Parliamentary questions

Paul Martin

317 questions tabled in the Scottish Parliament, most recent first.

8 Mar 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what guarantees Glasgow Housing Association has given on routine repairs to properties transferring to it should there be a yes vote in the Glasgow housing stock transfer ballot.

Answer · Margaret Curran: If tenants vote yes in the Glasgow housing stock transfer ballot, the Glasgow Housing Association (GHA) will put into operation a published repairs and maintenance policy including timescales for different types of repairs. From day one, the GHA will instigat…

8 Mar 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what guarantees Glasgow Housing Association has given on service charges to current council tenants should there be a yes vote in the Glasgow housing stock transfer ballot.

Answer · Margaret Curran: If tenants vote yes in the Glasgow housing stock transfer ballot, the Glasgow Housing Association has guaranteed that service charges will go up by no more than inflation for each of the first five years after transfer.

8 Mar 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what rent guarantees Glasgow Housing Association has given to current council tenants should there be a yes vote in the Glasgow housing stock transfer ballot.

Answer · Margaret Curran: If tenants vote yes in the Glasgow housing stock transfer ballot, the Glasgow Housing Association has guaranteed that rents for current tenants will rise by no more than inflation for the first five years after transfer and by no more than inflation plus 1% f…

18 Feb 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what progress has been made in respect of the proposal to transfer Glasgow City Council's housing stock to community ownership.

Answer · Jack McConnell: I have agreed to a request from Glasgow City Council for them to undertake the stage 2 consultation process and ballot tenants on the transfer proposal from the Glasgow Housing Association (GHA). I have also agreed that, should the transfer proposal proceed, …

5 Dec 2001 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what measures are being taken in order to make health boards more open and accountable.

Answer · Malcolm Chisholm: The 15 new NHS Boards, established on 30 September 2001, have brought together and simplified the governance and accountability arrangements of 43 separate health boards and Trusts. The new boards provide - in each local area - a single, identifiable forum fo…

5 Nov 2001 · First Minister's Question

To ask the First Minister what measures are being taken to support manufacturing industry.

Answer · Jim Wallace: Good progress has been made - and continues to be made - on a wide range of initiatives to support manufacturing as set out in Created in Scotland.

26 Sep 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive when the research required under section 28A of the Legal Aid (Scotland) Act 1986 into the operation of the Public Defence Solicitors' Office in Edinburgh will be published.

Answer · Jim Wallace: The research report was laid in Parliament today. I intend to study the findings and conclusions very carefully, and will make a statement on my plans in the New Year.

20 Sep 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to improve the provision of English language support to asylum seekers and other groups who require assistance.

Answer · Jackie Baillie: The Scottish Executive is committed to working with the further education colleges to ensure adequate support to those who require assistance. That includes both asylum seekers and those in other categories who are new to Scotland. I am pleased to announce t…

6 Jun 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive when it will make available the report prepared for Scottish Enterprise on pricing of telecommunications services in cities referred to by the Minister for Enterprise and Lifelong Learning in her evidence to the Enterprise and Lifelong Learning Committee on 7 February 2001.

Answer · Wendy Alexander: The report prepared by T Soja and Associates has been placed in the Parliament Reference Centre with an accompanying statement from Scottish Enterprise which sets out the background to commissioning of the report and summarises its findings.

26 Apr 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive when it will appoint Assistant Surveillance Commissioners under the Regulation of Investigatory Powers (Scotland) Act 2000.

Answer · Jim Wallace: John Jeremy Fordham, Colin Francis Kolbert and Viscount Colville of Culross QC have accepted appointment as Assistant Surveillance Commissioners under section 3 of the Regulation of Investigatory Powers (Scotland) Act 2000. These appointments, which are for a…

19 Apr 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it proposes to review the entitlement of relatives to claim non-patrimonial loss under the Damages (Scotland) Act 1976.

Answer · Jim Wallace: The Scottish Ministers made a reference to the Scottish Law Commission on 22 March in the following terms:“To consider the provisions of the Damages (Scotland) Act 1976 that set out which relatives of a deceased person can claim non-patrimonial damages; and t…

5 Mar 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what steps are being taken to ensure that consideration is given to the safety implications of telecommunication masts being sited within close proximity to general hospitals.

Answer · Sam Galbraith: Mobile phone operators have a duty under the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974 to ensure that the public are not exposed to risks to their health and safety from mobile phone masts. In the case of radiofrequency radiation the Health and Safety Executive…

21 Feb 2001 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has any plans to regulate property management factors in Scotland.

Answer · Jackie Baillie: The Housing Bill will provide for the regulation of factoring services provided by local authorities and Registered Social Landlords. The Housing Improvement Task Force, set up to consider how the quality of housing stock can be improved, will also consider t…

8 Feb 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive when it will announce how it intends to implement the parts of the Landfill Directive that deal with the engineering, operation and regulation of landfill sites.

Answer · Sam Galbraith: I am launching today a consultation paper that deals with the technical and operational aspects of the Landfill Directive and I am placing a copy in the Parliament's Reference Centre. Large Landfill sites (sites receiving more than 10 tonnes in any day or hav…

15 Jan 2001 · First Minister's Question

To ask the First Minister what action the Scottish Executive is taking to improve services for the most deprived neighbourhoods.

Answer · Henry McLeish: Across the Executive a wide range of policies have been developed and put in place to address social exclusion and improve the quality of life in deprived areas. Earlier this week, we announced the distribution of the £90 million Better Neighbourhood Services…

12 Jan 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it can supply further details about the Better Neighbourhoods Fund announced as part of the Spending Review on 20 September 2000.

Answer · Angus MacKay: I am delighted to announce that £90 million will be available to support pathfinder projects to improve the quality of services to those living in disadvantaged neighbourhoods in 12 Scottish local authority areas. Each council will have the opportunity to agr…

6 Sep 2000 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what measures are being taken to tackle the levels of dental disease among children in the Greater Glasgow Health Board Area.

Answer · Susan Deacon: Greater Glasgow Health Board/ Primary Care Trust have a number of local measures in place to improve the oral health of children e.g. the Possilpark Pre 5 Programme. In addition, the Scottish Executive published on 18 August An Action Plan for Dental Servi…

22 Mar 2000 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Executive when the Minister for Health last met Greater Glasgow Health Board and what matters were discussed.

Answer · Susan Deacon: I meet with representatives of Greater Glasgow Health Board on a regular basis when a range of health matters are discussed.

13 Jan 2000 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what steps are being taken to improve cancer detection methods in Glasgow.

Answer · Susan Deacon: I refer to my reply to question S1W-3720.

13 Jan 2000 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what steps will be taken to tackle high unemployment levels in Glasgow.

Answer · Wendy Alexander: Glasgow benefits from a comprehensive package of measures designed to match people to jobs and jobs to people. New Deal, Skillseekers and Modern Apprenticeships are helping Glasgow's young and long-term unemployed into work. These national initiatives will so…

13 Jan 2000 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether an action plan will be prepared by the Greater Glasgow Health Board which will set out the steps which will be taken to tackle the high levels of cancer deaths in Glasgow.

Answer · Susan Deacon: I refer to my answer to question S1W-3720.

25 Nov 1999 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive why the Huntershill Marie Curie Cancer Care Centre's request for space to deliver services in the proposed Ambulatory Care and Diagnostic Unit at Stobhill Hospital has been refused by the Glasgow North University Trust Board.

Answer · Susan Deacon: It is for North Glasgow University Hospitals NHS Trust to decide which services should be provided at the proposed Ambulatory Care and Diagnostic Centre (ACAD) at Stobhill Hospital.I understand, however, that the request from Marie Curie to have access to …

25 Nov 1999 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will examine the possibility of Ashcraig Secondary School, a special secondary school for children with a physical impairment, being considered for Public Private Partnership Funding.

Answer · Peter Peacock: Ashcraig Secondary School is under the management of Glasgow City Council as education authority. It would be for the authority to consider the need for such funding.

24 Nov 1999 · General Question

Answer · Susan Deacon: It is for North Glasgow University Hospitals NHS Trust to decide which services should be provided at the proposed Ambulatory Care and Diagnostic Centre (ACAD) at Stobhill Hospital. I understand, however, that the request from Marie Curie to have access t…

4 Nov 1999 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will consider proposing that victims' families be represented at Parole Board Hearings.

Answer · Angus MacKay: Under the terms of the Parole Board (Scotland) Rules 1993, the Board considers cases of long term and adult mandatory life prisoners in private. The purpose of the Board's consideration is to establish whether the release of a prisoner on licence is acceptabl…

3 Nov 1999 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will consider proposing that victims' families be represented at Parole Board Hearings.

2 Nov 1999 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive Scottish Executive whether it will take steps to improve security within Scottish prisons in order to prevent prisoners telephoning families of murder victims.

Answer · Jim Wallace: The Scottish Prison Service have in place systems to record all telephone calls made by prisoners. This includes the capacity to trace the number called. In order to further control the use of telephones, consideration is being given to procuring a PIN Number…

12 Oct 1999 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will call for an enquiry into why Strathclyde police 'E' division took over one and a half hours to respond to a report of an alleged mugging on 19 September 1999 in Duke Street, Dennistoun.

Answer · Jim Wallace: No. Decisions on the deployment of police officers to particular incidents involve assessing competing priorities and the availability of resources. These are operational matters for the police.

6 Oct 1999 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will provide details of the management staff costs at Stobhill Hospital during the last five financial years.

Answer · Susan Deacon: The information requested on the management staff costs at Stobhill Hospital during the last five financial years is as follows:<TABLE BORDER CELLSPACING=1 CELLPADDING=7 WIDTH=616><TR><TD WIDTH="20%" VALIGN="TOP">1994-95£'0…

6 Oct 1999 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will provide details of any proposals to withdraw any of the acute services currently provided at Stobhill Hospital over the next five financial years.

Answer · Susan Deacon: Greater Glasgow Health Board's 1999-2000 Health Improvement Programme (HIP) makes a number of statements about the future of acute services at Stobhill Hospital. The HIP is revised each year and its development includes public meetings and briefings for local…