Parliamentary questions
Brian Fitzpatrick
529 questions tabled in the Scottish Parliament, most recent first.
22 Nov 2001 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what support and encouragement it gives, or plans to give, to funding bodies for the arts in respect of offering incentives to artists and arts companies to target new audiences among socially and economically disadvantaged people and communities.
Answer · Elaine Murray: The Executive set out its priorities for the arts and culture in the <I>National Cultural Strategy</I> which was launched last year. It included a key priority to maximise the social benefits of culture. The Scottish Arts Council is exploring the aspect of au…
22 Nov 2001 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what guidance or instructions it issues, or plans to issue, to funding bodies for the arts on targeting arts events to socially and economically disadvantaged people and communities.
Answer · Elaine Murray: I refer the member to the answer given to question S1W-20279.
22 Nov 2001 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what support and encouragement it gives, or plans to give, to funding bodies for the arts in respect of targeting arts events to socially and economically disadvantaged people and communities.
Answer · Elaine Murray: In awarding to the Scottish Arts Council £15.2 million in additional funding over the period of the spending review, the Executive made clear the importance it attached to work in disadvantaged areas. This reflects our priorities set out in the <I>National Cu…
22 Nov 2001 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what guidance or instructions it issues, or plans to issue, to funding bodies for the arts on marketing arts events to socially and economically disadvantaged people and communities.
Answer · Elaine Murray: I refer the member to the answer given to question S1W-20277.
22 Nov 2001 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what support and encouragement it gives, or plans to give, to funding bodies for the arts in respect of marketing arts events to socially and economically disadvantaged people and communities.
Answer · Elaine Murray: The <I>National Cultural Strategy </I>includes a key priority to develop wider opportunities for cultural access. Increasing access to the arts is therefore a priority for the Executive and audience development is an important aspect of this. Scottish funding…
22 Nov 2001 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what support and encouragement it gives, or plans to give, to improving access to arts events, including improving ticket purchase systems, for socially and economically disadvantaged people and communities.
Answer · Elaine Murray: As part of the Scottish Arts Council's £0.5 million lottery funding scheme for audience and sales development the council has funded a range of training programmes for marketing staff in arts organisations throughout the country including those in socially an…
22 Nov 2001 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what support and encouragement it gives, or plans to give, to attracting new audiences to the arts from socially and economically disadvantaged groups.
Answer · Elaine Murray: I refer the member to the answer given to question S1W-20274.
22 Nov 2001 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what support and encouragement it gives, or plans to give, to attracting new audiences to the arts.
Answer · Elaine Murray: The Executive announced on 25 October that additional support would be given to audience development initiatives aiming to bring people into contact with the arts. I am delighted to say that this year an additional £50,000 is being devoted specifically for th…
22 Nov 2001 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what steps are being taken, or are planned by it or by other bodies on its behalf, to increase the numbers of people seeing, hearing and participating in the arts.
Answer · Elaine Murray: The Executive fully recognises the importance of promoting access in the arts and boosting participation, and these are areas which continue to receive considerable attention. We have allocated additional funds to the National Museum of Scotland to allow it t…
21 Nov 2001 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-19205 by Iain Gray on 16 November 2001, how many interviews or meetings have been held with candidates for appointment to the senior judiciary since March 2001.
Answer · Jim Wallace: The only interviews or meetings with candidates for the office of Senator of the College of Justice have been those referred to in the reply to question S1W-19205 on 16 November 2001.
21 Nov 2001 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-19204 by Iain Gray on 16 November 2001, (a) how many more appointments to the senior judiciary have been made since October 2001; (b) how many of those appointed were male; (c) how many of those appointed attended public schools; (d) how many of thos…
Answer · Jim Wallace: The information requested is as follows:<P>(a) 3<P>(b) 2<P>(c) 3<P>(d) none<P>(e) this information is not requested from candidates for appointment.<P>I am aware that the father of the current Lord President was a sheriff but no other information is available.
21 Nov 2001 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-19203 by Ian Gray on 16 November 2001, what discussions it has held with women members of the Scottish Bar and other members of the Faculty of Advocates on encouraging applications for appointments to the senior judiciary from advocates from non-trad…
Answer · Jim Wallace: There have been no meetings. The Judicial Appointments Board to be established in the New Year will be asked to examine ways of attracting candidates for judicial posts from a wider background.
21 Nov 2001 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what steps are being taken to support activity programmes and residential breaks for children and young people.
Answer · Nicol Stephen: The Scottish Executive is providing funding of over £27 million for study support and out of school hours learning over the period 1999-2002. In addition the New Opportunities Fund is investing £23.6 million of lottery resources over the same period for out o…
21 Nov 2001 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what steps it is taking to support befriending programmes for socially, economically, behaviourally or emotionally disadvantaged children and young people.
Answer · Nicol Stephen: My answer to question S1W-20181 on 17 December 2001 gives details of our support to Big Brothers and Sisters to develop a network of mentoring projects throughout Scotland. In addition we provide support to some 32 national voluntary youth organisations to en…
21 Nov 2001 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what steps are being taken to support activity programmes and residential breaks for socially, economically, behaviourally or emotionally disadvantaged children and young people.
Answer · Nicol Stephen: The answer given to question S1W-20184 sets out the resources being made available for out of school hours childcare and learning and study support, including activity programmes and residential breaks. Study support can be particularly helpful to disadvantag…
21 Nov 2001 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what steps it is taking to support befriending programmes for teenage mothers and their babies.
Answer · Nicol Stephen: The answer given to question S1W-20179 gives details of our Sure Start Scotland initiative, which provides support to teenage mothers and their babies, among others.<P>In addition, we have also awarded a project grant of £50,000 for 2001-02 to Big Brothers an…
21 Nov 2001 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what steps it is taking to support befriending programmes assisting younger people who are looked after or accommodated by local authorities.
Answer · Nicol Stephen: We are promoting the development of advocacy services for children looked after by local authorities through the Children's Services Development Fund (£13.6 million over three years from 1999-2000) and through grant aid for Who Cares? Scotland (£122,640 in th…
21 Nov 2001 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what steps are being taken to support activity programmes and residential breaks for teenage mothers and their babies.
Answer · Nicol Stephen: My answer to question S1W-20184 set out the support we provide for activity programmes and residential breaks for children and young people. We also provide a range of support for teenage mothers and babies through Sure Start Scotland. There is no single mode…
21 Nov 2001 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what assessments have been made of the benefits, including development of self-esteem and confidence, of activity programmes and residential breaks for younger people who are looked after or accommodated by local authorities.
Answer · Nicol Stephen: As part of good management practice, it is for local authorities to evaluate the outcomes for children who use their services or services purchased by the local authority on their behalf.
21 Nov 2001 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what steps are being taken to support activity programmes for younger people who are looked after or accommodated by local authorities.
Answer · Nicol Stephen: This is a matter for local authorities who have a duty under the Children (Scotland) Act to safeguard and promote the welfare of every child looked after by them.<P>Community Learning Strategy Partnerships are required to analyse the needs of local communitie…
13 Nov 2001 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions it has had, or have been held on its behalf, with the Rules Council of the Court of Session and the Sheriff Court Rules Council on the likely effects of the draft Sheriff Courts (Scotland) Act 1971 (Privative Jurisdiction and Summary Cause) Order 2001 and the draft Small …
Answer · Iain Gray: The Executive is represented on the Sheriff Court Rules Council and provides the Secretariat to that Council. The Sheriff Court Rules Council has taken account of the potential effect of the Orders in the course of its review of the summary cause and small cl…
13 Nov 2001 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what comparative assessments have been made in respect of the recovery of judicial expenses between claimants of damages for reparation for personal injuries in England and Wales and in Scotland following the coming into force of the draft Sheriff Courts (Scotland) Act 1971 (Privative Jur…
Answer · Iain Gray: No comparative assessments have been made with England and Wales. Judicial expenses relate to the work done under the relevant procedures and reflect a fair level of remuneration for that work.
13 Nov 2001 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what assessments it has made, or have been made on its behalf, of the effects of the draft Sheriff Courts (Scotland) Act 1971 (Privative Jurisdiction and Summary Cause) Order 2001 and the draft Small Claims (Scotland) Amendment Order 2001 on judicial expenses likely to be recovered by suc…
Answer · Iain Gray: Judicial expenses are fixed by the Court of Session by Act of Sederunt. The effects of these Orders on the tables of judicial expenses are for the Court. The Lord President's Advisory Committee on solicitors' fees is aware of the proposed changes, is engaging…
12 Nov 2001 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what information or reports it has received from North Glasgow University Hospitals NHS Trust and Greater Glasgow Health Board in respect of the placement of contracts with any medical recruitment agencies for the recruitment of locum or permanent consultant clinical oncologists for emplo…
Answer · Malcolm Chisholm: NHS Glasgow has confirmed that it will use all means necessary to secure the appropriate professionals to fill cancer posts. The Executive has not received any information or reports from North Glasgow University Hospitals NHS Trust or Greater Glasgow NHS Boa…
12 Nov 2001 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what information or reports it has received on investigations made in respect of the recruitment of consultant clinical oncologists from Hong Kong or Australia as locum consultants for the Glasgow cancer service.
Answer · Malcolm Chisholm: I refer the member to the answer given to question S1W-19873.
12 Nov 2001 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what advice, guidance or instructions it has given North Glasgow University Hospitals NHS Trust and Greater Glasgow Health Board on the placement of recruitment advertisements in medical journals or other media for (a) locum consultant clinical oncologists and (b) permanent consultant cli…
Answer · Malcolm Chisholm: I refer the member to the answer given to question S1W-19754 on 29 November 2001.<P>In addition, I understand that advertisements have already been placed in relevant medical journals and that efforts are also being made to contact services across Europe and …
12 Nov 2001 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what advice, guidance or instructions it has given North Glasgow University Hospitals NHS Trust and Greater Glasgow Health Board on planning for handling the caseloads of the clinical oncologists retiring from the Glasgow cancer service and what reports it has received from the trust and …
Answer · Malcolm Chisholm: This is the responsibility of Dr Adam Bryson, Director of the Beatson Oncology Centre who announced on 18 January 2002 the revised arrangements being put in place to secure continuity of outreach specialist services across the west of Scotland.
12 Nov 2001 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what assessment has been made of the impact on specialist cancer services in the Greater Glasgow Health Board area of meeting previously unmet needs.
Answer · Susan Deacon: There are a variety of ways in which needs assessments are informed. For cancer services these include,<P>the Scottish Executive's on-going modernisation programme for radiotherapy treatment equipment. This programme has already seen three new linear accelera…
7 Nov 2001 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-18265 by Susan Deacon on 6 November 2001, what information it holds on consultations with, and recommendations made by, oncologists on budget items included in Cancer In Scotland: Action For Change, National Implementation/Investment Plan 2001-02.
Answer · Malcolm Chisholm: The Scottish Cancer Group (SCG) membership includes two oncologists as well as Dr Anna Gregor, Chairman and Lead Clinician for Cancer Services in Scotland who is also a practising oncologist. <P>To advise and inform the development of the strategic agenda, al…
7 Nov 2001 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-18265 by Susan Deacon on 6 November 2001, what assessment it made of any representations made by or on behalf of Greater Glasgow NHS Board to support the spending on endoscopic equipment and staff as outlined in Cancer In Scotland: Action For Change,…
Answer · Malcolm Chisholm: For too long decisions had been made in apparent isolation from those responsible for delivering cancer services and, as indicated on 3 July 2001, at the launch of <I>Cancer in Scotland: Action for Change</I>, it was confirmed that the Scottish Executive woul…