Parliamentary questions
Michael Russell
1,207 questions tabled in the Scottish Parliament, most recent first.
11 Dec 2002 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-31496 by Ross Finnie on 25 November 2002, what information it has received about any complaint relating to the eviction of the tenants from Powhillon Farm, Dumfriesshire, on 9 June 1999 that is currently being considered by Dumfries and Galloway Cons…
Answer · Ross Finnie: No complaints relating to this eviction are the subject of investigation by the Scottish Executive. I understand that a complaint has been made against Dumfries and Galloway Constabulary and that this is currently under investigation by Dumfries and Galloway …
11 Dec 2002 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-31495 by Ross Finnie on 25 November 2002, whether it is aware of a letter from it to Mr Daniel Quinn, dated 1 October 2001, reference number of 2001/00263560R, that refers to previous correspondence regarding the eviction of the tenants from Powhillo…
Answer · Ross Finnie: Following the eviction, Mr Quinn corresponded with officials in the Scottish Executive. The letter highlighted, of 1 October 2001, was a part of that correspondence. However, there is no outstanding correspondence between Mr Quinn and the Executive. It remain…
11 Dec 2002 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive on what dates since 1 July 1999 ministers have made reported statements or comments in support of the Larkhall rail link and what timescale for the completion of the link was anticipated in such statements.
Answer · Lewis Macdonald: Strathclyde Passenger Transport is the lead authority taking this project forward. As the Scottish Executive is the major funder of the Larkhall to Milngavie rail link, Scottish ministers have made numerous reported statements and comments in support of this …
11 Dec 2002 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive when it expects work to commence on establishing the proposed Larkhall rail link.
Answer · Lewis Macdonald: Strathclyde Passenger Transport is the lead authority taking the Larkhall rail link forward.<P>I understand that, since the Rail Regulator agreed in principle to a re-benchmarking solution that will remove the issues around performance costs, Strathclyde Pass…
11 Dec 2002 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what resources were made available to (a) South Lanarkshire Council, (b) the enterprise company serving South Lanarkshire and (c) other bodies to assist with economic difficulties in the Larkhall area following the closure of DAKS Simpson.
Answer · Iain Gray: Following the announcement in October 2001 that manufacturing would cease at DAKS Simpson Larkhall site, support was provided to those being made redundant through the Scottish Executive's Partnership Action for Continuing Employment (PACE) framework. The Lan…
9 Dec 2002 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what the average number of half days of unauthorised absence was per (a) primary and (b) secondary school pupil due to (i) truancy and (ii) temporary exclusion in (1) 1998-99, (2) 1999-2000, (3) 2000-01 and (4) 2001-02, broken down by local authority area.
Answer · Cathy Jamieson: The information requested has been placed in the Parliament's Reference Centre (Bib. number 25643).
4 Dec 2002 · General Question
To ask the Scottish Executive when it will review funding of the arts.
Answer · Mike Watson: There are no current Executive plans to undertake a formal review of arts funding.
2 Dec 2002 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive when a proposal for the Scottish Standard for Social Housing will be published and what issues will be included in the proposal.
Answer · Margaret Curran: I refer the member to the answer given to question S1W-32181 today. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament's website, the search facility for which can be found at <A HREF="http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/searc…
2 Dec 2002 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether regulations on lead pipes will be included in the Scottish Standard for Social Housing.
Answer · Margaret Curran: We shall shortly consult local authorities, registered social landlords and others about the elements that the Scottish Standard for Social Housing should cover. It is too soon to rule individual elements in or out.
2 Dec 2002 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what progress has been made in determining the quality thresholds for the Scottish Standard for Social Housing.
Answer · Margaret Curran: We expect to issue a consultation paper shortly.
2 Dec 2002 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has received a progress report from North Ayrshire Council on the Better Neighbourhood Services Fund in the Vineburgh area of Irvine and whether it will place a copy of any such report in the Scottish Parliament Information Centre.
Answer · Margaret Curran: The Executive has received an annual progress report from North Ayrshire Council on the Better Neighbourhood Services Fund (BNSF). Annual reports for each of the 12 local authorities allocated funding under the BNSF will be copied to the Parliament's Referenc…
2 Dec 2002 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what the average per capita funding is for projects under the Better Neighbourhood Services Fund.
Answer · Margaret Curran: The Executive does not require local authorities to gather this information, nor do we hold it. We are concerned with the outcomes that Better Neighbourhood Services Fund resources achieve in terms of improving services.
2 Dec 2002 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what funding has been allocated under the Better Neighbourhood Services Fund to the Vineburgh area of Irvine for the current and next two financial years.
Answer · Margaret Curran: The Executive did not provide funding for a specific area. North Ayrshire Council and its community planning partners decided on the use of their funding allocation from the Better Neighbourhood Services Fund.
28 Nov 2002 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what arrangements were entered into by the Scottish Arts Council to terminate the contract of the council's former (a) director Tessa Jackson and (b) deputy director Barclay Price; how much these arrangements cost in (i) additional spending in the financial year in which the resignations…
Answer · Mike Watson: I refer the member to the answers given to questions S1W-21042 on 3 January 2002, and S1W-20472 on 11 December 2001 which deal with the case of Ms Jackson. The same considerations also apply in the case of Barclay Price. All answers to written parliamentary q…
28 Nov 2002 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how much the Scottish Arts Council spent on (a) travel and (b) subsistence for its (i) staff, (ii) members of the management team and (iii) members of the council and its committees in (1) 1999-2000, (2) 2000-01 and (3) 2001-02 and how much it will spend in 2002-03.
Answer · Mike Watson: This is a matter for the Scottish Arts Council. The information requested is not held centrally. However, I have asked the Scottish Arts Council to respond to the member directly.
27 Nov 2002 · General Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what steps it is taking to promote literacy and numeracy in primary schools.
Answer · Cathy Jamieson: In June I launched national statements for improving attainment in literacy and numeracy in schools in Scotland.<P>These statements will help promote and develop the work taking place in education authorities and schools by providing a complete overview of th…
22 Nov 2002 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what influence the Scottish National Gallery of Modern Art should have on the economy of the arts sector.
Answer · Elaine Murray: By acquiring works by living artists, the Gallery of Modern Art strengthens the reputation of those artists, though this does not necessarily have economic implications.
22 Nov 2002 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what purchasing policy the Scottish National Gallery of Modern Art is intending to pursue over the next three years with regard to developing its collection so that it can present a wide and deep view of the work of modern artists resident in Scotland.
Answer · Elaine Murray: Subject to the availability of funds, the Gallery of Modern Art would always hope to devote a significant part of its annual allocation to works by living Scottish artists, though not to the exclusion of its wider, international responsibilities.
22 Nov 2002 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how much, in total, the Scottish National Gallery of Modern Art has spent on purchasing new acquisitions in each of the last five years; what proportion of these sums has been spent on works purchased from, or originating from, artists resident in Scotland, and what criteria are used in d…
Answer · Elaine Murray: Because it is common to spread purchases over two or even three years, it is not possible to give total amounts for each of the past five years. However, the average over this period is £600,000 a year. A total of £3,140,256 from all sources, both public and …
21 Nov 2002 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many identifications of fingerprints for use as court productions have been undertaken by the Scottish Criminal Record Office fingerprint experts that gave evidence in the Shirley McKie case since their re-instatement.
Answer · Jim Wallace: Since their re-instatement on 9 April 2002, the four fingerprint officers involved in the Shirley McKie case have not undertaken the identification of fingerprints for use as court productions.
21 Nov 2002 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether the Scottish Criminal Record Office (SCRO) fingerprint experts involved in the Shirley McKie case have since their re-instatement given evidence under oath at any criminal trial and, if so, on how many occasions and in which courts.
Answer · Jim Wallace: The SCRO fingerprint officers involved in the Shirley McKie have not given evidence under oath at any criminal trial since their re-instatement on 9 April 2002.
21 Nov 2002 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive when HM Chief Inspector of Constabulary will next publish an interim or full report on issues arising from any visit to, or inspection of, the Scottish Criminal Record Office.
Answer · Jim Wallace: HM Inspectorate of Constabulary (HMIC) will be reporting on its review inspection of the Scottish Criminal Record Office (SCRO) in March 2003. SCRO will also be included in the HMIC Race Relations Inspection Report that is due to be published in February 2003.
21 Nov 2002 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive when HM Chief Inspector of Constabulary will next undertake a full, partial or regular visit to, or inspection of, the Scottish Criminal Record Office.
Answer · Jim Wallace: HM Inspector of Constabulary will carry out a review inspection of the Scottish Criminal Record Office (SCRO) in January 2003. This review inspection will address any issues that are outstanding from the SCRO Primary Inspection Report published in May 2001 an…
21 Nov 2002 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what protection exists for goods that belong to third parties on premises that are affected by a sequestration for rent and the consequent exercise of the landlord's hypotech.
Answer · Jim Wallace: Goods which are on hire purchase or the subject of a conditional sale agreement, which are on the premises only temporarily or which belong to a member of the tenant's family or to a lodger are all exempt from sequestration for rent. Also, any third party, wh…
20 Nov 2002 · General Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what response it is making in respect of the proportion of S2 pupils that did not meet the required grades in reading, writing and mathematics.
Answer · Nicol Stephen: The Scottish Executive is continuing the drive to raise standards through National Priority targets set at both local authority and school level and by streamlining the assessment of individual pupils through the Assessment Development Programme.
19 Nov 2002 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what the timescale is for the re-location of the headquarters of sportscotland.
Answer · Mike Watson: No decision on re-location has been made. I refer the member to the answer given to question S1W-31690 today. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament's website, the search facility for which can be found at: <P><A HREF="…
19 Nov 2002 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether sportscotland intends to re-locate its headquarters to North Ayrshire and what the reasons are for the position on the matter.
Answer · Mike Watson: No decision on re-location has been made. I refer the member to the answer given to question S1W-31690 today. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament's website, the search facility for which can be found at:<P><A HREF="h…
19 Nov 2002 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what progress has been made in deciding on a new location for the headquarters of sportscotland.
Answer · Mike Watson: We will soon receive and consider a report from the consultants commissioned by <B>sport</B>scotland to review their property portfolio as well as examine the scope for developing a new national centre in partnership with other bodies. That will help inform o…
18 Nov 2002 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how it intends to support the celebrations arranged by the Royal Scottish Geographical Society to mark the centenary of the Scottish National Antarctic Expedition.
Answer · Mike Watson: The Scottish Executive has no plans to become involved in the centenary of the Scottish National Antarctic Expedition.
15 Nov 2002 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what specific action has been taken to encourage new partnerships in both public and private sectors and further collaboration within the library sector to include the exploitation of information and communication technologies and the development of policies for national collections, part…
Answer · Elaine Murray: As reported in the National Cultural Strategy Annual report 2002, the New Opportunities Fund award of £4 million to Resource for Learning in Scotland, a consortium of the National Library of Scotland, the National Archives of Scotland, the Scottish Resource A…