Parliamentary questions
Duncan McNeil
426 questions tabled in the Scottish Parliament, most recent first.
25 Apr 2002 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what action it is taking to improve work opportunities for carers.
Answer · Iain Gray: The Scottish Executive has no function in relation to unemployed people, including carers, seeking employment. The responsibility for assisting unemployed people into work rests with Jobcentre Plus. <P>Carers are benefiting from changes to the earning limits …
25 Apr 2002 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what targets it has set for reducing discrimination against older people.
Answer · Malcolm Chisholm: There is no place for age discrimination in Scottish society. We are committed to putting equality at the heart of the work of the Executive. At the centre of our Equality Strategy is the integration of equality into policymaking, legislation, programmes, spe…
16 Apr 2002 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what steps are being taken to facilitate returning to work for mothers who wish to do so.
Answer · Wendy Alexander: There are a range of steps being taken at Scottish and UK levels. <P>The Scottish Executive's Childcare Strategy aims to provide affordable, accessible, good quality childcare to meet the needs of working parents. The Executive is providing £16.75 million of …
16 Apr 2002 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what steps are being taken to increase the number of women in public life.
Answer · Margaret Curran: The Executive is committed to encouraging more women to apply to serve on the board of public bodies in order to reflect the social and cultural mix in the country. Our proposals for attracting a wider range of people to serve on Non-Departmental Public Bodie…
16 Apr 2002 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what steps it is taking to encourage women who have left jobs in public health and education to return to work in those services.
Answer · Mary Mulligan: The Scottish Executive is committed to increasing the recruitment and retention of groups in society that are currently under represented. <P>NHS Scotland employers operate under Family Friendly Policy guidance. These policies are designed to encourage recrui…
16 Apr 2002 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many arrests have been made in connection with any fraud involving the Individual Learning Accounts scheme.
Answer · Iain Gray: There have been no arrests in Scotland to date in connection with the Individual Learning Accounts scheme.
11 Apr 2002 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what role the voluntary sector plays in treating drug addiction.
Answer · Richard Simpson: Under the drugs strategy, treatment and care services, including information, advice, counselling and day and residential care, are delivered by a range of agencies, including NHS boards, local authorities and the voluntary sector. Voluntary sector organisati…
11 Apr 2002 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether there is an appropriate level and range of drug addiction treatment facilities in the Inverclyde area.
Answer · Richard Simpson: The level and range of drug addiction treatment facilities is a matter for the Argyll and Clyde Alcohol and Drug Action Team and its constituent agencies, including the NHS board and Inverclyde Council. The Executive monitors drug action team activities throu…
3 Apr 2002 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what action it is taking to combat graffiti.
Answer · Richard Simpson: On 31 October 2001 we announced details of a new community safety award programme which will give all council-led Community Safety Partnerships a share of £12 million over the next three years for local community safety initiatives. The programme will allow C…
3 Apr 2002 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what specific steps have been and are being taken to tackle persistent youth offending.
Answer · Cathy Jamieson: The action programme 2002 to reduce youth crime was launched in January. This programme outlines the steps we are taking to build a safer Scotland and to reduce youth offending. We have invested £25.5 million over four years to improve the range, quality and …
3 Apr 2002 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what support it is providing for parents whose children are addicted to drugs.
Answer · Richard Simpson: The Executive has allocated £20 million, over three years, to the Changing Children's Services Fund for drugs projects targeted towards children. A further £2 million, again over three years, has been allocated to the Lloyds TSB Foundation to support vulnerab…
3 Apr 2002 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether a scheme similar to the community wardens scheme in England and Wales is in place in Scotland and, if not, whether it has any plans to introduce such a scheme.
Answer · Jim Wallace: We have no plans for community support officers with police powers to undertake neighbourhood patrols along the lines proposed south of the border. However, the Executive has provided funding under the Better Neighbourhood Services Fund for a pilot to explore…
3 Apr 2002 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what role civilian neighbourhood or community wardens could play in reducing the fear of crime.
Answer · Jim Wallace: The Scottish Executive has provided funding under the Better Neighbourhood Services Fund for a pilot to explore the use of neighbourhood wardens in part of Paisley. Their principal function will be to observe and report incidents to local authority colleagues…
3 Apr 2002 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to introduce measures designed to encourage more people on low incomes to become justices of the peace.
Answer · Jim Wallace: Candidates to become justices of the peace are nominated to ministers by local Justice of the Peace Advisory Committees (JPACs). JPACs are required to ensure firstly, that candidates are personally suitable in terms of character, integrity and understanding. …
28 Mar 2002 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what assessment has been carried out into the impact on the delivery of obstetric and gynaecological services of the European Working Time Directive and guidelines issued by the relevant Royal Colleges.
Answer · Mary Mulligan: Work is about to start on a detailed study to identify the impact and resource implications of the Working Time Regulations as they apply to all NHSScotland staff. <P>In addition to this, the Scottish Executive Health Department is taking forward work on work…
19 Mar 2002 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what its most recent plans are for improving Scotland's skills base.
Answer · Wendy Alexander: <I>Future Skills Scotland</I> has been established within the Enterprise Networks to co-ordinate and communicate current and future skills needs as part of the strategy to match skills supply with employer demand. The new unit is working closely with key stak…
19 Mar 2002 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive when it will next meet with representatives of small businesses and what issues will be discussed.
Answer · Wendy Alexander: The Executive's Small Business Consultative Group met on 26 March 2002. The group discussed a number of issues of interest to the small business community including: the economic situation; regulation; venture capital funding and investor readiness; and small…
19 Mar 2002 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to assist small businesses in Inverclyde.
Answer · Wendy Alexander: The Scottish Executive is working with the enterprise networks to stimulate the creation, competitiveness and growth of small businesses. It is doing so particularly through the Small Business Gateway, which is easing access to advice and improving the qualit…
1 Mar 2002 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many reparation cases arising out of alleged exposure to asbestos have now reached a conclusion since the appointment by the Lord President and Lord Justice General of Lord Mackay of Drumadoon to oversee reparation actions and how many of these were (a) settled by the parties and (b)…
Answer · Jim Wallace: Nineteen of the cases put out for a By Order hearing before Lord Mackay have settled before the hearing actually took place. A further 34 cases set down for hearings of evidence (proofs), on dates since 20 December 2001, have settled. Reparation actions frequ…
21 Feb 2002 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-21013 by Malcolm Chisholm on 3 January 2002, what information it has received on progress made in encouraging semiconductor companies to carry out studies of ill health in their workforces with a view to establishing whether there is any causal link …
Answer · Malcolm Chisholm: The Health and Safety Executive advise that discussions have been initiated with other companies within the industry, seeking their individual agreement to become involved in a wider study of the type carried out at National Semiconductor (UK) Ltd.
21 Feb 2002 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-21012 by Malcolm Chisholm on 3 January 2002, whether there has been any increase in the workload of local GPs and other health service professionals following the publication of the Health and Safety Executive's report Cancer Among Current and Previo…
Answer · Malcolm Chisholm: Enquiries of the local NHS board indicate that there has been no significant increase in the workload of GPs or other health service professionals since publication of the report.
21 Feb 2002 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-21010 by Malcolm Chisholm on 3 January 2002, how it will assist the Health and Safety Executive's follow-up study into individual worker histories at National Semiconductor (UK) Ltd in Greenock.
Answer · Malcolm Chisholm: The Scottish Executive will assist the Health and Safety Executive with the follow-up study at National Semiconductor (UK) Ltd in Greenock in any appropriate and possible way. For example, it has been agreed that the Scottish Executive will help to prepare th…
20 Feb 2002 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what powers are available to sheriffs which would allow them to sentence an offender guilty of fly-tipping, the abandoning of a vehicle or other unlawful dumping of rubbish in a residential area to make good any damage done.
Answer · Ross Finnie: Section 202 of the Criminal Procedures (Scotland) Act 1995 permits a sheriff to impose a deferred sentence on an offender and record a condition that he should make good any damage done, either pay a sum of money or repay costs to the complainer by the date o…
20 Feb 2002 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether current measures allow local authorities to recover the cost of making good the damage done by fly-tipping, the abandoning of a vehicle or other unlawful dumping of rubbish, from the offender and, if so, what assessment has been made of their effectiveness.
Answer · Ross Finnie: Section 59(8) of the Environmental Protection Act 1990, and section 5(1) of the Refuse Disposal (Amenity) Act 1978, provide that local authorities can recover costs from offenders, for dealing with fly-tipped waste and abandoned vehicles respectively.<P>Exist…
20 Feb 2002 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to extend the current measures to prevent fly-tipping and other unlawful dumping of rubbish in residential areas.
Answer · Ross Finnie: The Executive will consider whether new measures are required, after it has completed its review of the effectiveness of litter and fly-tipping legislation, referred to in the answer given to question S1W-23273 today.
20 Feb 2002 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what assessment has been made of the effectiveness of the current measures aimed at preventing fly-tipping and other unlawful dumping of rubbish in residential areas.
Answer · Ross Finnie: The Executive commenced a review of the effectiveness of litter and fly-tipping legislation on 21 February 2002. The review will consider whether the current legislation on litter and fly-tipping is effective and achieving its purpose, and also if it is being…
20 Feb 2002 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether the current procedures for the removal of abandoned vehicles from residential areas are sufficiently streamlined and swift.
Answer · Ross Finnie: I refer the member to the answer given to question S1W-19610 on 5 December 2001, which explained that the Executive would be consulting on this matter. The consultation closed on 1 February 2002.<P>The responses are currently being considered.
20 Feb 2002 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what arrangements are in place between it, the Crown Office, local authorities and the police to ensure that anti-social behaviour proceedings are effective.
Answer · Iain Gray: Any such arrangements are agreed at the local level, although the Executive seeks to positively encourage multi-agency working through guidance and the work of the Sociable Neighbourhood National Co-ordinator.
20 Feb 2002 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to extend measures to tackle anti-social neighbours.
Answer · Iain Gray: The Scottish Executive has taken action, in the Housing (Scotland) Act 2001, to extend the legislative remedies available through the introduction of "probationary" tenancies (a special variant of the short Scottish secure tenancy) and by suspending…
20 Feb 2002 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what assessments have been made of the effectiveness of the current measures to tackle anti-social neighbours.
Answer · Iain Gray: The Scottish Executive commissions the Chartered Institute of Housing in Scotland to undertake an annual exercise to determine the use being made of evictions for anti-social behaviour and Anti-Social Behaviour Orders. It has also commissioned a number of det…