Phil Gallie

8 Nov 2000 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what weight is given to the recommendations of planning inquiries when making planning decisions and what costs were incurred by the Executive with regard to the recent Ayr United stadium and retail project applications.

Answer · Sam Galbraith: Full and careful consideration is given to the Reporter's recommendation in every case. The cost of processing these particular applications is estimated to be £39,000.

26 Oct 2000 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether the target date for reaching a decision on the planning applications regarding the Ayr United Stadium is 2 November 2000 and, if so, whether it will give an assurance that this target date will be met.

Answer · Sam Galbraith: The Executive's target is that all public local inquiry cases should be dealt with within three months of receiving the Reporter's report. The target date for these applications was 3 November. The decisions issued on that date.

18 Oct 2000 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether Health Trusts are applying a sufficient proportion of their budget to the reduction of waiting times.

Answer · Susan Deacon: Sustainable reductions in waiting throughout the NHS require both investment and reform. Record levels of resources - £481 million more than last year - are being provided to the Health Service in Scotland.<FONT FACE="Arial" SIZE=2><P>A substantial proportion…

28 Sep 2000 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what correspondence it has received from East Ayrshire Council about a golf course and complex at Glenshamrock Farm near Auchenleck.

Answer · Sarah Boyack: There has been no correspondence between East Ayrshire Council and the Scottish Executive on this matter.

18 Sep 2000 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-8821 by Mr Alasdair Morrison on 7 August 2000, whether it will publish details of the comments which it gave to the Ministry of Defence in response to their consultation document on the future of HMS Gannet.

Answer · Henry McLeish: Exchanges between the Scottish Executive and the UK Government are normally conducted on a confidential basis.

14 Sep 2000 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what the reasons were which Mrs Littlejohn gave for terminating her role as President of the Employment Tribunal Service and on what date did she give notice.

Answer · Jim Wallace: I refer Mr Gallie to the answer I gave to question S1W-9869.

14 Sep 2000 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what arrangements were made with respect to the time which Mrs Littlejohn gave to her work as President of the Employment Tribunals Service following commencement of her Chairmanship of an NHS Trust.

Answer · Jim Wallace: I refer Mr Gallie to the answer I gave to question S1W-9869.

14 Sep 2000 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what the salary was of Mrs Littlejohn, President of the Employment Tribunals Service, in the period between 1 October 1999 and the date of her retirement in the spring of 2000.

Answer · Jim Wallace: The Scottish Executive has no functions in relation to this matter. Ministerial responsibility for Employment Tribunals rests with the UK Government and specifically with the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry.

5 Sep 2000 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what time commitment was expected of the present Chairman of Forth Valley Primary Health Care NHS Trust from the date upon which payment of her salary commenced and what accommodation was reached with the Lord President and the Employment Tribunals service with regard to the time commitme…

Answer · Susan Deacon: Payment of remuneration to the Chair of Forth Valley Primary Care NHS Trust commenced on 1 February 2000 when she was no longer President of Employment Tribunals (Scotland).<P ALIGN="JUSTIFY">The time commitment on board business expected of Chairs of Health …

5 Sep 2000 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive from what date the payment of salary to the present Chairman of Forth Valley Primary Health Care NHS Trust commenced.

Answer · Susan Deacon: I refer Mr Gallie to the answer given today to question S1W-9657.

5 Sep 2000 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many accidents were reported at the A77 north bound exit from the Holmston Roundabout on the Ayr by-pass in the year preceding the implementation of the new road markings which create a dual lane approach to the roundabout from the south.

Answer · Sarah Boyack: None.

5 Sep 2000 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many accidents have been reported at the A77 north bound exit from the Holmston Roundabout on the Ayr by-pass since the completion of new road markings which create a dual lane approach to the roundabout from the south.

Answer · Sarah Boyack: None.

5 Sep 2000 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether the core staffing formula for secondary schools of 10.24 + (0.0596 x Pupil Roll) still applies and, if so, when this formula was introduced and how pupil/teacher ratios can improve while the formula continues to apply.

Answer · Sam Galbraith: The core staffing formula for secondary schools was issued for consultation in June 1988, but has never been ratified on a formal basis. Some education authorities have applied the formula without alteration, whereas others have used the guidance provided to …

5 Sep 2000 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many mistaken releases there were from each of Scotland's prisons in each of 1997-98, 1998-99 and 1999-2000.

Answer · Jim Wallace: I have asked Tony Cameron, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service to respond. His response is as follows:<P ALIGN="JUSTIFY">During the past three financial years there were 170,294 receptions to prison, with an average prisoner population of 5,864. Th…

5 Sep 2000 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what the target manpower is for police establishments in each of the eight constabularies in Scotland for the current year and for next year.

Answer · Jim Wallace: From 1 April 1996 the controls previously exercised by Ministers over police force numbers were removed. Since then it has been entirely for chief constables in consultation with police authorities to decide on staffing levels within the extent of available r…

5 Sep 2000 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether all police forces will be able to utilise the #8.9 million additional money for recruitment in full this financial year, what the reasons are for any inability to use the money this year and whether any unused allocations will be carried forward to the next financial year.

Answer · Jim Wallace: The £8.9 million extra money allocated to the police earlier this year is sufficient to allow forces to recruit more than 300 extra police officers. However, decisions on the allocation of resources are matters for chief constables in consultation with their …

5 Sep 2000 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether the #8.9 million additional money allocated this year to the police to halt the decline in police numbers will be matched next year in order that police numbers can be sustained.

Answer · Jim Wallace: Yes. The additional funding made available earlier this year will continue. Taken with the recently announced 6% increase in police GAE and recruitment funded by the Scottish Drugs Enforcement Agency, the police will have sufficient resources to boost officer…

5 Sep 2000 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what effect the setting up of the Council for the Registration of Forensic Practitioners will have on Scottish courts.

Answer · Jim Wallace: I refer Mr Gallie to the answer given to question S1W-9645.

5 Sep 2000 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what recognition it intends to give to the Council for the Registration of Forensic Practitioners.

Answer · Jim Wallace: We welcome the establishment of the Council for the Registration of Forensic Practitioners, which we expect to promote and maintain high standards of competence, practice, discipline and ethics amongst forensic science practitioners. The effect the Council wi…

5 Sep 2000 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what textile companies in the Borders have received Regional Selective Assistance in the last two years and what projects and outcomes have resulted from any such assistance.

Answer · Henry McLeish: None, Regional Selective Assistance (RSA) has only been available to companies in the Scottish Borders since July this year, when the new Assisted Areas map was announced. The new map covers much of Hawick, Galashiels and Kelso, where a number of textiles com…

5 Sep 2000 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how much new money has been made available to the clothing and textile industry since the Scottish Textile Forum was established.

Answer · Henry McLeish: The extent of new financial support for the textile industry since the Scottish Textile Forum was established on 12 June 2000 depends on the demand from industry to initiate new projects eligible for support, rather than the availability of funds. A variety o…

5 Sep 2000 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many textile companies have closed down or gone into liquidation since the Scottish Textile Forum was established.

Answer · Henry McLeish: The Scottish Executive does not maintain comprehensive records on company closures. However, the Executive is aware of two textile companies that have closed since the establishment of the forum on 12 June 2000. Two other companies have closed down one of the…

5 Sep 2000 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what positive results there have been as a consequence of the activities of the Scottish Textile Forum.

Answer · Henry McLeish: The establishment of the Scottish Textile Forum on 12 June 2000 was welcomed by the textile industry, textile unions and public sector partners involved with the textile industry as a means of discussing priorities for public sector support of the industry. S…

5 Sep 2000 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it considers that children are entitled under the European Convention on Human Rights to legal support for appearances before Children's Panels and, if so, what implications this will have for the legal aid system.

Answer · Peter Peacock: Children and their relevant persons involved in the hearings system may be entitled to advice and assistance under legal aid. The Children's Hearing itself is a non-adversarial forum to discuss what is best for the child. The precise status of a hearing and w…

5 Sep 2000 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it considers the role of the Children's Reporter to be compliant with the European Convention on Human Rights.

Answer · Peter Peacock: The role of the reporter is one aspect of the Children's Hearings system being challenged in the case at present before the Inner House of the Court of Session. The Scottish Children's Reporter Administration has already reviewed practice and issued Guidance …

5 Sep 2000 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what steps it is taking to ensure that those involved in the Children's Hearing System are fully aware of any implications which the European Convention on Human Rights will have for the system.

Answer · Peter Peacock: The Scottish Executive issued a guidance leaflet in July to all panel members and other interested parties. Children's Panel Training Organisers have run a number of training courses and more are planned. Practice Guidance established by Children's Panel Chai…

5 Sep 2000 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what impact the European Convention on Human Rights will have on the Children's Hearing System.

Answer · Peter Peacock: Under the Children (Scotland) Act 1995, the child's interests are paramount. A case currently before the Inner House of the Court of Session challenges various aspects of the Children's Hearing System and will help determine the system's compatibility with th…

4 Sep 2000 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether the Reporter has now submitted his findings on the Ayr United/Heathfield inquiry and when a decision on the relevant applications will be reached.

Answer · Sarah Boyack: The public local inquiry report was submitted to the Scottish Executive on 2 August. Planning applications can be complex matters and Ministers have a responsibility to give them due consideration. I will write to the member with my decision as soon as it is …

4 Aug 2000 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether there are any wider implications for the criminal justice system of the appeal, upheld by the Lord President, in the names of Thomas McAnea, Raymond Dean, John McGrigor and Dennis McGinnis.

Answer · Jim Wallace: No.

4 Aug 2000 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what action it will take to ensure that people against whom sufficient evidence has been gathered for charges to be laid do not avoid prosecution because of minor search warrant discrepancies.

Answer · Jim Wallace: It is for the Lord Advocate and the court in each individual case to determine whether or not an error in a search warrant renders court proceedings inappropriate or unsafe. The courts have discretion to excuse irregularities which are not fundamental to the …