Parliamentary questions
Kenneth Gibson
2,008 questions tabled in the Scottish Parliament, most recent first.
27 Jul 2000 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has assessed the possible economic and social impact on the West of Scotland should the Kingston Bridge be closed to traffic.
Answer · Sarah Boyack: No. The current strengthening works will rectify the serious structural problems which have affected the bridge and will with normal maintenance ensure the integrity of this important traffic link.
27 Jul 2000 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what impact the current repairs to the Kingston Bridge are having on the West of Scotland economy.
Answer · Sarah Boyack: The current strengthening works have been designed so that they could be undertaken with minimal disruption to traffic on this extremely busy and important route. No adverse effects have been reported by commerce and industry in Glasgow and the surrounding ar…
27 Jul 2000 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will continue to publish structural monitoring reports on the Kingston Bridge once all repairs have been completed and, if so, how frequently.
Answer · Sarah Boyack: This type of technical information relating to the operational management of the structure has not been published in the past and it is not proposed to do so in the future.
30 Jun 2000 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive why the total number of premises inspected for fire prevention purposes by the fire service fell from 66,477 in 1994-95 to 55,709 in 1998-99.
Answer · Angus MacKay: Since the introduction of the Fire Precautions (Workplace) Regulations, which came into force on 1 December 1997, fire brigades have been concentrating their attention on high and medium risk premises and are carrying out fewer routine inspections of low risk…
28 Jun 2000 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions it has had with local authorities to ensure that all bridges are assessed to comply with EU regulations with regard to the introduction of higher gross weight lorries.
Answer · Sarah Boyack: The Scottish Executive regularly receives from the Society of Chief Officers of Transportation representing the 32 local authorities, information on the total number of council owned and privately owned road-carrying bridges to be assessed and strengthened to…
28 Jun 2000 · General Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what resources have been made available to local authorities to ensure that the necessary funds are available to strengthen bridges in order to comply with EU regulations for higher gross weight lorries.
Answer · Sarah Boyack: Scottish Executive support for local authorities' capital expenditure on roads and transport is included within the single allocation under section 94 of the Local Government (Scotland) Act 1973 which covers all non-housing capital programmes. It is for local…
26 Jun 2000 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, in the light of the House of Commons Select Committee on Health's report on the tobacco industry, whether it intends to introduce a system of negative licensing in order to deter retailers from selling tobacco products to underage children.
Answer · Susan Deacon: The Scottish Executive is currently working with CoSLA and Scottish Trading Standards representatives to improve the enforcement of underage sales. However, there are presently no plans to introduce a system of negative licensing in Scotland.
26 Jun 2000 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, in the light of the House of Commons Select Committee on Health's concern that the current Scottish guidance on the use of children in test purchase cases has not been modified, what action it intends to take in response to the committee's recommendation about the achievement of a unifor…
Answer · Susan Deacon: There is no action planned at present.<P ALIGN="JUSTIFY">The particular aspect of the guidance which applies, i.e. in relation to the use of children for test purchasing, is based on policy set by the Crown Office. The Lord Advocate has clearly stated that ch…
26 Jun 2000 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, in the light of the House of Commons Select Committee on Health's report on the tobacco industry, whether its policy goals in relation to environmental tobacco smoke take account of the "real health risks it poses" as identified in the report and whether the Voluntary Charter on Smoking …
Answer · Susan Deacon: The health risks from passive smoking are clear. The Executive will be working closely with Charter signatories to agree realistic and clear targets against which to measure its success.
26 Jun 2000 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, in the light of the House of Commons Select Committee on Health's report on the tobacco industry, whether it will make nicotine replacement therapy available on prescription up to a maximum of six weeks in total through the NHS.
Answer · Susan Deacon: As announced in <I>Our National Health: A plan for action, a plan for change</I>, the Department is consulting on a proposal to allow all nicotine replacement therapy products to be prescribed on the NHS by GPs. The consultation letter was issued on 14 Decemb…
26 Jun 2000 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, in the light of the recent Advocate General opinion that the European Court of Justice should annul EU Directive 98/43/EC on tobacco advertising and sponsorship, whether it is planning to introduce primary legislation banning tobacco advertising.
Answer · Susan Deacon: I refer to the answer I gave to question S1W-2746 on 24 November which outlines the Executive's position on banning tobacco advertising and sponsorship. The Advocate General's opinion is significant, but we await the judgement of the European Court of Justice…
26 Jun 2000 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether the Voluntary Charter on Smoking in Public Places will improve the current situation where 92% of public houses in areas of deprivation do not have smoking policies in place to protect the health of staff and customers.
Answer · Susan Deacon: I refer Mr Gibson to the answer to question S1W-8262 on 10 July 2000.
26 Jun 2000 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what action it intends to take to address the findings of the recent ASH Scotland/Health Education Board for Scotland survey on smoking in public places that over half of businesses in the Scottish leisure industry do not have smoking policies in place.
Answer · Susan Deacon: The Scottish Executive is committed to seeing a marked improvement in non-smoking facilities in leisure and hospitality amenities. The Scottish Voluntary Charter on Smoking in Public Places which was recently launched by the Scottish Licensed Trade Associatio…
21 Jun 2000 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what the total running costs of the Scottish Executive and its agencies, or its predecessor departments, were in each of the last four years for which figures are available.
Answer · Jack McConnell: Figures for actual and estimated expenditure on running costs by The Scottish Office and its agencies for the period 1993-94 to 1998-99 are contained in Appendix 3 of the Government's Expenditure Plans 1999-00 to 2001-02, <I>Serving Scotland's Needs</I>. Figu…
21 Jun 2000 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will be possible for local authorities to implement the McCrone recommendations if it does not meet the costs centrally and, if so, why its assessment differs from that of CoSLA.
Answer · Sam Galbraith: Full consideration is being given to the recommendations. When I established the committee I indicated that I would undertake consultation with the relevant parties before decisions were made on implementation. Funding decisions will be based on the outcome o…
21 Jun 2000 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether engineers can fulfil public expectations in relation to the upkeep of the road network given current road maintenance levels and funding methods and, if so, why its assessment of the situation differs from that of the Institution of Civil Engineers.
Answer · Sarah Boyack: The assessment published for the Institution of Civil Engineers relates to local roads in England, Scotland and Wales. Local roads are maintained by councils as local roads authorities. It is entirely a matter for each Scottish Council to decide the priority …
21 Jun 2000 · General Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-4663 by Mr Sam Galbraith on 31 May 2000, what mechanisms will be put in place to ensure a more even distribution of lottery funding.
Answer · Sam Galbraith: We are monitoring the distribution of lottery funds and are addressing with distributors measures to encourage applications from areas of social and economic need.
15 Jun 2000 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive which health boards have a register of diabetic patients and what steps it is taking to ensure that all health boards have such a register.
Answer · Susan Deacon: All health boards have or are developing a register of patients with diabetes. Work is continuing in all areas to ensure that all patients with diabetes are included. The Scottish Executive is supporting a range of initiatives in diabetes including work to su…
15 Jun 2000 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what steps it will take to provide access to administrative and support staff to small and medium-si'e high growth companies who otherwise could not sustain them.
Answer · Henry McLeish: We are currently working with Scottish Enterprise to enhance the quality and consistency of support provided to businesses in the SEn area. This will include improved support arrangements for high growth start-ups. The new arrangements will provide greater co…
15 Jun 2000 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what steps it will take to provide, for sectors of the economy where skill shortages are evident, a register of skilled and senior management talent who may be on career break, semi-retirement or in part-time employment to enable companies to access expertise on a short-term basis as nece…
Answer · Henry McLeish: The Scottish Labour Market Intelligence Unit is being established to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of information which informs decisions and actions in the labour market. One of the roles of the new Unit will be to ensure that information and inte…
15 Jun 2000 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions it has had with the financial sector on providing venture capital for long-term investment for new and expanding Scottish companies.
Answer · Henry McLeish: The Scottish Executive is keen to ensure that small and medium-size companies are able to access sufficient finance to develop their activities.<P ALIGN="JUSTIFY">Scottish Development Finance, the investment arm of Scottish Enterprise, currently operates two …
15 Jun 2000 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what steps it is taking to improve the access of small and medium-si'ed companies to venture capital.
Answer · Henry McLeish: I refer Mr Kenneth Gibson to the answer I gave to question S1W-8052 on 29 June 2000.
15 Jun 2000 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what action it is taking to attract biotechnology and pharmaceutical companies from Pacific Rim countries.
Answer · Henry McLeish: Locate in Scotland, in consultation with the Scottish Enterprise Biotechnology Team, is working to attract biotechnology and pharmaceutical companies to Scotland. In the Pacific Rim area, this work focuses particularly on Japan.
15 Jun 2000 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it intends to reduce the potential for confusion in the area of education and training initiatives for businesses by eliminating any duplication and simplifying access.
Answer · Henry McLeish: One of the key functions of the Scottish University for Industry - learndirect scotland - will be to assist businesses access the learning opportunities required, in the right place, at the right time and at the right cost. To be launched in the autumn, the l…
15 Jun 2000 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will ensure that all information it supplies to businesses is explained in plain English.
Answer · Henry McLeish: I refer Mr Gibson to the answer that the Minister for Finance gave to question S1W-7229.
15 Jun 2000 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how it plans to improve the dissemination of information to the business community.
Answer · Henry McLeish: The Scottish Executive is determined to improve both the range and quality of information provided to the business community, and to increase electronic access where appropriate. For example, we are currently working with Scottish Enterprise to improve the co…
15 Jun 2000 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what it is doing to ensure that education and training initiatives for small and medium-si'ed enterprises meet the needs of those businesses.
Answer · Henry McLeish: The needs of small and medium-sized enterprises are integral to the Executive's education and training policies. Through the enterprise network, priority is given to support for learning and skills development in SMEs. National Training Organisations have a d…
15 Jun 2000 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what steps it is taking to assist further education colleges to adapt their buildings to the needs of disabled people.
Answer · Henry McLeish: The Scottish Further Education Funding Council has allocated almost £16 million to further education colleges for investment in capital works in 2000-01. It is for the colleges to decide on the details of capital investment programmes, according to their own …
15 Jun 2000 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what it estimates will be the cost of upgrading Glasgow's further education colleges to 21st century standards.
Answer · Henry McLeish: The Scottish Further Education Funding Council is responsible for the funding of Scotland's further education colleges. It has commissioned an estate condition survey of every college, including those in Glasgow, which are now nearing completion.
15 Jun 2000 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how long it takes to complete a modern apprenticeship in construction related trades.
Answer · Henry McLeish: A Modern Apprenticeship in construction follows a framework designed by the Construction Industry Training Board. It includes an SVQ Level 3 and core skills. The SVQ is competency-based and as such there is no prescribed period of training. However, in practi…