Michael Russell

13 Nov 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what civil servants and/or special advisers reported directly to the former First Minister and, of those, which worked with him from Friday 2 November to Monday 5 November in relation to his constituency accounts.

Answer · Andy Kerr: Nine Special Advisers reported directly to the former First Minister prior to and during the period 2-5 November with terms and conditions remaining the same throughout. Regarding those who may have worked with him in relation to his constituency accounts, I …

13 Nov 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will investigate the statements made in Scotland on Sunday on 11 November 2001 regarding the involvement of special advisers in assisting the former First Minister in relation to his constituency accounts.

Answer · Andy Kerr: There are no plans to investigate.

13 Nov 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what regulations exist with regard to the involvement of civil servants working directly for ministers in constituency matters and what sanctions exist should these regulations be breached by ministers or civil servants.

Answer · Andy Kerr: The Civil Service Management Code sets out the rules for civil servants. Disciplinary arrangements are a matter for the Scottish Executive within the framework set out in this code. The code is available at:<P><A HREF="http://www.cabinet-office.gov.uk/civilse…

13 Nov 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether Special Advisers or other civil servants can be expected to help ministers with constituency correspondence, accounts relating to the costs of constituency offices or other constituency matters.

Answer · Andy Kerr: Civil servants are required to conduct themselves in accordance with the Civil Service Code. Special Advisers are required to conduct themselves in accordance with the model contract for Special Advisers, which incorporates the Civil Service Code, although th…

9 Nov 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive when the Minister for Health and Community Care will reply to the letter that my constituent, Councillor Eli'abeth McLardy, wrote to her on 26 July 2001 regarding attempts by another of my constituents to obtain an electric wheelchair.

Answer · Susan Deacon: The letter does not appear to have been received but if the member wishes to send another copy it will be given prompt attention.

2 Nov 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what progress is being made in producing and providing support and teaching materials for schools for the new National Qualifications; what its timetable is for the completion and provision of this material, and whether this timetable is on schedule.

Answer · Jack McConnell: The Executive, in consultation with the National Qualifications Task Group (NQTG), has agreed a programme of work for this financial year with Learning and Teaching Scotland, the Scottish Qualifications Authority and the Scottish Further Education Unit. Some …

2 Nov 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many civil service jobs it plans to relocate to North Ayrshire as part of its commitment to decentralising government departments and what the timescale is for any such relocation.

Answer · Angus MacKay: I refer the member to the answer given to question S1W-19681 on 19 November. No specific areas of Scotland are targeted, and none are ruled out when office relocations are considered. North Ayrshire will continue to be considered as a potential relocation sit…

2 Nov 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether the explanation given by the Minister for Finance and Local Government in his interview with the Irvine Times published on 2 November 2001 for the decision to relocate jobs from the Scottish Public Pensions Agency to Galashiels rather than Irvine is consistent with the previous e…

Answer · Angus MacKay: Relocation decisions are based on a range of issues including costs, quality and efficiency of service, economic factors such as unemployment, availability and suitability of property and staff, transport issues, and the position of staff concerned. Further c…

2 Nov 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether the issue of site ownership was a factor in the decision to choose Galashiels over Irvine as a base for the relocated jobs in the Scottish Public Pensions Agency.

Answer · Angus MacKay: Relocation decisions are based on a range of issues including costs, quality and efficiency of service, economic factors such as unemployment, availability and suitability of property and staff, transport issues and the position of staff concerned and the ind…

1 Nov 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether there was any change between 1999-2000 and 2000-01 in the number of pensioners visiting galleries and museums and, if so, what this change was.

Answer · Allan Wilson: The information requested is not held centrally.

1 Nov 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it anticipates a shortage of teachers qualified to teach in Gaelic-medium education in 2001-02.

Answer · Nicol Stephen: Education authorities (EAs) are asked in the Executive's annual teacher workforce planning exercise to estimated their requirements for Gaelic-medium teachers. The following table shows information on estimated EA requirements for academic sessions 2001-02 an…

30 Oct 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what consultation has been carried out over the proposals to repeal the Schools (Scotland) Code 1956.

Answer · Jack McConnell: My department issued a consultation document on 3 April 2000 seeking comments on the review of the code's provisions. I hope to make an announcement shortly on the future of the code.

30 Oct 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what the implications would be for minimum teaching qualifications in pre-school education and the early years of primary school should the Schools (Scotland) Code 1956 be repealed, as presently proposed.

Answer · Nicol Stephen: The repeal of the pre-school provisions of the Schools (Scotland) Code 1956 - proposed and consulted upon in 2000 - will not of itself carry any implications for minimum teaching qualifications in pre-school education. The "special qualification" referred to …

30 Oct 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has any plans which would alter the minimum qualifications for teachers in pre-school education and the early years of primary school.

Answer · Nicol Stephen: On 1 October we launched a review of entry requirements to teacher training - of all types. I also refer the member to the answer given to question S1W-19480.

29 Oct 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether the decision by the Scottish Prison Service with regard to the application of the Data Protection Act 1984 in relation to correspondence from MSPs on behalf of prisoners is consistent with practice by other public bodies.

Answer · Iain Gray: I have asked Mr Tony Cameron, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service to respond. His response is as follows: <P>Prior to implementation of the new procedures, the Scottish Prison Service sought advice from a number of relevant bodies including the Off…

29 Oct 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how the work of MSPs and others representing prisoners will be affected by the decision of the Scottish Prison Service to require the explicit written consent of a prisoner before releasing to MSPs or others any information about that prisoner and whether this is an appropriate use of th…

Answer · Iain Gray: I have asked Mr Tony Cameron, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service, to respond. His response is as follows:<P>The work of MSPs and others representing prisoners will be facilitated by the decision. The relevant legislation is now the Data Protection…

29 Oct 2001 · First Minister's Question

To ask the First Minister what submissions the Scottish Executive has made to the Inquiry by Dr Iain Anderson and the Scientific Review led by the Royal Society, both established by Her Majesty's Government in response to the foot-and-mouth disease outbreak with a remit to cover Great Britain.

Answer · Henry McLeish: The Scottish Executive is contributing to both inquiries but no formal submission has yet been made. The Royal Society is making a fact-finding trip to Dumfries and Galloway this week and will meet my officials and other partners involved in disease control a…

16 Oct 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether there are any areas of the Clydesdale constituency which it is not possible, in normal circumstances, for an ambulance to reach from its base within 21 minutes.

Answer · Susan Deacon: This is an operational matter for the Scottish Ambulance Service. I refer the member to the answer given to question S1W-19126.

16 Oct 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive to what extent the ambulance service in rural areas of Clydesdale has been able to meet the target waiting time in rural areas of 21 minutes.

Answer · Susan Deacon: This is an operational matter for the Scottish Ambulance Service. I refer the member to the answer given to question S1W-19126.

16 Oct 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many of the ambulance bases in Clydesdale have only one ambulance and what arrangements for cover are made at these bases when this ambulance has been called out.

Answer · Susan Deacon: These are operational matters for the Scottish Ambulance Service. I refer the member to the answer given to question S1W-19126.

16 Oct 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will list all the ambulance bases in the Clydesdale constituency, specifying which operate full-time and which part-time.

Answer · Susan Deacon: These are operational matters for the Scottish Ambulance Service. I understand that you have recently met the general manager of the service's West Central Division to discuss ambulance service provision in Lanarkshire.

16 Oct 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what the timetable now is for completion of the new hospital facilities at Stonehouse, Lanarkshire.

Answer · Malcolm Chisholm: I refer the member to the answer given to question S1W-20246 on 17 December 2001.

15 Oct 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what action it is taking to prevent any cutback to the activity of the Scottish Place-Names Survey at Edinburgh University which may result from the current financial position of the survey.

Answer · Allan Wilson: The funding of the Scottish Place-Names Survey is a matter for the University of Edinburgh.

5 Oct 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive (a) why there has been a delay in responding to the Scottish Arts Council's submission for funding for a Scottish National Theatre and related projects and (b) when it plans to respond to the submission.

Answer · Allan Wilson: I refer the member to the answer given to question S1W-18806 on 1 November 2001.

4 Oct 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive when it anticipates that the proposed national theatre company will be fully operational.

Answer · Allan Wilson: I refer the member to the answer given to question S1W-18806.

4 Oct 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what progress is being made with regard to the funding and implementation of the proposals for a national theatre company.

Answer · Allan Wilson: I refer the member to the answer given to question S1W-18806.

3 Oct 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-17754 by Ross Finnie on 20 September 2001, when and in what form it will publish detailed information on the likely causes and contacts which resulted in the subsequent spread of foot-and-mouth disease in Dumfries and Galloway and the Borders followi…

Answer · Ross Finnie: Issues relating to the spread of foot-and-mouth disease in Scotland are covered by the terms of reference of the Inquiries of the Royal Society and the Royal Society of Edinburgh. Both these bodies are completely independent of the Scottish Executive and will…

2 Oct 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what funding it will make available to local authorities to allow them to meet any additional costs arising out of any National Joint Committee determinations on the pay and conditions for nursery nurses.

Answer · Nicol Stephen: Provision towards general local authority pay and price inflation was included within the total local government settlement allocations for the three years 2001-02 to 2003-04, which were announced in December 2000. We would expect local authorities to meet fr…

1 Oct 2001 · SPCB Written Question

To ask the Presiding Officer whether the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body will make scottishparliamentlive.com available in a form which is readily accessible to Mac users.

Answer · David Steel: Scottish Parliamentlive.com webcasts the proceedings of the Scottish Parliament using the two main streaming platforms, Windows Mediaplayer and Realplayer. Users of both PCs and Apple Mac computers who have downloaded the appropriate players can view the stre…

28 Sep 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many personnel in the education sector are qualified to undertake (a) speech therapy, (b) child psychological assessment and (c) assessment of special needs using the Gaelic language.

Answer · Nicol Stephen: The information requested is not held centrally.