Tricia Marwick

23 Feb 2000 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether the newly appointed Lord Advocate was in charge of the preparations for the European Convention on Human Rights within the Crown Office.

Answer · Colin Boyd: As Solicitor General, I was in charge of the preparations made by Crown Office, which were concerned with a review of prosecution practice and the training of all prosecutors in Convention law. Other departments of the Executive have been making their own pre…

22 Feb 2000 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it plans to establish a register of known stalkers and, if so, whether it will detail any organisations it has consulted or intends to consult prior to its establishment and any representations it has already received pertaining to the matter.

Answer · Jim Wallace: The Executive has given a commitment to review how the justice system in Scotland deals with stalking and harassment. We intend to issue a consultation paper in March seeking views on how we can offer greater protection from stalkers. We will consult widely a…

18 Feb 2000 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what was the total number of decrees for eviction awarded by Sheriff courts for each year from 1992-93 to 1999-2000, broken down by Sheriff court.

Answer · Jim Wallace: Information is not available in the form requested. Figures in relation to repossession of property by mortgage lenders have been collected by the courts since a revised system of collecting Civil Judicial Statistics was instituted on 1 January 1994…

18 Feb 2000 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, for each year from 1992-93 to 1999-2000, how many decrees for eviction were awarded to housing associations; how many lead to actual evictions; what reasons were given for these evictions, and whether these details can be broken down by housing association area.

Answer · Wendy Alexander: Information on the number of evictions carried out by registered housing associations was not collected before 1 April 1998. Between 1 April 1998 and 31 March 1999 a total of 336 evictions were carried out by registered housing associations. Since many h…

18 Feb 2000 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-4070 by Ross Finnie on 14 February 2000, whether it will detail the additional aspects of the MacAulay Land Use Research Institute study into the impact of banning hunting with dogs on the rural economy.

Answer · Ross Finnie: In addition to the survey of mounted hunts and local businesses that provide goods and services to the hunts, research has now been extended to include the hill packs and gamekeepers' activities.

18 Feb 2000 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-4070 by Ross Finnie on 14 February 2000, whether it will provide an estimated timescale for the publication of the study by the MacAulay Land Use Research Institute into the impact of banning hunting with dogs on the rural economy and whether it wil…

Answer · Ross Finnie: The decision to include the Scottish Hill Packs Association and gamekeepers activities will delay the publication of the survey report. I am not in a position to give details on timing. The estimated cost to date is £12,500. Costs will increase in line with t…

18 Feb 2000 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive further to the answer to question S1W-4070 by Ross Finnie on 14 February 2000, which organisations made representations to have the study by the MacAulay Land Use Research Institute into the impact of banning hunting with dogs on the rural economy extended and whether it will place copies…

Answer · Ross Finnie: Representations have been made on behalf of the Scottish Equestrian Association, the Scottish Hill Packs Association and gamekeepers. Copies of those representations will be made available in the Scottish Parliament Information Centre if they are approved for…

18 Feb 2000 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-4070 by Ross Finnie on 14 February 2000, whether any additional researchers or other staff have been added to the MacAulay Land Use Research Institute team carrying out the study into the impact of banning hunting with dogs on the rural economy and, …

Answer · Ross Finnie: Two additional economists were added to the Macaulay Land Use Research Institute team carrying out the study when the remit was extended to include a survey of businesses associated with foxhunting. These were individuals employed or subcontracted to the Inst…

17 Feb 2000 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has had any consultation with the police over its decision to give the power of inspection of orange badges to them and to make it an offence not to produce an orange badge on request.

Answer · Sarah Boyack: The Association of Chief Police Officers in Scotland was previously consulted about these measures as part of a UK-wide consultation exercise on overhauling road traffic regulation law.

16 Feb 2000 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what factors contributed to its decision to extend the scope of the Macaulay Land Use Research Institute study into the effect on the rural economy of banning hunting with dogs.

Answer · Ross Finnie: The original study commissioned by the Scottish Executive has been extended in response to representations received. A sample of businesses supplying the hunts have been sent questionnaires in addition to the hunts and their followers. Further, following repr…

31 Jan 2000 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive when the study undertaken by the Macaulay Land Use Research Institute into the impact of banning hunting with dogs on the rural economy will be published.

Answer · Ross Finnie: The study has been extended to cover additional aspects of hunting with dogs and consequently publication will be delayed until the report has been completed.

28 Jan 2000 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to extend payments under the Community Care (Direct Payments) Act 1996 to people over the age of 65 and between the ages of 16 and 18.

Answer · Iain Gray: We are currently reviewing the scope of the Community care (Direct payments) Act 1996 and associated guidance. The review addresses a number of wide-ranging issues which require careful consideration, including whether to extend the scheme to people aged 65 y…

28 Jan 2000 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive when it intends to answer question S1W-2483 lodged on 10 November 1999.

Answer · Susan Deacon: I answered S1W-2483 today

18 Jan 2000 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many Scottish local authority tenants have exercised their right to buy after proceedings to evict them for anti-social behaviour have been initiated in each of the last five years.

Answer · Wendy Alexander: This information is not held centrally.

18 Jan 2000 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many evictions from Scottish local authority housing have been carried out in the last five years for (a) rent arrears and (b) anti-social behaviour.

Answer · Wendy Alexander: Information is already available in respect of eviction decrees issued by the courts, but not broken down by category of tenant nor by reason for eviction being sought by landlords. We are currently considering, with local authorities, whether information in …

8 Dec 1999 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many victims of crime in Scotland have been waiting up to one year for the Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority to settle their claim.

Answer · Jim Wallace: I refer to my answer to S1W-3093.

8 Dec 1999 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many victims of crime in Scotland have been waiting between one and two years for the Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority to settle their claim.

Answer · Jim Wallace: I refer to my answer to S1W-3093.

8 Dec 1999 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many victims of crime in Scotland have been waiting between two and three years for the Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority to settle their claim.

Answer · Jim Wallace: I refer to my answer to S1W-3093

8 Dec 1999 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many victims of crime in Scotland have been waiting between three and four years for the Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority to settle their claim.

Answer · Jim Wallace: I refer to my answer to S1W-3093.

8 Dec 1999 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many victims of crime in Scotland have been waiting more than four years for the Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority to settle their claim.

Answer · Jim Wallace: The Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority advise that the number of cases awaiting a decision (either a first decision, a review decision, or following an appeal) in respect of Scottish incidents, as at 13 December 1999, was as follows:-<P ALIGN="JUSTIFY">…

2 Dec 1999 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what effect the absence of the Lord Justice Clerk will have on the timescale for solemn appeals where the appellants are in custody.

Answer · Jim Wallace: An additional Judge will take up post shortly to compensate for the absence of the Lord Justice Clerk on other business. I understand that this will enable the regular pattern of Appeal Court sittings to continue. An Appeal Court can be chaired by a Judge oth…

2 Dec 1999 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what effect the absence of the Lord Justice Clerk will have on criminal appeals, and, in particular, on the timescale for such appeals.

Answer · Jim Wallace: An additional Judge was appointed to compensate for the absence of Lord Cullen on other business. This has enabled the regular pattern of Appeal Court sittings to continue.

25 Nov 1999 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to meet with UNISON to discuss Fife Health Board's acute services review.

Answer · Susan Deacon: The review of acute services is for Fife Health Board and I understand UNISON is formally consulted about service changes in Fife. The review process will provide an opportunity for further consultation with UNISON.

24 Nov 1999 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to meet with UNISON to discuss Fife Health Board's acute services review.

Answer · Susan Deacon: The review of acute services is for Fife Health Board and I understand UNISON is formally consulted about service changes in Fife. The review process will provide an opportunity for further consultation with UNISON.

9 Nov 1999 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what involvement it has had in Fife Health Board's review of services in Fife, and whether it will make a statement about the resignation of Fife Health Board's Chairperson.

Answer · Susan Deacon: Fife Health Board and the two NHS Trusts in Fife are still developing their proposals for acute hospital services. As such, the advice given by the Health Department has focused on the process to be followed in appraising the options they have under considera…

8 Nov 1999 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will investigate the operation of the communication department of Fife Council.

Answer · Frank McAveety: No. I have not received any complaints about the operation of the communication department of Fife Council.

1 Nov 1999 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what action is being taken to ensure that hospitals fulfil their duty to ensure that palliative care is delivered to a high quality in hospital settings.

Answer · Susan Deacon: Where appropriate, palliative care should be an integral part of the care patients receive in hospital. In order to ensure the highest quality of care is available, each Health Board has developed a palliative care strategy and, to date, 31 hospitals in Scotl…

20 Oct 1999 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive when the Minister for Transport and the Environment will meet with Railtrack and the train operators to discuss safety on the Scottish rail network.

Answer · Sarah Boyack: Under Schedule 5 of the Scotland Act 1998, the provision and regulation of railway services, which includes rail safety, are reserved matters. These are the responsibility of the Department of the Environment, Transport and the Regions.<FONT FACE="Arial" SIZE…

21 Sep 1999 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what action it proposes to take to halve the female prison population by the end of the year 2000.

Answer · Angus MacKay: Sentencing decisions rest with the courts but we do support the aim of reducing prison numbers. That is why we have accepted in principle the recommendations contained in <I>A Safer Way</I>, the joint Prisons and Social Work report which reviewed community di…

15 Sep 1999 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what action it proposes to take to halve the female prison population by the end of the year 2000.

Answer · Angus MacKay: Sentencing decisions rest with the courts but we do support the aim of reducing prison numbers. That is why we have accepted in principle the recommendations contained in "A Safer Way", the joint Prisons and Social Work report which reviewed community dispos…