Parliamentary questions

Mr Brian Monteith

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

1 Nov 2000 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-9603 by Henry McLeish on 19 September 2000, when Ministers next intend to meet representatives of the Scottish Further Education Unit and what issues will be discussed.

Answer · Wendy Alexander: There are currently no plans for Ministers to meet formally with representatives of the Scottish Further Education Unit. However, Alasdair Morrison, Deputy Minister for Enterprise, Lifelong Learning and Gaelic is planning to attend SFEU's National Conference,…

1 Nov 2000 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how much the Scottish Arts Council spent per annum in the Stirling local authority area in the last three years and how this compares with the average amount per local authority area.

Answer · Allan Wilson: The Scottish Arts Council spending in the Stirling local authority area in the years in question was:<TABLE BORDER CELLSPACING=1 CELLPADDING=7 WIDTH=616><TR><TD WIDTH="35%" VALIGN="TOP"> </TD><TD WIDTH="23%" VALIGN="TOP"><P ALIGN="CE…

1 Nov 2000 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Executive when the Deputy Minister for Sport and Culture next proposes to meet representatives of the Scottish Arts Council and what issues are likely to be discussed.

Answer · Allan Wilson: I plan to meet representatives of the organisations which come within my portfolio, including the Scottish Arts Council, in the near future and will discuss with them a wide range of current issues.

24 Oct 2000 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it is funding any research into the effectiveness of Modafinil for providing relief to sufferers of sleep apnoea.

Answer · Susan Deacon: Although the Chief Scientist Office (CSO) is currently funding one study on sleep apnoea, it does not specifically address the effectiveness of Modafinil in providing relief to sufferers. CSO would be pleased to receive research applications on this is…

24 Oct 2000 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will make the drug Modafinil available to sufferers of sleep apnoea.

Answer · Susan Deacon: Modafinil is authorised for the treatment of narcolepsy, a condition associated with attacks of daytime sleep. It is not authorised for the treatment of sleep apnoea.The use of medicines outside the terms of their marketing author…

24 Oct 2000 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many publicly funded schools have met or exceeded their examination targets as set by the Scottish Executive in the last three years.

Answer · Jack McConnell: Schools have set their own targets in agreement with local authorities for the three-year period from 1998-2001. The information as requested is not available; targets are not set annually and information showing progress towards schools' three-year targets i…

13 Oct 2000 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether there have been any studies looking at any possible connection between water fluoridation and thickening of the blood or any other possible side effects and what those studies found.

Answer · Susan Deacon: The report of the NHS Centre for Reviews and Dissemination at York University was published on 6 October. Over 200 individual studies of fluoridation were reviewed, the most comprehensive review ever, but I understand none of the studies considered thickening…

13 Oct 2000 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1O-2201 by Susan Deacon on 7 September 2000, which organisations it has consulted concerning the possible effects of its proposals for water fluoridation.

Answer · Susan Deacon: A wide-ranging consultation document on children's oral health will be issued in the New Year. This will include options for fluoridation of the public water supply as well as other options such as fluoridated drinks and fluoride tablets. It will be circulate…

13 Oct 2000 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it intends to abolish compulsory competitive tendering for support services in the NHS in Scotland.

Answer · Malcolm Chisholm: The Scottish Health Plan Our National Health: A plan for action, a plan for change, published on 14 December, states that the NHS should secure the provision of support services which offer best value and not just the lowest cost. The plan indic…

12 Oct 2000 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it plans to extend the provision of free fruit and vegetables for schoolchildren aged 3 to 12 following pilot projects in Edinburgh and Glasgow and how much it estimates such a scheme would cost.

Answer · Susan Deacon: These local projects target the specific needs of the areas in which they operate. They reflect the approach being pursued by the Scottish Executive, in its drive to encourage an increase in children's consumption of fruit and vegetables. The Executive's rece…

10 Oct 2000 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many road accidents have occurred in the last five years on the Strathblane to Aberfoyle stretch of the A81.

Answer · Sarah Boyack: Data about injury road accidents are collected by the police and reported to the Scottish Executive using the STATS 19 statistical report form. These returns cover only road accidents in which one or more people were injured: they do not cover damage only acc…

6 Oct 2000 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what estimated additional costs it expects to be incurred by the higher education sector in relation to unfilled courses, unlet student residences and any additional administrative work arising from the problems with the issue of this year's exam results.

Answer · Henry McLeish: The admissions process is nearing completion and UCAS figures indicate that the numbers of acceptances to Scottish institutions is 32,018, up 2.6% on the same time last year. No estimates of the costs requested are available centrally. No doubt institutions w…

4 Oct 2000 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what the cost was of the publication, launch and circulation of Improving Leadership in Scottish Schools.

Answer · Sam Galbraith: The cost of publication, launch and circulation of 5,000 copies of Improving Leadership in Scottish Schools was £33,546.85, i.e. a unit cost of £6.70.

21 Sep 2000 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-9480 by Mr Jack McConnell on 20 September 2000, why it is providing facilities to its staff who smoke at work in the form of designated areas for smoking when its policy is to discourage smoking due to its detrimental effects on health.

Answer · Jack McConnell: As my earlier reply made clear, the main thrust of the Scottish Executive's policy is to discourage smoking due to its detrimental effects on health. Non-smoking is the norm. Some staff may, however, wish to smoke so the policy offers a common sense approach …

20 Sep 2000 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-8592 by Rhona Brankin on 24 July 2000, when it decided to introduce charges for Stirling residents wishing to park on the esplanade at Stirling Castle and how much revenue this is expected to generate on an annual basis.

Answer · Rhona Brankin: I have asked Graeme Munro, Chief Executive of Historic Scotland to respond. His response is as follows:Parking charges on the esplanade for residents of Stirling Old Burgh were introduced on 30 May this year. The number of residents now usi…

6 Sep 2000 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what progress it is making in establishing a national theatre company.

Answer · Rhona Brankin: We announced in the National Cultural Strategy, our intention to conduct a feasibility study on proposals for a national theatre company for Scotland.

5 Sep 2000 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how often Ministers have met representatives of the General Teaching Council for Scotland since 1 June 1999, on what dates these meetings took place and what issues were discussed.

Answer · Peter Peacock: In response to requests made by the General Teaching Council for Scotland, formal meetings have taken place on two occasions with Education Ministers since 1 June 1999. The meetings were held on 6 September 1999 and 25 April 2000. The purpose of the meetings …

5 Sep 2000 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how often Ministers have met representatives of the Ancient Monuments Board for Scotland since 1 June 1999, on what dates these meetings took place and what issues were discussed.

Answer · Rhona Brankin: Scottish Ministers have met representatives of the Ancient Monuments Board for Scotland once since 1 June 1999. I met the bard on 22 November 1999 when the following issues were discussed:<UL><LI>the importance of the built heritage in…

5 Sep 2000 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how often Ministers have met representatives of the Royal Commission on the Ancient and Historical Monuments of Scotland since 1 June 1999, on what dates these meetings took place and what issues were discussed.

Answer · Rhona Brankin: Scottish Ministers have met representatives of the Royal Commission on the Ancient and Historical Monuments of Scotland once since 1 June 1999. I met the Chairman and the Secretary of the Royal Commission during a visit I made to the Commission's offices in E…

5 Sep 2000 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how often Ministers have met representatives of the Scottish Council for Educational Technology since 1 June 1999, on what dates these meetings took place and what issues were discussed.

Answer · Sam Galbraith: Peter Peacock, Deputy Minister for Children and Education has met representatives of the former body of the Scottish Council for Educational Technology (SCET) on two occasions.On 9 December 1999 the Minister had a joint meeting with the Boa…

5 Sep 2000 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how often Ministers have met representatives of the Scottish Further Education Unit since 1 June 1999, on what dates these meetings took place and what issues were discussed.

Answer · Henry McLeish: There have been no formal meetings between Ministers and representatives of the Scottish Further Education Unit since 1 June 1999.

5 Sep 2000 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how often Ministers have met representatives of Scottish Screen since 1 June 1999, on what dates these meetings took place and what issues were discussed.

Answer · Rhona Brankin: Since 1 June 1999, five meetings have taken place between Ministers and representatives of Scottish Screen: 5 July and 7 December 1999, 11 April, 16 May and 23 May 2000. Matters discussed included Scottish Screen's Corporate Plan, the proposal for a Scottish …

5 Sep 2000 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how often Ministers have met representatives of the Scottish Consultative Council on the Curriculum since 1 June 1999, on what dates these meetings took place and what issues were discussed.

Answer · Sam Galbraith: Ministers have met with representatives of the former Scottish Consultative Council on the Curriculum (SCCC) on two occasions.On 9 December 1999 Peter Peacock, Deputy Minister for Children and Education had a joint meeting with the Council …

5 Sep 2000 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how often Ministers have met representatives of the Scottish Childcare Board since 1 June 1999, on what dates these meetings took place and what issues were discussed.

Answer · Sam Galbraith: In November 1999 I announced the merger of the Scottish Childcare Board (SCB) and the Early Years Education Forum. The new Scottish Early Education and Childcare Forum provides an integrated source of advice on these important and inter-related services.<P AL…

5 Sep 2000 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how often Ministers have met representatives of the National Museums of Scotland since 1 June 1999, on what dates these meetings took place and what issues were discussed.

Answer · Rhona Brankin: Ministers have met twice with representatives of the National Museums of Scotland, on 21 September 1999 and 12 June 2000, to discuss development plans for the future and funding provided by the Executive.

5 Sep 2000 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how often Ministers have met representatives of the National Library of Scotland since 1 June 1999, on what dates these meetings took place and what issues were discussed.

Answer · Rhona Brankin: Ministers met representatives of the National Library of Scotland on two occasions, on 3 June 1999 and 22 June 2000, to discuss development plans for the future and funding provided by the Executive.

5 Sep 2000 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how often Ministers have met representatives of the National Galleries of Scotland since 1 June 1999, on what dates these meetings took place and what issues were discussed.

Answer · Rhona Brankin: Ministers have met twice with representatives of the National Galleries of Scotland, on 2 August 1999 and 18 July 2000, to discuss development plans for the future and funding provided by the Executive.

5 Sep 2000 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how often Ministers have met representatives of Community Learning Scotland since 1 June 1999, on what dates these meetings took place and what issues were discussed.

Answer · Peter Peacock: I have formally met representatives of Community Learning Scotland (CLS) on three occasions since 1 June 1999.On 1 October last year I attended a Board meeting to discuss a range of issues on community learning.

5 Sep 2000 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how often Ministers have met representatives of sportscotland since 1 June 1999, on what dates these meetings took place and what issues were discussed.

Answer · Sam Galbraith: The following table provides the information requested.MEETINGS BETWEEN THE SCOTTISH EXECUTIVE MINISTERS AND SPORTSCOTLAND:<TABLE BORDER CELLSPACING=1 CELLPADDING=7 WIDTH=616><TR><TD WIDTH="20%" VALIGN="TOP">Date</TD><TD WIDTH="14…

5 Sep 2000 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how often Ministers have met representatives of the Scottish Qualifications Authority since 1 June 1999, on what dates these meetings took place and what issues were discussed.

Answer · Henry McLeish: I met with the Chairman and Chief Executive of the SQA on 6 March 2000 when a range of issues were discussed, including approval of SQA's Corporate Plan, financial and IT matters, qualifications developments, international activities and vacancies in board ap…