Parliamentary questions
Bristow Muldoon
125 questions tabled in the Scottish Parliament, most recent first.
8 Feb 2001 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what initiatives it plans to promote European Car Free Day 2001.
Answer · Sarah Boyack: I will be launching a Scottish Travel Awareness Campaign in May, which will aim to increase the number of journeys made by walking, cycling and public transport and to encourage more sensible use of the car. We are currently in discussion with transport opera…
1 Feb 2001 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what additional resources will be made available to enable local authorities to carry out their responsibilities under the new statutory regime for contaminated land.
Answer · Sam Galbraith: A great deal of polluted land has been inherited from past generations when little or no consideration was given to the impact of our actions on the environment. We now face the prospect of removing this undesirable legacy.<FONT FACE="Arial" SIZE=2><P>We have…
27 Nov 2000 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive when it will start its public consultation on its priorities for passenger railways in Scotland in advance of issuing to the Strategic Rail Authority its directions and guidance for the renewal of the Scottish passenger rail franchise.
Answer · Sarah Boyack: The Scottish Executive's consultation paper <I>Strategic Priorities for Scotland's Passenger Railway</I> is published today. Copies are being sent to all relevant bodies and organisations.<FONT FACE="Arial" SIZE=2><P>I am placing a copy in the Parliament's Re…
30 Oct 2000 · First Minister's Question
To ask the First Minister what steps have been taken to help people suffering from anti-social neighbours.
Answer · Henry McLeish: We have recently announced a £250,000 package of measures designed to tackle the problem of nuisance neighbours, including the creation of a Sociable Neighbourhood National Co-ordinator, who will promote good practice across Scotland, and work with councils a…
1 Sep 2000 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-6666 by Sarah Boyack on 26 May 2000, how many pre-habitation water samples did each water authority carry out in the most recent year for which figures are available and what was the total number of domestic home completions in each water authority a…
Answer · Sarah Boyack: It has not been normal practice for the water authorities to take water samples when carrying out byelaw inspections of new domestic properties. Historically, only a visual inspection has been carried out on a sample of new domestic properties. More detailed …
1 Sep 2000 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-6666 by Sarah Boyack on 23 May 2000, when the survey being carried out by the Scottish Centre for Infection and Environmental Health on the prevalence of lead solder in new homes will be completed; when it will announce its response to this survey an…
Answer · Sarah Boyack: The results of the survey will be available by November 2000. The Executive will respond to the conclusions as a matter of urgency and is currently is exploring the options for reducing the risk to health from the illegal use of lead solder in new properties.
31 Aug 2000 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it intends to review the legislation concerning contractors who contravene existing laws on the use of lead solder on plumbing supplying drinking water.
Answer · Sarah Boyack: The Scottish Executive is exploring the options for tightening up the legislation concerned with the illegal use of lead solder on domestic water supply systems. The Executive is currently awaiting the results of a study into the extent of the problem.
31 Aug 2000 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many homes built since lead solder was banned from use on plumbing supplying drinking water have since been found to have excessive levels of lead in drinking water due to the use of lead solder.
Answer · Sarah Boyack: Data showing the number of homes with excessive lead levels in their drinking water, that were built since lead solder was banned from use on domestic plumbing systems in 1987, is not available. To try and establish the scale of the problem, the Scottish Exec…
31 Aug 2000 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many prosecutions have arisen from contractors using lead solder on plumbing supplying drinking water.
Answer · Sarah Boyack: No prosecutions have arisen from contractors using lead solder on domestic water supply systems.
31 Aug 2000 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it intends to ban the use of lead solder on all domestic plumbing services.
Answer · Sarah Boyack: The use of lead solder for domestic water supply systems is already illegal. The Scottish Executive is exploring the options for banning lead solder in other domestic plumbing services such as central heating systems.
24 May 2000 · General Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what impact it anticipates the recently announced additional resources for the National Health Service will have on delayed discharges from hospitals.
Answer · Iain Gray: I expect a positive impact in those cases where finance is a factor contributing to the delayed discharge.
22 May 2000 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it plans to review Scottish Office Home and Health Department Circular 1992 (GEN) 9 and, in particular, whether it will amend this circular to allow the voluntary involvement of informed young people in controlled and supervised test purchases of tobacco, given that this is curren…
Answer · Susan Deacon: We have no such plans. The particular aspect of the guidance referred to is a Crown Office matter and their view, which has not been arrived at lightly, remains as stated in the guidance. We are, however, working closely with CoSLA, ACPO(S) and trading standa…
18 May 2000 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it intends to review building regulations on dwellings with a view to improving the thermal efficiency of new dwellings.
Answer · Sarah Boyack: Building regulations are presently being considered for amendment, to ensure that effective energy efficiency measures are incorporated into new buildings. It is the intention to issue a consultation document in July on proposed changes to Part J, <I>Conserva…
18 May 2000 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it intends to review the guidance given to Scottish Homes and local authorities in order to ensure that all homes built with an element of public funding are built to a "lifetime" standard.
Answer · Jackie Baillie: Scottish Homes has recently published design guidance entitled <I>Housing For Varying Needs</I> which endorses barrier-free design as the preferred standard for mainstream housing. Scottish Ministers have agreed that, where possible, all new housing funded by…
18 May 2000 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it intends to review the Scottish Homes definition of barrier-free housing.
Answer · Jackie Baillie: Scottish Homes design guidance <I>Housing For Varying Needs</I> includes advice on barrier-free design standards. This guidance was published in 1998 following wide-ranging consultations with interested parties and we have no plans, at present, to ask Scottis…
18 May 2000 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has any plans to require local authorities to specify that only transport with fitted seatbelts can be used on contracted services conveying pupils to or from school.
Answer · Peter Peacock: Contracts for the provision of school transport are matters for the local authorities and there are no plans for the Executive to make specific requirements relating to the fitment of seat belts. It is open to local authorities, as a matter of their own polic…
18 May 2000 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has any plans to introduce legislation to improve the rights of tenants in the private rented housing sector in relation to maintenance and improvement of property.
Answer · Wendy Alexander: I have no plans at present to introduce new legislation in this regard, beyond the HMO licensing scheme. Private sector landlords are currently required, by law, to maintain their property wind and water tight and in good tenantable condition. They must also …
18 May 2000 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has any plans to introduce legally binding tenancy agreements with rights similar to those of a Secure Tenancy Agreement for tenants in the private rented sector.
Answer · Wendy Alexander: Private sector landlords generally let property under an assured tenancy, where the tenant cannot be evicted without a court order, a spouse or partner can succeed to the tenancy and the tenant has the right to assign and sub-let the property.<P>Existing legi…
18 May 2000 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has any plans to introduce legislation to regulate the level of rents in the private rented housing sector.
Answer · Wendy Alexander: Rents for tenancies which pre-date 2 January 1989 are regulated by the provisions of the Rent (Scotland) Act 1984. If either the tenant or the landlord request a determination, Rent Officers decide what figure is fair for the particular property, and the rent…
16 Feb 2000 · General Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many people in Scotland will benefit from the forthcoming uprating of the National Minimum Wage.
Answer · Henry McLeish: The Low Pay Commission published a recent report on this reserved issue. They estimate that some 1.5 million people across the United Kingdom stand to gain from the minimum wage, but do not analyse this by country or region. However, Office for National Stati…
14 Jan 2000 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it is considering instructing or encouraging all public sector organisations to source suppliers from "Constructionline" registered companies.
Answer · Jack McConnell: The Scottish Executive actively encourages purchasers in its departments and executive agencies, and in non-departmental public bodies and National Health Service organisations in Scotland, to use the database of Constructionline registered companies when sou…
29 Sep 1999 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what is the number of haemophiliacs in Scotland identified as carrying the Hepatitis C virus as a result of contaminated blood products, and what action it intends to take with regard to a compensation programme.
Answer · Susan Deacon: We do not hold the information requested centrally. I met the Haemophilia Society last month to hear the concerns of those affected and am considering the issues they raised. Once our enquiries are complete, I shall write to you with further information.
20 Aug 1999 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it intends to review the practice of witness citations being issued routinely by police officers on behalf of Procurator Fiscals.
Answer · Jim Wallace: A successful postal citation pilot has already been carried out in Ayr and Kilmarnock which has demonstrated that issuing citations by post can be effective. A more extensive pilot is being conducted in Glasgow to check that postal citation works satisfactori…
20 Aug 1999 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to improve the co-ordination between the health service and local authority social work services in providing long term community care and health services.
Answer · Susan Deacon: The appointment of my colleague Iain Gray as Deputy Minister for Community Care covering both health and social work responsibilities is a clear signal that the Scottish Executive is giving the need for co-ordination and joint working a very high priority. We…
20 Aug 1999 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it intends to review the practice of automatically excluding women over 65 from receiving invitations for breast cancer screening.
Answer · Susan Deacon: The Scottish Executive is firmly committed to the Breast Screening Programme. At present, women aged 50-64 are invited every 3 years and women aged over 64 can attend on request, either through their General Practitioner or by calling their local breast …
20 Aug 1999 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it intends to review the regulations which set a maximum age of 60 for membership of children's panels.
Answer · Sam Galbraith: I am not persuaded at this stage that we should change the upper age limit for Children's Panel members. I will review this in the light of the current recruitment campaign. This was launched on 6 September and seeks to increase the number of male members.
20 Aug 1999 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to introduce new measures to screen for cardiac problems in young people.
Answer · Susan Deacon: The UK National Screening Committee advises Health Ministers about policy on proposals for new national screening services. It has recently considered the case for screening for hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, and offered advice to all the UK Health Departments.…
20 Aug 1999 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what records it has of the number of cardiac deaths of people aged under 25 years in 1996, 1997 and 1998.
Answer · Susan Deacon: The table presents summary data on deaths from heart disease in those aged under 25, extracted from the Annual Reports of the Registrar General for Scotland for the years in question:<FONT FACE="Arial" SIZE=2><TABLE BORDER CELLSPACING=1 CELLPADDING=2 WIDTH=51…
17 Aug 1999 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it plans to allocate resources to the development of youth football, and if so, how it intends to allocate these resources.
Answer · Rhona Brankin: The Scottish Executive plans to contribute £1 million towards the development of a network of football academies. The academies will seek to attract the most talented youngsters from local communities with the aim of growing a future generation of Scottish st…
13 Aug 1999 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what the average rent was per household in 1997/8 for a) each local authority, and b) each housing association with more than 1000 units.
Answer · Wendy Alexander: The information requested is shown in the table below.<B><P ALIGN="JUSTIFY"></B><TABLE CELLSPACING=0 BORDER=0 CELLPADDING=7 WIDTH=593><TR><TD WIDTH="31%" VALIGN="TOP"><B><P ALIGN="JUSTIFY">Local Authority</B></TD><TD WIDTH="19%" VALIGN="TOP"><B><FONT SIZE=2><…