Hugh O'Donnell

1 Aug 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-1565 by Shona Robison on 19 July 2007, how it views the advertising of alcohol and what its policy is in this regard.

Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: The Scottish Executiveis developing a holistic and wide-ranging long-term strategy for tackling alcoholmisuse. In developing the strategy, consideration will be given to a wide rangeof alcohol-related issues and to the place of alcohol within Scottish society…

1 Aug 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further the answer to question S3W-1565 by Shona Robison on 19 July 2007, what specific steps it has taken to discuss with alcohol manufacturers and marketing executives their policies on alcohol advertising.

Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: The Scottish Governmentand Alcohol Industry Partnership (AIP) meets quarterly to discuss a range of alcohol-relatedissues.</p><p>The first initiativeto be completed by the AIP was the production of a Scottish standards document –<i>Social Responsibility Stand…

19 Jul 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has undertaken or plans to undertake an investigation of the operation, in Scotland, of the recruitment and interview process of the General Medical Council since the introduction of changes that led to a breakdown in communication systems and doctors failing to find training p…

Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: I provided an update to theHealth and Sport Committee on 27 June 2007. This provides a full account of the action being taken to support doctors who have failed to secure a trainingpost as well as a commitment to future action. Full details can be accessedusi…

19 Jul 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether, in light of difficulties caused to junior doctors seeking training posts as a result of recent changes to the General Medical Council recruitment process and following the commitment by the Cabinet Secretary for Health and Wellbeing to extend the contracts of those failing to fin…

Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: The General Medical Councilis not responsible for recruitment to UK training posts. I can also confirm that continuityof employment will be offered to Scottish based doctors who find themselves inthe situation as described.</p>

5 Jul 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has undertaken research into the reasons for the reduction in enrolments in further education from 450,000 in 2001-02 to fewer than 400,000 in 2004-05.

Answer · Fiona Hyslop: Enrolments over the period2001-02 to 2004-05 fell from 514,801 to 450,437. No specific research on thispoint has been undertaken by the Scottish Executive itself. However, widerresearch commissioned by the predecessor to the Scottish Funding Councilsuggested …

26 Jun 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions it has had with the UK Government regarding the advertising of alcohol.

Answer · Shona Robison: The Scottish government is inregular contact with the UK Government on a wide range of alcohol-related issues.</p>

26 Jun 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it is considering raising the age at which alcohol can be bought from off-sales premises, including supermarkets.

Answer · Kenny MacAskill: No.</p>

26 Jun 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to further develop the Safe Routes to School initiative.

Answer · Stewart Stevenson: The Scottish Executive isproviding funding totalling nearly £50 million between 2003 and 2008 for localauthorities for 20 mph schemes outside schools and related safety projects,including safer routes to school and home zones. It is for each local authorityto…

26 Jun 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what steps it is taking to enforce parking exclusion zones around schools.

Answer · Stewart Stevenson: Enforcement of parkingrestrictions around schools is primarily an operational matter for the police exceptin areas where decriminalised parking enforcement has been introduced. Enforcementwould then be the responsibility of parking attendants employed by the …

26 Jun 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to further develop the Safe Routes to School initiative.

Answer · Stewart Stevenson: Sustrans in Scotland is theleading organisation taking forward the Safe Routes to School Initiative.</p><p>From 2000-08, the Scottish Executivewill have provided over £55 million to local authorities for Cycling, Walking andSafer Streets projects; it is up to…

26 Jun 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what guidance it has issued to local authorities with regard to the provision of adult supervision on contract buses used to transport children to and from school.

Answer · Maureen Watt: The Scottish Executive’sschool transport guidance (Circular 7/2003) makes clear that it is for educationauthorities to decide whether, on what routes and how to provide such supervision.That guidance has been supplemented by <i>School transport: survey of goo…

26 Jun 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what guidance it has issued to local authorities with regard to the quality and safety of contract buses used to transport children to and from school.

Answer · Maureen Watt: Legislation on busstandards and safety is reserved to the UK Parliament. The Scottish Executive’sschool transport guidance (Circular 7/2003) makes clear that it is for educationauthorities themselves to specify the terms and conditions of school transport con…

26 Jun 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it intends to review the protection afforded to emergency vehicles and crews by current legislation to include other public service vehicles such as buses and trains.

Answer · Kenny MacAskill: The Scottish governmentattaches the greatest importance to the safety of all passengers and staff usingand delivering bus and train services and will continue to work in partnershipwith local authorities, transport operators and others on a range of deterrent…

26 Jun 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what guidance it has given Transport Scotland with regard to the provision of bus services by First Bus in the Falkirk area.

Answer · Stewart Stevenson: The provision of busservices in the Falkirk area is not a matter for Transport Scotland and no guidance has been issued in this regard by the Scottish Executive. It is the responsibility of the Traffic Commissioner for the Scottish Traffic Area to ensure that…

26 Jun 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what guidance it has issued to local authorities with regard to the use of mobile phone texting and its role in bullying and harassment in schools.

Answer · Maureen Watt: In March 2007 the Scottish Executive issued policy guidance to local authorities on the misuse ofmobile phones in school. The guidance covered the use of mobile phones includingtexting in relation to bullying and harassment, and included further sources ofinf…

26 Jun 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it collects statistics on reported incidents of bullying in schools.

Answer · Maureen Watt: Education authoritiesand schools develop and implement anti-bullying policies and decide how incidentsof bullying should be monitored and recorded. There is no national data collectionon school bullying.</p>

26 Jun 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what steps it is taking to address bullying in schools.

Answer · Maureen Watt: The Scottish Executive providessupport to schools and authorities to tackle bullying wherever and whenever it arises.This consists of a range of guidance to assist schools, education authorities, pupilsand families to promote positive behaviour and combat bul…

22 Jun 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-19 by Stewart Stevenson on 30 May 2007, why, following the decision to revisit the Edinburgh trams project and the Edinburgh Airport Rail Link, it has decided not to revisit both the route and the scale of the proposed upgrade of the A/M80 where it p…

Answer · Stewart Stevenson: As I informed Parliamentin my statement on transport on 27 June 2007 the casefor the M80 Stepps to Haggs projectis clear and we are committed to continuing with the tendering process.</p>

19 Jun 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how it will work to improve the safety of children travelling to and from schools.

Answer · Stewart Stevenson: Education authorities have ageneral duty to take reasonable care for the safety of pupils when under theircharge. The Scottish Executive guidance to education authorities on school transportprovision, Circular 7/2003, makes clear the expectation that this dut…

19 Jun 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what steps it is taking to improve the observance of 20mph speed zones around schools.

Answer · Stewart Stevenson: The enforcement of the law is an operational matter for Chief Constables.</p>

18 Jun 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to develop its links with, and the role of, the Scottish Youth Parliament.

Answer · Adam Ingram: The Scottish Governmentvalues the role of the ScottishYouth Parliament in representing the views of young people in Scotland. We have already met some key members of the ScottishYouth Parliament and look forward to continuing to work with them and to hearingt…

31 May 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to involve the voluntary and commercial training sectors in addressing training needs for those young people referred to as NEETS.

Answer · Fiona Hyslop: National and localpartnership working is key to reducing the number of young people not in education,employment or training in Scotland. This includes the involvement of the voluntarysector and commercial training providers, both of which are major deliverers…

31 May 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to review the role of nursery school provision, in both the public and private sectors, in relation to providing educational services for pre-school children and early years formal education.

Answer · Fiona Hyslop: Early education is centralto the plans of the Scottish Executive for improving services for children andfamilies. We are finalising initial plans and will shortly be makingannouncements about our plans in specific areas.</p>

31 May 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions it has had with voluntary sector providers of education services about the development of closer working ties with statutory providers.

Answer · Fiona Hyslop: Scottish Executive officialshave held discussions with a range of voluntary sector providers of education services.Through their meetings they have discussed the links between statutory and voluntaryservices.</p>

31 May 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what steps it will take to increase the current level of claim in relation to small claims actions; what form such steps will take, and in what timeframe it will bring forward proposals for any changes it may make.

Answer · Kenny MacAskill: I am considering the issue andwill make an announcement in due course.</p><p>In making changes to jurisdictionlimits there is a need to consider the varying interests of the different courtusers and strike the right balance in what any increase to the limits …

22 May 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive when it plans to transfer the functions of Communities Scotland to local authorities.

Answer · Stewart Maxwell: In his statement toParliament on 24 May 2007 about our approach to Government, the CabinetSecretary for Finance and Sustainable Growth spoke about the need to re-assessthe relationship between the Scottish Government, agencies and public bodies. Inthat contex…

22 May 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what measures it considers are necessary to make the right to buy more responsive to local needs.

Answer · Stewart Maxwell: We intend to look closely atthe right to buy in its current form and consider how to align the policy more closelyto local needs.</p>

22 May 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many additional affordable homes it plans to build across central Scotland over the period of the next Comprehensive Spending Review.

Answer · Stewart Maxwell: Decisions on affordable housinginvestment beyond 2008 will depend on the outcome of the spending review processlater this year.</p>

17 May 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what measures it will take to support people who will lose their jobs as a result of the closure of Bath Press Ltd in Blantyre and to encourage other businesses into the area so that new, local employment opportunities can be created.

Answer · Jim Mather: Assistance to workersaffected by the potential redundancy will be provided through our PACE(Partnership Action for Continuing Employment) framework. PACE presentationsand one-to-one interviews with the affected workers will be provided during the90 day consul…

16 May 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will revisit both the route and the scale of the proposed upgrade of the A/M80 where it passes through Cumbernauld.

Answer · Stewart Stevenson: No.</p>