Parliamentary questions

Pauline McNeill

2,367 questions tabled in the Scottish Parliament, most recent first.

25 Nov 2003 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how it will respond to any concerns by surveyors that the pilot sellers' surveys may operate in the interest of the seller.

Answer · Margaret Curran: For buyers and their lendersto have confidence in a survey that is commissioned by a seller, it will haveto provide objective, reliable and reasonably comprehensive information on thecondition of the house. Surveyors are disinterested professionals and we exp…

25 Nov 2003 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S2W-3052 by Nicol Stephen on 21 October 2003, what representations it has received on re-regulating the bus industry.

Answer · Nicol Stephen: Since August 2002 the Executive has received representations from Stirling Council and MidlothianCouncil regarding additional regulation of the bus industry. The issue is alsoraised from time to time in parliamentary debates and correspondence from thegeneral…

13 Nov 2003 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive at what point its responsibilities end for the provision of services to dispersed asylum seekers.

Answer · Margaret Curran: The point at which the Executive’sresponsibilities for providing services to dispersed asylum seekers end willdepend on the individual circumstances of each case and the services inquestion.

11 Nov 2003 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what measures it is taking to integrate dispersed asylum seekers into local communities.

Answer · Margaret Curran: The Executive has provided around£2 million of funding since September 2001 for a range of projects which assistasylum seekers to integrate into the local community. These include facilitiessuch as drop in centres, language classes and child care provision an…

11 Nov 2003 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what recent discussions it has had with the Home Office over the recommendations made in the inspection reports on the Dungavel House immigration removal centre.

Answer · Margaret Curran: The Home Office isresponsible for the operation and management of Dungavel, including theconsideration of the recommendations following from the inspection of thecentre. The Home Office has had discussions with South Lanarkshire Council, HerMajesty’s Inspecto…

11 Nov 2003 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what action it is taking to address the issue of chronic underemployment in Glasgow.

Answer · Lewis Macdonald: The Executive is workingwith key partners to raise the economic activity rate in Glasgow fromits current rate of 68.7% during the 12 months to May 2003, closer to the Scotlandrate of 79%. This is being done by ensuring that more Glasgowresidents have the skil…

11 Nov 2003 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how it intends to reduce the number of deaths due to alcohol in Glasgow.

Answer · Tom McCabe: The plan for action onalcohol problems, which was published in January 2002, sets out a range oflocal and national measures to reduce alcohol-related harm in Scotland. Itprovides a framework for action in the areas of culture change, prevention andeducation, …

6 Nov 2003 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will support Scottish involvement in UK Trade and Investment and the British Council's proposal to open a British music industry office in New York.

Answer · Jim Wallace: Scottish DevelopmentInternational works alongside UK Trade and Investment to support Scottish musiccompanies in world markets, and will work closely with any British Musicindustry office that is established in New York. Scottish Development International’sfi…

4 Nov 2003 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how it intends to improve management and accountability in the further education sector.

Answer · Jim Wallace: The outcome of the Review of Governance and Accountability in the Further Education Sector was announced in March 2003. The consultation process upon which the review was primarily based found general support for existing arrangements, but with scope for mode…

4 Nov 2003 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what consideration it has given to Audit Scotland's report Scottish Further Education Funding-performance management of the further education sector in Scotland.

Answer · Jim Wallace: We are pleased to note theimprovements in the performance of the sector which this report has highlighted,and we are working with the funding council to ensure that the recommendationsmade in the report are implemented to continue these improvements. For exam…

4 Nov 2003 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will consider a central review of maternity services to determine the cross-flow of patients between NHS boards as a result of board decisions on maternity provision.

Answer · Malcolm Chisholm: The Executive currently hasno plans conduct a central review to determine the cross-flow of maternitypatients between NHS boards. However, the overview report of the expert groupon acute maternity services (2002) states clearly the need for boards to take are…

4 Nov 2003 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will consider the proposals on the future of maternity services in Glasgow in relation to the wider impact such changes will have on (a) the West of Scotland and (b) Scotland as a whole.

Answer · Malcolm Chisholm: Greater Glasgow Health Boardare currently consulting on their proposals for the future of maternityservices in Glasgow. The overview report of the Expert Group on AcuteMaternity Services (2002) makes it clear that acute maternity services shouldbe planned and…

4 Nov 2003 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will take into account the experience of maternity hospital closures in Edinburgh when it considers the Greater Glasgow NHS Board recommendations on the future of maternity services in Glasgow.

Answer · Malcolm Chisholm: I refer the member to the answer given to question S2W-3828. 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/search_wa">http…

4 Nov 2003 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what consideration it will give to the 60,000 signatures collected in the Evening Times petition in support of saving the Queen Mother's Hospital.

Answer · Malcolm Chisholm: I will consider allinformation before me and all representations made to me before I come to adecision.

4 Nov 2003 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions it has had with COSLA in relation to the nursery nurses' dispute.

Answer · Euan Robson: COSLA and the Scottish Executive are in regular formal and informal contact about a wide range of issues.The Executive does not hold central records of how many contacts are made inrelation to any specific issue.Pay and conditions are amatter for emplo…

4 Nov 2003 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what action it is taking to protect skills and jobs in the call centre industry in light of global outsourcing of services to Asia.

Answer · Jim Wallace: Extensive research on callcentres in Scotland and outsourced competition from India has recentlybeen undertaken by Phil Taylor of the University of Stirling and Peter Bain of the University of Strathclyde.The Scottish Executive supported this study and the fi…

3 Nov 2003 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what guidance is given to bidders for the Scotrail franchise to ensure that the needs of cyclists are taken into account.

Answer · Nicol Stephen: The new rolling stock beingfunded by the Scottish Executive will be fitted with 50% increased capacity forcarrying bicycles compared with existing similar stock. Bidders were informedthat the next ScotRail franchisee will be required to make use of these newu…

21 Oct 2003 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether there are any immediate plans to review resources available to forensic services.

Answer · Cathy Jamieson: The provision of policeforensic science services in Scotland is currently under review as part of the widerreview of common police services. A project team led by the Association ofChief Police Officers in Scotland is examining the potential costs and benefit…

21 Oct 2003 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether there have been any issues concerning delays in provision of forensic services.

Answer · Cathy Jamieson: Increasing demand for policeforensic science services led to some delays during 2002. Forces have takensteps to address these problems and to improve service delivery whereverpossible.

21 Oct 2003 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive where forensic services are located in Scotland.

Answer · Cathy Jamieson: Police forensic science services in Scotland are based at four laboratories in Aberdeen, Dundee, Edinburgh and Glasgow.

13 Oct 2003 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to enforce the law on disabled parking bays.

Answer · Cathy Jamieson: Under section 47 of the RoadTraffic Regulation Act 1984, a driver may be issued with a fixed penalty noticeif his or her vehicle is not displaying the requisite badge while parked in adesignated disabled person’s parking bay.The power to inspect suchba…

9 Oct 2003 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what actions will be taken to showcase Scottish musical talent at the MTV 10th anniversary awards to be held in Edinburgh on 6 November 2003.

Answer · Frank McAveety: The MTV Europe awardspresent an unrivalled opportunity to showcase the Scottish creative industriesand for networking with the global industry and industry journalists. ScottishEnterprise have worked with NEMIS (the Scottish music industry network) toensure t…

9 Oct 2003 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will cost the implementation of recommendations contained in the University of Glasgow's Department of Urban Studies report Refuges for Women, Children and Young People.

Answer · Mary Mulligan: The Scottish Executive is currently in the process of completing the £12 million DomesticAbuse Refuge Development Programme, provided through Communities Scotland. Thisprogramme of funding was developed to either build or purchase new refuges oradapt, extend …

9 Oct 2003 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what response it has given to the recommendation for women who have been victims of domestic violence to be housed in purpose-built refuges containing single occupancy flats, communal areas and a children's room contained in the University of Glasgow's Department of Urban Studies report …

Answer · Mary Mulligan: The Scottish Executive has accepted the recommendations in the report Refuges for Women,Children and Young People. It has already provided £12 million, throughCommunities Scotland, to either build or purchase new refuges or adapt, extendand upgrade exi…

9 Oct 2003 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what additional resources it has allocated to support the pilot scheme for domestic abuse courts in Glasgow.

Answer · Mary Mulligan: I refer the member to the answer to question S2W-3351 on 5 November 2003. 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/se…

9 Oct 2003 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how long the pilot scheme for domestic abuse courts will run in Glasgow before being rolled out across Scotland.

Answer · Mary Mulligan: Detailed proposals for theform of the pilot scheme, which are being considered by two working groupsoverseen by a steering group chaired by Sheriff Principal Edward Bowen, SheriffPrincipal of Glasgow and Kelvinside, have still to be settled. Once we are in ap…

6 Oct 2003 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what plans there are to modernise cells in A' hall in HM Prison Barlinnie with particular regard to the supply of electricity.

Answer · Cathy Jamieson: I have asked Tony Cameron,Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service to respond. His response is asfollows:I refer the member to the answer given to question S2W-3191 on 3 November 2003.All answers to written parliamentary questions are available o…

6 Oct 2003 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many remand prisoners slop out at HM Prison Barlinnie.

Answer · Cathy Jamieson: I have asked Tony Cameron,Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service to respond. His response is asfollows:13 as at 10 October 2003.

6 Oct 2003 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what rehabilitation programmes are ongoing at HM Prison Barlinnie.

Answer · Cathy Jamieson: I have asked Tony Cameron,Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service to respond. His response is asfollows:HMP Barlinnie offer thefollowing programmes:<table border=1 cellspacing=0 cellpadding=3> <tr> <td> Programme </td> </tr> <tr> …

6 Oct 2003 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what assessment is carried out on prisoners at HM Prison Barlinnie who spend long periods of time in their cells.

Answer · Cathy Jamieson: I have asked Tony Cameron,Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service (SPS) to respond. His response is as follows:Staff have regular contactwith prisoners at morning ablutions, meal times, recreation, exercise, visits,canteen and where it still exi…