Des McNulty

8 Jun 2000 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how much of total environment expenditure on capital grants and loans in (a) 1999-2000, (b) 2000-01 and (c) 2001-02 was or will be spent in the area served by (i) the West of Scotland Water Authority; (ii) the East of Scotland Water Authority, and (iii) the North of Scotland Water Authori…

Answer · Sarah Boyack: Virtually all environment capital grants and loans provision accrues to the water authorities in the form of external finance limits (EFLs). Scottish Natural Heritage and the Scottish Environment Protection Agency receive £4.8 million in capital grants each y…

8 Jun 2000 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it plans to use the projected savings shown in table 7.11 of Investing in You to fund other improvements in public transport services in the Strathclyde Passenger Transport Executive area.

Answer · Sarah Boyack: The annual decrease in Special Grant is not a saving. These figures are the actual contracted payments to the Strathclyde Passenger Transport Executive for socially necessary rail services in its area secured through the ScotRail franchise. When calculating t…

2 Jun 2000 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how it is addressing the situation whereby households which contain adults who qualify for disability living allowance (DLA) are eligible for grant assistance under the Warm Deal for Scotland (WDS), but households which contain children who qualify for DLA, but whose parents do not, are n…

Answer · Frank McAveety: I will consider carefully the issue raised and write directly to the member, placing copies of my reply in the Scottish Parliament Information Centre.

30 May 2000 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether a greater emphasis on the rehabilitation of offenders and greater use of alternatives to custody could reduce or reverse the projected year on year growth in the Scottish prison population and, if so, whether it will review its approach to the rehabilitation of offenders and the u…

Answer · Jim Wallace: The emphasis which the Scottish Executive already places on ensuring courts have access to a wide range of alternatives to custody is clearly demonstrated in the increase in funding from £35.4 million in 1998-99 to the £44 million planned for 2001-02. The con…

25 May 2000 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what total and per-capita health expenditure in Greater Glasgow has been over each of the last five years.

Answer · Susan Deacon: Greater Glasgow Health Board has maintained a steady rise in total and per capita revenue expenditure over the last five years.<P ALIGN="JUSTIFY"><TABLE BORDER CELLSPACING=1 CELLPADDING=2 WIDTH=597><TR><TD WIDTH="34%" VALIGN="TOP" HEIGHT=21><P ALIGN="JUSTIFY"…

25 May 2000 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what measures are being taken by the Scottish Legal Aid Board to prevent solicitors from taking out additional court actions in neighbour disputes on behalf of several different members of the same household using legal aid.

Answer · Jim Wallace: The Scottish Legal Aid Board requires solicitors to indicate on an application for civil legal aid whether there are any other interested parties in the case. The board then associates any applications from such parties and ensures that they are considered to…

25 May 2000 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what action it is taking to reduce unemployment by encouraging new business start-ups and by providing support for existing small- and medium-si'ed businesses in West Dunbartonshire, and what impact these efforts are having on business birth and survival rates in West Dunbartonshire.

Answer · Henry McLeish: Wider national economic performance is likely to be the main determinant of trends in small business creation, and employment opportunities, and the prospects for the Scottish economy remain good. However, we have a number of specific initiatives in hand to i…

25 May 2000 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what progress it is making in developing a funding regime for the voluntary sector which reflects ministerial commitment to the introduction of three-year funding regimes as set out in its document The Scottish Compact.

Answer · Jackie Baillie: <I><FONT FACE="Arial">The Scottish Compact</I> sets out the principles underpinning the relationship between government and the voluntary sector in Scotland. The Executive has a commitment to work with other funders to create a more stable funding environment…

25 May 2000 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-3721 by Ms Wendy Alexander on 27 January 2000, whether West Dunbartonshire can expect to benefit from the full range of support measures which the Executive has put in place to assist Glasgow's regeneration in the light of the economic and social pro…

Answer · Jackie Baillie: The Executive recognises that there is no single easy solution to regeneration and it will take long-term concentrated action to tackle social injustice all across Scotland. We have a range of actions in place that West Dunbartonshire, like Glasgow, benefits …

25 May 2000 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what detoxification facilities are currently available for drug dependent young mothers in the Greater Glasgow area, and what measures are being taken to make additional facilities available to assist drug dependent young mothers and their children.

Answer · Angus MacKay: There are several specific detoxification services available to drug dependant young mothers in Glasgow.<P ALIGN="JUSTIFY">There are two residential units in Glasgow with specific services for young mothers, and the Women's Reproductive Health Service in Glas…

25 May 2000 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many places are available on projects that promote alternatives to offending for young people in Scotland and what percentage of these places are provided using short-term rather than long-term funding.

Answer · Peter Peacock: The information requested is not held centrally. Most projects addressing offending behaviour are funded by local authorities or voluntary organisations to reflect local need and circumstances.<P ALIGN="JUSTIFY">However, the Executive announced on 9 June an a…

25 May 2000 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what detoxification facilities are currently available for those aged under 16 who are drug dependent in the greater Glasgow area and what measures are being taken to make additional facilities available to assist drug dependent children.

Answer · Angus MacKay: This information is not held centrally. There are no specific detoxification services available for those aged under 16 who are drug dependent.<P ALIGN="JUSTIFY">There are three social work projects at present in Glasgow city, which work with young people age…

25 May 2000 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, with regard to the requirements of the European Convention on Human Rights, what steps are being taken to ensure that legal advice is available at the outset rather than at the appeal stage of children's hearings.

Answer · Sam Galbraith: The Children's Hearings must act in the best interests of the child. Legal advice is available prior to the hearing; during the hearing on an advice and assistance basis; and, at any appeal. However, this issue and other matters related to hearings are curren…

25 May 2000 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what criteria were used to determine which multiple sclerosis sufferers were suitable to receive beta interferon treatment, what criteria were used to determine which patients received treatment using the drug, and what proportion of those deemed suitable actually received the treatment.

Answer · Susan Deacon: There is no information held centrally on the number of patients with multiple sclerosis who may be eligible for beta interferon treatment. A patient's eligibility for this treatment depends on the clinical judgement of the specialists concerned, taking accou…

25 May 2000 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will ensure that an investigation of the clinical and cost-effectiveness of beta interferon as a treatment for multiple sclerosis sufferers is an early priority of the new Health Technology Assessment Board for Scotland.

Answer · Susan Deacon: I have written to the Health Technology Board asking them to provide advice on the clinical and cost-effectiveness of beta interferon as a treatment for multiple sclerosis as an early priority.

25 May 2000 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how the number of people and proportion of the population in penal establishments in Scotland compares with the equivalent figures for the rest of the UK and Europe and what steps are being taken to reverse the growth in the prison population in Scotland that took place between 1979 and 1…

Answer · Jim Wallace: The available information is given in the table below.<P ALIGN="JUSTIFY">The size of the prison population is the product of a number of factors including the level of crime, levels of reporting and detection, and decisions on prosecution and sentencing. As f…

25 May 2000 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, following the Riddell report, whether the new National Special Educational Needs Forum will give early consideration to what steps are needed to simplify and speed up the process of creating a Record of Need and, in particular, to laying down a code of practice which sets out minimum sta…

Answer · Sam Galbraith: The forum will, as a priority, review all aspects of the Record of Needs process, including the guidance set out in the SEN Manual of Good Practice.

24 May 2000 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-6584 by Henry McLeish on 18 May 2000, whether any sites in Clydebank have been considered suitable for consideration as possible locations for new investment during the last five years.

Answer · Henry McLeish: Suitable sites in Clydebank, designated in consultation with Scottish Enterprise Dunbartonshire, are included in Locate in Scotland's portfolio of sites suitable for inward investment. These are discussed with companies in appropriate circumstances, though pa…

24 May 2000 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-6583 by Henry McLeish on 18 May 2000, how many of the planned jobs in Dunbartonshire announced over the last five years were located in Clydebank.

Answer · Henry McLeish: In the five years to March 1999, Locate in Scotland and its partners helped to attract nine projects to Clydebank which involved the planned creation or safeguarding of 480 jobs.

24 May 2000 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what steps it is taking to increase the number of consultants in specialities where there is currently a shortage of qualified and available doctors.

Answer · Susan Deacon: In order to become a consultant in any specialty, a doctor must gain a place in the Specialist Registrar (SpR) grade and therefore gain their Certificate of Completion of Specialist Training (CCST). This period of training lasts at least five years.<P ALIGN="…

24 May 2000 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what impact it estimates its policy of prioritising the provision of additional houses for rent in rural areas will have on expenditure on new build and modernisation programmes in urban areas, in particular within the Glasgow and North Clyde area, over the next three years.

Answer · Wendy Alexander: Scottish Homes total planned capital expenditure within its development programme for 2000-01 is £7 million higher than the equivalent figure for 1999-2000. This has allowed capital expenditure in the current year to be increased in both rural and urban areas…

24 May 2000 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what steps it is taking to improve the quality and rigour of feedback to parents of pupils at S1 and S2 level.

Answer · Sam Galbraith: The introduction of National Tests has improved the quality of attainment information for parents on pupil performance and information on S2 targets in reading, writing and mathematics, and the progress made against them, is provided to parents each year by e…

24 May 2000 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive which local authorities have begun to use externally marked, standardised testing procedures as an adjunct or alternative to national tests at S1 and S2 level and what evidence there is of any positive or negative effect this has on performance in national examinations at S4 and S5 level.

Answer · Sam Galbraith: This information is not collected centrally.

23 May 2000 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how much of the #51 million private sector funding for 2000-01 attracted by Scottish Homes to its Glasgow and North Clyde Division will be spent (a) in Clydebank and (b) within the Clydebank and Milngavie constituency.

Answer · Wendy Alexander: Of the £51 million of private sector funding which Scottish Homes' Glasgow and North Clyde Region hopes will be committed to projects approved during 2000-01, approximately £4.1 million should be invested in Clydebank, all within the Clydebank and Milngavie c…

23 May 2000 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many of the 1,300 Scottish Homes properties being newly built for social rent in its Glasgow and North Clyde Division will be located in (a) in Clydebank and (b) within the Clydebank and Milngavie constituency.

Answer · Wendy Alexander: Scottish Homes plans to approve funding for 1,300 new and improved homes for social rent in Glasgow and North Clyde Region during 2000-01. Of this total, the current plans envisage that one hundred and seventy will be located in Clydebank, all within the Clyd…

23 May 2000 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how much of the #79 million being invested by Scottish Homes in its Glasgow and North Clyde division in 2000-01 is being spent (a) in Clydebank and (b) within the Clydebank and Milngavie constituency.

Answer · Wendy Alexander: In 2000-01 Scottish Homes' Glasgow and North Clyde Region plans to spend £4.43 million in Clydebank, all of which will be spent in the Clydebank and Milngavie constituency.

23 May 2000 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-2555 by Ms Wendy Alexander on 26 November 1999, whether it will indicate the proportion of (a) children, (b) working age people and (c) older people who are living in households with (i) less than 50%, and 60% and 70% of median GB income and (ii) les…

Answer · Wendy Alexander: The information requested cannot be provided at sub-Scotland level. The answer to question S1W-2555 was drawn from the Households Below Average Income dataset using the Family Resources Survey which does not have sufficient sample size to produce the required…

23 May 2000 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-2137 by Peter Peacock on 22 November 1999, whether the information given on total expenditure and expenditure per pupil by each local authority can now be updated to include figures for 1998-99.

Answer · Peter Peacock: The information requested is shown in the table below.<TABLE BORDER CELLSPACING=1 CELLPADDING=7 WIDTH=519><TR><TD VALIGN="TOP" COLSPAN=3><P ALIGN="CENTER">Net current expenditure on local authority primary, secondary and special schools 1998-99 (at outturn pr…

22 May 2000 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive to provide a detailed breakdown of the total spending guideline set down for West Dunbartonshire Council and East Dunbartonshire Council for each of the past four years including the current financial year and what percentage change in real terms these figures represent year-on-year and o…

Answer · Jack McConnell: The table below shows the figures for expenditure guidelines for 1999-2000 and 2000-01. Expenditure guidelines replaced capping limits in 1999-2000 and provide councils with a more transparent and a less restrictive indication of the level of council spending…

18 May 2000 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what local authorities are meeting set targets in the S1 and S2 curriculum in science, modern languages and writing and what steps it will take to address any problems highlighted by the number of local authorities failing to meet their targets in these subject areas.

Answer · Sam Galbraith: Targets for S1 and S2 attainment are set for reading, writing and mathematics but not for science and modern languages. Progress against each of these targets, by authority, are detailed in the publication <I>Raising Standards - Setting Targets, Setting Targe…