Parliamentary questions
Margaret Smith
931 questions tabled in the Scottish Parliament, most recent first.
6 Nov 2003 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many police officers were employed in (a) Scotland and (b) the City of Edinburgh Council area in each year from 1990 to 2000.
Answer · Cathy Jamieson: The numbers of policeofficers in Scotland in each year between 1990 and 2000 (at 31 Decemberin each year) are shown in the following table. Equivalent information for thenumber of officers deployed by Lothian and Borders Police in the City of Edinburgh Counci…
6 Nov 2003 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many crimes were recorded in (a) Scotland and (b) the City of Edinburgh Council area in each year from 1990 to 2000.
Answer · Cathy Jamieson: The information requested isgiven in the following table, along with figures for 2001 and 2002 which arealso available.</p><p>Crimes Recorded by thePolice, 1990 to 2002, Scotland and the City of Edinburgh Council Area</p><table border=1 cellspacing=0 cellpadd…
5 Nov 2003 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what the average air quality levels were in (a) Scotland and (b) the City of Edinburgh Council area in each year from 1985 to 1995.
Answer · Allan Wilson: The information is providedin the following three tables. The first two tables give the average number ofdays per site when air pollution levels were moderate or higher, in each yearfor which data are available, using sites which form part of the UK monitorin…
5 Nov 2003 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what percentage of household waste was recycled in (a) Scotland and (b) the City of Edinburgh Council area in each year from 1985 to 1995.
Answer · Ross Finnie: The data that are available areset out in the following tables.</p><p>Controlled Household Waste Arisingsand Recycling<sup> </sup>Figures for Scotland and </p><p>Edinburgh District Council:1985-1995</p><table border=1 cellspacing=0 cellpadding=3 width=433> <t…
22 Oct 2003 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions it has had with the City of Edinburgh Council and Scottish Enterprise Edinburgh and Lothian about the economic impact of the relocation of Executive department and agency jobs from Edinburgh.
Answer · Tavish Scott: The Scottish Executive welcomes the strength of the Edinburgh economy and recognises that compared with Scotland asa whole it has a lower unemployment rate, a higher employment rate and averageweekly wages some 7 per cent above the Scottish average.</p><p>The…
21 Oct 2003 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether the standard boiler used in its central heating programme is the most efficient and environmentally friendly model available.
Answer · Mary Mulligan: I have asked Angiolina Foster, the Acting Chief Executive of Communities Scotland, to respond. Herresponse is as follows:</p><p>The efficiency of boilersused in the central heating programme is set out in the technical specificationscovering the installation …
1 Oct 2003 · General Question
To ask the Scottish Executive when an announcement will be made about relocation of VisitScotland's headquarters from Edinburgh.
Answer · Frank McAveety: An announcement on this matteris planned for December 2003. All of the short-listed options, including the Edinburgh option,will be subject to a detailed option appraisal prior to a decision on this matterbeing reached.</p>
24 Sep 2003 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many civil service jobs there are, broken down by local authority area, department and agency.
Answer · Andy Kerr: The full-time equivalent numberof permanent staff employed in the core departments of the Scottish Executive, Executive agencies and associated departments, total figures and by localauthority, is provided in the following tables. Information on the location …
17 Sep 2003 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will review provision of mental health services for lesbians, gay men and bisexuals following publication of the Mind report Mental health and social well-being of gay men, lesbians and bisexuals in England and Wales.
Answer · Tom McCabe: The approaches adopted for respondingto the whole person needs of lesbians, gaymen and bisexuals in Scotland are captured in the Executive's <i>Equality Strategy</i> which commits allto have regard to the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender communities in …
17 Sep 2003 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how the National Programme for Improving Mental Health and Well-being in Scotland will address the mental health needs of lesbians, gay men and bisexuals.
Answer · Tom McCabe: I refer the member to the answergiven to question S2W-2743 today. All answers to written parliamentaryquestions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for whichcan be found at <a href="http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/search_wa…
16 Sep 2003 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to review the law on crimes involving the use of a knife.
Answer · Cathy Jamieson: The Scottish Executive is committed,in the Partnership Agreement, to review the law and enforcement on knife crimes.Work is under way and we will be seeking the views of the police on the currentlegislation on knife crimes and its enforcement in due course.</…
16 Sep 2003 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what progress is being made towards increasing the use of restorative justice in the justice system.
Answer · Cathy Jamieson: The Scottish Executive is promoting the concept of restorative justice through a number of differentinitiatives. For example, £2 million was made available in March 2002 to developrestorative justice services for offenders under 16. This will be supplemented …
16 Sep 2003 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive which responses received to its consultation paper Reducing Disruption From Utilities' Road Works were in favour of lane rental charges.
Answer · Nicol Stephen: Seventy-three responses werereceived to the consultation paper <i>Reducing Disruption From Utilities’ Road Works</i>.Twenty-four responses indicated a preference for the introduction of lane rentalcharges.</p>
16 Sep 2003 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will publish an analysis of responses received to its consultation paper Reducing Disruption From Utilities' Road Works.
Answer · Nicol Stephen: A copy of the responses tothe consultation paper, <i>Reducing Disruption from Utilities’ Road Works</i>,have been placed in the Scottish Executive Library and in the Parliament's Reference Centre (Bib. number 29681).</p>
16 Sep 2003 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive when it will announce the outcome of its consultation on proposals to reduce disruption from utilities' road works.
Answer · Nicol Stephen: While the 2001 consultation provideduseful initial views on how the co-ordination of road works could be improved, the Scottish Executive is currently looking at a range of options in order todetermine what might be the best long-term approach for Scotland. W…
6 Aug 2003 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how it is mainstreaming lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender equality issues into its activities and those of its agencies and how the effectiveness of such mainstreaming is measured and monitored.
Answer · Margaret Curran: <div class=Section1><p>The Executive is committedto working with lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) communities in Scotland inorder to ensure that our work is informed of the issues of concern to thesecommunities. Some examples of mainstreaming for…
31 May 2003 · First Minister's Question
To ask the First Minister what evaluation will be made of the youth court pilot project in Lanarkshire.
Answer · Jack McConnell: The youth court will be subject to a comprehensive evaluation by independent researchers from the University of Stirling.
22 May 2003 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive when it last met representatives of the Strategic Rail Authority and what issues were discussed.
Answer · Nicol Stephen: The Scottish Executive is in regular contact with the Strategic Rail Authority on a wide range of issues.
22 May 2003 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will conduct a review of how Network Rail, the Strategic Rail Authority, ScotRail and the City of Edinburgh Council have acted in respect of the construction of the rail station at Edinburgh Park.
Answer · Nicol Stephen: There are currently no plans for the Scottish Executive to carry out such a review.
22 May 2003 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions it has had with New Edinburgh Ltd about the delay in the opening of the rail station at Edinburgh Park and what reasons have been given for the delay.
Answer · Nicol Stephen: The City of Edinburgh Council (CEC) is in the lead with the Edinburgh Park railway station project. The Scottish Executive is in regular contact with CEC on a wide range of issues, including the Edinburgh Park railway station project.
20 May 2003 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what steps it will take to ensure that all haemophiliacs infected with hepatitis C as a result of NHS treatment receive their medical notes well in advance of the deadline for litigation in the United States of America.
Answer · Malcolm Chisholm: Patients who receive treatment from the NHS in Scotland have the clear right, for whatever reason, to ask NHS organisations for the medical records of their treatment. I recently took steps to make it clear that NHS Scotland must be as open and transparent as…
19 May 2003 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what progress has been made in discussions with Her Majesty's Government about financial assistance for people infected with hepatitis C as a result of NHS treatment.
Answer · Malcolm Chisholm: We are continuing discussions with the UK Government on this issue.
14 May 2003 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has any plans to introduce a third-party right of appeal against planning applications.
Answer · Margaret Curran: On 28 March I launched the White Paper <I>Your Place Your Plan</I>, containing measures for strengthening and enhancing public involvement in the planning system. In the paper, we announced an intention to issue a consultation paper during 2003 on the subject…
14 May 2003 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it supports reassessing council tax bands in the City of Edinburgh Council area.
Answer · Andy Kerr: Following consultation with COSLA we will establish an independent review into local government finance.
14 May 2003 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what measures it will introduce to limit the number of agency nurses working in the NHS.
Answer · Malcolm Chisholm: The Executive remains committed to building the capacity of NHSScotland. <P>A range of recruitment and retention measures have been introduced to help build capacity within the nursing and midwifery workforce. <P>As part of our on-going commitment to this imp…
17 Mar 2003 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will recommend to the banks that, in order to tackle any discrimination against people with disabilities who live in sheltered accommodation, they broaden their definition of acceptable documentary proof of identity.
Answer · Des McNulty: Banking is a reserved matter. However, the Executive has regular contacts with the banks on aspects of financial inclusion, and the provision of banking services to a range of disadvantaged groups of people.
17 Mar 2003 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether a shortage of wheelchairs is contributing to delayed discharge from hospitals.
Answer · Frank McAveety: Patients awaiting discharge from NHS hospitals are given priority by wheelchair provision centres. There is no indication that the need for a wheelchair is delaying discharges.
6 Mar 2003 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has discussed with the Department of Trade and Industry the impact of increased public liability insurance costs on employment levels in the construction industry.
Answer · Iain Gray: We are in regular contact with the UK Government on a wide range of issues including the impact of increased public liability insurance costs on construction industry employment levels.
4 Mar 2003 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what the latest estimate is of the cost of tram systems for west, north and south-east Edinburgh.
Answer · Lewis Macdonald: An estimate of costs as at 30 September 2002 is contained in page 50 of the report <I>A Vision for Edinburgh</I>, by Transport Initiatives Edinburgh. A copy of the document is available in the Parliament's Reference Centre (Bib. number 26840).
19 Feb 2003 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has any plans to review the current student support regulations on funding periods of overseas study undertaken as part of a degree course by Scottish university students.
Answer · Iain Gray: There are no plans to review these arrangements.