Parliamentary questions

Trish Godman

601 questions tabled in the Scottish Parliament, most recent first.

10 Jan 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what recent discussions have taken place with Her Majesty’s Government anent the setting up of a UK human trafficking centre.

Answer · Cathy Jamieson: The UK Human TraffickingCentre is based in Sheffield and was launched in October 2006. Officials at the Scottish Crime and Drug Enforcement Agency will work with the UK HumanTrafficking Centre to ensure that intelligence is shared across the UK.

10 Jan 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what recent representations have been made to the Home Secretary anent the signing by Her Majesty’s Government of the Council of Europe’s convention on action against trafficking in human beings.

Answer · Cathy Jamieson: The Deputy Minister for Justicewrote to Vernon Coaker, Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Policing, Securityand Community Safety, in June 2006 to draw his attention to the debate on humantrafficking in the Scottish Parliament on 25 May, and in particu…

29 Nov 2006 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive when it expects that an announcement will be made anent an order for the construction of a passenger ferry for Caledonian MacBrayne.

Answer · Tavish Scott: There are currently two vesselsbeing completed for the Clyde and Hebrides ferry services. These are the MV Loch Shira (to be deployedon the Largs to Cumbrae route) and the MV Argyle (to be deployed on the Wemyss Bayto Rothesay route). Both vessels are expecte…

29 Nov 2006 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive when it expects that an announcement will be made anent an order for the construction of a fisheries protection vessel for the Scottish Fisheries Protection Agency.

Answer · Ross Finnie: The Scottish FisheriesProtection Agency expects to be in a position to go out to tender for theconstruction of a fisheries protection vessel in the spring of 2007 andanticipates being able to decide on a preferred bidder later in the summer.

15 Nov 2006 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to make a submission to the Medical Research Council’s strategic review of virology.

Answer · Lewis Macdonald: I refer the member to the answer to question S2W-29897 on 27 November 2006. All answers to writtenparliamentary questions are available on the Parliaments website, the search facilityfor which can be found at <ahref="http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/w…

15 Nov 2006 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what recent representations have been made anent the Medical Research Council’s (MRC) strategic review of virology and its likely implications for the MRC Virology Unit in Glasgow.

Answer · Lewis Macdonald: The Health Department, ChiefScientist Office, has received representation from three members of MRC staff employedin the Virology Unit in Glasgow and an indirect approach from the MRC Trade Union Side.Research Councils are the responsibilityof the UK G…

4 Oct 2006 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S2W-21883 by Tavish Scott on 25 January 2006, when an outcome is likely to be achieved anent the dispute over the payment of the cost of repairs to the Erskine Bridge.

Answer · Tavish Scott: I refer the member to the answer to question S2W-28903 on 25 October 2006. Allanswers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website,the search facility for which can be found at <ahref="http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/w…

4 Oct 2006 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S2W-21883 by Tavish Scott on 25 January 2006, what method of dispute resolution has been chosen in relation to the recovery of the costs incurred on the repairs of the damage caused to the Erskine Bridge by an offshore structure.

Answer · Tavish Scott: Since January 2006 the otherparties involved in the action have declined to discuss any form of resolution of the matter and the Executive is pursuing its legal action against the parties responsiblefor the damage to the Erskine Bridge. A legal hearing to det…

2 May 2006 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what funding has been made available for the training and employment by NHS Scotland of stoma nurses and for the treatment of patients suffering from Crohn’s disease.

Answer · Lewis Macdonald: The funding made available fortraining and employment of stoma nurses is a matter for NHS boards.

2 May 2006 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether information is held centrally anent the (a) number and (b) placement in NHS Scotland of stoma nurses and others who are qualified to treat Crohn’s disease.

Answer · Lewis Macdonald: There are many nurses who arequalified to treat patients with Crohn’s Disease, however this information isnot held centrally.Within the Clinical NurseSpecialist data collection there are two categories that may specialise inworking with patients with C…

27 Apr 2006 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive when an announcement will be made anent the award of a contract for the building of a vessel for the Scottish Fisheries Protection Agency.

Answer · Ross Finnie: The Scottish Fisheries ProtectionAgency (SFPA) has decided to terminate this tender process. In the final stagesof the tender concerns were raised over clarification of bids. The Chief Executiveof the SFPA appointed independent consultants to review that proc…

19 Apr 2006 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will list the (a) names of, (b) occupations of and (c) areas represented by the members of the recently created NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde.

Answer · Andy Kerr: I refer the member to the answer to question S2W-23997 on 15 March 2006. All answers to writtenparliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facilityfor which can be found at <ahref="http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/wa.…

19 Apr 2006 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what recent discussions have taken place with management representatives of the Scottish Fisheries Protection Agency (SFPA) and the representatives of crew members of SFPA vessels anent the implementation of no smoking rules on such vessels (a) whilst operating in Scottish waters and (b) …

Answer · Ross Finnie: I refer the member to the answerto question S2W-25288 on 2 May 2006. All answers to written parliamentary questions areavailable on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can befound at <a href="http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/wa.sea…

19 Apr 2006 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what recent discussions have taken place with the appropriate management and trade union representatives anent the implementation of no smoking rules on maritime vessels that are owned, or leased, by the Executive and whether these rules are applicable when such vessels are operating outw…

Answer · Ross Finnie: Within the ScottishExecutive, maritime vessels are owned by the Scottish Fisheries ProtectionAgency (SFPA) and Fisheries Research Services (FRS).SFPA introduced a smoking policyfor all its staff on 16 March 2006, prior to which the issue of smoking arr…

8 Mar 2006 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how appointments to the new NHS board which will replace NHS Greater Glasgow and part of NHS Argyll and Clyde will be made; who will be in charge of the selection and training of these appointees; how many people will be chosen to represent (a) community interests, (b) the interests of pa…

Answer · Andy Kerr: The appointments processwill comply with the Office of the Commissioner for Public Appointments inScotland (OCPAS) – Code of Practice. The selection panel will be chaired by aDirector from the Scottish Executive Health Department, with the Chair of the NHSGre…

8 Mar 2006 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what recent discussions have taken place with appropriate interested parties anent appointments to the new NHS board, which will replace the extant NHS Greater Glasgow board; who will represent (a) hospitals and other NHS facilities which are presently the responsibility of NHS Argyll and…

Answer · Andy Kerr: Negotiations are on-going toensure that the health care interests of patients, the public and stakeholdersare catered for when responsibility transfers from the NHS Argyll and Clydearea to the new NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde Board.

8 Mar 2006 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what recent discussions have taken place with NHS Greater Glasgow and other interested parties anent the composition of the new NHS board, which will incorporate the catchment area currently administered by NHS Argyll and Clyde and how many appointments will be made to the new board.

Answer · Andy Kerr: I refer the member to the answersto questions S2W-24002 and S2W-24003 on 15 March 2006.All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament's website, the search facility for which can be found at <ahref="http://www.scottish.parliame…

8 Mar 2006 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether plans are in place to ensure that the new NHS board, which will replace the extant NHS Greater Glasgow board, will fairly reflect the wider geographical area for which the board will have formal responsibility.

Answer · Andy Kerr: There are no plans toreplace Greater Glasgow NHS Board. On 1 April, health services in the Argyll andBute local authority area will become the responsibility of NHS Highland, whileservices in the local authority areas of Inverclyde, Renfrew, and those partsof…

8 Mar 2006 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will list all current board members of NHS Argyll and Clyde showing (a) occupation, (b) place of employment, (c) period of tenure of office and (d) remuneration and how many members were appointed to represent the interests of (i) patients, (ii) local communities within the boa…

Answer · Andy Kerr: Information on NHS board membershipis provided on the Scottish Public Bodies Directory at <ahref="http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Topics/Government/public-bodies/directory">http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Topics/Government/public-bodies/directory</a>.Board membe…

8 Mar 2006 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether a date has been set for the dissolution of NHS Argyll and Clyde and the establishment of an NHS board for the Greater Glasgow area and those catchment areas that are within the sphere of NHS Argyll and Clyde.

Answer · Andy Kerr: A date has been set. ScottishStatutory Instrument 2006 No. 32 – The National Health Service (Constitution ofHealth Boards) (Scotland) Amendment Order 2006 formally dissolves NHS Argylland Clyde from 1 April, 2006. A further instrument, Scottish Statutory Inst…

8 Mar 2006 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will list all current board members of NHS Greater Glasgow showing (a) occupation, (b) place of employment, (c) period of tenure of office and (d) remuneration and how many members were appointed to represent the interests of (i) patients, (ii) local communities within the boar…

1 Mar 2006 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Executive when it will announce a concessionary travel scheme for young people.

Answer · Tavish Scott: We are currently developing detailed proposals to implement the Partnership Agreement Commitment to introduce a national scheme of concessionary travel for young people. I will make an announcement once the proposals are finalised.

22 Feb 2006 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many people have been proceeded against in the courts for offences in relation to the Terrorism Act 2000 and, of these, how many have been convicted and what the range of punishments imposed by the courts has been.

Answer · Cathy Jamieson: The available information isgiven in the following table. The court proceedings statistics for 2004-05 areplanned for publication in spring 2006.Persons Proceeded Against inScottish Courts for Offences Under the Terrorism Act 20001, 2000-03<…

22 Feb 2006 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it holds statistics centrally, or any other relevant information, concerning the number of people who have been (a) stopped and searched and (b) detained temporarily under section 44 of the Terrorism Act 2000.

Answer · Cathy Jamieson: The information requested isnot held centrally by the Executive.The Home Office publishes onits website, information on arrests and charges throughout the United Kingdomunder the Terrorism Act 2000. The latest figures are available via the followinglin…

22 Feb 2006 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to ensure that every young person in Scotland has access to either education or training.

Answer · Allan Wilson: The Scottish Executive is committed to providing young people in Scotland with access to worldclass education and training. Annual investment in our colleges and universitiesis at record levels and will rise to over£1.6 billion by 2007-08.This is suppl…

22 Feb 2006 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether a protocol has been established concerning ministerial responses to representations made by Westminster MPs on devolved matters.

21 Feb 2006 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many foreign women have sought refuge in Scotland in the last five years in order to avoid being forced into prostitution.

Answer · Hugh Henry: I refer the member to the question S2W-23374 answered on 8 March 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/webapp/wa…

21 Feb 2006 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what recent representations have been received anent the trafficking of women and their involvement in involuntary prostitution.

Answer · Hugh Henry: There have been no recent representations made to the Scottish Executive regarding the trafficking of women for the purpose of sexual exploitation. We are currently undertaking a joint consultation with the Home Office on Tackling Human Trafficking: Consul…

21 Feb 2006 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether there are any plans to modify extant legislation in relation to the trafficking of women into Scotland for the purpose of compelling them to work as prostitutes.

Answer · Hugh Henry: There are no plans at present to amend those aspects of current legislation on trafficking for sexual exploitation which are devolved to the Scottish Parliament. Under section 22 of the Criminal Justice (Scotland) Act 2003, it is an offence for any person to …

21 Feb 2006 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what recent discussions have taken place with chief constables concerning the trafficking of women in Scotland to work as prostitutes.

Answer · Hugh Henry: There have been no recent discussions with chief constables on the issue of trafficking of women for the purposes of sexual exploitation. However, as indicated in our consultation Tackling Human Trafficking: Consultation on Proposals for a UK Action Plan</…