Parliamentary questions
Adam Ingram
1,244 questions tabled in the Scottish Parliament, most recent first.
18 Aug 2006 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what response it made to Scottish Water regarding its proposed sewage sludge strategy which advocates a combination of recycling to agricultural land and incineration as the favoured means of disposal of sewage sludge in the future.
Answer · Ross Finnie: The Scottish Executive has madeno response to Scottish Water regarding its proposed sewage sludge strategy.</p><p>Scottish Water has yet to publishconclusions arising from its recent consultation exercise. It is likely that discussionswith the Executive would…
18 Aug 2006 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what assessment it has made of the likely impact of the new EU Sludge Directive in limiting the potential for re-use of sewage sludge on agricultural land.
Answer · Ross Finnie: No proposals for the revisionof the Sludge Directive (86/278/EEC) have yet been published. The Scottish Executivehas therefore not been in a position to make any assessment of the likely impactof a new Directive.</p>
18 Aug 2006 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what representations it has made, and to whom, regarding the forthcoming EU directive on sewage sludge.
Answer · Ross Finnie: No proposals for the revisionof the Sludge Directive (86/278/EEC) have yet been published. The Scottish Executivehas accordingly made no representations on this subject.</p>
18 Aug 2006 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive when it expects the new EU Sludge Directive, affecting the re-use of sewage sludge on agricultural land, to be introduced.
Answer · Ross Finnie: The European Commission’s WasteThematic Strategy, published on 21 December 2005, envisaged the publication ofa proposal for revision of council Directive 86/278/EEC on the protection of theenvironment, and in particular of the soil, when sewage sludge is use…
17 Aug 2006 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many successful claims in respect of vaccine damage have been made in Scottish courts over the last 10 years.
Answer · Andy Kerr: The Scottish Executive does notcollect statistics on vaccine damage. The administration of the Vaccine Damage PaymentScheme is reserved and as such, is administered on a UK-basis by colleagues in theDepartment for Work and Pensions.</p>
17 Aug 2006 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what statistics it collects on vaccine damage to NHS patients.
Answer · Andy Kerr: The Scottish Executive does notcollect statistics on vaccine damage. The administration of the Vaccine Damage PaymentScheme is reserved and as such, is administered on a UK-basis by colleagues in theDepartment for Work and Pensions (DWP).</p><p>Further inform…
15 Aug 2006 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what the incidence of mental illness and mental health problems is among students and what trends have been identified in relation to this issue.
Answer · Nicol Stephen: Students enrolling in highereducation institutions and colleges are asked on a voluntary basis to state whichdisabilities, if any, they have.</p><p>The number of higher educationstudents declaring a mental health difficulty is published annually on the intern…
15 Aug 2006 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how it makes provision for the delivery of health services, including mental health services, to students at further education colleges and higher education institutions.
Answer · Lewis Macdonald: It is the responsibility ofNHS boards to work together with their local authority and other partners toplan and provide responsive health and social care services that meet theassessed needs of their population, taking account of national and localpriorities.…
3 Aug 2006 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it collects information regarding the extent to which temporary crisis accommodation is used for young people in care when there are no places available in fixed care establishments or foster care.
Answer · Robert Brown: This information is not heldcentrally.</p>
3 Aug 2006 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether the number of Scottish children in care currently placed outside Scotland is known and, if so, what that number is.
Answer · Robert Brown: This information is not heldcentrally.</p>
3 Aug 2006 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what mechanisms are in place to monitor the wellbeing of, and provide appropriate support to, children in care who are temporarily placed outside Scotland.
Answer · Robert Brown: When a child becomes looked after,the local authority has a duty to safeguard and promote the child’s welfare, includingwhen a child is placed outside the local authority area or outside Scotland.</p>
3 Aug 2006 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has systems in place to monitor the number of children in care who are temporarily placed in accommodation outside Scotland.
Answer · Robert Brown: No, we do not have systems inplace to monitor the number of children in care who are temporarily placed in accommodationoutside Scotland. This is a matter for local authorities.</p>
1 Aug 2006 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will support the establishment of a regional network of offices for Planning Aid for Scotland.
Answer · Malcolm Chisholm: Planning Aid for Scotland alreadyprovides a national service of training and advice with volunteers from across Scotland. They are planning to expand their volunteer network throughthe recruitment of a Volunteer Development Officer funded by the Executive. Co…
1 Aug 2006 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will continue or enhance the funding of Planning Aid for Scotland to facilitate greater community engagement within the planning system envisaged in the Planning etc. (Scotland) Bill.
Answer · Malcolm Chisholm: In the last financial year the Scottish Executive provided funding of £161,711 for Planning Aid for Scotland. Thisis being increased so that in the financial year 2006-07, they will receive up to £225,283. Budgets beyond March 2008 will be set in autumn 2007 …
1 Aug 2006 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what funding it provided to Planning Aid for Scotland in the most recent year for which figures are available and what information it has on how this funding compares to that provided by government sources in England and Wales.
Answer · Johann Lamont: In financial year 2005-06, the Scottish Executive provided funding of £161,711. This is being increased so that in the current financial year, they will receive up to £225,283.</p><p>In 2005-06 the thenOffice of the Deputy Prime Minister provided funding wort…
1 Aug 2006 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what research it has published or commissioned into the causes of anti-social behaviour amongst children and young people.
Answer · Hugh Henry: The Scottish Executive has notcommissioned research that explores the factors associated specifically with antisocialbehaviour (as opposed to broader delinquency). However, the Executive is currentlypart-funding the Edinburgh Study of YouthTransitions and Cri…
1 Aug 2006 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it plans to develop a national parenting strategy to promote the acquisition of parenting skills for both current and future generations of parents.
Answer · Robert Brown: The Scottish Executive is notcurrently developing an over-arching parenting strategy. We are, however, undertakinga range of cross-cutting action to support parents and families and promote betterparenting.</p>
1 Aug 2006 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what the research brief is for Growing Up in Scotland.
Answer · Robert Brown: The information requested isavailable in the research specification for the study, a copy of which has beenplaced in the Scottish Parliament Information Centre (Bib. number 40208)</p><p>Informationabout the key objectives of the study is also available on the…
1 Aug 2006 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive when the results of the Growing Up in Scotland study will be published.
Answer · Robert Brown: The first report providing resultsfrom sweep 1 of the Growing Up in Scotland study is expected to be published early in 2007. GrowingUp in Scotland is a longitudinal study and further reports are expected to be publishedat later dates.</p>
31 Jul 2006 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will provide an estimate of the demand for sheltered housing (a) currently, (b) in 2010 and (c) in 2015.
Answer · Malcolm Chisholm: The Scottish Executive does notcompile estimates or projections of the demand for sheltered housing. The GeneralRegister Office for Scotland provides projections of numbers of households by ageand type. The latest, 2004 based projections are available at: </p…
31 Jul 2006 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what trends there have been in respect of the provision of sheltered housing by local authority area since 1999.
Answer · Malcolm Chisholm: The following table shows thenumber of sheltered accommodation dwellings provided by public authorities and housingassociations from 1999 to 2004. Information on sheltered accommodation providedby the private sector is not held centrally. Updated figures for …
31 Jul 2006 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what the current supply of sheltered housing is in each local authority area, broken down by tenure type.
Answer · Malcolm Chisholm: Information on the provisionof sheltered housing is available in tables 20 and 22 of the statistical bulletin<i>Quarterly housing trends in </i><i>Scotland</i><i>: Quarter ending </i><i>31 March 2005</i>. The bulletincan be accessed at the Scottish Executive …
31 Jul 2006 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether the traditional concept of sheltered housing with warden services, as a means to maintain independent living for disabled and elderly target groups, remains valid.
Answer · Malcolm Chisholm: For those disabled and elderlypeople who find they are unable to remain in their family home, sheltered housingis a popular choice that helps them to live as independently as possible.</p><p>However, it is generally acceptedthat traditional forms of sheltered…
31 Jul 2006 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive to what extent the provision of sheltered housing by local authorities and housing associations is meeting current and future needs.
Answer · Malcolm Chisholm: Data on demand for shelteredhousing is not collected centrally. However, local authorities are required to identifyhow they intend to deliver suitable housing to various population groups, includingolder people, in their Local Housing Strategy (LHS), which ar…
26 Jul 2006 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what the reasons are for some sections of the Charities and Trustees Investment (Scotland) Act 2005 not having come into force, broken down by section.
Answer · Johann Lamont: As with other acts of the Scottish Parliament, implementation of the Charities and Trustees Investment (Scotland) Act2005 has been a phased process. While most sections of the act have come into force,the following sections remain to be commenced:</p><p>(i) s…
26 Jul 2006 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive when sections 39 to 42 of the Charities and Trustees Investment (Scotland) Act 2005 will come into force.
Answer · Johann Lamont: Sections 39 to 42 of the Charitiesand Trustee Investment (Scotland) Act 2005, which have been commenced only for thepurpose of making regulations, establish a new regime for the reorganisation ofcharities, enabling charities to seek approval for reorganisatio…
8 Jun 2006 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what the cost was to the economy in each of the last five years for which figures are available of work days lost due to people suffering ill-health as a result of (a) depression and (b) mental health problems.
Answer · Lewis Macdonald: I refer the member to the answer to question S2W-26653 on 19 June 2006. All answers to written parliamentary questions are availableon the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at <ahref="http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/wa.…
8 Jun 2006 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many work days were lost due to people suffering from ill-health as a result of (a) depression and (b) mental health problems in each of the last five years for which figures are available.
Answer · Lewis Macdonald: Although there is informationon the number of days lost to sickness, the data is not robust enough to state thenumber of days lost due to ill health caused by depression or mental health problems.</p>
30 May 2006 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many representations it has received regarding the appointment of a vice president to the Mental Health Tribunal for Scotland.
Answer · Lewis Macdonald: Ministers have received no representationsregarding this matter but officials have received two enquiries related to the matter.</p>
30 May 2006 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what discussion it has had with the President of the Mental Health Tribunal for Scotland with regard to the appointment of a vice president.
Answer · Lewis Macdonald: The Executive has recently beeninformed of these appointments and will be clarifying with the president the functionsbeing delegated to the members appointed as interim vice presidents.</p>