Pauline McNeill

15 Nov 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answers to questions S1W-18839 and S1W-18840 by Ms Wendy Alexander on 1 November 2001, what action it is taking to assist the Scottish Further Education Funding Council to ensure that individual further education colleges in financial difficulty can secure long-term financ…

Answer · Wendy Alexander: In October this year I made available an additional £7 million to the Scottish Further Education Funding Council, to be used to support colleges which have shown a determination to take the necessary action to secure their long-term financial viability. <P>Al…

15 Nov 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what the procedure is for appealing against decisions taken by the Eaga Partnership (Scotland) in regard to assessing whether individual applications meet the requirements for inclusion in the central heating programme for pensioners.

Answer · Iain Gray: An unsuccessful applicant can appeal to Eaga against the decision. The case will be reviewed by Eaga's Manager for Scotland who had no part in the original decision.

15 Nov 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-18748 by Jackie Baillie on 30 October 2001, whether copies of the Eaga Partnership (Scotland) leaflets publicising the central heating installation programme for pensioners in private rented accommodation will be made available to MSPs.

Answer · Iain Gray: They will be made available to MSPs.

15 Nov 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-18669 by Malcolm Chisholm on 29 October 2001, when it will announce arrangements for publishing the report on chronic fatigue syndrome/myalgic encephalomyelitis and when will it publish its response to that report.

Answer · Malcolm Chisholm: It will be for the Chief Medical Officer in England to announce arrangements for publication of the report. The Executive will then decide whether to adopt or adapt its good practice guidelines.

15 Nov 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what initiatives are in place to encourage the development of swimming lessons for children.

Answer · Nicol Stephen: As agreed at the debate on this issue on 24 May, an audit of current levels of swimming provision is under way. A questionnaire seeking a wide range of information has been sent to local authorities and will provide an up-to-date picture of opportunities avai…

7 Nov 2001 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1O-3935 by Mr Alasdair Morrison on 25 October 2001, whether the system of additional support to students currently arranged through access and hardship funds can be simplified and brought within the new arrangements for student financial support.

Answer · Wendy Alexander: Hardship funds, formerly known as access funds, are an integral part of the new support arrangements for further and higher education students. These funds are administered by individual colleges and universities under guidance provided by the Student Awards …

6 Nov 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-19123 by Jackie Baillie on 26 October 2001, what the gender and age breakdown was of people sleeping rough in the one-night street counts in Glasgow in each year from 1997 to date.

Answer · Jackie Baillie: I refer the member to the answer given to question S1W-19708.

6 Nov 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-19123 by Jackie Baillie on 26 October 2001, what methodology is used in one-night street counts of people sleeping rough in Glasgow.

Answer · Jackie Baillie: The current approach to the monitoring of the RSI target is detailed in my reply to question S1W-18044 on 11 September 2001. Full details of the methodology being employed are contained in the report referred to in that reply, which is available in the Parlia…

6 Nov 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-16820 by Susan Deacon on 26 October 2001, whether a timetable has been set for the Scottish Ambulance Service to develop a business case including proposals for the implementation of priority-based dispatch.

Answer · Susan Deacon: I understand from the Scottish Ambulance Service that the board is scheduled to consider the full business case for priority-based dispatch at the beginning of 2002. The Executive expects to receive the full business case following that meeting, and will reac…

6 Nov 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1O-3939 by Mr Jack McConnell on 25 October 2001, whether the adoption policy review will make recommendations to Her Majesty's Government on new parental leave rights for new adoptive parents.

Answer · Nicol Stephen: I expect the report of Adoption Policy Review Group to address issues relating to post-adoption services. However, changes to the existing regulations that govern parental leave, including those for adoptive parents, is a reserved employment matter being take…

6 Nov 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-18922 by Susan Deacon on 23 October 2001, what plans it has to target the promotion of better dental care specifically at 12-year-olds.

Answer · Susan Deacon: The Scottish Executive have no specific plans to target 12-year-olds with health promotion programmes beyond those already offered in health services throughout Scotland. 76% of children in this age group in Glasgow are registered with a general dental practi…

5 Nov 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-17971 by Jackie Baillie on 1 October 2001, how the #0.5 million funding to boost college provision specifically for asylum seekers will be spent, broken down by individual colleges, over the current financial year and over future financial years.

Answer · Jackie Baillie: Allocations to individual colleges, for the current and future financial years, will be made by the Scottish Further Education Funding Council.<P>The additional resources are intended to cover the cost of waiving course fees, providing essential books and ass…

5 Nov 2001 · First Minister's Question

To ask the First Minister what evidence the Scottish Executive has of any increase in the number of racial attacks since 11 September 2001.

Answer · Jim Wallace: The police have reported a number of incidents across Scotland linked to the 11 September atrocities. But it is too early to say whether there is an increasing trend in racist incidents. I have made absolutely clear that racist attacks have no place in today'…

31 Oct 2001 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Executive when it will make an announcement on the outcome of the consultation on the Review of Strategic Planning and the timetable for the implementation of any recommendations.

Answer · Lewis Macdonald: The consultation period on the <I>Review of Strategic Planning</I> closed on 31 October. We have received over 250 responses and an independent consultant has been appointed to analyse these responses. He will report at the end of January next year and his re…

30 Oct 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-18631 by Mr Jim Wallace on 12 October 2001, where the public advertisements for the chairman and lay membership of the Judicial Appointments Board are being placed and whether any equality indicators are being used to ensure that the composition of t…

Answer · Iain Gray: The advertisement for the chair and lay members of the Judicial Appointments Board was placed in <I>The Scotsman</I>, <I>The Herald </I>and on the Scottish Executive website.<P>The Scottish Executive is committed to ensuring that the membership of public bodi…

30 Oct 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-18237 by Jackie Baillie on 8 October 2001, how many local authority and housing association tenants in the Glasgow Kelvin constituency will qualify for the central heating and insulation installation.

Answer · Jackie Baillie: The information contained in the reply to question S1W-18237 on 8 October 2001 cannot be shown on a constituency basis.

26 Oct 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what action it is taking to ensure that it meets the demand for experienced and skilled legal practitioners to support the needs of asylum seekers.

Answer · Jim Wallace: This is in the first instance an issue for the Law Society of Scotland. I understand that the society has written to the local faculties and associations to highlight the particular issues involved in asylum cases, has recently held a conference for practitio…

24 Oct 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what processes will be put in place to enable Historic Scotland to seek external advice and to select external advisors once the Historic Buildings Council for Scotland has been abolished.

Answer · Allan Wilson: Through Historic Scotland, the Scottish Executive is currently consulting on the proposal to abolish the Historic Buildings Council of Scotland as part of the Review of Public Bodies and also on the proposal that, if the council were abolished, expert advice …

24 Oct 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive (a) what checks and balances it intends to establish in relation to Historic Scotland and (b) how the built heritage will be protected, once the Historic Buildings Council for Scotland has been abolished.

Answer · Allan Wilson: Through Historic Scotland, the Scottish Executive is currently consulting on the proposal to abolish the Historic Buildings Council of Scotland as part of the Review of Public Bodies. Historic Scotland is the part of the Scottish Executive which supports Scot…

24 Oct 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what progress has been made in the consultation on Protecting Our Rights: A Human Rights Commission for Scotland and when it expects to be able to inform the Parliament of the outcome of the consultation process.

Answer · Iain Gray: I am currently considering the outcome of the consultation exercise and options for the way forward. I will be discussing the issues with my ministerial colleagues, and intend to make an announcement around the end of the year.<P>An analysis of the responses …

24 Oct 2001 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what the level of public consultation will be on the Strathclyde Passenger Transport Authority plans for the development of the Partick Interchange.

Answer · Sarah Boyack: Consultation on individual Public Transport Fund Bids is a matter for the Strathclyde Passenger Transport Authority (SPTA) as the promoting authority for this project.<P>I understand that to date SPTA has consulted with industry partners, the statutory rail b…

17 Oct 2001 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what measures it is taking to simplify the system of student financial support.

Answer · Alasdair Morrison: We have introduced a number of measures which have simplified the system of student financial support. We have aligned the levels of support in both sectors so that students in comparable circumstances will receive the same rate of maintenance support, which …

5 Oct 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what action it is taking in the light of the report by the Scottish Health Boards' Dental Epidemiological Programme, Dental Health of 12-year-olds in Greater Glasgow 2000-01, that 60% of 12-year-olds examined in the Greater Glasgow Health Board area were found to have already experienced …

Answer · Susan Deacon: The Action Plan for Dental Services, which was launched in August 2000, included a number of initiatives aimed at improving children's oral health. As well as a range of initiatives affecting pre-school children, the caries prevention scheme, aimed at young c…

2 Oct 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive when Eaga Partnership (Scotland) will publish a replacement information leaflet on the central heating installation programme for pensioners in private rented accommodation and what further arrangements are in place to publicise this scheme to older people in private rented and owner occu…

Answer · Jackie Baillie: A new leaflet will be available in November. Eaga are contracted to publicise the programme and will be doing so through a variety of media and by working with the many organisations who have access to the client group to develop referral mechanisms and strat…

1 Oct 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive when the report of the working group chaired by the Chief Medical Officer on chronic fatigue syndrome/myalgic encephalomyelitis will be published.

Answer · Malcolm Chisholm: The working group, which was chaired by Professor Allen Hutchinson, has now presented its report to the Chief Medical Officer in England. Arrangements for publication of the report will be announced in due course.

13 Sep 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what the present position is in relation to the two Chhokar Inquiry reports.

Answer · Colin Boyd: I have received Sir Anthony Campbell's report into the process of prosecution decision making in the case. I have been advised that Dr Jandoo has now completed his report concerning the liaison which took place between the authorities and the Chhokar family, …

7 Sep 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what resources it has allocated to date to support local authorities, the police, health services and further and higher education as a result of the asylum seekers dispersal programme.

Answer · Jackie Baillie: The asylum seekers dispersal programme is a matter for the Home Office since immigration and asylum are reserved. To date existing resources available to local authorities, the police, health services and further and higher education have covered the demands …

5 Sep 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what progress has been made by the Clyde Shipyards Taskforce in securing the long-term future of and offsetting job losses at the BAe Systems shipyard at Scotstoun.

Answer · Wendy Alexander: The Clyde Shipyards Task Force, which is considering the immediate and longer term strategic issues facing the Clyde shipbuilding industry, has established four sub-groups to progress the following areas of work:<UL><FONT FACE="Arial"><P ALIGN="JUSTIFY"><LI>S…

5 Sep 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will assess the cost implications for the Glasgow underground system of the European draft legislation on tendering for public transport systems.

Answer · Sarah Boyack: The Scottish Executive is aware that Strathclyde Passenger Transport Executive (SPTE) has assessed the costs associated with tendering the Glasgow underground system in accordance with the latest draft of the European Commission's proposal for an EU Regulatio…

5 Sep 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what representations it has received from Strathclyde Passenger Transport regarding any proposed European legislation which might lead to part privatisation of the Glasgow underground system.

Answer · Sarah Boyack: I am aware of the potential impact on the Glasgow underground of the Commission's proposal for an EU Regulation on Public Service Requirements and the Award of Public Service Contracts in Passenger Transport by Rail, Road and Inland Waterways. I highlighted t…