Parliamentary questions
Kenneth Gibson
2,008 questions tabled in the Scottish Parliament, most recent first.
9 Nov 1999 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what representations it has made to Her Majesty's Government to ensure that all those resident in Scotland in receipt of state pensions and benefits receive all their entitlements.
Answer · Wendy Alexander: The delivery of benefits advice is an operational matter for the Benefits Agency, and is a reserved matter. However, we recognise the importance of the take-up of benefit and pension entitlement in the elimination of poverty in Scotland. We welcome current ef…
9 Nov 1999 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to ensure that all primary and secondary teachers are fully trained in information technology.
Answer · Sam Galbraith: £23 million will be spent in Scotland by the New Opportunities Fund (NOF) to offer training to every teacher and school librarian in the use of ICT in their subject area.<FONT FACE="Arial" SIZE=2><P>In addition the Scottish Executive has commissioned a traini…
9 Nov 1999 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to promote the use of e-commerce by Scottish businesses.
Answer · Henry McLeish: The Executive is involved with Scottish Enterprise, Highlands and Islands Enterprise, and private sector partners, in the development of an e-commerce strategy for Scotland. The strategy will aim to increase awareness of the importance of e-commerce; to suppo…
9 Nov 1999 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what steps it will take to help people running small businesses acquire new skills.
Answer · Henry McLeish: In addition to the range of services provided by the Enterprise Networks, the Scottish Executive is investing over £16 million over this and the next two years in the establishment of the Scottish University for Industry. The Scottish UfI will be a broker, co…
4 Nov 1999 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it intends to alter the Scottish salmon fishing season from February until October to March until November in order to take account of climatic change over recent years altering the life cycle of Scottish salmon.
Answer · John Home Robertson: Salmon stocks, as measured by annual catches, continue to decline throughout the range of the species. This has led to advice from the International Council for the Exploration of the Seas (ICES) urging caution in the exploitation of both early-running multi-…
2 Nov 1999 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether the resignation of William Samuel this month as a Director of The National Stadium plc has any implications for compliance with the assurances regarding the future management of the National Stadium project to which its contribution of #2 million was subject.
Answer · Rhona Brankin: Only to the extent that the role of The National Stadium generally is being reviewed as part of putting in place a new management structure for the ongoing stadium operation.
2 Nov 1999 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether the three year contract from 1 January 1999 worth #160,000 a year between AR Ltd and the National Stadium plc is consistent with the assurances regarding the future management of the project to which its contribution of #2 million was subject, whether there is any provision in the…
Answer · Rhona Brankin: The details of the contract between The National Stadium plc and AR Ltd are a matter for the two parties concerned. One of the conditions attaching to the further financial contributions of all the co-funders' is that a new management structure is put in plac…
2 Nov 1999 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether any element of its contribution of #2 million to the Hampden Park rescue package has been paid to AR Ltd or Austin Reilly in connection with the National Stadium project.
Answer · Rhona Brankin: I refer to the answer given to question S1W-2296.
2 Nov 1999 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether the arrangements whereby Austin Reilly through his company AR Ltd has been paid as a consultant by Queens Park FC Ltd to manage the National Stadium project by virtue of his role in the National Stadium plc are consistent with the assurances regarding the future management of the …
Answer · Rhona Brankin: I refer to the answer given to question S1W-2296.
1 Nov 1999 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive further to the answer to question S1W-1960 by Mr Sam Galbraith, to what specific assurances regarding the future management and business plan of the National Stadium project its contribution of #2 million was subject.
Answer · Rhona Brankin: The Scottish Executive wishes to see new management arrangements which reflect the fact that the construction phase of the project is virtually complete and that the project is now mainly a marketing and management operation. We also wish to see a fully devel…
1 Nov 1999 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether the funding gap in respect of the National Stadium project currently stands at #6 million.
Answer · Rhona Brankin: It is for Queen's Park Football Club plc and The National Football Stadium plc to decide what information it wishes to make publicly available about its financial position.
29 Oct 1999 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to emulate the Small Business Service operational in other parts of the United Kingdom and what measures it intends to implement to encourage more effective and efficient partnerships between the various business support organisations such as chambers of commerce, enterp…
Answer · Henry McLeish: We are currently considering the Scottish implications of the Small Business Service proposals published by the Department of Trade and Industry. Our assessment will take account of the fact that economic development issues are devolved to the Scottish Parlia…
29 Oct 1999 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what measures it is taking to address the comprehensive needs of business; what action it intends to take to encourage greater integration of business support services between the public and private sectors, and what plans it has to look at the current business support structure.
Answer · Henry McLeish: The Enterprise networks provide a comprehensive range of business support services to help business formation, survival and growth. We keep under constant review existing arrangements for business support in Scotland to monitor the effectiveness of services a…
21 Oct 1999 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to relax capping limits for Scottish local authorities.
Answer · Jack McConnell: The Executive has no plans to issue capping limits to Scottish local authorities.
20 Oct 1999 · General Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to relax capping limits for Scottish local authorities.
Answer · Jack McConnell: The Executive has no plans to issue capping limits to Scottish local authorities.
13 Oct 1999 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will consider the implementation of a national careers advice service for Scotland along similar lines to the system to be adopted by the National Assembly for Wales.
Answer · Henry McLeish: On 6 October 1999 I announced that I wanted to review the Careers Service using the remit: "To examine the role of the careers service in Scotland, and the scope for change and development of that role in the light of trends and initiatives in education,…
13 Oct 1999 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will detail how much each Scottish local authority spent on (a) internal and (b) external public relations consultants, advisors and lobbyists in the financial year 1998-99 or in the most recent financial year for which this information is available.
Answer · Jack McConnell: The Scottish Executive does not hold this information centrally.
11 Oct 1999 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether all new burdens imposed on Scottish local authorities for the financial years 1999-2000, 2000-01 and 2001-02 will be funded entirely from the Scottish Consolidated Fund and if not, what alternative sources of funding will be used.
Answer · Jack McConnell: Those new burdens which were recognised by the Scottish Executive after consultation with the Convention of Scottish Local Authorities have been taken fully into account in determining the level of Aggregate External Finance to be paid to local authorities fo…
11 Oct 1999 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how much, in real terms will be the new burdens for Scottish local authorities for the financial years 1999-2000, 2000-01 and 2001-02.
Answer · Jack McConnell: The provision made for new burdens for the financial years 1999-2000, 2000-01 and 2001-02 is set out in the Table below:<TABLE CELLSPACING=0 BORDER=0 CELLPADDING=7 WIDTH=616><TR><TD WIDTH="57%" VALIGN="TOP"> </TD><TD WIDTH="16%" VALIGN="TOP"><P ALIGN="CE…
30 Sep 1999 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has any plans to reform the system of payment for returning officers in local government, Scottish Parliament and general elections.
Answer · Jim Wallace: Local Authorities are responsible for returning officers' payments at local elections and we have no plans to change this.<P>Matters relating to Parliamentary elections, including those to this Parliament, are reserved.
29 Sep 1999 · General Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has any plans to reform the system of payment for returning officers in local government, Scottish Parliament and general elections.
Answer · Jim Wallace: Local Authorities are responsible for returning officers' payments at local elections and we have no plans to change this. <P><P>Matters relating to Parliamentary elections, including those to this Parliament, are reserved.
27 Sep 1999 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what action it is taking to ensure that all written questions are answered within 14 days.
Answer · Donald Dewar: The Executive makes every effort to give a substantive reply to all written questions within fourteen days. This may not be possible in some circumstances, for example where the necessary data takes some time to gather, in which case a holding reply is issued.
27 Sep 1999 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many written questions submitted between 6 May and 6 September received a reply, other than a holding answer, within (a) seven days, (b) fourteen days, (c) twenty one days, (d) twenty eight days, and (e) twenty eight days or more, and whether it considers that it is reasonable for MSP…
Answer · Donald Dewar: This information is not readily available but could be provided by the Scottish Parliament Information Centre (SPICe). All efforts are made to ensure Members receive a response to Written Questions within fourteen days.
22 Sep 1999 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether there is any assistance that it can give to Inverclyde Council to enable it to resolve the benefit issues identified by both external audit and the Benefit Fraud Inspectorate.
Answer · Jack McConnell: No. The Scottish Executive has not been approached by Inverclyde Council to give it any special assistance over this matter, nor do I think this would be appropriate.
21 Sep 1999 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to S1W-950 by Mr Jim Wallace on 14 September 1999, when was the last time it discussed with Her Majesty's Government assistance to former World War Two prisoners of war residing in Scotland and claiming compensation for suffering endured whilst captives of the Japan…
Answer · Jim Wallace: These are matters reserved to the UK Government. They are included in the Scottish Government's continuing liaison with the UK Government on all relevant matters.
21 Sep 1999 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what its plans are for introducing Interferon and Ribavirin combination treatment for patients suffering from hepatitis C.
Answer · Susan Deacon: The Scottish Health Purchasing Information Centre (SHPIC) published a report on hepatitis C in September 1998. This report was updated to include recommendations on the use of combination treatment with interferon alfa and ribavirin and disseminated to the NH…
21 Sep 1999 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what its plans are for the introduction of treatment guidelines for patients suffering from hepatitis C.
Answer · Susan Deacon: There are no plans at present to introduce national guidelines. It is for health boards to assess the local needs for patients with hepatitis C, and many health boards have developed local treatment guidelines and protocols.
21 Sep 1999 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what action it is taking to improve standards of care and access to treatment for hepatitis C positive individuals.
Answer · Susan Deacon: It is the responsibility of health boards to assess local needs for patients with hepatitis C, and arrange provision of appropriate treatment and care services. Last year, the Scottish Office commissioned the Scottish Needs Assessment Programme to establish a…
17 Sep 1999 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive which local authorities have implemented direct payment schemes for community care service users with disabilities under the powers given to them by the Community Care (Direct Payments) Act 1996 and what is the level of take up of existing schemes.
Answer · Iain Gray: Social work departments were consulted on their experience of direct payments after the first year of implementation of the Community Care (Direct Payments) Act 1996. The councils listed below indicated that they operated, or intended to operate, a direct pa…
15 Sep 1999 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive which Scottish local authorities have implemented a formal housing and council tax anti-fraud policy and which have adopted the Department of Social Security verification framework.
Answer · Jack McConnell: This information is not held by the Scottish Executive. The implementation of a formal housing and council tax anti-fraud policy or the adoption of the Department of Social Security (DSS) verification framework is a matter for individual councils to pursue.