Parliamentary questions
Donald Gorrie
955 questions tabled in the Scottish Parliament, most recent first.
9 Sep 1999 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to improve the A8 and adjoining roads in the Coatbridge-Newhouse area.
Answer · Sarah Boyack: Proposals to upgrade the A8 to motorway between Baillieston and Newhouse are being considered in the Strategic Roads Review. I plan to report to Parliament on the Review shortly.
8 Sep 1999 · General Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to improve the A8 and adjoining roads in the Coatbridge-Newhouse area.
Answer · Sarah Boyack: Proposals to upgrade the A8 to motorway between Baillieston and Newhouse are being considered in the Strategic Roads Review. I plan to report to Parliament on the Review shortly.
26 Aug 1999 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what assessment it has made of the importance for voluntary youth bodies of it paying the proposed #10 charge for police checks on people working with young people.
Answer · Angus MacKay: The intention is that the system of criminal record checks provided under part V of the Police Act 1997 should be self financing. However, we recognise the concerns of the voluntary sector on the proposed charges, and we are keeping the position under review.
26 Aug 1999 · General Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what assessment it has made of the importance for voluntary youth bodies of it paying the proposed #10 charge for police checks on people working with young people.
Answer · Angus MacKay: The intention is that the system of criminal record checks provided under part V of the Police Act 1997 should be self financing. However, we recognise the concerns of the voluntary sector on the proposed charges, and we are keeping the position under review.
25 Aug 1999 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-630 by Susan Deacon on 3 August 1999, whether it is satisfied with the accuracy of the reporting method used in the preparation of statistics such as those contained in the answer to S1W-630.
Answer · Susan Deacon: Statistics on the hours worked by junior doctors in Scotland are compiled from six- monthly returns submitted by NHS Trusts. Each return must be validated by the Chief Executive and a representative of the junior doctors. A common software package has been is…
25 Aug 1999 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive to specify the number of student award holders receiving Disabled Students' Allowance in each of the past ten years.
Answer · Henry McLeish: I refer Mr Gorrie to the answer in PQ S1W-1099.
25 Aug 1999 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive to specify in constant terms, the amount spent on the mature students allowance in Scotland in each of the ten years prior to its abolition.
Answer · Henry McLeish: The information in response to this question is given below and refers to expenditure funded by the Student Awards Agency for Scotland (SAAS) on mature students allowances, paid to Scottish Domiciled students. <B><P ALIGN="JUSTIFY">Table : Amount paid by SAAS…
25 Aug 1999 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive to specify the total number of students in full time education in Scotland in each of the past ten academic years.
Answer · Henry McLeish: It is assumed the information requested is in relation to those undertaking further or higher education. The data is :<P ALIGN="JUSTIFY">Students in full time education in Scotland (further and higher education)<P ALIGN="JUSTIFY"><TABLE CELLSPACING=0 BORDER=…
25 Aug 1999 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive to specify the number of mature students (aged 26 and over) in full time higher education in Scotland in each of the last ten academic years.
Answer · Henry McLeish: The information is not readily available in the form or time period requested. The definition of mature students used in Scotland is normally those aged 25+. The data available is provided:<P ALIGN="JUSTIFY">Mature<SUP>1</SUP> Students in Full Time Higher Edu…
25 Aug 1999 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive to specify the amount of expenditure, adjusted for inflation, on the standard maintenance allowance in Scotland in each of the ten years before its abolition.
Answer · Henry McLeish: The information available is given.<B><P ALIGN="JUSTIFY">Table: Amount of Expenditure on the Standard Maintenance Allowance in Scotland: 1988-89 to 1998-99</B><P ALIGN="JUSTIFY"><TABLE CELLSPACING=0 BORDER=0 CELLPADDING=2 WIDTH=221><TR><TD WIDTH="44%" VALIGN=…
25 Aug 1999 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive to specify the amount of expenditure, adjusted for inflation, on the dependents' allowance for students in higher education in Scotland in each of the last ten years.
Answer · Henry McLeish: I refer Mr Gorrie to the answer in PQ S1W-1101
25 Aug 1999 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive to specify the total numbers of higher education students in Scotland in each of the last ten years who (a) were in receipt of dependants' allowance, and (b) had child dependants.
Answer · Henry McLeish: The information in response to this questions is given below and refers to Scottish Domiciled students.<P ALIGN="JUSTIFY">It is not possible to determine which students in receipt of dependents allowance had child dependents.<B><P ALIGN="JUSTIFY">Table : Stud…
25 Aug 1999 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive to specify the amount of expenditure on tuition fees for students on full time higher education courses in Scotland in each of the last ten years (a) in cash terms and (b) adjusted for inflation.
Answer · Henry McLeish: The table below sets out the amount paid towards tuition fees by the Student Awards Agency for Scotland on behalf of Scottish domiciled students in each of the given financial years:<P ALIGN="JUSTIFY">TABLE OF TUITION FEES PAYMENTS FOR SAAS FUNDED STUDENTS<TA…
25 Aug 1999 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive to specify the amount of expenditure, adjusted for inflation, on Disabled Students' Allowance for students in higher education in Scotland in each of the past ten years.
Answer · Henry McLeish: The information in response to this question is given below, and refers to Scottish Domiciled students.<P ALIGN="JUSTIFY">Due to a change in the Disabled Students' Allowance entitlement between sessions 1989-90 and 1990-91, there is a discontinuity in the ser…
5 Aug 1999 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive to specify, in the latest year for which figures are available and in each of the previous three years the number of (a) road accidents in Scotland which have caused the death of one or more people; (b) prosecutions for (i) causing death by dangerous driving; (ii) causing death by careles…
Answer · Jim Wallace: The number of road accidents in Scotland which resulted in one or more fatalities totalled 361 in 1995, 316 in 1996, 340 in 1997, and 339 in 1998.<P>The figures given in the table below relate to prosecutions where the main offence was either causing death by…
5 Aug 1999 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-541 by Susan Deacon on 27 July 1999, to specify the number and percentage of the total number of (a) hospital consultants; (b) junior doctors working in hospitals, and (c) general practitioners who have resigned or retired early on the grounds of ill…
Answer · Susan Deacon: The Information and Statistics Division of the NHS in Scotland (ISD) collects data on reasons for leaving the medical profession. However, although their data categories do include ill health as a reason for leaving, there may be difficulties with the data as…
23 Jul 1999 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive in the light of Her Majesty's Government Select Committee on Health's recommendations made during the week ending 23 July 1999, what proposals does it have to tighten up regulation of the private health sector.
Answer · Susan Deacon: I intend to publish a consultation paper in the Autumn outlining proposals for the regulation of private health care in Scotland.
23 Jul 1999 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive to specify the funds which have been allocated to the Warm Deal for the period 1 July 1999 to 31 March 2000 and for the years 2000-2001 and 2001-2002.
Answer · Wendy Alexander: The budget for the Warm Deal in the current year is £12 million. I hope to make an announcement shortly about the resources available in 2000-2001 and 2001-2002.
23 Jul 1999 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many passenger-miles were travelled in Scotland by (a) bus; and (b) train for the latest period for which figures are available and for each of the previous three years.
Answer · Sarah Boyack: The latest available numbers of vehicle-miles travelled in Scotland by bus and coach passenger services are set out in the table below. Numbers of passenger-miles travelled by train are not readily available.<TABLE BORDER CELLSPACING=1 CELLPADDING=7 WIDTH=338…
23 Jul 1999 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has had any discussions about allowing local authorities in Scotland to sell memorials directly to the public at local authority run cemeteries.
Answer · Frank McAveety: There have been no discussions with local authorities in Scotland on this matter.
23 Jul 1999 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive to specify the Scottish share of the #300 million UK domestic energy efficiency funding over the next two years.
Answer · Wendy Alexander: I hope to be able to make an announcement shortly.
21 Jul 1999 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive which Minister has responsibility for human rights issues and what its responsibilities are under the European Convention on Human Rights and other international agreements relating to human rights.
Answer · Jim Wallace: I have Ministerial responsibility for human rights issues. Under the Scotland Act 1998, members of the Scottish Executive have no power to exercise any of their powers in a way which is incompatible with any of the Convention Rights as defined in the Human R…
21 Jul 1999 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what statistics are available about the numbers and percentage of junior doctors whose hours of work are beyond the New Deal limits and what plans it has to ensure that accurate statistics are available in future.
Answer · Susan Deacon: The latest statistical returns, as at 31 March 1999, indicate that the hours worked in 90% (over 3600) of junior doctor posts in Scotland meet the New Deal target.<FONT FACE="Arial" SIZE=2><P>We have announced joint plans with the British Medical Association …
21 Jul 1999 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive to specify the Scottish police forces which use the "trawling" procedure of inviting former residents in care homes to put forward complaints of child abuse against former care staff, and approximately how many hours of police time have been taken up in these "trawls" in the last period f…
Answer · Jim Wallace: Police forces do not elicit or canvass complaints against individuals or organisations who are not already subject to investigation. Any additional allegations against named individuals which arise during the course of the<B> </B>investigation of a complaint…
20 Jul 1999 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many cases of alleged child abuse by former care staff in residential care homes have been reported to the Procurator Fiscal; how many prosecutions have come to court, and how many staff have been convicted in the last period for which figures are available and in each of the previous…
Answer · Andrew Hardie: The statistical information necessary to answer this question is not available. The term "child abuse" is too wide and would cover a huge spectrum of crimes - both common law and statutory. Information is not collated by reference to type of crime…
20 Jul 1999 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to require local authority pension funds to have formal statements of investment principles setting out policies of socially responsible investment.
Answer · Sam Galbraith: My officials will be consulting interested parties shortly on proposals to require administering authorities responsible for local authority pension funds to publish statements of the principles governing their decisions about investments. Such statements wil…
14 Jul 1999 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to ensure that girls and boys have equal opportunities to participate in youth sports schemes which it funds or promotes, especially team sports such as football, rugby and basketball.
Answer · Rhona Brankin: We are committed to providing sporting opportunities for all through various programmes delivered by <B>sport</B>scotland. An integral part of all of the <B>sport</B>scotland youth sport programmes is a firm commitment to equal opportunities for boys and gir…
14 Jul 1999 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what representations it has made to Her Majesty's Government regarding any changes required in the rules and conventions governing civil servants because of their involvement in attending committees of the Scottish Parliament.
Answer · Jack McConnell: The Civil Service Code has already been adjusted to take account of devolution. Subject to the terms of the code, matters relating to the conduct of civil servants, including their appearance before Committees of the Scottish Parliament, are within the delega…
14 Jul 1999 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will make representations to Her Majesty's Government with regard to reviewing the practice of requiring Scottish Executive employees to retire at the age of 60.
Answer · Jack McConnell: The retirement age of staff of the Scottish Executive is a matter for the Scottish Executive to determine.
14 Jul 1999 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what representations it has made or will make to Her Majesty's Government about changes proposed in the postal service, in particular about how these changes will affect postal services in Scotland.
Answer · Henry McLeish: The Scottish Executive is in regular contact with the UK Government over a range of matters, including those relating to the Post Office.