Trish Godman

17 Apr 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many (a) individuals and (b) companies were convicted of offences relating to fly-tipping in (i) 1999, (ii) 2000 and (iii) 2001 and what the range of penalties imposed upon such offenders was.

Answer · Jim Wallace: The available information is given in the following table. Data for the year 2001 are not yet available.<P>Persons with a Charge Proved in Scottish Courts where the Main Offence was a Litter Offence<SUP>1</SUP>, 1999-2000<TABLE BORDER CELLSPACING=1 CELLPADDIN…

17 Apr 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many Justices of the Peace were appointed in the last three years, broken down by (a) gender and (b) social class in terms of the classification used by the Register General.

Answer · Jim Wallace: A total of 343 justices of the peace have been appointed since 1 April 1999, of which 212 are male and 131 female. This total includes 117 justices appointed <I>ex officio </I>by local authorities, 80 of whom are male and 37 female. <P>Information on social c…

17 Apr 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many full-time police officers there were in each year since 1997 and how many of these were women officers.

Answer · Jim Wallace: The available information on police officer numbers in each year since 1997 is given in the following table:<P>Number of Police Officers<TABLE BORDER CELLSPACING=1 CELLPADDING=7 WIDTH=453><TR><TD WIDTH="15%" VALIGN="TOP"><P>As at:</TD><TD WIDTH="33%" VALIGN="…

17 Apr 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many jobs were (a) created and (b) retained as a direct result of inward investment from (i) EU member-states and (ii) third countries in the last three years.

Answer · Wendy Alexander: The information is set out on the following table. The job figures refer to planned employment by companies at the time the decision to invest was made, and do not include investment from other parts of the UK.<TABLE BORDER CELLSPACING=1 CELLPADDING=7 WIDTH=5…

17 Apr 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what proposals are being considered in relation to increasing the number of apprenticeships in the (a) manufacturing and (b) service industries.

Answer · Wendy Alexander: The Enterprise Network works with other key partners to increase the number of Modern Apprenticeships in manufacturing industries and in a broad range of service sector industries. The Make it in Scotland roadshow campaign aims to promote the image of the man…

17 Apr 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many (a) appointments and (b) re-appointments to public bodies have been made since October 1998, broken down by gender.

Answer · Andy Kerr: From 1 October 1998 to 31 March 2001, a total of 588 new appointments were made of which 383 (65%) were male and 205 (35%) were female.<P>For the same period, a total of 255 re-appointments were made. We are unable to provide the gender breakdown of re-appoin…

17 Apr 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what financial assistance is being given to local authorities for the provision of vocational rehabilitation programmes for people with acquired brain injuries.

Answer · Malcolm Chisholm: Services for people with brain injuries are provided by local authorities from their general social work allocations in accordance with locally assessed needs and priorities, and are often provided in partnership with the health board and local voluntary sect…

17 Apr 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what steps are being taken to encourage people to apply for social work training courses.

Answer · Cathy Jamieson: The Executive supports the work of the Scottish Social Services Council in promoting social work as a career and promoting social work training. As part of the action plan launched on 18 April, the Executive will establish an awareness and recruitment campaig…

17 Apr 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many (a) men and (b) women have completed social work training courses in each of the last four years.

Answer · Cathy Jamieson: The figures for the numbers of men and women gaining social work awards in the years 1997-98 to 2000-01 are:<TABLE BORDER CELLSPACING=1 CELLPADDING=7 WIDTH=349><TR><TD WIDTH="19%" VALIGN="TOP"> </TD><TD WIDTH="19%" VALIGN="TOP"><P>2000-01</TD><TD WIDTH="24%" …

17 Apr 2002 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether any discussions have been held recently with senior executives at Compaq concerning the retention of production and employment at its plant in Erskine.

Answer · Wendy Alexander: Officials are in regular contact with senior management at Compaq, both at local and corporate level, to discuss operations at the plant in Erskine. I have recently visited the facility at Erskine and in the US met with senior management of Hewlett-Packard to…

10 Apr 2002 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many crimes attributed to sectarianism were reported to the police and led to the conviction of the perpetrators in the last 10 years.

Answer · Jim Wallace: Crimes attributed to sectarianism are not separately identifiable within the Scottish Executive's classification of crimes and offences.

3 Apr 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to introduce a funded programme to support anti-sectarian activities in local communities based upon social justice and equality strategies.

Answer · Richard Simpson: I refer the member to the answer given to question S1W-24704.

3 Apr 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what recent discussions it has had with the Northern Ireland Executive concerning sectarianism in the workplace and in the education system.

Answer · Richard Simpson: I refer the member to the answer given to question S1W-24704.

3 Apr 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what recent discussions it has had with the Northern Ireland Executive concerning the implementation of programmes to eradicate sectarianism in local communities within the context of the promotion of social justice.

Answer · Richard Simpson: I refer the member to the answer given to question S1W-24704.

3 Apr 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what assessment it has made of the level and impact of sectarianism in society and what specific plans it has to tackle this.

Answer · Richard Simpson: I refer the member to the answer given to question S1W-24704.

3 Apr 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what assessment it has made of the education for mutual understanding programme in Northern Ireland and what plans it has to introduce a similar programme in Scotland.

Answer · Cathy Jamieson: There has been no assessment made of the education for mutual understanding programme in Northern Ireland, and there are no plans at present to introduce a similar programme in Scotland. <P>Tackling sectarianism in Scottish schools falls under our overarching…

3 Apr 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what recent discussions it has had with the Northern Ireland Executive concerning the feasibility of a joint study of sectarianism in schools and how it might be eradicated.

Answer · Cathy Jamieson: There have been no such discussions between the Scottish Executive and the Northern Ireland Executive.

3 Apr 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what recent discussions it has had with the Northern Ireland Executive concerning the education programme operating in Northern Ireland to tackle sectarianism amongst schoolchildren.

Answer · Cathy Jamieson: There have been no detailed discussions concerning the Education for Mutual Understanding programme operating in Northern Ireland. However, Scottish Executive officials are aware of the programme and have had contact with Northern Ireland Executive officials.…

3 Apr 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to introduce anti-sectarian courses into the curriculum at both primary and secondary level.

Answer · Cathy Jamieson: There are no plans to introduce anti-sectarian courses into the curriculum in Scottish schools.<P>Guidance to education authorities and schools and the framework of national qualifications provide relevant opportunities for raising awareness of matters such a…

3 Apr 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether there are any additional costs in providing separate infrastructures for non-denominational and Roman Catholic schools and, if so, what these costs are.

Answer · Nicol Stephen: The Scottish Executive does not hold detailed information that would allow any accurate conclusion to be drawn as to whether additional costs are associated with the provision of separate infrastructures for non-denominational and Roman Catholic schools. A wi…

3 Apr 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many (a) Roman Catholic children currently attend non-denominational schools and (b) non-Roman Catholic children currently attend Roman Catholic Schools.

Answer · Nicol Stephen: This information is not held centrally, as the Scottish Executive does not collect information relating to the religious denomination of individual pupils.

3 Apr 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether sectarianism in sport has implications for inward investment and tourism.

Answer · Mike Watson: There has been no research undertaken into this. However, any issue that portrays Scotland in a bad light will inevitably have an adverse effect on people's perceptions of Scotland. The Executive continues to believe that sectarianism has no place in a modern…

3 Apr 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what recent estimates have been made of the costs of policing sectarian events such as Orange Order parades and football matches with potential sectarian overtones.

Answer · Jim Wallace: Total policing costs in respect of Orange Order parades vary according to the size, location and timing of parades. Most parades (around 600 each year) take place in the areas covered by Strathclyde Police and Lothian and Borders Police. For local marches, wh…

3 Apr 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive when discussions were last held with senior police officers concerning sectarian crime and how it might be best tackled.

Answer · Jim Wallace: A cross party working group has been established to consider possible legislation to tackle religious hatred. The Association of Chief Police Officers in Scotland is represented on the group, which held its first meeting on 6 February and will meet again on 8…

3 Apr 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive who the members are of the task force established to examine sectarianism; which meetings have been held to date; what future meetings are planned; with whom it has consulted; who has made submissions to date, and when the task force will publish its report.

Answer · Jim Wallace: The cross party working group on possible legislation to tackle religious hatred is chaired by Dr Richard Simpson MSP, Deputy Minister for Justice, and comprises Ms Margaret Curran MSP, Deputy Minister for Social Justice, Ms Pauline McNeill MSP, Ms Roseanna …

3 Apr 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what advice it has sought and obtained from the Northern Ireland Executive on any ways and means of tackling sectarianism within the NHS and in monitoring sectarian incidents and any subsequent additional pressure on staff and costs.

Answer · Malcolm Chisholm: <I>Fair for All </I>and<I> Patient Focus and Public Involvement</I>, published in December of last year, reported on steps taken to develop the commitments in the Involving People section of <I>Our National Health: A plan for action, a plan for change</I>. Th…

3 Apr 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what information is available on the number of accident and emergency admissions to hospitals in (a) Glasgow, (b) Lanarkshire and (c) Renfrewshire on the dates of Celtic versus Rangers football matches in each of the past seven years and how these compare with normal rates of admission.

Answer · Malcolm Chisholm: My department does not hold this information. I would, therefore, suggest that any information that is available could best be obtained from the Acute NHS trusts in the Greater Glasgow, Lanarkshire and Renfrewshire areas.

3 Apr 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what studies have been carried out into the feasibility of monitoring crimes to identify any sectarian motivation.

Answer · Jim Wallace: A cross party working group has been established to consider possible legislation to tackle religious hatred. As part of its work the group is considering issues relating to the recording and monitoring of crime motivated by sectarianism.

3 Apr 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions it has had with the Northern Ireland Executive concerning the lessons to be learned from their experience of tackling sectarianism, bigotry and prejudice.

Answer · Richard Simpson: I refer the member to the answer given to question S1W-24704.

3 Apr 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether sectarianism in Scotland will be discussed at any future meeting of the British-Irish Council.

Answer · Patricia Ferguson: There are no plans at present to discuss sectarianism in Scotland at a meeting of the British-Irish Council, as the work programme for the council has already been agreed.