Parliamentary questions
Donald Gorrie
955 questions tabled in the Scottish Parliament, most recent first.
24 May 2000 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what consideration it has given to and what plans it has for the creation of "Millennium Greens", using National Lottery money to help people design, create and own their own local green area.
Answer · Rhona Brankin: The Executive currently has no such plans.
23 May 2000 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, for each year since the national lottery started, how much was paid by each of the lottery distributing bodies (a) in grants to projects or groups in Scotland; (b) for the administration of the lottery funds in Scotland; (c) to consultants commissioned by the lottery administration, and …
Answer · Rhona Brankin: These are matters for the distributors and the requested information is not held centrally. I have, therefore, referred the question to each distributor, requesting them to write directly to the member with the relevant information for each full year up to 31…
19 May 2000 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether, as part of its business tourism strategy, it will develop an events strategy to help exhibition and other centres to market and develop shows, festivals and exhibitions to supplement the existing support for conferences.
Answer · Henry McLeish: This type of support is generally provided effectively by the local area in which an event takes place, should it be considered to be of benefit.
19 May 2000 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how much was paid by each local authority to consultants in each year from 1995-96 to 1999-2000.
Answer · Jack McConnell: This information is not collected centrally.
19 May 2000 · SPCB Written Question
To ask the Presiding Officer (a) which elements of expenditure relevant to the new parliamentary buildings at Holyrood are not included in the #195 million cost limit agreed by the Parliament; (b) what the current cost estimate for these elements is, and (c) which organisation is expected to pay for each of these cost…
Answer · David Steel: The running costs of the Holyrood Project Team are just under £480,000 for 2000-01. The current cost estimate for the Project Team's "on site" accommodation, which is provided on a rental basis, is around £590,000 to the end of December 2002. The Ho…
19 May 2000 · SPCB Written Question
To ask the Presiding Officer what categories of expenditure are included in the #195 million cost limit approved by the Parliament for the new Parliament buildings at Holyrood.
Answer · David Steel: The information is provided in the following table:<TABLE BORDER CELLSPACING=1 CELLPADDING=7 WIDTH=576><TR><TD WIDTH="85%" VALIGN="TOP"><P ALIGN="JUSTIFY">Category</TD><TD WIDTH="15%" VALIGN="TOP"><P ALIGN="CENTER">£ million</TD></TR><TR><TD WIDTH="85%" VALIG…
19 May 2000 · SPCB Written Question
To ask the Presiding Officer (a) when the plans for the Holyrood site were, or will be, signed off; (b) when and how these plans will be available for inspection by MSPs and the public; (c) when the Holyrood progress group will meet, and (d) whether the Holyrood progress group will consist of professionals in the cons…
Answer · David Steel: It is intended that the Stage "D" plans will be signed off this month. The plans are available for public inspection now at the City of Edinburgh Council Planning Department, 1 Cockburn Street, Edinburgh. The SPCB will make another report to members…
18 May 2000 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-6404 by Mr Frank McAveety on 10 May 2000, whether it will consider a contribution from public funds to the proposed memorial of the 15 Lanarkshire men who won the Victoria Cross, given that it is a memorial to famous Lanarkshire people rather than a …
Answer · Frank McAveety: Further to my answer to question S1W-6404, memorials, whether they are war memorials or memorials, are traditionally raised by public subscription and private donations, rather than from public funding. Although the Scottish Executive is unable to assist fina…
18 May 2000 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to increase the amount spent on structural and cyclical maintenance of roads to the level of #166 million per annum considered necessary by the Society of Chief Officers of Transportation in Scotland.
Answer · Sarah Boyack: It is entirely a matter for councils as local roads authorities to determine expenditure on the structural and cyclical maintenance of local roads in their areas from within the block resources available to them for financing a wide range of services for whic…
18 May 2000 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what progress has been made towards introducing a national concessionary fare scheme for pensioners and people with sight or mobility problems.
Answer · Sarah Boyack: The Scottish Executive proposes in the Integrated Transport (Scotland) Bill to take powers which will enable Ministers subsequently to set, common to all Scottish local authorities, a minimum level of concession for pensioners and disabled people travelling w…
18 May 2000 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will widen the remit of the administration of medicines working group to include consideration of the support available in schools for any pupils with health problems.
Answer · Sam Galbraith: The School Health Service already provides support in schools for pupils with health care needs including the promotion of the physical, mental and social wellbeing of children within the school setting; the identification and provision of remedial action and…
18 May 2000 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will set up an administration of medicines working group covering the needs of children under five or widen the remit of the existing group to cover children under five.
Answer · Sam Galbraith: The guidance being developed by the administration of medicines in schools working group will be relevant to all local authority school settings, including pre-school centres.
18 May 2000 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to train staff in nurseries and primary and secondary schools to provide any attention needed by children suffering from conditions such as asthma or epilepsy during the school day.
Answer · Sam Galbraith: Teachers and other staff in schools may voluntarily agree to administer medicine to pupils with healthcare needs. I have established a working group to draw up good practice guidance on the administration of medicines in schools. One of the issues to be cover…
17 May 2000 · General Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will provide details of any current diversion from prosecution schemes.
Answer · Angus MacKay: The Justice Department currently funds pilot diversion from prosecution schemes in 18 local authorities. These include a range of general social work diversion schemes, substance misuse schemes and mediation and reparation schemes. They are principally direct…
16 May 2000 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has in place arrangements for a task force to be ready to respond immediately when factory closures such as Philips at Hamilton, Courtaulds at Wishaw or Jaeger at Kilmarnock are announced, in order to mitigate the effects of the redundancies and help the local economy.
Answer · Henry McLeish: I launched Partnership Action for Continuing Employment (PACE) in March of this year. PACE puts in place a strategic national framework which will enable an improved and consistent public sector partnership approach to companies in difficulty. I can confirm …
16 May 2000 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will consider making provision in its forthcoming Local Government Bill to enable local authorities to make different arrangements in different areas for local control of decision making to meet varying local wishes and needs.
Answer · Frank McAveety: Decisions on forthcoming legislative programmes have not yet been taken. The Scottish Executive already recognises the importance of a flexible approach to decision making in Scottish local government. We acknowledge that different arrangements in different c…
16 May 2000 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive to detail, by local authority area, the sum for 1998-99 and the estimated sums for 1999-2000 and 2000-01 (a) raised by the non-domestic rate and (b) paid by Her Majesty's Treasury or by the Scottish Executive in the distribution of non-domestic rates.
Answer · Jack McConnell: The amounts of non-domestic rate income distributed to local authorities for years 1998-99 to 2000-01, and collected by local authorities for 1998-99 are shown in the following table. Figures are not yet available for 1999-2000 and 2000-01 collections:<TABLE …
16 May 2000 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how much it paid to consultants in 1999-2000 and how many separate contracts were involved.
Answer · Angus MacKay: I refer Mr Gorrie to the answer given to question S1W-6883
16 May 2000 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how much was paid by the Scottish Office to consultants in each year from 1995-96 to 1998-99 and how many separate contracts were involved.
Answer · Angus MacKay: The table below gives details of estimated expenditure on external consultants from 1995-96. Information on the number of contracts involved is not held centrally. Arrangements are, however, being introduced to collect this data in future.<TABLE BORDER CELLSP…
16 May 2000 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how much was paid by the Scottish Arts Council (a) directly to consultants and (b) in grants to clients to enable them to pay consultants in each year from 1995-96 to 1999-2000.
Answer · Rhona Brankin: The Scottish Arts Council made payments a) directly to consultants and b) in grants to clients to enable them to pay consultants in each of the years specified as shown in the following table.<TABLE BORDER CELLSPACING=1 CELLPADDING=7 WIDTH=608><TR><TD VALIGN=…
15 May 2000 · First Minister's Question
To ask the First Minister what progress has been made by the Scottish Executive in implementing its proposals for freedom of information.
Answer · Jim Wallace: We are making good progress. There has been an excellent response to the Executive's consultation document <I>An Open</I> <I>Scotland</I> published last year. Most respondents welcomed the general thrust of the proposals. We will be considering carefully the …
9 May 2000 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will introduce regulations to ensure that water pipes in all new houses are inspected in order to check on the purity of the water and the use of lead solder.
Answer · Sarah Boyack: The three water authorities already have bylaws to control the materials and fittings which may be used with public water supplies. Under the bylaws it is an offence to use lead in fittings in contact with water which may be used for drinking purposes. The wa…
9 May 2000 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what information it has on the extent of the problem caused by the use of lead solder in water pipes in newly built houses, as regards the number of houses affected and the geographical areas affected.
Answer · Sarah Boyack: The Executive does not hold the information requested. However, the Scottish Centre for Infection and Environmental Health (SCIEH) has been asked to carry out a study to determine the extent to which lead solder has been used in plumbing installations in new …
3 May 2000 · General Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what consultations it has held with youth organisations about the possible introduction of a voluntary identity card scheme for young people.
Answer · Sam Galbraith: Consultation with young people on a pilot to link the highly successful Young Scot card to the provision of local authority services will start this weekend. The proposed laminated card will carry the holder's name, photograph and date of birth.
27 Apr 2000 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what plans Falkirk and West Lothian Councils have to complete the Avon Gorge route and what support it is giving to these plans.
Answer · Sarah Boyack: It is entirely a matter for the councils to decide what priority should be given to improving the A801 Avon Gorge road, in terms of all the services for which they are responsible, and allocate resources accordingly.
27 Apr 2000 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has any plans to support the Hamilton Advertiser campaign in Lanarkshire to provide a memorial to the 15 men from Lanarkshire men who won the Victoria Cross.
Answer · Frank McAveety: War memorials are a constant reminder of the sacrifices made and bravery displayed by those people involved in active service for their country and therefore Scottish Ministers, collectively, are supportive of the local campaign to erect a memorial to the Lan…
27 Apr 2000 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive (a) how many qualified speech therapists are currently employed by each health board or NHS Trust, (b) how many children are currently awaiting assessment or treatment for speech difficulties and (c) how long children are waiting for this service.
Answer · Susan Deacon: The latest available information for (a) qualified speech therapists employed by each health board and Trust is shown in the table. For parts (b) and (c) of the question the information is not held centrally.<P>Qualified Speech Therapists employed in the NHS …
27 Apr 2000 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has for each Local Enterprise Company Board to include a representative of the local Chamber of Commerce as normal practice.
Answer · Henry McLeish: Appointments to the Boards of Local Enterprise Companies are an operational matter for Scottish Enterprise and Highlands and Islands Enterprise and I have asked the Chairmen to reply to the member. A copy of their replies will be placed in SPICe.<P ALIGN="JUS…
6 Apr 2000 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will make representations to Her Majesty's Government requesting that measures be taken to deter shopkeepers from selling extra-strong cider at cheap prices specifically in order to attract young people and the poorest adults, given the health and public order implications whic…
Answer · Jim Wallace: No. Section 68 of the Licensing (Scotland) Act 1976 makes it an offence to sell alcoholic liquor to persons under the age of 18 years. Any public order implications can also be handled under existing Scots law. The Scottish Advisory Committee on Alcohol Misus…
23 Mar 2000 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has any plans to amend the law to give tenants of licensed premises greater security of tenure.
Answer · Jim Wallace: The Scottish Executive has no plans at present to amend the Licensing (Scotland) Act 1976.