Donald Gorrie

2 Feb 2005 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what service and supply contracts it has with social enterprises.

Answer · Allan Wilson: The Executive does not hold data centrally which identifies contracts awarded to suppliers which could be classified as social enterprises. Therefore, this information could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.</p>

31 Jan 2005 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether community and voluntary organisations in Scotland will receive the same level of funding from the Big Lottery Fund as they received from the New Opportunities Fund and Community Fund combined.

Answer · Patricia Ferguson: We expect that the level of funding to the community and voluntary sectors in Scotland will be broadly the same from the Big Lottery Fund as from the New Opportunities Fund and the Community Fund combined.</p><p>We estimate that the community and voluntary se…

31 Jan 2005 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will seek assurances from Her Majesty's Government that projects funded by the new Big Lottery Fund out of the United Kingdom (UK) share of the fund will be of benefit to the whole of the UK.

Answer · Patricia Ferguson: Scottish ministers believe that it is essential that funding distributed on a UK basis should impact on all areas of the UK and that there should be equity in whatever distribution mechanism is adopted. The UK Government has assured Scottish ministers that th…

19 Jan 2005 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has had any discussions with BBC Scotland regarding its restructuring and any impact this will have on the coverage of Scottish culture.

Answer · Patricia Ferguson: Yes. My officials met with senior managers at BBC Scotland last week and this was one of the issues discussed.</p>

13 Jan 2005 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many people with autistic spectrum disorders in hospital and residential care who have been sectioned paid for their personal care costs in each of the last five years.

Answer · Rhona Brankin: Information on people detained under the Mental Health (Scotland) Act 1984 is recorded only on the basis of mental impairment or severe mental impairment. </p><p>I also refer the member to the answer given to question S2W-13439, answered on 24 January 2005. A…

13 Jan 2005 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many people with autistic spectrum disorders living in residential care had to pay for their personal care costs in each of the last five years, broken down by local authority area.

Answer · Rhona Brankin: The information requested is not collected centrally. However, the Scottish Executive provides funding for the Scottish Consortium for Learning Disability’s eSay<i> </i>project which is developing a national learning disability and autistic spectrum disorder …

11 Jan 2005 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what proportion of its international development budget for non-governmental agencies or organisations has been allocated to support the relief work being undertaken in areas of South Asia affected by the tsunami and which agencies and organisations have received such funds.

Answer · Patricia Ferguson: The Scottish Executive has not allocated any portion of its international development budget for non-governmental agencies (NGOs) or organisations to support the relief work being undertaken in areas of South Asia affected by the tsunami.</p><p>We have, howev…

7 Jan 2005 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what progress is being made in relocating public sector jobs to Scotland&#34;s more rural and remote areas.

Answer · Tavish Scott: We are making good progress in delivering public sector job opportunities to Scotland’s more rural areas. The Lord Advocate and I are pleased to announce that the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service will set up a small unit within the Procurator Fiscal…

5 Jan 2005 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many people suffering from the effects of alcohol were admitted to hospital accident and emergency units during the festive season.

Answer · Andy Kerr: This information is not heldcentrally. Statistical information on attendances at accident and emergency departmentsis collected centrally, but this is not broken down by diagnosis.</p>

5 Jan 2005 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many people were arrested for drug-driving during the festive season.

Answer · Cathy Jamieson: Between 6 December and 3 Januarya total of 21 people were arrested for drug driving offences in Scotland.</p>

22 Dec 2004 · SPCB Written Question

To ask the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body how many members of staff are employed at grade (a) 5, (b) 6, (c) 7 and (d) 8, giving job titles.

Answer · Duncan McNeil: The number of staff employed at grades 5, 6, 7 and 8, together with their job titles are set out in the attached annex.</p><p>Staff in Grades, 5, 6, 7 and 8 Employed by the SPCB</p><table border=1 cellspacing=0 cellpadding=3 width=605> <thead> <tr> <td> …

15 Dec 2004 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether the provisions of the Aarhus Convention will be implemented in Scotland on 25 June 2005, as indicated in EU Directive 2003/35/EC.

Answer · Ross Finnie: Yes. Work is underway to met the transposition date for Directive 2003/35/EC.</p>

15 Dec 2004 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what public consultation will take place before the implementation in Scotland of the provisions of the Aarhus Convention and when any such consultation will start.

Answer · Ross Finnie: The Scottish Executive will be consulting on the public participation aspects of the Aarhus Convention commencing in February 2005.</p>

15 Dec 2004 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions it has had with the Home Office regarding a trespass law applying to Holyrood House and Balmoral Castle estates.

Answer · Cathy Jamieson: We have been in close touch with the Home Office on a range of issues that are contained within the Serious and Organised Crime Agency Bill, including the proposed new trespass offence.</p>

2 Dec 2004 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how it plans to provide opportunities for wider civic society to identify and articulate priorities and to contribute to the formulation of the future government policy agenda.

Answer · Margaret Curran: The Executive supports the principle of civic participation and we seek to engage our stakeholders, communities and civic society as an integral part of our policy-making processes.</p><p>We are carrying out a range of work to identify challenges and opportun…

2 Dec 2004 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many frauds have been discovered within its operations in each year since 1999 and, of these, what percentage was discovered as result of whistle-blowing.

Answer · Tom McCabe: There have been two substantiated frauds by staff in the Scottish Executive’s core departments in the last five years, as reported under the Executive’s Fraud Response Plan. For the amount of these frauds I refer the member to the answer to question S2W-12251…

2 Dec 2004 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has examined the way in which the National Assembly for Wales deals with the issue of whistle-blowing.

Answer · Tom McCabe: The Executive has not examined the way in which the National Assembly for Wales deals with whistle-blowing. However, all Government departments should be taking a similar approach based on the Civil Service Code and the Public Interest Disclosure Act 1998.</p…

2 Dec 2004 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how it reviews the effectiveness of its whistle-blowing policy.

Answer · Tom McCabe: I refer the member to the question S2W-12755 on 27 January 2005. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at: <a href="http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/wa.sear…

1 Dec 2004 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what steps it has taken to enable whistle-blowers to raise concerns over public services without fear of victimisation.

Answer · Tom McCabe: The Scottish Executive has an established policy on whistle-blowing which is based on the provisions of the Civil Service Code and the Public Interest Disclosure Act 1998.</p><p>The policy is monitored and reviewed as necessary to take into account any furthe…

1 Dec 2004 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what assistance it provides for farmers seeking to identify new markets for their products.

Answer · Ross Finnie: The Executive’s food grant schemes can provide a range of assistance towards market research and consultancy; feasibility studies; salaries of key marketing staff; product development; education; sales visits, and support towards the costs of new buildings an…

26 Nov 2004 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has had, or will have, any discussions with East Ayrshire Council regarding the preservation and restoration of the damaged Burns monument in Kay Park, Kilmarnock.

25 Nov 2004 · SPCB Written Question

To ask the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body what information it has, in respect of each Sewel motion passed by the Parliament since 1999, concerning (a) the length of the debate in the Parliament on the motion, (b) the length of any debate on the motion in committee and (c) whether (i) oral or (ii) written evide…

Answer · George Reid: The information requested is given in the following table:</p><p>Sewel Motions: Session 1</p><table border=1 cellspacing=0 cellpadding=3> <thead> <tr> <td> <p>Motion Number</p> </td> <td> <p>Plenary Debate (hrs:mins)</p> </td> <td> <p>Commit…

25 Nov 2004 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive on which occasions it considered lodging a Sewel motion but decided not to.

Answer · Margaret Curran: Each and every Bill at Westminster is expected to adhere to the Sewel Convention and is considered on that basis.</p>

24 Nov 2004 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what support it is providing for small businesses to enable them to compete more effectively with large businesses for contracts, for example local authority contracts.

Answer · Jim Wallace: Small businesses are a crucial component of the Scottish Economy. The Scottish Executive and its economic development agencies - Scottish Enterprise and Highlands and Islands Enterprise – provide support services to small businesses in a variety of ways which…

18 Nov 2004 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many social housing units which were the responsibility of registered social landlords have been bought under right to buy in each of the last five years.

Answer · Malcolm Chisholm: The information requested is in the following table. The increase in right to buy sales between 2002-03 and 2003-04 in part reflects the transfer of Glasgow, Dumfries and Galloway and Borders housing stock to housing associations at the end of 2003.</p><p>Sal…

17 Nov 2004 · SPCB Written Question

To ask the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body how many members of staff are employed at grade (a) 5, (b) 6, (c) 7 and (d) 8, giving job titles and remits.

Answer · Duncan McNeil: This information is not heldin an easily accessible format and to provide an answer to this question wouldhave a significant impact on resources within the Personnel Office. I would be happy to discuss your specific concerns to establishwhether there is a mor…

17 Nov 2004 · SPCB Written Question

To ask the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body what the duties and remit are of the post of Head of Public Affairs.

Answer · Duncan McNeil: The remit of the Head of Public Affairs is to lead the Public Affairs Group in the areas of visitor services, external communications, corporate publications, education and outreach services, and to ensure that a strategic approach is taken to developing thes…

17 Nov 2004 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Executive why it has not allocated funding for the Scottish Centre for Learning Disabilities in the budget for 2006-07.

Answer · Euan Robson: The Consortium for Learning Disability was initially funded from October 2001 for a period of three years. The funding was subsequently extended to March 2006. Future funding will be considered in the forthcoming year.</p>

12 Nov 2004 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to introduce specific measures to discourage single commuters travelling by car.

Answer · Nicol Stephen: There are a number of initiatives supported by the Executive which encourage sensible car use, including car sharing. These include the Choose Another Way campaign and the development of workplace and school travel plans, as well as investment in public trans…

12 Nov 2004 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many social housing units have become the responsibility of registered social landlords under the right to buy in each of the last five years.