Mr Brian Monteith

28 Jun 2000 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what its policy is with regard to the wearing of school uniforms.

Answer · Peter Peacock: I refer the Member to the answer I gave to Question number S1W-8312.

28 Jun 2000 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether the incorporation of the European Convention on Human Rights into Scots law will have any effect on national or individual schools' policies on the wearing of school uniforms.

Answer · Peter Peacock: There is no national requirement for uniforms to be worn. That is a matter for head teachers, usually in negotiation with parents, parent representative bodies and pupils. However, the Executive believes that the positive effects of school uniform are such th…

1 Jun 2000 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to provide free admission to galleries and museums for those aged 60 years and over.

Answer · Rhona Brankin: The National Galleries of Scotland do not charge for admission to their permanent exhibitions. The Scottish Executive's financial plans for future years include provision for £2 million a year to enable the Board of Trustees of the National Museums of Scotlan…

1 Jun 2000 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many posts in the Scottish Executive, including its agencies, have been created in or transferred to Tayside since 6 May 1999.

Answer · Jack McConnell: The Scottish Executive and its agencies currently have 763 staff in the three local authority areas covering Tayside. No additional permanent posts have been created in or transferred to Tayside since 6 May 1999.<P ALIGN="JUSTIFY">The Executive's policy on lo…

31 May 2000 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will list all the task forces, working groups, review groups, action groups and similar committees established by the Minister for Children and Education and his deputy ministers since 6 May 1999 and when each group is expected to publish its report.

Answer · Sam Galbraith: Four such groups have been established since 6 May 1999:<P>National Cultural Strategy Focus Group (set up July 1999); Cultural Strategy to be published soon.<P>Digital Scotland Task Force (set up October 1999); Report published on 22 May 2000.<P>The Gaelic Or…

24 May 2000 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether every Scottish school receives a visit from a school nurse and, if so, how often this happens.

Answer · Susan Deacon: The School Health Service is responsible for providing support for pupils with health care needs including the promotion of the physical, mental and social wellbeing of children within the school setting.<P ALIGN="JUSTIFY">Every school has a named school nurs…

18 May 2000 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what are the average waiting times for extraction of wisdom teeth in each health board area in each of the past three years.

Answer · Susan Deacon: Patients requiring the extraction of wisdom teeth can be treated by a General Dental Practitioner, as an outpatient or as a day case/inpatient. Waiting times information for specific treatment carried out by General Dental Practitioners or at outpatient clini…

12 May 2000 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will make representations to Her Majesty's Government or the European Commission regarding the impact on the Scotch whisky industry of the proposed EU Water Framework Directive.

Answer · Sarah Boyack: The Scottish Executive has been fully involved in the development of the UK's negotiating position on the proposed directive. In this process, the Executive has taken full account of concerns expressed by the Scotch whisky distilling industry about the direct…

12 May 2000 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will make representations to the Scottish Football Association requesting that it considers what action can be taken, in co-operation with the owners of the Roman Camp Hotel, to ensure that the significance of Callander as the birthplace of association football is celebrated.

Answer · Rhona Brankin: No. I understand that the SFA Museum Trust is already aware of the alleged discovery at Callander.

27 Apr 2000 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will publish its timetable for the completion of the proposed new Kincardine Bridge, including time required for any necessary planning permission and for construction.

Answer · Sarah Boyack: Following completion of the preliminary design stage, I expect to be able to publish draft orders for the new crossing in spring 2001. Thereafter, progress will be dependent on public reaction to the proposals and the availability of funding.

10 Apr 2000 · SPCB Written Question

To ask the Presiding Officer whether consideration has been given to any effects of the construction of the Scottish Parliament on third party buildings in the immediate vicinity of the project, and in particular on the Palace of Holyroodhouse; whether any liability for any collateral damage has been established, and …

Answer · David Steel: It is standard practice for structural engineers involved in major construction projects to consider any effect on surrounding areas. The structural engineers for the Holyrood Project are monitoring areas within a radius of 1 kilometre of the site. The record…

15 Mar 2000 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-4737 by Ms Wendy Alexander on 14 March 2000, whether any type of "stable and secure background for the bringing up of children" such as that provided by (a) a married couple, (b) an unmarried heterosexual couple, (c) a gay male couple, (d) a lesbian …

Answer · Wendy Alexander: The objective of the Executive is to avoid differentiating between children on grounds of their family arrangements.

15 Mar 2000 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-4737 by Ms Wendy Alexander on 14 March 2000, whether it will define what it means by "stable and secure background for the bringing up of children".

Answer · Wendy Alexander: A context in which the relationship between the adult or adults and the child or children in the family unit is of a constant nature and one which provides a safe and happy environment for the child or children to grow up in.

6 Mar 2000 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will publish (a) the brief for Development of A Sex Advice Service with "Off the Record", Grampian Health Board's successful bid to the Innovation Fund for Children's Services and (b) details of the criteria used by the Panel to decide which bids were successful.

Answer · Susan Deacon: The aim of the Innovation Fund for Children's Services is to develop innovative approaches to child health services and to encourage the development of combined and integrated services addressing inequalities in health and care with an emphasis on inter-agenc…

1 Mar 2000 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it or sportscotland intends to make any further funding available for the Hampden rescue package; if so, which departmental budgets it will find its contribution from, and how much of the total of any extra public funding being made available will be used to pay (a) legal, account…

Answer · Sam Galbraith: I apologise for not replying earlier. I have now written to Mr Monteith.

25 Feb 2000 · SPCB Written Question

To ask the Presiding Officer whether the architects' fee for the Holyrood Project is a fixed fee or whether it will be calculated as a percentage of the final cost of the project and what the current estimate of that fee is.

Answer · David Steel: The architects of the Holyrood Project are employed through the Royal Institute of British Architects Standard Conditions of Engagement (1995). The fee for their work is based upon these conditions and is a percentage of the cost of construction only. It is i…

25 Feb 2000 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether the phrase "stable family life", contained within its duties of councils section in the proposed Ethical Standards in Pubic Life Bill, includes children living with (a) a married couple; (b) an unmarried heterosexual couple; (c) a gay male couple; (d) a lesbian couple; (e) a lone …

Answer · Wendy Alexander: The term &quot;stable family life&quot; is an inclusive one which reflects the diversity of family composition in Scotland today and, as the First Minister made clear in his statement in the chamber on this matter, marriage is an important part of the mix tha…

3 Feb 2000 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether, in the light of the report by the Education, Culture and Sport Committee criticising the administration of Scottish Opera under its then General Director, Ruth Macken'ie, it retains confidence in her as a "Champion for Change".

Answer · Frank McAveety: Ruth Mackenzie resigned as a Champion for Change when she took up appointment as a Special Adviser with the Department of Culture Media and Sport in November&nbsp;1999.

1 Feb 2000 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether the proposed new guidelines in relation to section 2A of the Local Government Act 1986 will apply to Scotland's remaining self-governing school, St Mary's Episcopal Primary School in Dunblane.

Answer · Peter Peacock: The working group set up to review the curriculum guidelines in the light of the repeal of section 2A of the Local Government Act 1986 recommended that the Executive ensure that existing and new materials should impact on the practices of all schools, not jus…

1 Feb 2000 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether the proposed new guidelines in relation to section 2A of the Local Government Act 1986 will apply to all grant-aided schools, including Jordanhill, Donaldson's and Harmeny schools.

Answer · Peter Peacock: The new working group, which Mr Sam Galbraith announced on 10 February (PQ S1W-4293), will address the issue.

1 Feb 2000 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether section 2A of the Local Government Act 1986 applies to Scotland's remaining self-governing school, St Mary's Episcopal Primary School in Dunblane.

Answer · Peter Peacock: This legislation does not apply to St Mary's Episcopal Primary School.

1 Feb 2000 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether section 2A of the Local Government Act 1986 applies to all grant-aided schools including Jordanhill, Donaldson's and Harmeny schools.

Answer · Peter Peacock: Section 2A does not apply in general to grant-aided schools but does apply to all special schools including those that are grant-aided. Section 2A therefore applies to Donaldson's and Harmeny schools but not to Jordanhill School.

26 Jan 2000 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether any Ministers plan to visit St Mary's Episcopal Primary School in Dunblane to discuss the effects of the abolition of self-governing status for schools during the parliamentary stages of the Standards in Scotland's Schools etc. Bill.

Answer · Peter Peacock: We have no plans to do so.

26 Jan 2000 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will extend the consultation period on the Ethical Standards in Public Life (Scotland) Bill for a further month.

Answer · Frank McAveety: No. The consultation period on the Ethical Standards in Public Life etc. (Scotland) Bill ran from 18 November 1999 until 14 January 2000. Over 6,500 copies of the paper were sent out. In addition, the Bill appeared on the Scottish Executive web site. There we…

18 Jan 2000 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what would be the estimated cost to Scottish public authorities of classifying dyslexia as a disability.

Answer · Sam Galbraith: Such information has not been collected. The classification of disabilities is a reserved matter.

12 Jan 2000 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Executive when the Deputy Minister for Culture and Sport last met representatives of the Scottish Rugby Union and what issues were discussed.

Answer · Rhona Brankin: I refer Mr Monteith to the answer I gave him on Tuesday 7 December 1999.

7 Jan 2000 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive to detail the budget set aside to cover the costs of its National Cultural Strategy consultation process, including for the publication of documents and holding of meetings.

Answer · Rhona Brankin: Costs incurred to date on consultation on the National Cultural Strategy amount to £51,000.

23 Dec 1999 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether any estimates have been made, and if so what they are, of the affect on student access to higher education of recommendation 40 of the Independent Committee of Inquiry into Student Finance.

Answer · Henry McLeish: I refer Mr Monteith to my answer to his question S1W-3521.

23 Dec 1999 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether any estimates have been made, and if so what they are, of the affect on student access to higher education of recommendation 35 of the Independent Committee of Inquiry into Student Finance.

Answer · Henry McLeish: I refer Mr Monteith to my answer to his question S1W-3521.

23 Dec 1999 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether any estimates have been made, and if so what they are, of the affect on student access to higher education of recommendation 33 of the Independent Committee of Inquiry into Student Finance.

Answer · Henry McLeish: I refer Mr Monteith to my answer to his question S1W-3521.