Parliamentary questions
Kenneth Gibson
2,008 questions tabled in the Scottish Parliament, most recent first.
12 May 2000 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-6113 by Susan Deacon on 8 May 2000, whether it can explain why the NHSiS capital expenditure on the provision or replacement of equipment by Argyll and Clyde Health Board fell, in real terms, from #5.893 million in 1994-95 to #1.671 million in 1998-9…
Answer · Susan Deacon: It is for individual health boards and NHS Trusts to determine annually the level of funding required for new and replacement medical equipment taking into account other local priorities. Health boards and NHS Trusts can use both capital and revenue resources…
12 May 2000 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-6113 by Susan Deacon on 8 May 2000, whether it can explain why the NHSiS capital expenditure on the provision or replacement of equipment by Tayside Health Board fell, in real terms, from #5.829 million in 1994-95 to #3.050 million in 1998-99.
Answer · Susan Deacon: It is for individual health boards and NHS Trusts to determine annually the level of funding required for new and replacement medical equipment taking into account other local priorities. Health boards and NHS Trusts can use both capital and revenue resources…
12 May 2000 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-6113 by Susan Deacon on 8 May 2000, whether it can explain why the NHSiS capital expenditure on the provision or replacement of equipment by Lanarkshire Health Board fell, in real terms, from #6.263 million in 1994-95 to #3.823 million in 1998-99.
Answer · Susan Deacon: It is for individual health boards and NHS Trusts to determine annually the level of funding required for new and replacement medical equipment taking into account other local priorities. Health boards and NHS Trusts can use both capital and revenue resources…
12 May 2000 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-6113 by Susan Deacon on 8 May 2000, whether it can explain why the NHSiS capital expenditure on the provision or replacement of equipment by Highland Health Board fell, in real terms, from #2.695 million in 1994-95 to #747,000 in 1998-99.
Answer · Susan Deacon: It is for individual health boards and NHS Trusts to determine annually the level of funding required for new and replacement medical equipment taking into account other local priorities. Health boards and NHS Trusts can use both capital and revenue resources…
12 May 2000 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-6113 by Susan Deacon on 8 May 2000, whether it can explain why the NHSiS capital expenditure on the provision or replacement of equipment by Forth Valley Health Board fell, in real terms, from #2.043 million in 1994-95 to #555,000 in 1998-99.
Answer · Susan Deacon: It is for individual health boards and NHS Trusts to determine annually the level of funding required for new and replacement medical equipment taking into account other local priorities. Health boards and NHS Trusts can use both capital and revenue resources…
12 May 2000 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-6113 by Susan Deacon on 8 May 2000, whether it can explain why the NHSiS capital expenditure on the provision or replacement of equipment by Lothian Health Board fell, in real terms, from #8.054 million in 1994-95 to #2.559 million in 1998-99.
Answer · Susan Deacon: It is for individual health boards and NHS Trusts to determine annually the level of funding required for new and replacement medical equipment taking into account other local priorities. Health boards and NHS Trusts can use both capital and revenue resources…
12 May 2000 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will guarantee that any properties to be demolished after the Glasgow housing stock transfer will be demolished because they are beyond repair rather than because of the value of the land on which they are built.
Answer · Wendy Alexander: The document published on 10 April by the Glasgow Steering Group provides the framework for tenants to take the lead in developing a transfer proposal which delivers housing investment and sustainable communities on an integrated basis. The details of th…
11 May 2000 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-6113 by Susan Deacon on 8 May 2000, whether it can explain why #164.508 million was transferred from capital expenditure to revenue expenditure in the NHSiS from 1994-95 to 1999-2000 inclusive.
Answer · Susan Deacon: As explained in the answer to question S1W-6114, capital to revenue transfers were made annually to enable health boards and NHS Trusts to meet the costs of minor projects and non-added value elements of capital schemes. In addition, some resources were trans…
11 May 2000 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-6113 by Susan Deacon on 8 May 2000, what impact it considers the reduction of capital expenditure on the provision or replacement of equipment in the NHSiS, in real terms, from #55.129 million in 1994-95 to #25.022 million in 1998-99 has had on moder…
Answer · Susan Deacon: It is for individual health boards and NHS Trusts to determine annually the level of funding required for new and replacement medical equipment taking into account other local priorities. Health boards and NHS Trusts can use both capital and revenue resources…
11 May 2000 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-6113 by Susan Deacon on 8 May 2000, whether it can explain why NHSiS expenditure on the provision or replacement of equipment by Greater Glasgow Health Board fell, in real terms, from #13.556 million in 1994-95 to #3.547 million in 1998-99.
Answer · Susan Deacon: It is for individual health boards and NHS Trusts to determine annually the level of funding required for new and replacement medical equipment taking into account other local priorities. Health boards and NHS Trusts can use both capital and revenue resources…
10 May 2000 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether NHS Trusts can transfer resources from capital to revenue expenditure without its permission, whether such permission was previously required and, if so, when this position changed.
Answer · Susan Deacon: Health boards and NHS Trusts are required to seek permission from the Scottish Executive to transfer resources from capital to revenue.<P ALIGN="JUSTIFY">From 2000-01 onwards, all capital funds must be spent on capital items.
5 May 2000 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-3566 by Susan Deacon on 17 February 2000, whether its plans to examine measures for better enforcement of the law to tackle those who make illegal sales to young people include liaison with the Ministerial Group set up within the Department of Trade …
Answer · Henry McLeish: My participation in the Ministerial Group on Consumer Affairs will ensure that the Executive's views on a number of consumer matters, including the issue of age-related sales, will be clear to the Department of Trade and Industry and other government departme…
4 May 2000 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many retailers were prosecuted in Scotland under the Children and Young Persons (Protection from Tobacco) Act 1991 in the period 1 April 1998 to 31 March 1999 and how this compares with the equivalent figure for England and Wales.
Answer · Jim Wallace: In 1998 no one was prosecuted in Scottish courts where the main offence was under the Children and Young Persons (Protection from Tobacco) Act 1991. The corresponding figure for prosecutions in England and Wales was 173.
3 May 2000 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what the average waiting time is for cardiac operations in the Greater Glasgow Health Board area (a) under the NHSiS and (b) privately for operations deemed urgent and non-urgent.
Answer · Susan Deacon: The average waiting time for a cardiac operation under the NHS in the Greater Glasgow Health Board area for the year to 30 September 1999 was 122 days, the most up-to-date figure available based on the health board's waiting list for that period. This covers …
3 May 2000 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what percentage of local authority revenue expenditure came from (a) council tax, (b) non-domestic rate income, (c) specific grants, (d) revenue support grant and (e) any other sources for the years 1996-97 to 1999-2000 inclusive and what the percentages will be in 2000-01.
Answer · Jack McConnell: The percentages of local authority revenue expenditure from council tax, non-domestic rate income, specific grants, revenue support grant and other sources from 1996-97 to 2000-01 inclusive are shown in the following table:<TABLE BORDER CELLSPACING=1 CELLPADD…
3 May 2000 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what each local authority's percentage share of Aggregate External Finance was from 1996-97 to 1999-2000 inclusive and what it will be in 2000-01.
Answer · Jack McConnell: Local authorities' percentage shares of Aggregate External Finance from 1996-97 to 2000-01 inclusive are shown in the following table:<TABLE BORDER CELLSPACING=1 CELLPADDING=7 WIDTH=583><TR><TD WIDTH="29%" VALIGN="TOP"><FONT FACE="Arial" SIZE=2><P ALIGN="JUST…
3 May 2000 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what number of assaults on staff was reported in each of the Greater Glasgow Health Board hospitals in each of the last four years for which figures are available.
Answer · Susan Deacon: The information requested is not held centrally, but will be held locally by each Trust.<P ALIGN="JUSTIFY">As recommended by the Occupational Health and Safety Service Strategy, <I>Towards a Safer Healthier Workplace</I>, a Minimum Dataset working group has b…
26 Apr 2000 · General Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to increase capital budgets in the NHS above the levels already announced.
Answer · Susan Deacon: The Scottish Executive has increased capital investment in the NHS in Scotland from £136 million two years ago to £179 million this year. We will increase investment to at least £194 million next year - a rise of over 40% in just three years.<P>In addition, w…
25 Apr 2000 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what steps it is taking in partnership with Her Majesty's Government and Scottish manufacturing to deal with the skills shortages in manufacturing and alleviate the recruitment difficulties currently being experienced by 57.4% of Scottish manufacturers.
Answer · Henry McLeish: The Scottish Executive has recognised that manufacturing plays a vital role in the Scottish economy with the recent publication of the report <I>Created in Scotland - The Way Forward for Scottish Manufacturing in the 21<SUP>st</SUP> Century</I>. The report de…
25 Apr 2000 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive on what basis it estimates that 1,500 unemployed Glaswegians wish to work in the construction industry and how many of these workers (a) have actual experience of employment in construction; (b) are fully time served or otherwise qualified in construction related skills and (c) are curren…
Answer · Henry McLeish: In July 1999, the Office for National Statistics claimant count system shows there were around 1,500 people claiming unemployment-related benefits in the Glasgow travel to work area who were seeking work in construction trades. At this time, the usual occupat…
25 Apr 2000 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what steps it is taking to reverse the decline in new orders, investment and employment currently being experienced by manufacturers detailed in the Deloitte & Touche Scottish Chambers Business Survey for the first quarter of 2000.
Answer · Henry McLeish: We shall continue to provide support for manufacturing industry through a wide variety of schemes and initiatives, as mentioned in the answer I gave Mr Gibson in question S1W-5420 on 30 March.
25 Apr 2000 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many apprentices completed training in construction-related trades in Glasgow in each of the last four years for which figures are available in (a) the public and (b) the private sector, broken down by trade.
Answer · Henry McLeish: In Scotland, Modern Apprenticeships were phased in from 1996. Typically the Modern Apprenticeship takes three to four years to complete, so a young person who started training in 1996 is likely to complete in 2000. The young people who completed training in c…
25 Apr 2000 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what stimulus it will provide to the construction industry in Glasgow to encourage the training of new skilled apprentices.
Answer · Henry McLeish: I am pleased to say that there is a strong history of apprenticeships in the construction industry in Glasgow and there are currently 985 Modern Apprentices training in construction-related trades in Glasgow. I can assure you that the Scottish Executive is co…
25 Apr 2000 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how long it will take to train to an acceptable standard the 3,000 additional workers needed to carry out the modernisation of stock following the proposed Glasgow housing stock transfer; who will carry out the necessary training; how this training will be funded and by whom, and when the…
Answer · Wendy Alexander: Glasgow City Council and Scottish Enterprise Glasgow are currently addressing these issues in order to maximise the employment and training benefits which a housing transfer would bring. It is estimated that there are some 1,500 claimants, in the Glasgow Trav…
25 Apr 2000 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what analysis has been undertaken of the skills mix required of the 3,000 additional workers required to carry out the modernisation of stock following the proposed Glasgow housing stock transfer.
Answer · Wendy Alexander: The table below sets out an initial analysis of the estimated construction employment arising from a housing transfer in Glasgow. A further 1,400 additional workers are estimated to be required in associated supplier and service industries.<TABLE BORDER CELLS…
25 Apr 2000 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it is aware of the Deloitte & Touche Scottish Chambers Business Survey report that the construction industry in the first quarter of 2000 operated at 85.7% capacity and 60% of employers had difficulties recruiting staff, particularly skilled manual workers, and what action it is t…
Answer · Henry McLeish: The Executive is aware of the report. There are some longstanding recruitment difficulties within the construction industry which will clearly take time to rectify. Young people are able to train in the construction industry through the Scottish Executive's y…
25 Apr 2000 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive why the total private finance generated by Scottish Homes fell from #218 million in 1995-96 to #158.345 million in 1998-99.
Answer · Wendy Alexander: The 1995-96 figure is £208 million not £218 million as stated. The amount of private finance which can be generated by Scottish Homes' Development Programme in any year depends on the overall size of the programme and the nature of the projects funded in that…
25 Apr 2000 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive why the number of dwellings built or rehabilitated by housing associations has fallen steadily since 1993-94.
Answer · Wendy Alexander: The most up to date and complete data available relate to Scottish Homes' approvals for new and rehabilitated housing developments being undertaken by housing associations.<P>These are set out in the following table. This shows that last year Scottish Homes a…
19 Apr 2000 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what the aggregate external finance was for Argyll and Bute, Inverclyde, North Lanarkshire, South Lanarkshire and West Dunbartonshire Councils in 1996-97 and what it will be in 2000-01 in real terms.
Answer · Jack McConnell: The aggregate external finance allocations for each of these years are shown in real terms in the following table. These are not directly comparable due to agreed transfers to programmes outwith the main local government finance settlement, with variable effe…
19 Apr 2000 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many full time equivalent posts were lost in Argyll and Bute, Glasgow City, Inverclyde, North Lanarkshire, South Lanarkshire and West Dunbartonshire Councils from 1996-97 to 1999-2000 inclusive.
Answer · Frank McAveety: The table below shows the change in the full-time number of staff reported by each council.<TABLE BORDER CELLSPACING=1 CELLPADDING=7 WIDTH=616><TR><TD WIDTH="50%" VALIGN="TOP"><P ALIGN="CENTER">Council</TD><TD WIDTH="50%" VALIGN="TOP"><P ALIGN="CENTER">Change…