Parliamentary questions
Pauline McNeill
2,367 questions tabled in the Scottish Parliament, most recent first.
4 Dec 2001 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-6482 by Henry McLeish on 16 May 2000, what progress has been made by the Trade Union Working Party on Lifelong Learning in respect of enhancing the involvement of trade unions in the broad lifelong learning agenda in Scotland.
Answer · Wendy Alexander: The Trade Union Working Party on Lifelong Learning, inaugurated in August 2000, meets on a quarterly basis. It provides a forum for trade union input to a wide range of lifelong learning issues and makes a valuable input to the development of Executive policy…
4 Dec 2001 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-12737 by Ms Wendy Alexander on 6 February 2001, whether it will provide a breakdown of the key characteristics of Individual Learning Account holders, including age group, gender, occupation, area of residence and type, subject and level of learning …
Answer · Wendy Alexander: Surveys of 1,000 Individual Learning Account (ILA) members in Scotland who had used their account and approximately 150 who had yet to undertake learning were conducted by MORI over the period September 2000 to February 2001. Key findings were as follows:<P>5…
4 Dec 2001 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1O-3160 by Ms Wendy Alexander on 22 March 2001, whether it will (a) provide an update of figures on the take-up of Individual Learning Accounts and (b) outline any plans to encourage further take-up.
Answer · Wendy Alexander: By 19 November, a total of over 245,000 accounts had been opened for people in Scotland and nearly 110,000 had used them for some learning. The target of 100,000 opened accounts was reached in June this year.
28 Nov 2001 · General Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it is satisfied with the practices and performance of the Student Loans Company Ltd.
Answer · Wendy Alexander: The company's performance against agreed targets as set out in its annual report gives no grounds for concern.
22 Nov 2001 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, with regard to its news release SE4352/2001 of 15 November 2001, what proportion of the additional #758,480 allocated to the Greater Glasgow NHS Board for dental health will be spent on children's oral health.
Answer · Malcolm Chisholm: Under the scheme announced on 15 November, it is for the Primary Care Trust to agree with the dental profession locally how best to target the available funding. One of the areas in which we have indicated we wish to see this funding used is to make practices…
22 Nov 2001 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, with regard to its news release SE4376/2001 of 19 November 2001, whether the matters considered by the expert panel on school meals will include making school meals free for all school children.
Answer · Nicol Stephen: I refer the member to the answer given to question S1W-20232.
22 Nov 2001 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-14438 by Mr Jack McConnell on 18 June 2001, whether there has been any progress in its discussions with CoSLA on improving the take-up of free school meals.
Answer · Nicol Stephen: I refer the member to the answer given to question S1W-20232.
22 Nov 2001 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-1600 by Mr Sam Galbraith on 30 September 1999, what reports it has received from HM Inspectorate of Education on nutritional standards for school meals.
Answer · Nicol Stephen: I refer the member to the answer given to question S1W-20232.
22 Nov 2001 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-1600 by Mr Sam Galbraith on 30 September 1999, to what extent the recommendations of the Scottish Diet Action Plan Eating for Health have been implemented in catering services for pre-school and school age children.
Answer · Nicol Stephen: I refer the member to the answer given to question S1W-20232.
22 Nov 2001 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-1212 by Mr Sam Galbraith on 13 September 1999, whether it now has any plans to maximise the take-up of free school meals.
Answer · Nicol Stephen: I refer the member to the answer given to question S1W-20232.
22 Nov 2001 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how long the Fruit Plus and Smart Card initiatives for school children are expected to last.
Answer · Nicol Stephen: I refer the member to the answer given to question S1W-20235.
22 Nov 2001 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how much the Fruit Plus and Smart Card initiatives for school children will cost in each year for which estimates are available.
Answer · Nicol Stephen: I refer the member to the answer given to question S1W-20235.
22 Nov 2001 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what categories of children will benefit from the Fruit Plus and Smart Card initiatives.
Answer · Nicol Stephen: The Fruit Plus initiative is a Glasgow City Council/Greater Glasgow Health Board initiative. It aims to provide a piece of fruit three days a week for pre-school nurseries and primary schools in Glasgow. The funding and timescale of the initiative are a matte…
22 Nov 2001 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how much money it is allocating to making improvements in the school meals system.
Answer · Nicol Stephen: I refer the member to the answer given to question S1W-20232.
22 Nov 2001 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what studies have been undertaken on any stigma attached to the current free school meals system.
Answer · Nicol Stephen: I refer the member to the answer given to question S1W-20232.
22 Nov 2001 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what studies have been undertaken on the nutritional content of school meals.
Answer · Nicol Stephen: In 1996, the Scottish Diet Action Plan <I>Eating for Health</I> made a number of recommendations and included nutritional guidelines targeted primarily at pre-school and school age children. Education authorities and schools have been implementing these recom…
21 Nov 2001 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how the new contract for the BAE SYSTEMS Govan yard will affect the skills base and jobs at the Scotstoun shipyard.
Answer · Wendy Alexander: The new Alternative Landing Ship Logistics contract was signed on 19 November by BAE SYSTEMS Marine for the Clyde yards. Whilst a substantial part of the work will be carried out at Govan, the increasingly integrated nature of the company's two Clyde yards an…
15 Nov 2001 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-18820 by Ms Wendy Alexander on November 2001, what activities are being undertaken by the Clyde Shipbuilding Task Force.
Answer · Wendy Alexander: The activities of the Clyde Shipyards Task Force have already contributed to a substantial reduction in the original number of compulsory redundancies announced by BAE SYSTEMS, from 1,000 to nearer 500. The task force has also considered longer term issues re…
15 Nov 2001 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many nursing posts are vacant at the Beatson Oncology Unit.
Answer · Malcolm Chisholm: The information requested is not held centrally.
15 Nov 2001 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how the #250,000 allocated by the North Glasgow University Hospitals NHS Trust in April to ease pressure on staff at the Beatson Oncology Unit in Glasgow has been spent.
Answer · Malcolm Chisholm: I have been advised by the trust that this funding was invested to secure:<P>five administrative staff to improve secretarial support;<P>five additional nursing staff, one to improve bed management and the remainder to enhance chemotherapy services, and<P>jun…
15 Nov 2001 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how the new Joint Management Board at the Beatson Oncology Unit will operate.
Answer · Malcolm Chisholm: The joint management board will be multi-disciplinary in nature with members drawn from across the Beatson Oncology Centre, senior management representatives from the North Glasgow University Hospitals Trust and NHS Greater Glasgow. It will report to the Chie…
15 Nov 2001 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what action it is taking as a result of the report by the Greater Glasgow NHS Board into the situation at the Beatson Oncology Unit and the North Glasgow University Hospitals NHS Trust.
Answer · Malcolm Chisholm: I refer the member to the answer given to question S1W-20004.
15 Nov 2001 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what the urgent measures are which have been put in place to deal with issues at the Beatson Oncology Unit.
Answer · Malcolm Chisholm: A raft of measures are being set in place including:<P>new management arrangements including a dedicated joint Management Board;<P>a high level external clinical support team;<P>an organisational development programme, and <P>full-time senior management suppo…
15 Nov 2001 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what the remit and timescale is of the investigation into the North Glasgow University Hospitals NHS Trust.
Answer · Malcolm Chisholm: I refer the member to the answer given to question S1O-4093 on 15 November 2001. <P>I have asked the Chief Executive of Greater Glasgow NHS Board to complete the review by end of the current calendar year.
15 Nov 2001 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what impact there will be on patient services as a result of the current situation at the Beatson Oncology Unit and the North Glasgow University Hospitals NHS Trust.
Answer · Malcolm Chisholm: I refer the member to the answer given to question S1W-19754 on 26 November 2001.
15 Nov 2001 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what its short-, medium-and long-term plans are for resourcing (a) the Beatson Oncology Unit and (b) the North Glasgow University Hospitals NHS Trust.
Answer · Malcolm Chisholm: Cancer is one of three clinical priorities for the Scottish Executive and for NHSScotland. The Executive is committed to year-on-year increases in the unified budget allocations made to NHS boards. From within these allocations, local NHS management are respo…
15 Nov 2001 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what measures are being taken to deal with staff shortages as a result of the three consultants' resignations that have taken place at the Beatson Oncology Unit.
Answer · Malcolm Chisholm: I refer the member to the answers given to questions S1W-19754 (26 November 2001), S1W-19873 (28 December 2001) and S1W-19874 (28 December 2001).
15 Nov 2001 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1O-3993 by Sarah Boyack on 1 November 2001, whether it will ensure that Strathclyde Passenger Transport Authority, as the promoting authority for the Partick Interchange project, will consult local residents and elected members as well as the groups it …
Answer · Lewis Macdonald: Consultation on individual Public Transport Fund projects is a matter for the promoting authority, in this case Strathclyde Passenger Transport Authority. <P>However, I have been assured by the Strathclyde Passenger Transport Authority that a public consultat…
15 Nov 2001 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1O-3971 by Lewis MacDonald on 1 November 2001, what organisations and individuals will be consulted on the proposals aimed at securing more effective public involvement in planning.
Answer · Iain Gray: A consultation paper is being widely distributed to a range of interests, including planning authorities, regular users of the planning system, community councils, the Citizen Advice Bureau and equality groups. The Executive is also actively promoting full pu…
15 Nov 2001 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what progress has been made on the reorganisation of Glasgow's further education colleges.
Answer · Wendy Alexander: A consultation exercise following the publication of the recent report by the consultants KPMG has now been completed. It will be for the Scottish Further Education Funding Council and the Glasgow colleges, who commissioned the report, to consider the respons…