Parliamentary questions
Pauline McNeill
2,367 questions tabled in the Scottish Parliament, most recent first.
6 Oct 2003 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many prisoners at HM Prison Barlinnie are serving short-term sentences.
Answer · Cathy Jamieson: I have asked Tony Cameron,Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service to respond. His response is asfollows:</p><p>559 as at 10 October 2003.</p>
6 Oct 2003 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive when “slopping out” at HM Prison Barlinnie will end.
Answer · Cathy Jamieson: I have asked Tony Cameron,Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service to respond. His response is asfollows:</p><p>The Scottish Prison Service accepts that “slopping out” isan undesirable practice and is committed to ending it as soon as possible.However i…
6 Oct 2003 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what further action is planned to modernise HM Prison Barlinnie following the recent report on it by HM Chief Inspector of Prisons for Scotland.
Answer · Cathy Jamieson: I have asked Tony Cameron,Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service to respond. His response is asfollows:</p><p>The Scottish Prison Servicehope to be able shortly to proceed with upgrading A Hall following thesuccessful upgrades of B, C and D Halls, inv…
1 Oct 2003 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what consideration it will give to the re-regulation of buses.
Answer · Nicol Stephen: We have no current plans to re-regulatethe bus industry.</p>
1 Oct 2003 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what role Strathclyde Passenger Transport will have in Transport Scotland.
Answer · Nicol Stephen: Transport Scotland isproposed to be a strategic body for Scotland as a whole which would work closely with transportbodies across the country. We are currently consulting on the new agency;stronger regional transport partnerships; and Strathclyde Passenger Tr…
1 Oct 2003 · General Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what action is planned to combat drug-assisted rape.
Answer · Hugh Henry: The Executive is considering this issue as a matter of priority under its Know the Score campaign, and will be producing materials which highlight the risks of drug-assisted rape in the lead up to Christmas. Details will be announced in due course. In additio…
24 Sep 2003 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what the position would be where planning permission has been granted and it is made known to the planning authority that the information on which the application was assessed was inaccurate.
Answer · Mary Mulligan: It would be for the planningauthority to consider what action to take in the circumstances of the case. It maybe possible to modify or revoke planning permission or require the discontinuanceof the use but that would depend on the circumstances of each case a…
24 Sep 2003 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what responsibility a planning authority has to investigate the accuracy of the information contained in a planning application submitted to it.
Answer · Mary Mulligan: In exercising their functionsthe planning authority must act reasonably. Planning authorities have powers underplanning legislation to require further information in order for them to deal withan application and to require the production of evidence in respec…
24 Sep 2003 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what procedures are available to objectors who believe that incorrect information has been provided to a planning authority.
Answer · Mary Mulligan: There are no statutory proceduresspecifically covering such a situation. It is open to an objector to bring theirconcerns to the attention of the planning authority.</p>
24 Sep 2003 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what procedures are available to an objector who believes that a planning authority may have breached planning policy or guidelines.
Answer · Mary Mulligan: The interpretation of planningpolicy and guidance is a matter for the planning authority, in the first instance.</p><p>Complaints about the handlingof applications can be made through the planning authority’s own complaint procedures.Where an objector feels t…
24 Sep 2003 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how long an objector has to request the call-in of a planning application in circumstances where it is believed that planning policy guidelines may have been breached.
Answer · Mary Mulligan: There is no set statutory procedurefor individual members of the public to request the call-in of planning applications.</p><p>Some planning applications requireto be formally notified to the Scottish ministers because they may raise issueswhich could justify…
24 Sep 2003 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what role it gives to modern musical production methods and technology in relation to music tuition in schools.
Answer · Peter Peacock: Whilst the Scottish Executive provides advice on the provision of music tuition in the classroom, primarily inthe form of curriculum guidelines, it is the responsibility of individual education authorities and headteachers to make decisions on how best to pro…
24 Sep 2003 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what role it gives to popular music in encouraging the uptake of instrumental music tuition in schools.
Answer · Peter Peacock: The Scottish Executive providesadvice on the provision of music tuition in the classroom, primarily in the formof curriculum guidelines. It is for local authorities and schools to make decisionson the various forms of music tuition that will be made available…
24 Sep 2003 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how it will progress towards its target that by 2006 all children should have access to one year's free music tuition by primary 6.
Answer · Frank McAveety: Funding for the initiative isbeing allocated to local authorities through the Scottish Arts Council. It willbe for each local authority, working closely with the council, to prepare plansrelevant to its individual circumstances that will enable it to meet the…
24 Sep 2003 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what proportion of (a) primary and (b) secondary schoolchildren receive instrumental music tuition in school.
Answer · Peter Peacock: Information on uptake of instrumentaltuition in schools is not collected centrally.</p><p>the Scottish Arts Council’s audit of youth music provision in Scotland, publishedin February 2003, highlighted that the provision of instrumental instruction variedacros…
24 Sep 2003 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what efforts are being made to improve public involvement in the regeneration of architecturally important buildings in light of the popularity of the BBC programme “Restoration”.
Answer · Frank McAveety: The Scottish Executive has longsupported and encouraged public involvement in the regeneration of architecturallyimportant buildings throughout Scotland. Through Historic Scotland the Executive funds the Buildingsat Risk Register which provides information to…
24 Sep 2003 · General Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will enable Cube Housing Association Ltd to achieve competitive financial parity with other stock transfer arrangements rather than continue its 10.1% deferred interest payments to Communities Scotland.
Answer · Margaret Curran: The financial arrangement referredto is not with Communities Scotland but Scottish Homes. </p><p>The financial arrangements enteredinto at the time of transfer were part of the overall sale agreement. However, Iunderstand that it is open to Cube Housing Assoc…
17 Sep 2003 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive when the amount paid to witnesses in court expenses was last reviewed and whether the current level of witness expenses is adequate.
Answer · Colin Boyd: The last review of witness expenseswas conducted in February 2001. </p><p>Witness expenses in respect oftravel and subsistence rates, childminding rates, fees paid to professional witnessesand fees paid to expert witnesses are currently under review. Revised …
17 Sep 2003 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what the average waiting time is for witnesses to receive court expenses.
Answer · Colin Boyd: The vast majority of witnessessubmit a claim in person at the local cashier’s office and receive payment for courtexpenses on the day they attend court. Where claims are submitted by post to theCrown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service Finance Section, the c…
8 Sep 2003 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive when the annual report of the Interception of Communications Commissioner will be laid before the Parliament.
Answer · Cathy Jamieson: A copyof the Interception of Communication Commissioner’s annual report for 2002 hasbeen laid before Parliament today in accordance with the Regulation ofInvestigatory Powers Act 2000. With the agreement of the Prime Minister, theconfidential annex to the rep…
1 Sep 2003 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what measures the Scottish Executive is considering to improve support to asylum seekers within higher education.
Answer · Jim Wallace: The Scottish Refugee IntegrationForum has recommended that asylum seekers be allowed access to part-time HigherNational courses on the same basis as currently applies for non-advanced courses.We are working with institutions and the funding councils to ensure…
1 Sep 2003 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether its plans to amend the guidance that is provided to academic institutions on making awards from hardship funds will be complete in time for implementation in the 2003-04 academic year.
Answer · Jim Wallace: The relevant guidance has beenamended and issued to institutions.</p>
28 Aug 2003 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what consideration it has given to the recommendations in its Central Research Unit report, A review of the first year of the mandatory licensing of houses in multiple occupation in Scotland.
Answer · Mary Mulligan: I refer the member to the answer given to question S2W-2240 today. All answers towritten parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament's website, thesearch facility for can be found at <ahref="http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/search_wa">http…
28 Aug 2003 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what consideration has been given to domesticity licences in the consultation paper, Mandatory Licensing of Houses in Multiple Occupation, and the research commissioned from Heriot Watt University on houses in multiple occupation.
Answer · Mary Mulligan: The term “domesticity licence” is not recognised in relation to housing matters. It is not used in either the consultation paper or the research on houses in multiple occupation.</p>
28 Aug 2003 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive when it will report on the results of its consultation paper, Mandatory Licensing of Houses in Multiple Occupation.
Answer · Mary Mulligan: The Scottish Executive undertook an overall review of the Houses in Multiple Occupation (HMO) licensing scheme, which took into account:</p><p>the findings of the research report, <i>A review of the first year of the mandatory licensing of houses in multiple …
28 Aug 2003 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how it will make planning appeal inquiries more accessible, as identified in Your place, your plan, its proposals for public involvement in the planning system.
Answer · Mary Mulligan: We published the consultation paper <i>Modernising Public Local Inquiries</i> in July 2003. The paper looks atthe scope for modernising the planning inquiry process and at opportunities forbetter practice. The consultation paper is available in the Parliament…
28 Aug 2003 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what progress has been made in producing guidance material to ensure that official consultation responses on planning applications are open to all, as identified in Your place, your plan, its proposals for public involvement in the planning system.
Answer · Mary Mulligan: I refer the member to the answergiven to question S2W-2229 which is available on the Parliament’s website, the searchfacility for which can be found at <ahref="http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/search_wa">http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/search…
28 Aug 2003 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what progress has been made on amending the necessary legislation to extend the time for responding to a neighbourhood notification, as identified in Your place, your plan, its proposals for public involvement in the planning system.
Answer · Mary Mulligan: I refer the member to the answergiven to question S2W-2229 which is available on the Parliament’s website, the searchfacility for which can be found at <ahref="http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/search_wa">http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/search…
28 Aug 2003 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what progress has been made on the proposal to pass responsibility for neighbour notification to local authorities, as identified in Your place, your plan, its proposals for public involvement in the planning system.
Answer · Mary Mulligan: I refer the member to the answergiven to question S2W-2229 which is available on the Parliament’s website, the searchfacility for which can be found at <ahref="http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/search_wa">http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/search…
28 Aug 2003 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what progress has been made on its pilot projects with South Lanarkshire Council and Highland Council on investigating ways of modernising the development planning system, as identified in Your place, your plan, its proposals for public involvement in the planning system.
Answer · Mary Mulligan: Under thepilot projects, the Hamilton Local Plan in South Lanarkshire and the Wester Ross Local Plan in Highland are progressing well towards publicationof finalised draft plans. The project has helped to support the view that barriersto better plan making re…