Michael Russell

4 Jul 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what consultation has taken place with established voluntary organisations in Glasgow with regard to the plans for a new Glasgow Gaelic Centre.

Answer · Alasdair Morrison: Meetings have been held between the proponents of the Glasgow Gaelic Centre and the Glasgow Highlanders' Institute and representatives of other Glasgow Highland associations.

4 Jul 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what representations it has received either in support of, or against, a new Glasgow Gaelic Centre.

Answer · Alasdair Morrison: The Executive has received a request for support for the project. No representations against a new Gaelic Centre have been received.

4 Jul 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what financial and other support it intends to give to the establishment of a new Glasgow Gaelic Centre.

Answer · Alasdair Morrison: I refer the member to the answer given to question S1W-16806.

4 Jul 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what involvement it has in plans for a new Glasgow Gaelic Centre.

Answer · Alasdair Morrison: The Executive is currently providing £25,000 a year in support of plans for a new Glasgow Gaelic Centre. No decisions have been made about any further support.

4 Jul 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what action it has taken to assist South Ayrshire Council to address any difficulties in educational management being experienced as a result of the absence of headteachers due to stress-related illnesses.

Answer · Nicol Stephen: I refer the Member to the answer given to question S1W-16770.

3 Jul 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what proposals it has to help local authorities to assist headteachers suffering from stress-related illnesses.

Answer · Nicol Stephen: The management of teacher absence and the causes of absence are matters for individual local authorities as employers and it is important that local authorities have effective management policies in place. No discussions with South Ayrshire Council or CoSLA h…

3 Jul 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions it has had with CoSLA regarding the effects of stress on headteachers.

Answer · Nicol Stephen: I refer the member to the answer given to question S1W-16770.

21 Jun 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to undertake a fully rigorous and public review of the events leading up to, the management of and the consequences arising from the outbreak of foot-and-mouth disease this year, including the economic, social, human and animal suffering which has been experienced.

Answer · Ross Finnie: I accept in principle the need for a full and rigorous review of this major foot-and-mouth disease outbreak. As this was a GB/UK emergency, the nature and terms of any review will need to be considered by the Welsh Assembly, DEFRA and the Scottish Executive.

20 Jun 2001 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what action it plans to take to address the issues identified in the report by Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Education, Standards and Quality in Primary and Secondary Schools 1998-2001.

Answer · Cathy Jamieson: I refer the member to the answer given to question S1O-4488 on 24 January 2002.

18 Jun 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what criteria are applied before agreeing an application from a local authority for additional resources under the Bellwin Scheme.

Answer · Angus MacKay: The criteria used are detailed in Finance Circular 9/2000, a copy of which is held in the Parliament's Reference Centre (Bib. no. 14385).

18 Jun 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what payments under the Bellwin Scheme have been made since May 1999; what the exceptional circumstances and events were that led to each application; what the differences were between the sum applied for and the actual payments made, and how many applications were refused and for what r…

Answer · Angus MacKay: Since May 1999, payments have been made to East Ayrshire and South Lanarkshire Councils following the very high winds that swept across south-west and central Scotland on Boxing Day 1998. After agreeing eligible costs with both of the councils, and after dedu…

18 Jun 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what assistance South Lanarkshire Council was sought under the Bellwin Scheme to meet the #900,000 costs incurred by the council due to the severe winter weather in February 2001 and why that application has been refused.

Answer · Angus MacKay: South Lanarkshire Council requested that the Scottish Executive trigger the Bellwin Scheme to help meet the costs arising from the heavy snowfall in late February. Their request is currently being considered. No application for grant has been made or refused.

7 Jun 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how much each local authority budgeted to spend on sending children to (a) grant-aided and (b) independent special schools at the start of financial year 2000-01 and how much each actually spent.

Answer · Nicol Stephen: This information is not collected centrally.

7 Jun 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what provision it makes in grants to local authorities for the costs of sending children to (a) grant-aided and (b) independent special schools.

Answer · Nicol Stephen: Local authorities fund the costs of children they place at grant-aided or independent special schools from funding provided by the Scottish Executive through the local government finance settlement. In 2001-02 this funding includes £199.697 million for specia…

7 Jun 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-15921 by Nicol Stephen on 5 June 2001, what representations it has received from local authorities regarding any difficulties they have in meeting the costs of placing children in (a) grant-aided and (b) independent special schools.

Answer · Nicol Stephen: The Scottish Executive has received no formal representations.

7 Jun 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what guidance it has given to local authorities with regard to placing and supporting students on dance courses in Scotland.

Answer · Allan Wilson: None.

7 Jun 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has any plans to introduce in Scotland a scheme similar to the Dance and Drama Awards Scheme in England.

Answer · Allan Wilson: There are no current plans to introduce such a scheme. We are, however, examining the issues surrounding support to Scottish students and the nature of the awards system operating in the south.

7 Jun 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions it has had with the Council for Dance Education and Training with regard to the accreditation of dance courses.

Answer · Allan Wilson: None.

7 Jun 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what response it has made to enquiries from Ballet West with regard to guidance on accreditation.

Answer · Allan Wilson: I am asking officials to work with Ballet West on the accreditation options available. Accreditation is, of course, a matter for the provider and the relevant qualification authority. Ballet West has also been encouraged to explore the possibilities of develo…

7 Jun 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what accreditation it considers that professional dance courses in Scotland should have.

Answer · Allan Wilson: It is for providers of such courses to determine, in conjunction with the relevant awarding authority, the type and standard of qualification applicable to the training provided.

4 Jun 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what advice it has given to local authorities who have to issue final demands for council tax to individuals who have become unemployed but whose application for benefit is taking 14 weeks or more to process.

Answer · Peter Peacock: Overall responsibility for the Council Tax Benefit Scheme rests with the Department of Social Security. However, through the work of the joint It Pays to Pay Working Group on council tax collection, which we established, CoSLA and the Institute of Revenues, R…

1 Jun 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will ensure that the full results of the audit of museums, along with any accompanying documentation volunteered by museums, will be published.

Answer · Allan Wilson: The results of the audit will be published in print and on the Scottish Museums Council's website with the exception of information relating to museums' security measures. The published information will be accompanied by appropriate commentary to assist the i…

1 Jun 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will ensure that information on the current financial position of each museum and its fundraising activities in recent years will be included in its consideration of the audit of museums.

Answer · Allan Wilson: The national audit seeks financial information relating to the year 2000-01, with questions on the total budget of the museum and a breakdown of sources of income, including fundraising.

1 Jun 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will ensure that accompanying documentation prepared by museums to overcome perceived gaps in the audit of museums will be properly noted and assessed when it responds to the audit and brings forward a policy for museums.

Answer · Allan Wilson: Yes.

1 Jun 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive why the audit of museums does not give recipients the opportunity to comment on and assess the structures presently in place to support and assist museums in Scotland.

Answer · Allan Wilson: The purpose of the audit is to establish what collections there are, how they are cared for and what use is made of them. It is not an appropriate vehicle for an examination of structures. We will in due course pursue our commitments in the <I>National Cultur…

1 Jun 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what benchmarks it will use to assess the progress that each individual museum has made in providing imaginative and effective services given that the audit of museums does not include provision for museums the opportunity to demonstrate changes and developments in services over any speci…

Answer · Allan Wilson: The audit will provide information which reflects the position as at 1 May 2001. It will provide information on the strengths and potential areas of development in individual museums.

1 Jun 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will ensure, in considering the information gathered in the audit of museums, that it takes into account the use to which museum items are put as well as how they are cared for.

Answer · Allan Wilson: Some 25% of the questions in the audit will provide information about the use to which objects are put, as well as how they are cared for.

1 Jun 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will ensure, when considering the information gathered in the audit of museums, that any past donation or receipt of items from a local collection into the collection of a national museum is noted when considering the breadth and significance of existing local collections.

Answer · Allan Wilson: The national audit, which has been developed by the Scottish Museums Council after consultation with the museum sector in Scotland, will establish the current holdings of each museum but not from whom or where objects have been acquired.

31 May 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions it has had with the Scottish Arts Council and/or the British Council with regard to enhancing services for Scottish arts companies wishing to tour abroad.

Answer · Allan Wilson: The Scottish Executive has regular discussion with the British Council and the Scottish Arts Council on a range of issues, which from time to time include the provision of support services to Scottish arts companies wishing to tour abroad.

31 May 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what representations it has made to the British Council with regard to the removal of council services for Scottish arts companies wishing to tour abroad.

Answer · Allan Wilson: The Executive has spoken with the British Council, which confirms that there has been no removal of council services for Scottish arts companies wishing to tour abroad.