Parliamentary questions
Sandra White
1,617 questions tabled in the Scottish Parliament, most recent first.
12 Jan 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executivewhether it will provide a copy of the administrative inquiry from the European Commission regarding European Parliament petition 0863/2005 in respect of the commercial properties acquired by Glasgow Housing Association.
Answer · Des McNulty: Correspondence of this type betweenthe European Commission and a member state is regarded as confidential.</p>
12 Jan 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive when it (a) received and (b) replied to the administrative inquiry from the European Commission regarding European Parliament petition 0863/2005 in respect of the commercial properties acquired by Glasgow Housing Association.
Answer · Des McNulty: A letter from the European Commissionregarding the Glasgow housing stock transfer was received by the Scottish Executiveon 1 August 2006. The reply was sent on 2 October 2006.</p>
12 Jan 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S2O-11655 by Des McNulty on 11 January 2007 (Official Report c. 30992), why it does not believe that there was any breach of EC competition law in the Glasgow stock transfer in respect of the commercial properties referred to in European Parliament petit…
Answer · Des McNulty: In European Parliament petition0863/2005, the complainant claims that Glasgow City Council should have put thesale of its commercial properties out to European Union-wide tendering. As far asthe Scottish Executive is aware, the complaint does not allege any b…
12 Jan 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what studies have been undertaken to ascertain the level of compliance with the drug misuse and dependence guidelines in relation to the prescribing of methadone.
Answer · Andy Kerr: As part of the Scottish Executive’sreview of the place of methadone in the treatment of drug misusers, Health Departmentofficials have written to NHS boards in Scotland seeking information on their arrangementsfor monitoring the implementation of the current …
12 Jan 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what action it can take if the drug misuse and dependence guidelines are not followed in relation to the prescribing of methadone.
Answer · Andy Kerr: The guidelines Drug Misuse andDependence – Guidelines on Clinical Management are designed to guide doctors inthe clinical management of their drug misusing patients. Any doctor not fulfillingthe standards and quality of care in the appropriate treatment of dr…
12 Jan 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what measures are in place to ensure that GPs follow the drug misuse and dependence guidelines when prescribing methadone.
Answer · Andy Kerr: As part of their continuing professionaldevelopment, GPs are expected to keep up-to-date with the latest developments inclinical practice, including the latest guidelines which relate to their areas ofclinical practice.</p><p>GPs working in practices providin…
12 Jan 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has produced specific advice for GPs, based on the drug misuse and dependence guidelines, in relation to the prescribing of methadone.
Answer · Andy Kerr: No.The current guidelines <i>Drug Misuse and Dependence – Guidelines on Clinical</i><i>Management</i>, published in 1999, were produced jointly by the health departmentsof all four UK countries and ratified by the then Scottish Office Department ofHealth. The…
12 Jan 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what form of recording replaced the National Confidential Enquiry into Methadone Related Deaths reports and where such information can be accessed.
Answer · Cathy Jamieson: The National Investigation intoall Drug-related Deaths in Scotland in 2003 was published in July 2005. A summary of thisreport can be accessed on the internet at:</p><p><ahref="http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Publications/2005/08/03161745/17507">http://www.scotlan…
12 Jan 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many methadone-related deaths there were in each year from 1999 to 2006, broken down by local authority area.
Answer · George Lyon: I refer the member to the answer to question S2W-29476 on 15 November 2006 which gives data for 1999-2005. Data for 2006 will not be available until August 2007.</p><p>All answers to writtenparliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website the…
12 Jan 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what measures it takes to record and publish the number of methadone-related deaths.
Answer · George Lyon: The General Register Office forScotland (GROS) publishes an annual paper on drug-related deaths in Scotland. Theinformation presented in these papers, which includes data on deaths involving methadone,is compiled from death registrations and associated return…
19 Dec 2006 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has for Glasgow Housing Association to make progress under a new Chief Executive to achieve second stage housing stock transfer.
Answer · Des McNulty: The Board of Glasgow HousingAssociation (GHA) has committed itself to taking forward the approach to secondstage transfer set out in Malcolm Chisholm’s letter of 6 December 2006 to the Chairof the GHA Board (a copy of the letter is available on the Communitie…
19 Dec 2006 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what the salary scale will be for the new Chief Executive of Glasgow Housing Association.
Answer · Rhona Brankin: I have asked Angiolina Foster,Chief Executive of Communities Scotland to respond. Her response is as follows:</p><p>This is a matter for GlasgowHousing Association (GHA) as an independent housing association. The informationrequested is not held by the Scotti…
19 Dec 2006 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether a new Chief Executive of Glasgow Housing Association has been identified and what timescale has been set for the appointment.
Answer · Rhona Brankin: I have asked Angiolina Foster,Chief Executive of Communities Scotland to respond. Her response is as follows:</p><p>This is a matter for GlasgowHousing Association (GHA) as an independent housing association. It is for GHA’sboard to recruit and appoint a new …
19 Dec 2006 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it was aware that the Chief Executive of Glasgow Housing Association (GHA) was about to resign his post before the Executive’s recent announcement of a significant increase in the cost of GHA’s second stage housing stock transfer.
Answer · Des McNulty: I refer the member to the answer to question S2W-30683 on 19 January 2007. All answers 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/w…
19 Dec 2006 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what notice the Chief Executive of Glasgow Housing Association gave the Executive of his intention to resign his post.
Answer · Des McNulty: The resignation of the Chief Executive of Glasgow Housing Association (GHA) is a matter for the GHA. However,the Scottish Executive was informed by the GHA board, shortly before the resignationwas announced publicly, that the Chief Executive was intending to …
19 Dec 2006 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to ensure that Glasgow Housing Association (GHA) will make use of its bank facility of £700 million to urgently address penetrating damp, poor roofing and guttering, old wiring, asbestos, stored undrinkable water and hard-to-heat housing, given that 80% of GHA’s housing …
Answer · Rhona Brankin: I have asked Angiolina Foster,Chief Executive of Communities Scotland, to respond. Her response is as follows:</p><p>All social landlords, includingthe GHA, are required to produce a Standard Delivery Plan setting out how they intendto meet the requirements o…
19 Dec 2006 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to ensure that transparency and democratic governance in accordance with the Langlands principles are adopted by organisations operating large-scale social housing following transfer from local authority control.
Answer · Rhona Brankin: I have asked Angiolina Foster,Chief Executive of Communities Scotland to respond. Her response is as follows:</p><p>Communities Scotland publishedon 1 November 2006 a Regulatory Code of Governance, based on the LanglandsPrinciples. This code is statutory guid…
19 Dec 2006 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to direct bodies that administer former local authority housing after transfer, such as Glasgow Housing Association, to ensure that tenant members of their boards are elected from all tenants and not only from members of local housing organisations.
Answer · Rhona Brankin: I have asked Angiolina Foster,Chief Executive of Communities Scotland to respond. Her response is as follows.</p><p>Housing associations are independentorganisations. Every housing associationmust operate in line with its constitution in filling any membershi…
13 Dec 2006 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what steps will be taken to investigate the situation surrounding the closure of the Chirnsyde Community Initiative given that Glasgow City Council closed the centre in December 2006 without any official explanation.
Answer · Rhona Brankin: I have asked Angiolina Foster,Chief Executive of Communities Scotland to respond. Her response is as follows:</p><p>The decision to close the ChirnsydeCommunity Initiative was a matter for Glasgow City Council. As members of theboard of the local community pl…
13 Dec 2006 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what operations undertaken by the Scottish Crime and Drug Enforcement Agency since 2000 have focused on the operations of the Chirnsyde Community Initiative and its management.
Answer · Cathy Jamieson: I refer the member to the answer to question S2W-30552 on 16 January 2007. All answers to writtenparliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website the search facilityfor which can be found at <ahref="http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/wa…
13 Dec 2006 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what operations have been undertaken by the Scottish Crime and Drug Enforcement Agency in the Milton area of Glasgow since 2000.
Answer · Cathy Jamieson: Scottish Crime and Drug EnforcementAgency (SCDEA) operations are national in nature, concentrating on tackling seriouscrime which affects more than one force area in Scotland. Any operational activityundertaken by the agency in the Milton area of Glasgow woul…
13 Dec 2006 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, in light of the level of violence in the Milton area of Glasgow, whether the Strathclyde Police Violence Reduction Unit will target this area as a matter of urgency.
Answer · Cathy Jamieson: I refer the member to the answer to question S2W-30550 on 19 January 2007. All answers to writtenparliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facilityfor which can be found at <ahref="http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/w…
13 Dec 2006 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether the Minister for Justice will meet residents of Milton, Glasgow, to allay any fears that they may have in respect of the homicide rate and level of crime in the area.
Answer · Cathy Jamieson: I fully understand the fearsof the people of Milton and would reaffirm that the Executive and I remain fullycommitted to reducing violence within every community in Scotland. StrathclydePolice have the responsibility to deal with crime in Milton and I can ass…
13 Dec 2006 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what safeguards it is considering implementing to ensure that criminal organisations are unable to run publicly funded initiatives and thus receive large amounts of public monies.
Answer · Tom McCabe: The Executive is not presentlyconsidering the implementation of any further safeguards in this area. The Executiverequires that applications for funding are scrutinised; that appropriate terms andconditions are attached to awards of funding and that procedure…
13 Dec 2006 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive , in light of the recent closure of Chirnsyde Community Initiative, what action it will take in conjunction with appropriate bodies to ensure that replacement facilities for this area are provided as soon as possible.
Answer · Rhona Brankin: I have asked Angiolina Foster,Chief Executive of Communities Scotland, to respond. Her response is as follows:</p><p>The Scottish Executive understandsthat the Executive Committee of Glasgow City Council agreed to explore alternativearrangements for the deliv…
13 Dec 2006 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what meetings it has had with representatives of Glasgow City Council and other organisations involved in the Chirnsyde Community Initiative.
Answer · Rhona Brankin: I have asked Angiolina Foster,Chief Executive of Communities Scotland, to respond. Her response is as follows:</p><p>The Scottish Executive has heldno meetings with Glasgow City Council or relevant partner organisations on the ChirnsydeCommunity Initiative. C…
13 Dec 2006 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what knowledge it has of any allegations made about the Chirnsyde Community Initiative over the last five years.
Answer · Rhona Brankin: I have asked Angiolina Foster,Chief Executive of Communities Scotland, to respond. Her response is as follows:</p><p>As a board member of the formerGlasgow North Social Inclusion Partnership and now the local community planningpartnership, Communities Scotlan…
13 Dec 2006 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what powers it has to investigate allegations of malpractice in the administration of local authority community groups.
Answer · Rhona Brankin: I have asked Angiolina Foster,Chief Executive of Communities Scotland, to respond. Her response is as follows:</p><p>The Scottish Executive providesvarious funds to local authorities and their community planning partners for investmentin community groups, for…
13 Dec 2006 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what representations it is making to Glasgow City Council regarding the administration of the Chirnsyde Community Initiative.
Answer · Rhona Brankin: I have asked Angiolina Foster,Chief Executive of Communities Scotland, to respond. Her response is as follows:</p><p>The Scottish Executive has madeno representations to Glasgow City Council regarding the administration of the ChirnsydeCommunity Initiative.</…
13 Dec 2006 · General Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, in light of the recent closure of the Chirnsyde community initiative, what urgent steps it has taken to ensure that a replacement leisure facility is available for young people in the Milton area of Glasgow and to ensure that future warnings about young people¿s safety being compromised …
Answer · Patricia Ferguson: The Scottish Executive understandsthat the Executive Committee of Glasgow City Council agreed to explore alternativearrangements for the delivery of community services by the Chirnsyde Initiativeat their recent meeting on 8 December.</p><p>The safety of all g…