Parliamentary questions
Donald Gorrie
955 questions tabled in the Scottish Parliament, most recent first.
23 Mar 2000 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has any plans to require members of local authority licensing boards and planning committees, which act in a quasi-judicial role, to take part in a training programme, similar to that undergone by JPs for their court duties.
Answer · Jim Wallace: It is not an Executive function to provide training for local authority licensing boards. The duties and responsibilities of liquor licensing boards are set out in the Licensing (Scotland) Act 1976.<P>Members of planning committees are encouraged to undertake…
23 Mar 2000 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will encourage local authorities to set up "licensing forums" to allow members of the licensing board, licensing officials, police and representatives of licensees to meet informally to discuss local issues relating to the operation of the licensing system and allow licensing b…
Answer · Jim Wallace: The Scottish Executive has no such plans at present.
23 Mar 2000 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has any plans to amend the licensing system so that licensed premises are covered by one set of licences and the licensee by another set.
Answer · Jim Wallace: The Scottish Executive has no plans at present to amend the Licensing (Scotland) Act 1976.
23 Mar 2000 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to review and amend the Licensing (Scotland) Act 1976 or whether it has any plans for a new Licensing (Scotland) Bill.
Answer · Jim Wallace: The Scottish Executive has no plans at present to review and amend the Licensing (Scotland) Act 1976, or to introduce a new Licensing (Scotland) Bill.
23 Mar 2000 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will consider extending provisions in the Civic Government (Scotland) Act 1982 to cover licensing shops to sell fireworks.
Answer · Henry McLeish: The Scottish Executive currently has no such plans.
23 Mar 2000 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what progress is being made regarding the introduction of identity cards to provide proof of age for young people when purchasing alcohol, tobacco, lottery tickets or fireworks.
Answer · Susan Deacon: The Scottish Executive and CoSLA are working together on the introduction of a card that will incorporate a wide range of functions to give young people easy access to local authority services such as libraries, leisure and recreational facilities and reduced…
22 Mar 2000 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive when it expects to make an announcement about its decision on who should pay for police checks with the Scottish Criminal Records Office on volunteers and paid staff working with young people.
Answer · Jim Wallace: The Review Group which I announced would consider the impact of charges for criminal records on the voluntary sector is chaired by Jackie Baillie, Deputy Minister for Communities. It is meeting regularly and plans to report later this year.
22 Mar 2000 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has any plans to meet Falkirk and West Lothian Councils to discuss the Avon Gorge route from the M8 to the M9.
Answer · Sarah Boyack: The matter was discussed at my meeting with representatives of Falkirk, West Lothian, and North Lanarkshire Councils on 31 January 2000.
9 Dec 1999 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive when it expects to announce details and a timetable for the Strategic Environmental assessment of its policies, as outlined in the Programme for Government.
Answer · Sarah Boyack: We are closely involved with the development of the EU Directive on this matter which was discussed at the EU Environment Council which I attended in Brussels earlier this week. Many of the key elements of strategic environmental assessment will be taken forw…
8 Dec 1999 · General Question
To ask the Scottish Executive when it expects to announce details and a timetable for the Strategic Environmental assessment of its policies, as outlined in the Programme for Government.
Answer · Sarah Boyack: We are closely involved with the development of the EU Directive on this matter which was discussed at the EU Environment Council which I attended in Brussels earlier this week. Many of the key elements of strategic environmental assessment will be taken for…
25 Nov 1999 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to encourage councils and voluntary organisations to enable young people to take a greater part in the management of youth centres and projects.
Answer · Peter Peacock: Young people's active participation in decisions affecting their lives and interests is central to our Action Programme for Youth on which we are working with local authorities and the voluntary sector. I have seen several examples of this in practice and com…
24 Nov 1999 · General Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to encourage councils and voluntary organisations to enable young people to take a greater part in the management of youth centres and projects.
Answer · Peter Peacock: Young people's active participation in decisions affecting their lives and interests is central to our Action Programme for Youth on which we are working with local authorities and the voluntary sector. I have seen several examples of this in practice and co…
18 Nov 1999 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive to provide the best available information on the numbers of foster parents who have given up fostering in each of the last three years and the reasons for their decisions.
Answer · Sam Galbraith: Information concerning the number of foster carers who have ceased fostering over the last three years and the reasons for their decision is not held centrally.<P ALIGN="JUSTIFY">However, findings from a two-stage study on foster care in Scotland funded by Go…
16 Nov 1999 · SPCB Written Question
To ask the Presiding Officer whether he is satisfied that the proposed arrangements for accommodation in the Holyrood buildings of MSPs' staff and party staff will be sufficiently flexible to enable MSPs to work efficiently.
Answer · David Steel: Yes. The Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body is taking all steps to ensure that the accommodation arrangements for everybody in the Holyrood Building will enable them to work efficiently and effectively. I will be reporting further to MSPs very shortly.
15 Nov 1999 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will make increased funding available to the Scottish Refugee Council to provide one-stop shops and continuing care for asylum seekers.
Answer · Iain Gray: No. Under the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999 this is for the Home Office.
15 Nov 1999 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether any additional funding will be made available to local authorities to cover the cost of providing furnishings and clothing to asylum seekers.
Answer · Iain Gray: No. Under the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999 the Home Office will be responsible for providing asylum seekers with housing and support for their daily living needs.
15 Nov 1999 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how administration costs incurred by local authorities in connection with the implementation of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999 will be funded.
Answer · Iain Gray: Administration costs will be one element of costs which local authorities will need to take into account in putting proposals to the Home Office. This is therefore a matter for discussion between local authorities and the Home Office.
15 Nov 1999 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether any additional capital funding will be made available to assist local authorities in providing housing for asylum seekers.
Answer · Iain Gray: No. Where local authorities provide housing for asylum seekers, they will do so under arrangements made directly with the Home Office.
15 Nov 1999 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions it has had with COSLA, local authorities, health boards, other Scottish public bodies and voluntary bodies about the arrangements needed to look after asylum seekers in Scotland under the Immigration and Asylum Act and what concerns these bodies have expressed to the Scot…
Answer · Iain Gray: Arrangements for looking after asylum seekers in Scotland under the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999 are a matter for the Home Office. The Home Office has had several meetings in Scotland with many of the organisations mentioned. COSLA's concerns about the the…
15 Nov 1999 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-58 by Iain Gray on 8 November 1999, what specific consultations it has had with the Home Secretary about the arrangements arising from the Immigration and Asylum Act for looking after asylum seekers in Scotland while they await the outcome of applica…
Answer · Iain Gray: There has been regular and ongoing contact with officials of the Home Office, as my answer of 8 November indicated.
11 Nov 1999 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it supports the proposals for community ownership of professional football clubs set out in the pamphlet New Mutualism - A Golden Goal by the Co-operative Party and, if so, what measures it will take to promote community ownership.
Answer · Rhona Brankin: Professional football clubs are private commercial organisations and decisions about their business operations are a matter for them. That said, I am interested in the new models of club ownership described in the pamphlet. I intend to explore with the SFA an…
11 Nov 1999 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it endorses the statement by the Minister of State at the Scotland Office (House of Commons Official Report 9 November 1999, col.868) that "there is no particular shortage of money for voluntary and community organisations".
Answer · Jackie Baillie: The Scottish Executive recognises that funding is a key issue for voluntary organisations and is developing a more strategic approach to its own funding of the sector. The Executive has a commitment to work with other funders to create a more stable funding e…
22 Oct 1999 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to clarify parent's rights to withdraw their children from school and educate them at home and councils' interpretation of sections 30 and 35(i) of the Education (Scotland) Act 1980.
Answer · Sam Galbraith: We have accepted that guidance in this area would be helpful and the Standards in Scotland's Schools etc. Act 2000 which comes into force later this year includes provision to issue statutory guidance on the circumstances in which parents may choose to educat…
21 Oct 1999 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what its estimate is of the increase in money for education that will be available in 2000-01 to North Lanarkshire, Falkirk and East Ayrshire councils as a consequence of the #80 million extra spending for education announced by the Finance Minister on 6 October.
Answer · Peter Peacock: The additional money for education announced by Jack McConnell on 6 October has been widely welcomed. Detailed allocations of education resources for Councils will be made as part of the local government finance settlement towards the end of the year.
20 Oct 1999 · General Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what its estimate is of the increase in money for education that will be available in 2000/2001 to North Lanarkshire, Falkirk and East Ayrshire councils as a consequence of the #80 million extra spending for education announced by the Finance Minister on 6 October.
Answer · Peter Peacock: The additional money for education announced by Jack McConnell on 6 October has been widely welcomed. Detailed allocations of education resources for Councils will be made as part of the local government finance settlement towards the end of the year.
8 Oct 1999 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will publish figures for 1997-1998 and 1998-1999 from the Student Loan Company and the Student Awards Agency for Scotland, showing (a) how much was paid in grants and loans to students resident in Scotland, (b) how many students in each category of institution benefited, and (c…
Answer · Henry McLeish: The information requested is set out in the tables below.<B><P ALIGN="JUSTIFY">(a)</B> The amount paid by SAAS in respect of grants,fees and student loans:<TABLE BORDER CELLSPACING=1 CELLPADDING=7 WIDTH=616><TR><TD WIDTH="33%" VALIGN="TOP"><B><P ALIGN="CENTER…
23 Sep 1999 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions have been held to resolve the issues of dispute between teachers, education authorities and the Scottish Executive.
Answer · Sam Galbraith: The Scottish Joint Negotiating Committee (SJNC) is due to meet again on 8 October. I shall keep in touch with progress.
22 Sep 1999 · General Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions have been held to resolve the issues of dispute between teachers, education authorities and the Scottish Executive.
Answer · Sam Galbraith: The Scottish Joint Negotiating Committee (SJNC) is due to meet again on 8 October. I shall keep in touch with progress.
16 Sep 1999 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will arrange for ministers to set aside time on a regular basis for meetings with MSPs, and particularly committee convenors and party spokesmen, who have constituency or policy issues to raise with them.
Answer · Donald Dewar: Yes. Ministers are already having meetings for these purposes and will continue to make time for contact with MSPs as necessary in the future.
15 Sep 1999 · General Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will arrange for ministers to set aside time on a regular basis for meetings with MSPs, and particularly committee convenors and party spokesmen, who have constituency or policy issues to raise with them.
Answer · Donald Dewar: Yes. Ministers are already having meetings for these purposes and will continue to make time for contact with MSPs as necessary in the future.