Johann Lamont

30 Jul 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what progress it has made to date with implementation of The Same as You?.

Answer · Frank McAveety: Significant progress has been made with all 29 recommendations of <I>The Same as You?</I> review of services for people with learning disability. Particular milestones include the setting up of Learning Disability Change Funds with effect from April 2001, tot…

30 Jul 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether there is an action plan with clear targets, milestones and timescales to take forward implementation of The Same as You?.

Answer · Frank McAveety: The main strategy documents for the implementation of <I>The Same as You?</I> are the Partnership in Practice agreements which set out, at local level, targets, milestones and timescales. Through Partnership in Practice agreements every area in Scotland has a…

30 Jul 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will give details of the monitoring framework for measuring the implementation of The Same as You?.

Answer · Frank McAveety: In addition to the work of <I>The Same as You? </I>National Implementation Group, the Scottish Executive is monitoring implementation of <I>The Same as You?</I> through contact with local authorities, Scottish Health Advisory Service inspections, the NHS Perf…

24 Jun 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what its plans are for tackling deprivation in Scotland's deprived communities.

Answer · Margaret Curran: I am pleased to announce the publication today of the Executive's Community Regeneration Statement, <I>Better Communities in Scotland: Closing the Gap</I>, which sets out how we intend to turn around deprived communities and create a better life for those liv…

16 May 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive when it will announce its conclusions on the review of the Schools (Scotland) Code.

Answer · Cathy Jamieson: I shall reply to the member as soon as possible.

27 Mar 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what its performance has been in the third and fourth quarters of 2001 in answering ministerial correspondence.

Answer · Patricia Ferguson: In the answer given to question S1W-12163, my colleague, Tom McCabe undertook to report quarterly on the numbers of letters received by ministers and our performance in answering them.<P>In the third quarter of 2001, July to September, 3,471 letters were rece…

26 Mar 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what responsibility it has for management of the Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority.

Answer · Jim Wallace: Scottish ministers have joint responsibility with the Home Secretary for the policy and general oversight of the Criminal Injuries Compensation Scheme. The day to day administration of the scheme and decisions on individual applications are the responsibility…

26 Mar 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what steps it will take in order to ensure that correspondence from me to the Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority of 21 January 2002, 5 February 2002 and 1 March 2002 is acknowledged and that the points raised in that correspondence are addressed.

Answer · Jim Wallace: The operation of the Criminal Injuries Compensation Scheme is the responsibility of the Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority. I understand that the Deputy Chief Executive of the authority has now written to you in response to your letter of 1 March 2002, …

8 Mar 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many jobs it estimates will be sustained in Glasgow 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, in addition to the Glasgow City Council staff transferring to the Glasgow Housing Association under Transfer Undertaking Protection of Employment regulations, it is estimated that 3,100 new con…

8 Mar 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many new homes will be built for social rent in Glasgow should there be a yes vote in the Glasgow housing stock transfer ballot.

Answer · Margaret Curran: In tenants vote yes in the Glasgow housing stock transfer ballot, 13,000 new homes for social rent are planned for Glasgow.

8 Mar 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what measures will be taken to improve the energy efficiency of current council properties in Glasgow 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 Housing Association's modernisation programme will, through the combination of external fabric upgrading, double-glazing, insulation and central heating, result in significant impro…

4 Feb 2002 · First Minister's Question

To ask the First Minister what the prospects are for economic regeneration of the River Clyde.

Answer · Jack McConnell: We believe there is great potential to develop the Clyde. We are working in partnership with key public and private stakeholders to consider in depth projects for economic growth. <P>On Monday, Ms Wendy Alexander set out a blueprint for the long-term future o…

18 Jan 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what information it holds on the numbers of patients removed from GP lists in each year and what reasons other than a patient's death are given in such cases.

Answer · Malcolm Chisholm: The numbers of patients removed from lists by Island NHS Boards or Primary Care Trusts at the request of GPs each year, excluding those removed as a result of death, emigration or change of address, have been collected centrally since 1996. Except where a GP …

19 Dec 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what the outcomes were of the review of the proposals from local authorities to the Better Neighbourhood Service Fund, announced in January 2001, and what allocations are being made to local authorities this year.

Answer · Iain Gray: The Minister for Finance and Public Services and I have reviewed the Local Outcome Agreements (LOAs) submitted by the 12 local authorities selected to benefit from the Better Neighbourhood Services Fund (BNSF).<P>Uppermost in our minds was the Executive's com…

22 Nov 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive when it intends to publish its Social Justice Annual Report.

Answer · Jackie Baillie: The Social Justice Annual Report 2001 will be published on Monday 26 November 2001. Copies of the full report and the accompanying technical volume are available from the Parliament's Reference Centre and on the Scottish Executive's website www.scotland.gov.u…

15 Nov 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive when the report of the study into the national and local prevalence of problem drug misuse in Scotland will be published.

Answer · Iain Gray: The report, funded by the Scottish Executive, and undertaken by the Centre for Drug Misuse Research at the University of Glasgow in conjunction with the Scottish Centre for Infection and Environmental Health, is being published today. Copies of the report hav…

31 Oct 2001 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what progress it is making in improving the position of victims in the legal system.

Answer · Iain Gray: The Executive is making good progress in implementing the <I>Scottish Strategy for Victims</I> and the Action Plans which support it. We are improving the support and information available to victims and will be providing them with more opportunities to parti…

29 Jun 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the budget statement by the Minister for Finance on 28 June 2001, whether details of the Level II revised social justice budget can be made available to the Social Justice Committee and, if so, when.

Answer · Jackie Baillie: The table details what we expect to spend on Social Justice commitments over the coming three years. The figures have yet to be finalised and take account of amounts carried forward from last year to 2001-02 and in future years. They are dependent on final de…

7 Mar 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what criteria will be used to determine the distribution of the latest additional funding package of #100 million allocated to tackling the problem of drugs across Scotland, and what weighting will be given to (a) deprivation factors, (b) population and (c) the number of drug-related dea…

Answer · Iain Gray: I refer the member to the answer given to question S1W-13043 on 5 February 2001, which contains detailed information on the distribution of the additional £100 million drugs expenditure package. Distribution arrangements detailing the weighting given to depri…

7 Mar 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will detail the amount of money to be distributed to each local authority from the latest additional funding package of #100 million allocated to tackling the problem of drugs across Scotland.

Answer · Iain Gray: I refer the member to the answer given to question S1W-13043 on 5 February 2001, which sets out the distribution arrangements for the new £100 million drugs money. Details of the distribution to local authorities, along with accountability mechanisms, are set…

15 Feb 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it is in a position to announce local authority housing capital allocations for 2001-02 and whether there will be any supplementary allocations for 2000-01.

Answer · Jackie Baillie: I am able to announce both the local authority housing capital allocations for 2001-02 and supplementary allocations for 2000-01. These are set out in the following tables:<P ALIGN="JUSTIFY">2001-02 Allocations<TABLE BORDER CELLSPACING=1 CELLPADDING=3 WIDTH=3…

15 Nov 2000 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what progress has been made in consulting environmental and community groups on plans to bring telecommunications masts under full planning control.

Answer · Sam Galbraith: Environmental and community groups were invited to participate in the Planning and Telecommunications summit in September. They will also be included in the forthcoming public consultation exercise.

12 Nov 2000 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what steps it is taking to support Glasgow City Council in meeting the increased costs created by the extended maintenance and health and safety regimes required for the Clyde Tunnel.

Answer · Nicol Stephen: The Scottish Executive provides revenue support to localauthorities for roads, bridges and tunnels, including the Clyde Tunnel, throughthe general local government finance settlement. That support is not ringfenced, and it is for each local authority to decid…

10 Nov 2000 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive when it will publish its Social Justice Annual Report.

Answer · Jackie Baillie: The Social Justice Annual Report 2000 has been published today. Copies of the full report and the accompanying technical volume are available in the Parliament's Reference Centre and on the Scottish Executive website <A HREF="http://www.scotland.gov.uk/">www.…

3 Nov 2000 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will make a statement on the departmental sponsorship of the Scottish Qualifications Authority.

Answer · Henry McLeish: I have decided to transfer the sponsorship of the Scottish Qualifications Authority from the Enterprise and Lifelong Learning Department to the Education Department. Ministerial responsibility for the SQA therefore moves from the Minister for Enterprise and L…

20 Sep 2000 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what proportion of the total cost of the construction of the Malletsheugh-Dumbreck stretch of the M77 has been spent on compensation for noise and disruption to residents and to deal with air and noise pollution.

Answer · Sarah Boyack: £586,000, about 1% of the contract cost, has been spent so far on monetary and noise insulation compensation for depreciation of property value. Over 800 further claims are currently being negotiated.

28 Jun 2000 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what progress it is making towards introducing legislation in respect of carers.

Answer · Iain Gray: Under our Strategy for Carers in Scotland we set up a Carers' Legislation Working Group to consider proposals for new legislation to support carers. The group has been meeting since February and its recommendations will be consulted upon later this year. Legi…

21 Jun 2000 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what steps are being taken to improve further the 68% participation rate for three-year-olds in pre-school education.

Answer · Peter Peacock: We will invest a further £137 million in pre-school education next year, bringing our total spend in this area to more than £380 million over 1999-2002. I am confident that we will meet our target of universal provision by 2002.

20 Jun 2000 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what steps it intends to take to create an independent complaints procedure for the NHS.

Answer · Susan Deacon: The NHS complaints procedure, introduced in 1996, is designed to be independent of the NHS and Ministers. A UK-wide evaluation of the procedure is being carried out by an independent group of researchers - 'The York Health Economics Consortium'. Their report …

20 Jun 2000 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what counselling and advice the NHS provides to (a) consultants within the NHS, (b) other doctors within the NHS, (c) nurses within the NHS and (d) other staff within the NHS against whom non-clinical complaints have been made.

Answer · Susan Deacon: All NHS employers should have proper procedures for investigating such complaints and for supporting staff against whom a complaint is made. Advice on handling such matters and legal assistance is generally available from the professional organisation or trad…