Questions · Hugh O'Donnell

19 Jan 2010 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what funding it has provided to the Association of Scottish Community Councils in each of the last five years.

Answer · John Swinney: The Scottish Government provided funding to the association at the following levels: <table border=1 cellspacing=0 cellpadding=0 > <tr > <td width=71 valign=top > 2005-06 </td> <td width=75 valign=top > £25,000 </td> </t…

18 Dec 2009 · SPCB Written Question

To ask the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body whether the exit signage at the push buttons for the recently installed security turnstiles at the Queensberry House and the Canongate entrances to the Parliamentary campus comply with recommendations on clear and visible signage from any of the organisations that repre…

Answer · Alex Johnstone: The push to exit button and signage is smaller than the standard for an accessible exit/entrance but we consider that compliance with this standard is achieved by the separate accessible entry point located as part of the Canongate entrance. This is used by d…

18 Dec 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what percentage of the funding allocation distributed by the Scottish Funding Council in the (a) 2007-08 and (b) 2008-09 funding rounds was awarded to the New Horizons Fund for skills development work.

Answer · Michael Russell: The Scottish Funding Council introduced its new approach to funding through the General Fund and the Horizon Fund for the first time in 2009-10.

17 Dec 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-29346 by Keith Brown on 9 December 2009, what measures it has put in place to limit or restrict local authorities from re-employing those who retire under the scheme.

Answer · Michael Russell: Local authorities have been asked to adhere to the recommendation 4 of the Teacher Employment Working Group, published in October 2008, to help develop more opportunities for newly qualified teachers by reducing the use of retired teachers in supply work. The…

26 Nov 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what its position is on the fact that only 10 single outcome agreements contain a specific reference to children affected by domestic abuse in the area profile, despite the publication of the National Domestic Abuse Delivery Plan for Children and Young People.

Answer · Adam Ingram: Single outcome agreements (SOAs) are designed to set out the agreed high level, strategic priorities of a community planning partnership (CCP). These are set out as local outcomes, each of which is aligned to at least one of the government''s national outcome…

25 Nov 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what the projected additional costs will be in respect of pension entitlements if all eligible teachers take up early retirement under the £10 million scheme it announced in its news release, Support for teacher employment, on 25 November 2009.

Answer · Keith Brown: The government has taken action to address the serious issue of teacher unemployment. We have listened to what councils have said over the summer about the desire to put in place an early retirement scheme. Councils will be invited to bid for this sc…

23 Nov 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answers to questions S3W-26158, S3W-26159 and S3W-26160 by Stewart Stevenson on 31 August and 2 September 2009 respectively, for what reason various sections of the new M80 from Stepps to Haggs are being constructed to a capacity less than technically required by Transport…

Answer · Stewart Stevenson: Following the outcome of the Central Scotland Transport Corridor Studies which were announced in 2003, the then ministers decided that in view of their policy aspirations for traffic stabilisation in the medium term, the recommended full upgrade as indicated …

20 Nov 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what measures it is taking to ensure that all energy statistics collected at a UK level will also be collected and made available at a Scottish level.

Answer · Jim Mather: The Scottish Government has been liaising with the Department for Energy and Climate Change (DECC) over the availability of regional energy statistics. Regional energy statistics are published by DECC within the quarterly Energy Trends publications; these reg…

5 Nov 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how much of the Barnett consequential of £34 million arising from recommendations in Aiming high for disabled children: better support for families has been allocated to local authorities as part of Grant Aided Expenditure.

Answer · Adam Ingram: The Barnett Formula consequentials due to Scotland as a result of HM Treasury''s announcement of £340 million to support families with disabled children, in connection with the report Aiming high for disabled children: better support for families, were…

2 Oct 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether there are guidelines to standardise the format and procedures for local planning inquiries and, if so, where these can be accessed.

Answer · John Swinney: The Directorate for Planning and Environmental Appeals (DPEA) arrange public local inquiries for planning appeals, called in planning applications, amenity notice appeals, enforcement notice appeals, certificate of lawful use development appeals and tree noti…

28 Sep 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive when it will produce a national strategy for autism.

Answer · Shona Robison: Scotland''s citizens have benefited from the equivalent of an autism strategy from 2002 until the present. This has delivered improved diagnosis and assessment, extensive awareness raising and training, development of innovative services and education resourc…

28 Sep 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what the target times are for referrals, by GPs to consultants, of people with psychiatric or psychological problems.

Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: No such referral target has been set. Most referrals take place quickly and well within the target times for other illnesses. The exception to this is referral to consultants for those requiring access to specialist child and adolescence mental health service…

11 Sep 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many voluntary sector organisations to which it has given grant aid have had money reclaimed from their grants as a result of failing to meet the grant criteria in each of the last four years and for what reasons.

Answer · Jim Mather: Support is available to third sector organisations through a number of funding streams across all directorates within government. The Scottish Government publishes retrospectively annual details of its direct and indirect support for third sector organisation…

10 Sep 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how the domestic property values by which eligibility for support from its mortgage support schemes is calculated were arrived at.

Answer · Alex Neil: Maximum price ceilings (or thresholds) have been set at the lower quartile (lowest 25%) price level, based on actual house sales data in each area. Lower quartile is the price where 25% of sales fall at or are below. Lower quartile is a commonly used measure …

2 Sep 2009 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how it will support anti-racism education during the 2014 Glasgow Commonwealth Games.

Answer · Shona Robison : This question was answered in the Chamber. The answer can be viewed in the Official Report using the following link: <a href="http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/business/officialReports/meetingsParliament/or-09/sor0910-01.htm">http://www.scot…

21 Aug 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive which organisations providing support and advice to immigrants it has met with in the last 12 months.

Answer · Alex Neil: The information requested could only be obtained at disproportionate cost.