Former Member of the Scottish Parliament

Donald Gorrie

Unknown party

At a glance Donald Gorrie was a Member of the Scottish Parliament.

Questions955 tabled

Donald Gorrie has tabled 955 questions in the Scottish Parliament.

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it supports the policy of regarding the 70,000 deaf people who use British Sign L… 28 Feb 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it supports the policy of regarding the 70,000 deaf people who use British Sign Language as belonging to a different language and cultural group, rather than as having a disability or communication impairment.

Answer · Rhona Brankin · 12 Mar 2007

The Scottish Executive supportsthe policy of regarding deaf people who useBritish Sign Language (BSL) as belonging to a different language and cultural group. This is acknowledged in our draft Language Strategy,published for consultation on 5 February 2007. The draft Strategy states that BSLis a real, full and living language that is part of our rich cultural heritage.We also recognise that the definitionof disability in the Disability Discrimination Act 1995 may include deaf people.Our policies in relation to disability are therefore inclusive of BSL users andthis approach is supported by our BSL and Linguistic Access Working Group whichincludes representatives from deaf organisations.

To ask the Scottish Executive what action it is taking to help to develop a curriculum for users of British Sign Langua… 28 Feb 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what action it is taking to help to develop a curriculum for users of British Sign Language.

Answer · Robert Brown · 12 Mar 2007

The proposals being developedunder A Curriculum for Excellence place particular emphasis on the importance oflanguage and literacy across the whole curriculum. Experiences and outcomes willbe developed to enable learning in the language a young person needs, whether thatis English, Gaelic, or the means of communication which enables them to communicatemost effectively. The plans are based on making the curriculum available to all.

To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to recruit and train more teachers of the deaf. 28 Feb 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to recruit and train more teachers of the deaf.

Answer · Robert Brown · 12 Mar 2007

The Scottish Executive is committedto having 53,000 full-time teachers in our schools by September 2007.The Requirements for Teachers(Scotland) Regulations 2005 (Scottish Statutory Instrument 2005/355) require thatwhere an education authority employs a teacher wholly or mainly to teach pupilswho are hearing impaired then that teacher must possess an appropriate qualificationto teach such pupils. Guidance on appropriate qualifications was issued to localauthorities on 30 January 2007.

To ask the Scottish Executive how much funding it has provided to faith institutions including, but not exclusively, th… 22 Feb 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how much funding it has provided to faith institutions including, but not exclusively, the Church of Scotland, Catholic Church and Scottish Council of Jewish Communities, in each of the last four years, broken down by institution.

Answer · Rhona Brankin · 7 Mar 2007

Theinformation requested could only be obtained at disproportionate cost. The only way in which the information sought could beestablished would be to trawl all of the divisions identified on the social inclusionand voluntary issues database and ask them to identify for each of the lastfour years which of their entries are specifically in respect of religious orfaith groups. However, this database contains only general information and itis not possible to extract specific details of grants paid to faith andreligious groups. This would take considerable time and effort and result inwork that would cost well in excess of the disproportionate cost threshold of£600.In collaboration with analyticalservices division, social inclusion and voluntary issues division is working onhow to improve its database information collection procedures, with a view tobetter identification and recording of specific grant recipients and the purposeto which public funds are being put. Unfortunately, it will be some time beforedata collection and recording arrangements are able to isolate information of the type sought.

To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions it has had with local authorities to create a co-ordinated programme to … 21 Feb 2007 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions it has had with local authorities to create a co-ordinated programme to improve the quality of football pitches and changing facilities in response to concerns illustrated by the march to the Parliament on 14 February 2007.

Answer · Patricia Ferguson · 1 Mar 2007

The report of the national auditof local sports facilities published by sportscotland in June 2006 highlighted theneed for local authorities to prepare facility strategies. Future investment willbe determined on the basis of these and associated playing field and sports pitchstrategies.In addition, sportscotland’sBuilding for Sport programme is available to local authorities and others to helpimprove the quality of football pitches and associated changing accommodation.

To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions it has had with local authorities to create a co-ordinated programme to … 20 Feb 2007 · Written Question

Awaiting an answer.

To ask the Scottish Executive how many affordable rented homes it intends will be built by 2012 to meet its aim of abol… 14 Feb 2007 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many affordable rented homes it intends will be built by 2012 to meet its aim of abolishing all unintentional homelessness by then.

Answer · Rhona Brankin · 22 Feb 2007

Our £1.2 billion programme isproviding 21,500 good quality affordable homes over the current three year spendingperiod. Decisions on spending beyond 2008 will be taken by the next administration.We are determined to maintain progress andremain committed to the target of providing a permanent home for all unintentionallyhomeless people by 2012.

To ask the Scottish Executive what measures are in place to encourage as many young people as possible from ethnic mino… 8 Feb 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what measures are in place to encourage as many young people as possible from ethnic minority communities to take part in sport.

Answer · Patricia Ferguson · 19 Feb 2007

The Executive is committed toincreasing opportunities for everyone to participate in sport regardless of theirbackground. We are supporting sportscotland in the implementation of the SingleEquity Plan and the Equity Standard for Scottish sport to ensure thatno artificial barriers exist which would deter individuals from participating insport and fulfilling their potential.

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Motions lodged177 lodged

5 Mar 2007	Disability Payments by Glasgow City Council	7 sig.
1 Mar 2007	Reporting and Dealing with Intimidation	6 sig.
21 Feb 2007	Scottish Commission for Public Audit	1 sig.
21 Feb 2007	False Birthday Card Scam	9 sig.
8 Feb 2007	Increasing the Use of the Donald Dewar Room	10 sig.
2 Feb 2007	Shadow Round for European Funding	9 sig.

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Seat & career2 seats held

Central Scotland (region) Regional MSP · Dissolution 1 May 2003 – 2 Apr 2007
Central Scotland (region) Regional MSP · Dissolution 6 May 1999 – 31 Mar 2003

Source: this MSP's profile on parliament.scot.

Source: this MSP's official Scottish Parliament profile. Last updated 26 Jul 2026.