Parliamentary questions
Hugh O'Donnell
361 questions tabled in the Scottish Parliament, most recent first.
6 May 2009 · SPCB Written Question
To ask the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body whether it has a sinking fund in place in relation to the Parliament estate.
Answer · Tom McCabe: In line with generally accepted accounting practice, the SPCB does not maintain a sinking fund in relation to the Parliament estate. The SPCB''s annual accounts incorporate a non-cash depreciation charge to reflect the write off of asset values over their es…
29 Apr 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, as per the latest figures from the General Register Office for Scotland, what impact the net increase in population will have on the provision of services for which the Scottish Government is responsible and what estimate it has made of the likely additional costs.
Answer · John Swinney: The cost of providing public services depends on many variables, including pay costs, the level of prices in the economy generally, and the standards of service provided. The number of people to whom a service is provided also affects overall costs. The bigge…
28 Apr 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what information it has on how much has been paid in constrained off payments by the national grid and how this compares to payments made in the rest of the United Kingdom in each of the last 12 months for which information is available.
Answer · Jim Mather: The Scottish Government do not hold information on constraints costs. Ofgem, however, published what it considers to be detail on actual and forecast constraints costs on 17 February 2009. These are set out in the following table. We understand these estimate…
28 Apr 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what information it has on how much has been paid in constrained off payments by the national grid for wind farm electricity generation in Scotland in each of the last 12 months for which information is available.
Answer · Jim Mather: The Scottish Government do not hold information on constraints payments to individual generators, or by type of generation.</p> <p >Due to the volume of generation and timeframe within which system constraints need to be addressed, we understand National Gr…
28 Apr 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what information it has on whether records are kept of the constrained off payments made by the national grid for wind farm electricity generation in Scotland.
Answer · Jim Mather: The Scottish Government does not hold information on constraints payments to wind farm generators in Scotland.</p> <p >I refer the member to the answers to questions S3W-23338 and S3W-23339 on 11 May 2009. All answers to written parliamentary questions are a…
28 Apr 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what information it has on the definition of constrained off payments made to electricity generators by the national grid.
Answer · Jim Mather: National Grid define constraints as where the UK electricity grid system is unable to transmit the power supplied to the location of demand due to congestion or system outages at one or more parts of the transmission network. An example of this is the Cheviot…
28 Apr 2009 · SPCB Written Question
To ask the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body what logs are kept of internet browsing carried out using the service providers within the parliamentary complex and who has access to such logs.
Answer · Alex Johnstone: The Parliament IT systems automatically log the details of internet sites requested by network users. The system logs can be accessed by a limited number of authorised system administrators working in the Business Information Technology Office. </p>
28 Apr 2009 · SPCB Written Question
To ask the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body what its policy is with regard to the retention of emails sent and received by parliamentary staff and elected members; who has access to these emails, and how this policy was arrived at.
Answer · Alex Johnstone: The SPCB has in place a Records Management Policy, Procedures and Guidance for SPCB Staff. This includes guidance on the retention of emails and was approved by parliamentary officials.</p> <p >Access to emails requires appropriate permissions to be given …
23 Apr 2009 · General Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how it supports people who have Parkinson’s disease.
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/sor0430-01.htm">http://www.scott…
25 Mar 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executivewhat steps it will take to enable young people who have left care to return for short periods of support.
Answer · Adam Ingram: Under current legislation there are no restrictions on young people returning to care and this is one of the issues of good practice that we will discuss with the Scottish Throughcare and Aftercare Forum and local authorities.</p>
25 Mar 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executivewhether it will work with housing associations to ensure that care leavers are given appropriate priority in housing allocation.
Answer · Adam Ingram: The Scottish Government held a seminar on 1 April 2009, in partnership with the Scottish Throughcare and Aftercare Forum for local authorities to consider accommodation issues for care leavers. It is for local authorities to ensure that young people leaving c…
25 Mar 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-21882 by Adam Ingram on 23 March 2009, what steps it is taking to promote 18 as the age of leaving care.
Answer · Adam Ingram: The age that a young person leaves care should be based on the individual circumstances and needs of each young person. There are many benefits to remaining looked after until at least 18. I have set out my expectation publicly at the four regional events whi…
25 Mar 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executivewhether it will seek a power to order local authorities to fulfil their statutory duties in relation to care leavers.
Answer · Adam Ingram: We have no plans to seek such a power. The Social Work Inspection Agency undertakes inspections to improve the quality of social work services across Scotland, including examining the throughcare and aftercare services provided by local authorities. We are wo…
25 Mar 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executivewhen it will introduce a system of classiciation for homeless hostels indicating their suitability for care leavers and the levels of support provided.
Answer · Alex Neil: The Support and Assistance of Young People Leaving Care (Scotland) Regulations 2003 and associated guidance are clear that a local authority providing accommodation for care leavers must ensure that this accommodation is suitable. The guidance is also clear t…
25 Mar 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executivewhether it will amend section 21 of the Children (Scotland) Act 1995 to add registered social landlords to the list of those required to co-operate with local authorities.
Answer · Adam Ingram: The Scottish Government, in partnership with the Scottish Throughcare and Aftercare Forum held a seminar for local authorities on accommodation for care leavers on 1 April 2009. We are considering their feedback and next steps, including their views on this i…
25 Mar 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive when it will revise the Homeless Persons (Unsuitable Accommodation) (Scotland) Order 2004 to prohibit the use of bed and breakfast accomodation for care leavers.
Answer · Alex Neil: The Scottish Government is discussing amendment of the Homeless Persons (Unsuitable Accommodation) (Scotland) Order 2004 with COSLA. The Order currently applies to homeless households containing pregnant women and/or children and sets standards for temporary …
26 Feb 2009 · General Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what legal remedies are available to public authorities when pursuing individuals for debt.
Answer · Fergus Ewing : <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/sor0226-01.htm">http://www.scot…
12 Feb 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-20187 by Fiona Hyslop on 3 February 2009, whether it can confirm that no student debt has been transferred or sold since 1999 and how much it received for the 1999 sale.
Answer · Fiona Hyslop: Further to the answer to question S3W-20187 on 2 February 2009 I can confirm that no further student loan debt has been sold or transferred since 1999.</p> <p >The then Scottish Executive received no additional Barnett provision as a result of this sale.</p…
12 Feb 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what speech and language services are available at HMP and YOI Cortnon Vale.
Answer · Kenny MacAskill: I have asked Mike Ewart, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service to respond. His response is as follows:</p> <p >HMP and YOI Cornton Vale places a significant emphasis on communication support.</p> <p >Whilst the prison does not have a speech and lan…
12 Feb 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what it is doing to monitor and address ageism in bodies for which it has direct or arm’s length responsibility.
Answer · Alex Neil: The Scottish Government is committed to increasing the diversity of staff within the devolved public service, and recognising what everyone has to offer. All Scottish public bodies are required to operate equal opportunities policies in line with Scottish Gov…
12 Feb 2009 · General Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many elderly people are in hospital waiting for places in care or nursing homes.
Answer · Shona Robison : <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/sor0212-01.htm">http://www.scot…
10 Feb 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive when it will provide a substantive answer to question S3W-17141, which received a holding reply on 17 November 2008.
Answer · John Swinney: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-17141 on 3 March 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…
6 Feb 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what steps it will take to ensure that children with autism and their parents are fully involved in the planning and provision of appropriate education and support.
Answer · Adam Ingram: Under the Education (Additional Support for Learning)(Scotland) Act 2004 (the 2004 Act), education authorities have a duty to actively seek and take account of the views of children with additional support needs, including autism, and those of their parents. …
6 Feb 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how it intends to ensure that local authorities and community health partnerships plan appropriate and effective services to ensure that adults with autism do not fall into any gap between mental health and learning disabilities services.
Answer · Shona Robison: The Scottish Government has published and disseminated guidance for commissioners of services for people on the autism spectrum in local authorities and health boards, which sets out recommendations for planning appropriate services.</p> <p >The Scottish Gov…
6 Feb 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-19933 by Adam Ingram on 30 January 2009, what actions it will take to ensure that children’s and adults’ services in local authorities work effectively together to share information and plan services for young people with autism who are approaching a…
Answer · Adam Ingram: As set out in the answer to question S3W-19933 on 30 January 2009, the Education (Additional Support for Learning) (Scotland) Act 2004 requires education authorities to take action, where appropriate, to help young people with additional support needs, includ…
6 Feb 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, in light of the Autism Spectrum Disorder Reference Group having ended its tenure, what plans it has to consult, involve and meet the needs of people on the autistic spectrum.
Answer · Shona Robison: Implementation of <i >The same as you?</i> review of learning disability services continues to involve people on the autism spectrum with or without a learning disability. People on the autism spectrum and carers are also fully involved in the national work t…
6 Feb 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to promote the policy and practice guidance for service commissioners for people on the autistic spectrum that was produced in April 2008.
Answer · Shona Robison: The policy and practice guidance for commissioners of services for people on the autism spectrum was distributed widely across all local authorities to social work and housing departments. It was also sent to all health boards and Community Health Partnership…
5 Feb 2009 · General Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how it makes representations on its views on European policy matters that impact on Scotland.
Answer · Linda Fabiani : <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/sor0205-01.htm">http://www.sco…
29 Jan 2009 · First Minister's Question
To ask the First Minister how the Scottish Government supports children who have been excluded from school.
Answer · Alex Salmond: <i >This question was answered in the Chamber. The answer can be viewed in the Official Report using the following link:</i><i ></i></p> <p ><a href="http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/business/officialReports/meetingsParliament/or-09/sor0129-01.htm">http://…
26 Jan 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many student loan debts in (a) numerical and (b) cash terms have been sold to other agencies in each of the last 10 years and which agencies now have ownership of these debts.
Answer · Fiona Hyslop: Details of how many student loan debts in numerical and cash terms that have been sold to other agencies and who now has ownership of these debts are shown in the following table:</p> <table border=0 cellspacing=0 cellpadding=0 > <thead> <tr > <td wi…