Susan Deacon

9 Dec 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what monitoring has been carried out into the impact of the appointment of first year probationer teachers under the McCrone agreement on the employment of teachers that had previously been on temporary contracts.

Answer · Nicol Stephen: A research project has been commissioned into supply teaching including probationers who qualified in 2001. The aims of the project are to help develop good practice for local authorities in the use of supply teaching and to examine the dynamics of the supply…

9 Dec 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what guidance exists on the procedures for filling permanent vacancies for teaching posts in schools in the light of the McCrone agreement.

Answer · Nicol Stephen: Local authorities are responsible for the recruitment and deployment of teachers.<P>Under section 4.1 of the agreement, <I>A Teaching Profession for the 21st Century</I>,<I> </I>local authorities own policy is that permanent contracts will only be offered to …

31 Jul 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what public health initiatives are planned for delivery across Scotland to raise awareness amongst men and women of the need for protection against sexually transmitted diseases.

Answer · Malcolm Chisholm: I recently announced our plans for taking forward the development of a national Sexual Health Strategy for Scotland. The strategy will include measures to tackle the rise in sexually transmitted infections and to enhance the provision of sexual health service…

31 Jul 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what strategy is being developed to tackle the increase in reported cases of chlamydia.

Answer · Malcolm Chisholm: Healthy Respect, the national health demonstration project currently running in Lothian, has launched its innovative postal testing kit for chlamydia, which is now available from non-medical settings such as music stores and pharmacies.<P>The Executive has fu…

15 Jul 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what steps are being taken to work in partnership with Her Majesty's Government, local authorities and other relevant bodies to promote safety across the rail network.

Answer · Lewis Macdonald: Safety on the rail network is a reserved matter. The Scottish Executive is in regular contact with the UK Government, local authorities and other relevant bodies about a wide range of issues, including safety.

15 Jul 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what consideration it has given to addressing the issue of railway crime within the school curriculum at both primary and secondary school level.

Answer · Nicol Stephen: There is scope for teachers to address the issue of crime, and where appropriate, railway crime, through a range of curriculum guidelines at both primary and secondary level. These are principally within the context of Personal and Social Development, and thr…

15 Jul 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive when it last met the Strategic Rail Authority and what issues were discussed.

Answer · Lewis Macdonald: The Scottish Executive is in regular contact with the Strategic Rail Authority on a wide range of issues of mutual interest.

15 Jul 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions it has had about the Partners Against Railway Crime initiative and what resources are being made available to promote awareness of the dangers of railway crime.

Answer · Lewis Macdonald: Railway crime is a reserved matter. The Partners against Railway Crime campaign is funded by the UK rail industry. Whilst the Scottish Executive has no locus or powers to intervene, it has been invited by the rail industry to attend a number of railway crime …

15 Jul 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what action is being taken to tackle the backlog of outstanding asbestos compensation claims and to reduce any further delays for victims and their families.

Answer · Jim Wallace: There are currently 592 asbestos related claims before the Court of Session. The cases are procedurally at different stages. In December 2001, Lord Mackay of Drumadoon was appointed by the Lord President of the Court of Session to oversee cases where it appea…

15 Jul 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how local communities are involved in decisions relating to the development of wastewater treatment plants.

Answer · Ross Finnie: This is an operational matter for Scottish Water. I have asked Dr Jon Hargreaves, Chief Executive to respond. His response is as follows: <P>Local communities are normally involved in the development of waste water treatment plants through the statutory plann…

15 Jul 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what monitoring systems are in place regarding odour problems and associated health risks through the spread of airborne particles from wastewater treatment plants.

Answer · Ross Finnie: I understand that monitoring systems for odour from treatment plants vary according to location and particular circumstances and are largely dictated by local planning conditions. <P>Turning to health risks from airborne particles, available evidence suggests…

15 Jul 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what systems are in place to ensure the involvement of local communities in the monitoring of wastewater treatment plants on a regular basis.

Answer · Ross Finnie: None.<P>In my reply dated 27 June to your letter of 4 June specifically about the Seafield Waste Water Treatment Plant, I explained that the monitoring of aqueous effluent from waste water treatment plants is the responsibility of the Scottish Environment Pro…

15 Jul 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what action is currently being considered to address the recurring odour problems relating to Seafield wastewater treatment works.

Answer · Ross Finnie: In my written reply of 27 June to your letter of 4 June, I explained that Scottish Water was putting pressure on the operators to resolve the odour problems as a matter of extreme urgency.<P>Since, however, this is an operational matter for Scottish Water, I …

15 Jul 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what the current arrangements are for monitoring wastewater treatment plants and whether there are any plans to review these arrangements.

Answer · Ross Finnie: Monitoring wastewater treatment is carried out by the Scottish Environment Protection Agency, in accordance with the requirements of Article 15 of the Urban Wastewater Treatment Directive (91/271/EEC). There are currently no plans to review these arrangements.

10 Jul 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what representations it has made to employers such as Argos plc to encourage them to protect the equal opportunities of employees and to ensure that there is no adverse impact on its social justice policies through an employer's requirement that staff work on Sundays.

Answer · Iain Gray: Responsibility for employment and industrial relations, including employment rights, is reserved to the UK Government.<P>The Department of Trade and Industry advises that whether an employee in Scotland is required to work on Sundays is a contractual matter f…

28 Jun 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-24454 by Allan Wilson on 22 April 2002, what plans it has to meet trade union representatives to discuss how the recent Consignia restructuring proposals will affect services in Scotland.

Answer · Allan Wilson: We have received invitations to meet representatives of the Communication Workers Union and these are being considered.

28 Jun 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-24454 by Allan Wilson on 22 April 2002, what matters were discussed at the meeting with members of the Consignia Advisory Board for Scotland on 2 May 2002 and when the next such meeting is planned.

Answer · Allan Wilson: I met Dr Lesley Sawers, Chairman of the Consignia Advisory Board for Scotland, on 2 May. The discussion covered the full range of Consignia current and future operations in Scotland. No further meetings with the Consignia Board are planned at present.

29 Apr 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-20118 by Mr Andy Kerr on 26 March 2002, what progress has been made in finalising the list of public appointees who declared political activity in the five-year period prior to their appointment.

Answer · Andy Kerr: Political Activity Declaration forms have now been obtained for all 1,095 non-executive members of public bodies. The names of the 231 individuals who have declared political activity during the five-year period prior to their appointment is available in the …

25 Apr 2002 · SPCB Written Question

To ask the Presiding Officer what criteria were applied in the tendering process for the provision of mail services in the Scottish Parliament and when the contract is due for renewal.

Answer · David Steel: The existing contract with the Royal Mail is due to terminate upon occupation of the new accommodation at Holyrood. The requirement for a mail screening and mail management/messenger service at Holyrood is currently being tendered and a contract is due to be …

25 Apr 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to extend the Freight Facilities Grant scheme to increase the volume of mail originating in Scotland which is currently carried by rail.

Answer · Lewis Macdonald: The Freight Facilities Grant scheme aims to encourage the transfer of freight from road to rail and waterborne modes of transport by helping companies invest in the facilities needed to compete in financial terms with road transport. This scheme is an importa…

25 Apr 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many post offices there were in each of the last five years.

Answer · Allan Wilson: Consignia, post offices and postal services are reserved matters. According to the Department of Trade and Industry the number of Scottish post offices were as follows:<TABLE BORDER CELLSPACING=1 CELLPADDING=2 WIDTH=172><TR><TD WIDTH="73%" VALIGN="TOP" HEIGHT…

25 Apr 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what the impact will be on (a) rural and (b) urban areas of any reduction in the number of postbuses as a result of Consignia's restructuring proposals.

Answer · Allan Wilson: Consignia, post offices and postal services are reserved matters. I understand Consignia is not able to say at the moment if its restructuring proposals will have an impact on postbus services.

25 Apr 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions it has had with Her Majesty's Government about the consequences for postal services in Scotland as a result of the Postcomm proposals for market liberalisation.

Answer · Allan Wilson: Consignia, post offices and postal services are reserved matters. The Scottish Executive is in regular contact with the UK Government on a wide range of issues, including Postcomm's consultation.

9 Apr 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive when it expects to publish the findings of the review of the implementation of the recommendations of the Expert Advisory Group on Infertility Services in Scotland, published in February 2000.

Answer · Malcolm Chisholm: The review of implementation is now complete. This has indicated substantial progress towards the implementation of the recommendations of the Expert Advisory Group on Infertility Services in Scotland (EAGISS). The following table shows the progress made on m…

25 Mar 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what mechanisms are in place to ensure effective liaison between it, the Scotland Office and Her Majesty's Government to minimise the impact of the recently announced restructuring proposals by Consignia plc on jobs and services in Scotland.

Answer · Allan Wilson: I refer the member to the answer given to question S1W-24454.

25 Mar 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what steps it will take to minimise the impact of the recently announced restructuring plans by Consignia plc on jobs and services in Scotland.

Answer · Allan Wilson: I refer the member to the answer given to question S1W-24454.

25 Mar 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to meet with trade union representatives to discuss any concerns over the recently announced restructuring proposal by Consignia plc.

Answer · Allan Wilson: I refer the member to the answer given to question S1W-24454.

25 Mar 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to meet with representatives of Consignia plc to discuss how their restructuring proposals will affect Scotland.

Answer · Allan Wilson: Consignia, post offices and postal services are reserved matters. The Scottish Executive is in regular contact with the UK Government, including the Scotland Office, on a wide range of issues, including restructuring proposals by Consignia.<P>I am due to meet…

30 Jan 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether the Brunton Theatre Company will receive a share of the #3.5 million additional funding for the theatre sector announced by the Minister for Tourism, Culture and Sport on 28 January 2002 and, if so, how much it will receive.

Answer · Elaine Murray: The Scottish Arts Council will determine how the additional £3.5 million funding will be allocated.

23 Jan 2002 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to support local theatre in line with the objectives of the National Cultural Strategy.

Answer · Elaine Murray: A major funding package worth £3.5 million for Scotland's theatre sector over this and the coming two years was announced by my colleague Mike Watson, on Monday 28 January. The Scottish Art Council, will determine the allocation and distribution of these reso…