Pauline McNeill

4 Sep 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will make available in the Scottish Parliament Information Centre a copy of the report and findings of the Consultation Control Working Group as referred to in Planning Services: Third Annual Report of the Planning Audit Unit 2000.

Answer · Lewis Macdonald: Twenty copies of the October 1999 report of the Conservation Controls Working Group have been deposited in the Parliament's Reference Centre.

4 Sep 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what progress has been made on modernising the planning system in light of the issues raised in Planning Services: Third Annual Report of the Planning Audit Unit 2000.

Answer · Lewis Macdonald: The report highlighted six issues to be addressed by the Executive. Progress has been as follows:<P ALIGN="JUSTIFY">Most telecommunications developments have been removed from the scope of the General Permitted Development Order (GDPO) and brought within full…

4 Sep 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what action its Housing Improvement Task Force is taking to improve the rights of tenants in the private rented sector.

Answer · Jackie Baillie: The Housing Improvement Task Force has a wide-ranging remit to look at issues of quality and condition in private sector housing. It has established a number of sub-groups including one which is considering matters relating to house conditions in the privatel…

4 Sep 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what new measures it is taking to narrow the gap in life expectancy between Glasgow and elsewhere in the UK shown by Office for National Statistics figures.

Answer · Susan Deacon: The inequalities most recently highlighted in this report are well-known, long-standing and unacceptable. The Executive is committed to tackling the legacy of health inequalities, and has put this and social justice at the heart of its agenda and its spending…

20 Jul 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive when the appointment of a new chairperson of Yorkhill NHS Trust will be announced.

Answer · Susan Deacon: The appointment of Sally Kuenssberg as chairperson of the Yorkhill NHS Trust was announced on 27&nbsp;July&nbsp;2001.

18 Jul 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether the reports by Sir Anthony Campbell and Dr Raj Jandoo on the Chhokar case have yet been completed.

Answer · Colin Boyd: I have now received Sir Anthony Campbell's report of his inquiry into the decision-making process in this case. The report has been sent for translation. Dr Jandoo's report is awaited but I understand that I can expect to receive it in August. That report wil…

16 Jul 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has any measures planned to address the current shortage of qualified occupational therapists.

Answer · Susan Deacon: The number of Occupational Therapists working in NHSScotland has increased by 216 WTE (24%) since 1996.<P>An additional 61 funded student places for certain Professions Allied to Medicine groups including Occupational Therapists have been made available by th…

6 Jul 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether any timetable for mergers in the further education sector in Glasgow will be set as a result of the recommendations made by KPMG in volume one of their report Progressing Further Education in Glasgow: Strategic Options and, if so, what that timetable will be.

Answer · Wendy Alexander: The Scottish Executive will set no such timetable. Any action stemming from this report will be for the Scottish Further Education Funding Council and the Glasgow colleges.

6 Jul 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive to what extent the remit of KPMG in the report Progressing Further Education in Glasgow: Strategic Options was to learn from the experience of previous mergers in the further education sectors of Scotland and England and Wales.

Answer · Alasdair Morrison: This was not, I understand, specifically part of the remit. But in considering how to take matters forward I would expect the Scottish Further Education Funding Council and the Glasgow colleges to take into account relevant experience from elsewhere.

6 Jul 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive when it will consider any funding implications associated with the merger options for Glasgow colleges identified in volume one of the report by KPMG, Progressing Further Education in Glasgow: Strategic Options.

Answer · Wendy Alexander: The funding of the Scottish further education sector, including any funding support for strategic change within the sector, is a matter for the Scottish Further Education Funding Council.

6 Jul 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what its position is on the extent to which volume one of the report Progressing Further Education in Glasgow: Strategic Options by KPMG focuses on estates issues and not educational provision.

Answer · Wendy Alexander: The report was commissioned jointly by the Scottish Further Education Funding Council and the Glasgow Colleges Group, not by the Scottish Executive. The report itself makes clear that the commission was to generate and evaluate strategic options for the provi…

5 Jul 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1O-3531 by Susan Deacon on 6 June 2001, when Health Department officials will report on their discussions regarding priority-based ambulance dispatch and whether it will undertake further consultation based on the outcome of the discussions.

Answer · Susan Deacon: It is for the Scottish Ambulance Service to consult on proposals for operational changes. I understand that the service, in preparing the case for priority based dispatch, has consulted widely within NHSScotland, including clinicians, patients and patient rep…

4 Jul 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive when it expects to publish the consultation paper on the police complaints system.

Answer · Jim Wallace: I am publishing today a consultation paper that puts forward proposals for strengthening the independence of the police complaints system in Scotland. This fulfils the commitment we made in responding to Sir William Macpherson's report on the Stephen Lawrence…

4 Jul 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1O-3427 by Allan Wilson on 17 May 2001, what consideration is being given to developing the Kelvin Hall in Glasgow so that the national athletics teams continue to have adequate year-round training facilities.

Answer · Allan Wilson: Any decision on the development of the Kelvin Hall is a matter in the first instance for Glasgow City Council. The council are aware of the requirements of both <B>sport</B>scotland and the Scottish Athletics Federation. A consultation meeting has taken place…

6 Jun 2001 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what effect the draft European Transport Regulation may have on the competitive tendering position of the Glasgow Underground and whether it will make representations to Her Majesty's Government on this matter.

Answer · Sarah Boyack: In autumn 2000 the European Commission published a proposal for a Regulation on action by member states concerning public service requirements and the award of public service contracts in passenger transport by rail, road and inland waterway. This contains a …

30 May 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what the current position is on the Scottish Natural Heritage investigation into the suspected colony of the protected species of Pipistrelle bat nesting in the disused railway tunnel at Thornwood Community Park in Glasgow and whether it will impact on the proposed development at the site.

Answer · Rhona Brankin: This is an operational matter for Scottish Natural Heritage and I have asked Professor Roger Crofts CBE, Chief Executive of SNH to reply. His response is as follows:<P>Scottish Natural Heritage has formally consulted Glasgow City Council in relation to a plan…

29 May 2001 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Executive when it will report on its consideration of a priority dispatch system for the Scottish Ambulance Service.

Answer · Susan Deacon: Health Department officials are currently discussing the costs and benefits of priority-based ambulance dispatch with the Scottish Ambulance Service. Once these discussions are complete, the Executive will decide whether the Ambulance Service should go ahead …

9 May 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1F-992 by Mr Jim Wallace on 5 April 2001, what evidence it has to indicate that the allocation by the Scottish Higher Education Funding Council of 10 funded Postgraduate Certificate in Education places at the University of Strathclyde is sufficient to s…

Answer · Jack McConnell: For primary Gaelic-medium the Executive estimates that around 110 newly trained teachers will be required over the next seven years. There are 12 students undertaking a primary teaching qualification who may qualify as Gaelic-medium teachers this year. The Sc…

9 May 2001 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what work it is undertaking with local authorities to ensure that the national athletics teams have adequate year-round training facilities in Scotland.

Answer · Allan Wilson: <B>sport</B>scotland has ongoing dialogue with local authorities and with the Scottish Athletics Federation about the provision of adequate national facilities for athletics.

3 May 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what progress has been made on the establishment of a drug court.

Answer · Iain Gray: The Drug Court Working Group, chaired by Sheriff Principal Bowen, submitted its report on 1 May. This set out its proposed model for a pilot Drug Court at Glasgow Sheriff Court and opens the way for the establishment of the first drug court in Scotland. The p…

30 Apr 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-12087 by Nicol Stephen on 4 January 2001, what progress has been made regarding the introduction in Scotland of provisions similar to those in clause 13 of the UK Special Educational Needs and Disability Bill.

Answer · Nicol Stephen: The provision referred to has now become Clause 14 of the Special Educational Needs and Disability Bill. Clause 14 requires local education authorities and schools in England and Wales to plan, to increase participation in the curriculum and physical access t…

30 Apr 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive when the Scottish Higher Education Funding Council (SHEFC) will report on the Teaching Funding and Research Policy and Funding reviews mentioned in the SHEFC's April 2001 meeting report.

Answer · Wendy Alexander: The consultation period for both these reviews concluded at the end of March. On the Teaching Review, it is expected that revised proposals will be put to the council for consideration in the autumn and for the Research Review, by the end of the year.<P>I hav…

26 Apr 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive when the consultation paper on the proposed Title Conditions Bill will be published and how long the consultation period will be.

Answer · Jim Wallace: The Scottish Executive's Title Conditions (Scotland) Bill Consultation Paper is published today. The paper is based upon, and contains a copy of, the draft Title Conditions Bill appended to the Scottish Law Commission's Report on Real Burdens (Scot Law Com 18…

26 Apr 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what prosecutions there have been to date for offences relating to the sex slave industry, what sentences were given in each case, whether it plans to create any specific offences relating to this area and, if so, what minimum sentence it will recommend that such offences should carry.

Answer · Jim Wallace: Responsibility for the laws on immigration and international trafficking in persons is reserved to the UK Government.<P>Criminal law is devolved. Those involved in sexual exploitation could, under Scots law, be committing one or more of a variety of crimes, b…

23 Apr 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it plans to work with Her Majesty's Government and international authorities to legislate to end the global sex slave trade.

Answer · Jim Wallace: Responsibility for contacts with international authorities and for the laws on immigration and international trafficking in persons is reserved to the United Kingdom Government, with which the Scottish Executive is in regular contact on a wide range of issues…

23 Apr 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what action it is taking in conjunction with Her Majesty's Government to ensure that any victims of sex slavery in Scotland are returned to safety.

Answer · Jim Wallace: The Scottish Executive is in regular contact with the Home Office about a wide range of criminal justice matters. Scottish Police forces also work closely with other national and international law enforcement agencies. <P>Anyone with information which relates…

23 Apr 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what efforts are being made to seek out females entrapped through sex slavery.

Answer · Jim Wallace: The trafficking of women for sexual exploitation is a serious matter. The Police will rigorously investigate any information or complaints made to them about this. Scottish Police forces also work closely with other national and international law enforcement …

23 Apr 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what action it is taking against those responsible for any incidence of sex slavery.

Answer · Jim Wallace: The Scottish Executive deplores trafficking in people for the purposes of sexual exploitation. <P>Responsibility for the laws on immigration and international trafficking of this kind is reserved to the United Kingdom Government.<P>However, those involved in …

20 Apr 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether the move of the Beatson Oncology Unit within Glasgow is on target.

Answer · Susan Deacon: The first of the three new linear accelerators within Gartnavel Hospital was used to treat patients earlier this month. The second is due to be commissioned in June and the third by the end of this year. The programme is, therefore, currently on target.

20 Apr 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what improvements will be brought about, both generally and specifically for patients, by relocating the Beatson Oncology Unit from its current site at the Western Infirmary to a new site at Gartnavel General Hospital in Glasgow.

Answer · Susan Deacon: This investment in state of the art radiotherapy equipment is expected not only to reduce current waiting times from seven weeks to two weeks but also to improve patients' experiences of their care through the provision of modern facilities.