Parliamentary questions
Duncan McNeil
426 questions tabled in the Scottish Parliament, most recent first.
10 Aug 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what assistance from the Partnership Action for Continuing Employment (PACE) was made available to employees made redundant from the TSC contact centre in Greenock.
Answer · Fiona Hyslop: All employees were invited to attend PACE information sessions on site where representatives of Skills Development Scotland, Jobcentre Plus Scotland and Inverclyde Council Money Advice Team outlined the support available to those facing redundancy. All employ…
28 May 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many applicants have been refused a new central heating system under the central heating programme on the basis that they have already received assistance within a 10-year period, broken down by local authority.
Answer · Alex Neil: We would not expect anyone to be refused assistance under this part of the regulation for some time to come, as this rule only applies to those who have received assistance under Stage 4 of the energy assistance package in the past 10 years and the new packag…
28 May 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive when it introduced a rule excluding people from receiving help from stage four of the energy assistance package more than once in a 10-year period.
Answer · Alex Neil: Clause 4 (5) of the Home Energy Assistance Scheme (Scotland) 2009 Regulations states No grant may be made in respect of any dwelling for which a grant under these regulations has been made within the previous 10 years. These regulations were laid before the S…
28 May 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many people it has reassessed as being eligible for a new central heating system under the revised guidance for stage four of the energy assistance package, broken down by local authority.
Answer · Alex Neil: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-24390, on 9 June 2009. 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/Apps2/B…
28 May 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many people refused a new central heating system under stage four of the energy assistance package would now be eligible under the revised guidance, broken down by local authority area.
Answer · Alex Neil: The information requested is not available. No record has been kept, however numbers are expected to be small as Energy Saving Scotland advisers were aware that the guidance on assessing broken system was being prepared, and informed clients accordingly. All …
28 May 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many people in (a) Inverclyde and (b) Scotland have been refused a new central heating system under the energy assistance package since 22 May 2008.
Answer · Alex Neil: The information requested is not available. The Energy Assistance Package was launched on 6 April 2009 and full monitoring information will only become available through time as applicants move through the stages. The Package presents a holistic approach to t…
28 May 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what organisations it consulted prior to introducing revised guidance for its energy assistance package with regard to broken heating systems.
Answer · Alex Neil: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-24387, on 8 June 2009. 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/Apps2/…
28 May 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive for what reason it introduced revised guidance for its energy assistance package with regard to broken heating systems.
Answer · Alex Neil: The energy assistance package (EAP) launched on the 6<sup> </sup>April 2009 is a new, holistic approach to tackling fuel poverty which, unique to the UK, focuses not only upon households at risk of fuel poverty but also on homes with the poorest energy effici…
28 May 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive to what organisations it has written with information on its revised guidance for its energy assistance package with regard to broken heating systems, broken down by organisation and date on which the correspondence was sent.
Answer · Alex Neil: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-24387, on 8 June 2009. 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/Apps2/…
28 May 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it announced its revised guidance for its energy assistance package with regard to broken heating systems on the Scottish Government website and, if so, on what date.
Answer · Alex Neil: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-24387, on 8 June 2009. 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/Apps2/…
28 May 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive on what date it revised its guidance for its energy assistance package with regard to broken heating systems.
Answer · Alex Neil: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-24387 on 8 June 2009. 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/Apps2/B…
23 Apr 2009 · General Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how it intends to roll-out the NHS Aroma café concept.
Answer · Nicola Sturgeon : <i> This question was answered in the Chamber. The answer can be viewed in the Official Report using the following link:</i></p> <p ><a href="http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/business/officialReports/meetingsParliament/or-09/sor0423-01.htm">http://www.scott…
18 Mar 2009 · General Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what it is doing to protect children who live with a parent with a drug addiction.
Answer · Adam Ingram : <i > This question was answered in the Chamber. The answer can be viewed in the Official Report using the following link:</i></p> <p ><a href="http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/business/officialReports/meetingsParliament/or-09/sor0326-01.htm">http://www.scot…
12 Mar 2009 · General Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what measures it intends to take to expand apprenticeship opportunities.
Answer · Fiona Hyslop: <i > This question was answered in the Chamber. The answer can be viewed in the Official Report using the following link:</i></p> <p ><a href="http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/business/officialReports/meetingsParliament/or-09/sor0312-01.htm">http://www.scot…
5 Dec 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what percentage of the population of Inverclyde is registered with an NHS dentist, broken down by age group.
Answer · Shona Robison: The information for Inverclyde Community Health Partnership and Local Council area from March 2007 to June 2008 is published on ISD''s website at:</p> <p ><a href="http://www.isdscotland.org/isd/servlet/FileBuffer?namedFile=dent_reg_table2_june08.xls&pCo…
12 Jun 2008 · General Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it considers that changes in the allocations formula for the funding of local government addresses the needs of elderly people in the Inverclyde area.
Answer · John Swinney: The current formula, which is arrived at and agreed between national and local government, is needs-based and reflects the most relevant and up-to-date information currently available for each area. As I have already advised Parliament, I intend to undertake …
16 Jan 2008 · General Question
To ask the Scottish Executive in what circumstances it considers that community midwife units are the best place for expectant mothers to give birth.
Answer · Shona Robison: Those well women with a normalpregnancy, and where a normal labour and birth is anticipated are suitable to givebirth in a Community Maternity Unit.</p><p>The Framework for Maternity Servicesin Scotland (2001) sets out a tiered level approach tomaternity care…
19 Nov 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive when it will bring forward legislation to modify the structure and operation of community councils.
Answer · John Swinney: We are currently developing,through the Community Council Working Group, a Model Community Council Scheme, GoodPractice Guidance for both local authorities and community councils and a Code ofConduct for Community Councillors. We are also consulting stakehold…
19 Nov 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has any plans to bring forward planning regulations to modify statutory neighbour notification requirements and, if so, within what timescale.
Answer · Stewart Stevenson: The Planning etc(Scotland) Act 2006 made new provision which, whenimplemented, will see the transfer of responsibility for neighbour notificationof planning applications from the applicant to Planning Authorities. We willalso implement measures to extend neig…
13 Nov 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive when the Charities and Benevolent Fundraising Regulations will be laid.
Answer · Fergus Ewing: The Scottish Governmentexpects to lay the Charities and Benevolent Fundraising Regulations next year.</p>
16 Oct 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it is confident that all drug abusers with children undergo multi-agency assessments to enable decisions to be taken on their parental capacity.
Answer · Adam Ingram: The Scottish Governmentis confident that frameworks, including inspection regimes, are in place to helpensure that the welfare of children with drug abusing parents is protected. Whererelevant, inspection regimes consider the role of assessing parental capaci…
16 Oct 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether retraining of social workers and other front-line staff in the voluntary sector has taken place to ensure the effective sharing of information relating to at-risk children.
Answer · Adam Ingram: The reply toquestion S3W-5455 on 8 November 2007 sets out the requirementson child protection agencies for effective information-sharing set out by the ScottishGovernment in guidance documents since 1998 and refers to work on a draft <i>Codeof Practice for Sh…
16 Oct 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-2152 by Adam Ingram on 9 August 2007, whether it is confident that effective procedures are in place to ensure that information relating to at-risk children is shared between agencies.
Answer · Adam Ingram: I refer the memberto the answer to question S3W-5455 on 8 November 2007. This highlights the requirements for effective information-sharingset out by the Scottish Government in guidance, the sources of evidence used bythe government to assess the extent to wh…
16 Oct 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-2152 by Adam Ingram on 9 August 2007, whether it is confident that communication procedures between police, NHS boards and local authorities are now in place to enable them to share information on children at risk through exposure to drug misuse.
Answer · Adam Ingram: The guidance on inter-agencyco-operation <i>Protecting Children: A Shared Responsibility</i> (1998: paras 2.14-24),the <i>Framework for Standards</i> (2004: Standard 4), and the <i>Guidance for ChildProtection Committees</i> <i>(2005: section </i><i>3:12</i>)…
16 Oct 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-2152 by Adam Ingram on 9 August 2007, whether it is confident that effective systems are now in place to identify children affected by drug misuse.
Answer · Adam Ingram: As the answer to questionS3W-2152 on 9 August 2007, noted, the 2006 letters of assurance exerciseyielded assurances from chief officers that systems were working effectively toprotect vulnerable children, though detailed evidence was not consistent or systema…
16 Oct 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it believes that core child protection services receive adequate funding.
Answer · Adam Ingram: It is for local authoritiesto decide on the level of resources to allocate to meet particular local prioritiesand needs. By the end of the current Spending Review, core funding to local governmentwill have increased by over £3 billion from 1999-2000. Overall …
16 Oct 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it is confident that it is meeting the needs of children who have been identified as living with drug-abusing parents.
Answer · Adam Ingram: The 2006 lettersof assurance exercise yielded assurances from Chief Officers that systems werein place and working effectively to identify and meet the needs of vulnerablechildren, though detailed evidence was not consistent or systematic. the Scottish Govern…
16 Jul 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive when it will publish local authorities’ responses to the letters received from Scottish ministers in March and May 2006 seeking assurances that all children adversely affected by drugs misuse had been identified.
Answer · Adam Ingram: The responseswill be placed on the Scottish Executive website on Monday 13 August 2007 inthe child protection pages:</p><p><ahref="http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Topics/People/Young-People/children-families/17834">http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Topics/People/Young-Pe…
16 Jul 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive when it will publish the letters sent by Scottish ministers in March and May 2006 to local authorities seeking assurances that all children adversely affected by drugs misuse had been identified.
Answer · Adam Ingram: The letterswritten by Scottish Ministers in March 2006 and by officials in May 2006seeking assurances about the position of children in Scotland affected byparental drug misuse will be placed on the Scottish Executive website on Monday13 August 2007 in the ch…
16 Jul 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it is satisfied that all children adversely affected by drug misuse have now been identified.
Answer · Adam Ingram: InMarch 2006, the then Ministers for Justice, Health and Education wrote to ChiefOfficers in Scotland seeking assurances that systems were in place to ensurechildren affected by drug misuse could be consistently identified andinformation on the extent to whic…