Sandra White

21 Jun 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what involvement it has had in the case of the asylum seeker, Sana Hussein, in respect of the welfare of her four children.

Answer · Adam Ingram: The Scottish Executive hashad no involvement in this case.</p>

15 Jun 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how it intends to address concerns of ambulance workers that they are being put at risk due to the policy on the deployment of single-staffed units.

Answer · Shona Robison: To attack orintimidate dedicated NHS staff or any other emergency worker who is trying tohelp people in need is abhorrent and totally unacceptable.</p><p>Any ScottishAmbulance Service member of staff who has a concern about working on their ownshould in the f…

15 Jun 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether ambulance workers in single-staffed units have the right to refuse to be deployed on safety grounds.

Answer · Shona Robison: As set out in the Scottish Ambulance Service’s lone worker policy, on arrival at the scene of theincident, the member of staff is required to conduct a dynamic risk assessment.If having completed this assessment they feel the risk is too great forwhatever rea…

15 Jun 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many incidents involving attacks on single-staffed ambulance units have been reported in each year since 1999, broken down by NHS board area.

Answer · Shona Robison: I refer themember to the answer to question S3W-1140 on 27 June 2007. Allanswers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’swebsite, the search facility for which can be found at <ahref="http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/wa.sea…

15 Jun 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many incidents involving attacks on ambulance staff have been reported in each year since 1999, broken down by NHS board area.

Answer · Shona Robison: The informationis not collected centrally in the form requested.</p><p>The ScottishAmbulance Service began capturing information on the numbers of incidents ofviolence and aggression towards staff in August 2004 when it issued guidance tostaff about the need …

15 Jun 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what guidelines have been issued in respect of the deployment of single-staffed ambulance units.

Answer · Shona Robison: The Scottish AmbulanceService takes seriously the health, safety and welfare of its staff. It recognisesthat some staff are required to work by themselves for significant periods of timewithout close or direct supervision in the community or in isolated work …

15 Jun 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what action it intends to take in response to the report, published by Glasgow City Council, into Kerelaw residential school.

Answer · Adam Ingram: The abusesuffered by children and young people in Kerelaw over such a lengthy periodshould not have happened and the Government is determined to learn the lessonsfrom this dreadful situation.</p><p>I have taken thefollowing actions to respond to the Glasgow r…

14 Jun 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive which official body can instruct Glasgow Housing Association to extend the maximum time period of repayment from homeowners for improvement works.

Answer · Stewart Maxwell: I have asked Angiolina Foster, Chief Executive of Communities Scotland, to respond. Her response is asfollows:</p><p>Glasgow Housing Association(GHA) is an independent housing association and charity. As an independent organisationit is expected to obtain and…

14 Jun 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether Glasgow Housing Association is required by law to seek repayment from home owners for improvement works within 12 months.

Answer · Stewart Maxwell: I have asked Angiolina Foster, Chief Executive of Communities Scotland, to respond. Her response is asfollows:</p><p>I refer the memberto the answer to question S2W-32268 on 16 March 2007, which stated that Glasgow Housing Association (GHA) is expected to see…

14 Jun 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will consider making a Scottish statutory instrument to allow Audit Scotland to instigate an investigation into Glasgow Housing Association should the current inspection by Communities Scotland find grounds for concern.

Answer · Stewart Maxwell: The current inspectionof Glasgow Housing Association (GHA) is due to report in September. If the reportidentifies concerns or areas for improvement, Communities Scotland has a range ofoptions open to it for dealing with such issues and will work with GHA to e…

12 Jun 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S2W-30704 by Robert Brown on 23 January 2007, when it intends to inform the Parliament of, and publish, the findings of the autumn 2006 joint inspection of services for asylum seeker children following receipt of the formal report from Her Majesty’s Insp…

Answer · Fiona Hyslop: I understand thatthe HMIE inspection Report will be published shortly. As well as submitting thereport to Ministers, HMIE will send copies of the report to Members of theEducation, Lifelong Learning and Culture; Justice; Local Government and Communities;Healt…

12 Jun 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S2W-30704 by Robert Brown on 23 January 2007, when it intends to report to the Parliament on the implementation of the March 2006 agreement on asylum seeker children.

Answer · Fiona Hyslop: We will hold theBorder and Immigration Agency (BIA) to account for each and every element ofthat agreement, and will press for further progress where that it is requiredto advance and promote the interests of children, families and communities inScotland affe…

12 Jun 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to publish the details of the March 2006 agreement with the Home Office on asylum seeker children.

Answer · Fiona Hyslop: Thisgovernment believes that asylum seeker children have the same rights as otherchildren. Ministers are currently examining what the Scottish government can doto ensure that the welfare and needs of asylum seeker children are paramount.</p><p>The details of …

11 Jun 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will conduct a review of community investment funds, initiatives and partnerships in respect of their administration and outcomes.

Answer · Stewart Maxwell: The Scottishgovernment will be examining all funding as part of the forthcoming spendingreview process. This includes the Community Regeneration Fund and others fundsaimed at tackling poverty and disadvantage.</p>

11 Jun 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will list available community investment funds, initiatives and partnerships, showing how each are administered and audited for both best value and success.

Answer · Stewart Maxwell: The Scottishgovernment provides a number of funds which support what might be called “communityinvestment” around Scotland. The largest of these is the CommunityRegeneration Fund, £108 million in 2007-08, which is allocated to CommunityPlanning Partnerships (…

6 Jun 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will consider the setting up of a working group to monitor and report to the Parliament on the devolved impact of nuclear weapons based in Scotland.

Answer · Bruce Crawford: This Government wishes to befree to remove nuclear weapons from Scotland. The majority of Scots support that view. We plan tobring together key stakeholders from across Scottish civic life in an allianceof people who are opposed to the deployment of nuclear w…

6 Jun 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what progress it has made in its work with a range of partners, including the voluntary sector, on initiatives to improve access to care services for deafblind people.

Answer · Shona Robison: The Scottish Governmentcontinues to work closely with our partners including Deafblind Scotland, theRoyal National Institute for the Deaf, the Royal National Institute for theBlind and a number of other voluntary organisations to implement therecommendations …

6 Jun 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has any plans to provide statutory funding for guide communicators.

Answer · Shona Robison: The Scottish Government hasno plans for statutory provision of guide communicators. The provision ofappropriate support for all people receiving care services, including guidingand communication support, is a matter for local authorities.</p>

6 Jun 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how it intends to address the issues facing Deafblind Scotland as a result of fund allocation changes.

Answer · Shona Robison: Deafblind Scotland continues to receive core funding under section 10 of the Social Work (Scotland) Act. Funding under section 9 of that actfor innovative training was provided for three years for the period from 2004-05to 2006-07. Deafblind Scotland is worki…

6 Jun 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions the Scottish Government has had with the Home Office to ensure that Scottish companies providing courses aimed at passing the Life in the UK test are properly accredited.

Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: Stewart Maxwell and I are currentlymaking arrangements to hold meetings in the very near future with both GHA and otherstakeholders interested in the future of housing in Glasgow.</p>

22 May 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to increase the number of affordable rented homes.

Answer · Stewart Maxwell: The provision of good quality,affordable rented housing will make a significant contribution to our strategicobjectives of building a wealthier and fairer, healthier, safer and stronger, smarter,greener Scotland. However, decisionson affordable housing invest…

22 May 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it can now provide a timescale for second stage transfer of Glasgow Housing Association housing stock.

Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: I intend to use the next fewweeks to review the progress Glasgow Housing Association has made in deliveringon the original promises to tenants and to consider the way forward.</p>

22 May 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has any plans to ask the Auditor General for Scotland or the Accounts Commission for Scotland to investigate Glasgow Housing Association’s Home Improvement Scheme.

Answer · Stewart Maxwell: I have asked Angiolina Foster,Chief Executive of Communities Scotland, to respond. Her response is as follows:</p><p>Glasgow Housing Association iscurrently the subject of an inspection by Communities Scotland. This inspectionwill look at, among other things,…

19 Mar 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will clarify whether Glasgow’s new children’s hospital will be built using the public private partnership procurement route, in light of the Minister for Health and Community Care’s statement that the project will be built by the private sector.

Answer · Andy Kerr: As the NHS does not have a direct labour organisation which wouldbuild a hospital, Glasgow’s New Children’s Hospital will be built by the privatesector, irrespective of the funding route agreed. It is premature to comment onthe appropriate procurement route a…

19 Mar 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S2O-12341 by Mr Andy Kerr on 15th March 2007 (Official Report c. 33310-11), whether it will expand on the statement that “the project in Glasgow will be built by the private sector. Of course, as the SNP is so anti-business, it could not even make a prof…

Answer · Andy Kerr: As the NHS does not have a direct labour organisation which wouldbuild a hospital, Glasgow’s New Children’s Hospital will be built by the privatesector, irrespective of the funding route agreed. It is premature to comment onthe appropriate procurement route a…

19 Mar 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S2O-12341 by Mr Andy Kerr on 15 March 2007 (Official Report c. 33310-11), whether the Minister for Health and Community Care has now decided that Glasgow’s new children’s hospital will be privately financed.

Answer · Andy Kerr: No decision has been taken on the procurement route for Glasgow’snew children’s hospital. This will be determined through an auditable business caseprocess based on value for money. The underlying principle in determining the fundingroute to be followed in an…

19 Mar 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S2O-12000 by Mr Andy Kerr on 15 February 2007 (Official Report c. 32164) where the Minister for Health and Community Care stated that he would wait until the Health Department received the outline business case for Glasgow’s new children’s hospital befor…

Answer · Andy Kerr: The NHS does not have a direct labour organisation which wouldbuild a hospital and therefore the statement simply reflects the fact that irrespectiveof which funding route is chosen, Glasgow’s New Children’s Hospital will be builtby a private sector contracto…

15 Mar 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what benefits have been identified for Scotland from the London 2012 Olympic Games.

Answer · Patricia Ferguson: We are determined to maximise thebenefits of the London 2012 Games and bring the games to as many Scots as possible.</p><p>We will use the games as an opportunityto inspire the nation to get active, to encourage its children to participate inmore sport and cu…

15 Mar 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it is considering to minimise the impact of any reduction in lottery funding on sport and other good causes in Scotland.

Answer · Patricia Ferguson: We are currently in discussions withthe National Lottery distributors in Scotland, including sportscotland, to assessthe possible impact of a reduction in their lottery funding. However, it is theUK Government’s intention that no existing lottery project need…

15 Mar 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what representations it is making to the UK Government to ensure that Scottish projects will be unaffected by a further contribution from the National Lottery to the increased cost of the London 2012 Olympic Games to over £9 billion, as announced by the Secretary of State for Culture, Med…

Answer · Patricia Ferguson: I refer the member to the answer to question S2W-32440 on 29 March 2007. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliamentswebsite, the search facility for which can be found at <ahref="http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/wa.…