Parliamentary questions
Donald Gorrie
955 questions tabled in the Scottish Parliament, most recent first.
10 Nov 2004 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many people it estimates have cirrhosis of the liver.
Answer · Andy Kerr: Based on hospital discharge information, it is estimated that there were 3,565 people with a diagnosis of cirrhosis of the liver in Scotland in 2003.</p>
10 Nov 2004 · General Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what steps it is taking to provide substitute services for communities to replace those lost as a result of the closure of post offices across Scotland.
Answer · Malcolm Chisholm: Royal Mail, Post Offices and postal issues are reserved matters and the UK Government remains committed to a viable network of post offices across the country. The Scottish Executive recognises the importance of the availability across Scotland of services pr…
9 Nov 2004 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what costs will be involved in (a) digitising and (b) microfilming the 1901 Scottish census and what monthly revenue will be accrued from the sale of these products.
Answer · Tavish Scott: The enumerators’ books from the 1901 census for Scotland were microfilmed, digitally imaged and indexed between March 2000 and September 2001. The cost of (a) creating digital images of these records and indexing them was £210,980 and of (b) microfilming them…
9 Nov 2004 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many complaints the Registrar General for Scotland received from people over the age of 64 who did not wish their personal details to be published when the Scottish 1891 census was released in 1955.
Answer · Tavish Scott: There is no record of any such complaint having been received.</p>
4 Nov 2004 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what guidance it has issued to Scottish Enterprise in respect of its contact with, and role in supporting the work of, the Medical Research Council in Scotland.
Answer · Andy Kerr: The Scottish Executive has not issued any guidance to Scottish Enterprise in respect of the Medical Research Council in Scotland. </p><p>The Scottish Executive Health Department (SEHD), together with other UK Health Departments, collaborates with the Medical …
4 Nov 2004 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions it has had with the Medical Research Council regarding its work in Scotland.
Answer · Andy Kerr: The Scottish Executive has frequentdiscussions with the Medical Research Council (MRC) regarding its work in Scotland. Forexample, the Chief Scientist Office of the Scottish Executive Health Departmentsits on the MRC’s Health Services Research and Public Heal…
3 Nov 2004 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether the forthcoming legislation on licensing will include better regulation of door stewards at licensed premises.
Answer · Cathy Jamieson: It is intended to include door supervisors at licensed premises within the planned regulatory regime for the private security industry.</p>
3 Nov 2004 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive when it will bring forward legislation to regulate security firms more tightly, similar to that in England and Wales.
Answer · Cathy Jamieson: I refer the member to the answer to S2O-3797 answered on 4 November 2004, which is available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at:</p><p><ahref="http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/sch/search" target="_blank">http://www.sco…
3 Nov 2004 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether a commencement order is required before the general entitlement to information in section 1 of the Freedom of Information (Scotland) Act 2002 takes effect and, if so, when such an order will be made.
Answer · Margaret Curran: The Freedom Of Information (Scotland) Act 2002 (Commencement No. 3) Order 2004 (SSI 2004/203), which was made on 29 April 2004, allows the general entitlement to information in section 1 of the act to come into force on 1 January 2005.</p>
3 Nov 2004 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what the most up-to-date figures are for the average time between a volunteer applying for a police check and receiving clearance, taking account of the time spent by the central registered body and Disclosure Scotland in dealing with the application.
Answer · Cathy Jamieson: It is not possible to provide a precise figure for end‑to‑end turnaround times.</p><p>At week ending 28 November, Disclosure Scotland processed 100% of basic, standard and enhanced applications in an average of three days. The figure is for those …
28 Oct 2004 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions it has had with COSLA regarding the impact of the right to buy scheme on the availability of affordable social housing.
Answer · Malcolm Chisholm: The Scottish Executive consulted widely with a number of stakeholders including COSLA and localauthorities during the Affordable Housing Review. The impact of the right to buywas amongst the issues raised in response to that consultation exercise.</p><p>COSLA…
28 Oct 2004 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many local authorities have written to it to express concern regarding the impact that the right to buy scheme has on the availability of affordable social housing.
Answer · Malcolm Chisholm: During the Affordable Housing review, two local authorities wrote to the Executive and made reference to right to buy amongst other issues raised. A third Authority, South Ayrshire, has applied for pressured area status under section 45 of the Housing (Scotla…
28 Oct 2004 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many local authorities have applied for pressurised area status as it applies to social housing.
Answer · Malcolm Chisholm: One local authority has applied for designation of housing areas as pressured under section 45 of the Housing (Scotland) Act 2001.</p>
27 Oct 2004 · General Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it plans to introduce a licensing system to regulate private security firms.
Answer · Cathy Jamieson: We are committed to introducing regulation of the private security industry. We will achieve this by extending the remit of the Security Industry Authority to include Scotland at the earliest possible legislative opportunity.</p>
15 Oct 2004 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what the expenditure on training for social workers was in each local authority in each of the last five years and what information it has on how these figures compare with equivalent expenditure in English and Welsh local authorities.
Answer · Euan Robson: This information is not heldcentrally.</p>
15 Oct 2004 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will continue to fund the social work incentive scheme.
Answer · Euan Robson: We have committed to providingone more year of funding for the incentive scheme. The scheme will be evaluatedand the results of this will feed into policy considerations on workforce developmentgenerally. The future of the incentive scheme will be part of thi…
15 Oct 2004 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what budget the Social Work Services Inspectorate will be allocated to support training programmes and initiatives for each of the next five years, expressed numerically and as a year-on-year percentage increase.
Answer · Euan Robson: Spending review figures are onlyavailable until March 2008.</p><table border=1 cellspacing=0 cellpadding=3> <thead> <tr> <td> <p align=center>2005-06</p> </td> <td> <p align=center>2006-07</p> </td> <td> <p align=center>% Increase on Previou…
15 Oct 2004 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how it monitors the benefit to private and voluntary sector partners of the specific training grant scheme.
Answer · Euan Robson: Annual returns on the use of the specific grant by local authorities are made to Social Work Services PolicyDivision. These returns ask local authorities to identify any training funded bythe specific grant for voluntary and private sectors.</p>
15 Oct 2004 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how much each local authority will receive through the specific training grant for each of the next five years.
Answer · Euan Robson: Indicative specific traininggrant funding to local authorities for the financial years 2004-05, 2005-06 and2006-07 is as follows:</p><table class=MsoNormalTable border=1 cellspacing=0 cellpadding=3> <thead> <tr> <td> <p> </p> </td> <td> <p>£00…
15 Oct 2004 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what the projected budgetary allocations are for the Social Work Services Inspectorate’s disbursement under section 9(1) of the Social Work (Scotland) Act 1968 in respect of social care employee training for each of the next five years.
Answer · Euan Robson: Funding allocated to national voluntary organisations under Section 9(1) of the Social Work (Scotland) Act 1968 increased to £1.6 million in 2004-05. The majority of voluntary organisations received funding awards for three years.</p><p>In addition to this fu…
15 Oct 2004 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what the projected budgetary allocations are for the six centres of social work excellence for each of the next five years.
Answer · Euan Robson: Current funding levels for the six centres of excellence are as follows:</p><table border=0 cellspacing=0 cellpadding=3> <thead> <tr> <td> <p> </p> </td> <td> <p align=center>2004-05</p> </td> <td> <p align=center>2005-06</p> </td> <td> …
15 Oct 2004 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what the projected budget allocation is for the Voluntary Sector Development Fund for each of the next five years.
Answer · Euan Robson: £1 million per annum has beenallocated to the Voluntary Sector Development Fund (VSDF) for three financial yearscompleting in March 2006.</p><p>No decision has been made aboutfuture funding beyond 2006 for the VSDF.</p>
15 Oct 2004 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions it has had with Camelot, the operator of the National Lottery, regarding funding opportunities for social care providers in Scotland.
Answer · Euan Robson: Although Camelot is responsiblefor raising the funds for good causes it is not responsible for the allocation ofgrants - this is a matter for the individual lottery distributors.</p>
15 Oct 2004 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what input it has requested from educators or educational institutions in respect of development work being carried out on the creation of a postgraduate qualification and Scottish Vocational Qualification for those working with people with autistic spectrum disorder.
Answer · Rhona Brankin: The Scottish Executive workswith a variety of educators in developing appropriate training at all levels forthose who provide services for people with autistic spectrum disorders. The Executivehas provided funding for:</p><p>the Scottish Social Services Counc…
15 Oct 2004 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether there is a national pay structure for all management and staff employed by Careers Scotland.
Answer · Jim Wallace: No. Careers Scotland staff are employed by either Scottish Enterprise or Highlands and Islands Enterprise. Pay is determined by the structure established by each organisation.</p>
15 Oct 2004 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what bonus payments were made to Careers Scotland management and staff in each of the last three years broken down by grade.
Answer · Jim Wallace: This is an operational matter for Scottish Enterprise and Highlands and Islands Enterprise.</p>
15 Oct 2004 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will publish details of any performance bonus scheme operated by Scottish Enterprise in respect of employees in Careers Scotland.
Answer · Jim Wallace: This is an operational matter for Scottish Enterprise.</p>
15 Oct 2004 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what guidance it has issued to Scottish Enterprise in respect of any pay negotiations with representatives of staff employed in Careers Scotland.
Answer · Jim Wallace: The Executive’s position on public sector pay is set out in its annual guidance. A copy of <i>Public Sector Pay</i> in 2004-05: <i>Guidance for Scottish Public Sector Pay Groups</i> was sent to Scottish Enterprise in April 2004 as well as being made available…
14 Oct 2004 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what steps have been taken to ensure that the planning system complies with the directive implementing the provisions of the Aarhus Convention once this comes into force.
Answer · Ross Finnie: The Executive is currently updating regulations concerning access to environmental information. We are also considering what changes may be required in respect of public participation, including to the Town and Country Planning (Environmental Impact Assessmen…
13 Oct 2004 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what proposals it has to set a pay structure for visual and applied artists which would provide a minimum hourly rate for work carried out under contract to a public authority.
Answer · Patricia Ferguson: Responsibility for employment matters, including rates of pay, is reserved to the UK Government. Notwithstanding this, Executive guidance relating to cultural provision has been given to local authorities advocating compliance with existing National Wage Agr…