Parliamentary questions

Kenneth Gibson

2,008 questions tabled in the Scottish Parliament, most recent first.

10 Jul 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how much will be invested in each financial year from 2001-02 to 2003-04 to attract biotechnology companies from outwith Scotland and to stimulate growth of Scottish biotechnology companies.

Answer · Alasdair Morrison: Investment in biotechnology companies in Scotland over the period 2001 to 2004 - whether by the Scottish Executive, Highlands and Islands Enterprise or Scottish Enterprise, (including Locate in Scotland) - will depend on budgetary decisions yet to be taken. B…

10 Jul 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to the first supplementary question to question S1O-3585 by Susan Deacon on 14 June 2001, what guidance and procedures have been issued to education authorities in relation to prescribing the morning-after pill.

Answer · Jack McConnell: No specific guidance has been issued to Education Authorities on emergency contraception or the morning after pill, since the Executive is aware that there are no current plans to introduce the supply of the pill by school nurses.

10 Jul 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what steps it is taking to ensure that there will always be an adequate number of GPs.

Answer · Susan Deacon: As I announced on 20 June, Professor John Temple is to chair the fundamental review of medical workforce planning which was a commitment in Our National Health: A plan for action, a plan for change. The review will consider the many complex areas surro…

10 Jul 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how much it has spent on IT projects which (a) were terminated or (b) exceeded budgetary provision in each financial year from 1997-98 to date.

Answer · Angus MacKay: IT projects implemented by the Scottish Executive over this period have ranged from very small local developments to major investments in IT infrastructure. All significant projects (defined as those costing over £100,000 including VAT) were submitted to the …

6 Jul 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether a mapping exercise will be carried out to clarify the potential impact of housing stock transfer proposals on housing capital receipts set aside and whether abolishing set aside would impact on the Scottish assigned budget.

Answer · Jackie Baillie: The purpose of Housing Revenue Account (HRA) capital receipts set-aside is to reduce the burden of debt being carried by local authorities and their rent payers. If set-aside were abolished, local authorities would be able to spend all their receipts on new h…

29 Jun 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what the role of the new Executive agency related to housing will be in community regeneration.

Answer · Jackie Baillie: Local authorities have a lead role in community regeneration. In recognition of this the new agency will contribute as partners to local authority regeneration and housing strategies, offering a national and cross-authority perspective on planning and resourc…

29 Jun 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many central heating systems have been installed in (a) council properties, (b) registered social landlord properties and (c) private properties in each of the last five financial years for which figures are available and how many are scheduled to be installed this year, broken down …

Answer · Jackie Baillie: The information at (b) and (c) is not available. Information at (a) is provided to the Executive by local authorities and details for 1996-97 to 2000-01 are set out in the following table. The figures cover first-time installation of central heating systems, …

28 Jun 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what assistance it will give to Glasgow City Council to ensure it has enough sheltered and supported accommodation for elderly people, people with special needs and people with mental health problems.

Answer · Jackie Baillie: In 2001-02 Glasgow City Council will have an estimated £75 million to spend on its housing stock. It is for the council to prioritise its housing needs and allocate this funding accordingly. However, Glasgow, like all councils, will be expected to address the…

28 Jun 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will introduce routine neonatal screening for deafness.

Answer · Malcolm Chisholm: In Scotland, the introduction of neonatal hearing screening will be taken forward in two steps. The first involves the establishment of two pathfinder sites with screening beginning in these areas by April 2002 Thereafter, the screening programme will be roll…

27 Jun 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what the extent is of functional illiteracy throughout Scotland and how it plans to tackle this issue.

Answer · Wendy Alexander: The International Adult Literacy Survey suggested that 23% of adults in Scotland may have low literacy and numeracy skills.On 2 July I published the Adult Literacy Team's report, Adult Literacy and Numeracy in Scotland. I am now consid…

27 Jun 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what steps it will take, in conjunction with Glasgow City Council, to prevent care sector staff in Glasgow from taking further industrial action.

Answer · Malcolm Chisholm: It would not be appropriate for ministers to be involved in such a local issue.

27 Jun 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to carry out a national funding review of further education colleges.

Answer · Wendy Alexander: The funding of individual colleges of further education is a matter for the Scottish Further Education Funding Council. The funding of the further education sector in Scotland is kept under constant review by the council.The Enterprise &amp…

27 Jun 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what steps it will take to assist the Langside College Board of Management with its funding recovery plan.

Answer · Wendy Alexander: The funding of individual colleges of further education is a matter for the Scottish Further Education Funding Council. The council has been in detailed discussion with the college on the preparation of its financial recovery plan, which is now expected to be…

27 Jun 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it intends to reconsider any of the eligibility criteria for its central heating programme.

Answer · Jackie Baillie: It was announced last month that, because of the progress made by local authorities in installing central heating in recent years, the Scottish Executive would consider how the central heating programme might be extended.

27 Jun 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will empower senior nurses and senior midwives to direct patient care.

Answer · Susan Deacon: There are a number of ways in which the nursing professions are being empowered at present. For example, through the recently published Framework for Maternity Services in Scotland, midwives have an explicit role in delivering and influencing patient c…

27 Jun 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how much was invested by (a) local authorities, (b) registered social landlords and (c) the private sector in central heating installation in pensioner households in each of the last five years for which figures are available.

Answer · Jackie Baillie: There is no information about investment under (b) or (c). As regards (a) details of the total number of properties in which local authorities have installed central heating over the last five years are given in my reply to S1W-16620. However there is no sepa…

27 Jun 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how much will be invested in its central heating programme in each financial year from 2001-02 to 2004-05.

Answer · Jackie Baillie: There will be sufficient investment to ensure that all dwellings in local authority and housing association ownership have central heating by April 2005 and a substantial number of those aged 60 or over in the private sector have it also.

27 Jun 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what the sources are of the #350 million funding to be invested in its central heating initiative.

Answer · Jackie Baillie: The resources required for the Central Heating Programme will come from the social justice budget, from the private sector investment produced by stock transfer and from the energy companies under their Energy Efficiency Commitment.