Parliamentary questions

Susan Deacon

240 questions tabled in the Scottish Parliament, most recent first.

17 Mar 2003 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what initiatives it has undertaken, or plans to undertake, to tackle drug misuse in the (a) Edinburgh East and Musselburgh parliamentary constituency, (b) City of Edinburgh Council and (c) East Lothian Council area and how much has been allocated to each area for this purpose.

Answer · Hugh Henry: The Scottish Executive's drugs strategy Tackling Drugs in Scotland: Action in Partnership is backed by around £130 million in new resources for 2001-02 to 2003-04. All areas of Scotland have benefited from these additional resources in terms of new dru…

17 Mar 2003 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how much of the additional #0.5 billion to be spent on police forces, fire brigades and the prison service will be spent in the (a) City of Edinburgh and (b) East Lothian council area on (i) police, (ii) fire and (iii) prison services.

Answer · Jim Wallace: The amount of additional funding, provided from the Spending Review in 2002 over the three years 2003-04, 2004-05 and 2005-06, was as follows:<TABLE BORDER CELLSPACING=1 CELLPADDING=7 WIDTH=198><TR><TD WIDTH="43%" VALIGN="TOP">Police</TD><TD WIDTH="57%" VA…

17 Mar 2003 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what action it has taken to reduce youth crime in the (a) City of Edinburgh and (b) East Lothian council area since 1999.

Answer · Cathy Jamieson: Between 2000 and 2003-04, the Scottish Executive has made available around £3 million to the City of Edinburgh and £417,300 to East Lothian to support the development of services to reduce youth crime and address the needs identified in their youth crime audi…

17 Mar 2003 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what action is being taken to ensure the availability of good quality affordable housing for those on low incomes in the Edinburgh East and Musselburgh parliamentary constituency.

Answer · Margaret Curran: The Scottish Executive is ensuring the development of good quality affordable housing primarily through Communities Scotland Capital Development Programme. In the current financial year, it is estimated that 76 units of affordable housing will be delivered…

17 Mar 2003 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what percentage of (a) three- and (b) four-year-olds in the (i) City of Edinburgh and (ii) East Lothian council area are in pre-school education.

Answer · Cathy Jamieson: The pre-school education participation percentages for 2001-02 were published in August last year. The figures for Edinburgh and East Lothian are shown in the following table:<TABLE BORDER CELLSPACING=1 CELLPADDING=7 WIDTH=283><TR><TD WIDTH="33%" VALIGN="TOP"…

17 Mar 2003 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how much money, in addition to the grant aided expenditure settlement, it has awarded to (a) City of Edinburgh and (b) East Lothian council through the Better Neighbourhood Services Fund and other such initiatives in each year since 1999-2000.

Answer · Margaret Curran: Neither the City of Edinburgh Council nor East Lothian Council were allocated funding under the Better Neighbourhood Services Fund. Funding through similar initiatives since 1999-2000, for each of these council areas, is detailed in the following tables: E…

17 Mar 2003 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what the capital consent for (a) City of Edinburgh and (b) East Lothian council has been in each year since 1997-98.

Answer · Andy Kerr: I refer the member to the answer given to question S1W-34503. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament's website, the search facility for which can be found at <A HREF="http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/search_wa">…

17 Mar 2003 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what the grant aided expenditure settlement for (a) City of Edinburgh and (b) East Lothian council has been in each year since 1997-98, showing the percentage change year-on-year.

Answer · Andy Kerr: I refer the member to the answer given to question S1W-34502 today. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament's website, the search facility for which can be found at <A HREF="http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/searc…

17 Mar 2003 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what action is being taken to increase the employment rates of disadvantaged groups, lone parents and ethnic minorities in the Edinburgh East and Musselburgh parliamentary constituency area.

Answer · Iain Gray: Employment policy is reserved to the UK Government which takes the lead on funding and delivery of Welfare to Work programmes. In Scotland it does this in partnership with the Scottish Executive and contributing organisations.The New Deal for Lone Parents …

17 Mar 2003 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what guidelines are in place to ensure that women's groups and organisations are included in consultation exercises and what monitoring procedures are in place to assess their participation in this processes.

Answer · Margaret Curran: The Scottish Executive published in 2002 guidance on consultation with equality groups entitled Good Practice Guidance - Consultation with Equalities Groups. This covers consultation with women's groups. This guidance is designed to assist policy maker…

17 Mar 2003 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what consideration is given to the gendered nature of environmental concerns in preparing policy and drafting legislation.

Answer · Ross Finnie: The Scottish Executive's environmental justice policy seeks to ensure that no particular section of society suffers disproportionately from avoidable environmental impacts in comparison to other sections. The Scottish Executive's Equality Strategy provides…

17 Mar 2003 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how mainstreaming equality principles will be applied in the drafting of a planning bill.

Answer · Des McNulty: I refer the member to the answer given to question S1W-34781on 25 March 2003. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament's website, the search facility for which can be found at <A HREF="http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/we…

17 Mar 2003 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how equality issues will be considered in the development of a spatial strategy and a planning bill.

Answer · Des McNulty: Equality is a key cross-cutting issue for the whole of the Executive. Our Equality Strategy, Working Together for Equality, provides a framework for a mainstreaming approach which requires policymakers to take account of and reflect the diverse needs o…

10 Mar 2003 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what monitoring systems are in place to compare local authorities' policies on licensing of lap dancing clubs.

Answer · Jim Wallace: The Executive does not monitor centrally the policies of local authorities on licensing of lap dancing clubs.

10 Mar 2003 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what monitoring systems are in place in respect of licensing, and complaints about, lap dancing clubs.

Answer · Jim Wallace: There is no such monitoring by the Scottish Executive. Such licensing is the responsibility of local authorities.

10 Mar 2003 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what steps are being taken to address concerns of women's organisations about any increase in the licensing of lap dancing clubs.

Answer · Jim Wallace: The task group currently reviewing the licensing provisions of the Civic Government (Scotland) Act 1982 has been asked to include in its deliberations the arrangements for licensing lap dancing. Any groups wishing to express views on the subject should theref…

6 Mar 2003 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what consideration has been given to including the promotion of fair trade products within its healthy eating campaign.

Answer · Malcolm Chisholm: The healthy eating campaign, Healthy Living, does not aim to promote particular branded products. Therefore, we do not plan to promote fairtrade products as part of the campaign.

6 Mar 2003 · SPCB Written Question

To ask the Presiding Officer what commitments the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body (SPCB) has given to ensure that fair trade products are provided at the new Parliament building at Holyrood.

Answer · David Steel: The SPCB's contract specification for catering services at Holyrood include the following requirements in relation to fair trade products.Fairly traded tea and coffee shall be served in all restaurants and for hospitality.The contractor shall actively r…

6 Mar 2003 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-1904 by Mr Jack McConnell on 28 February 2000, what progress has been made towards the hosting of a promotional event for fair trade suppliers.

Answer · Andy Kerr: This year, from 10 to 14 March (during the second week of Fairtrade fortnight) each Executive staff restaurant will have a promotional stall allowing staff to sample Fairtrade Mark products. Also, posters promoting fair trade products are being prominently di…

26 Feb 2003 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what action it has taken to address the occurrence of odours emanating from waste water treatment plants.

Answer · Ross Finnie: The Scottish Executive has been in discussion with Scottish Water, local authorities, Scottish Environment Protection Agency and UK counterparts about odours from waste water treatment plants. This is because it has become apparent there may be a gap in legis…

4 Feb 2003 · SPCB Written Question

To ask the Presiding Officer what consultations there will be with trade unions prior to final decisions being reached on the contract for mail services in the new Parliament building at Holyrood.

Answer · David Steel: There has been no consultation with trade unions because the internal messenger service in the Parliament has been contracted out since 1999. It would not be appropriate for the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body to consult with the trade union representin…

4 Feb 2003 · SPCB Written Question

To ask the Presiding Officer what consultation there will be with service users prior to final decisions being reached on the contract for mail services in the new Parliament building at Holyrood.

Answer · David Steel: Quarterly surveys seeking feedback from service users have been carried out over the term of the existing contract and the results incorporated into the specified service requirement, which was issued to all tenderers. Under the Scotland Act 1998, the Scottis…

4 Feb 2003 · SPCB Written Question

To ask the Presiding Officer, further to his answer to question S1W-25368 on 9 May 2002, what consultation there has been with trade unions in the consideration of the contract for mail services in the new Parliament building at Holyrood.

4 Feb 2003 · SPCB Written Question

To ask the Presiding Officer, further to his answer to question S1W-25368 on 9 May 2002, what consultation there has been with service users in the consideration of the contract for mail services in the new Parliament building at Holyrood

3 Feb 2003 · SPCB Written Question

To ask the Presiding Officer , further to his answer to question S1W-25368 on 1 May 2002, when the existing contract with the Royal Mail for the provision of mail services in the Parliament will expire and what the effective start date will be for the new contract.

Answer · David Steel: The existing contract for mail and messenger services expires when the Parliament moves to Holyrood and does not contain provision for extension beyond this.The timetable for the current tender exercise for the new contract should enable the contract to be…

3 Feb 2003 · SPCB Written Question

To ask the Presiding Officer, further to his answer to question S1W-25368 on 1 May 2002, whether the new contract for mail services in the Parliament has now been awarded and, if so, to which provider it has been awarded.

Answer · David Steel: The mail and messenger services contract was first competitively tendered in 1999 when the Parliament was established and subsequently awarded to Royal Mail plc. The decision not to employ an in-house messenger service was taken in 1998, prior to the services…

29 Jan 2003 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what progress has been made in developing a successor to the Individual Learning Account scheme and when a new scheme will be in place.

Answer · Iain Gray: I announced on 11 February the Executive's Lifelong Learning Strategy which includes plans for a new Individual Learning Accounts scheme. The new scheme will be administered by the Students Awards Agency for Scotland. I wish to be sure that the new scheme tak…

9 Dec 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what progress has been made in finalising the arrangements for a successor scheme to replace the individual learning accounts scheme.

Answer · Iain Gray: Work is currently progressing on the development of a successor individual learning account (ILA) scheme. I intend to launch the successor scheme when I am satisfied that it will incorporate the required improvements from the first programme. I expect to make…

9 Dec 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what guidance will be given to local authorities regarding the advertising of teacher vacancies for the 2003-04 session to ensure that teachers currently on temporary or supply contracts have the same opportunities to apply as those that have just completed their probationer year.

Answer · Nicol Stephen: The recruitment and advertising of teaching vacancies by local authorities is not a matter for the Scottish Executive. However, we understand that local authorities will advertise and fill vacancies in the normal way, thus ensuring equal opportunity for all.

9 Dec 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what measures are in place to ensure that the new arrangements for the appointment of first year probationer teachers under the McCrone agreement are consistently applied across all local authorities.

Answer · Nicol Stephen: The General Teaching Council for Scotland, the professional body for teachers, has issued to local authorities criteria to be used when establishing a training post for probationer teachers.