Parliamentary questions
Brian Fitzpatrick
529 questions tabled in the Scottish Parliament, most recent first.
3 Dec 2002 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what percentage of 16- to 19-year-olds have not been in education, training or employment in each year since 1996.
Answer · Iain Gray: The data in the following table, taken from the Labour Force Survey, shows the numbers and percentages for the proportion of 16- to 19-year-olds in Scotland who were not in education, employment or training (NEET) over the period 1996-2002.<TABLE BORDER CELLS…
3 Dec 2002 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what reduction in the proportion of children living in (a) workless and (b) low-income households there has been since 1996.
Answer · Margaret Curran: The proportion of children living in workless households fell from 19% in 1996 to 14% in 2002.<P>Using the headline measure of below 60% of median household income (after housing costs), the proportion of children in low-income households fell from 34% in 199…
3 Dec 2002 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what action has been taken to reduce the number of households and, in particular, households with children, living in temporary accommodation in the East Dunbartonshire Council area since 1997.
Answer · Margaret Curran: East Dunbartonshire Council was awarded £185,000 in 2000 to increase the availability of appropriate temporary accommodation for homeless families. <P>In addition, in carrying out an assessment of homelessness, and in the development of a homelessness strateg…
3 Dec 2002 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what percentage of households with children have been in temporary accommodation in the East Dunbartonshire Council area in each year since 1997.
Answer · Margaret Curran: Information on households with children in temporary accommodation has been collected centrally since June 2000. Information is available on the position (numbers and proportions) within each local authority area at the end of June, September, December and Ma…
3 Dec 2002 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how much of the #0/10/10 million to help fund child care provision in disadvantaged areas, referred to in Building a Better Scotland: Spending Proposals 2003-2006: What the money buys, will be allocated to East Dunbartonshire in each year and to what projects it will be allocated.
Answer · Margaret Curran: I refer the member to the answer given to question S1W-31648 on 28 November 2002. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament's website, the search facility for which can be found on:<P><A HREF="http://www.scottish.parliamen…
3 Dec 2002 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many Beattie Inclusiveness Projects there are in East Dunbartonshire and how much funding has been allocated to each such projects it will be allocated
Answer · Iain Gray: There is one Careers Scotland Inclusiveness Project covering the Dunbartonshire area. It has been allocated £594,500 over the period April 2001 to March 2004.
3 Dec 2002 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what action has been taken to reduce the proportion of older people on low incomes in the Strathkelvin and Bearsden constituency since 1997.
Answer · Margaret Curran: Since 1997, older people on low incomes in the Strathkelvin and Bearsden constituency have benefited from increases to the Basic State Retirement Pension, the introduction of the Minimum Income Guarantee, the Winter Fuel Payment, and free TV licences for the …
21 Nov 2002 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what progress is being made in providing every primary and secondary school with a broadband internet connection.
Answer · Nicol Stephen: The 2001-02 Schools' ICT Survey (available on the internet at <A HREF="http://www.scotland.gov.uk/stats/bulletins/00193-00.asp">http://www.scotland.gov.uk/stats/bulletins/00193-00.asp</A>) indicated that 49% of secondary schools, 8% of primary schools and 13%…
21 Nov 2002 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what proposals it has for modernising the law on admissibility of previous convictions and other misconduct in criminal cases so that juries may consider them, where held relevant, when reaching a verdict.
Answer · Jim Wallace: There are no plans at present to extend the law on admissibility of previous convictions beyond the existing provisions in the Criminal Procedure (Scotland) Act 1995 including those in section 275A which came into effect on 1 November 2002 as part of the Sexu…
20 Nov 2002 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what work it has instructed to be undertaken with regard to clarifying the law on consent.
Answer · Jim Wallace: The Lord Advocate has already taken steps to clarify the law on consent in rape cases. Last year, he referred the case of Edward Watt to the High Court and secured a ruling that clarified the definition of rape in Scots law. The High Court held that the gener…
20 Nov 2002 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what consideration it is giving to modernisation of the criminal law in respect of abuse of a position of trust by those that care for, advise, supervise or train young persons under the age of 18.
Answer · Jim Wallace: The Sexual Offences (Amendment) Act 2000 introduced a new offence of abuse of trust. There are no immediate plans to amend these provisions.
20 Nov 2002 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what steps it is taking with regard to the recommendations of the Task Force on Child Protection on the Internet established by Her Majesty's Government in March 2001.
Answer · Jim Wallace: We are currently considering, in consultation with Crown Office, whether a new offence of grooming is needed in Scotland. We closely monitor other child protection issues to ensure that best practice is adopted throughout Scotland and participate in internet …
20 Nov 2002 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what consideration it is giving to modernisation of the criminal law in respect of adult sexual activity with a child.
Answer · Jim Wallace: Sexual offences involving children and young people are contained in both common and statute law. We have no plans to change the law in this area although we will keep the position under review. In particular, as I said in the answer given to question S1W-317…
20 Nov 2002 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what financial support it gives to organisations providing support to the victims of sexual offences.
Answer · Jim Wallace: Our Domestic Abuse Service Development Fund is providing £117,659 this year to organisations that specifically support victims of rape, sexual assault and sexual abuse. In addition, a section 10 grant of £100,000 is being provided to enable a national office …
20 Nov 2002 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what support it is giving to the establishment of multi-agency public protection arrangements for the purposes of assessing and managing the risks posed to local communities by sexual and violent offenders and other persons considered to be persons that may cause serious harm to the publi…
Answer · Jim Wallace: The Criminal Justice (Scotland) Bill currently progressing through the Parliament provides for the establishment of a new public body, the Risk Management Authority (RMA). The authority will be a centre of expertise in the fields of risk assessment and risk m…
20 Nov 2002 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-22241 by Mr Jim Wallace on 6 February 2002, what the results were of its consultation relating to future changes to the discount rate.
Answer · Jim Wallace: The planned consultation paper relating to future changes to the discount rate has not yet been issued. The Executive has postponed this so that it might form part of wider consultations on damages, taking account of recent developments, that we plan to carry…
20 Nov 2002 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what the names and addresses are of each recipient of payments made under the Business Growth Fund.
Answer · Iain Gray: This is an operational matter for the Enterprise Networks.
20 Nov 2002 · General Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what consideration it is giving to amending the criminal law to permit criminal proceedings to be brought against persons previously acquitted of serious criminal charges where compelling new evidence has become available.
Answer · Jim Wallace: I refer the member to the answer given to question S1W-27759 on 15 August 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/…
15 Nov 2002 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive in how many sheriffdoms the sheriff principal requires to be provided with a list of all outstanding cases awaiting the issue of a judgement by a sheriff.
Answer · Jim Wallace: The practice of requiring these figures applies in every sheriffdom.
15 Nov 2002 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many cases are currently at avi'andum in each sheriff court district.
Answer · Jim Wallace: This information is provided in the following table.<TABLE BORDER CELLSPACING=1 CELLPADDING=2 WIDTH=501><TR><TD WIDTH="44%" VALIGN="TOP" COLSPAN=2 HEIGHT=16><P>Grampian, Highland and Islands</TD><TD WIDTH="56%" VALIGN="TOP" COLSPAN=2 HEIGHT=16><P>South Strath…
15 Nov 2002 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what the average length of time is during which civil actions currently remain at avi'andum in each sheriff court district.
Answer · Jim Wallace: It is not possible to provide meaningful figures for all sheriff court districts. Figures throughout the year will vary according to the volume of business and the complexity of cases. The availability of part-time sheriffs is also a factor in securing writin…
13 Nov 2002 · General Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how it ensures that regional selective assistance funding contributes to its overall objectives of sustainability and closing the opportunity gap.
Answer · Lewis Macdonald: Regional Selective Assistance (RSA) plays a key role in meeting the Executive's commitment to closing the opportunity gap by helping to create and sustain jobs in the assisted areas of Scotland, thereby addressing areas of relatively high disadvantage and une…
7 Nov 2002 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-30462 by Ross Finnie on 28 October 2002, whether it will list the names and farm addresses of each recipient of the payments of over #100,000 made to agricultural producers.
Answer · Ross Finnie: Information concerning the amounts paid to individual farmers is protected by the law of confidentiality and the Data Protection Act and cannot be disclosed.
28 Oct 2002 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-30462 by Ross Finnie on 28 October 2002, how many of the 471 payments over #100,000 made to agricultural producers were in the bands (a) #100,001-#150,000, (b) #150,001-#200,000, (c) #200,001-#250,000, (d) #250,001-#300,000, (e) #300,001-#350,000, (f…
Answer · Ross Finnie: The information is detailed in the table:<TABLE BORDER CELLSPACING=1 CELLPADDING=7 WIDTH=349><TR><TD WIDTH="46%" VALIGN="TOP"><P>Level Of Payment</TD><TD WIDTH="54%" VALIGN="TOP"><P>Total Number of Payments</TD></TR><TR><TD WIDTH="46%" VALIGN="TOP"><P> £100,0…
9 Oct 2002 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-29955 by Ross Finnie on 9 October 2002, how many of the 1,970 payments to agricultural producers were (a) less than #20,000, (b) (i) #20,001 to #30,000, (ii) #30,001 to #40,000, (iii) #40,001 to #50,000, (iv) #50,001 to #60,000, (v) #60,001 to #70,00…
Answer · Ross Finnie: The information is detailed in the following table:<TABLE BORDER CELLSPACING=1 CELLPADDING=7 WIDTH=311><TR><TD WIDTH="42%" VALIGN="TOP"><P>Level of Payment</TD><TD WIDTH="58%" VALIGN="TOP"><P>Total Number of Payments</TD></TR><TR><TD WIDTH="42%" VALIGN="TOP">…
26 Sep 2002 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what assessment it has made of any impact of increased costs of public, environmental and employers' liability insurance premiums on small- and medium-si'ed enterprises; what information it holds on the incidence of such enterprises being unable to secure such insurance cover at an affor…
Answer · Iain Gray: The Scottish Executive has received a number of case studies, illustrating the possible impact of increased business insurance premiums, particularly Employers Liability Compulsory Insurance, and, in some instances, difficulty in securing cover has been ident…
26 Sep 2002 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will list the number of recipients receiving public subsidy under Common Agricultural Policy schemes shown in bands of under #10,000, between (a) #10,001 and #20,000, (b) #20,001 and #30,000 (c) #30,001 and #40,000, (d) #40,001 and #50,000 and (e) over #50,001 and #100,000 and …
Answer · Ross Finnie: The number of recipients receiving public subsidy under the main Common Agricultural Policy schemes according to the following bands for the 1998 to 2002 financial years are as follows:<TABLE BORDER CELLSPACING=1 CELLPADDING=7 WIDTH=368><TR><TD WIDTH="28%" VA…
25 Sep 2002 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what information it holds on the amount of payments made to agricultural producers in compensation for the effects of foot-and-mouth disease.
Answer · Ross Finnie: A total of 1,970 payments amounting to £177,033,102 were made to producers in Scotland by way of compensation for the loss of their animals culled due to foot-and-mouth disease.<P>The Livestock Welfare Disposal Scheme and the Light Lamb Scheme paid out £13,05…
25 Sep 2002 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what information it holds on the amount of payments made to agricultural producers in compensation for the effects of BSE.
Answer · Ross Finnie: The information requested is not held centrally. BSE is a notifiable disease and cases are required to be notified to the Divisional Veterinary Manager at the local Animal Health Divisional Office of the State Veterinary Service, which operates throughout Gre…
25 Sep 2002 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what information it holds on increases in the net worth of agricultural producers from 1992 to date.
Answer · Ross Finnie: The Scottish Executive publishes figures on the net worth of Scottish agriculture each year in the <I>Economic Report on Scottish Agriculture</I> (ERSA). The 2002 edition contains annual data back to 1993 (the 1992 figures can be found in the 2001 edition of …