Gordon Jackson

13 Dec 2006 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how the additional funding announced for local authorities will alleviate the financial burden of people in most need.

Answer · Tom McCabe: The additional funding packageworth over £250 million for local authorities was announced on 13 December. Localgovernment services benefit the entire community. However, their record has shownthat they focus on those most in need and I expect this to continue…

1 Nov 2006 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what evaluation has taken place of the Hungry for Success initiative since its introduction.

Answer · Robert Brown: Her Majesty’s Inspectorate ofEducation continue to monitor the implementation of Hungry for Success as part oftheir general inspection programme.</p>

15 Mar 2006 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will recommend the recruitment of specialist epilepsy nurses in each of Glasgow's community health and social care partnerships and in community health partnerships across Scotland.

Answer · Lewis Macdonald: The planning of the workforceto deliver first class health services – including specialist epilepsy nurses –to patients in Scotland, is primarily a matter for individual NHS boards.</p>

15 Mar 2006 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it is considers that it is essential for people with epilepsy to see a lead clinician or specialist epilepsy nurse to ensure appropriate ongoing primary care.

Answer · Lewis Macdonald: The Executive recognises theimportance of patients having ready access, as needed, to specialist advice. Wehave been working with Epilepsy Scotland, on behalf of patients, and with cliniciansto develop a Managed Clinical Network approach to services for those…

11 Nov 2005 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions it has had with UK ministers and BAE Systems regarding progress on construction work for Royal Navy aircraft carriers at the Clyde shipyards.

Answer · Nicol Stephen: Scottish ministers regularly engage with UK Defence and DTI ministers regarding current and future work programmes including the future aircraft carriers project (CVF). Scottish Executive officials also regularly meet with UK counterparts on a wide range of i…

15 Oct 2004 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what its position is in respect of the status of Network Rail with regard to environmental assessments and public consultation with Scottish Natural Heritage and interested parties on plans with a significant environmental impact.

Answer · Malcolm Chisholm: The Environmental Assessmentof Plans and Programmes (Scotland) Regulations 2004, applies to authorities who are“exercising functions of a public character”. Under these regulations the onusis on Network Rail to consider if they are carrying out functions of a…

15 Oct 2004 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has any plans to include Network Rail within the statutory responsibilities of the Scottish Information Commissioner.

Answer · Nicol Stephen: The Scottish Executive has no plans to bring Network Rail within the scope of the Freedom of Information (Scotland) Act 2002.  However, Network Rail is required to provide information to the Office of Rail Regulation about its public functions. Such informati…

15 Oct 2004 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what Network Rail’s permitted development rights are in respect of conservation areas and sites of special scientific interest.

Answer · Malcolm Chisholm: Class 34 of Schedule 1 of the Town and Country Planning (General Permitted Development) (Scotland) Order 1992 (the GPDO), grants a general planning permission (or permitted development right) for development by railway undertakers or their lessees on their op…

15 Oct 2004 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what its role is, and what its future role will be, as a public member of Network Rail.

Answer · Nicol Stephen: The Scottish Executive is currently a public member of Network Rail. Members have a duty to act in the best interests of Network Rail and perform a corporate governance role. This includes reviewing the performance of Network Rail against its commercial and o…

23 Dec 2003 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive when it will make an announcement on the proposal to build a 130 megawatt wind-powered generating station at Hadyard Hill in South Ayrshire.

Answer · Lewis Macdonald: I can announce that the Scottish ministers have granted consent on this proposal in terms of section 36of the Electricity Act 1989. Additionally this consent carries deemed planningpermission in terms of the Town and Country Planning (Scotland)Act 1997.</p><p…

12 Dec 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it plans to commission any further reports from the Performance Audit Group on the performance of the trunk road maintenance contract operating companies.

Answer · Lewis Macdonald: Yes. The Scottish Executive intends to ask the Performance Audit Group to publish its report on the performance of the operating companies annually. It is expected that the 2002-03 report will be published in August - September 2003. As with this years' repor…

30 Oct 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive when the annual report of the Interception of Communications Commissioner will be laid before the Parliament.

Answer · Jack McConnell: A copy of the <I>Report of the Interception of Communications Commissioner's for 2001</I> has been laid before Parliament today in accordance with the Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act 2000. With the agreement of the Prime Minister, the confidential anne…

8 Mar 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive over what timescale modernisation to current council properties in Glasgow under the Glasgow Standard will be completed should there be a yes vote in the Glasgow housing stock transfer ballot.

Answer · Margaret Curran: If tenants vote yes in the Glasgow housing stock transfer ballot, every home with a long-term life will be fully modernised to the Glasgow Standard within 10.5 years of transfer.

8 Mar 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what up-grading to current council properties in Glasgow will be made under the new Glasgow Standard should there be a yes vote in the Glasgow housing stock transfer ballot.

Answer · Margaret Curran: If tenants vote yes in the Glasgow housing stock transfer ballot, the Glasgow standard will ensure that Glasgow Housing Association's homes are safe and structurally sound, secure, with modern kitchens and bathrooms, warm, dry, dampfree with affordable centra…

8 Mar 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive over what timescale double-gla'ing, insulation and exterior repairs will be completed to properties transferring from Glasgow City Council to the Glasgow Housing Association should there be a yes vote in the Glasgow housing stock transfer ballot.

Answer · Margaret Curran: If tenants vote yes in the Glasgow housing stock transfer ballot, double glazing, insulation and exterior repairs will be implemented for all homes with a long-term life within six years of transfer.

8 May 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many police officers from ethnic minority communities there currently are in each police force and what the latest figures are for the recruitment, retention and promotion of such officers.

Answer · Jim Wallace: The information available for the last two years is given in the following tables:<P>1999-2000<TABLE BORDER CELLSPACING=1 CELLPADDING=7 WIDTH=687><TR><TD WIDTH="13%" VALIGN="TOP"><FONT FACE="Arial" SIZE=1><P>Force</TD><TD WIDTH="14%" VALIGN="TOP"><FONT FACE="…

13 Mar 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what arrangements have been made to review the procedures for safeguarding the security and confidentiality of information to be collected in the 2001 Census in Scotland.

Answer · Jim Wallace: Independent reviews of the physical security arrangements for processing the 2001 Census information and the measures to protect the statistical confidentiality of the data were commissioned by the Registrar Generals for Scotland, England and Wales, and North…

30 Mar 2000 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what responses it has received to the consultation paper regarding proposals to extend the opening hours of casinos in Scotland.

Answer · Jim Wallace: We published this consultation paper on 10 November 1999 and the consultation period ended on 31 January 2000. The Executive received 15 responses.<P ALIGN="JUSTIFY">Of the responses three were against the proposal, three were in favour and the remainder were…

13 Jan 2000 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what measures are proposed to tackle the ongoing problem of damp housing in Glasgow.

Answer · Wendy Alexander: In the current year, Glasgow City Council's capital programme for its own houses amounts to some £55 million of which the Council expects to spend around £20 million on measures which will tackle dampness. Glasgow will also benefit from the new Warm Deal, int…

10 Sep 1999 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what advice has been given to civil servants regarding contacts with MSPs and the handling of requests for information from the Scottish Parliament Information Centre.

Answer · Donald Dewar: The Permanent Secretary has today issued guidance to staff in the Scottish Executive and its agencies about how to handle contacts with MSPs and requests for information from the Scottish Parliament Information Centre. The guidance notes are consistent with t…