Parliamentary questions
Tricia Marwick
552 questions tabled in the Scottish Parliament, most recent first.
7 Mar 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S2W-32072 by Johann Lamont on 7 March 2007, whether all local authorities were invited to bid for the money confiscated under the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002 and how and when any decision was taken that only certain authorities were eligible for funding.
Answer · Johann Lamont: I refer the member to the answer to question S2W-27630 on 31 August 2006. All answers to writtenparliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facilityfor which can be found at <ahref="http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/wa…
7 Mar 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S2W-32072 by Johann Lamont on 7 March 2007, how much funding from the £10 million confiscated under the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002 was given to each project listed.
Answer · Johann Lamont: Funding was made available tothe local authority areas of Edinburgh, Glasgow, Renfrewshire, North Ayrshire, Inverclydeand West Dunbartonshire for visible community projects, which were listed inthe answer to question S2W-32072 on 7 March 2007.Information on t…
27 Feb 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive which community projects have received funding from the £10 million confiscated under the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002.
Answer · Johann Lamont: Funds recovered through Proceedsof Crime legislation have been reinvested within the six local authorities in Scotland whichsuffer most serious violent crime; Renfrewshire, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Inverclyde,North Ayrshire and West Dunbartonshire. Community proje…
24 Jan 2007 · General Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to review education provision in Fife.
Answer · Hugh Henry: The education functions of localauthorities are subject to regular review by HM Inspectorate of Education andon-going discussion between the Executive and authorities.</p>
28 Nov 2006 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many attacks there have been on hospital patients by other patients in each year since 1999, broken down by NHS board.
Answer · Andy Kerr: We do not hold information onthese matters centrally. However, we expect NHS boards to have robust risk managementarrangements in place to minimise the risk of violence, whether to staff, patientsor visitors. Boards are also expected to operate effective repo…
24 Nov 2006 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many people have been in fuel poverty in each year since 1999.
Answer · Malcolm Chisholm: Fuel poverty estimates are availableonly for the years for which house condition surveys were conducted. The ScottishHouse Condition Survey (SHCS) estimated that in 1996, 738,000 households (35%) inScotland were in fuel poverty. The 2002 survey estimated that…
22 Nov 2006 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how much has been transferred from each local authority housing revenue account in aid of general funds in each year since 1999.
Answer · Malcolm Chisholm: The information requested isshown in the following table.</p><p>HRARevenue Balances Transferred to the General Services Account (£000)</p><table border=1 cellspacing=0 cellpadding=3 width=578> <thead> <tr> <td width=111 nowrap valign=bottom> <p align=cen…
3 Aug 2006 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many local authorities have closed their waiting lists for (a) housing repair grants and (b) housing repair grants that include some element for lead pipe replacement.
Answer · Malcolm Chisholm: The information requested isnot held centrally.</p>
3 Aug 2006 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many local authorities have waiting lists for (a) housing repair grants and (b) housing repair grants that include some element for lead pipe replacement.
Answer · Malcolm Chisholm: The information requested isnot held centrally.</p>
3 Aug 2006 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many housing repair grants were awarded in each local authority area in 2004-05 and, of these, how many included some element for lead pipe replacement.
Answer · Malcolm Chisholm: The numberof grants awarded to the private sector for lead repairs in 2004-05 are shownin the following table.</p><p>Number OfGrants to the Private Sector for Lead Repair Work by Local Authority Area:2004-05</p><table border=1 cellspacing=0 cellpadding=3 widt…
3 Aug 2006 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive which local authorities have suspended testing for lead in water in domestic customers’ supplies.
Answer · Rhona Brankin: Information on localauthority testing of the public water supply is not held centrally by the Scottish Executive.</p>
3 Aug 2006 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many samples of water taken from customers’ taps to be examined for lead content in 2005 exceeded the World Health Organisation and European Commission target of 10 microgram’s per litre.
Answer · Rhona Brankin: Fifty-seven of the 1,742 testsfor lead, carried out by Scottish Water on samples of water taken from customers’ taps in2005, exceeded the European Drinking Water Directive standard of 10 microgrammes per litre thatcomes into force in 2013.</p>
3 Aug 2006 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many samples of water taken from customers’ taps to be examined for lead content in 2005 exceeded the current standard of 25 micrograms per litre.
Answer · Rhona Brankin: Twenty-one of the 1,742 testsfor lead, carried out by Scottish Water on samples of water taken from customers’ taps in2005, exceeded the current standard of 25 microgrammes per litre.</p>
3 Aug 2006 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many samples of water were taken from customers’ taps to be examined for lead content in 2005.
Answer · Rhona Brankin: Scottish Water carriedout 1,742 tests for lead, on samples of water taken from customers’ taps, in 2005.</p>
14 Jul 2006 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many Rural Empty Properties Grants have been provided in each of the last three financial years.
Answer · Malcolm Chisholm: I have asked Angiolina Foster,Chief Executive of Communities Scotland, to respond. Her response is as follows:</p><p>The number of Rural Empty PropertyGrants approved in each of the last three financial years is as follows:</p><table border=1 cellspacing=0 c…
31 May 2006 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S2W-25902 by Malcolm Chisholm on 30 May 2006, how many of the demolished buildings were considered to be structurally sound.
Answer · Malcolm Chisholm: This information is not heldcentrally.</p>
12 May 2006 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many (a) local authority and (b) registered social landlord properties have been demolished in each of the last five years.
Answer · Malcolm Chisholm: Figures for demolitions oflocal authority and registered social landlord dwellings are shown in thefollowing table.</p><p>Demolition of LocalAuthority and Registered Social Landlord Dwellings: 2000-01 to 2004-05</p><table border=1 cellspacing=0 cellpadding=3>…
4 May 2006 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what average price was paid for properties by tenants exercising their right to buy in each local authority area in each of the last five years.
Answer · Malcolm Chisholm: Information on the average pricepaid for properties by tenants exercising their right to buy in each local authorityarea is accessible on-line through the data library in the publications and datasection of the Scottish Executive housing statistics branch web…
10 Feb 2006 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how budget reductions of up to 25% to the Supporting People programme can be achieved through efficiency savings without any reduction in services.
Answer · Malcolm Chisholm: Funding is now distributed ona fairer basis against a new formula and although some councils lose funding ofup to 18% over three years others gain significant increases in resources.</p><p>Evidence from reviews of theSupporting People programme in England and…
10 Feb 2006 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it carried out an impact assessment, specifically in respect of voluntary sector services, prior to the introduction of national budget reductions and local reallocation of resources in relation to the Supporting People programme.
Answer · Malcolm Chisholm: No impact assessmentspecifically in respect of voluntary sector services was carried out, butevidence from reviews of the Supporting People programme in England and Scotlandindicated scope for significant efficiency savings. Monitoring arrangementsallow local…
10 Feb 2006 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it carried out an impact assessment prior to the introduction of national budget reductions and local reallocation of resources in relation to the Supporting People programme.
Answer · Malcolm Chisholm: Evidence from reviews of theSupporting People programme in England and Scotland confirmed the scope for significant efficiencysavings with the price Waterhouse Coopers report indication wide variation inthe cost of services across Scotland and the way they we…
23 Jan 2006 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many (a) permanent and (b) temporary or seconded staff Glasgow Housing Association employs on (i) investment and regeneration, (ii) support services, (iii) local housing organisation staffing and (iv) concierge staffing, showing how these figures compare with the numbers employed in M…
Answer · Malcolm Chisholm: I have asked Angiolina Foster, Chief Executive of Communities Scotland, to respond. Her response is as follows:</p> <p>Information on registered social landlords is collected through the Annual Performance Statistical Return (APSR) maintained by Communities S…
23 Jan 2006 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what Glasgow Housing Association’s expenditure on external (a) consultants and (b) advisers has been since the stock transfer date on its (i) capital investment programme, (ii) business planning, (iii) second stage transfer and (iv) organisational development.
Answer · Malcolm Chisholm: I have asked Angiolina Foster, Chief Executive of Communities Scotland, to respond. Her response is as follows:</p> <p>This is a matter for GHA, the information is not held centrally.</p>
23 Jan 2006 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how much private finance it is estimated will be drawn down by Glasgow Housing Assocation in 2006-07 and 2007-08.
Answer · Malcolm Chisholm: I have asked Angiolina Foster, Chief Executive of Communities Scotland, to respond. Her response is as follows:</p> <p>GHA’s Consultative Draft Business Plan 2006-07, identifies private funding levels of £33.356 million in 2006-07 and £101.554 million in 2007…
23 Jan 2006 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how much private finance has been drawn down to facilitate Glasgow Housing Association’s capital expenditure on its housing stock.
Answer · Malcolm Chisholm: I have asked Angiolina Foster, Chief Executive of Communities Scotland, to respond. Her response is as follows:</p> <p>GHA, in its statutory accounts to 31 March 2005, records no loans drawn from private lenders. GHA’S business plan dated November 2004 shows …
23 Jan 2006 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what Glasgow Housing Association’s (GHA) capital expenditure has been on its housing stock from the date of transfer of the stock to GHA.
Answer · Malcolm Chisholm: I have asked Angiolina Foster, Chief Executive of Communities Scotland, to respond. Her response is as follows:</p> <p>Since transfer, GHA has directly invested over £262 million on modernising and improving tenants’ homes.</p>
15 Dec 2005 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many properties in (a) registered social landlord and (b) local authority housing stock currently fall below the Scottish Housing Quality Standard and how much it estimates the cost will be of bringing such properties up to the necessary standard by its 2015 deadline.
Answer · Malcolm Chisholm: The Scottish House Condition Survey report <i>Information on Scottish Housing</i> Quality <i>Standard failure rates and support for secondary analysis</i> July 2004, estimated the number of properties currently failing the Scottish Housing Quality Standard in…
6 Dec 2005 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S2W-20889 by Lewis MacDonald on 6 December 2005, which NHS boards are carrying out the pilot schemes to offer free NHS oral health checks to all those over the age of 60.
Answer · Lewis Macdonald: The first phase of the Oral Health Assessment pilot was with nine salaried dentists from Forth Valley, Ayrshire and Arran, Highland, Fife, Greater Glasgow, Argyll and Clyde and Highland and took place within the Postgraduate Centre in Glasgow.</p> <p>The seco…
21 Nov 2005 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive which local authorities have applied for pressured area status; when each such application was made, and which applications have been successful.
Answer · Malcolm Chisholm: Three local authorities have applied for Right to Buy pressured area designation.</p> <p>East Renfrewshire Council applied on 4 May 2005 for the Eastwood part of its area. The council provided supplementary information on 8 July 2005. On 7 October 2005 the Sc…
21 Nov 2005 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many people aged 60 and over have had a free oral health examination in each NHS board area in 2005.
Answer · Lewis Macdonald: None to date. The Executive commitment in relation to free oral health examinations is contained in <i>An Action Plan for Improving Oral Health and Modernising NHS Dental Services in Scotland</i> and is to provide free examinations for those aged 60 or over. …