Parliamentary questions

Iain Smith

226 questions tabled in the Scottish Parliament, most recent first.

5 Apr 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how it plans to widen access to further and higher education for students under 25 who have their own children.

Answer · Wendy Alexander: Students in higher education receive help with childcare costs, regardless of their age. Support from the Dependants' Grant and Lone Parent' Grant is available to eligible students in addition to any bursary or loan entitlement. From 2001-02, students who rec…

5 Apr 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has any plans to reform the means test for students under 25 with their own children to take into account students' own incomes rather than the income of such students' parents.

Answer · Wendy Alexander: From 2001-02, parental income will not be taken into account for students under 25 if, prior to the start of the relevant academic year, the student is married or has supported him/herself from earnings or benefits for 3 years. Students are regarded as s…

5 Apr 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to help students under 25 with childcare costs.

Answer · Wendy Alexander: I refer the member to the answer given to question S1W-14883.

21 Mar 2001 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what its policy is with regard to pay levels for academic staff in higher education institutions and when this was last reviewed.

Answer · Wendy Alexander: Pay is a matter for employers and the representatives of employees in the higher education sector.In my guidance letter of 23 November to SHEFC, I emphasised the need for the sector to improve human resource policies and management, recognising that staff are…

14 Mar 2001 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Executive when it will announce the results of its consultation on planning controls over mobile telecommunication masts.

Answer · Sarah Boyack: The Executive intends to introduce new planning controls by mid – 2001.

22 Feb 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive when it now plans to publish specific proposals regarding the #100 million ex-gratia payment to former employees of the Scottish Bus Group.

Answer · Sarah Boyack: Scottish Ministers are considering the basis for distribution and following the wind-up of the Scottish Transport Group we will be bringing forward proposals on distribution for the approval of the Scottish Parliament.

31 Jan 2001 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how it intends to help health boards meet the costs of implementing European working time regulations with particular reference to junior doctors.

Answer · Susan Deacon: The agreement reached last year between the European Parliament and the Council of Ministers provides for up to nine years (with a further three years at member state's discretion) to implement the Working Time Directive for doctors in training. The Executive…

17 Jan 2001 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Executive when it plans to announce the awards for the four motorway and trunk road maintenance contracts.

Answer · Sarah Boyack: I made an announcement on 23 January regarding the outcome of the four tender competitions in response to question S1W-12726 from Des McNulty.

3 Jan 2001 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to provide relief for voluntary organisations from water charges.

Answer · Allan Wilson: The water authorities are responsible for administering reliefs to voluntary organisations.

30 Nov 2000 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many teachers graduated from Scottish education establishments in each year since 1979, broken down by subject.

Answer · Jack McConnell: I have today sent the Convenor of the Education, Culture and Sport Committee a report on the supply of teachers. A response to your specific question can be found at Annex D of the report.Copies of the report have been placed in t…

30 Nov 2000 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what representations it has received from local authorities regarding any difficulties experienced in recruiting teachers for specific subjects since 1 July 1999.

Answer · Jack McConnell: I have today sent the Convenor of the Education, Culture and Sport Committee a report on the supply of teachers. A response to your specific question can be found at paragraph 26 of the report.Copies of the report have been placed…

29 Nov 2000 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it plans to encourage local authorities to introduce 20 mph speed limits in residential areas.

Answer · Sarah Boyack: The Scottish Executive is keen to encourage the wider introduction of 20 mph zones, which have proved to be very effective in reducing the number of accidents and the severity of casualties.Changes to legislation introduced in 1999 have giv…

15 Nov 2000 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what measures it is taking to improve recruitment rates for secondary school teacher training.

Answer · Jack McConnell: I have today sent the Convenor of the Education, Culture and Sport Committee a report on the supply of teachers. A response to your specific question can be found at paragraphs 13-18 of the report.Copies of the report have been pl…

15 Nov 2000 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many vacancies there are for secondary school teachers, broken down by subject.

Answer · Jack McConnell: I have today sent the Convenor of the Education, Culture and Sport Committee a report on the supply of teachers. A response to your specific question can be found at paragraphs 28-36 of the report.Copies of the report have been pl…

15 Nov 2000 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many vacancies there are for secondary school teachers in each local authority area.

Answer · Jack McConnell: I have today sent the Convenor of the Education, Culture and Sport Committee a report on the supply of teachers. A response to your specific question can be found at paragraphs 28-36 of the report.Copies of the report have been pl…

15 Nov 2000 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many excess winter deaths of people (a) of all ages; (b) aged 60 to 74; (c) aged 75 to 84, and (d) aged 85 or over there were in 1999-2000 and each of the preceding five years in (i) Scotland, (ii) each parliamentary constituency and (iii) each health board area.

Answer · Jim Wallace: There is no universally accepted definition of "excess winter deaths". However, when presenting data for England and Wales, the Office for National Statistics defines "excess winter deaths" as being the difference between the number of dea…