Parliamentary questions
Donald Gorrie
955 questions tabled in the Scottish Parliament, most recent first.
16 Sep 2004 · SPCB Written Question
To ask the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body how many people with a registered disability it has employed in each year since 1999, broken down by grade and expressed also as a percentage of total staff numbers.
Answer · Duncan McNeil: The SPCB introduced a new grading system for parliamentary staff in 2002. Information prior to this date in the detail requested is not available. “Registered disability” is no longer a recognised definition; instead we ask individuals to indicate whether the…
16 Sep 2004 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what the ethnic mix of applicants for vacancies in the Executive has been in each year since 1999, broken down by grade and expressed also in percentage terms.
Answer · Andy Kerr: The table below sets out the ethnic mix of applicants for vacancies in the Executive in each year since 1999, broken down by grade and expressed also in percentage terms.</p><table border=1 cellspacing=0 cellpadding=3> <thead> <tr> <td> <p> </p> </td> …
16 Sep 2004 · SPCB Written Question
To ask the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body what the ethnic mix of applicants for vacancies in the Parliament has been in each year since 1999, broken down by grade and expressed also in percentage terms.
Answer · Duncan McNeil: The SPCB introduced a new grading system for parliamentary staff in 2002. Information prior to this date in the detail requested is not available. Details of the ethnic origin of applicants to vacancies in the Parliament in each year since 2002, broken down…
16 Sep 2004 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what the ethnic mix of its staff has been in each year since 1999, broken down by staff grade and expressed also in percentage terms.
Answer · Andy Kerr: The Executive’s Diversity Strategy, launched in November 2000, set demanding targets for the recruitment of under-represented groups, including staff from a minority ethnic background. Progress towards these targets is set out in the table.</p><p>Scottish Exe…
16 Sep 2004 · SPCB Written Question
To ask the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body what the ethnic mix of the Parliament’s staff has been in each year since 1999, broken down by staff grade and expressed also in percentage terms.
Answer · Duncan McNeil: The SPCB introduced a new grading system for parliamentary staff in 2002. Information prior to this date in the detail requested is not available. Details of the ethnic origin of the Parliament’s staff in each year since 2002, broken down by staff grade and e…
15 Sep 2004 · General Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to support preventative clinics, such as well man clinics, provided by local health practices.
Answer · Tom McCabe: The Scottish Executive already supports extensive preventative screening activities across Scotland, for example the Scottish Executive recently announced a further three well man clinic pilots in the Borders, Lanarkshire and the Western Isles which brings th…
14 Sep 2004 · SPCB Written Question
To ask the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body, further to the answer to question S2W-10102 by Mr George Reid on 8 September 2004, on what basis it was decided to exclude MSPs’ staff from the live testing.
Answer · George Reid: The issue was not one of excluding MSP’s staff from live testing. On the contrary, this was but one of a number of commissioning and testing exercises carried out by parliament staff during the migration period.</p>
13 Sep 2004 · SPCB Written Question
To ask the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body how many individuals have been prevented from working at Holyrood as a result of not having attended the fire safety training course, broken down into (a) Parliament staff, (b) MSPs (c) MSPs’ staff and (d) contractors.
Answer · Duncan McNeil: No individuals have beenprevented from working at Holyrood as a result of not attending Fire Safetytraining. The SPCB recommends that all users of the Holyrood building attendthis training but, with the exception of SPCB staff, does not compel them to doso. F…
13 Sep 2004 · SPCB Written Question
To ask the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body how many individuals have still to undergo fire safety training, broken down into (a) Parliament staff, (b) MSPs, (c) MSPs’ staff and (d) contractors.
Answer · Duncan McNeil: To date, the following numbersof people have still to attend Fire Safety training:</p><p>SPCB Staff - 193</p><p>MSPs – 12</p><p>MSP staff – see below</p><p>Contractors – none</p><p>The SPCB recommends that allregular users of the Holyrood building attend this…
6 Sep 2004 · SPCB Written Question
To ask the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body whether it has any plans to provide up to #248.00 per annum to MSPs’ staff in order that they can benefit from the healthy living initiative.
Answer · Duncan McNeil: The SPCB has no plans toenhance the minimum terms and conditions upon which members may employ staff,as set out in the members allowances scheme. However, as employers in their ownright, members are free to improve on the minimum terms and conditions and can,…
6 Sep 2004 · SPCB Written Question
To ask the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body what support it provides for MSPs’ staff in respect of its healthy living initiative.
Answer · Duncan McNeil: As the employer, the healthand well-being of members’ staff is the responsibility of individual members.</p><p>Under the members’ allowancesscheme, the SPCB sets a number of minimum terms and conditions on which membersmay employ their staff. These are in pla…
6 Sep 2004 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what research it has carried out regarding the levels of financial support available from other European governments to enable visually impaired people to acquire visual aids such as pocket text readers and other technological equipment.
Answer · Tom McCabe: The Scottish Executive has not carried out any research into this issue as it is the responsibility of local authorities to assess the needs of individuals and commission services to meet those needs.</p>
6 Sep 2004 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to support financially the provision of visual aids, such as pocket text readers and other technological equipment, that would facilitate a greater degree of independence in the lives of visually impaired people.
Answer · Tom McCabe: It is the responsibility of local authorities to assess the needs of individuals and commission services to meet those needs.</p>
6 Sep 2004 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what assistance is provided to facilitate a greater degree of independence in the lives of visually impaired people.
Answer · Tom McCabe: The Scottish Executive is doing a number of things to help visually impaired people:</p><p>it launched an Eye Care Review in March to improve the services for blind and partially sighted people in Scotland and to promote better integration of services within …
1 Sep 2004 · SPCB Written Question
To ask the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body why MSPs’ staff were excluded from the staff ballot for tickets for the official opening of the Parliament.
Answer · George Reid: MSPs’ staff were not included in the staff ballot as they are not employed by the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body.</p>
1 Sep 2004 · SPCB Written Question
To ask the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body what steps it has taken as part of its participation policy for involvement in the opening of the Parliament to include MSPs’ staff in its plans and what the reasons are for its position on the matter.
Answer · George Reid: Notices inviting MSPs’ staff to submit their names for the role of ushers at the opening of Parliament were issued to both MSPs and parliamentary staff. Many responses have been received and all staff are now working together and will be involved in every asp…
23 Aug 2004 · SPCB Written Question
To ask the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body how it will involve MSPs’ staff in the official opening of Holyrood on 9 October 2004.
Answer · George Reid: Members’ staff were asked to put their names forward for ushers/escorts at the Opening Ceremony. As with SPCB staff, members' staff will be assigned to the various usher/escort tasks currently being compiled. These include greeting and co-ordinating "Riding" …
23 Aug 2004 · SPCB Written Question
To ask the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body how many MSPs' staff were invited to participate in the live testing of facilities at Holyrood.
Answer · George Reid: None. In April, an e-mail calling for volunteers for live testing was issued in error to all users of the parliamentary network. As it was always our intention to confine the call to the Scottish parliamentary staff organisation, it was quickly recalled and r…
23 Aug 2004 · SPCB Written Question
To ask the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body how many MSPs' staff volunteered to assist with the live testing of facilities at Holyrood.
Answer · George Reid: Five.</p>
12 Aug 2004 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what concerns it has about the practice of private investors approaching council house tenants, in particular elderly tenants, and offering to buy their homes with a view to making large profits upon resale.
Answer · Margaret Curran: It is not illegal for private investors to encourage tenants to buy their homes under the Right to Buy. However, there are complaints procedures available to tenants through local Trading Standards offices if they have any concerns about the practice. </p><p>…
29 Jul 2004 · SPCB Written Question
To ask the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body how many applications it has received from companies expressing an interest in providing guided tour services of the new Parliament building and, of these, how many are from organisations outwith Scotland.
Answer · Duncan McNeil: As the SPCB is currently tenderingfor the provision of tour guide services, disclosure of information regarding thenumber of applications received at this time is sensitive and could prejudice thecommercial interests of the SPCB. However, this information wil…
22 Jul 2004 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether the provisions in the Children (Scotland) Act 1995 place a duty on local authorities to provide support services for children for the whole year and whether these provisions specifically exclude education.
Answer · Peter Peacock: Section 22 of the Children (Scotland) Act 1995 requires local authorities to provide and publicise a range and level of services to safeguard and promote the welfare of children in need in their area. Section 27(3) requires local authorities to provide approp…
22 Jul 2004 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many autistic children have been identified as having additional support needs and what provision is available to support such children outwith school.
Answer · Peter Peacock: The school census, held in September 2003, indicates that there are 2,663 children with autistic spectrum disorder in primary, secondary and special schools who have a Record of Needs or an Individualised Educational Programme. Further details can be obtained…
22 Jul 2004 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what evidence it has on whether there is a link between the effectiveness of the implementation of an education and development plan for an autistic child and the child's anxiety and stress levels.
Answer · Peter Peacock: I refer the member to the answer given to question S2W-9797 on 16 August 2004. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at <a href="http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/w…
22 Jul 2004 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what evidence it has on whether there is a link between the quality and content of an education and development plan for an autistic child and the child's anxiety and stress levels.
Answer · Peter Peacock: I refer the member to the answer to question S2W-9797 on 16 August 2004. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at <a href="http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp…
22 Jul 2004 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what evidence it has on whether there is a link between the lack of an education and development plan for an autistic child and the child's anxiety and stress levels.
Answer · Peter Peacock: Under the Education (Scotland) Act 1980, education authorities have a duty to open a Record of Needs for children with pronounced, specific or complex special educational needs which require continuing review. Part IV of the record contains a statement of the…
22 Jul 2004 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether there is any legislation that prevents education authorities from meeting a child's year-round additional support needs.
Answer · Peter Peacock: Legislation does not prevent education authorities from deciding the extent and timing of any support they may provide to individual children.</p>
22 Jul 2004 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether there is a minimum number of days per annum in which an education authority must provide the support necessary to meet a child's additional support needs.
Answer · Peter Peacock: I refer the member to the answer given to question S2W-9792 on 16 August 2004. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at <a href="http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/w…
22 Jul 2004 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether there is a maximum number of days per annum in which an education authority can provide the support necessary to meet a child's additional support needs.
Answer · Peter Peacock: I refer the member to the answer given to question S2W-9792 on 16 August 2004. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at <a href="http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/w…
22 Jul 2004 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether an education authority can refuse to meet a child's agreed year-round additional support needs.
Answer · Peter Peacock: I refer the member to the answer given to question S2W-9792 on 16 August 2004. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at <a href="http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/w…