Shona Robison

31 Mar 2000 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many probationary police officers from an ethnic minority background leave the police force before the end of their probationary period, as a proportion of the total number of officers leaving during their probationary period.

Answer · Jim Wallace: Over the past five years, a total of 179 probationary police officers have left the Scottish police service before the end of their probationary period. Two of these were from an ethnic minority background.

31 Mar 2000 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has any plans to instruct the NHS to collect data concerning fibromyalgia for reporting in the future by the Information and Statistics Division.

Answer · Susan Deacon: Information on fibromyalgia is already collected by the Information and Statistics Division and data are available on request.

28 Mar 2000 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what implications the new bill to provide protection against the discrimination of disabled people in schools and in further and higher education proposed by Her Majesty's Government will have on the current Standards in Scotland's Schools etc. Bill.

Answer · Sam Galbraith: A consultation is underway seeking views on how the education recommendations of the Disability Rights Task Force should be taken forward in a UK Bill. With one exception, the measures proposed to be included within the UK Government's Special Educational Nee…

28 Mar 2000 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions it has had with Her Majesty's Government (HMG) about HMG's proposal to introduce a bill to provide protection against discrimination of disabled people in schools and in further and higher education.

Answer · Sam Galbraith: The Executive is working closely with the UK Government to ensure that planned legislation to implement the education recommendations of the Disability Rights Task Force report will fully address the needs of disabled pupils and students in Scotland.

9 Mar 2000 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what action is planned to address depopulation in Dundee.

Answer · Wendy Alexander: The continuing trend of population decline in Dundee is a cause for concern for the Scottish Executive. The Scottish Executive through the Enterprise Network is committed to tackling the causes of population decline. The local enterprise company, fully recogn…

23 Feb 2000 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what effect a decision by Her Majesty's Government to remove benefit payments from post offices will have on its social inclusion policy.

Answer · Henry McLeish: Benefit payment and post office issues are all reserved matters but the UK Government has made clear that those benefit recipients who wish to collect their benefits in cash at a post office will continue to be able to do so.

23 Feb 2000 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will provide details of (a) the expenditure incurred to date and (b) the likely expenditure to be incurred by each local authority in the current financial year in relation to (i) Kosovan evacuees; (ii) adult asylum seekers; (iii) children of asylum seekers and (iv) unaccompani…

Answer · Iain Gray: Claims submitted by local authorities for the full financial year 1999-2000 are as follows: <TABLE BORDER CELLSPACING=1 CELLPADDING=7 WIDTH=616><TR><TD VALIGN="TOP" COLSPAN=2><P>Kosovan Evacuees </TD></TR><TR><TD WIDTH="50%" VALIGN="TOP"><P ALIGN="JUSTIFY">Lo…

9 Feb 2000 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what representations it made to the Governor of the Bank of England on the effect on the Scottish economy of the current level of interest rates and the current strength of sterling during his recent visit to Scotland and what response it received.

Answer · Henry McLeish: I accompanied the First Minister, the Deputy First Minister, and the Minister for Finance to a lunchtime meeting with the Governor and other representatives of the Bank of England during their recent visit to Scotland. A number of issues of mutual interest we…

9 Feb 2000 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what it considers to be the reasons for the loss of 150 jobs at New South Mills Ltd, Dundee and, in particular, whether the recent rise in interest rates and the current strength of sterling were factors in the job losses as stated by Dundee Chamber of Commerce and Industry.

Answer · Henry McLeish: It is not appropriate for the Scottish Executive to speculate on the commercial decisions of companies. The UK carpet industry has faced very tough trading conditions in recent times.

26 Jan 2000 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Executive when it last met representatives of the Home Office and what matters were discussed.

Answer · Angus MacKay: The Scottish Executive is in regular contact with the Home Office on a wide range of issues.

24 Jan 2000 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether the Scottish Parliament will be asked to approve a Special Grant Order removing the legal hurdle which prevents the Home Office paying money to Scottish local authorities.

Answer · Iain Gray: We expect to lay two Special Grant Reports before the Scottish Parliament shortly. They will reimburse local authorities in Scotland for the costs they have incurred during 1999-2000 in (a) supporting asylum seekers in Scotland and (b) receiving and housing r…

10 Jan 2000 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what level of financial support for medical research has been provided in Scotland in each year since 1990.

Answer · Henry McLeish: Public funding of medical research in Scotland comes from three main sources - the Medical Research Council (MRC), the Scottish Higher Education Funding Council (SHEFC), and the Scottish Executive's Chief Scientist Office. The table below shows the amounts pr…

10 Jan 2000 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many scientists it estimates have left Scotland to work elsewhere in each year since 1990.

Answer · Henry McLeish: This information is not held centrally.<P ALIGN="JUSTIFY">However, I can provide, in the hope that this might be helpful, estimates of the number of new science graduates from Scottish universities and colleges who obtained permanent employment overseas. The …

10 Jan 2000 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what is the average salary for a newly qualified scientist in Scotland and how this compares to the same in the United States.

Answer · Henry McLeish: This information is not held centrally.

10 Jan 2000 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it plans to make a statement on the recent announcement by Professor David Nicholls of Dundee University that he and his team are to leave Scotland to continue his pioneering work into brain disorders in the United States.

Answer · Henry McLeish: The Scottish Executive has no plans to make a statement on this matter.

10 Jan 2000 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive when I will receive a reply to my letter dated 22 November to Jackie Baillie regarding Dundee Women's Aid.

Answer · Jackie Baillie: I replied on 11 January.

5 Jan 2000 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive why it has taken over five months to establish the steering group to implement the recommendations of The Stephen Lawrence Inquiry: An Action Plan for Scotland as announced by Mr Jim Wallace on 20 July 1999.

Answer · Jim Wallace: The time taken reflects extensive consultation with the Commission for Racial Equality on the membership of the group and the careful consideration given to the matter within the Executive.

5 Jan 2000 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it supports a policy of asking patients to pay for treatment deemed not essential, as outlined by Dr Maclean, medical director of Tayside University Hospitals NHS Trust.

Answer · Susan Deacon: The Scottish Executive is committed to providing a publicly funded National Health Service in Scotland free at the point of delivery. The NHSiS aims to provide patients with the highest and most modern standards of care. Record levels of resources have been m…

5 Jan 2000 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will make additional resources available to Tayside University Hospitals NHS Trust in the light of the Trust requiring to relax restrictions on overtime and use agency nurses to cope with the increasing number of flu cases.

Answer · Susan Deacon: Tayside will receive its fair share of the extra £300 million made available to the NHS in Scotland this year and of the additional £290 million for next year.

25 Nov 1999 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has received a letter from the Chhokar Family Justice Campaign requesting a meeting with the Minister for Justice and, if so, when a reply was sent to them.

Answer · Jim Wallace: A letter has been received from the Chhokar Family Justice Campaign requesting a meeting once the case is concluded. A reply has now been sent.

25 Nov 1999 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many meetings have taken place of the steering group to implement the recommendations of The Stephen Lawrence Inquiry: An Action Plan for Scotland.

Answer · Jim Wallace: I refer to my answer to question S1W-2806.

25 Nov 1999 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive when the steering group was established to implement the recommendations of The Stephen Lawrence Inquiry: An Action Plan for Scotland, as announced by Jim Wallace on 20 July 1999.

Answer · Jim Wallace: Invitations to join the Steering Group have been sent to prospective members. Arrangements for the first meeting of the Group will be made as soon as the membership has been established.

24 Nov 1999 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has received a request from Dundee City Council to meet a deputation to discuss recent job losses at Agritay in Dundee and, if so, when it intends to meet the deputation.

Answer · Henry McLeish: I have not received a request to meet a deputation to discuss. I have however been advised that the Council, Scottish Enterprise Tayside and the Employment Service are already involved with the workforce, providing the necessary help in finding alternative em…

15 Nov 1999 · SPCB Written Question

To ask the Presiding Officer whether the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body will be giving consideration to the budgetary and service implications of holding meetings of the Parliament in Dundee during the period in May 2000 when the Church of Scotland will be using the Assembly Hall.

Answer · David Steel: Under the Standing Orders, it is for the Parliamentary Bureau, rather than the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body, to propose to the Parliament that a meeting of the Parliament shall be held in a place in Scotland other than in the Church of Scotland Assem…

12 Oct 1999 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what representations it has made to Her Majesty's Government regarding amendments to the Social Work (Scotland) Act 1968, the Mental Health (Scotland) Act 1984 and the Children (Scotland) Act 1995 as specified under the terms of the Immigration and Asylum Bill.

Answer · Iain Gray: I refer Ms Robison to my answer to her question number S1W-1981.

12 Oct 1999 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether the Scottish Parliament will have an opportunity to debate the proposed amendments to the Social Work (Scotland) Act 1968, the Mental Health (Scotland) Act 1984 and the Children (Scotland) Act 1995 as contained within the Immigration and Asylum Bill.

Answer · Iain Gray: The Immigration and Asylum Act, including the amendments it makes to the legislation mentioned, relates to the reserved matter of immigration. This is not, therefore, a matter over which the Scottish Parliament has legislative competence<FONT SIZE=2>.

12 Oct 1999 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what representations it has made to Her Majesty's Government regarding the terms of the Immigration and Asylum Bill, and whether the outcomes of such representations will be made public.

Answer · Iain Gray: The Scottish Executive is constantly in touch with Her Majesty's Government on a range of matters.

7 Oct 1999 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether the #10 million deficit in Tayside NHS Trust has resulted in any staff shortages in Ninewells Hospital, Dundee.

Answer · Susan Deacon: The Tayside University Hospitals NHS Trust has advised that there are currently no staff shortages at Ninewells Hospital.

7 Oct 1999 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what action it intends to take with regard to cancer beds closing in Ninewells Hospital Dundee and whether these closures are due to staff shortages.

Answer · Susan Deacon: The Tayside University Hospitals NHS Trust has advised that there have been no cancer bed closures at Ninewells Hospital and that there are no nurse shortages in the cancer service.

7 Oct 1999 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether arrangements are in place to tackle social exclusion by ensuring that those moving into employment are given the appropriate help in the transition from benefits to wages by letting people know that they may be entitled to housing and council tax benefit extensions.

Answer · Wendy Alexander: We recognise the importance of advice and support for people making the transition from benefits to work, and encourage a client-centred, joined-up approach. The delivery of advice on benefit entitlements and on the implications of moving into employment are …