Questions · Pauline McNeill

21 Mar 2006 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how it will ensure that new legislation resulting from recommendations contained in Being Outside: Constructing A Response To Street Prostitution will address the harm caused to women through prostitution as well as the harm to communities.

Answer · Hugh Henry: The creation of a new streetprostitution related offence is only one aspect of the Executive’s policy onstreet prostitution.The new offence will focuson the nuisance or offence caused by street prostitution related activity,whether caused by the purcha…

21 Mar 2006 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive when it will publish proposed new legislation resulting from the recommendations contained in Being Outside: Constructing A Response To Street Prostitution.

Answer · Hugh Henry: I refer the member to thequestion S2W-23947, answered on 21 March 2006. All answers to written parliamentaryquestions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility forwhich can be found at: <ahref="http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/wa.…

21 Mar 2006 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive when it will publish draft guidance on the implementation of new legislation resulting from the recommendations contained in Being Outside: Constructing A Response To Street Prostitution.

Answer · Hugh Henry: I refer the member to thequestion S2W-23947, answered on 21 March 2006. All answers to written parliamentaryquestions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility forwhich can be found at: <ahref="http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/wa.…

21 Mar 2006 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive when it will bring forward proposals for legislation as a result of the recommendations contained in Being Outside: Constructing A Response To Street Prostitution.

Answer · Hugh Henry: I refer the member to thequestion S2W-23947, answered on 21 March 2006. All answers to written parliamentaryquestions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility forwhich can be found at: <ahref="http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/wa/…

6 Mar 2006 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what criteria are used to judge whether or not its investment in the music industry has been successful.

Answer · Patricia Ferguson: The Scottish Executive uses arange of criteria including considering the effects on economic activity, measuredin terms of the impacts on the broader creative industries sector. The ScottishArts Council also measures audience participation figures for the mus…

6 Mar 2006 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how much funding has been allocated to the music industry in each year from 1999 until 2006 by each of its relevant departments.

Answer · Patricia Ferguson: The information requested isnot held centrally. The majority of funding for the music industry by the Executiveis routed through the Enterprise Networks, the Scottish Funding Council and the Scottish Arts Council. The Executive does not hold details of their …

6 Mar 2006 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether, in light of the recent global success of KT Tunstall and Franz Ferdinand, the contribution of this type of economic activity to Scotland’s economy is measured.

Answer · Patricia Ferguson: I shall reply to the member as soon as possible.

6 Mar 2006 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether economic activity in the music sector is measured.

Answer · Patricia Ferguson: This information is not routinelycollated nor centrally compiled. The most recent relevant data is contained in the2003 Mapping the Music Industry in Scotland report compiled independentlyon behalf of Scottish Enterprise. Economic and employment…

6 Mar 2006 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how it defines the music industry.

Answer · Patricia Ferguson: The music industry has no officialdefinition, but we take it to mean any activity which encourages involvement inmusic making across all age groups and music styles, and recognises and celebratesthe social, personal and economic value of music and music makin…

6 Mar 2006 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how economic growth is measured for any particular industry sector in Scotland.

Answer · Nicol Stephen: The principal measure of economicgrowth is the Gross Value Added (Gross Domestic Product at basic prices) seriesfor Scotland published on a quarterly basis by the Scottish Executive.This publication provides measures of activity in real terms for the Scottish…

1 Feb 2006 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what action is being taken to address disorder in or around marches and parades.

Answer · Cathy Jamieson: It is unacceptable that certain individuals latch on to marches purely as an excuse to indulge in bigoted and abusive behaviour. Following the publication of the Action Plan on Tackling Sectarianism in Scotland we now intend to look at the powers curre…

23 Jan 2006 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S2W-21897 by Hugh Henry on 18 January 2006, whether it will be making a submission to the UK Government’s review of the Criminal Injuries Compensation Scheme and, if so, whether it will undertake consultation to inform its submission.

Answer · Hugh Henry: As I made clear in my answer to question S2W-21897, we have urged Scottish stakeholders to respond to the Home Office consultation, and we also intend to give stakeholders the opportunity to express their views directly to Home Office and Scottish Executive o…

21 Dec 2005 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, following its consultation exercise in summer 2005, when it will announce its plans to reform arrangements for handling complaints about lawyers.

Answer · Hugh Henry: The Scottish Executive will introducelegislation this session to establish a new independent body to handle such complaints.Our policy is that complaints from clients should be dealt with wherever possibleby the law firm or lawyer who provided the service in …

19 Dec 2005 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it makes any financial contribution to the operation of the Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority or to the financial compensation which the authority awards to victims.

Answer · Hugh Henry: Under the terms of an agreement with the Home Office, the Scottish Executive pays a percentage of the total UK cost of both compensation payments made under the Criminal Injuries Compensation Scheme, and the administration costs of the Criminal Injuries Compe…

19 Dec 2005 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what representations it will make in respect of the UK Government’s current consultation on the Criminal Injuries Compensation Scheme.

Answer · Hugh Henry: I am writing to a range of stakeholders inviting them to respond to the UK Government’s consultation paper on the reform of Criminal Injuries Compensation Scheme, and to initiate discussions on developments in the way in which victim services in Scotland are …

6 Dec 2005 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will continue to fund the services provided to people through the New Futures Fund when the fund ends in March 2006.

Answer · Allan Wilson: I wish to ensure continuity for people currently receiving a service through New Futures Fund (NFF) and to encourage more comprehensive and sustainable delivery of the NFF approach. From April 2006, Community Planning Partnerships (CPPs) will take the lead in…

23 Nov 2005 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how MSP’s will be kept informed of the work of new community planning partnerships.

Answer · Tom McCabe: Local authorities, as facilitators of the community planning process, are required to report regularly to their communities on community planning in their area. Reports should be geared towards the local community and should be widely available. Althou…

23 Nov 2005 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what the role of MSPs will be in new community planning partnerships.

Answer · Tom McCabe: There is a range of approaches to community planning across the country, and the Executive is not prescriptive about the structure or composition of partnerships that should be adopted either at a strategic local authority level, or locally at neighbourhood l…

2 Nov 2005 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive when the annual reports of the Chief Surveillance Commissioner and the Interception of Communications Commissioner will be laid before the Parliament.

Answer · Cathy Jamieson: Copies of the Chief Surveillance Commissioner’s annual report for 2004-05 (Bib. number 37809, document number SE/2005/203) and the Interception of Communications Commissioner’s annual report for 2004 (Bib. number 37808, document number SE/2005/100) have been …

19 Oct 2005 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it is satisfied with the progress of the Calder Advisory Group.

Answer · Andy Kerr: Professor Calder and his group have a clear remit to work with the NHS Greater Glasgow to identify the most appropriate site for a new children’s hospital alongside adult and maternity services. That includes agreeing the board’s appraisal process and reviewi…

17 Oct 2005 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many people responded to (a) its and (b) the Scottish Law Commission's consultation paper on family law.

Answer · Hugh Henry: There were a total of 304 responses to the Scottish Executive’s 2004 consultation Family Matters: Improving Family Law in Scotland. This report and the analysis of the consultation responses can be accessed through the link below <a href="http://www.sc…

28 Sep 2005 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what increased rights communities will have under the proposed Planning Bill.

Answer · Johann Lamont: The White Paper Modernisingthe Planning System sets out our proposals for increasing communityinvolvement in the planning system. We are currently considering responses tothe white paper as part of the preparation for the introduction of a PlanningBill…

23 Sep 2005 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive when it will announce its response to the recommendations contained in the Sentencing Commission's report on bail and remand.

Answer · Cathy Jamieson: I am pleased to announce that we will today publish our action plan on bail and remand, which is based on the Sentencing Commission’s recommendations. Copies are available in the Scottish Parliament Information Centre (Bib. number 37528). The paper is …

25 Jul 2005 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether there has been any development on funding for the Scottish Civic Forum.

Answer · George Lyon: The Executive’s position remainsas set out by Tavish Scott on 24 February 2005 during the member’s business debateon motion S2M-2384 (Official Report col. 14853).

14 Jul 2005 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many new nurses, who had completed their training in Scotland, registered on the nursing and midwifery council register in (a) 2000, (b) 2001, (c) 2002, (d) 2003 and (e) 2004.

Answer · Andy Kerr: The number of new nurses whohave completed their training in Scotland, and the number of new registrants on the Nursingand Midwifery Council register from 2000 to 2004 are indicated in the tablebelow.Information on the number ofcompletions, and number …

14 Jul 2005 · Written Question

Answer · Andy Kerr: I refer the member to the answer to question S2W-17896 answered on 10 August 2005.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.parliament.u…

14 Jul 2005 · Written Question

Answer · Andy Kerr: I refer the member to the answer to question S2W-17896 answered on 10 August 2005.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.parliament.u…

14 Jul 2005 · Written Question

Answer · Andy Kerr: This information is not heldcentrally.NHSEducation for Scotland (NES) collects information about pre-registrationnursing and midwifery students, on an annual basis, to determine the numbers ofstudents entering, and completing nursing training over a th…

16 Jun 2005 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what its reasons are for funding nursery education to a maximum of 33 weeks, given that the school year is 39 weeks.

Answer · Euan Robson: Local authorities currently havea statutory duty to provide a minimum of 412 and a half hours of pre-school educationper year for all eligible three and four-year-olds whose parents wish it, and fundingis provided to local authorities for this purpose through…

1 Jun 2005 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what impact the ending of the opt-out from the EU Working Time Directive by 2009 will have on the training of junior doctors.

Answer · Andy Kerr: Patient safety is of paramount importance and junior doctors, or any other NHS staff, should not be working when they are overtired. No agreement has yet been reached in Europe to abolish the opt-out from the working time regulations (WTR). In reality there a…