Maureen Macmillan

24 Apr 2002 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how it will ensure better access to dental care in the Highlands.

Answer · Mary Mulligan: On 25 April, I announced a £1 million "Golden Hello" package as part of a phased programme to improve recruitment and retention of NHS dentists and help ensure that patients are able to access NHS dental treatment. Key features will include:<UL><P><LI>funding…

16 Apr 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what support is being given to (a) graduate students and (b) school leavers who wish to take Gaelic Immersion courses before undergoing teacher training for Gaelic-medium education.

Answer · Wendy Alexander: Graduate students are not eligible for further support if they are improving an existing advanced level qualification or have previously received bursary or SAAS (Student Awards Agency for Scotland) support. The reason for this is that it has to be recognised…

20 Mar 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive when it will announce the result of the recent consultation exercise on shellfish water designation.

Answer · Allan Wilson: As a result of the recent consultation exercise an additional 75 areas of Scotland are to be designated under the Shellfish Waters Directive. These areas are in Argyll, Dumfries & Galloway, the Highlands and Islands, North Ayrshire, Orkney, Shetland and the W…

20 Mar 2002 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what action it is taking to support Gaelic-speaking teachers and enable them to teach their subject in Gaelic.

Answer · Mike Watson: The Executive is working closely with education authorities to ensure all teachers have the support they need to teach effectively. In particular, we support a course at Sabhal Mor Ostaig specifically designed to enable Gaelic-speaking teachers to teach their…

11 Mar 2002 · First Minister's Question

To ask the First Minister how the Scottish Executive will ensure that its new tourism strategy results in tangible benefits for the tourism industry.

Answer · Jack McConnell: We are determined to revitalise the tourism industry across Scotland following the difficulties of last year. Mike Watson will chair a group that will oversee implementation of the Framework for Action, which he launched in Oban on 11 March. This group will i…

8 Mar 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether expenditure allocated to (a) Scottish Homes and (b) Communities Scotland available for spending in the Highland Council area in (i) 2000-01, (ii) 2001-02 and (iii) 2002-03 has increased over the planned expenditure for 1999-2000 and, if so, by how much.

Answer · Iain Gray: I have asked Mr Bob Millar, Chief Executive of Communities Scotland to respond. His response is as follows:<P>Communities Scotland's (and Scottish Homes) actual development programme budgets in the Highland Council area in the period 1999-2000 to 2002-03, are…

8 Mar 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether all money allocated to the Highland Pilot of the Rural Partnership for Change initiative will be utilised by the end of 2002-03 and, if not, whether any unused sums will continue to be available beyond then.

Answer · Iain Gray: I have asked Mr Bob Millar, Chief Executive of Communities Scotland to respond. <P>His response is as follows:<P>When the Highland Pilot of the Rural Partnership for Change Initiative was announced in 2000-01, Communities Scotland/Scottish Homes were committe…

8 Mar 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive by how much (a) Scottish Homes and (b) Communities Scotland have augmented their budgets for use in the Highlands to accommodate the ring-fenced funding allocated for the Highland Pilot of the Rural Partnership for Change Initiative in (a) 2001-02, (b) 2002-03 and (c) 2003-04 as compared …

Answer · Iain Gray: I have asked Mr Bob Millar, Chief Executive of Communities Scotland to respond. His response is as follows:<P>Communities Scotland's (and Scottish Homes) actual development programme budgets in the Highlands and Islands Region, including the Highland Pilot of…

8 Mar 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what funding was (a) allocated and (b) spent to date from the ring-fenced sums announced for the Highland Pilot of the Rural Partnership for Change Initiative and how much will be spent (i) by the end of 2001-02 and (ii) in 2002-03 and (iii) in 2003-04.

Answer · Iain Gray: I have asked Mr Bob Millar, Chief Executive of Communities Scotland to respond. His response is as follows:<P>Communities Scotland's (and Scottish Homes) actual development programme investment allocated and spent to date on the Highland Pilot of the Rural Pa…

1 Mar 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how it intends to respond to the report on the Management Review of the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service.

Answer · Colin Boyd: I received the report of the Management Review, led by Jonathan Pryce, on 28 February. I welcome the report which analyses the pressures that the service is under and identifies the need for significant managerial, structural and cultural changes in the Crown…

27 Feb 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how it intends to respond to the recently published evaluation of the Public Defence Solicitors' Office pilot in Edinburgh.

Answer · Jim Wallace: Having carefully considered the evaluation, I have decided to continue with the Edinburgh pilot for a further period beyond the current end date of October 2003, and to consider launching one or two further pilot projects in other locations. I will bring forw…

30 Jan 2002 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what role it sees for community pharmacies in achieving its objectives for the NHS.

Answer · Hugh Henry: The role which we see community pharmacists fulfilling in the future as key members of the Primary Care team is set out in <I>The Right Medicine: A Strategy for Pharmaceutical Care in Scotland </I>which was published on 4 February (Bib. number 18835).

23 Jan 2002 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what measures it is taking to stamp out violence against school staff.

Answer · Nicol Stephen: There is no place in Scotland's schools for violent or abusive behaviour.<P>The Scottish Executive currently funds a number of initiatives aimed at improving discipline, addressing bullying and developing a positive ethos in schools.<P>In addition, the report…

9 Jan 2002 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how it is assisting adult education projects.

Answer · Wendy Alexander: Significant funding is allocated directly by Government Departments or routed through Executive Agencies, Local Authorities, <I>learndirect scotland </I>and the Enterprise network to support a wide range of community and work based adult education projects.

12 Dec 2001 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what progress is being made in combating domestic abuse.

Answer · Margaret Curran: A National Group to Address Domestic Abuse was established in April and continues to take forward the implementation of the National Strategy to Address Domestic Abuse in Scotland. Three issue-based working groups have been set up: to review legislation relat…

23 Nov 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive when the report and recommendations of the Review of Legal Advice and Information Provision in Scotland Working Group will be published.

Answer · Jim Wallace: The Review of Legal Advice and Information Provision in Scotland Working Group is today publishing its report. I very much welcome the publication of the report and look forward to reading it in detail and considering its findings. I greatly value the hard wo…

21 Nov 2001 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what steps are being taken to implement local agreements on the 35-hour working week for teachers.

Answer · Nicol Stephen: All local authorities and Scottish schools have reached agreement on how to implement the 35 hour working week. This is the first stage of a four-stage process scheduled to end in August 2006 which will be taken forward by the Scottish Negotiating Committee f…

7 Nov 2001 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what progress is being made with the introduction of the Criminal Justice Bill.

Answer · Iain Gray: We intend to introduce a Criminal Justice Bill in early 2002. It will introduce new arrangements for the treatment of serious violent and sexual offenders, as set out in our White Paper of June. It will also introduce other measures, which will be outlined in…

31 Oct 2001 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what success it has had with its campaign to attract mature entrants into teaching.

Answer · Jack McConnell: The recent Teacher Recruitment Advertising Campaign has the twin objectives of improving public perception of teaching as a worthwhile and rewarding career and increasing the numbers of talented people entering the teaching profession. <P>The campaign was not…

17 Oct 2001 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what steps will be taken to address the current shortage of Gaelic-medium teachers following the recently announced #1 million extra investment in Gaelic broadcasting and teaching.

Answer · Jack McConnell: The Executive is supporting the development of an initial teacher education course specifically for Gaelic-medium primary teaching and is funding an extra 10 student places at Strathclyde University in session 2001-02 to support primary Gaelic-medium provisio…

8 Oct 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what criteria are used when considering funding bids for new schools under the second phase of Public/Private Partnership.

Answer · Jack McConnell: Scottish Executive Education Department Circular 8/2001, copies of which are available in the Parliament's Reference Centre, includes a list of the criteria against which bids for revenue support for further school Public/Private Partnership proposals will be…

26 Sep 2001 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what action it is taking to improve the professional standards of teachers.

Answer · Jack McConnell: As part of the drive for continuous improvement, the consultation on the Standard for Full Registration was launched last week, in partnership with the General Teaching Council for Scotland (GTCS).<P>When introduced from August 2002, the Standard for Full Reg…

11 Sep 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what progress has been made in the review of radioactive waste management policy.

Answer · Rhona Brankin: Together with the United Kingdom Government and the other devolved administrations we are launching a public consultation which will lead to decisions on a long-term management strategy for radioactive waste. An initial consultation document, <I>Managing Radi…

11 Sep 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what progress is being made in bringing forward a Scottish Diabetes Framework.

Answer · Susan Deacon: Good progress is being made towards fulfilling the commitment in <I>Our National Health: A plan for action, a plan for change</I> to launch a Scottish Diabetes Framework in 2001. A consultation paper was issued in July by the Scottish Diabetes Framework Worki…

27 Jun 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what progress has been made by its Adult Literacy Team.

Answer · Wendy Alexander: I am<B> </B>pleased to announce that the Adult Literacy Team's report will be published on Monday 2 July on the team's website.<P>Website address: http://www.scotland.gov.uk/who/elld/alt.asp<P>I welcome the report and broadly endorse its conclusions and 21 re…

20 Jun 2001 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what consultation it has undertaken with women about equality issues.

Answer · Margaret Curran: We are committed to equality for women. The Scottish Executive's Equality Strategy sets out how we are delivering on that commitment and improving consultation is fundamental to that strategy. Equality for women is at the heart of the Executive's priorities o…

20 Jun 2001 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what progress has been made in attracting new jobs to Kintyre.

Answer · Alasdair Morrison: Progress has been good, and I was particularly pleased to confirm on 19 June that the UK's first wind turbine factory is to be built at Machrihanish, creating 124 direct and 44 indirect planned jobs. Meanwhile, Argyll and the Islands Enterprise are continuing…

30 May 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether, in the light of the recent incident in Portree Sheriff Court where CS gas was used to restore order, there will be a review of security needs in rural courts.

Answer · Jim Wallace: Court security is a matter which is kept under constant review by the Scottish Court Service. The recent incident at Portree Sheriff Court is being examined to determine whether there are any implications for the security of both rural and urban courts.

29 May 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what progress has been made with the application by the Camanachd Association for additional funding for shinty.

Answer · Allan Wilson: Following its unsuccessful application for an increase in the level of Development Grant Aid made available to shinty, the Camanachd Association (CA) accepted an offer from<B> sport</B>scotland to fund an independent review. The aim of the review is to provid…

16 May 2001 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what support is being given to the tourism industry in Kintyre.

Answer · Alasdair Morrison: The Executive's New Strategy for Scottish Tourism contains many new actions designed to grow tourism throughout Scotland. The strategy actions will be reviewed over the course of the next few months. The Kintyre area will also benefit from the additional £5 m…