Michael Russell

11 Dec 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions it has had with Her Majesty's Government regarding the Home Secretary's view on promoting a British culture.

Answer · Elaine Murray: None.

10 Dec 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it approved (a) the internal advertisement and appointment to vacant senior posts at the Scottish Qualifications Authority and (b) the criteria for deciding that such posts be treated in this way.

Answer · Nicol Stephen: The recruitment processes adopted to fill posts within the Scottish Qualifications Authority (SQA) are a matter for that body. However, under its Management Statement and Financial Memorandum the SQA is required to operate a recruitment system that is based o…

10 Dec 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what vacant posts at the Scottish Qualifications Authority have been advertised internally only over the past three months and under what criteria it was decided to adopt such an approach to these posts.

Answer · Nicol Stephen: This is a matter for the Scottish Qualifications Authority (SQA). However, SQA's Management Statement and Financial Memorandum requires the SQA to operate a recruitment system that is based on fair and open competition. I will arrange for the chairman to resp…

10 Dec 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has any plans to improve the availability, funding and promotion of basic language fluency courses for people who are considering taking up Gaelic-medium teacher training courses.

Answer · Nicol Stephen: We are considering in conjunction with the Scottish Qualifications Authority (SQA) the proposals contained in the SQA report on Gaelic Immersion Courses.

10 Dec 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether any restrictions prevent local authorities from using (a) the Excellence Fund, (b) special needs funding, (c) grants for pre-schools education and (d) funding from Sure Start Scotland to benefit Gaelic-medium education.

Answer · Nicol Stephen: Education authorities are expected to provide Gaelic-medium education where there is a substantial demand for it. There are no restrictions on authorities using these funds to benefit Gaelic-medium provision, consistent with their overall objectives.

10 Dec 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive on what dates the annual accounts for the Scottish Qualifications Authority were published for (a) 1997-98, (b) 1998-99 and (c) 1999-2000.

Answer · Nicol Stephen: This is a matter for the Scottish Qualifications Authority (SQA). However, the SQA normally makes its audited annual accounts available on request after they have been laid in Parliament. I will arrange for the chairman of the SQA to respond to your request f…

10 Dec 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what requirements it sets non-departmental public bodies for publication of accounts and what means it recommends for making such accounts open and accessible.

Answer · Andy Kerr: All non-departmental public bodies (NDPBs) with budgetary responsibilities are required to produce annual accounts. These should be drawn up in accordance with best commercial practice, including for example, an operating/income and expenditure account; a bal…

10 Dec 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive when the Scottish Qualifications Authority will publish its accounts for 2000-01 and where they will be publicly accessible.

Answer · Nicol Stephen: This is a matter for the Scottish Qualifications Authority (SQA). However, the SQA normally makes its audited annual accounts available on request after they have been laid in Parliament. It is expected that the 2000-01 accounts will have been laid by 21 Dece…

7 Dec 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what access to further education is available to the children of asylum seekers or asylum seekers themselves.

Answer · Wendy Alexander: In September, the Scottish Executive announced an additional, annual £0.5 million to assist colleges' provision of basic English courses for asylum seekers. At their discretion, colleges may also offer access to part-time vocational courses and support for th…

7 Dec 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many children of asylum seekers are currently in full-time school education and what special provision has been made for them.

Answer · Nicol Stephen: Comprehensive information on the numbers of asylum seeker children currently in full-time school education is not held centrally. Special provision for asylum seeker children is made according the needs of the children and might include, for example, the appo…

7 Dec 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what rights to education can be exercised by the children of asylum seekers.

Answer · Nicol Stephen: Under the Standards in Scotland's Schools Act 2000, every child of school age has a right to be provided with school education by an education authority. This includes children of asylum seekers within their area. Education authorities have a duty to provide …

6 Dec 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what its position is on national standardised terms and conditions for the employment of nursery nurses by local authorities and what consultation it undertook prior to reaching that position.

Answer · Cathy Jamieson: I refer the member to the answer given to question S1W-20777 on 3 January 2002. <P>Under the Single Status Agreement negotiated between local authority employers and relevant trades unions, the pay and conditions of almost all local government employees are b…

6 Dec 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has considered what minimum national qualification should be required for nursery nurses.

Answer · Cathy Jamieson: Nursery nurses are included in the childcare workforce that will be regulated by the new Scottish Social Services Council. No decision has yet been reached regarding national qualifications for this workforce.

6 Dec 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions it is having with COSLA and trade unions with regard to the terms and conditions of employment of nursery nurses.

Answer · Cathy Jamieson: The pay and conditions of nursery nurses are a matter for their employers, whether local authorities or operators in the private or voluntary sector. The Executive has no role in these negotiations. As part of wider discussions on childcare workforce developm…

28 Nov 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will investigate the delay in replying to my letters concerning Mr John Doyle sent to the Procurator Fiscal's office in Kilmarnock.

Answer · Colin Boyd: There was no delay. The letter of 2 July 2001 was acknowledged on 3 July. It related to an on-going investigation. On 22 August 2001 a letter was sent to the constituency office address intimating the outcome of the investigation and the decision in relation …

28 Nov 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what response time to letters from MSPs should be achieved by the Procurator Fiscal service and what arrangements it is making to ensure that MSPs get timeous replies.

Answer · Colin Boyd: The response time is 20 working days. Correspondence response times are monitored and the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service achieves exemplary performance. I refer the member to the answer given to question S1W-20492 for the response times achieved i…

23 Nov 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-19645 by Angus Mackay on 19 November 2001, what locations within North Ayrshire are being considered for relocation of civil service jobs from Edinburgh and Glasgow; what discussions are taking place with North Ayrshire Council on this matter, and wh…

Answer · Andy Kerr: The Executive wrote to all local authorities and local enterprise companies in December last year seeking information about relocation opportunities in local areas. We received a number of responses, including information about opportunities in North Ayrshire…

23 Nov 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what criteria it uses when considering the relocation of (a) its departments and (b) non-departmental government bodies to locations outside Edinburgh or Glasgow.

Answer · Andy Kerr: The criteria to be taken into account will vary according to the circumstances of the organisation under review. The policy states (question S1W-1558 refers) that the location of public sector jobs should promote efficiency and effectiveness and that, subject…

22 Nov 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what weight local authorities should give to the views of existing local residents when considering applications for planning permission that appear to breach National Planning Policy Guideline 3, Land for Housing.

Answer · Iain Gray: The weight given to public concern should be based on the relevance of the planning issues raised, and is a matter for the decision-maker to assess.

22 Nov 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether a development at East Saltoun by Cala Homes and the planned housing development at Aberlady are in breach of National Planning Policy Guideline 3, Land for Housing.

Answer · Iain Gray: It is up to planning authorities to interpret National Planning Policy Guidelines in the first instance. I cannot comment on the merits of individual planning proposals as this could prejudice the position of the Scottish ministers in relation to future notif…

22 Nov 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions it has had with East Lothian Council on any planning developments that may breach National Planning Policy Guideline 3, Land for Housing.

Answer · Iain Gray: The Executive does not enter into discussions with planning authorities on the planning merits of applications for planning permission, in case they prejudice the position of the Scottish ministers in relation to subsequent notification or appeal procedures.

22 Nov 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what weight local authorities should give to its planning guidelines, in particular to National Planning Policy Guideline 3, Land for Housing, which deals with the suburbanisation of the countryside.

Answer · Iain Gray: National Planning Policy Guidelines (NPPGs) provide statements of Scottish Executive policy on nationally important land use and other planning matters. It is for the decision-maker (normally the planning authority) to assess the weight to be afforded to NPPG…

22 Nov 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to fund the rebuilding of the Stonehouse Hospital; whether it is actively considering a private finance model for this project, and when it expects the rebuilding work to commence.

Answer · Malcolm Chisholm: The Health Department assessed the business case received from Lanarkshire Primary Care NHS Trust for the redevelopment of part of the Stonehouse Hospital site.<P>The business case indicated that there was potential to procure this development through a Publi…

21 Nov 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive why it approved alterations to the John Muir birthplace in Dunbar, a listed building, without holding a public enquiry or further public consultation.

Answer · Mike Watson: The application for Listed Building Consent for the proposed alterations to the John Muir Birthplace in Dunbar was granted consent by East Lothian Council as planning authority, not Scottish ministers. Following routine notification of the application to mini…

21 Nov 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what weight was given to (a) the scheme as notified to East Lothian Council including overseas objections and (b) the objection submitted by the Scottish Civic Trust in particular when considering the request by Historic Scotland to grant consent to the application by the John Muir Trust…

Answer · Mike Watson: Scottish ministers did not grant consent for the works to the John Muir Birthplace in Dunbar. Consent was given by East Lothian Council as planning authority. The decision not to call in the application for decision by ministers was made after careful study o…

21 Nov 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what grounds were given by Historic Scotland when seeking ministerial approval to grant consent to the application by the John Muir Birthplace Trust to make alterations to the John Muir birthplace in Dunbar, a listed building.

Answer · Mike Watson: Listed Building Consent for the works at the John Muir Birthplace in Dunbar has not been granted by Scottish ministers; consent for the works has been given by East Lothian Council as planning authority.<P>Prior to issuing the consent, East Lothian Council no…

21 Nov 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will make a financial contribution to Humboldt University in Germany on a similar basis to contributions recently made by the Irish and Manx Governments in order to allow the continuation of Celtic Studies courses there.

Answer · Elaine Murray: We have no plans to do so.

15 Nov 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what powers it has to secure an order under section 1 (4) of the Protection of Wrecks Act 1973 where designation of a wreck site is a matter of immediate urgency and what criteria are applied when considering whether such designation is a matter of immediate urgency.

Answer · Mike Watson: Where designation of a wreck site under section 1(1) and 1(2) of the Protection of Wrecks Act 1973 is a matter of immediate urgency Scottish ministers may dispense with the consultation provided for in section 1(4) and proceed to make the order. The criterion…

15 Nov 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what input it has into the Advisory Committee on Historic Wreck Sites.

Answer · Mike Watson: Officials of Historic Scotland, which is an agency of the Scottish Executive, attend meetings of the Advisory Committee.

15 Nov 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what its powers and Historic Scotland's powers are in relation to the Protection of Wrecks Act 1973.

Answer · Mike Watson: The powers of the Scottish ministers, in relation to the Protection of Wrecks Act 1973 are to designate by order the sites of historic wrecks in Scottish waters (sections 1(1) and 1(2)) and to grant licences to carry out diving and salvage operations on such …