Michael Russell

31 May 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive when the First Minister intends to make a ministerial statement regarding his recent discussions in Brussels with the leaders of other devolved administrations and why he did not seek the views of the Parliament beforehand.

Answer · Jack McConnell: There are no plans for the First Minister to make a ministerial statement regarding his meeting in Brussels on 28 May with the leaders of other regional governments involved in the initiative co-ordinated by Flanders. The seven partners are co-operating to en…

31 May 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive when it will report on the progress of the Columba Initiative and the outcome of the recent discussions held in Dublin between Ministers of the Irish Government and the Deputy Minister for Sport, the Arts and Culture.

Answer · Allan Wilson: The Strategic Plan of the Columba Initiative 2001-02 and 2003-04 was published in February. We expect to receive and to publish a progress report in the autumn.

31 May 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive with which UK Department it liaises on the Columba Initiative and what matters concerning the initiative are not within its competence.

Answer · Allan Wilson: The Scottish Executive is a partner with the devolved administration in Northern Ireland and with the Government of the Republic of Ireland in the Columba Initiative. Relations between the UK and the Republic of Ireland are a responsibility of the Foreign and…

31 May 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what topics were covered in the recent discussions held in Dublin between Ministers of the Irish Government and the Deputy Minister for Sport, the Arts and Culture.

Answer · Allan Wilson: The Columba Initiative was discussed at the meeting convened by Mary Coughlan, TD, the newly appointed Minister of State at the Department of Arts, Heritage, Gaeltacht and the Islands. The initiative has the aim of developing links between Scotland and Irelan…

30 May 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to questions S1W-15005, 15012, 15013, 15014, 15015 and 15016 by Mr Jack McConnell on 2 May 2001, whether there is a time limit within which a non-departmental public body should provide information to a member when requested to do so by a minister and, if so, whethe…

Answer · Angus MacKay: Executive NDPBs are required to comply with the <I>Code of Practice</I> <I>on Access to Scottish Executive Information</I>, which came into effect on 1 July 1999. This states that information will be provided as soon as practicable with a target response to s…

29 May 2001 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how it proposes to meet its commitment to cut class si'es to 30 or less in primaries 1, 2 and 3 before 31 August 2001.

Answer · Jack McConnell: A further £20.1 million in 2001-02 has been made available through the Excellence Fund to assist education authorities reduce primary 1, 2 and 3 classes to 30 or less by 1 August 2001.

24 May 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will consider introducing and funding a scheme to retrain as teachers people who have been made redundant by employers such as Motorola and who possess skills in subject areas where there are shortages of teachers.

Answer · Wendy Alexander: The Motorola Taskforce is willing to consider any reasonable proposals for retraining from those workers affected by the closure. The Executive is working closely with the taskforce to provide the best possible outcome for all those affected.

24 May 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will ensure that the Scottish Qualifications Authority gives notice of any plans to discontinue courses to schools earlier than May in future years in order to avoid pupils having selected options for the coming year by the time such plans are known.

Answer · Jack McConnell: The Scottish Qualifications Authority will always endeavour to alert schools to course changes as early as it can. Unfortunately, in the case of Standard Grade Technological Studies, this was not possible until May. While I understand the difficulties this ca…

24 May 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what consultation was undertaken prior to the decision by the Scottish Qualifications Authority to discontinue Standard Grade Technological Studies at Foundation level.

Answer · Jack McConnell: Two separate consultations were undertaken by the Scottish Qualifications Authority which sought the views of a wide range of teachers, headteachers and education managers. The first was issued on 14 December 1999 for completion by 4 February 2000 and the sec…

24 May 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-15098 by Mr Jack McConnell on 3 May 2001, what steps it is taking to monitor any difficulties being experienced by local authorities and school boards in relation to the anomaly in the Standards in Scotland's Schools etc. Act 2000 whereby the parents…

Answer · Nicol Stephen: We are in contact with local authorities over the action they are taking at local level to deal with this anomoly. It is still too early to tell what the overall effect has been on entry to P1 across the country and statistics are not yet available on the num…

24 May 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-15098 by Mr Jack McConnell on 3 May 2001, when it will bring forward amending legislation to ensure that parents of children who are four years and six months and over when they start school are eligible to make a placing request.

Answer · Jack McConnell: We are today issuing for consultation proposals to amend this legislation, and to amend appointment procedures under the current School Board legislation to provide for the successful and timely implementation of the agreement <I>A Teaching Profession for the…

24 May 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what contacts it has had with the Glasgow Islay Association in relation to the UK in New York event and what action it intends to take to ensure a Gaelic and Scottish presence at this event

Answer · Alasdair Morrison: After the recent experience of Tartan Day I am convinced that Scotland can only gain by continuing to build links with the United States. <P>The Glasgow Islay Association has been in touch to ask about possible participation in this festival. We are consideri…

23 May 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-14098 by Nicol Stephen on 15 May 2001, what terms and conditions apply in relation to the Scottish Computers for Teachers scheme and how these compare to the terms and conditions of similar schemes in England and Wales.

Answer · Nicol Stephen: Under the Scottish Computers for Teachers scheme all GTC registered teachers in publicly funded primary and secondary schools, including publicly funded special schools and units, are eligible to apply for a rebate of £200 against the cost of a modern compute…

22 May 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions it has had with local authorities regarding any difficulties they may have in meeting the costs of placing children in schools for special needs which are either (a) grant aided by the Executive or (b) financially independent.

Answer · Nicol Stephen: The Scottish Executive has had no such specific discussions with local authorities.

14 May 2001 · SPCB Written Question

To ask the Presiding Officer why All the First Minister's Men by David Black is not currently stocked by the Scottish Parliament shop.

Answer · David Steel: Books are selected for their retail suitability and quality using the criteria set out in the answer to question S1W-15779.

14 May 2001 · SPCB Written Question

To ask the Presiding Officer what criteria are used to decide on the books to be sold and displayed in the Scottish Parliament shop.

Answer · David Steel: Space restraints within the Parliament Shop ensure that only small selections of any product can be stocked. There are a number of other excellent bookshops in the vicinity and book sales make up less than 5% of total Parliament Shop sales. As a result, the c…

11 May 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what consultation it has undertaken, or plans to undertake, with regard to establishing corporate homicide as a crime.

Answer · Jim Wallace: The Scottish Executive is examining the case for a new statutory offence in this area and will consider a consultation exercise in due course.

11 May 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it intends to bring forward legislation on corporate homicide.

Answer · Jim Wallace: Legislation to introduce a new offence of corporate homicide would be a matter for the Scottish Parliament. However any such legislation is likely to have implications for matters which are reserved such as health and safety and Crown immunity.<P>The Home Off…

10 May 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive which public body has legal responsibility for the acts and omissions of the Scottish Criminal Records Office in relation to complaints and civil actions against (a) civilian employees and (b) police employees.

Answer · Jim Wallace: Legal responsibility for the acts and omissions of the civilian staff during the course of their work at the Scottish Criminal Record Office (SCRO) lies with the staff concerned and, in certain circumstances, could lie with their employers, the Strathclyde Jo…

10 May 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what progress the Lord Advocate is making regarding possible prosecutions consequent to the complaints against the Scottish Criminal Records Office by Ms Shirley McKie.

Answer · Neil Davidson: I refer to the letter the Lord Advocate sent to Mr Russell on 11 May. We will be in contact with him as soon as a decision has been reached by Crown Counsel.

10 May 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what steps it is taking to improve welfare standards in the pig industry.

Answer · Ross Finnie: The measures in our legislation to protect the welfare of pigs is among the strictest in the EU. I expect these measures to be strengthened further once EU legislation, at present in draft form, is adopted.

10 May 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive when it will provide the information sought by Iain McKie on behalf of Shirley McKie, most recently in Mr McKie's letter of 6 May 2001 to the Minister for Justice.

Answer · Jim Wallace: A reply to Mr Iain McKie's letter of 6 May 2001 issued on 21 May 2001.

3 May 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to standardise the dates of Easter school holidays throughout Scotland.

Answer · Jack McConnell: I refer the Member to the answer given to question S1W-15194 on 11 May 2001.

1 May 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-13224 by Sarah Boyack on 20 March 2001, when the survey of cycle training provision in schools will be completed and what action it intends to take in relation to any areas found to have low levels of training provision.

Answer · Sarah Boyack: The survey is due for completion by the end of June. Its aim is to provide baseline information on levels of cycle training in Scottish schools. When it is available I will consider its implications fully.

12 Apr 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will publish any instructions or guidelines it gives to voluntary or co-opted members of attendance and placing committees established by local authorities.

Answer · Jack McConnell: The Executive does not publish any guidance in this area. The establishment and operation of such committees are matters for individual education authorities.

12 Apr 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will publish any instructions or guidance given to local authorities regarding decision making on placing requests.

Answer · Jack McConnell: We do not give specific guidance to authorities on decision making on placing requests. Circular 8/96 outlined the changes in the placing request provisions following the Education (Scotland) Act 1996 and a copy of that has been placed in the Parliament's Ref…

12 Apr 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether medical reasons, the presence of siblings in a school and the needs of single parents are regarded in legislation or in practice, during the consideration of placing requests, as being of greater, lesser or equal importance than the needs of parents whose children will be five whe…

Answer · Jack McConnell: As a result of an anomaly in the Standards in Scotland's Schools etc Act 2000, only parents whose children will be five or over when they start school are eligible to make a legal placing request. We have made a commitment to amend the legislation at the firs…

12 Apr 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether priority is given to placing requests from parents whose children will be five when starting school.

Answer · Jack McConnell: As a result of an anomaly in the Standards in Scotland's Schools etc Act 2000, only parents whose children will be five or over when they start school are eligible to make a legal placing request. We have made a commitment to amend the legislation at the firs…

12 Apr 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what instructions or guidance it gives to local authorities on placing requests from parents whose children will be five when starting school.

Answer · Jack McConnell: Guidance on this issue was issued to authorities on 16 January 2001 and is publicly available on request. A copy of the guidance has also been placed in the Parliament's Reference Centre.

11 Apr 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions it has had over the past twelve months with trade unions which have members working in the Scottish Qualifications Authority.

Answer · Jack McConnell: There have been no meetings discussing SQA issues between the Scottish Executive and trade unions representing Scottish Qualifications Authority staff over the past twelve months. <P>Employment related issues are a matter for the Scottish Qualifications Autho…