Pauline McNeill

4 Apr 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what categories of children are eligible for legal aid.

Answer · Jim Wallace: Legal aid is available to any child as long as the matter is one of Scots law, the child meets the relevant statutory tests and the court or Tribunal concerned is prescribed in the Legal Aid (Scotland) Act 1986, or relevant subordinate legislation.

4 Apr 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-19942 by Lewis Macdonald on 28 January 2002, what progress has been made to seek an exemption for Glasgow Underground from the draft European Transport Regulation.

Answer · Lewis Macdonald: There is no change in the position from the answer given to questions S1W-17966 on 19 September 2001 and S1W-19942 on 28 January 2002. There is specific reference to the Public Service Requirements in the conclusion of Barcelona European Council calling for a…

4 Apr 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-20526 by Iain Gray on 28 January 2002, what progress has been made on the implementation of Part 6 of the Housing (Scotland) Act 2001.

Answer · Iain Gray: With the advice of the working group I referred to in my previous answer, we have prepared a consultation paper on the implementation of Part 6 of the Housing (Scotland) Act 2001, which was published on 22 March this year and seeks responses by 14 June. Depen…

4 Apr 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-22351 by Ms Wendy Alexander on 8 February 2002, what the net change in the number of employee jobs in Glasgow Kelvin has been since May 1999.

Answer · Wendy Alexander: The number of employee jobs is available from the Annual Business Inquiry and the net change in the number of employee jobs is available. The latest available data are for 2000. <TABLE BORDER CELLSPACING=1 CELLPADDING=7 WIDTH=283><TR><TD WIDTH="40%" VALIGN="T…

4 Apr 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-22331 by Ms Wendy Alexander on 8 February 2002, what impact its employment initiatives have had on the claimant unemployment rate in Glasgow Kelvin since May 1999.

Answer · Wendy Alexander: UK Government and Scottish Executive employment initiatives in Glasgow Kelvin include the New Deal programmes, the Glasgow Employment Zone and Training for Work. It is not possible to completely separate the impact of these initiatives on unemployment since M…

4 Apr 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1O-4613 by Lewis Macdonald on 7 February 2002, whether it will outline the consultation arrangements for the Glasgow harbour development.

Answer · Margaret Curran: In clearing this outline planning application back to Glasgow City Council on 28 June 2001, the Scottish ministers indicated that they were content for the matter to be dealt with by the local authority. It is now for the council to deal with all planning rel…

4 Apr 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-22122 by Iain Gray on 4 February 2002, when it will publish the report of the findings of the Review of Cities.

Answer · Iain Gray: The Cities Review Team aim to conclude their review by the end of May. Their report will then be submitted to Scottish ministers for consideration and the findings will be published thereafter.

26 Mar 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what steps are being taken to encourage the take-up of applied research and knowledge transfer activities by employers from universities other than Aberdeen, Edinburgh, Glasgow and St Andrews universities.

Answer · Wendy Alexander: The Executive sponsors applied research and knowledge transfer activities such as TCS and Faraday partnerships, which are available to all universities. Following the report on the Knowledge Economy Cross-Cutting Initiative, published in February 2001, an add…

26 Mar 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what steps are being taken to encourage research collaboration between Aberdeen, Edinburgh, Glasgow and St Andrews universities and other newer universities.

Answer · Wendy Alexander: This is a matter for the Scottish Higher Education Funding Council. However, my Guidance Letter to the council stated that delivery of the Executive's objectives for higher education will require collaboration with a wide range of other bodies, both on the pa…

26 Mar 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether the New Opportunities for PE and Sport in Schools fund announced on 19 March 2002 will include support for measures to improve swimming lessons for school children and encourage their provision.

Answer · Elaine Murray: Under the New Opportunities for PE and Sport in Schools fund, announced on 19 March, up to £21.75 million will be committed throughout Scotland to support out of school hours programmes, organised through schools, which offer children and young people a wide …

21 Mar 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what support it is giving to adult male survivors of childhood abuse.

Answer · Malcolm Chisholm: The support referred to in the answer to question S1W-23416 is for all survivors of childhood sexual abuse. Mental health and community care services provided to, amongst others, survivors of childhood sexual abuse are provided regardless of gender.

8 Mar 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what monitoring will be undertaken of the Glasgow Housing Association's housing allocation policy should there be a yes vote in the Glasgow housing stock transfer ballot for tenants.

Answer · Margaret Curran: If tenants vote yes in the Glasgow housing stock transfer ballot, Communities Scotland, as the statutory regulator of Registered Social Landlords will be responsible for monitoring of the Glasgow Housing Association's housing allocation policy.

8 Mar 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what provisions are in place to ensure that elected councillors in Glasgow can continue to effectively represent their constituents on housing matters should there be a yes vote in the Glasgow housing stock transfer ballot of tenants.

Answer · Margaret Curran: If tenants vote yes in the Glasgow housing stock transfer ballot, the city council will retain strategic responsibility for housing in the city. The city council has six nominees on the Glasgow Housing Association (GHA) Management Committee, which has overall…

8 Mar 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how Glasgow Housing Association will be held accountable for the commitments it has given to tenants should there be a yes vote in the Glasgow housing stock transfer ballot.

Answer · Margaret Curran: If tenants vote yes in the Glasgow housing stock transfer ballot, the Glasgow Housing Association (GHA) will be accountable to the Scottish Executive to spend funding in a manner compliant with the conditions of grant, which will attach to the offer of such f…

7 Mar 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what liaison there is between the New Futures Fund, the New Opportunities Fund, other National Lottery funds and the Scottish University for Industry in order to ensure that any projects in receipt of funding from one of these bodies but which are dependent on successful bids for funding …

Answer · Wendy Alexander: Scottish University for Industry (SUfI) administers the Capital Modernisation Fund (CMF) support for learning centre development on behalf of the Executive. SUfI and New Opportunities Fund (who offer funding to meet revenue costs) share information on applica…

7 Mar 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether any targets are set in order to ensure that a diversity of organisations are awarded funding from (a) the New Futures Fund, (b) the New Opportunities Fund, (c) other National Lottery funds and (d) the Scottish University for Industry.

Answer · Wendy Alexander: Scottish University for Industry administers the Capital Modernisation Fund (CMF) support for learning centre development on behalf of the Executive. There are no specific targets aimed at ensuring a diversity of organisations receive CMF. Individual applicat…

7 Mar 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what support is available to continue funding of successful projects at the end of their funding periods from (a) the New Futures Fund, (b) the New Opportunities Fund, (c) other National Lottery funds and (d) the Scottish University for Industry.

Answer · Wendy Alexander: SUfI administers the Capital Modernisation Fund support for learning centre development on behalf of the Executive. Funding for the scheme, which closed to new applicants in October, ends on 31 March 2002. The Executive does not plan any further funding there…

7 Mar 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what efforts are being made to ensure transparency of criteria used for assessing applications for funding from the New Futures Fund, the New Opportunities Fund, other National Lottery funds and the Scottish University for Industry.

Answer · Wendy Alexander: Scottish University for Industry (SUfI) administers the Capital Modernisation Fund (CMF) support for learning centre development on behalf of the Executive. SUfI has made known the criteria used for assessing CMF in a variety of ways, including through promot…

7 Mar 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what feedback is given to unsuccessful applicants for funding from (a) the New Futures Fund, (b) the New Opportunities Fund, (c) other National Lottery funds and (d) the Scottish University for Industry.

Answer · Wendy Alexander: The Scottish University for Industry administers the Capital Modernisation Fund (CMF) support for learning centre development on behalf of the Executive. CMF applicants who are unsuccessful are advised in writing and given specific reasons. The scheme, which …

7 Mar 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what flexibility is built in to the qualifications framework for childcare workers in order to allow voluntary sector agencies to employ unqualified part-time workers.

Answer · Cathy Jamieson: The Executive's intention is to move to a position where all staff in centres providing childcare and early education for pre-school children either hold an appropriate qualification, are seeking accreditation of skills and experience, or are pursuing on-the-…

7 Mar 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how long on average the registration of childcare workers takes under Part V of the Police Act 1997.

Answer · Cathy Jamieson: Childcare services will be registered by the Scottish Commission for the Regulation of Care under the Regulation of Care (Scotland) Act 2001. As part of the registration process, childcare providers will be required to obtain a criminal record check on all ne…

5 Mar 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-20817 by Nicol Stephen on 28 December 2001, what recourse asylum seeking families have to ensure that their school age children are given full rights to a school education under the Standards in Scotland's Schools etc. Act 2000.

Answer · Nicol Stephen: The operation of facilities for asylum seekers is the responsibility of the Home Office. However, where school education is provided by a local authority, families seeking asylum have the same means of recourse available to them as other families who have con…

5 Mar 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-20624 by Cathy Jamieson on 28 December 2001, what recourse an unaccompanied asylum seeking child has to ensure that he/she is given their full rights under a local authority's duty of care under the Children (Scotland) Act 1995 where there is an abse…

Answer · Cathy Jamieson: The duty on local authorities to provide assistance to a child, does not depend on the identity of the child. We do not expect the absence of official documentation to prove a child's identity, to affect the child's access to local authority assistance.

4 Mar 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what timescale has been set for the modernisation of the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service announced on 4 March 2002 and what financial investment will be allocated to it.

Answer · Colin Boyd: The Report of the Review of the Planning, Allocation and Management of Resources in the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service published on 4 March considered that it would take up to two years to implement fully its recommendations. I have moved quickly …

4 Mar 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what learning providers in the Glasgow Kelvin parliamentary constituency area have been recipients of Individual Learning Account payments and what the total value was of such payments.

Answer · Wendy Alexander: The following learning providers, based in Glasgow Kelvin parliamentary constituency, have been recipients of Individual Learning Account payments: <P>Alliance Francaise de Glasgow - £21,073<P>AMT International - £5,219<P>BPP Glasgow - £13,382<P>British Red C…

4 Mar 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many illegal firearms have been sei'ed in each year since 1999, broken down by police force area.

Answer · Jim Wallace: The information requested is not held centrally.

4 Mar 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many people have been (a) charged with and (b) convicted of firearm related offences in each year since 1999.

Answer · Jim Wallace: The available information is given in the table. Other crime categories, such as possession of an offensive weapon and robbery, may also involve firearms. However, the numbers of such cases cannot, from the information held centrally, be separately identified…

4 Mar 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many people have been admitted to hospitals in (a) Scotland and (b) Glasgow as a result of firearm related incidents in each year since 1999.

Answer · Malcolm Chisholm: The number of patients admitted to hospital in each of the last three years with a diagnosis related to a firearms<SUP>1</SUP> incident are shown in the table<TABLE BORDER CELLSPACING=1 CELLPADDING=7 WIDTH=264><TR><TD WIDTH="43%" VALIGN="TOP"> </TD><TD WIDTH=…

4 Mar 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many licensed firearms were recorded in (a) Scotland and (b) Glasgow in each year since 1999.

Answer · Jim Wallace: The following table gives the number of firearms covered by certificates in Scotland and in Strathclyde on issue at 31 December 1999 and 31 December 2000. Figures for 2001 will not be published until autumn 2002. The information held is not broken down below …

4 Mar 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what additional support through personnel, training and other means will be given to police forces to implement the guidelines issued on 26 February 2002 to chief constables on racist crime and, in particular, on the need to assess the language needs of victims and bereaved relatives and …

Answer · Jim Wallace: It is for chief constables to determine how best to adhere to the Lord Advocate's guidance. <P>Whilst the Association of Chief Police Officers in Scotland continues to provide forces with comprehensive guidance on all national policing issues concerning racia…