Parliamentary questions

Alex Neil

3,059 questions tabled in the Scottish Parliament, most recent first.

20 Jun 2006 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S2W-24494 by Tavish Scott on 12 May 2006, when its rail strategy will be finalised.

Answer · Tavish Scott: Scottish Ministers aim topublish a rail strategy in autumn 2006, which will be a component part of theNational Transport Strategy.

20 Jun 2006 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S2W-24494 by Tavish Scott on 12 May 2006, whether it has now responded to the study of a new strategic park and ride train station at Allandale; if so, what its response was, and, if not, what the reason is for the delay.

Answer · Tavish Scott: We have not yet responded tothe study into the proposed strategic park and ride station at Allandale.We are considering the issuesraised in the report in relation to the capacity and projected increased traveldemand on the rail network in the Central B…

20 Jun 2006 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, given that it has stated in written answers to parliamentary questions that it is a matter for the police to investigate allegations of extraordinary rendition, whether this indicates that it has reached the viewpoint that facilitation of the process of extraordinary rendition on Scottis…

Answer · Cathy Jamieson: I refer the member to the answerto question S2W-24679, answered on 24 April 2006.All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at: <ahref="http://www.scottish.parliament.uk…

20 Jun 2006 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answers to questions S2W-26526 and S2W-26608 by Cathy Jamieson on 19 June 2006, what information it has on whether the police will now launch an investigation into flights being refuelled at Prestwick airport as alleged by Senator Dick Marty, in his explanatory memorandum …

Answer · Cathy Jamieson: The Executive is not awarethat any Scottish police force has decided to date to launch a criminalinvestigation into the allegations contained in Senator Marty’s memorandum.

16 Jun 2006 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S2W-25544 by Cathy Jamieson on 13 June 2006, what specifically is meant by saying that the fingerprint officers involved in the court presentation of fingerprint evidence in the Marion Ross murder case, “are employed in the checking and auditing of proce…

Answer · Cathy Jamieson: Specifically, the fingerprint officers involved in the court presentationof fingerprint evidence in the Marion Ross murder case carry out internal auditingof processes as requested by the Quality Manager and quality check documentationalready approved to go t…

15 Jun 2006 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether, in light of the reported views of the Minister for Transport in the Sunday Times on 11 June 2006 about the possibility of the Executive introducing priority lanes on the A80 for vehicles with more than one occupant, it has made a final decision on the proposed online upgrade of t…

Answer · Tavish Scott: A final decision on the proposedonline upgrade of the A80 has not been made. The report of the public local inquiryis being given careful consideration by Scottish ministers and it is anticipatedthat a decision will be issued soon.Transport Scotland ha…

14 Jun 2006 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what steps have been taken to prevent public access, in particular by children, to the retention ponds proposed as part of the road drainage system for the online upgrade of the A80.

Answer · Tavish Scott: In order to prevent unauthorisedaccess, a 1.8m high chain link fence will be erected around the retention ponds.Transport Scotland hasthe operational responsibility for this area, and can be contacted for more informationif required.

9 Jun 2006 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many children in each local authority area have been referred to the Scottish Children’s Reporter Administration in each year since 1995 and, of these, how many were diagnosed with an autistic spectrum disorder.

Answer · Robert Brown: Children are referred to theChildren’s Reporter on the basis of the grounds contained in section 52(2) of theChildren (Scotland) Act 1995. Accordingly, no central data of medical recordsis kept by the Scottish Children’s Reporter Administration. The number of…

9 Jun 2006 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many children in each local authority area have been taken into care in each year since 1995 and, of these, how many were diagnosed with an autistic spectrum disorder.

Answer · Robert Brown: The numbers of children who startedto be looked after in each year since 1999-2000 are shown in the following table.Information for previous years, and information about how many children startingto be looked after were diagnosed with an autistic spectrum dis…

9 Jun 2006 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S2W-25792 by Lewis Macdonald on 23 May 2006, what the “current mental health delivery indicators” are.

Answer · Lewis Macdonald: In relation to independent advocacyservices, the mental health delivery indicators require joint agency responses ontheir progress with meeting the needs of children and adolescents, meeting the currentdemand of all client/age groups and meeting the needs of …

9 Jun 2006 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S2W-26018 by Robert Brown on 30 May 2006, whether this answer indicates that social workers do not have to declare to their employers or the Scottish Social Services Council any additional work in which they may be engaged beyond their employment as a re…

Answer · Robert Brown: Provision of full employmenthistory when applying for registration with the Scottish Social Services Council(SSSC) comprises all work social workers have undertaken since leaving school, includingall work undertaken outside social services, work undertaken on…

9 Jun 2006 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S2W-25794 by Robert Brown on 17 May 2006, whilst it is not aware of any targets for adoption set by local authorities, whether it has set any targets for adoption of children.

Answer · Robert Brown: The Scottish Executive has notset targets for the adoption of children.

9 Jun 2006 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S2W-26016 by Lewis Macdonald on 30 May 2006 which states that “Children may be taken into care on a voluntary basis and the Scottish Executive does not hold this data”, whether this indicates that the Executive has data to show how many cases exist of ch…

Answer · Robert Brown: Scottish Children’s ReporterAdministration’s (SCRA) annual reports contain information on children who havebeen subject to compulsory measures of care and the nature of decisions made bychildren’s hearings.These can be found on the SCRAwebsite <a href=…

9 Jun 2006 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S2W-26016 by Lewis Macdonald on 30 May 2006, if Munchausen syndrome by proxy, or fabricating or inducing illness, are not grounds for referral to the Principal Reporter, how they are defined within existing legislation.

Answer · Robert Brown: Munchausen syndrome by proxyis not defined in legislation.

9 Jun 2006 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S2W-26016 by Lewis Macdonald on 30 May 2006, whether section 52 of the Children (Scotland) Act 1995 is the only legislation governing the grounds for referral to the Principal Reporter and, if not, what other legislation exists.

Answer · Robert Brown: The Children (Scotland) Act1995 sets out the legal basis for almost all referrals to the Children’s Reporter.There are also some additional legislative provisions which deal with very specificcircumstances e.g. if a sheriff or judge convicts an adult in relat…

9 Jun 2006 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether the review of cases of referrals of parents accused of Munchausen syndrome by proxy, or fabricating or inducing illness in their children, undertaken by the Scottish Children’s Reporter Administration in 2004 has been published and what the reasons are for its position on the matt…

Answer · Robert Brown: The report was published by the Scottish Executive in August 2004 copies of which are available from the Scottish Parliament Information Centre (Bib. number 33946).

9 Jun 2006 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S2W-26016 by Lewis Macdonald on 30 May 2006, what are listed as grounds for referral in section 52 of the Children (Scotland) Act 1995.

Answer · Robert Brown: Section 52(2) of the Children(Scotland) Act 1995 states that a child may be in need of compulsory measures of supervisionif at least one of a list of conditions is satisfied in respect of the child.These conditions are generallyreferred to as “grounds …

9 Jun 2006 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S2W-26016 by Lewis Macdonald on 30 May 2006, whether this answer indicates that it and its agencies, such as the Scottish Children’s Reporter Administration, have no records or knowledge of children being taken into care as a result of a referral on the …

Answer · Robert Brown: The grounds for referral areset out in s52(2) of the Children (Scotland) Act 1995. I refer the member to the report publishedby the Scottish Executive in August 2004 (Bib. number 33946) copies of which areavailable from the Scottish Parliament Information Cen…

9 Jun 2006 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S2W-26488 by Allan Wilson on 8 June 2006, whether it has made representations to the Secretary of State for Education and Skills or to the Sector Skills Development Agency for more sector skills councils to be located in Scotland.

Answer · Allan Wilson: The Scottish Executive has notmade any specific representation to the Secretary of State for Education and Skillsnor the Sector Skills Development Agency for any UK-wide Sector Skills Councilsto be located in Scotland.

9 Jun 2006 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S2W-26417 by Ross Finnie on 8 June 2006, how much funding has been committed to Greengairs from the Environmental Justice Fund.

Answer · Ross Finnie: There is £1 million availablein the Environmental Justice Fund this year. No decisions have been madeabout the areas of Scotland to which it might be allocated.

9 Jun 2006 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S2W-26417 by Ross Finnie on 8 June 2006, whether this answer indicates that no specific environmental justice fund for Greengairs will now be established.

Answer · Ross Finnie: No, we plan to introduce anenvironmental justice fund to assist communities in Scotland affectedby environmental injustice.

8 Jun 2006 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S2W-26033 by Mr Tom McCabe on 8 June 2006, how many of its ministers and officials attended the lecture given by Bill Clinton on 10 May 2006 at the Thistle Hotel in Glasgow.

Answer · Tom McCabe: The lecture on 10 May 2006 atthe Thistle Hotel in Glasgow was attended by eight MSPs, of which five were ministers,and seven officials. The First Minister and Deputy First Minister attended to representthe devolved government in Scotland and the others attend…

8 Jun 2006 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S2W-26033 by Mr Tom McCabe on 8 June 2006, what information it has on what percentage of the total cost of the lecture given by Bill Clinton on 10 May 2006 at the Thistle Hotel in Glasgow was met by the Executive.

Answer · Tom McCabe: The published cost given to themedia by the event organisers was £200,000. The Scottish Executive contributionrepresents 20% of the total cost of staging this very high-profile event. The mainorganiser of the event was A&S Promotions.Approximately,…

8 Jun 2006 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S2W-26033 by Mr Tom McCabe on 8 June 2006, what the Executive received in return for the £20,000 sponsorship of the lecture given by Bill Clinton on 10 May 2006 at the Thistle Hotel in Glasgow.

Answer · Tom McCabe: The £20,000 sponsorship was partof a total package of support of £38,258.80 towards the hosting of this high profileevent in Scotland. Permission to brand the lectern, stage and room withthe Saltire and images of contemporary Scotland was received as part of …

8 Jun 2006 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S2W-26487 by Allan Wilson on 8 June 2006, who has been commissioned with undertaking the Evaluation of the Skills for Business Network and when the evaluation will be completed

Answer · Allan Wilson: The research consultancy GHKhave been commissioned to undertake the Skills for Business Network evaluation.The evaluation is due to be completed by the end of June 2006.

8 Jun 2006 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S2W-26487 by Allan Wilson on 8 June 2006, what the cost will be of the evaluation of the Skills for Business Network and how the evaluation will be funded.

Answer · Allan Wilson: The total cost of the Skillsfor Business Network evaluation will be £86,638 excluding VAT. The evaluation isbeing funded by both the Scottish Executive and the Sector Skills Development Agency.

7 Jun 2006 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether Health Scotland or its predecessor, the Public Health Institute of Scotland, have at any stage investigated the number of people with autism who are confined in mental health facilities.

Answer · Lewis Macdonald: Health Scotland hasnot investigated the number of people with autism who are confined in mentalhealth facilities. Information on patients discharged from psychiatric unitsand mental illness hospitals is collected through the Scottish MorbidityRecord, SMR04.</…

7 Jun 2006 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will instigate an investigation into the existence of flights being refuelled at Prestwick airport that are alleged by Senator Dick Marty, in his explanatory memorandum on alleged secret detentions and unlawful inter-state transfers involving Council of Europe member states, pu…

Answer · Cathy Jamieson: I refer the member to thequestion S2W-26526 answered on 19 June 2006. All answers to written parliamentaryquestions are available on the Parliament's website, the search facility forwhich can be found at <ahref="http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/wa.sea…

7 Jun 2006 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many vacancies there have been in (a) neurosurgery and (b) neurology in each NHS board area in each year since 1990.

Answer · Andy Kerr: Prior to 1995, theinformation requested was not collected centrally. However, details of vacantconsultant posts since 1995 are published on the Scottish Health Statisticswebsite under Workforce Statistics at <ahref="http://www.isdscotland.org/workforce">www.i…

7 Jun 2006 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many (a) neurosurgeons and (b) neurologists there have been at each hospital in each year since 1990.

Answer · Andy Kerr: Information on the number ofneurosurgeons and neurologists in each hospital is not held centrally.