Parliamentary questions
Marlyn Glen
917 questions tabled in the Scottish Parliament, most recent first.
30 Nov 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what the estimated cost is of treating a case of preventable healthcare associated infection in hospital.
Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: The Scottish HAI Point Prevalence Survey (PPS) published in July 2007, estimated that, on average, it costs an additional £2,105 to treat a patient with a healthcare associated infection (HAI) in an acute hospital and that the annual cost of HAI in acute hosp…
25 Nov 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many people were employed in (a) Dundee and (b) Angus in each of the last three years for which figures are available, broken down by (a) sector and (b) gender.
Answer · John Swinney: The official source of employment levels by local authority is the Annual Population Survey (APS). The latest available APS data is for April 2008 to March 2009. Table 1 shows the number of people employed in Dundee and Angus in each of the last three years b…
25 Nov 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what the estimated gross value added was for (a) Angus and (b) Dundee City in each of the last three years for which figures are available, also expressed per head.
Answer · John Swinney: Separate GVA (gross value added) estimates are not available for Angus and Dundee City. The regional GVA estimates published by the Office for National Statistics are available at the NUTS 3 level, which gives a combined figure for Angus and Dundee City in cu…
19 Nov 2009 · General Question
To ask the Scottish Executive when it will introduce permitted development rights for micro wind turbines.
Answer · Stewart Stevenson: The Climate Change (Scotland) Act 2009 requires an Order to be made by 5 February 2010.</p>
5 Nov 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what actions it has taken to survey the numbers of (a) Gypsy/Travellers, (b) Gypsy/Traveller caravans and (c) pitches accessible to Gypsy/Travellers in each year since 2001.
Answer · Alex Neil: The Scottish Government gathers this information through the <i >Gypsies/Travellers in Scotland - Twice Yearly Count</i>. The count began in July 1998 and gathers information on Gypsy/Traveller households on official sites, private sites and unauthorised enca…
5 Nov 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what response it has received from the UK Government to its request that Scottish Gypsies/Travellers be established as a minority ethnic group in the Equality Bill, as set out in the letter dated 26 June 2007 from the Cabinet Secretary for Health and Wellbeing to the Secretary of State fo…
Answer · Alex Neil: The subject matter of the Race Relations Act 1976 (as amended) is reserved to the UK Government. Any change to such legislation is therefore a matter for the UK Government. Interpretation of race relations legislation is a matter for the tribunals or courts. …
5 Nov 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what resources it has allocated to improving the position of Gypsy/Travellers in line with the commitment set out in its December 2008 Race Equality Statement.
Answer · Alex Neil: The following table sets out resources committed to projects taking forward the commitments made in the <i >Race Equality Statement</i>.</p> <table border=1 cellspacing=0 cellpadding=0 width=612 > <thead> <tr > <td valign=top > <p align=center >R…
5 Nov 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what funding it has provided to Gypsy/Travellers and their representative organisations since May 2007 (a) in total and (b) specifically to support capacity-building.
Answer · Alex Neil: The following funding has been provided to projects representing the interests of Gypsies/Travellers. All of these projects seek to build the capacity of communities or groups representing the interests of Gypsies/Travellers. </p> <table border=1 cellspacin…
5 Nov 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many of its working groups include representation from Gypsy/Travellers or their representative organisations.
Answer · Alex Neil: We are unable to answer this question as the information requested could only be obtained at disproportionate costs.</p>
5 Nov 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will reconvene its Strategic Group on Gypsies/Travellers, given the poor progress reported by the Equal Opportunities Committee.
Answer · Alex Neil: The Strategic Group on Gypsies/Travellers was set up in 2006 as a short-term working group. The priorities it identified were reflected in the <i >Scottish Government Race Equality Statement</i>, published on 8 December 2008. We are working with partners to d…
5 Nov 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many of its consultations have received input from Gypsy/Traveller groups or their representatives in each year since 2001.
Answer · Alex Neil: We are unable to answer this question as the information requested could only be obtained at disproportionate costs.</p>
30 Oct 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how much Housing Association Grant was awarded to each registered social landlord in (a) Dundee and (b) Angus in each of the last three financial years, expressed in real terms.
Answer · Alex Neil: Housing Association Grant is available to registered social landlords to acquire land or buildings and to build, convert or improve housing for rent or low cost home ownership.</p> <p >The following table provides details of the Housing Association Grant awa…
30 Oct 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how much Housing Association Grant was awarded to each registered social landlord in (a) Dundee and (b) Angus in each of the last three financial years.
Answer · Alex Neil: Housing Association Grant is available to registered social landlords to acquire land or buildings and to build, convert or improve housing for rent or low cost home ownership.</p> <p >The following table provides details of the Housing Association Grant awa…
29 Oct 2009 · General Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions it plans to have with the National Galleries of Scotland regarding the number of proposed venues across Scotland and their availability and accessibility to ensure that Titian’s Diana and Actaeon can be viewed by as large an audience as possible.
Answer · Michael Russell: Titian''s Diana and Actaeon will be returning to Scotland from the National Gallery in London in spring 2010. We understand that the National Galleries of Scotland has plans to show the work in several venues across the country as well as in its usual home in…
28 Oct 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will name the research projects on equality issues undertaken jointly by it and the Economic and Social Research Council during the period 2007 to 2009.
Answer · Alex Neil: The Scottish Government undertakes joint funded PhD schemes with the Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC). The Internship scheme enables second or third year ESRC PhD students to work in the Scottish Government on short three-month placements. The PhD …
28 Oct 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will list the names of refuge centres for abused women in each local authority.
Answer · Alex Neil: The Scottish Government will not list this information. Scottish Women''s Aid publish on their website a full list of women''s aid groups which includes both affiliated and unaffiliated organisations. Refuges themselves are not publicised for the safety of wo…
28 Oct 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many redundant apprentices have achieved employment through the ScotAction programme since its launch in May 2009.
Answer · Fiona Hyslop: Since the launch of Adopt an Apprentice on 10 June 2009, Skills Development Scotland has received 181 applications from employers seeking to recruit redundant apprentices. One hundred and seventy five of these applications were approved by 29 October 2009.</p…
20 Oct 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what the (a) number and (b) rate of hospital admissions has been of people aged 65 and over in (i) Dundee and (ii) Angus as a result of falls in each of the last three years for which information is available, broken down by intermediate geographical zone.
Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: The number of emergency admissions into acute hospital care due to a fall for residents of (i) Angus and (ii) Dundee City council areas aged 65 and over are shown in the following tables.</p> <p >Table 1: Number and rate of hospital admissions due to fall in…
17 Sep 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what level of core funding is projected for the Scottish Youth Parliament over the next three years.
Answer · Keith Brown: The Scottish Youth Parliament currently receives Unified Voluntary Sector Funding (UVSF). A decision on funding in future years will be announced in due course.</p>
9 Sep 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many charges under the Emergency Workers (Scotland) Act 2005 that have been reported to procurators fiscal in each year since 2005 resulted in a successful prosecution, broken down by section of the Act.
Answer · Frank Mulholland: The following table shows (for charges reported in each financial year) the number of charges which resulted in a conviction. A number of charges are still subject of on-going court proceedings and these are also included in the table.</p> <p >Charges: Emerg…
9 Sep 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many charges under the Emergency Workers (Scotland) Act 2005 reported to procurators fiscal have been the subject of court proceedings in each year since 2005.
Answer · Frank Mulholland: The following table shows (for charges reported in each financial year) the number of charges which resulted in a prosecution. A number of charges are still subject of on-going court proceedings and these are included in the following table.</p> <p >Charges:…
9 Sep 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many charges under the Emergency Workers (Scotland) Act 2005 have been reported to procurators fiscal in each year since 2005.
Answer · Frank Mulholland: The following table shows the number of charges under the Emergency Workers (Scotland) Act 2005 that were reported to Procurator Fiscals since the financial year 2005-06.</p> <p >Charges: Emergency Workers (Scotland) Act 2005<sup>1,2 </sup></p> <table bord…
17 Aug 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, following the comments of the Cabinet Secretary for Justice in The Herald on 12 August 2009 that where “a man and woman [are] facing punishment for the same offence, the woman will get a higher tariff”’, what action, if any, it intends to take.
Answer · Kenny MacAskill: Sentencing in individual cases is a matter for the judiciary. The Scottish Executive recognises the need to develop further our understanding of the complex needs of women offenders and to ensure that the criminal justice system is equipped to respond to thos…
17 Aug 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what steps it is taking to address sexism in the criminal justice system.
Answer · Kenny MacAskill: I undertook during my appearance at the Equal Opportunities Committee on 23 June 2009 to ensure that our work with COSLA and other agencies in taking forward the framework of Protecting Scotland''s Communities, Fair Fast and Flexible Justice included the appl…
17 Aug 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what steps it is taking to assess the effects of sexism in the criminal justice system
Answer · Kenny MacAskill: The Scottish Executive is committed to its duty as a public authority to take positive action to eliminate gender discrimination and to promote equality under the Equality Act 2006. This should ensure that we treat men and women with equivalent respect accord…
17 Aug 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what steps it is taking to improve continuity of support for female prisoners in addressing their offending behaviour after release into the community.
Answer · Kenny MacAskill: The Scottish Government is working with COSLA and other agencies within the framework of Protecting Scotland''s Communities, Fair, Fast and Flexible Justice to design criminal justice services which meet the specific needs of all offenders. I undertook, duri…
17 Aug 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what steps it is taking to improve facilities for training for employment in HMP Cornton Vale.
Answer · Kenny MacAskill: I have asked Mike Ewart, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service, to respond. His response is as follows:</p> <p >Currently Cornton Vale has training for employment facilities in the following areas:</p> <p >Garden Maintenance;</p> <p >Bike Repair;<…
12 Aug 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many charges under the Emergency Workers (Scotland) Act 2005 reported to the Procurator Fiscal in (a) Dundee and (b) Tayside in each year since 2005 resulted in a successful prosecution.
Answer · Kenny MacAskill: The available information is given in the following table.</p> <p >Persons with a charge proved under the Emergency Workers Act 2005<sup>1</sup> in Dundee City and Tayside<sup>2</sup>, 2005-06 - 2007-08<sup>3</sup>:</p> <table border=1 cellspacing=0 cellpa…
12 Aug 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many charges under the Emergency Workers (Scotland) Act 2005 reported to the Procurator Fiscal in (a) Dundee and (b) Tayside have been the subject of court proceedings in each year since 2005, broken down by section of the Act.
Answer · Kenny MacAskill: The available information is given in the following table.</p> <p >Persons proceeded against under The Emergency Workers Act 2005<sup>1</sup> in Dundee City and Tayside<sup>2</sup>, 2005-06 - 2007-08<sup>3</sup></p> <table border=1 cellspacing=0 cellpaddi…
12 Aug 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many charges under the Emergency Workers (Scotland) Act 2005 have been reported to the Procurator Fiscal in (a) Dundee and (b) Tayside in each year since 2005.
Answer · Frank Mulholland: The following table shows the number of charges under the Emergency Workers (Scotland) Act 2005 that were reported to the Procurator Fiscal in Dundee and Procurators Fiscal in the Tayside Area since the financial year 2005-06.</p> <p >Charges: Emergency Work…