Parliamentary questions
Gil Paterson
788 questions tabled in the Scottish Parliament, most recent first.
26 Jul 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether there are any plans to increase the punishment part of life sentences.
Answer · Kenny MacAskill: There is no statutory limit onthe length of a punishment part of a life sentence. The period imposed is a matterfor the sentencing judge and is the period which he or she considers appropriateto satisfy the requirements of retribution and deterrence. The puni…
26 Jul 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether consideration is being given to increase statutory sentences for those convicted of serious and violent crime.
Answer · Kenny MacAskill: The Scottish Governmentkeep the sentencing limits for those statutory offences which are devolved underregular review. A substantial proportion of serious and violent crime in Scotland is prosecuted under the common law: this includes murder, culpablehomicide…
25 Jul 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether the current youth volunteering arrangements ensure best value.
Answer · Jim Mather: The LocalGovernment in Scotland Act 2003 places a statutory duty on local authorities tomake arrangements to secure Best Value. In relation to public bodies, the dutyis on Accountable Officers under the Memorandum to Accountable Officers (PublicFinance & …
25 Jul 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions have taken place with volunteering infrastructure bodies to ensure that it receives value for money.
Answer · Jim Mather: The Scottish Executivefunds only Volunteer Development Scotland and the network of 32 volunteer centresas volunteering infrastructure bodies.</p><p>Value for money isensured by the agreement of a business plan, a sound grant application andon-going monitoring…
25 Jul 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what the cost is of each volunteering opportunity under the Project Scotland programme.
Answer · Jim Mather: Project Scotland is a company limited by guarantee and registered as acharity whose aims and objectives are to promote the welfare and relieve the needsof the population in Scotland by encouraging and assisting young peopleto provide their skills and services…
18 Jul 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what the national coverage of Project Scotland is and how this is determined.
Answer · John Swinney: ProjectScotland isa company limited by guarantee and registered as a charity whose aims and objectivesare to promote the welfare and relieve the needs of the population in Scotland by encouraging and assisting young people to providetheir skills and services …
18 Jul 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether there are significant hot spots or slow areas for referral in relation to Project Scotland.
Answer · John Swinney: ProjectScotland isa company limited by guarantee and registered as a charity whose aims and objectivesare to promote the welfare and relieve the needs of the population in Scotland by encouraging and assisting young people to providetheir skills and services …
18 Jul 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what the demographic breakdown is of those entering the Project Scotland programme.
Answer · John Swinney: ProjectScotland isa company limited by guarantee and registered as a charity whose aims and objectivesare to promote the welfare and relieve the needs of the population in Scotland by encouraging and assisting young people to providetheir skills and services …
13 Jul 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many NHS dentists in East Dunbartonshire take on new patients.
Answer · Shona Robison: This information is not heldcentrally.</p><p>NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde mayhold such information.</p>
13 Jul 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many NHS dentists in West Dunbartonshire take on new patients.
Answer · Shona Robison: This information is not heldcentrally.</p><p>NHS Greater Glasgow andClyde may hold this information.</p>
13 Jul 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions it has had with NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde regarding the provision of dental services in East Dunbartonshire.
Answer · Shona Robison: Whilst there have been nospecific discussions on the provision of dental services in EastDunbartonshire, officials meet with NHS boards on a regular basis to discussthe provision of NHS dental services in the respective board areas.</p>
13 Jul 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions it has had with NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde regarding the provision of dental services in West Dunbartonshire.
Answer · Shona Robison: Whilst there have been nospecific discussions on the provision of dental services in WestDunbartonshire, officials meet with NHS boards on a regular basis to discussthe provision of NHS dental services in the respective board areas.</p>
13 Jul 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many school pupils will benefit from the free school meals pilot scheme in each pilot scheme area.
Answer · Adam Ingram: The following tablesets out the approximate total number of pupils that could be involved in thefree school meals trial in each of the local authorities taking part, though some of these pupils will alreadybe entitled to free school meals.</p><table border=1…
13 Jul 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many schools will benefit from the free school meals pilot scheme in each pilot scheme area.
Answer · Adam Ingram: The following tablesets out the total number of schools that could be involved in the free schoolmeals trial in each of the selected local authorities.</p><table border=1 cellspacing=0 cellpadding=3> <thead> <tr> <td width=168 valign=top> <p>Local Autho…
11 Jul 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to review water charges to low water-usage organisations such as churches, scouts and the boys’ brigade.
Answer · Stewart Stevenson: The Scottish Executiveconsulted in November 2006 on detailed proposals to introduce a more obviouslycost-reflective means of charging all non-household customers for their waterservices. The Executive’s analysis of this consultation is available in the Scotti…
11 Jul 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what statistics there are showing local authority area referrals to Project Scotland.
Answer · Jim Mather: ProjectScotland is a companylimited by guarantee and registered as a charity whose aims and objectives areto promote the welfare and relieve the needs of the population in Scotland byencouraging and assisting young people to provide their skills and servicesv…
11 Jul 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what review has taken place of the protocol between Project Scotland and the Volunteer Centre Network.
Answer · Jim Mather: ProjectScotland is a companylimited by guarantee and registered as a charity whose aims and objectives areto promote the welfare and relieve the needs of the population in Scotland byencouraging and assisting young people to provide their skills and servicesv…
11 Jul 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what steps are being taken to ensure that there are seamless youth volunteering services.
Answer · Jim Mather: I refer the member to the answerto question S3W-2092 on 1 August 2007. All answers to written parliamentary questions areavailable on the Parliament's website the search facility for which can befound at:</p><p><ahref="http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp…
11 Jul 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what steps have been taken to ensure that there are seamless youth volunteering services.
Answer · Jim Mather: ProjectScotland is a companylimited by guarantee and registered as a charity whose aims and objectives areto promote the welfare and relieve the needs of the population in Scotland byencouraging and assisting young people to provide their skills and servicesv…
11 Jul 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what monitoring and evaluation of the Project Scotland programme has been carried out.
Answer · Jim Mather: ProjectScotland is a companylimited by guarantee and registered as a charity whose aims and objectives areto promote the welfare and relieve the needs of the population in Scotland byencouraging and assisting young people to provide their skills and servicesv…
27 Jun 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will ensure that all cases relating to individuals who previously worked at Kerelaw School but who now work for another local authority and who have since had complaints made against them relating to when they worked at Kerelaw will be swiftly investigated.
Answer · Adam Ingram: Referrals to the Disqualifiedfrom Working with Children List (DWCL) are dealt with on a case by case basis andevery effort is made to deal with them timeously. Each referral is subject to dueprocess as laid down in the Protection of Children (Scotland) Act200…
27 Jun 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many individuals provisionally listed on the Disqualified from Working with Children List are employed in a child care position.
Answer · Adam Ingram: On 13 July 2007, of the 62 individualsprovisionally listed in the Disqualified from Working with Children List, it isknown that five are working in a child care position either in a paid capacity oras a volunteer. The employing organisations have been notifie…
27 Jun 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many individuals are provisionally listed on the Disqualified from Working with Children List.
Answer · Adam Ingram: The conclusion of individualcases and the arrival of new referrals to the Disqualified from Working with ChildrenList (DWCL) means that the number of individuals provisionally listed in the DWCLvaries over time. On 13 July 2007, there were 62 individuals prov…
14 Jun 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what mechanisms are in place to effect the investigation of complaints regarding abuse made by a child in care.
Answer · Adam Ingram: National Care Standards,published by the Scottish Government, require all care services including residentialestablishments for children to have a complaints procedure for children in theircare.</p><p>Nationally, the Regulationof Care (Scotland) Act 2001 requ…
14 Jun 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will ensure that all those who had complaints made against them while working at Kerelaw School, but have not been investigated by Glasgow City Council because they are no longer employed by the council, who now work for other authorities are swiftly investigated.
Answer · Adam Ingram: In relation to anyformer employee now working in a care setting or school, we would expect employersto have carried out rigorous recruitment checks and to have firm child protectionpolicies and procedures in place. This is a requirement in the relevant Nation…
14 Jun 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will take steps to ensure that all complaints made by former residents of Kerelaw School are fully investigated.
Answer · Adam Ingram: I have asked GlasgowCity Council to provide me with a report by 31 August 2007 that sets out the full council’s response to its Kerelawinvestigation and the systems that have been put in place for the safety and protectionof children in residential accommodat…
14 Jun 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will urgently put in place a system that ensures that children in care have their complaints of abuse heard by an independent person or organisation.
Answer · Adam Ingram: I refer the memberto the answer to question S3W-1105 on 27 June 2007. All answers to writtenparliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facilityfor which can be found at <ahref="http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/wa.sea…
14 Mar 2003 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has any role in approving local authority proposals to discontinue or close schools.
Answer · Nicol Stephen: In general, it is the responsibility of an education authority to take any decision on a proposal to close a school. There are certain circumstances, prescribed in legislation, in which authorities cannot implement such a proposal without the consent of the S…
14 Mar 2003 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what guidance it has issued to local authorities regarding the discontinuation or closure of schools.
Answer · Nicol Stephen: This is not a subject on which the Scottish Executive has issued specific guidance. We expect authorities to take account of integrated issues as set out in the joint Scottish Executive/COSLA school estate strategy. The Education (Publication and Consultation…
13 Mar 2003 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether any evaluation is carried out on the reports on sexual assaults passed to procurators fiscal by the police and, if so, how it is undertaken.
Answer · Elish Angiolini: Procurators fiscal subject each report submitted by the police to careful scrutiny and consideration to assess the sufficiency and quality of evidence before a decision is reached about taking proceedings. The police will be instructed to carry out any necess…