Sandra White

23 Feb 2005 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions it has had with Glasgow City Council regarding the proposal to plant one million trees on the Paterson's landfill site in Mount Vernon, Glasgow.

Answer · Lewis Macdonald: Forestry Commission Scotland has discussed the conversion of the Paterson’s landfill site to woodland with Paterson’s and the greenbelt Foundation. The commission has not discussed the matter with Glasgow City Council.</p>

22 Feb 2005 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many civil servants in senior grades (a) are women, (b) have a disability and (c) are from ethnic minorities.

Answer · Tom McCabe: The available information requested for staff at Senior Civil Service (SCS) level in the Scottish Executive core departments as at 1 February, 2005 is set out in the table. Of the 189 SCS staff in the core departments, less than 5 have self declared a disabil…

22 Feb 2005 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many staff it recruited in each year since 1999, broken down by (a) gender, (b) ethnic origin and (c) disability.

Answer · Tom McCabe: The headcount of permanent new starts to the Scottish Executive core departments, agencies¹ and associated departments in each financial year since 1999, broken down by (a) gender, (b) ethnic origin and (c) disability is provided in the tables.</p>…

22 Feb 2005 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many people are employed by each police force, broken down by (a) gender, (b) ethnic origin, (c) disability and (d) grade.

Answer · Cathy Jamieson: Information is not held centrally on disability or breakdown by ethnic origin. The latest information available on ethnic minority numbers is for 2003-04 from the Annual Statistical Return from forces to Her Majesty’s Chief Inspector of Constabulary and the f…

22 Feb 2005 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many people are employed by the Scottish Prison Service, broken down by (a) gender, (b) ethnic origin, (c) disability and (d) grade.

Answer · Cathy Jamieson: I have asked Tony Cameron, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service to respond. His response is as follows:</p><p>As at 24 February 2005, theinformation is as follows: </p><table border=1 cellspacing=0 cellpadding=3> <thead> <tr> <td colspan=2> <p>…

22 Feb 2005 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive when it last issued guidance to departments and agencies on the implementation of policies or practices on disability and racial discrimination.

Answer · Malcolm Chisholm: The Scottish Executive is committed to equality and takes its responsibilities under the Race Relations Act and the Disability Discrimination Act very seriously.</p><p>There are a number of guidance documents on both these areas which are regularly refreshed,…

22 Feb 2005 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many people in the city of Glasgow have participated in modern apprenticeship schemes in each year since 1999, broken down by (a) gender, (b) race and (c) disability.

Answer · Allan Wilson: Details about modern apprentices in a specific geographical area is an operational matter for Scottish Enterprise and Highlands and Islands Enterprise. The information requested is not held centrally.</p>

22 Feb 2005 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how much each local authority spent in real terms on improvement and repair grants for private sector houses in (a) 1999, (b) 2000, (c) 2001, (d) 2002, (e) 2003 and (f) 2004 and how much each is expected to spend in 2005.

Answer · Malcolm Chisholm: The table shows amounts spent on private sector improvement and repair grants only for years 1998-99 to 2003-04. This excludes standard amenity and conversion grants. </p> <p>Information on future spending on improvement and repair grants is not available.</p…

22 Feb 2005 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what percentage of (a) male and (b) female schoolchildren smoked in each of the last eight years, broken down by NHS board area.

Answer · Rhona Brankin: The information requested based on information from national surveys (see notes) is as follows:</p> <p>Table 1: Trend Data (Regular Smokers) from 1994 to 2004, by Age Group and Gender, for Scotland</p> <p>Percentage of Regular Smokers by Age Group and Gender;…

22 Feb 2005 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-18842 by Jackie Baillie on 1 November 2001, how much money has been allocated to administer a central database to assist in the collection of statistics on poverty in each year since February 2002.

Answer · Malcolm Chisholm: The answer to question S1W-18842on 1 November 2001, refers to the research into the feasibility of combining existingdatasets such as the Scottish Household Survey and the Family Resources Survey toprovide a base of Scottish information on income. Following t…

22 Feb 2005 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what percentage of (a) the adult working-age population and (b) its own staff is registered disabled.

Answer · Malcolm Chisholm: There is no statutory registerof disabled people.</p><p>The Labour Force Survey (2004Autumn Quarter) estimates that there were 648,000 working agepeoplein Scotland, or 21 per cent of the working age population, estimatedto have a disability. Labou…

22 Feb 2005 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many exclusions there have been from (a) primary and (b) secondary schools in each of the last eight years, broken down by local authority area.

Answer · Peter Peacock: The number of exclusions each year since 1998-99 is given in the following tables. Data is not available prior to 1998-99.</p> <p>Exclusions From Primary Schools</p> <table border=1 cellspacing=0 cellpadding=3> <thead> <tr> <td>&nbsp; </td> …

22 Feb 2005 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what the current average waiting time is for (a) coronary artery bypass grafts and (b) other cardiac surgery, broken down by NHS board.

Answer · Andy Kerr: Coronary artery bypass grafts and other cardiac surgery are carried out at five NHSScotland hospital sites – Glasgow (two), Aberdeen, Lothian and Clydebank.</p> <p>The median waiting times for coronary artery bypass grafts and other cardiac surgery, by NHS bo…

22 Feb 2005 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many men diagnosed with prostate cancer in each year from 1993-94 to 1999-2000 were still alive five years later, broken down by NHS board area.

Answer · Andy Kerr: The tables below show the number of men diagnosed with prostate cancer (ICD-10 C61) each year, the number still alive five years from their date of diagnosis, by year of diagnosis and health board area of residence</p> <p>Please note: Death information is ava…

22 Feb 2005 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many men (a) were diagnosed with and (b) died from prostate cancer in each year since 1996-97, broken down by NHS board area.

Answer · Andy Kerr: (a) Number of Men Diagnosed with Prostate Cancer (ICD-10 C61) Each Year, by Year of Diagnosis and Health Board Area of Residence: 1996-2001</p><table border=1 cellspacing=0 cellpadding=3> <thead> <tr> <td rowspan=2> <p>Heath Board Area of Residence</p> …

22 Feb 2005 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what the (a) birth, (b) mortality and (c) life expectancy rates were for (i) males and (ii) females in each of the last eight years, broken down by NHS board area.

Answer · Tavish Scott: The latest information availableis given in the following tables.</p><p>(a) BirthRates¹ by Sex and Health Board Area, 1996-2003</p><table class=MsoNormalTable border=1 cellspacing=0 cellpadding=3> <thead> <tr> <td> <p align=right>&nbsp;</p> …

22 Feb 2005 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what the five main causes of death were for (a) males and (b) females aged 35 years and under in each of the last 10 years.

Answer · Tavish Scott: All deaths in Scotland are classified according to the World Health Organisation’s International Classification of Diseases (ICD). The table gives information on the main causes or groups of causes that are considered to be appropriate to people aged under 35…

22 Feb 2005 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to conduct research into the prevalence of low income or disadvantaged groups living in properties in poor condition and to provide a breakdown of this data by housing sector.

Answer · Malcolm Chisholm: The Scottish House Condition Surveys (SHCS) collect information about the physical condition of Scotland’s homes and the views of the people who live in them. The surveys provide good quality information about the nature of our housing and our communities.</p…

22 Feb 2005 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many home help clients there were in (a) 1999, (b) 2000, (c) 2001, (d) 2002, (e) 2003 and (f) 2004, broken down by local authority area.

Answer · Rhona Brankin: The information requested is contained in the table: </p><p>Number of Home Care Clients, by Local Authority Area, During Week Ending 31 March 1999 to 2004</p><table border=1 cellspacing=0 cellpadding=3> <thead> <tr> <td> <p align=center>Local Authority<…

22 Feb 2005 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many manufacturing jobs were created in (a) Scotland and, (b) Glasgow in (i) 1999, (ii) 2000, (iii) 2001, (iv) 2002, (v) 2003 and (vi) 2004.

Answer · Jim Wallace: Statistics on the number of jobs created in Scotland and Glasgow are not held centrally. However, data is available on the change in the level of manufacturing jobs. Statistics for 2003 are the latest data available.</p><p>Table 1 Annual Change in Level of Ma…

22 Feb 2005 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how much has been spent on improvement repair grants for disabled people in the (a) privately-rented and (b) owner-occupied sector in (i) 1999, (ii) 2000, (iii) 2001, (iv) 2002, (v) 2003 and (vi) 2004.

Answer · Rhona Brankin: Responsibility for compliance with the requirements of the Disability Discrimination Act 1995 lies with the provider of a service. The information requested is not held centrally.</p>

16 Feb 2005 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what steps it will take to reduce the number of pupils leaving school in Glasgow with no job to go to.

Answer · Peter Peacock: The National Qualifications framework offers all learners a range of vocational courses to help them prepare for employment. The present provision is being extended by the introduction of new skills-for-work qualifications for 14 to 16-year-olds. In addition,…

4 Feb 2005 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many telephone interception applications were made to it and, of these, how many were authorised in (a) 1999, (b) 2000, (c) 2001, (d) 2002, (e) 2003 and (f) 2004, broken down by source of application.

Answer · Cathy Jamieson: The power to authorise interception for the purpose of preventing or detecting serious crime was devolved to the Scottish ministers on 13 December 2000.</p><p>Details of the number of interception warrants authorised by the Scottish ministers since then are c…

3 Feb 2005 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what information it has on how many briefings MI5 conducted for Scottish local authorities in (a) 1999, (b) 2000, (c) 2001, (d) 2002, (e) 2003 and (f) 2004 as part of civil contingency preparations.

Answer · Hugh Henry: National security including counter terrorism is a reserved matter. In line with normal practice, it would not be appropriate to comment on the frequency of briefings. Threat advice is available to local authorities through the Security Service’s website. The…

3 Feb 2005 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what information it has on how many briefings the Department for Transport, Local Government and the Regions conducted in Scotland in (a) 1999, (b) 2000, (c) 2001, (d) 2002, (e) 2003 and (f) 2004 as part of civil contingency preparations.

Answer · Nicol Stephen: This information is not held by the Scottish Executive.</p>

3 Feb 2005 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it is aware of any current and specific terrorist threat to Scotland and, if so, what civil contingency preparations are in place to deal with this.

Answer · Hugh Henry: National security including counter terrorism is a reserved matter. As is shown on the Security Service’s website all the indications are that although there are no specific threats to Scotland, there is a serious and sustained threat to the UK from terrorist…

2 Feb 2005 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive which police forces operate a specialist anti-terrorist unit.

Answer · Cathy Jamieson: Each of the eight police forces in Scotland operates a Special Branch, the primary role of which is the collection and interpretation of intelligence for national security purposes, including counter-terrorism.</p>

2 Feb 2005 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what assurances it has sought from MI5 about the safety of local people should the proposed siting of a permanent MI5 office in Scotland proceed.

Answer · Cathy Jamieson: In line with established practice, it would not be appropriate to comment on operational matters relating to the Security and Intelligence Service.  The work of the service is directed towards increasing the safety of people throughout the UK.</p>

2 Feb 2005 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many times Scottish ministers and officials met officials from the security service in (a) 1999, (b) 2000, (c) 2001, (d) 2002, (e) 2003 and (f) 2004.

Answer · Cathy Jamieson: The Security Service meets regularly with the Scottish Executive in carrying out its function of providing advice on national security matters.</p>

2 Feb 2005 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many criminal convictions in respect of terrorism there were in (a) 1999, (b) 2000, (c) 2001, (d) 2002, (e) 2003 and (f) 2004, broken down by terrorist organisation and police force area.

Answer · Elish Angiolini: The table shows the number ofaccused who were convicted of a charge under The Prevention of Terrorism (TemporaryProvisions) Act 1989, The Terrorism Act 2000 or the Anti-Terrorism, Crime and SecurityAct 2001 in the financial years 2002-03 and 2003-04 and the p…