Mr John McAllion

10 May 2000 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to increase expenditure on tackling fuel poverty following the Chancellor of the Exchequer's recent announcements of higher public expenditure.

Answer · Frank McAveety: The Chancellor's announcement referred to spending plans for health, education, justice and transport. However the Executive has raised this year's budget for the Warm Deal to £13 million, £1 million more than last year. About £210 million will also be spent …

3 May 2000 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what recent initiatives it has taken to encourage the dispersal of civil service jobs outwith the central belt axis of Edinburgh and Glasgow.

Answer · Jack McConnell: The Executive's policy on location and relocation was fully set out by the First Minister in his answer of 15 September 1999 (S1W-1558, Mr Duncan McNeil MSP).<P>The Executive's policy does not envisage any presumption against Glasgow or other central belt loc…

15 Mar 2000 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what recent discussions it has had with Scottish Homes regarding the outstanding debt associated with transferred housing stock.

Answer · Wendy Alexander: The Scottish Executive closely monitors Scottish Homes' financial position, including the outstanding debt associated with its transferred housing stock.

1 Mar 2000 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what steps it is taking to ensure equality of access to rail services across Scotland.

Answer · Sarah Boyack: The Executive has issued guidance to local authorities on the preparation of Local Transport Strategies. These should address, amongst other things, improved accessibility to public transport for those with mobility problems. Scottish Ministers have awarded a…

25 Feb 2000 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will publish a list of those health boards and NHS trusts which operate, or have operated in the past five years, car pools for the use of managers.

Answer · Susan Deacon: This information is not held centrally.

25 Feb 2000 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will list, by post designation, managers who are on performance related pay and publish the performance targets related to each post, in Tayside University Hospitals NHS Trust, Tayside Primary Care NHS Trust and Tayside Health Board.

Answer · Susan Deacon: The detailed information requested is not available centrally. However, in general, managers employed by these employers on general and senior manager terms and conditions are on performance related pay. This would include amongst others the Chief Executive a…

23 Feb 2000 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will include detailed measures for the eradication of fuel poverty within a specific timescale in the forthcoming Housing Bill.

Answer · Frank McAveety: No. We already have detailed measures in place to tackle fuel poverty through the Warm Deal, New Housing Partnerships and investment programmes by local authorities and housing associations. Together they will improve 300,000 homes.

23 Feb 2000 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what specific steps it is taking or intends to take to tackle fuel poverty during this session of the Parliament.

Answer · Frank McAveety: We are tackling fuel poverty through the Warm Deal where we are spending nearly £40 million over four years; through New Housing Partnerships, which have funding of £333 million over three years; through local authority capital expenditure programmes and thro…

25 Jan 2000 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it remains its intention to eliminate fuel poverty over two terms of the Parliament.

Answer · Frank McAveety: The Executive's programme is set out in the <I>Programme for Government</I> document. We are committed to a Healthy Homes Initiative which will improve energy efficiency in 100,000 houses by 2003.

12 Jan 2000 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what recent discussion it has held with the Convention of Scottish Local Authorities relating to local government boundaries.

Answer · Frank McAveety: The Executive has had no recent discussions with the Convention of Scottish Local Authorities on local government boundaries.

6 Oct 1999 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what recent discussions it has had with homelessness groups in particular regarding protection for the homeless within the context of stock transfers by councils to alternative landlords.

Answer · Jackie Baillie: The Homelessness Task Force has identified the implications of stock transfers for the homeless as a matter for early consideration. Its recommendations will be included in the Task Force's first report in the New Year, in time for the inclusion of any legisl…

13 Sep 1999 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what recent representations it has made to Her Majesty's Treasury relating to the effect on the Scottish manufacturing industry of the current level of interest rates and the strength of Sterling.

Answer · Henry McLeish: The Scottish Executive is in regular contact with the UK Government across a range of issues including those affecting the macro-economic environment.