Kenneth Gibson

19 Apr 2000 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive why Glasgow City Council has received the thirtieth worst of the 32 external finance settlements over the years 1996-97 to 2000-01 inclusive and what impact this has had on the Glasgow economy.

Answer · Jack McConnell: In each year since 1996-97, the City of Glasgow Council has received the highest aggregate external finance allocation per person of any mainland council in Scotland, reflecting the needs of its population and its role as an urban centre.

19 Apr 2000 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive why aggregate external finance for Glasgow in 2000-01 will be #830,045,000 compared to #830,547,000 in 1996-97 and what percentage reduction this represents in real terms.

Answer · Jack McConnell: The aggregate external finance allocations to individual councils are calculated on a formula basis agreed following consultation with the Convention of Scottish Local Authorities.<P ALIGN="JUSTIFY">The figures quoted are not directly comparable due to agreed…

19 Apr 2000 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what the average waiting time is from the submission of an application to receipt of a private sector housing grant for each local authority in the last year for which figures are available.

Answer · Frank McAveety: This information is not held centrally.

19 Apr 2000 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what impact the reduced availability of private sector housing grants has had on the quality of stock in that sector.

Answer · Frank McAveety: The condition of the private sector stock will be shown by the next Scottish House Condition Survey.

19 Apr 2000 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive why the amount spent on private sector housing grants fell from #101,256,000 in 1995-96 to #38,483,000 in 1998-99.

Answer · Frank McAveety: Prior to 1 April 1996 the amount which local authorities could spend on improvement and repairs grants was determined by the Secretary of State. CoSLA asked that this arrangement be discontinued. Since that date it has been for authorities to set their own bu…

19 Apr 2000 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions it has had with management and unions at the Rolls Royce aero engine plant at Hillington regarding plans to shed 154 jobs.

Answer · Henry McLeish: The Executive and the local enterprise company have been in discussion with Rolls Royce about its plans for the Hillington site. I am pleased to say that the number of redundancies now likely has fallen to 87 and may be even further reduced as a result of new…

19 Apr 2000 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive in addition to The Key, how much it and Glasgow City Council will spend in promoting the Glasgow housing stock transfer.

Answer · Wendy Alexander: The Executive has allocated £2.856 million of New Housing Partnership funding to Glasgow City Council in connection with the development of its stock transfer proposal, £1.01 million of this is for consultation with tenants. The council has submitted a furthe…

19 Apr 2000 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how often The Key will be distributed in Glasgow; to whom it will be delivered, how many copies of each edition will be published; how much each edition will cost; how it will be funded, and by whom.

Answer · Wendy Alexander: <I><FONT FACE="Arial">The Key</I> newsletter will be distributed to all council tenants to inform them of issues related to the development of a proposal for housing transfer. The frequency of issue will be determined in the light of tenants information requi…

19 Apr 2000 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how much housing association grant was allocated to housing associations in Glasgow in each year from 1995-96 to 1999-2000 inclusive in real terms.

Answer · Wendy Alexander: The information requested is set out in the table below.<TABLE BORDER CELLSPACING=1 CELLPADDING=2 WIDTH=417><TR><TD WIDTH="26%" VALIGN="TOP" HEIGHT=17><P></TD><TD WIDTH="74%" VALIGN="TOP" HEIGHT=17><P ALIGN="CENTER">Expenditure (£ million)</TD></TR><TR><TD WI…

19 Apr 2000 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how much housing capital borrowing consent was given to Glasgow in each year from 1990-91 to 1999-2000 inclusive in real terms.

Answer · Wendy Alexander: The following table sets out Glasgow City Council's borrowing consent for capital expenditure on its own houses, in each year from 1990-91 to 1999-2000 in real terms (1999-2000 prices).<TABLE BORDER CELLSPACING=1 CELLPADDING=7 WIDTH=308><TR><TD WIDTH="50%" VA…

7 Apr 2000 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what NHSiS capital provision will be allocated for equipment for each health board in 2000-01 and what steps it will take to ensure that this allocation is fully spent.

Answer · Susan Deacon: Capital resources are not specifically allocated to individual health boards or NHS Trusts for the provision or replacement of medical equipment.

7 Apr 2000 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive why NHSiS capital expenditure fell from #102.201 million in 1994-95 to #25.022 million in 1998-99 and what impact this reduction had on modernising equipment, improving patient outcomes and reducing waiting lists.

Answer · Susan Deacon: Expenditure on medical equipment in 1994-95 was £48.895 million. The figure of £102.201 million in the <I>Scottish Health Statistics 1999</I> publication was incorrect. I have written separately to the member to inform him of this.<P ALIGN="JUSTIFY">Capital i…

7 Apr 2000 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive to detail, by health board, what NHSiS capital provision for equipment was allocated and spent for each year from 1994-95 to 1998-1999 inclusive, in real terms.

Answer · Susan Deacon: No specific allocation is given to individual health boards or NHS Trusts for the provision or replacement of medical equipment. Health boards and NHS Trusts must reach decisions on local priorities and then plan how to fund those priorities, including the pr…

6 Apr 2000 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will take into account the views of the Scottish Low Pay Unit in any consideration of the best way to encourage socially excluded people into employment.

Answer · Wendy Alexander: We would be very happy to consider the views of the Scottish Low Pay Unit so far as they concern matters which are within the responsibilities of the Executive.

6 Apr 2000 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what steps it is taking to encourage fostering.

Answer · Sam Galbraith: We are committed to ensuring that every child who might benefit from fostering has equal access to it, no matter where they are in Scotland. A range of initiatives is in place or planned to help achieve this goal.<P ALIGN="JUSTIFY">This includes £4.7 million …

6 Apr 2000 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive (a) how many adoptions were carried out in each of the last three years for which figures are available; (b) how many couples are currently on the waiting list to adopt; (c) what is the average age of children when adopted; (d) what is the average age of parents who adopt and (e) what pla…

Answer · Sam Galbraith: The total number of adoption applications granted for the last three years and the average age of children is as follows:<TABLE BORDER CELLSPACING=1 CELLPADDING=7 WIDTH=616><TR><TD WIDTH="33%" VALIGN="TOP"><FONT FACE="Arial,Helvetica" SIZE=2><P ALIGN="CENTER"…

6 Apr 2000 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what steps it is taking to reduce the incidence of accidental overdose of legally obtained prescription and over-the-counter medicines.

Answer · Susan Deacon: The Executive supports the aim of providing patients with full and useful information about prescribed and over-the-counter medicines. UK law now requires medicines to be supplied to consumers with specified information on the label and with an accompanying l…

6 Apr 2000 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has any plans to allow local authorities to establish 100% publicly owned arms length companies to bring investment into public sector housing following the announcement by the Deputy Prime Minister and Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions on 4 Apri…

Answer · Wendy Alexander: DETR's proposals for arms length companies have limited attraction in Scottish circumstances as there are no plans to relieve the companies of any debt burden, in the same way as we are doing for Scottish councils who move to community ownership. In addition,…

6 Apr 2000 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what the NHS capital allocations and actual expenditure were for each health board in each of the last three years for which figures are available.

Answer · Susan Deacon: The following table sets out the capital allocations and expenditure for each health board area for the period 1997-98 to 1999-2000:<TABLE BORDER CELLSPACING=1 CELLPADDING=7 WIDTH=678><TR><TD WIDTH="15%" VALIGN="TOP"><P ALIGN="JUSTIFY">Health Boards</TD><TD W…

4 Apr 2000 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what lessons it has learned following the result of the recent Ayr by-election.

Answer · Tom McCabe: The Scottish Executive did not contest the Ayr by-election and will continue the job it has been elected to do; working together to deliver the priorities of the people of Scotland.

4 Apr 2000 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it discusses with health boards their capital requirements, investment priorities and timescale for implementation prior to allocating NHS capital provision.

Answer · Susan Deacon: Yes. The Scottish Executive discusses these and other matters with Health Boards and NHS Trusts regularly and in particular in the context of Health Improvement Programmes and Trust Implementation Plans.

4 Apr 2000 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether the NHS capital allocations for 2000-01 and 2001-02 include underspent capital allocations for previous years or are in addition to these sums.

Answer · Susan Deacon: Currently, the level of resources allocated for capital investment in the NHS in Scotland during 2000-01 and 2001-02 total £179 million and £194 million respectively. In addition, capital resources of £30 million were made available during 2000-01 for investm…

4 Apr 2000 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether the NHS is permitted to transfer underspent capital allocations between health boards or carry them over into subsequent financial years.

Answer · Susan Deacon: Any underspending against profile on a specific capital project in one year is carried forward to the next year. The Scottish Executive can adjust each Health Board's and NHS Trust's capital allocation during any financial year, which could have the effect of…

4 Apr 2000 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive why the level of slippage in the NHS capital schemes has increased since 1997 and what plans it has to ensure slippage is minimised in future and that all capital allocations are spent in any given financial year.

Answer · Susan Deacon: The level of capital slippage in any year is determined by a range of factors, including the characteristics and spending profile of particular projects. It will therefore vary from year to year.<P ALIGN="JUSTIFY">The Scottish Executive monitors spending on p…

4 Apr 2000 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-5152 by Susan Deacon on 31 March 2000, why capital expenditure in the NHS was #324.53 million in total during 1997, 1998 and 1999, when capital allocations amounted to #428 million in the same period.

Answer · Susan Deacon: As explained in the answer to S1W-5152, there are two main reasons for the variance between capital provision and recorded capital expenditure in any one year. These are: slippage of particular schemes where expenditure planned to be met in one year falls to …

4 Apr 2000 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive why it will not introduce water and sewerage rebates for people on low incomes.

Answer · Sarah Boyack: The current arrangements linking water and sewerage charges to council tax bands already provide substantial assistance to many low income households.<P ALIGN="JUSTIFY">Water and sewerage charges are part of normal household costs, the Executive however is lo…

3 Apr 2000 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many jobs were created in Scotland at the time of the highest development of the project since 1 April 1989 by: (a) Levi Strauss; (b) Hyundai; (c) Lite On; (d) Mitsubishi; (e) Continental; (f) Caterpillar; (g) Kvaerner; (h) Viasystems; (i) National Semiconductor; (j) Wrangler, and (k)…

Answer · Henry McLeish: The Scottish Executive is not necessarily aware of job numbers in a company unless these arise as a result of a project which is being grant assisted. However, according to our best information, the table below shows details of the highest level of numbers of…

3 Apr 2000 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what it is doing to spread good practice in particular areas or specialities across all NHSiS hospitals and specialities.

Answer · Susan Deacon: The Scottish Executive employs a wide variety of methods to spread good practice, including the development of specialty networks; support for local and national education meetings, facilitation initiatives and conferences; the publication and distribution of…

3 Apr 2000 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it plans to establish a forum to co-ordinate the work of the NHSiS with that of major health charities.

Answer · Iain Gray: The Scottish Executive welcomed the establishment by the Scottish Council of Voluntary Organisations (SCVO) of a Voluntary Sector Health Network. The Network, which was launched on 10 May, gives the voluntary sector a collective voice to represent its interes…

3 Apr 2000 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will take steps to encourage discussion of Third World development issues in schools.

Answer · Sam Galbraith: Opportunities exist at every level in schools within the curriculum for the teaching of development education, including awareness of Third World development issues.<P ALIGN="JUSTIFY">The Scottish Consultative Council on the Curriculum are working with the De…