SPS) to respond. His response is as follows:<P>Clause 7 of the Minute of Agreement contains provision for SPS to request a change to the service provided. Details are given in the cont…
3 Oct 2002 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many variations in the contract for the operation of HM Prison Kilmarnock have been approved since commencement of the contract.
Answer · Jim Wallace: I have asked Tony Cameron, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service (SPS) to respond. His response is as follows:<P>To date, there have been no changes of service under Clause 7 of the Minute of Agreement. Details of the contract are published on the SP…
3 Oct 2002 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many requests have been received to vary the contract for the operation of HM Prison Kilmarnock since commencement of the contract.
Answer · Jim Wallace: I have asked Tony Cameron, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service (SPS) to respond. His response is as follows:<P>To date, SPS has made no request for a change of service under Clause 7 of the Minute of Agreement. Details of the contract are published…
1 Oct 2002 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive when the proposed Protection of Animals (Scotland) Bill will be introduced.
Answer · Ross Finnie: Regrettably there will be insufficient parliamentary time to bring forward the proposed bill during this Parliament. However, the Executive recognises the need to continue to improve animal welfare and, before the end of this Parliament, we intend to publish …
26 Sep 2002 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many criminal convictions quashed by the courts in each of the last five years were for (a) serious and (b) minor offences.
Answer · Jim Wallace: The available information is given in the following table:<P>Convictions Quashed on Appeal by Main Offence of Original Conviction, 1997-2001 <TABLE BORDER CELLSPACING=1 CELLPADDING=7 WIDTH=444><TR><TD WIDTH="47%" VALIGN="TOP"><P>Main Offence Group<SUP>1</SUP>…
26 Sep 2002 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what the intended time scale is between the award of an interim payment and the completion of final payment for standard compensation following the quashing of criminal convictions.
Answer · Jim Wallace: There is no established time scale for the period between the award of an interim payment and the final settlement of a case, during which time more than one interim payment may be made. A variety of factors are taken into account when the quantum of compensa…
26 Sep 2002 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive who independently assesses the applications for standard compensation following the quashing of criminal convictions.
Answer · Jim Wallace: It is for Scottish ministers to determine whether a case merits an award of compensation under the provisions set out in section 133 of the Criminal Justice Act 1988 or under the ex gratia scheme. Once that decision has been taken, an independent assessor is …
17 Sep 2002 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what action it plans to take in respect of petition PE333 by Charles Douglas on behalf of the Humanist Society of Scotland.
Answer · Richard Simpson: The Scottish Executive responded formally to Justice 2 Committee regarding petition P333 on 26 July 2001. This confirmed that the Scottish Executive do not accept the view expressed by the petitioner that the law regarding the celebration of marriage in Scotl…
17 Sep 2002 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it plans to introduce legislation to allow registered celebrants of the Humanist Society to perform marriage ceremonies.
Answer · Richard Simpson: The Scottish Executive have no immediate plans to introduce legislation to allow celebrants of the Humanist Society to perform marriage ceremonies in Scotland. However, as stated in reply to petition PE 333 by Charles Douglas on behalf of the Humanist Society…
12 Sep 2002 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how the policies of Historic Scotland towards the private or commercial use of historic buildings contribute to the sustainability of those buildings.
Answer · Elaine Murray: Scottish Executive policy on historic buildings is set out in the <I>Memorandum of Guidance on Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas</I>. Our policy recognises the importance of finding new uses for redundant buildings and also encourages private owners to …
12 Sep 2002 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how Historic Scotland defines sustainability of the built heritage.
Answer · Elaine Murray: The Historic Scotland publication <I>Passed to the Future</I> which I launched on 15 April sets out the Scottish Executive's policy for the sustainable management of the historic environment. It emphasises the importance of retaining and, where appropriate, r…
12 Sep 2002 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether ministers receive advice in relation to recommendations and decisions of Historic Scotland from officials other than those in Historic Scotland.
Answer · Elaine Murray: Ministers normally receive advice on built heritage issues from Historic Scotland officials alone although on some issues they may receive advice from the Secretary of the Scottish Executive Education Department. I am currently looking at ways in which Scotti…
12 Sep 2002 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what importance it attaches to private investment in securing the conservation of the built heritage.
Answer · Elaine Murray: The Scottish Executive recognises the value of the investment made by private owners in securing the conservation of the built heritage and, through Historic Scotland, works in partnership with both private and other public funding agencies.<P>The historic bu…
12 Sep 2002 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many complaints it has received about Historic Scotland and its approach to its work.
Answer · Elaine Murray: Since 1 April 2001, ministers and the Executive have received five complaints about Historic Scotland's approach to its work.