Parliamentary questions
Sandra White
1,617 questions tabled in the Scottish Parliament, most recent first.
11 Dec 2006 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S2W-29451 by Malcolm Chisholm on 17 November 2006, whether it has now received the inquiry reporter’s report and, if so, what plans it has in respect of the future use of HM Prison Low Moss.
Answer · Des McNulty: The inquiry reporter’s publiclocal inquiry report into a proposal to erect a new prison at HM Prison Low Moss,Bishopbriggs has been received by Scottish ministers. Following very careful considerationof the report and the recommendation contained therein Scot…
4 Dec 2006 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what steps are being taken with regard to the findings published in Advice For All: Publicly Funded Legal Assistance in Scotland? The Way Forward: Analysis of Written Consultation Responses in March 2006.
Answer · Johann Lamont: The Advice for All consultation,which was informed by the Strategic Review on the Delivery of Legal Aid, Adviceand Information, ran from <em>17June 2005 to 9 September 2005 and suggested a number of </em>short, mediumand long-term <em>improvementsto the way p…
4 Dec 2006 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will provide an update on plans for publicly employed solicitors to be employed in areas where there is a shortfall of legal services.
Answer · Johann Lamont: The then Deputy Minister forJustice, Hugh Henry MSP, announced on 7 September 2006 that the Scottish LegalAid Board (SLAB) would establish a network of Civil Legal Assistance Offices toprovide assistance to the public on matters of civil law in areas where t…
4 Dec 2006 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will provide an overview of the project to simplify civil legal aid assistance for solicitors.
Answer · Johann Lamont: The Scottish Legal Aid Boardhas started a project to look at ways of simplifying civil legal assistance. Theproject will look at all aspects of civil legal assistance with a view to simplifyingit for solicitors, applicants and opponents. The board intends to …
4 Dec 2006 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what the timetable is for the review of the legal aid system.
Answer · Johann Lamont: A great deal of work has beendone over the last three years to review the legal aid system in Scotland. Thishas included the Strategic Review of Legal Aid, the Advice for All Consultation,civil legal aid reform in 2003, solemn legal aid reform in conjunction …
4 Dec 2006 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it plans to change the method by which solicitors who undertake civil legal aid cases, such as domestic abuse cases, are paid.
Answer · Johann Lamont: The Civil Legal Aid (Scotland) (Fees)Amendment Regulations 2003 were introduced on 1 October 2003 as part of the on-goingprogramme of modernisation of legal aid. These regulations introduced block feesfor civil legal aid. There are no plans to remove the bloc…
4 Dec 2006 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how it will ensure that women in domestic abuse situations have access to civil legal aid, in light of reported “advice deserts” emerging throughout the country.
Answer · Johann Lamont: Hugh Henry announced in the Stage1 debate on the Legal Profession and Legal Aid Bill that he had asked the ScottishLegal Aid Board to set up a network of employed solicitors to provide civil legalassistance. Ministers are pleased that the board has begun to r…
4 Dec 2006 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what action it is taking, and will take, to address a 5% rise in domestic abuse over the last year.
Answer · Malcolm Chisholm: Reported incidents of domesticabuse have risen by 5% in 2005-06. While this is slightly less than the 6% risein 2004-05, it is in line with previous years and may be attributed to more peoplerecognising that all forms of domestic abuse are wrong and reporting…
29 Nov 2006 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has achieved the commitment made by the First Minister on 27 March 2003 when he stated “I believe that we should double the number of British Sign Language interpreters in Scotland and I have asked officials to prepare plans for how we might achieve that, which will be presente…
Answer · Malcolm Chisholm: Plans to double the number ofBritish Sign Language (BSL) interpreters in Scotland were announced on 4 November 2004 in answerto question S2W-11983 and included supporting the development and delivery of aGraduate Diploma in Teaching British Sign Language Tuto…
29 Nov 2006 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how much Objective One funding it has received for programmes aimed at increasing the number of British Sign Language interpreters.
Answer · Allan Wilson: In Scotland, StructuralFunds are a significant source of European Union funding. Their aim is to reduceeconomic and social disparities between regions across Europe. Projectsaccess this funding through a bidding system within the appropriate Scottish Structur…
29 Nov 2006 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what action it is taking on the recommendations in Health and Community Care Research Programme Research Findings No.50/2006: Community Care and Mental Health Services for Adults with Sensory Impairment in Scotland, particularly in respect of (a) the need to increase the number of qualifi…
Answer · Lewis Macdonald: Through the Sensory ImpairmentAction Plan, from which the research flows, changes are being made to how servicesare delivered, and statutory guidance will issue shortly to local authorities invitingthem to implement these.</p><p>Working in partnership with ke…
29 Nov 2006 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what the outline and objectives are of its “training the trainers” programme for British Sign Language interpreters and what progress has been made in achieving these objectives.
Answer · Malcolm Chisholm: The Executive funded “trainingthe trainers” programme aims to provide an award-bearing course embedded withinthe Scottish Credit and Qualifications Framework to train a minimum of 10 Deaf peoplein Scotland to become trainers of British Sign Language (BSL) tu…
29 Nov 2006 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how much money has been set aside for training additional British Sign Language interpreters.
Answer · Malcolm Chisholm: I refer the member to the answer to question S2W-30231 on 12 December 2006. 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/…
29 Nov 2006 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what action it is taking, or has taken, in respect of the findings published in Investigation of Access to Public Services in Scotland Using British Sign Language in May 2005.
Answer · Malcolm Chisholm: The findings from the ScottishExecutive’s research <i>Investigation of Access to Public Service in Scotland UsingBritish Sign Language</i> continue to be considered by the Executive and its BritishSign Language (BSL) and Linguistic Access Working Group to inf…
29 Nov 2006 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what funding is available for the training of British Sign Language interpreters.
Answer · Malcolm Chisholm: The Executive is committed toincreasing the number of British Sign Language (BSL) interpreters in Scotland andhas worked with its BSL and Linguistic Access Working Group to develop its approach.</p><p>TheExecutive’s approach has focused on developing and supp…
29 Nov 2006 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will consider introducing a British Sign Language Bill, similar to the Gaelic Language (Scotland) Bill.
Answer · Malcolm Chisholm: The Scottish Executive has noplans to introduce a British Sign Language Bill.</p>
14 Nov 2006 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what its strategy is for the introduction and improvement of kerbside collections of recyclable waste.
Answer · Ross Finnie: The latest figures from the ScottishEnvironment Protection Agency show that in 2005-06 Scotland recycled or composted24.4% of municipal waste, which means that we are well on track to meeting our targetof recycling and composting 25% of municipal waste by 200…
14 Nov 2006 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will provide a breakdown of its budget for waste initiatives in 2007-08.
Answer · Ross Finnie: Our expected expenditure on thewaste initiatives line in 2007-08 is outlined as follows.</p><table border=1 cellspacing=0 cellpadding=3> <thead> <tr> <td width=187 valign=top> <p>Body</p> </td> <td width=89 valign=top> <p>Amount (£)</p> </td> …
6 Nov 2006 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has any contracts with the Eden Springs water company and, if so, whether it is aware of reports that Eden Springs is in violation of international law by exploiting the water resources of the Golan Heights and, if so, whether it will reconsider its contracts on that basis and,…
Answer · Tom McCabe: The Scottish Executive has acontract for the provision of bottled water with Eden Springs (UK) Ltd. EdenSprings (UK) Ltd is a UK registered company and has not, to the best of ourknowledge, committed any offences under national or international laws. Watersup…
6 Nov 2006 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what ethical guidelines it uses when considering the issuing of contracts to outside companies.
Answer · Tom McCabe: Suppliers to the Executiveare expected to maintain high standards of business and professional conducte.g. in relation to legislative requirements on the environment, equalopportunities, race relations, health and safety, employment and taxation.Where a bidde…
6 Nov 2006 · SPCB Written Question
To ask the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body whether it has any contracts with the Eden Springs water company and, if so, whether it is aware of reports that Eden Springs is in violation of international law by exploiting the water resources of the Golan Heights and, if so, whether it will reconsider its contracts…
Answer · Nora Radcliffe: The SPCB does not have, norever has had, any contracts with the Eden Springs water company.</p>
6 Nov 2006 · SPCB Written Question
To ask the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body what ethical guidelines it uses when considering the issuing of contracts to outside companies supplying the Parliament.
Answer · Nora Radcliffe: The ethical guidelines usedby the SPCB when considering the issuing of contracts to outside companiessupplying the Parliament include: The Public Contracts (Scotland) Regulations2006; EC procurement Directive 2004/18/EC; The Treaty of Rome and; the SPCBProcur…
3 Nov 2006 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what preparatory costs are associated with the introduction of the new state-of-the-art digital radio system for the emergency services announced in April 2006.
Answer · Johann Lamont: On current plans, it is expectedthat Firelink – the new radio system for the GB Fire and Rescue Service announcedby the Minister for Justice on 6 April 2006 – will be fully implanted in Scotland by mid-February2009. It is currently estimated that the costs to…
3 Nov 2006 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether the threat of a major terrorist incident will be given specific consideration in any future decisions on hospital reorganisation in Glasgow.
Answer · Andy Kerr: I refer the member to the answer to question S2W-29510 on 15 November 2006. 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/…
3 Nov 2006 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will review any decisions in respect of hospital closures in Glasgow, in light of the recent study which ranked Glasgow as one of the least prepared British cities in the event of a terrorist attack.
Answer · Andy Kerr: I am unaware of the study referredto. The planning for major incidents is a matter for NHS boards. NHS Greater Glasgowand Clyde has a dedicated Emergency Planning Officer in place with the responsibilityto co-ordinate a Major Incident Plan with partner agenci…
3 Nov 2006 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what the projected costs are of the new state-of-the-art digital radio system for emergency services announced in April 2006.
Answer · Johann Lamont: The total contracted cost forFirelink, the new radio system for the British Fire and Rescue Service announcedby the Minister for Justice on 6 April 2006, is around £400 million at today’s prices.It is prudently estimated that the projected cost to Scotland ov…
3 Nov 2006 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what the timetable is for implementation of the new state-of-the-art digital radio system for emergency services announced in April 2006.
Answer · Johann Lamont: On 6 April 2006, the Minister forJustice announced that Scotland would participate in Firelink, the GB-wide procurementof a replacement radio system for the Fire and Rescue Service. In Scotland, theimplementation timetable is split into Phase A (network resil…
3 Nov 2006 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what studies, to which it has been a party, have been undertaken by the UK Government to assess levels of preparation for any act of terrorism in Scotland.
Answer · Cathy Jamieson: Scottish Executive ministersand officials are in regular contact with their UK counterparts to share informationand discuss the implementation of measures to prepare for acts of terrorism. the Executive is continuously monitoring levels of preparedness throug…
3 Nov 2006 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what studies it has undertaken to assess the levels of preparation to deal with any act of terrorism in Scotland.
Answer · Cathy Jamieson: The Civil Contingencies Act 2004places a duty on all key responders to prepare for emergencies. The Executive isworking with the eight Regional Scottish Co-ordinating Groups on an on-going basisto assess local threat and risk levels. This information is used …
3 Nov 2006 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, in light of a recent survey on the ability of 10 cities in Britain to deal with a terrorist attack which concluded that Glasgow and Edinburgh were among the least prepared, what steps it is taking to address this issue.
Answer · Cathy Jamieson: I refer the member to the answer to question S2W-29504 on 15 November 2006. 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/…