Phil Gallie

5 Sep 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many learning providers or other organisations or individuals have been reported for fraudulent claims relating to individual learning accounts.

Answer · Iain Gray: A number of learning providers are presently under police investigation. The Crown Office has advised that it would be inappropriate to comment further at this point.

5 Sep 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether all legitimate invoices in respect of the individual learning accounts (ILA) scheme have now been cleared and, if they have not all been paid, how many ILA invoices have been (a) paid in full, (b) paid in part and (c) not received any payments.

Answer · Iain Gray: The payments validation exercise undertaken by Scottish Enterprise and <BR>Highland and Islands Enterprise has now been completed, with the vast majority of claims having been validated and cleared for payment. However, in some cases, the validation exercise …

14 Aug 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what the bed occupancy rates were at acute hospitals in each of the last two years for which figures are available, broken down by (a) medical and (b) surgical.

Answer · Malcolm Chisholm: The following table gives the percentage bed occupancy in acute trusts. The percentage bed occupancy for acute surgical specialties and acute medical specialties is also given for each trust. The year ending March 2002 data is provisional.<P>NHSiS - Bed Occup…

14 Aug 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what traffic volume figures are currently used in specifications set for the design of the proposed Glasgow southern orbital junction with the A77.

Answer · Lewis Macdonald: I refer the member to the answer given to question S1W-27858 on 22 August 2002.

14 Aug 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what the current volume of traffic is on the A77 at the location of the proposed Glasgow southern orbital junction.

Answer · Lewis Macdonald: The latest available information shows the average annual daily two-way traffic flow on the A77 just south of the location of the proposed Glasgow Southern Orbital junction to be 28,198 vehicles per day. Morning peak flows were measured at 2,560 vehicles per …

14 Aug 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what information it has received about any feedback following the Evaluation of the Dundee Families Project - Final Report in July 2001.

Answer · Margaret Curran: Our understanding is that there has been considerable interest in both the project itself and the independent evaluation by the University of Glasgow.

22 Jul 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, with reference to Fire Statistics Scotland, 2002, what range of sentences was imposed on those convicted of raising malicious false fire alarms.

Answer · Jim Wallace: The information requested is not held centrally.

22 Jul 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, with reference to Fire Statistics Scotland, 2002, how many individuals were convicted in respect of the 8,100 malicious false fire alarms, and what proportion of the total incidences these convictions represent.

Answer · Jim Wallace: The information requested is not held centrally.

22 Jul 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, with reference to Fire Statistics Scotland, 2002, how many individuals were prosecuted in respect of the 8,100 malicious false fire alarms, and what proportion of the total incidences these prosecutions represent.

Answer · Jim Wallace: The information requested is not held centrally.

22 Jul 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, with reference to Fire Statistics Scotland, 2002, in respect of what proportion of the 8,100 malicious false fire alarms individuals were identified as allegedly being responsible; against how many of these individuals charges were laid, and what proportion of the total incidences these …

Answer · Jim Wallace: The information requested is not held centrally.

22 Jul 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, with reference to Fire Statistics Scotland, 2002, what sentence each of those convicted of causing death through malicious fire raising received.

Answer · Jim Wallace: The information requested is not held centrally.

22 Jul 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, with reference to Fire Statistics Scotland, 2002, how many of those charged with causing death through malicious fire raising were convicted.

Answer · Jim Wallace: The information requested is not held centrally.

22 Jul 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, with reference to Fire Statistics Scotland, 2002, how many fire raisers were charged with the deaths of the 11 individuals who died as a result of malicious fire raising and what proportion of those deaths were covered by charges laid.

Answer · Jim Wallace: The information requested is not held centrally.

22 Jul 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, with reference to Fire Statistics Scotland, 2002, how many of the alleged fire raisers were convicted.

Answer · Jim Wallace: A total of 103 persons had a charge proved in criminal proceedings in 2000 where the main charge involved was fire-raising.

22 Jul 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, with reference to Fire Statistics Scotland, 2002, how many of the alleged fire raisers were prosecuted.

Answer · Jim Wallace: A total of 134 persons were proceeded against in 2000 where fire-raising was the main charge involved.

22 Jul 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, with reference to Fire Statistics Scotland, 2002, in respect of what proportion of the maliciously raised fires fire raisers were identified.

Answer · Jim Wallace: The information requested is not held centrally.

22 Jul 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, with reference to Fire Statistics Scotland, 2002, how many individuals were identified as being responsible for fire raisings of the 8,815 malicious fires.

Answer · Jim Wallace: The information requested is not held centrally.

16 Jul 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will make representations to Her Majesty's Government regarding the economic impact of any delay to the new air traffic control centre at Prestwick and, in particular, to seek an assurance that any discussions Her Majesty's Government has with European bodies on the Single Euro…

Answer · Lewis Macdonald: The Scottish Executive is in regular contact with the UK Government about a wide range of matters including the issue of the New Scottish Centre (NSC) at Prestwick. The Executive supports the UK Government's commitment to the NSC and is keen for the project t…

16 Jul 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will now confirm to Ayr United Football Club its consent for a new stadium at Heathfield as recommended by the public inquiry reporters.

Answer · Hugh Henry: The matter is still being considered.

16 Jul 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what discussion there has been with Public Private Partnership bidders for the A77 upgrade with respect to the provision of a business retail park in north Kilmarnock.

Answer · Lewis Macdonald: The Scottish Executive is not aware of any discussions with the Public Private Partnership bidders for the A77 upgrade with respect to any development in north Kilmarnock.

16 Jul 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1O-5139 by Hugh Henry on 9 May 2002, whether the Deputy Minister for Social Justice was able to assess outstanding planning applications in Ayrshire within the timescale of 11 to 12 May given in the answer.

Answer · Hugh Henry: The answer given to question S1O-5139 indicated that I would consider various planning applications throughout Ayrshire. I should make it clear these were not outstanding applications. Rather they were permissions for previous retail planning applications, ma…

16 Jul 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what involvement it has had in the Government's working group on non-gas areas in order to raise the issue of fuel poverty in Scotland's rural areas.

Answer · Hugh Henry: The Scottish Executive was represented on the Inter-Departmental Working Group on Extending the Gas Network. The group's work was taken into account in the preparation of the UK Fuel Poverty Strategy, which was published last November, and will be considered …

27 Jun 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will be represented at the Family Law Reform Congress to be held in London from 10 to 12 September 2002 at which the problems of children of separated parents will come under scrutiny.

Answer · Jim Wallace: The Scottish Executive understands that the Family Law Congress will concentrate, in the main, on aspects of family law as it pertains to England and Wales. Family law is a devolved matter. The Executive is considering the relevance of the topics under discus…

27 Jun 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what concerns it has over the reported effects of Parental Alienation Syndrome.

Answer · Jim Wallace: The Executive is concerned about the effects on children of acrimonious separations, and provides financial support to various voluntary organisations offering mediation or other help to families in transition. The Executive accepts that children can suffer h…

20 Jun 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether the implementation of the upgrade of the A77 will be conducted in such a way so as to allow one carriageway of the new section of road to be brought in to use at as early a date as possible so that traffic separation on the existing road can be advanced, in view of the accident st…

Answer · Lewis Macdonald: No. The optimum solution is to build the motorway in its entirety as soon as possible.

20 Jun 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive when construction on the A77 upgrade between Malletsheugh and Fenwick will now begin and what the target date is for completion.

Answer · Lewis Macdonald: Work is expected to start in early 2003, subject to the tender for the Public Private Partnership contract demonstrating value for money, with completion in 2005.

20 Jun 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what agreements have been reached with respect to funding packages for the upgrading of the A77 between Malletsheugh and Fenwick.

Answer · Lewis Macdonald: It is proposed to award the upgrading of the A77 as a Public Private Partnership contract, jointly with the Glasgow Southern Orbital subject to tenders demonstrating value for money. Funding will be provided by the Scottish Executive, RET, East Renfrewshire a…

18 Jun 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether all its press releases are available on its website and what the reasons are for the position on this matter.

Answer · Andy Kerr: All press releases are contained in the news archive and can be accessed by date or ministerial department search.

18 Jun 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether the publication of figures on its website and on the websites of non-departmental public bodies coincides with announcements in its news releases.

Answer · Andy Kerr: Yes, in respect of the Scottish Executive website. Release of information and statistics via press release and news content appearing on the Scottish Executive's news website are two separate systems which run concurrently.<P>We aim to ensure the same occurs …

18 Jun 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it distributes news releases to opposition parties and other interested groups at the same time as to the media.

Answer · Andy Kerr: The main audience for news releases lies in media organisations, but the Press Office also sends by email copies of press releases to a small number of MSPs, researchers and others in Parliament who have requested copies. In practice the best vehicle to keep …