Parliamentary questions

Brian Fitzpatrick

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

10 Mar 2003 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what information it holds on how many complaints have been made to the Scottish Public Services Ombudsman or its predecessor by individuals about their treatment by local authorities in each of the last five years for which figures are available, what percentage of such complaints in that…

Answer · Peter Peacock: The information requested is not held centrally. Details of complaints made against local authorities to the former Commissioner for Local Administration in Scotland during the years 1999-2000, 2000-01 and 2001-02 are contained in the office-holder's relev…

7 Mar 2003 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-34196 by Mr Andy Kerr on 6 March 2003, why information on the number of specialists recruited into the civil service before 1999 is unavailable and whether such information was collected by the Scottish Office and, if so, what happened to the informa…

Answer · Andy Kerr: Data relating to the specialism of staff recruited before 1999 was not collected systematically and is therefore not sufficiently reliable to provide an accurate comparison with more recent figures.

7 Mar 2003 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-34196 by Mr Andy Kerr on 6 March 2003, from which specialities the specialists referred to in the answer were recruited.

Answer · Andy Kerr: The Information requested is provided in the following table.Scottish Executive Core DepartmentsSpecialist Staff Recruited, by Financial Year and Specialism1999-2000 to 2002-03 (Year to Date)<TABLE BORDER CELLSPACING=1 CELLPADDING=2 WIDTH=472><TR><TD…

6 Mar 2003 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what the passenger forecasts for airport services are for Scotland and (a) Aberdeen, (b) Edinburgh and (c) Glasgow airports for 2030.

Answer · Lewis Macdonald: The information requested is given in the consultation document The Future Development of Air Transport in the United Kingdom: Scotland, page 79, which was published jointly by the Scottish Executive and the Department for Transport in July 2002. Copie…

6 Mar 2003 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what the actual growth rates in total international passenger numbers for Scotland shown as a percentage of all United Kingdom regional airports have been in each year since 1991 and what trends have been identified as a result.

Answer · Lewis Macdonald: The information from 1997 is given in the CAA-UK Airports - Annual Statements of Movements Passengers and Cargo, Table 10.1, which was published by the Civil Aviation Authority, the search facility for which can be found at:www.caa.co.uk/erg/erg_sta…

6 Mar 2003 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what the actual growth rates in total international passenger numbers for Scotland and (a) Aberdeen, (b) Edinburgh and (c) Glasgow airports have been in each year since 1991 and what trends have been identified as a result.

Answer · Lewis Macdonald: The information for Aberdeen, Edinburgh and Glasgow Airports is given in The Regional Air Services Co-ordination Study (RASCO) in Table 3.2.5, page 3-8, which was published by the Department for Transport in July 2002. A copy of the RASCO report is ava…

6 Mar 2003 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what the actual growth rates for international scheduled air services for Scotland and (a) Aberdeen, (b) Edinburgh and (c) Glasgow airports have been in each year since 1991 and what trends have been identified as a result.

Answer · Lewis Macdonald: The information from 1997-2001 is given in each of the annual documents CAA-UK Airports - Annual Statements of Movements Passengers and Cargo, Table 5, which were published by the Civil Aviation Authority, the search facility for which can be found as …

6 Mar 2003 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what the average growth has been in total air passenger traffic for Scotland and (a) Aberdeen, (b) Edinburgh and (c) Glasgow airports in each year since 1991.

Answer · Lewis Macdonald: The information for Aberdeen, Edinburgh and Glasgow Airports is given in The Regional Air Services Co-ordination Study (RASCO), in Table 3.2.1, page 3-3, which was published by the Department for Transport in July 2002. A copy of the RASCO report is av…

6 Mar 2003 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what average number of return air trips has been made per head of population in each year since 1991.

Answer · Lewis Macdonald: The information requested for year 2000 is given in The Regional Air Services Co-ordination Study (RASCO), in Table 3.13.1, page 3-44, which was published by the Department for Transport in July 2002. A copy of the RASCO report is available in the Parl…

5 Mar 2003 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what information it holds on levels of internet usage arising from internet access in public libraries in East Dunbartonshire.

Answer · Des McNulty: In a recent survey for the three-month period July to September 2002, 10,750 hours of Internet use were recorded at libraries in East Dunbartonshire.However, the provision of public internet access in libraries has increased significantly in East Dunbarton…

27 Feb 2003 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what action it will take in respect of the needs of people in deprived communities following the report by the Social Exclusion Unit, Making the Connections: Final Report on Transport and Social Exclusion.

Answer · Lewis Macdonald: The Social Exclusion Unit's remit covers only England but we will be drawing the report to the attention of local authorities in Scotland as they may find it useful when developing transport policies in their areas. A number of the actions listed in the re…

27 Feb 2003 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what consultation it has undertaken on future changes to the rate of return since making the Damages (Personal Injury) (Scotland) Order 2002 (SSI 2002/46).

Answer · Jim Wallace: I refer the member to the answer given to question S1W-31777 on 2 December 2002. 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…

20 Feb 2003 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-33523 by Mr Andy Kerr on 14 February 2003, how many specialists were recruited into the civil service in each year since 1996.

Answer · Andy Kerr: The following table details the number of specialists who joined the Scottish Executive Core in each financial year since April 1999. Data pre-1999 is unavailable.Scottish Executive Core DepartmentsPermanent Specialist Staff Who Joined in Each Financial…

19 Feb 2003 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what the timescale is for the implementation of Agenda for Change in Scotland; to which staff groups it will apply, and what its implications are for qualified maintenance craftspersons and maintenance technicians employed in the National Health Service.

Answer · Malcolm Chisholm: Currently NHS professional organisations and trade unions are consulting their members on the Agenda for Change proposals. If agreed, Agenda for Change will be implemented in Scotland in October 2004. Agenda for Change will apply to all directly employed N…

10 Feb 2003 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what the average annual net salary, inclusive of overtime payments, of (a) senior house officers, (b) specialist registrars and (c) consultants has been in the Greater Glasgow NHS Board area in each year since 1992.

Answer · Malcolm Chisholm: The information requested is not held centrally.

10 Feb 2003 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive when the new lifelong learning strategy will be published.

Answer · Iain Gray: Our interim response welcomed the Enterprise and Lifelong Learning Committee's Report on their Inquiry into Lifelong Learning. When I spoke at the parliamentary debate on the report on 27 November 2002, I indicated that we would publish a strategy for …

5 Feb 2003 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what action it will take in respect of the needs of families with disabled children in response to the report by Barnardo's, Still missing out? Ending poverty and social exclusion: messages to government from families with disabled children.

Answer · Margaret Curran: The Executive is already taking action to support the needs of families with disabled children. Sure Start Scotland delivers support to very young children with disabilities and their families. Guidance emphasises that services should "provide inclusi…

5 Feb 2003 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what information it has on how many new homes have been sold by building companies to individuals in the East Dunbartonshire Council area in each year since 1991.

Answer · Margaret Curran: The information requested is not held centrally.Information is available on the number of private sector housing completions in the East Dunbartonshire Council area in each year since 1991 as shown in the following table.Private sector sales figures can…

5 Feb 2003 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what percentage of household waste in (a) Scotland, (b) the East Renfrewshire Council area and (c) the East Dunbartonshire Council area is (i) disposed of by landfill, (ii) recycled, (iii) composted and (iv) incinerated.

Answer · Ross Finnie: The information requested for the two councils is available for 2001-02 on the Accounts Commission website, <A HREF="http://www.audit-scotland.gov.uk/performance/compendium/councils.htm">http://www.audit-scotland.gov.uk/performance/compendium/councils.htm<…

5 Feb 2003 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what percentage of housing stock in (a) Scotland and (b) the East Dunbartonshire Council area is rated under the National Home Energy Ratings as (i) poor, (ii) moderate and (iii) good.

Answer · Des McNulty: The latest information on the National Home Energy Rating (NHER) of Scottish housing stock is the Scottish House Condition Survey 1996. According to this report, (a) in Scotland (i) 17% is NHER poor, (ii) 76% is NHER moderate and (iii) 7% is good.The data …

5 Feb 2003 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether there have been any falls in carbon monoxide concentrations in the East Dunbartonshire Council area since 1987.

Answer · Allan Wilson: This information is not held centrally. Monitoring of carbon monoxide levels and other air pollutants is a matter for East Dunbartonshire Council under the Environment Act 1995 which requires local authorities to review and assess air quality in their areas a…

5 Feb 2003 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether there have been any falls in nitrogen dioxide concentrations in the East Dunbartonshire Council area since 1987.

Answer · Allan Wilson: The information requested is not held centrally. Monitoring of nitrogen dioxide levels and other air pollutants is a matter for East Dunbartonshire Council under the Environment Act 1995 which requires local authorities to review and assess air quality in the…

5 Feb 2003 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether there have been any falls in particulate-pollutant concentrations in the East Dunbartonshire Council area since 1992.

Answer · Allan Wilson: The information requested is not held centrally. Monitoring of particulate levels and other air pollutants is a matter for East Dunbartonshire Council under the Environment Act 1995 which requires local authorities to review and assess air quality in their ar…

5 Feb 2003 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what measurements of transport-related pollutants have been taken in the East Dunbartonshire Council area in each year since 1992 and what progress is being made on achieving the Air Quality Strategy Objective in the area.

Answer · Allan Wilson: Information on the measurement of transport-related pollutants is not held centrally. Monitoring of air pollutants is a matter for East Dunbartonshire Council under the Environment Act 1995 which requires local authorities to review and assess air quality in …

5 Feb 2003 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how much of the East Dunbartonshire Council area is greenspace.

Answer · Allan Wilson: Greenspace is defined by Greenspace Scotland as vegetated land adjoining settlements of 3,000 people or more. On that basis, there are 1,207 hectares of greenspace in the East Dunbartonshire Council area, representing 6.9% of the total area.

5 Feb 2003 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what proportion of the East Dunbartonshire Council area has been designated as a (a) site of special scientific interest, (b) national scenic area, (d) local nature reserve and (e) country park.

Answer · Allan Wilson: The following proportions of the East Dunbartonshire Council area have been designated as (a) Sites of Special Scientific Interest - 0.8%, (b) National Scenic Area - 0%, (c) Local Nature Reserve - 0% and (d) Country Park - 0.46%.

5 Feb 2003 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how much was spent by (a) Scottish Enterprise and (b) Scottish Enterprise Dunbartonshire in the East Dunbartonshire Council area in each year since 1996, broken down by the total amount of funds spent and the amount spent per head of population.

Answer · Iain Gray: This is an operational matter for Scottish Enterprise.

5 Feb 2003 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what gross capital payments have been (a) proposed for and (b) made to East Dunbartonshire Council under the local government settlement in each year since 1996.

Answer · Andy Kerr: In each year since 1996, East Dunbartonshire Council has been issued capital consents for non-housing capital expenditure from borrowing and grants as follows: <TABLE BORDER CELLSPACING=1 CELLPADDING=2 WIDTH=143><TR><TD WIDTH="54%" VALIGN="TOP" HEIGHT=16>Y…

5 Feb 2003 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what funds were allocated, and on what dates, to the East Dunbartonshire Council area through (a) the National Childcare Strategy, (b) Sure Start Scotland, (c) New Community Schools, (d) New Housing Partnerships, (e) the Early Intervention programme, (f) tackling health inequalities, (g) …

Answer · Peter Peacock: The following table gives details of the allocations received by East Dunbartonshire Council. Payments were profiled in each year to reflect the council's spending requirement. The council does not receive funds through the following programmes: SIPs, Working…

5 Feb 2003 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many (a) householder and (b) non-householder planning applications have been made to East Dunbartonshire Council in each year since 1999 and what percentage of each category of applications were dealt with by the council within two months of the application being lodged.

Answer · Des McNulty: The following table shows the number of planning applications dealt with by East Dunbartonshire Council in the financial years 1999-2002. The category non-householder includes other planning consents, such as hazardous substances and listed building consents,…