Donald Gorrie

30 Oct 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether the Central Registered Body Scotland charges voluntary organisations for attending seminars on the system of administering criminal record checks or for advice and help in processing applications.

Answer · Richard Simpson: In the majority of situations, the Central Registered Body Scotland does not make a charge to organisations in relation to attending introductory seminars on the administration of criminal records checks, nor for advice in processing applications.<P>However, …

30 Oct 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what external monitoring and evaluation procedures are in place to assess whether projects funded by the New Opportunities Fund have been successful and who performs any such monitoring and evaluation.

Answer · Elaine Murray: The New Opportunities Fund (NOF) is a UK-wide body sponsored by the Department of Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS). Responsibility for distributing funds from the National Lottery rests with the Lottery distributing bodies. NOF, as a UK lottery distributor, is…

30 Oct 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-29299 by Ms Margaret Curran on 26 September 2002, whether adult volunteers working in youth organisations benefit from the #2 million Active Communities Initiative, the #1 million funding to the volunteer centre network and the #700,000 in the Millen…

Answer · Margaret Curran: The Active Communities Initiative, the Millennium Volunteers programme and the network of Volunteer Centres each promote and facilitate volunteering that is arranged and delivered by organisations. They provide generic support on behalf of all organisations w…

30 Oct 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether the programmes under the New Opportunities Fund to help young people and youth organisations in Scotland offer as much support pro rata as the equivalent programmes in England.

Answer · Elaine Murray: Responsibility for distributing proceeds from the National Lottery rests with the Lottery Distributing Bodies, including the New Opportunities Fund.<P>The policy directions which determine the amount of money available to the New Opportunities Fund for its gr…

30 Oct 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-28599 by Dr Richard Simpson on 17 September 2002, whether it will provide an explanation of its statement in that answer that criminal record certificates may be obtained "at no cost to ... the voluntary organisations concerned.

Answer · Richard Simpson: The statement means that Scottish ministers will pay for each disclosure issued by Disclosure Scotland to a volunteer in the voluntary sector working with children or other vulnerable people, as long as the application has been routed through the Central Regi…

30 Oct 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will reconsider its decision to give all the #95 million grants related to promoting healthy lifestyle choices amongst children and young people directly to local authorities and allocate some instead to national youth organisations for their national and local activities.

Answer · Andy Kerr: The total resources have been allocated directly to local authorities for local initiatives. It is open to authorities to pass funds on to voluntary and other organisations.

30 Oct 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-28604 by Mr Andy Kerr on 17 September 2002, whether all of the #18.4 million was allocated to local authorities and not directly to voluntary organisations.

Answer · Andy Kerr: I refer the member to the answer given to question S1W-31118 today. 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/searc…

30 Oct 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what grants were allocated under the Children and Young People's Grant Scheme in (a) 2001-02 and (b) 2002-03.

Answer · Cathy Jamieson: The grants allocated under the Children and Young People Group Grant Scheme in 2001-02 and 2002-03 are laid out in the following tables. <P>Core Grant<TABLE BORDER CELLSPACING=1 CELLPADDING=7 WIDTH=472><TR><TD WIDTH="68%" VALIGN="TOP"><P>Organisation</TD><TD …

30 Oct 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether targeting the #3 million grant to councils for specialist money/debt advice and specifically excluding other forms of advice and assistance represents best value in the light of the complexity of the problems facing people seeking advice on debt.

Answer · Margaret Curran: Our additional investment of £3 million to increase the number of money advisers in Scotland is being channelled through local authorities, because they are best placed to assess local provision and local needs. In many local authority areas the extra funding…

30 Oct 2002 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how it is tackling the fear of crime amongst elderly people.

Answer · Richard Simpson: Recent survey information suggests that Scotland is a safer place to live compared to the rest of the UK, not only for older people but also generally, and that the fear of crime amongst older people is also lower.<P>We have set a target to reduce the fear of…

23 Oct 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will discuss with bus operators the introduction of a fund similar to the Kick Start scheme in New Zealand in order to give short-term help to specific increased levels of bus services with incentives to bus operators to deliver increased use of such services.

Answer · Lewis Macdonald: Kick Start is an innovative proposal which is receiving consideration by the Executive in the context of the UK Department for Transport's current bus subsidy review.

23 Oct 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether debts relating to water charges have the same status as council tax debts in the debt collection process and, if so, what the justification is for debts for water charges taking priority over other debts such as those for electricity, gas or rent.

Answer · Ross Finnie: In Scotland, debts, whether they are for water charges, rent, council tax or due to utilities are treated equally in the debt collection process. <P>However, if the debtor is in receipt of certain benefits and the debts are being recovered by direct deduction…

23 Oct 2002 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions it has had with financial organisations regarding the impact of irresponsible lending practices on social justice issues.

Answer · Margaret Curran: As the member will be aware, the legislation governing irresponsible lending is reserved. However, we are in regular contact with a range of financial organisations such as the Committee of Scottish Clearing Bankers and the Scottish Credit Union movement, wit…

22 Oct 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will reconsider its decision to exclude housing from its proposed system of local prudential indicators for capital expenditure for local authorities.

Answer · Margaret Curran: In my Housing Policy Announcement to Parliament on 7 November, I stated my intention to include local authority housing capital finance within the new Prudential Regime.

10 Oct 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will publish its response to the consultation by the Department of Trade and Industry on the General Agreement on Trade in Services proposals to open up higher education provision to greater competition.

Answer · Iain Gray: The regulation of international trade is a reserved matter. However, the consultation document issued by the Department of Trade and Industry was prepared with input from the Executive. The Executive will continue to be in regular contact during the period of…

3 Oct 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether its support to Citi'ens Advice Bureaux (CAB) will take account of the number of volunteers whose training at a CAB enables them to take up paid employment based on their CAB experience.

Answer · Iain Gray: Funding for Citizens Advice Bureaux (CAB) is a matter for local authorities who are best placed to decide on the allocation of resources according to the needs of their particular areas. We recognise and welcome the volunteering experience and training that i…

3 Oct 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will make representations to Jobcentre Plus in support of allowing people looking for paid employment to do voluntary work while awaiting the offer of a job from a job centre and ensuring that the job seekers agreement does not militate against an individual doing such work.

Answer · Iain Gray: Responsibility for job search and support is reserved to the UK Government. However, I understand that Jobseeker's Allowance regulations currently permit jobseekers to undertake voluntary work. They must continue to actively seek employment and must be willin…

3 Oct 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will review the conditions attached to licences for money lenders in the light of its social justice agenda.

Answer · Margaret Curran: The Scottish Executive has no functions in relation to the licensing of money lenders.

2 Oct 2002 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what support it is providing to voluntary organisations working with survivors of heart disease and strokes.

Answer · Frank McAveety: We welcome the contribution voluntary bodies make to coronary heart disease (CHD) and stroke care, especially rehabilitation. We are directly supporting two projects, one in the Borders, the other in Forth Valley. Strengthening the role of patients in service…

1 Oct 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will define the term "independent" in the context of its funding to local authorities for the provision of independent money advice.

Answer · Margaret Curran: We have made available, through local authorities, a total of £3 million annually for the provision of additional local money advice. The guidelines for implementation, issued to local authorities on 22 April 2002 state that: <P>&quot;Local authorities will b…

25 Sep 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will give financial support to Facilitate (Scotland) to assist with its work in the field of suicide prevention and what the reasons are for its position on this matter.

Answer · Malcolm Chisholm: The Scottish Executive is pleased to consider applications from voluntary organisations for financial support under existing grant schemes. Applications for grant under section 16B of the National Health Service (Scotland) Act 1978 for 2003-04 are currently b…

25 Sep 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what financial support it provides to each organisation working in the field of suicide prevention and support for families affected by suicide.

Answer · Malcolm Chisholm: In addition to services provided by the NHS and local authorities, the Executive provides financial support to a range of voluntary organisations, many of which provide support to those with mental health problems, including those at risk of suicide, and thei…

25 Sep 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what action it has taken, or plans to take, to address the increase in suicides in Scotland.

Answer · Malcolm Chisholm: The National Programme for Improving the Mental Health and Well-being of the Scottish Population, established in October 2001 and overseen by a National Advisory Group, (NAG) which I chair, is developing a range of initiatives to address mental health as part…

23 Sep 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what consideration it has given to any potential differences in the policing of cannabis offences between Scotland and the rest of the UK as a result of any reclassification of cannabis to a Class C drug under the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971.

Answer · Richard Simpson: I refer the member to the answer given to his question S1W-29811 today. 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/s…

23 Sep 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions it has had with chief constables regarding the policing of cannabis offences under the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971 should cannabis be reclassified as a Class C drug.

Answer · Richard Simpson: The Scottish Executive has been in contact with the Association of Chief Police Officers in Scotland both in the lead up to, and following, the Home Secretary's announcement on 10 July that cannabis is to be reclassified.<P>The policing of drug offences is an…

23 Sep 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to enable the Disabled Persons Housing Service (DHPS) to continue to operate.

Answer · Hugh Henry: The DPHS did not originally apply to the Scottish Executive for core funding this year. In the past three years we have provided funding of £55,775, £31,176 and £57,500 and the DPHS also received project grant funding from Scottish Homes.<P>The budget for the…

13 Sep 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what mechanism it has for monitoring effectively the delivery of New Opportunities Fund projects.

Answer · Elaine Murray: The Health, Education and Environment Departments of the Scottish Executive are regularly in close contact with the New Opportunities Fund (NOF) to deal with the cross-cutting issues regarding the progress and development of NOF programmes.<P>The Department o…

13 Sep 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will reduce pressure on the school curriculum by allowing and funding the non-formal and informal youth sector to contribute more to social, moral and civic education, sport, the arts and character-building activities.

Answer · Cathy Jamieson: Within the school curriculum there is the opportunity for education authorities and schools to adopt flexible approaches to delivering education within the framework provided by national priorities and curricular guidance. In August 2001 the Scottish Executiv…

13 Sep 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether non-formal and informal youth work are an integral part of the education process and whether it will make supporting such work a statutory duty for local authorities.

Answer · Cathy Jamieson: I refer the member to the answer given to question S1W-29301 today. 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/sear…

13 Sep 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will make it easier for voluntary youth organisations to recruit, train and retain adult voluntary workers by providing more funding and reducing paperwork.

Answer · Margaret Curran: We already provide generous resources for volunteering activity in Scotland. This year we are spending more than £2 million on the Active Communities Initiative, a further £1 million on the funding of the volunteer centre network and £700,000 on the Millenniu…