Parliamentary questions

Tricia Marwick

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

3 Oct 2003 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-33438 by Hugh Henry on 10 February 2003, whether it has received consent to place copies of responses to The Scottish Fire Services of the Future in the Scottish Parliament Information Centre and, if so, when copies will be available.

Answer · Hugh Henry: We wrote to all those whohad responded to “The Scottish Fire Service of the Future” consultation and,where respondents indicated that they were content for their response to belodged, copies were made available to the Parliament’s Reference Centre in lateFebr…

20 Aug 2003 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what targets have been set to reduce bullying in schools and what monitoring takes place to ascertain whether these targets are being met.

Answer · Peter Peacock: The Scottish Executive does not currently set targets for the reduction of bullying inschools.The Executive receivesauthorities’ progress reports on their work towards implementation of the 36recommendations of the Discipline Task Group. The recommenda…

20 Aug 2003 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what the costs are of the anti-bullying network based at Moray House School of Education, broken down into staffing, conferences, publicity and accommodation costs.

Answer · Peter Peacock: The projected costs of the anti-bullyingnetwork (ABN) based at Moray House School of Education for financial year2003-04 are as follows:<table class=MsoNormalTable border=1 cellspacing=0 cellpadding=0> <thead> <tr> <td> ABN Component </td>…

20 Aug 2003 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how much funding (a) it and (b) any other organisation contributes to the anti-bullying network based at Moray House School of Education.

Answer · Peter Peacock: The Scottish Executive is the sole funder of the anti-bullying network based at Moray HouseSchool of Education. In financial year 2003-04, the network will receivegrant-funding of up to £126,051 from the Executive.

10 Jul 2003 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has made any representations to Her Majesty's Government that any development of the Royal Air Force flying station near Leuchars as a commercial airport should support direct flights to and from Europe.

Answer · Nicol Stephen: The Executive supports direct flights between Scotland and the rest of Europe, but does not comment on specific initiatives or representations.

10 Jul 2003 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions it has had with Her Majesty's Government about developing part of the Royal Air Force flying station near Leuchars as a commercial airport.

Answer · Nicol Stephen: The Executive has regular discussions with the Department for Transport on a range of aviation matters affecting Scotland.

24 Jun 2003 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how its position in relation to protecting people giving evidence to the investigation into the Holyrood building project, led by Lord Fraser of Carmyllie, (Official Report, 19 June 2003; c 954) is consistent with not seeking to vary the interdict against Mr Robert Winter in order to allo…

Answer · Colin Boyd: The inquiry announced by the First Minister into the Holyrood project on 12 June is an independent inquiry and the conduct of that inquiry is first and foremost for Lord Fraser to determine.The interim interdict granted against Mr Winter relates to busines…

24 Jun 2003 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S2O-199 by Colin Boyd QC on 19 June 2003 (Official Report, c 972), on what basis the Lord Advocate stated that the position in respect of the interdict in respect of Mr Robert Winter is sub judice.

Answer · Colin Boyd: The answer was given on the basis that the court order referred to was an interim interdict and therefore the final status of that order remained to be determined by the court. The Lord Advocate is not a party to that action but understands, from information …

24 Jun 2003 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether any criminal charges have been brought as of 18 June 2003 against anyone connected with Solutions RMC following the suspension of Breast Cancer Research (Scotland) as a charity.

Answer · Colin Boyd: No.

24 Jun 2003 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether any charges have been brought as of 19 June 2003 against Mr Tony Freeman of Solutions RMC.

Answer · Colin Boyd: No.

10 Jun 2003 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what its position is on whether patients should wait up to two years to see an audiologist in a Fife Acute Hospitals NHS Trust hospital and what action it will take to remedy any such situation.

Answer · Tom McCabe: Reducing waiting is a priority for the Executive. This was set out in the health white paper, A Partnership for Care. On Friday 13 June Malcolm Chisholm launched the Out-patient Action Plan which will help Scotland achieve the maximum wait of 26 weeks …

9 Jun 2003 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive which public bodies did not have members' codes of conducts approved by ministers by 1 May 2003, as required by the Ethical Standards in Public Life etc. (Scotland) Act 2000.

Answer · Andy Kerr: The Board of Management of Aberdeen College, the Scottish Criminal Cases Review Commission and the Parole Board for Scotland did not have codes approved at 1 May 2003. A code has now been approved for the Board of Management of Aberdeen College.There ar…

9 Jun 2003 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many public bodies have had members' codes of conduct approved under the Ethical Standards in Public Life etc. (Scotland) Act 2000.

Answer · Andy Kerr: One hundred and twenty-nine public bodies have had codes of conduct approved under the Ethical Standards in Public Life etc. (Scotland) Act 2000, out of a total of 131 covered by the act at present. Two bodies have yet to have codes approved. There are a n…

30 May 2003 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether the procedures and guidelines operated by Scottish Enterprise offer adequate safeguards for public funds when it considers applications from individuals and companies seeking financial assistance.

Answer · Jim Wallace: The Management Statement between the Executive and Scottish Enterprise sets out requirements which Scottish Enterprise must observe when considering the provision of financial assistance to individuals and organisations. The detailed processes whereby Scottis…

30 May 2003 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will institute an inquiry into the awarding of public funds by Scottish Enterprise to Solutions RMC.

Answer · Jim Wallace: No. This is an operational matter for Scottish Enterprise.

30 May 2003 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether Scottish Enterprise was aware that Solutions RMC and Mr Tony Freeman were being investigated by the Scottish Charities Office during the period when Solutions RMC was seeking and receiving financial assistance.

Answer · Jim Wallace: This is an operational matter for Scottish Enterprise.

30 May 2003 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what procedures and guidelines are in place to ensure that Scottish Enterprise considers the background and previous employment history of companies and individuals seeking financial and other assistance.

Answer · Jim Wallace: The Management Statement between the Executive and Scottish Enterprise sets out requirements which Scottish Enterprise must observe when considering the provision of financial assistance for projects or programmes. The detailed processes whereby Scottish Ente…

29 May 2003 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive when the Scottish Charities Office (SCO) became aware that Solutions RMC was seeking an interim interdict against Mr Robert Winter of Breast Cancer Research (Scotland) and whether the SCO made any representations to oppose the application.

Answer · Colin Boyd: The Charities Office became aware of the existence of the interdict in October of last year after the interdict had been granted.

29 May 2003 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether the Scottish Charities Office was prevented from interviewing Mr Robert Winter as part of its inquiry into Breast Cancer Research (Scotland) because of the interim interdict against him granted by the Court of Session.

Answer · Colin Boyd: It would not be appropriate to comment on who was interviewed in the course of investigation as the matter is sub judice.

29 May 2003 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether the Lord Advocate will seek the lifting of the interim interdict granted to Tony Freeman of Solutions RMC preventing Mr Robert Winter of Breast Cancer Research (Scotland) from divulging any information pertaining to Solutions RCM's business, finances, products, dealings, transacti…

Answer · Colin Boyd: The interim interdict relates to business matters flowing from Mr Winter's employment with RMC Solutions and in no way prevents him from speaking to the regulatory authorities.

29 May 2003 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether its proposed fire service bill will be based on its consultation document The Scottish Fire Service of the Future or on the recommendations of the Bain report commissioned by the Deputy Prime Minister.

Answer · Hugh Henry: The two are not mutually exclusive. A number of the Bain report recommendations, particularly those on risk management and community fire safety, chimed with proposals in our policy document. We will take both into account as we take forward our work on the f…

28 May 2003 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive why the activities of Breast Cancer Research (Scotland) were not suspended when the formal investigation into its activities began.

Answer · Colin Boyd: The purpose of the investigation was to identify whether there was evidence which would justify suspension by the court.

28 May 2003 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive on what date the Scottish Charities Office formally passed the results of its investigation into Breast Cancer Research (Scotland) to the Lord Advocate.

Answer · Colin Boyd: The Scottish Charities Office is a division of the Crown Office and investigates misconduct and mismanagement in charities on behalf of the Lord Advocate who raised the court action against Breast Cancer Research (Scotland).

28 May 2003 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive when concerns were first raised about the operation of Breast Cancer (Research) Scotland and on what date the formal investigation into the charity began.

Answer · Colin Boyd: The investigation which led to the current court proceedings began in October 2002. It would not be appropriate to comment further as the case is sub judice.

28 May 2003 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether the Scottish Charities Office interviewed, or sought to interview, Mr Robert Winter as part of its inquiry into Breast Cancer Research (Scotland) prior to the interim interdict against him being granted by the Court of Session.

Answer · Colin Boyd: It would not be appropriate to comment on who has been interviewed, or when, in the course of an investigation, especially when the matter is sub judice. The existence of the interdict would not prevent a witness from being interviewed by the Charities Office.

22 May 2003 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what action is being taken to locate the medical records of haemophiliacs infected with hepatitis C and whether a public inquiry will be held into this matter.

Answer · Malcolm Chisholm: Patients who receive treatment from the NHS in Scotland have the clear right, for whatever reason, to ask NHS organisations for the medical records of their treatment. I recently took steps to make it clear that NHS Scotland must be as open and transparent as…

5 Mar 2003 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether any member of a public body has, since the introduction of the Ethical Standards in Public Life etc. (Scotland) Act 2000, refused to register an interest and, if so, what action was taken in each case.

Answer · Andy Kerr: I refer the member to the answer given to question S1W-34461 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…

5 Mar 2003 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether members of public bodies are required to register non-pecuniary interests under the Ethical Standards in Public Life etc. (Scotland) Act 2000 and, if so, whether such interests include membership of clubs, organisations and political parties.

Answer · Andy Kerr: Members of devolved public bodies listed in schedule 3 of the 2000 act will be required to register non-financial interests which may be of significance, relevance or bear upon the work or operation of the devolved public body. This includes membership of oth…

5 Mar 2003 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether members of public bodies are required to register pecuniary interests under the Ethical Standards in Public Life etc. (Scotland) Act 2000.

Answer · Andy Kerr: Members will be required to register financial and non-financial interests. Full details of the requirements are set out in the Model Code of Conduct, a copy of which is available in the Parliament's Reference Centre.

5 Mar 2003 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive which public bodies do not have members' registers of interest under the Ethical Standards in Public Life etc. (Scotland) Act 2000 and what action has been taken to ensure compliance.