Parliamentary questions
Donald Gorrie
955 questions tabled in the Scottish Parliament, most recent first.
13 Sep 2002 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will ensure that its departments which receive regular reports from voluntary organisations in order to account for their use of grants send feedback to such organisations.
Answer · Margaret Curran: In line with Scottish Compact good practice, Scottish Executive Departments should agree a review of performance during the second year of three-year core funding to ascertain if grant should be renewed and to provide feedback to funded organisations. In addi…
13 Sep 2002 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what steps it is taking to make application forms and systems simpler for youth and other voluntary organisations seeking funding from lottery, and national or local sources.
Answer · Margaret Curran: I refer the member to the answer given to questions S1W-26734 on June 2002 and S1W-25969 on 6 June 2002. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament's website, the search facility for which can be found at: http://www.scotti…
13 Sep 2002 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will ensure that national youth organisations can receive an appropriate share of grants from the New Opportunities Fund to develop programmes across Scotland without having to apply in respect of each local authority area.
Answer · Elaine Murray: Responsibility for distributing proceeds from the National Lottery rests with the Lottery Distributing Bodies, including the New Opportunities Fund. <P>The New Opportunities Fund's New Opportunities for PE and Sport (NOPES) Initiative provides funding for the…
13 Sep 2002 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what representations it has made in order to secure a separate New Opportunities Fund for Scotland.
Answer · Elaine Murray: The Scottish Executive is content with the structure of the New Opportunities Fund (NOF) as a UK distributor. It has ensured that the programme of NOF fully reflect Scottish priorities and that it fully consults and works in partnership with all relevant bodi…
11 Sep 2002 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what measures are available to a minister to hold the board of a non-departmental public body (NDPB) accountable when the minister is dissatisfied with the operation of the NDPB.
Answer · Andy Kerr: The boards of non-departmental public bodies (NDPBs) are directly accountable to Scottish ministers. It is for ministers to decide what action to take if they are dissatisfied with the operation of a particular NDPB taking into account the specific circumstan…
11 Sep 2002 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what measures are available to a minister to hold the chief executive of an executive agency accountable when the minister is dissatisfied with the operation of that agency.
Answer · Andy Kerr: I refer the member to answers given to questions S1W-27941, 27942 and 27943 on 22 August 2002. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament's website, the search facility for which can be found at:<P><A HREF="http://www.scott…
11 Sep 2002 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1O-3541 by Mrs Margaret Curran on 6 June 2001, whose duty it is to monitor that transfers of Scottish Homes properties to social landlords comply with The Code of Practice for Tenant Participation in Stock Transfers.
Answer · Margaret Curran: Scottish Homes' Board ensures that Scottish Homes' stock transfer proposals comply with the principles set out in the Code of Practice.
10 Sep 2002 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-25759 by Ross Finnie on 21 May 2002, which agencies are responsible for the monitoring of pesticides in imported seeds.
Answer · Ross Finnie: I refer the member to the answer given to question S1W-29118. All answers to written PQs are available on the Parliament's website, the search facility for which can be found at <A HREF="http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/search_wa">http://www.scottish.…
10 Sep 2002 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-25762 by Ross Finnie on 21 May 2002, on how many occasions in each of the last three years pesticide residue in excess of the maximum permitted levels has been found in imported seeds and what the (a) level and (b) type of pesticide was in each case.
Answer · Ross Finnie: I refer the member to the answer given to question S1W-29118. All answers to written PQs are available on the Parliament's website, the search facility for which can be found at <A HREF="http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/search_wa">http://www.scottish.…
10 Sep 2002 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-25761 by Ross Finnie on 20 May 2002, for which pesticides imported seeds are tested; by whom such testing is carried out, and whether it will provide a list of the maximum permitted residue level in respect of each such pesticide.
Answer · Ross Finnie: The UK Pesticides Residues Committee carries out monitoring of both home-produced and imported food (including imported seed which is used as part of other food products e.g. bread) for pesticide residues. I am advised by the Food Standards Agency that it is …
6 Sep 2002 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what representations the Scottish Road Safety Campaign, local authorities or the Association of Chief Police Officers in Scotland have made to it in the light of the report by the Transport Research Laboratory, Road Safety Research Report No.26, Dangerous Driving and the Law; what represe…
Answer · Jim Wallace: We have not received any representations from the organisations mentioned about the report. The Scottish Executive is working with the UK Government to consider the report before deciding whether changes to the law or its administration are required. We consi…
23 Aug 2002 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to initiate a scheme between Citi'ens Advice Scotland and the NHS similar to the "Good Advice: Good Health" scheme in Wales on local co-ordinated advice services provision in primary healthcare
Answer · Malcolm Chisholm: The Executive is committed to improving the access to, and quality of, health information for patients and is investing £3 million over the next three years to deliver this as part of the <I>Patient Focus and Public Involvement</I> programme of work. A number…
23 Aug 2002 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive for what purpose the former #40,000 annual training grant paid under the Further Education (Approved Associations) (Scotland) Grant Regulations 1989 is now being used.
Answer · Cathy Jamieson: I refer the member to the answer given to question S1W-28616.
23 Aug 2002 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive why the #40,000 annual training grant previously paid under the Further Education (Approved Associations) (Scotland) Grant Regulations 1989 has been terminated.
Answer · Cathy Jamieson: Children and Young People's Grant Scheme is supporting 59 organisations in financial year 2002-03. Resources are fully committed assisting core HQ and project expenditure.
23 Aug 2002 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what powers it has to make it easier for voluntary youth organisations to apply to the New Opportunities Fund, PE and Sport in Schools and Activities for Young People grant programmes.
Answer · Elaine Murray: The Scottish Executive was involved in the setting of the Policy Directions to the New Opportunities Fund (NOF) for the operation of the PE and Sport in Schools Programme in Scotland. The implementation of the programme within that policy framework is a matte…
22 Aug 2002 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what legislation covers minimum space requirements for staff and pupils in school classrooms.
Answer · Nicol Stephen: The School Premises (General Requirements and Standards) (Scotland) Regulations 1967 set out broad minimum standards in relation to certain aspects of school accommodation, including areas for school sites and overall minimum educational areas. <P>The regulat…
22 Aug 2002 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive on what basis grants for core funding are allocated to voluntary organisations.
Answer · Margaret Curran: Scottish Executive funding is available:<P>for activities that promote Scottish Executive objectives; <P>to support capacity building within organisations on the basis of agreed outputs;<P>to fund core management, administrative and relevant costs where an or…
22 Aug 2002 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether part of the #95 million it is giving to local authorities announced on 26 June 2002 will be allocated to voluntary youth organisations to encourage young people to take part in sport.
Answer · Andy Kerr: £18.4 million has been allocated to promote healthy lifestyle choices amongst children and young people, including the promotion of sport and the provision of coaching and equipment. A number of voluntary youth organisations will benefit from the Quality of L…
22 Aug 2002 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how it recognises voluntary youth work as part of the educational process.
Answer · Cathy Jamieson: I fully recognise the important role of youth work in the social and personal development of young people and am grateful for the work and commitment of voluntary youth organisations in this important area.<P>The Executive provides direct financial support to…
22 Aug 2002 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will establish a community sports programme.
Answer · Elaine Murray: <B>Sport</B>scotland is currently taking forward the <I>Sport 21 </I>review process to revise and update the strategy for sport in Scotland. In tandem with this, <B>sport</B>scotland will consult on the development of its strategy for distribution of the Lott…
22 Aug 2002 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will arrange liability insurance cover for voluntary organisations to cover them and their paid and voluntary helpers from claims arising from adventure activities or other accidents.
Answer · Margaret Curran: The Scottish Executive currently has no plans to arrange liability insurance cover for voluntary organisations to cover this type of activity.<P>Volunteer Development Scotland, the national centre for excellence in volunteering, strongly recommends that organ…
22 Aug 2002 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will give financial assistance to voluntary youth organisations to help cover the costs of administering Scottish Criminal Record Office checks on voluntary youth workers.
Answer · Richard Simpson: We are making available £1 million per annum so that volunteers working with children and vulnerable adults in the voluntary sector may obtain criminal record certificates at no cost to them or to the voluntary organisations concerned. <P>We are also funding …
25 Jul 2002 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether (a) it or (b) individual ministers have the power to give instructions to the head of an Executive Agency.
Answer · Andy Kerr: Ministers retain the right to intervene in the operations of an Executive Agency if it is considered to be operating outwith its agreed framework or where service delivery is falling below acceptable levels.<P>Ministers do not expect to be involved in the day…
25 Jul 2002 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive who has the power to move the head of an Executive Agency to another post or to remove him or her from office.
Answer · Andy Kerr: Heads of Executive Agencies are civil servants and subject to normal career management within the Scottish Executive. This covers postings and other career decisions, which would be the subject of discussion between the individual and senior management.<P>Rem…
25 Jul 2002 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive to whom the head of an Executive Agency is accountable.
Answer · Andy Kerr: Agency Chief Executives are accountable to Scottish ministers for the performance of their agency and the efficient operation within the specific delegations set in the agency's framework document.
5 Jul 2002 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether The Civil Service Code applies to employees of executive agencies, non-departmental public bodies and health boards and trusts and, if not, what rules of accountability apply to these bodies and what plans it has to make any changes to the position.
Answer · Andy Kerr: <I>The Civil Service Code</I> applies to all civil servants, which includes the staff of Scottish Executive agencies. As non-civil servants, the staff of non-departmental public bodies, health boards and trusts are not subject to the code.<P>Non-departmental …
5 Jul 2002 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what duties of disclosure of information civil servants have to the Parliament or to individual MSPs.
Answer · Andy Kerr: I refer the member to the answer given to question S1W-27370.
5 Jul 2002 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what duty civil servants have to the Scottish Parliament other than "They should not deceive or knowingly mislead.... Parliament" as stated in The Civil Service Code.
Answer · Andy Kerr: <I>The Civil Service Code</I> makes it clear that civil servants owe their loyalty to the administrations in which they serve and are accountable to ministers, who are in turn accountable to the Parliament. Guidance has been issued to Scottish Executive staff…
5 Jul 2002 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how it interprets and applies the statements made in The Civil Service Code that "civil servants owe their loyalty to the administrations in which they serve" and "the term administration to mean.... the Scottish Executive".
Answer · Andy Kerr: Scottish Executive civil servants work for and are accountable to the Scottish ministers.
3 Jul 2002 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-12351 by Iain Gray on 23 January 2001, how many closed circuit television (CCTV) schemes are currently operating; how many of these have been evaluated, and how many of these evaluations show (a) an increase and (b) a decrease in crime in the area co…
Answer · Richard Simpson: Figures are held only for the public space closed circuit television (CCTV) projects funded through the 'Make Our Communities Safer' Challenge Competition. Grant is conditional on the submission of a report of the effectiveness of the system not later than 18…