Margaret Jamieson

12 Sep 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what obligations Historic Scotland is under to consult the public in the course of arriving at its policies and decisions.

Answer · Elaine Murray: Historic Scotland, an Executive Agency of the Scottish Executive, is accountable to Scottish ministers. It carries out consultation exercises from time to time on behalf of Scottish ministers to assist us in the formulation of policy. In addition, Historic Sc…

3 Sep 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many people whose criminal convictions were quashed have applied for ex-gratia compensation payments in the last five years; how many of these were successful, and what the total amount of compensation awarded was.

Answer · Jim Wallace: One person has claimed successfully for an ex-gratia award of compensation for a miscarriage of justice in the last five years. In the interests of successful claimants Scottish ministers do not normally disclose the pecuniary value of awards to individuals, …

3 Sep 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many people whose criminal convictions have been quashed have applied for standard compensation in the last five years; how many of these were successful in their applications, and what the total amount of compensation awarded was.

Answer · Jim Wallace: One applicant has received an interim award of compensation under the statutory compensation scheme. The case has not been concluded and the final amount of the award has not yet been determined by the Independent Assessor. <P>Two further cases have been cons…

30 Aug 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what progress is being made regarding the merger negotiations between the Glasgow College of Food and Technology, the Central College of Commerce and the College of Building and Printing.

Answer · Iain Gray: I understand that the boards of management of each college have considered the reports on the due diligence process and have formally agreed to proceed with the merger. I also understand that the colleges have put in place the necessary robust arrangements by…

30 Aug 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it is carrying out an investigation into industrial relations in the Central College of Commerce and, if so, what stage this investigation is at.

Answer · Iain Gray: The Scottish Executive has no plans to carry out such an investigation.

30 Aug 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what the total cost of the contract with Cranstoun Drug Services will be; what the cost will be in each prison, and what the contract covers in each prison.

Answer · Jim Wallace: I have asked Tony Cameron, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service to respond. His response is as follows:<P>The cost of the contract is currently just under £3 million per full year, and will run for an initial term until end March 2004.<P>The contrac…

30 Aug 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-28201 by Mr Jim Wallace on 14 August 2002, what criteria were used in the allocation by the Scottish Prison Service to HM Prison Kilmarnock of the contract with Cranstoun Drug Services.

Answer · Jim Wallace: I have asked Tony Cameron, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service to respond. His response is as follows:<P>Casework allocations (the in-prison part of the service) were made on the basis of prisoner throughput except for HM Prison Kilmarnock who were…

7 Aug 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether the number of eligible claimants in respect of the Scottish Transport Group Pension Fund Schemes will have any impact on the (a) time it will take to make payments and (b) level of the payments.

Answer · Lewis Macdonald: (a) In anticipation of the volume of work expected, the Scottish Public Pensions Agency (SPPA) have dedicated staff solely for processing Scottish Transport Group payments. Eligible claimants received a letter, which included a calculation of the ex-gratia pa…

7 Aug 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many people have now been identified as eligible for a share of the Scottish Transport Group Pension Fund schemes and whether this number is in excess of the planning figure of 17,000.

Answer · Lewis Macdonald: The Scottish Public Pensions Agency has identified 13,336 former members who will be eligible for a share of the surplus.

5 Aug 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what provision is made for drug misusers who leave HM Prison Kilmarnock.

Answer · Jim Wallace: The Scottish Prison Service now has in place a contract with Cranstoun Drug Services (a charity working with voluntary sector organisations) to provide transitional support for a period of up to 12 weeks in the community following release. This enables linkag…

23 Jul 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what M77 hourly flows were used in the assessment of whether the design of the proposed M77/Glasgow South Orbital junction will have sufficient capacity on opening and after 15 years.

Answer · Lewis Macdonald: The peak hourly two-way flows predicted on the proposed M77 and the Glasgow Southern Orbital for assessment purposes, based on high traffic growth, are given in the following table:<TABLE BORDER CELLSPACING=1 CELLPADDING=7 WIDTH=434><TR><TD WIDTH="30%" VALIGN…

23 Jul 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what the morning and afternoon peak hour weekday traffic flow on the A77 at Raithburn, Fenwick, has been in each of the last six months.

Answer · Lewis Macdonald: The latest available traffic flow data for the counter site at Raithburn, Fenwick, on the A77, show the average hourly weekday flow (two way) between 7 o'clock and 8 o'clock during the morning and 5 o'clock and 6 o'clock during the afternoon peak periods to b…

23 Jul 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what powers it has to enforce structure plans and what steps have to be taken by a local authority to modify a structure plan once it has been accepted by ministers.

Answer · Hugh Henry: The statutory provisions governing the preparation of structure plans are contained in sections 6 to 10 of the Town and Country Planning (Scotland) Act 1997. Section 9 sets out the steps a local authority must follow when preparing an alteration to, or replac…

23 Jul 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has any plans to amend National Planning Policy Guideline 9 (NPPG9), particularly in respect of the minimum spacing distance between motorway service stations, and what action it would take if a local authority did not take NPPG9 into account in granting a planning application.

Answer · Hugh Henry: Following the Review of Strategic Planning the Scottish Executive announced that all National Planning Policy Guidelines (NPPGs) would be reviewed and renamed as Scottish Planning Policies (SPPs). The review of NPPG9 is scheduled for 2004.<P>Sections 25 and 3…

28 Jun 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-26635 by Lewis Macdonald on 25 June 2002, whether it will further improve safety measures to take account of recent accidents and the latest figures on traffic use of the Fenwick to Malletsheugh stretch prior to the completion of the scheduled upgrad…

Answer · Lewis Macdonald: Further to my previous answer, it has been agreed to take further action to highlight to drivers the dangers of excessive speed. Additional repeater speed restriction signs will be put in place, national speed limit signs will be replaced with 60 mph signs an…

13 Jun 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what stage it has reached in its roll-out of Victim Liaison Offices across Scotland.

Answer · Colin Boyd: I am pleased to say that today I am officially opening the first major operational Victim Information and Advice (VIA) Office in Glasgow. We are taking this opportunity to re-launch the Victim Liaison Office with a name which more accurately reflects the aims…

13 Jun 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-25917 by Cathy Jamieson on 29 May 2002, what action will be taken to evaluate the compliance with, and implementation of, attendance orders made under the Education (Scotland) Act 1980.

Answer · Cathy Jamieson: The Scottish Executive has no plans to evaluate compliance with, and implementation of, attendance orders made under the Education (Scotland) Act 1980.<P>The implementation of the 36 recommendations of the Discipline Task Group Report <I>Better Behaviour - Be…

11 Jun 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will ensure that the construction time taken to upgrade the Fenwick to Malletsheugh section of the A77 is reduced to the minimum amount necessary to secure the effective upgrading of that section of the road.

Answer · Lewis Macdonald: The Scottish Executive is tendering for the proposed upgrade as part of a joint PPP scheme with the Glasgow Southern Orbital. The construction programme for the joint project is demanding and includes proposed incentives to encourage the contractor to complet…

11 Jun 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what action it will take to reduce the number of accidents on the A77 prior to the completion of the scheduled upgrade.

Answer · Lewis Macdonald: Extensive Route Accident Reduction Plans have been implemented on the A77 over a number of years. Recent measures to improve safety on the route between Kilmarnock and Malletsheugh have included the introduction of additional signing, road markings, safety fe…

16 May 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what input it has had to the response by Her Majesty's Government to the EU Commission's proposed directive on the recognition of professional qualifications (COM(2002) 119 final).

Answer · Iain Gray: The Department for Education and Skills (DfES) had the lead role in contributing to the proposed directive from a UK perspective. In fulfilling this role the DfES consulted the devolved administrations.

15 May 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many attendance orders under the Education (Scotland) Act 1980 were served in each of the past three years, broken down by education authority.

Answer · Cathy Jamieson: This is a matter for education authorities. The information requested is not held centrally.

3 May 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what consideration has been given to standardising the fees for taxi and private hire car licenses under section 12 of the Civic Government (Scotland) Act 1982.

Answer · Peter Peacock: An independent task group is currently reviewing all the licensing provisions of the 1982 act, including those relating to taxis and private hire cars. I understand that the task group will be consulting shortly on their emerging findings with a view to repor…

3 May 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has consulted the Scottish Taxi Federation about provisions relating to taxis in the Disability Discrimination Act 1995.

Answer · Peter Peacock: The Scottish Taxi Federation is automatically consulted on all matters relating to taxi licensing in Scotland.

3 May 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what guidance it has issued to local authorities on the licensing of taxis and private hire cars with regard to the Disability Discrimination Act 1995.

Answer · Peter Peacock: Guidance will be issued to local authorities as and when the various taxi provisions relating to the Disability Discrimination Act 1995 come into effect. However, my officials are in touch with local authorities to keep them informed of developments.

16 Apr 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will work with relevant parties and provide assistance to ensure the continuation of carpet weaving in Scotland following the announcement of workforce reductions made by Stoddard International PLC on 16 April 2002.

Answer · Iain Gray: The Scottish Executive and the Enterprise Network will continue to support the textiles industry in Scotland. The Scottish Textiles team within the Enterprise Network was set up in May 2001 to assist the industry to remain one of Scotland's key manufacturing …

20 Mar 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has considered funding the Family Fund Trust in order to facilitate disabled children taking holidays and what conclusions it has reached.

Answer · Cathy Jamieson: The Scottish Executive provides over £2 million per year in funding to the Family Fund Trust to provide a range of support, including holidays, to families with severely disabled children.

20 Mar 2002 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what action it has taken in order to reduce waiting times for tonsillectomies.

Answer · Malcolm Chisholm: Concerns over patient health and safety and issues, around surgical instruments used in routine tonsil and adenoid surgery, have now been resolved and surgery recommenced with effect from 11 March. I expect NHS boards to be taking local action to get waiting …

20 Feb 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether tonsillectomies are currently being carried out.

Answer · Malcolm Chisholm: Following the recent suspension of non-emergency adenotonsillar surgery, to allow an audit to be carried out in to the safety of single use instruments, the Chief Medical Officer wrote out to the service on 15 February, advising that the audit had shown there…

11 Feb 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what action it is taking in order to ensure that those working in the childcare sector are being advised on and protected against childhood diseases such as measles.

Answer · Malcolm Chisholm: Responsibility for occupational health and safety matters for staff working in childcare rests with employers, whether local authority, private or voluntary sector providers. Should an outbreak of measles or mumps occur in a school or a nursery, local public …

25 Jan 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how it will implement the provisions of the EU Zoo directive 1999/22/EC.

Answer · Jim Wallace: We are currently consulting with relevant interests and will determine shortly the appropriate means of implementing the directive in Scotland.