Parliamentary questions

Mr Brian Monteith

1,042 questions tabled in the Scottish Parliament, most recent first.

5 Apr 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what consideration it has given to the compatibility of the denial of a place at a Roman Catholic denominational school to a non-Roman Catholic on the grounds of faith with the European Convention on Human Rights.

Answer · Jack McConnell: The arrangements for admission to schools, including priority for places in denominational schools are for local authorities to determine, who have responsibility to ensure that their policies comply with ECHR. I understand that a case is expected to be befor…

5 Apr 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to introduce legislation or any other measures regarding the placement of non-Roman Catholic pupils at Roman Catholic denominational schools.

Answer · Jack McConnell: We have no current plans to change the legislation in this area.

5 Apr 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what action it is taking to encourage football authorities to progress a bid to host the 2005 World Soccer Club Championships.

Answer · Allan Wilson: A decision on whether to bid is a matter for the Scottish Football Association which has already registered an interest in bidding with FIFA. We understand that bids have to be submitted by the end of May 2001. The Scottish Executive is keeping in close touch…

2 Apr 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-14238 by Mr Sam Galbraith on 16 March 2001, from which departmental budgets the additional funding for Scottish Opera in the period from 2000-01 to 2003-04 came.

Answer · Allan Wilson: Additional funding for Scottish Opera in 2000-01 has been met from underspends within the Executive's budget. Funding for the period 2001-02 to 2003-04 will be met from additional resources allocated to the Scottish Arts Council as a result of Spending Review…

30 Mar 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether the Lord Advocate has referred, or intends to refer, under section 33 of the Scotland Act 1998, section 1(1), which establishes a graduate endowment, of the Education (Graduate Endowment and Student Support) (Scotland) (No.2) Bill as passed by the Parliament on 29 March 2001 to th…

Answer · Colin Boyd: No.

27 Mar 2001 · SPCB Written Question

To ask the Presiding Officer whether the Holyrood Building Project will be completed on schedule in 2002, when it is expected that MSPs will begin using the debating chamber at Holyrood and whether comments attributed to Benedetta Tagliabue, as reported in The Scotsman on 27 March 2001, are accurate.

Answer · David Steel: The Convener of the Holyrood Progress Group has confirmed to me that the Holyrood building remains on schedule for completion of construction in December 2002 and should be ready for normal parliamentary business in early 2003. A statement issue…

23 Mar 2001 · SPCB Written Question

To ask the Presiding Officer, further to his answer to question S1W-13921 on 20 March 2001, whether the gla'ing specification set out in the guidelines for physical security has been incorporated into the design of the gla'ing facing Horse Wynd, at the main entrance and of the windows of MSP's offices.

Answer · David Steel: I am advised by the Convener of the Holyrood Progress Group that the glazing at the main entrance to the Holyrood building facing Horse Wynd, and the MSP block office windows, adhere to the Government guidelines for physical security.

23 Mar 2001 · SPCB Written Question

To ask the Presiding Officer, further to his answer to question S1W-13919 on 20 March 2001, what capital budget has been set aside for the new provision of an underwater pumping system in the water features at the new Parliament building at Holyrood.

Answer · David Steel: Provision for the underwater pumping system is included in the capital budget for 'landscaping', which covers improvement works to the area surrounding the Holyrood building.

23 Mar 2001 · SPCB Written Question

To ask the Presiding Officer, further to his answer to question S1W-13919 on 20 March 2001, whether the advice obtained on preventing the colonisation by waterfowl of the water features at the new Parliament building at Holyrood will be made available in the Scottish Parliament Information Centre.

Answer · David Steel: When further advice is obtained and has been considered by the Holyrood Progress Group, I will write to Mr Monteith and place a copy of the letter in the Scottish Parliament Information Centre.

23 Mar 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether the contents of the Primary School Sex and Relationship Education Pack are appropriate for use in teaching nine-year-old primary school pupils.

Answer · Jack McConnell: This resource for teachers contains some materials which may be suitable for use at the right stages of primary school. However, since the pack is designed to assist and inform teachers, and cover the differing educational needs of children at various ages, i…

23 Mar 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many teachers were employed in primary schools in each of the last four years, broken down by local authority area.

Answer · Jack McConnell: The attached table shows the latest information available on the number of full-time equivalent teachers who were employed in publicly funded primary schools in September of each of the years 1996 to 1999 by local authority area. Information on the number of …

23 Mar 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many classroom assistants were employed in primary schools in each of the last four years, broken down by local authority area.

Answer · Jack McConnell: Funding for the classroom assistants initiative was established in 1999 as part of the Excellence Fund. As at April 2001, 2661.69 FTE classroom assistants have been employed in Scottish primary schools. A breakdown of the number of classroom assistants expres…

23 Mar 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-11263 by Mr Tom McCabe on 29 November 2000, when it will provide details on the number of inspired parliamentary questions and whether it will provide this information in response to this parliamentary question rather than by letter.

Answer · Tom McCabe: I refer the Member to the answer given to question S1W-14451.

20 Mar 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-10929 by Mr Jack McConnell on 16 March 2001, how many claims have been submitted to date, and for how much, for additional costs incurred as a result of the 2000 examinations diet, broken down by (a) local authority, (b) further education institution…

Answer · Jack McConnell: As announced in response to question S1W-10929, the Scottish Executive agreed to consider any claims submitted by local authorities concerning additional costs arising from the 2000 examinations diet. In order to minimise the administrative burden on local…

15 Mar 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what consultation exercises the ministers with responsibility for culture and sport have initiated since 1 July 1999.

Answer · Allan Wilson: Consultation on the National Cultural Strategy was launched in August 1999. A consultation on The Development Of A Policy On Architecture For Scotland was launched in September 1999. There has been no other consultation in these areas.

15 Mar 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what consultation exercises the Ministers with responsibility for education have initiated since 1 July 1999.

Answer · Jack McConnell: The consultations initiated by the Minister & Deputy Minister for Children & Education from July 1999 till October 2000:The Review of the General Teaching Council for Scotland;Improving our Schools - Consultation on the Improvement in Scottish E…

14 Mar 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what measures it proposes to take to improve road safety on the A82 between Crianlarich and Tyndrum.

Answer · Sarah Boyack: I refer the member to the answer given to question S1W-14188.

14 Mar 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what measures it proposes to take in the next financial year to improve road safety on the A85 between Lochearnhead and Crianlarich.

Answer · Sarah Boyack: I refer the member to the answer given to question S1W-14188.

14 Mar 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what measures it proposes to take in the next financial year to improve road safety on the Stirling to Lochearnhead stretch of the A84.

Answer · Sarah Boyack: New Operating Companies will be responsible for the trunk road network from 1 April 2001. The Scottish Executive will liaise with the companies regarding schemes to improve road safety on the trunk road network for the forthcoming financial year (2001-02).

14 Mar 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what measures it proposes to take to improve road safety on the Strathblane to Aberfoyle stretch of the A81.

Answer · Sarah Boyack: Local authorities are responsible for road safety on local roads in their areas. The A81 is classified as a local road and decisions on measures to improve road safety on the Strathblane to Aberfoyle stretch of that road are for Stirling Council.

14 Mar 2001 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Executive when it last met representatives of the health service in the Forth Valley Health Board area.

Answer · Malcolm Chisholm: Susan Deacon met with the Chairmen and Chief Executives of Forth Valley Health Board and Forth Valley Acute Hospitals Trust on 5 September 2000. Scottish Executive officials maintain regular contact with the board and the Trust.

6 Mar 2001 · SPCB Written Question

To ask the Presiding Officer which gla'ed areas of the new Parliament building at Holyrood will use security glass able to withstand external explosions or penetration from projectiles, such as rocks or bricks.

Answer · David Steel: Government guidelines exist which set out physical security requirements for the construction of certain "politically sensitive" public buildings. The guidelines include glazing specifications. The Holyrood Project Group has informed me that these h…

6 Mar 2001 · SPCB Written Question

To ask the Presiding Officer how the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body will ensure that the four water features opposite the entrance to the new Parliament building at Holyrood are maintained at a clean and attractive standard and that the growth of algae and discoloration of the surrounding stonework is prevented.

Answer · David Steel: The Convener of the Holyrood Progress Group has informed me that it is intended for the water contained in the "water-feature" pools, at the Parliament buildings' public entrance, to be re-circulated on a regular basis. This process prevents water b…

6 Mar 2001 · SPCB Written Question

To ask the Presiding Officer what measures will be taken to ensure that the four water features opposite the entrance to the new Parliament building at Holyrood will not be occupied by water fowl such as Canadian geese, swans and ducks which currently inhabit St Margaret's Loch in the Queen's Park.

Answer · David Steel: The possibility of wildfowl inhabiting the "water feature" pools at the Parliament buildings' public entrance has been anticipated by the landscape Architects, and is a common problem to be overcome when designing water features. The Holyrood Progre…

1 Mar 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what the value was, in both monetary terms and in terms of number of treatment episodes, of contracts for private medical care purchased by Tayside Health Board or NHS Trusts in its area in each year from 1995-96 to 1999-2000.

Answer · Susan Deacon: This is a matter for Tayside Health Board. The information requested is not held centrally.

1 Mar 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what the value was, in both monetary terms and in terms of number of treatment episodes, of contracts for private medical care purchased by Fife Health Board or NHS Trusts in its area in each year from 1995-96 to 1999-2000.

Answer · Susan Deacon: This is a matter for Fife Health Board. The information requested is not held centrally.

1 Mar 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what the value was, in both monetary terms and in terms of number of treatment episodes, of contracts for private clinical care purchased by Forth Valley Health Board or NHS Trusts in its area in each year from 1995-96 to 1999-2000.

Answer · Susan Deacon: This is a matter for Forth Valley Health Board. The information requested is not held centrally.

16 Feb 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether, prior to coming to a decision on the issue of grant aided funding. it will ask the Special Educational Needs Forum to consider the future funding of the seven grant aided schools for children with severe low incidence disabilities.

Answer · Nicol Stephen: Scottish Ministers are considering the future funding arrangements for the seven grant-aided schools. In the meantime, we have given a commitment to continue the current grant aid arrangements until March 2003. I have met representatives from the seven school…

15 Feb 2001 · SPCB Written Question

To ask the Presiding Officer whether the Holyrood Project Team will consider relocating the proposed parking bays to ensure that disabled people do not have to cross a road to gain entry to the building.

Answer · David Steel: The Convenor of the Holyrood Progress Group has informed me that the six disabled parking bays incorporated in the landscaping proposals are intended to improve access to surrounding areas and tourist attractions as well as to the Parliament. Security conside…

15 Feb 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive which organisations in the Stirling district will lose their relief from water and sewerage charges in the next five years.

Answer · Sam Galbraith: This is a matter for the East of Scotland Water Authority. The information requested is not held centrally.