Parliamentary questions
Marilyn Livingstone
248 questions tabled in the Scottish Parliament, most recent first.
22 Mar 2006 · General Question
To ask the Scottish Executive which police forces it considers have successfully implemented the antisocial behaviour legislation in relation to seizure of vehicles and warnings to drivers.
Answer · Hugh Henry: A number of police forces, includingFife Constabulary, are leading the way using not only the seizure of vehicles provisions,but other measures in the Antisocial Behaviour (Scotland) Act. This has helped bringrelief and respite to their communities.</p><p>Cle…
8 Mar 2006 · General Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what steps are being taken to expand park-and-ride facilities at railway stations.
Answer · Tavish Scott: Inaddition to our funding of local authorities and others for specific projects toincrease car parking facilities, we have secured additional car park enhancementsthrough the ScotRail Franchise.</p><p>We are also in discussions withFirst ScotRail and Network …
27 Feb 2006 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many complaints about the Law Society of Scotland received by the Scottish Legal Services Ombudsman were upheld in (a) 2003, (b) 2004 and (c) 2005.
Answer · Hugh Henry: There are no figures available.Whilst the ombudsman is empowered to investigate the handling of complaints by theLaw Society of Scotland she cannot investigate the original complaint or overturnthe decision by the professional body. An outline of the ombudsma…
27 Feb 2006 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many complaints regarding excessive time taken for decisions by the Law Society of Scotland were received by the Scottish Legal Services Ombudsman in (a) 2003, (b) 2004, and (c) 2005.
Answer · Hugh Henry: The ombudsman has confirmed thatin the calendar year 2005, there were 53 cases in which she prepared a formal writtenopinion. For the earlier years, the data was not kept in comparable format, thoughthe ombudsman notes that complaints about delay have reduced…
27 Feb 2006 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many complaints about the Law Society of Scotland were received by the Scottish Legal Services Ombudsman in (a) 2003, (b) 2004 and (c) 2005.
Answer · Hugh Henry: Based on the reporting periodof the Scottish Legal Services Ombudsman’s Annual Reports the figures are:</p><table border=1 cellspacing=0 cellpadding=3> <tr> <td width=71 valign=top> <p>2002-03</p> </td> <td width=44 valign=top> <p align=right>199</p> <…
24 Feb 2006 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has any plans to roll out the Disabled Student Allowance to further education students.
Answer · Nicol Stephen: We have no plans to roll outthe Disabled Students’ Allowance to non-advanced further education students at themoment. Students at further education colleges studying on advanced courses arealready eligible for the Disabled Students’ Allowance.</p><p>Further e…
27 Jan 2006 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what revenue has been generated annually by tolls on the Forth Road Bridge since 1999
Answer · Tavish Scott: This is a matter for the Forth Estuary Transport Authority which owns and operates the bridge.</p>
4 Jan 2006 · General Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what measures are in place to protect accident and emergency staff in hospitals.
Answer · Andy Kerr: Violence and aggression towards any NHSScotland staff is unacceptable. NHSScotland employers take a variety of measures to protect staff based on risk. This can range from withdrawal of treatment to increased security at busy times.</p>
23 Nov 2005 · General Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what steps it has taken to encourage community use of school sports facilities.
Answer · Robert Brown: The Executive encourages the fullest use of all local authority resources, including school sports facilities. It is though for authorities and schools to consider locally how best to encourage such community use. In <i>Building our Future: Scotland’s School …
16 Nov 2005 · General Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how the new legislation is assisting local authorities in taking action against instances of antisocial behaviour.
Answer · Hugh Henry: The first anniversary report launched earlier this week sets out how councils, the police and other agencies across the country are making increasing use of the new powers made available to them under the Antisocial Behaviour (Scotland) Act 2004. Alongside th…
29 Jun 2005 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what progress is being made on working with the construction industry and trades unions to promote the full range of opportunities within the industry.
Answer · Allan Wilson: The Scottish Executive works closely with construction industry stakeholders, including trades unions. The Union of Construction Allied Trades and Technicians (UCATT) is a member of the Scottish Construction Forum and is fully engaged in its work programme, i…
29 Jun 2005 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what careers advice provisionis available for disabled people, particularly in the transition between school and further and higher education and also between further and higher education and work.
Answer · Allan Wilson: I refer the member to the answer to question S2W-17693 on 20 July 2005. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliamentary website, the search facility for which can be found at <a href="http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/…
29 Jun 2005 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what careers advice provision is available for young people with learning difficulties, particularly during the transition between school and further and higher education and also between further and higher education and work.
Answer · Allan Wilson: Careers Scotland has partnership agreements with each secondary school and college in Scotland to provide career information, advice and guidance to all young people on education, training and employment opportunities. This service is designed and delivered t…
29 Jun 2005 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what progress is being made in making Scotlanda Fair Trade country.
Answer · Patricia Ferguson: Since the first meeting inMay of the parliamentary cross party group on fair trade, which I chair,officials in the International Division have met with members of the Welsh Fair TradeFoundation to learn from Welsh progress in becoming a fair trade nation.Offi…
29 Jun 2005 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what measures are being put in place to ensure availability of NHS dental services in the Kirkcaldy constituency.
Answer · Lewis Macdonald: NHS Fife are implementing a range of measures to improve access to NHS dental services in Fife including Kirkcaldy. Examples are the appointment of salaried dentists and the approval and funding for an eight surgery dental centre in Kirkcaldy which is due to …
29 Jun 2005 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what steps it is taking to support and encourage existing credit unions.
Answer · Malcolm Chisholm: As part of our Partnership Agreement commitment to support the development of credit unions, the Scottish Credit Union Capacity Fund was launched in 2003. The fund is worth £1.1 million over a three year period and is aimed at helping credit unions build thei…
10 Jun 2005 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what action it will take in response to the Sentencing Commissions Report on Bail and Remand, with particular reference to sex offenders who offend against children.
Answer · Cathy Jamieson: The commission’s report is currently being considered. When it was published I stated that the Executive would respond formally in the summer. That remains our intention.</p> <p>We have already made provision to allow a court to impose electronic monitoring a…
6 Apr 2005 · General Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what action is being taken to attract more women into the construction industry.
Answer · Allan Wilson: The gender balance in the construction industry is not representative of the population of modern Scotland. We welcome the work of the CITB-ConstructionSkills, the sector skills council for the construction industry, which is working with industry employers t…
15 Dec 2004 · General Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how its pathfinder urban regeneration programme will benefit the poorest communities.
Answer · Malcolm Chisholm: The Executive has committed £20 million in 2004-06 to support three pathfinder Urban Regeneration Companies (URCs) in Craigmillar, Raploch and Clydebank. URCs are designed to develop new ways of delivering sustainable physical, economic and social benefits to…
24 Nov 2004 · General Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what funding is made available for public awareness campaigns on the issues of domestic violence and violence against women.
Answer · Malcolm Chisholm: This year, 2004-05, the Scottish Executive will be investing between £250,000 and £300,000 on the domestic abuse publicity campaign to raise awareness of the issues and the services available to women.</p>
10 Nov 2004 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to give enforceable legal status to disabled parking bays provided in residential areas.
Answer · Nicol Stephen: Under the Road Traffic Regulation Act 1984, local road authorities have powers to make Traffic Regulation Orders for a variety of reasons including the provision of legally enforceable disabled parking bays in residential areas.</p>
27 Oct 2004 · General Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to help to reduce congestion on the Forth Road Bridge.
Answer · Nicol Stephen: Responsibility for the operation of the Forth Road Bridge is a matter for the Forth Estuary Transport Authority (FETA) in the first instance. The Executive is working closely with FETA and other stakeholders to address access and congestion issues associated …
27 Oct 2004 · General Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what progress has been made in increasing the number of doctors employed by the NHS.
Answer · Andy Kerr: The Scottish Executive is committed to increasing the capacity within the medical staff group.</p><p>Between September 1999 and September 2003, the total medical staffing establishment within NHS Scotland has increased by 14%.</p>
8 Oct 2004 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what progress has been made in determining the grant aided expenditure for Fife Constabulary, following the review of police funding.
Answer · Cathy Jamieson: Today I am publishing the findings of the Police Grant Aided Expenditure (GAE) Working Group which was set up to consider how best to distribute police funding between Scottish forces. The working group has produced a new formula which aims to ensure that the…
28 Sep 2004 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what steps it is taking to ensure that adequate provision of incubator units is available to support the development of small businesses.
Answer · Jim Wallace: Provision of incubator units is a matter for the Enterprise Networks. Historically, they have provided incubator space for start up companies where private sector developers have failed to do so. The Enterprise Networks have no remit to develop property on a …
28 Sep 2004 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what progress has been made in encouraging the use of the coastal path network.
Answer · Lewis Macdonald: Coastal path networks are local authority led initiatives. Recent years haveseen growing efforts by many local authorities and partners to improve and providelocal path networks where they are most required, partly in response to ScottishNatural Heritage’s <i…
22 Sep 2004 · General Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will outline its programme in respect of the implementation of the draft Protection of Children and Prevention of Sexual Offences (Scotland) Bill.
Answer · Cathy Jamieson: We intend tointroduce the bill in the current session. The bill creates new offences connectedwith the grooming of children and strengthens the legal framework for dealing withsex offenders and those thought to pose a risk to children and the public in genera…
15 Sep 2004 · General Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions it is having with the royal colleges in relation to the reconfiguration of services.
Answer · Malcolm Chisholm: The Scottish Executive maintains a regular dialogue with the royal colleges.Officials from the Health Department met representatives from the royal colleges on Tuesday 21 September to discuss issues of service change.</p>
21 Jun 2004 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what the initial take-up has been of the education maintenance allowance.
Answer · Jim Wallace: National roll-out of the education maintenance allowance (EMA) programme does not commence until August 2004. Local authority education departments and further education colleges are currently handling early applications.</p><p>Information on EMA take-up will…
8 Jun 2004 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what steps it will take to reduce the number of women in prison.
Answer · Cathy Jamieson: The Scottish Executive is committed to reducing the number of women offenders needlessly sent to prison. We are taking forward a number of initiatives which follow up the conclusions made by the Ministerial Group on Women Offenders contained in its report, <i…