Margo MacDonald

27 Feb 2006 · First Minister's Question

To ask the First Minister when he will next meet the Secretary of State for Scotland.

Answer · Jack McConnell: I hope to meet the Secretaryof State again soon.</p>

22 Feb 2006 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will instigate a commission to investigate the impact on health of cannabis and other drugs.

Answer · Lewis Macdonald: The UK Department of Health hascommissioned an evidence based review of research into cannabis and mental healthissues, which is due to be completed in June 2006. The results will be consideredalongside the recommendations of the Advisory Council on the Misus…

27 Jan 2006 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what DNA profiles have been exported to the National DNA Database from Scotland, broken down by ethnic category.

Answer · Cathy Jamieson: The Scottish DNA Database does not record the ethnic origin of persons arrested or detained and consequently this information is not held.</p>

27 Jan 2006 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive which companies, in addition to the Police Forensic Science Laboratories in Dundee and Glasgow, now act as suppliers of DNA profiles from DNA samples taken in Scotland to the National DNA Database.

Answer · Cathy Jamieson: There are no companies in Scotland which are accredited as suppliers of Police DNA services to the National DNA Database.</p>

27 Jan 2006 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what information it has on how many DNA profiles obtained from DNA samples taken from juveniles and collected by the police in Scotland and exported to the National DNA Database in England in each year since 1995 have been subsequently removed.

Answer · Cathy Jamieson: I refer the member to the answer to question S2W-22735 on 9 February 2006. 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/webap…

27 Jan 2006 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many DNA profiles obtained from DNA samples taken from juveniles and collected by the police in Scotland have been exported to the National DNA Database in England in each year since 1995.

Answer · Cathy Jamieson: This information is not held.</p> <p>All DNA profiles taken from persons who are arrested or detained in Scotland are removed from both the Scottish DNA Database and the National DNA Database unless the case for which they were taken result in a court convict…

27 Jan 2006 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what information it has on how many DNA profiles obtained from DNA samples collected by the police in Scotland and exported to the National DNA Database in England in each year since 1995 have been subsequently removed.

Answer · Cathy Jamieson: Full statistics are only available for the last seven years and are as follows:</p> <table border=1 cellspacing=0 cellpadding=3> <thead> <tr> <td> <p align=center>Year</p></td> <td> <p align=center>Number of Profiles</p></td> </tr> </…

27 Jan 2006 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many DNA profiles obtained from DNA samples collected by the police in Scotland have been exported to the National DNA Database in England in each year since 1995.

Answer · Cathy Jamieson: Full statistics are only available for the last seven years and are as follows:</p> <table border=1 cellspacing=0 cellpadding=3> <thead> <tr> <td> <p align=center>Year</p></td> <td> <p align=center>Number of Profiles</p></td> </tr> </…

23 Jan 2006 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will instigate a study into the prevalence of haemochromatosis, given the recognition of the condition as a cause for concern.

Answer · Lewis Macdonald: The Chief Scientist Office (CSO), within the Scottish Executive Health Department, has responsibility for encouraging and supporting research into health and health care needs in Scotland. It supports research projects of a sufficiently high standard initiate…

23 Jan 2006 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive in how many deaths recorded as being alcohol-related in the last five years haemochromatosis was noted as a possible cause of death.

Answer · George Lyon: In the five years, between 2000 and 2004, there were 15 deaths where the underlying cause of death was alcohol related and haemochromatosis was mentioned on the death certificate. In the same period there were a further 13 deaths where the underlying cause of…

23 Jan 2006 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what information is normally recorded in cases where the cause of death is recorded as being alcohol-related.

Answer · George Lyon: Every death that occurs in Scotland is registered under the civil registration system which is operated by local councils on behalf of the Registrar General. The information collected and processed through the registration system creates the death registers o…

20 Jan 2006 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether, following the elevation of Baroness Clark of Calton to the Scottish bench, it will instigate discussions with HM Government in respect of any adjustment needed to the position and responsibilities of the Advocate General.

Answer · Cathy Jamieson: The Advocate General for Scotland is a member of the UK Government. The Office is established under the Scotland Act 1998. It is for the UK Government to determine whether any adjustment is required to the position and responsibilities. Any alteration in the …

20 Jan 2006 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, in light of written evidence in respect of the safety implications of siting wind farms under air traffic routes from National Air Traffic Services Ltd to the Enterprise and Culture Committee’s Renewable Energy in Scotland inquiry, whether the Executive’s strategy to increase wind farms …

Answer · Allan Wilson: The safeguarding arrangements in the planning system in respect of aviation are there to ensure that no wind farm will be approved that would compromise air passengers.</p>

19 Jan 2006 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether, under the terms of the Memorandum of Understanding or other means of communication, it has been advised by the Foreign Office that it should now be admitted that an unknown number of rendition flights have used facilities at UK airports but that Her Majesty’s Government will refe…

Answer · Cathy Jamieson: No such advice has been received by the Scottish Executive from the Foreign and Commonwealth Office.</p>

17 Jan 2006 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive when the report on commencement of sections 25 to 29 of the Law Reform (Miscellaneous Provisions) (Scotland) Act 1990 will be published, in light of the Minister for Justice’s statement on 29 September 2005 that it was due “shortly” (Official Report c. 19663).

Answer · Hugh Henry: The final report of the Research Working Group on the Legal Services Market in Scotland, which covers a range of issues including the possible commencement of sections 25 to 29 of the Law Reform (Miscellaneous Provisions) (Scotland) Act 1990, will be publishe…

10 Jan 2006 · SPCB Written Question

To ask the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body when it will publish details of the Parliament’s energy performance, as required by the EU Energy Performance of Buildings Directive which came into force on 4 January 2006.

Answer · Kenny MacAskill: The SPCB is awaiting full guidance from the Scottish Building Standards Agency on how the energy performance of the Parliament should be calculated and published.  In the meantime, we will continue to implement our environmental policy which aims to use energ…

28 Nov 2005 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will publish a list of all interdepartmental meetings held in 2005, giving attendees and dates, including those held under condition A2.3 of the Memorandum of Understanding and Supplementary Agreements.

Answer · Margaret Curran: Scottish Executive ministersand officials have held a large number of interdepartmental meetings, both withinthe Scottish Executive and with ministers and officials of the UK Government andthe Devolved Administrations, throughout 2005. The details of these ar…

28 Nov 2005 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will publish the proceedings of meetings of joint ministerial committees and sub-committees, given that the Freedom of Information (Scotland) Act 2002 is now operational.

Answer · Margaret Curran: Publication of theproceedings of Joint Ministerial Committee (JMC) or sub committee meetings mustbe agreed jointly by those in attendance and are published by the UK Governmentin the form of a communiqué on behalf of all parties. These appear on thefollowing …

28 Nov 2005 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will provide a breakdown of the joint ministerial (a) committee and (b) sub-committee meetings held since May 2004, including attendees.

Answer · Margaret Curran: There have been no meetings of the Joint Ministerial Committee since 1 May 2004.</p> <p>The following table provides a complete list of Scottish Executive ministerial attendance at all Joint Ministerial Sub-Committee meetings that have taken place since 1 May…

26 Oct 2005 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will update the Parliament on its efforts in helping the people of Malawi and Pakistan.

Answer · Patricia Ferguson: As announced by the First Minister on 2 November, following the first round of its International Development Fund, the Scottish Executive is providing £2.4 million over the next three years for 18 projects focused on Malawi.</p> <p>In addition, we are in disc…

15 Sep 2005 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many competitions or awards for architecture and design it has funded or part-funded in each of the last five years, giving the name and size of each award.

Answer · Patricia Ferguson: As an integral part of its policyto raise the quality of the built environment across Scotland, the Scottish Executive sponsors a range of competitions and awards for architectureand design. Information about such funding or part funding during the last fivey…

26 Aug 2005 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether, in the event of the Home Secretary or any other person outwith Scotland calling for the expulsion of a resident or visitor to Scotland judged to have incited racial hatred, glorified terrorism or encouraged others to commit acts of racial violence, the Lord Advocate would be requ…

Answer · Colin Boyd: In all circumstances where a crime is alleged to have taken place within Scottish jurisdiction, decisions about prosecution will be taken, independently by the Lord Advocate or by prosecutors acting on his behalf and authority. This independence is enshrined …

26 Aug 2005 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive by what means, and over what period, the Minister for Justice was consulted by the Home Secretary on his decision to create new grounds for the expulsion from, and non-admission to, the United Kingdom of persons accused of inciting racial hatred, glorifying terrorism or encouraging others…

Answer · Cathy Jamieson: Immigration and deportation, including new grounds for the expulsion from and non-admission to the UK, are reserved.</p>

26 Aug 2005 · SPCB Written Question

To ask the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body which members of the Post-Completion Advisory Group were not members of the Holyrood Project Team.

Answer · George Reid: Apart from the period June – November 2000 when Dr Gibbons acted as Project Director, no members of the Post Completion Advisory Group were members of the Holyrood Project Team. Dr Gibbons, Andrew Wright and David Manson were members of the Holyrood Progress …

26 Aug 2005 · SPCB Written Question

To ask the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body how many applications were received for the post of architectural consultant to the Parliament.

Answer · George Reid: I refer the member to the answer to S2W-18714.</p>

26 Aug 2005 · SPCB Written Question

To ask the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body where advertisements were placed for the post of architectural consultant to the Parliament.

Answer · George Reid: Since only Dr John Gibbons had the necessary experience and knowledge of the Holyrood Building Project that we sought, the post was not advertised.</p>

26 Aug 2005 · SPCB Written Question

To ask the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body at which of its meetings it agreed to employ Dr John Gibbons as a member of the Post-Completion Advisory Group on the Holyrood Project at an estimated remuneration of £14,000, as reported in the Daily Mail on 26 August 2005.

Answer · George Reid: Dr Gibbons appointment was approved at the meeting of the Corporate Body on 25 May 2004.</p>

26 Aug 2005 · SPCB Written Question

To ask the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body at which of its meetings it agreed to employ Dr John Gibbons as an architectural consultant to the Parliament on a 12-month contract valued at £34,000, as reported in the Daily Mail on 26 August 2005.

Answer · George Reid: The appointment was made on 28 April 2005 by the Clerk under delegated authority from the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body.</p>

6 Jun 2005 · SPCB Written Question

To ask the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body what plans it has to improve the working conditions and facilities of translators, in light of the experience of the G8 International Parliamentarians Conference on Development in Africa.

Answer · John Scott: The interpretation booths inthe Chamber and Committee Rooms comply with the relevant building control standardsand meet the requirements of the building brief. In particular, all the booths aresignificantly bigger than the requirements of ISO 2603. The SPCB h…

3 Mar 2005 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will publish any figures or research showing the number of children who have access to broadband internet at (a) home and (b) school.

Answer · Peter Peacock: The “Impact of ICT Initiatives in Scottish Schools” survey in 2000-2001 found that:</p><p>(a) At school, 55% of S4 pupils used a computer three or more times a week, while most of the younger pupils used it once or twice a week or less</p><p>(b) At home, 80% …