Parliamentary questions

Michael Matheson

1,154 questions tabled in the Scottish Parliament, most recent first.

7 Dec 1999 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive which local authorities have made direct payments available within the last financial year to disabled persons in order to purchase services.

Answer · Iain Gray: The latest information available indicates that the following local authorities make direct payments available to people with disabilities.<TABLE BORDER CELLSPACING=1 CELLPADDING=7 WIDTH=158><TR><TD VALIGN="TOP"><P…

7 Dec 1999 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will make representations to Her Majesty's Government as to whether it will make public the report circulated by Professor Philip Oxley of Cranfield University into the cost/benefit effect of the 1995 Disability Discrimination Act on taxi services in Scotland.

Answer · Frank McAveety: The Scottish Executive is in regular contact with the UK Government on a wide range of issues including the taxi provisions contained in the Disability Discrimination Act 1995. We anticipate that consultation on the taxi proposals will take place later this y…

10 Nov 1999 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to include resource transfer within Scottish Health Service Costs, prepared by the Information and Statistics Division and published annually.

Answer · Susan Deacon: The Scottish Health Service Costs book is subject to ongoing development to reflect continuing changes to the health service in Scotland. At present the issue of what should be included in respect of funds transferred out of the Health Service to support comm…

29 Oct 1999 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-1791 by Ms Wendy Alexander on 26 October 1999, from which budget the additional #0.8 million compensation paid in 1998-1999 was provided.

Answer · Wendy Alexander: The payments referred to were made under Section 10 (1) of the Social Work (Scotland) Act 1968 and came from funds allocated to Grants to Voluntary Organisations. The total cost to that budget was offset by an increase in funds transferred from provision allo…

28 Oct 1999 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-1791 by Ms Wendy Alexander on 26 October 1999, what the reasons were for late decisions on ESF Objective 3 Grants.

Answer · Jack McConnell: I understand that the decisions on ESF Objective 3 grants for 1998 were delayed because of a changeover of administrative procedures. In order to prevent the adverse effects of these delays on small organisations in the voluntary sector which had become depen…

6 Oct 1999 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will detail local authority expenditure on community care services in each of the last five years.

Answer · Iain Gray: The information is laid out in the table below.Gross Expenditure(1)(2)(3) on Community Care by Local Authorities (£'000s)<TABLE BORDER CELLSPACING=1 CELLPADDING=2 WIDTH=623><TR><TD WIDTH="37%" VALIGN="TOP" HEIGHT=11><FONT FACE="Arial" SIZ…

6 Oct 1999 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many patients are currently in hospital awaiting local authority provided community care packages in each health board area.

Answer · Iain Gray: A pilot exercise to assess the reasons for delayed discharges from NHS care has not yet produced the comprehensive detail required to provide the information requested. Work involving the key agencies is continuing to develop information systems that will pro…

1 Oct 1999 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what meetings it has had with the Home Office to discuss the implications for Scotland of proposed changes to the Race Relations Act 1976.

Answer · Jackie Baillie: The Scottish Executive is in regular contact with the United Kingdom government on a wide range of issues including the proposed changes to the Race Relations Act 1976.

1 Oct 1999 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will detail for each of the last five years the level of funding available under section 10 of the Social Work (Scotland) Act 1968.

Answer · Wendy Alexander: Funding has been provided as follows:<DIR>1995-96: 		£7,214,5761996-97: 		£7,599,3941997-98:		£8,594,8811998-99: 		£7,950,9731999-2000: 	…

30 Sep 1999 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will detail the level of consultation which will take place in relation to appointing the Director or Chief Executive of the Drug Enforcement Agency.

Answer · Angus MacKay: There has already been considerable consultation with the police and other relevant organisations about the establishment of the Scottish Drugs Enforcement Agency.The arrangements for appointing the Director are among a range of i…

23 Sep 1999 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what the cost of West of Scotland Water Authority's centenary launch on 31 October 1999 will be and what the cost of any similar events held by other water authorities in the last three years was.

Answer · Sarah Boyack: West of Scotland Water Authority did not hold a centenary launch on 31 October. But later this month the authority plan a centenary launch of the SS Sir Walter Scott, owned by the authority and which sails on Loch Katrine, which supplies Glasgow's drinking wa…

3 Sep 1999 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S2W-972 by Cathy Jamieson on 5 June 2003, by what process the First Minister arrives at decision on nominations for the Lord President of the Court of Session and Lord Justice Clerk.

Answer · Hugh Henry: By Statute, the First Minister must consult the current Lord President and Lord Justice Clerk before making his nomination. He would also consult cabinet colleagues with knowledge of the field of candidates for consideration.

31 Aug 1999 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-552 by Lord Hardie on 11 August, what timescale has been set for the examination of the interpretation and translation services within the criminal justice system.

Answer · Andrew Hardie: The commitment to examine the provision of interpreting and translating services in the criminal justice system featured in The Stephen Lawrence Inquiry - An Action Plan for Scotland. It will be for the Deputy First Minister's Steering Group on the Ste…

30 Jul 1999 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive in the light of the Scottish Premier League's decision to restrict entry to the Scottish Premier Division by refusing to allow teams promoted from Division One to enter into temporary ground sharing arrangements, what action it plans in order to assist those clubs who will be disadvantag…

Answer · Rhona Brankin: Entry requirements for the Scottish Premier Division are a matter for the Scottish Premier League. Government Ministers would not normally seek to intervene in matters that are the responsibility of the relevant football authorities.<FONT FACE="Arial" SIZE=2…

30 Jul 1999 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive to specify the amount of public funding for learning disability services in Scotland in each of the past five years divided between the health service, local authorities and the voluntary sector.

Answer · Iain Gray: The following table shows the amount of public funding for learning disability services in Scotland in each of the past five years, where data are available, for health service and local authorities. Figures for the voluntary sector are not collected by the S…

27 Jul 1999 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, with reference to "The Stephen Lawrence Inquiry: An Action Plan for Scotland" (Recommendation 57), what timescale has been set for the Association of Chief Police Officers in Scotland to publish guidance for forces on what constitutes inappropriate behaviour or language, including racist…

Answer · Jim Wallace: I refer the member to my answer to question S1W-720.

27 Jul 1999 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, with reference to "The Stephen Lawrence Inquiry: An Action Plan for Scotland" (Recommendation 18), what timescale has been set for the Association of Chief Police Officers in Scotland to produce Major Crime Investigation Review Policy Documents.

Answer · Jim Wallace: I refer the member to my answer to question S1W-720.

27 Jul 1999 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive further to the answer to question S1W-00488 by Angus Mackay on 22 July 1999, what is the full timescale for the consultation process regarding proposals for taking forward the Drugs Enforcement Agency concept, and what are all the organisations who will participate within it.

Answer · Angus MacKay: Consultation involving the key enforcement agencies is continuing. When a programme for setting up the Drug Enforcement Agency has been agreed, an announcement will be made. It is intended to make this before the end of the year. The agencies involved in the …

19 Jul 1999 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will detail the proposals to explore the "underpinning causes of student nurse attrition" referred to in the Acute Services Review Report, (May 1998), and whether it will make a statement.

Answer · Susan Deacon: I refer the Member to my earlier answer, S1W-00598.

19 Jul 1999 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what progress has been made in commissioning the study into student nurse attrition rates, referred to in the Acute Services Review Report, (May 1998), and what is the timescale for completion and publication of the research findings.

Answer · Susan Deacon: Following the publication of the Acute Services Review, it became apparent that a number of studies into student nurse attrition were already taking place. This included research by Stirling University, practical initiatives by other Scottish providers of nur…

19 Jul 1999 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what opportunity was given to representatives of the health professions and patients' organisations to nominate representatives to the review team established by the Chief Nursing Officer to examine the contribution made by nurses to improving the public's health, as announced in "Towards…

Answer · Susan Deacon: The steering group for the review of the contribution made by nurses to improving the public health has not yet been established. The Chief Nursing Officer wishes to ensure that all relevant professional and public interests are appropriately involved in the …

19 Jul 1999 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will publish the composition, terms of reference and timescale for completion of the review team established by the Chief Nursing Officer, as announced in "Towards A Healthier Scotland" (February 1998), to review the contribution made by nurses to improving the public's healt…

Answer · Susan Deacon: Establishment of the Chief Nursing Officer's review of the contribution made by nurses to improving the public's health has been postponed pending the completion of the Chief Medical Officer's review of the public health function. Given the importance we atta…

15 Jul 1999 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive further to the answer to question S1W-375 by Iain Gray on 2 July 1999, whether it plans to provide any additional resources in order to implement the key recommendations of the review into services for people with a learning disability.

Answer · Iain Gray: Our forward plans for health and social work generally already allow for increased expenditure of £680 million over the next two years. The review itself will consider whether the significant resources already spent are being used effectively and whether new…

15 Jul 1999 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive further to the answer to question S1W-335 by Ms Wendy Alexander on 14 July 1999, what specific proposals it will bring forward to improve housing provision for Scotland's black and ethnic minority communities.

Answer · Wendy Alexander: The Scottish Executive will seek to ensure that all people in Scotland, irrespective of ethnic origin, benefit from its housing policies and the housing programmes of Scottish Homes and local authorities. The new Race Equality Advisory Forum will advise on a…

14 Jul 1999 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will improve interpreting services for ethnic minorities in the criminal justice system.

Answer · Andrew Hardie: I refer the member to page 11 of "An Action Plan for Scotland", the Scottish Executive's response to The Stephen Lawrence Inquiry which was launched on Tuesday 20 July, copies of which are available in the Scottish Parliament Information Centre. In…

12 Jul 1999 · SPCB Written Question

To ask the Presiding Officer what action the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body plans to take in order to ensure that MSPs' constituency offices have adequate access for disabled people and facilities for those with a sensory impairment.

Answer · David Steel: The Members' Allowance Scheme provides that constituency offices should be suitable for public access. This includes disabled people and those with sensory impairment. Accordingly, the SPCB would expect individual members to take account of the needs of the…

12 Jul 1999 · SPCB Written Question

To ask the Presiding Officer what action has been taken to improve facilities for disabled people within all buildings in the parliamentary complex.

Answer · David Steel: Alterations additional to the requirements of the Building Standards (Scotland) Regulations 1990 were made during the refurbishment of the City of Edinburgh Council buildings and the Church of Scotland Assembly Hall to form the Scottish Parliaments interim ac…

8 Jul 1999 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will provide details of its plans for the relationship between the Drug Enforcement Agency and Customs and Excise.

Answer · Angus MacKay: I refer the member to the answer I gave today, to Mr Keith Raffan's question number S1W-00488.

8 Jul 1999 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what impact its announcement of 24 June 1999 in relation to Private Finance Initiatives (PFI) will have on the five PFI projects agreed by Falkirk Council.

Answer · Jack McConnell: Those improvements to public private partnerships I announced on 24 June which relate to matters covered by contract will have no impact on the Falkirk Council scheme for the construction of 5 new schools. This is because, with the exception of the announceme…

8 Jul 1999 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it intends to recruit officers for the Drug Enforcement Agency from existing Police staffing levels.

Answer · Angus MacKay: I refer the member to the answer I gave today, to Mr Keith Raffan's question number S1W-00488.