Parliamentary questions
Kenneth Gibson
2,008 questions tabled in the Scottish Parliament, most recent first.
4 Jan 2001 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive when it will finalise the distribution of any Excellence Fund Core Programme and Special Programme monies for 2000-2001 that have not yet been allocated.
Answer · Jack McConnell: £13.45 million remained unallocated in the Excellence Fund for financial year 2000-01, the majority of which was originally planned for initiatives linked to the new system of pay and conditions for teachers. All of this money will now be used to help with th…
4 Jan 2001 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what steps it is taking to provide schoolchildren with greater opportunities to participate in creative activities outwith school hours.
Answer · Nicol Stephen: The Scottish Executive supports and encourages such opportunities.<P ALIGN="JUSTIFY">Scotland's National Cultural Strategy, published in August 2000, promotes creativity in the arts and other cultural activity, especially by children and young people. A key p…
3 Jan 2001 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the statement by Peter Peacock on 2 November 2000 that announcements would be made before Christmas on how the discussion of a small business rates relief scheme would be taken forward (Official Report, col. 1320) and to the statement by Angus MacKay on 7 December 2000 that an…
Answer · Peter Peacock: We are currently considering a range of measures, including the issue of rates relief, which taken together will be of real benefit to small businesses. An announcement will be made soon.
3 Jan 2001 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what representations it has made to Her Majesty's Government regarding harmonisation of VAT on building work at 5% for both new build and repairs as proposed in Better Homes for Scotland's Communities, the response by the Convention of Scottish Local Authorities to its Housing (Scotland)…
Answer · Jackie Baillie: The Scottish Executive and Her Majesty's Government are frequently in touch to discuss a wide range of issues including taxation. Taxation remains reserved to the Westminster Parliament. The Scottish Executive takes full account of representations made to it …
3 Jan 2001 · General Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has in relation to citi'ens' juries.
Answer · Jackie Baillie: The Executive has invited area-based SIPs to participate in the roll-out of the People's Jury initiative following the successful pilots and publication of guidance. The Executive will provide support for each area-based SIP which wishes to hold a People's Ju…
22 Dec 2000 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive over what timescale all local authorities will be expected to comply with Lord Hardie's recent judgement in the Court of Session in the recent Arthur McGregor case.
Answer · Susan Deacon: I refer the member to the answer given to question S1W-12200 on 6 March 2001.
22 Dec 2000 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what additional funding it will make available to local authorities to meet the costs of providing a permanent place in a nursing home for the 2,000 pensioners currently on waiting lists, following Lord Hardie's recent judgement in the Court of Session in the recent Arthur MacGregor case.
Answer · Susan Deacon: I refer the member to the answer to question S1W-12200 on 6 March 2001.
22 Dec 2000 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what the cost will be of providing nursing home care for all the pensioners currently awaiting a place in a nursing home, following Lord Hardie's recent judgement in the Court of Session in the recent Arthur MacGregor case, broken down by local authority.
Answer · Susan Deacon: I understand that South Lanarkshire Council have lodged an appeal in relation to this decision. It would therefore be inappropriate to comment in the meantime.
22 Dec 2000 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to introduce a national policy on strategic retail developments.
Answer · Sam Galbraith: The Executive's policies for all new retail developments are set out in National Planning Policy Guideline 8: Town Centres and Retailing.
21 Dec 2000 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what measures it will require of each health board to identify the action boards are taking to tackle homelessness and address inequalities, as outlined on page 20 of Our National Health - A Plan for Action, a Plan for Change.
Answer · Susan Deacon: The Scottish Executive's commitment to tackling health inequalities is part of our wider commitment to tackling poverty and creating social justice. Guidance to each health board on addressing health and homelessness issues will be issued by March 2001 and a …
20 Dec 2000 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-11591 by Mr Jim Wallace on 12 December 2000, what assessment it has made of the impact in Scotland of any proposed introduction across the United Kingdom of British Energy Saving Time.
Answer · Jim Wallace: The Executive has made no such assessment, as there are no plans to introduce British Energy Saving Time. The fact that there are no such plans being considered was made clear by Mr Brian Wilson MP, Minister of State at the Scotland Office, in an announcement…
20 Dec 2000 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what additional resources it will provide to Glasgow, Lothian, Lanark and Argyll and Clyde Ambulance Services to ensure that they reach their 999 response time targets.
Answer · Susan Deacon: The Scottish Ambulance Service is funded to provide services across Scotland. This year's allocation is £94.3 million - up by £4.1 million on last year.<P ALIGN="JUSTIFY">The allocation includes £500,000 specifically for 20 more front-line staff in Glasgow an…
20 Dec 2000 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive when it expects the outcome of the recently announced review of Scotland's cities to be presented to the Parliament.
Answer · Peter Peacock: I refer the member to the answer given to question S1W-12144.
20 Dec 2000 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what financial resources will be made available to carry out the recently announced review of Scotland's cities.
Answer · Peter Peacock: I refer the member to the answer given to question S1W-12144.
20 Dec 2000 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive which of the Parliament's committees it intends to invite to participate in the recently announced review of Scotland's cities.
Answer · Peter Peacock: I refer the member to the answer given to question S1W-12144.
20 Dec 2000 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether Inverness will be included in the recently announced review of Scotland's cities.
Answer · Peter Peacock: I refer the member to the answer given to question S1W-12144.
20 Dec 2000 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what prompted its decision to launch a ministerial led review of Scotland's cities.
Answer · Peter Peacock: I refer the member to the answer given to question S1W-12144.
20 Dec 2000 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what the role and remit of the Deputy Minister for Finance and Local Government is in relation to the recently announced review of Scotland's cities.
Answer · Peter Peacock: Details of the review will be announced in the New Year.
20 Dec 2000 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what steps it is taking to reduce long-term unemployment in males aged 50-64 and females aged 50-59.
Answer · Wendy Alexander: I refer the member to the answer given to question S1O-2597 on 30 November 2000.
15 Dec 2000 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what measures it will take to ensure the prudent use of antibiotics in order to maximise their effectiveness for patients.
Answer · Susan Deacon: The need for concerted action in this area was highlighted in the House of Lords Select Committee on Science and Technology's Report <I>Resistance</I> <I>to</I> <I>Antibiotics</I> <I>and</I> <I>other</I> <I>Microbial</I> <I>Agent</I>. In response, the UK Gove…
15 Dec 2000 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether its intention to end the "postcode lottery of care" as described by the Minister for Health and Community Care on 14 December 2000 (Official Report, col.1039) will result in services being equally available in all health board areas and, if so, when this will be achieved.
Answer · Susan Deacon: <I><FONT FACE="Arial" SIZE=2>Our National Health: a plan for action; a plan for change</I>, published on 14 December, sets out fully the range of measures which will be taken to develop and achieve strong national and clinical standards across NHSScotland.</F…
15 Dec 2000 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what steps it will take to identify and remove any barriers to closer working between health boards and local authorities, what barriers to closer working have been identified to date and when it expects any such barriers to have been removed.
Answer · Susan Deacon: The Joint Future Group has identified and agreed a list of measures which all local authorities, health boards and NHS trusts should put in place to deliver effective, integrated services and has set deadlines by which this should be done. We are currently co…
14 Dec 2000 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-9245 by Iain Gray on 30 October 2000, why the number of clients receiving home help fell by 9,558 between 1997 and 1999 and what steps it is taking to reverse this decline.
Answer · Malcolm Chisholm: The figures reflect a shift in the nature of local authority provided or commissioned home care to a more intensive service involving personal care with each client on average receiving more help. Over the period, the number of home care hours provided or com…
14 Dec 2000 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many people in each local authority area received "meals on wheels" in each of the last four years for which figures are available.
Answer · Malcolm Chisholm: The following table details the number of people receiving a "meals on wheels" service in each local authority. These figures are based on results of a voluntary survey of local authorities. Estimates for missing values have been included in the Sco…
12 Dec 2000 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions it plans to have with Glasgow City Council regarding their possible withdrawal from the Convention of Scottish Local Authorities in protest at the 2001-02 to 2003-04 local government settlement.
Answer · Angus MacKay: This is a matter for the Convention of Scottish Local Authorities and Glasgow City Council.
11 Dec 2000 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what impact the imposition of its efficiency saving targets has had on the number of nursing staff at senior grade and on the morale of nurses.
Answer · Susan Deacon: The Scottish Executive Health Department has not set any efficiency target for the National Health Service in Scotland. Health boards may set targets for their local Trusts and any adverse effects would be for local management to consider and address.<FONT FA…
8 Dec 2000 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether any of the additional resources for Glasgow City Council announced by the Minister for Finance and Local Government on 7 December 2000 will be allocated to the council's Public/Private Partnership to fund school buildings and, if so, how much.
Answer · Peter Peacock: The allocations to Glasgow City Council announced on the 7 December include provision for Level Playing Field Support for Schools of over £44 million. Glasgow City Council's single capital allocation will rise to almost £40 million (a 38% increase) over the n…
8 Dec 2000 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how much of the additional resources for Falkirk Council announced by the Minister for Finance and Local Government on 7 December 2000 will be allocated to the council's Public/Private Partnership to fund school buildings.
Answer · Peter Peacock: The allocation to Falkirk Council announced on 7 December includes Level Playing Field Support for Schools of approximately £26 million. Falkirk Council's single capital allocation will also rise to approximately £9 million (a 44.6% increase) over the next th…
8 Dec 2000 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what "hidden burdens" the Minister for Finance and Local Government was referring to when responding to the question from Alex Salmond during the ministerial statement on 7 December 2000 (Official Report, col. 707).
Answer · Peter Peacock: The Minister acknowledged the burdens and pressures on local government. But none of these burdens are hidden.
8 Dec 2000 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has any plans to impose any new statutory duties or responsibilities on local authorities over the next 12 months and, if so, whether it will fully fund any such duties or responsibilities in this period and in future years.
Answer · Peter Peacock: We will consider any new statutory duties and responsibilities, and whether they impose any additional financial burden on local government, as they arise.