Parliamentary questions

Ken Macintosh

1,334 questions tabled in the Scottish Parliament, most recent first.

8 Mar 2011 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive when it considers that Agenda for Change cases involving podiatrists will be resolved.

Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: There are a very small number of Agenda for Change reviews nationally which have not yet arrived at an outcome. The Scottish Government has not set a deadline for finalising these as it is important that the staff/management partnership processes put in plac…

8 Mar 2011 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what action it is taking to monitor progress toward resolving Agenda for Change cases involving podiatrists.

Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: It is for NHS boards to implement Agenda for Change in partnership between management and staff side locally. The Scottish Government monitors progress with all outstanding reviews closely and works with boards to ensure that any issues which are preventing t…

8 Mar 2011 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether a deadline has been set for resolving Agenda for Change cases involving podiatrists.

Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: There are a very small number of Agenda for Change reviews nationally which have not yet arrived at a final outcome. The Scottish Government has not set a deadline for finalising these as it in important that the staff/management partnership processes put in …

7 Mar 2011 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what action it has taken to resolve Agenda for Change cases involving pharmacists in the NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde area.

Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: It is for NHS boards to implement Agenda for Change in partnership between management and staff side locally. However, the Scottish Government monitors progress closely and has put the Blocked Matching process in place to ensure that any disputes which cannot…

7 Mar 2011 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether there is a deadline for resolving Agenda for Change cases involving pharmacists in the NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde area.

Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: The Scottish Government has not set a deadline for resolving outstanding reviews in Greater Glasgow and Clyde as it is important that the staff/management partnership processes put in place to resolve local disputes are allowed to run their course. However, w…

7 Mar 2011 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many unresolved Agenda for Change cases involving pharmacists there are in the NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde area.

Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: I understand from NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde that there are a total of 44 review submissions relating to pharmacy posts for which there has not yet been a final outcome.

7 Mar 2011 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what progress has been made in resolving Agenda for Change cases involving pharmacists in the NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde area.

Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: It is for NHS boards to implement Agenda for Change in partnership between management and staff side locally. However, the Scottish Government monitors progress closely and has put the blocked matching process in place to ensure that any disputes which cannot…

7 Mar 2011 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what action it will take to address the concerns of civilian staff at Strathclyde Police regarding the proposed reduction in their shift allowances.

Answer · Kenny MacAskill: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-40310 on 21 March 2011. 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/…

7 Mar 2011 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what its position is on the impact of the proposed reduction in shift allowances for civilian staff at Strathclyde Police.

7 Mar 2011 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it is aware that the proposed reduction in shift allowances for civilian staff by Strathclyde Police may reduce their annual income by 25%

7 Mar 2011 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions it has had with Strathclyde Police on the proposed reduction in shift allowances for civilian staff.

Answer · Kenny MacAskill: The negotiation of pay and conditions for police staff is a matter for the Police Staff Council and it would not be appropriate for Scottish ministers to intervene.

4 Mar 2011 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether local authorities, voluntary organisations or parents and carers in the south and east are expected to fund information events on the Education (Additional Support for Learning) (Scotland) Act 2009 themselves.

Answer · Adam Ingram: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-40259 on 16 March 2011. There is nothing to prevent local authorities, voluntary organisations or parents and carers holding their own events on the Education (Additional Support for Learning) (Sco…

4 Mar 2011 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what support it is providing to parents and carers outwith Glasgow and Aberdeen on their rights under the Education (Additional Support for Learning) (Scotland) Act 2009.

Answer · Adam Ingram: Parents and carers wishing advice about their rights under the 2009 act or specific advice and information on their particular circumstances can contact Enquire, the national advice band information service via their helpline on 0845 123 2303 or their website…

4 Mar 2011 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive for what reason it has chosen to organise free events on rights for parents and carers under the Education (Additional Support for Learning) (Scotland) Act 2009 in Glasgow and Aberdeen only.

Answer · Adam Ingram: Two events were planned initially to test the demand for such events. The decision to hold them in Aberdeen and Glasgow was to enable parents from a wide geographical spread of population from differing authorities with good transport links. Once concluded, t…

3 Mar 2011 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether the report of the Fingerprint Inquiry can be published during the dissolution of the Parliament.

Answer · Kenny MacAskill: The publication of the final report of the Fingerprint Inquiry is not a matter for ministers, it is a matter for the inquiry chairman. However, should the chairman decide to publish during the dissolution of the Parliament, there is no impediment in…

3 Mar 2011 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has a provisional date for the publication of the report of the Fingerprint Inquiry.

Answer · Kenny MacAskill: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-35845 on 27 August 2010. 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…

24 Feb 2011 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what support there has been for the proposal that the functions of prison visiting committees be integrated into HM Inspectorate of Prisons.

Answer · Kenny MacAskill: The consultation on independent monitoring of prisons closed on 25 February 2011. The responses are being analysed and a report on the outcomes will be available before dissolution of the Parliament on 23 March 2011. This will include details of reactions to …

24 Feb 2011 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how it would protect the independence of prison visiting committees if their functions were integrated into HM Inspectorate of Prisons.

Answer · Kenny MacAskill: The consultation on independent monitoring of prisons closed on 25 February 2011. The responses will be analysed and a findings report will be available before dissolution of the Parliament on 23 March 2011. It is not possible at this time to pre-empt any dec…

24 Feb 2011 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how it would protect the monitoring role of prison visiting committees if their functions were integrated into HM Inspectorate of Prisons.

Answer · Kenny MacAskill: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-39878 on 4 March 2011. 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…

24 Feb 2011 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what has changed since the publication of the Report on the Review of Prison Visiting Committees, 2005 that has required a further consultation on the independent monitoring of prisons.

Answer · Kenny MacAskill: This administration''s commitment to simplify Scotland''s landscape of public sector organisations is a key driver for looking afresh at independent monitoring of prisons. The consultation on independent monitoring of prisons purpose sought views…

9 Feb 2011 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what its position is on whether parents and young people can expect to receive legal representation as a result of calling the Scottish Child Law Centre.

Answer · Adam Ingram: The Scottish Child Law Centre supports children and families in Scotland through the provision of free, expert legal advice. Children and young people can seek advice through the centre''s free-phone line, email and text services. In 2010-11 the Scottish Gove…

9 Feb 2011 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-37308 by Adam Ingram on 5 November 2010, whether the £100,000 funding made available is new funding.

Answer · Adam Ingram: No, the £100,000 funding is provided from existing funding streams.

9 Feb 2011 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-37945 by Adam Ingram on 14 December 2010, which officials attended the meeting on 21 October 2010 and what the key actions were.

Answer · Adam Ingram: The new Additional Support Needs National Advocacy Service will be delivered by a partnership between Barnardo''s and the Scottish Child Law Centre. Barnardo''s, which submitted the application on behalf of the partners, was informed that the applica…

9 Feb 2011 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-37941 by Adam Ingram on 14 December 2010, where the provision of Transfer of Undertakings (Protection of Employment) Regulations 2006 (TUPE) apply, what the implications on the award of grant made by it are.

Answer · Adam Ingram: The issue of whether the transfer of undertakings (protection of employment) regulations (TUPE) applies is a matter of law to be determined by the relevant parties or failing that by an Employment Tribunal. Such issues do not form part of our consideration of…

9 Feb 2011 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-37941 by Adam Ingram on 14 December 2010, whether it is aware of communications from Barnardo’s to ISEA Scotland stating that it is “firmly of the belief that the provision of Transfer of Undertakings (Protection of Employment) Regulations 2006 (TUPE…

Answer · Adam Ingram: It is not for ministers to comment on correspondence between third parties.

8 Feb 2011 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether the location of a waste disposal and electricity generation plant on a green field site in the countryside would be a factor when considering an application for consent under section 36 of the Electricity Act 1989.

Answer · Jim Mather: Yes. Green field sites are a material consideration in any planning application. Applications to Scottish ministers for power stations, and those for significant power lines, need to be accompanied by an environmental statement which describes t…

8 Feb 2011 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether the location of a waste disposal and electricity generation plant within a two miles of a suburban neighbourhood would be a factor when considering an application for consent under section 36 of the Electricity Act 1989.

Answer · Jim Mather: Yes. The location and proximity of neighbouring communities and dwellings in relation to proposed developments are a material consideration in any planning application. Applications to Scottish ministers for power stations, and those for signifi…

8 Feb 2011 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether a significant volume of heavy industrial traffic to and from a plant generating electricity from waste products would be a factor when considering an application for consent under section 36 of the Electricity Act 1989.

Answer · Jim Mather: Yes. Traffic assessment impacts are a material consideration in any planning application and in particular with those applications which are industrial in nature. Applications to Scottish ministers for power stations, and those for significant p…

8 Feb 2011 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what emphasis it places on the views of the Scottish Environment Protection Agency when considering an application for consent under section 36 of the Electricity Act 1989.

Answer · Jim Mather: The Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA), Scottish Natural Heritage (SNH) and the local planning authority are statutory consultees in the Section 36 consultation process and are invited to comment on applications and the environmental statement prod…

8 Feb 2011 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what emphasis it places on the views of the local authority when considering an application for consent under section 36 of the Electricity Act 1989.

Answer · Jim Mather: For a section 36 application, the relevant local planning authority is a statutory consultee throughout the whole process. The views of the local planning authority are a major factor considered by Scottish ministers in determining these applications.