Parliamentary questions
Donald Gorrie
955 questions tabled in the Scottish Parliament, most recent first.
14 Jul 1999 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what assessment has been made of the resources which local authorities will need in order to provide the necessary support for individual school pupils with disabilities whose families have a wish, based on appropriate assessment, for them to attend mainstream schools, and what priority h…
Answer · Peter Peacock: Provision for special educational needs is made within the local government finance settlement. Grant-aided expenditure in 1999-2000 in respect of special educational needs is £169.360 million, an increase of 7.1% on 1998-99. In addition, specific grant of £…
14 Jul 1999 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what is the number and the percentage of the total number of (a) hospital consultants, (b) junior doctors working in hospitals and (c) GPs, who have resigned due to stress related illness in each health board area in 1996, 1997, 1998 and 1999 to date.
Answer · Susan Deacon: The NHS in Scotland does not collect data on the specific reasons for the retirement of doctors on the grounds of ill heath. Such information is considered a matter of confidentiality between the retiring doctor and his/her GP.
30 Jun 1999 · SPCB Written Question
To ask the Presiding Officer whether the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body will set targets for each of the next five years for the percentage of paper, glass, aluminium, other metals and plastic used within the Parliamentary complex to be recycled and what is the best present estimate of the amount of these mater…
Answer · David Steel: All waste from Parliament buildings is disposed at landfill by City of Edinburgh Council. Facilities Management are currently preparing a specification for a waste management contract which will include recycling facilities for waste paper, cardboard, alumin…
29 Jun 1999 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to make available better statistical information to enable the Parliament to base its decisions on relevant and accurate information.
Answer · Jack McConnell: The Scottish Executive will make a wide range of high quality, relevant statistical information available to the Parliament and the public. The Executive is committed to the maintenance of high professional standards by its statistical staff, to adherence to…
29 Jun 1999 · SPCB Written Question
To ask the Presiding Officer what arrangements have been made for the recycling of waste paper within the Parliamentary complex.
Answer · David Steel: The Parliament's existing waste disposal arrangements do not currently cover the recycling of waste materials. Parliament staff are presently preparing a specification for a waste management service which will include recycling facilities for waste paper, ca…
29 Jun 1999 · SPCB Written Question
To ask the Presiding Officer how many recycling sacks or containers have been distributed throughout the Parliamentary complex.
Answer · David Steel: The Parliament's existing waste disposal arrangements do not currently cover the recycling of waste materials. Parliament staff are at present preparing a specification for a waste management service which will include recycling facilities for waste paper, c…
24 Jun 1999 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it intends to withhold future grant payments to the Tenants' Participation Advisory Service Ltd. until it is satisfied that the company has proper financial controls.
Answer · Wendy Alexander: Yes.
24 Jun 1999 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it intends in future to provide figures on the number of people suffering from M.E. as a separate category rather than including them in the chronic fatigue syndrome category.
Answer · Susan Deacon: There are no present plans to change the statistical collection system for ME/CFS. Information is collected from two sources: (1) records diagnoses in a sample of over 60 general practices in Scotland; (2) records hospital inpatient and day case discharges. …
16 Jun 1999 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to examine issues relating to liquor licensing laws and to amend the current laws.
Answer · Jim Wallace: We have no plans at present to amend the Licensing (Scotland) Act 1976. However, we will be giving careful consideration to whether it is necessary to review current practice and legislation on liquor licensing.
15 Jun 1999 · General Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what measures does it intend to introduce to promote tourism in the Highlands and Islands.
Answer · Sam Galbraith: I will take the lead in ensuring that matters affecting young people are properly co-ordinated, taking careful account of the wide range of issues and bodies involved. A new Children and Young People Group will be created in my Department to support me in th…
14 Jun 1999 · SPCB Written Question
To ask the Presiding Officer for an explanation of why no Traffic Impact Assessment has been submitted in respect of the Holyrood Parliament building planning application.
Answer · David Steel: The Halcrow Fox Transport Impact Assessment was submitted on 11 June as supplementary information to the Notice of Proposed Development (Reserved Matters)" application, which was registered in May 1999. It is available for public inspection at the City o…
14 Jun 1999 · SPCB Written Question
To ask the Presiding Officer when it was first announced (a) that the cost of the proposed Scottish Parliament building at Holyrood would be #50 million plus VAT, fees etc. and (b) that the total financial provision for the Parliament building at Holyrood will be #90 million excluding landscaping.
Answer · David Steel: The £50 million construction cost estimate (excluding fees and VAT) for the new Scottish Parliament building at Holyrood was first announced in Scottish Office Press Release No 29/98 issued on 9 January 1998. The £90 million financial provision was first ann…
14 Jun 1999 · SPCB Written Question
To ask the Presiding Officer what account has been taken in decisions about the location of the Scottish Parliament building of the report from Halcrow Fox which stated that the Calton Hill site was better than the Holyrood site for urban setting, ease of access and public transport.
Answer · David Steel: The feasibility studies for the 4 'short- listed' Edinburgh sites were the key documents considered before the decision was made by the then Secretary of State to locate the new Scottish Parliament building at Holyrood. All of the relevent factors covered in…
10 Jun 1999 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to ensure that issues relating to youth will be properly covered by its Ministers and departments.
Answer · Sam Galbraith: I will take the lead in ensuring that matters affecting young people are properly co-ordinated, taking careful account of the wide range of issues and bodies involved. A new Children and Young People Group will be created in my Department to support me in th…
9 Jun 1999 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether he will make available to members, information and plans related to the option of creating a Parliamentary complex to include a new chamber and other additional accommodation based at St Andrew's House and the old Royal High School.
Answer · David Steel: Material from the design feasibilty studies on all the proposed sites for the Scottish Parliament building and a summary of the Comparative Transport and Environmental Assessment were placed in the House of Commons Library on 12 January 1998 by the then Minis…
9 Jun 1999 · SPCB Written Question
To ask the Presiding Officer whether a traffic impact study related to the Parliament Building proposed at Holyrood has been carried out, when the report of the study will be available, and who is paying for the study.
Answer · David Steel: A traffic impact assessment was carried out by Halcrow Fox to consider traffic issues in the area surrounding the site of the new Scottish Parliament building at Holyrood. The study report forms part of the 'Notice of Proposed Development (Reserved Matters)' …
9 Jun 1999 · SPCB Written Question
To ask the Presiding Officer (a) what plans there are to implement roadworks to address the traffic problems created by a Parliament on the Holyrood site and other nearby developments; (b) who will pay for the roadworks, and (c) what is the estimated cost of the roadworks.
Answer · David Steel: The traffic impact assessment carried out by Halcrow Fox and completed in early June 1999 did not identify significant traffic problems arising from the siting of the new Scottish Parliament building at Holyrood. Roadworks will be required as part of the land…
9 Jun 1999 · SPCB Written Question
To ask the Presiding Officer whether the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body is willing to negotiate arrangements with the Church of Scotland whereby the Parliament continue to sit in the Assembly Hall and vacate it each year to allow the General Assembly to be held.
Answer · David Steel: No. The Parliament has agreed to continue with the Holyrood project to establish a permanent home for the Scottish Parliament.
9 Jun 1999 · SPCB Written Question
To ask the Presiding Officer whether it is willing to negotiate arrangements with the City of Edinburgh Council to enable the Parliament to have offices and committee meeting rooms near the Assembly Hall on a permanent basis.
Answer · David Steel: The Parliament has decided to continue with the Holyrood Project to establish a permanent home for the Scottish Parliament. On that basis there should be no requirement for the leasing of office space and committee meeting rooms near the Assembly Hall on a p…
9 Jun 1999 · SPCB Written Question
To ask the Presiding Officer what opportunities exist to acquire additional office and meeting room accommodation near the Assembly Hall.
Answer · David Steel: he requirement for accommodation to support the Parliament's business is being monitored and preliminary investigations are being made regarding the options that may be available to satisfy any additional requirement. Parliament officials have looked specifi…
9 Jun 1999 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has had any discussion with the Secretary of State for Scotland and the Home Secretary in regard to the implications for refugees in Scotland and for Local Authorities of the Asylum Bill.
Answer · Iain Gray: The Scottish Executive is in regular contact with the UK Government on a wide range of issues, including the Immigration and Asylum Bill.
26 May 1999 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has Special Advisers and if so what is the management structure within which they operate.
Answer · Donald Dewar: I announced on 20 May 1999 the appointment of a Principal Special Adviser and a Spokesman with effect from 17 May. These are personal appointments, accountable to me, and were made under the authority of the April 1999 Civil Service Order in Council. In due …
26 May 1999 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has appointed a Chief of Staff and if so, from what date, and with what duties and to whom is the person accountable.
Answer · Donald Dewar: I announced on 20 May 1999 the appointment of a Principal Special Adviser and a Spokesman with effect from 17 May. These are personal appointments, accountable to me, and were made under the authority of the April 1999 Civil Service Order in Council. In due…
26 May 1999 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has appointed an Official Spokesperson and if so from what date and with what duties.
Answer · Donald Dewar: I announced on 20 May 1999 the appointment of a Principal Special Adviser and a Spokesman with effect from 17 May. These are personal appointments, accountable to me, and were made under the authority of the April 1999 Civil Service Order in Council. In due c…
26 May 1999 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive to specify the figures for the cost of ending tuition fees for students resident in Scotland on which it will be basing its policy proposals.
Answer · Henry McLeish: Estimated private contribution to tuition fees from Scottish domiciled and EU students studying in Scotland, for 2001-02, the first year when the full cohort of students would be liable to make a contribution, is £42m. This assumes no change in the current a…