Phil Gallie

4 Aug 2000 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what involvement the Lord Advocate had in assessing the prosecution case brought against Thomas McAnae, Raymond Dean, John McGregor and Dennis McGinnis in their 1998 Edinburgh High Court case.

Answer · Colin Boyd: This case was considered by Crown Counsel in the usual way when the circumstances were reported to Crown Office by the Procurator Fiscal for consideration of proceedings in the High Court. It is not the practice of this office to disclose which of Crown Couns…

21 Jul 2000 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it received a consultative document from the Ministry of Defence on the future of HMS Gannet and the site upon which it operates at Monkton, Prestwick, and, if so, whether it will publish details of any response given.

Answer · Alasdair Morrison: The Scottish Executive has submitted comments to the Ministry of Defence following receipt of the consultative document on the future of HMS Gannet. As a reserved matter, final decisions on the future of HMS Gannet are the responsibility of the Ministry of De…

21 Jun 2000 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive when it will publish the Annual Report and Accounts of the Scottish Prison Service.

Answer · Angus MacKay: I have asked Mr Tony Cameron, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service, to respond. His response is as follows:<P ALIGN="JUSTIFY">The Annual Report and Accounts of the Scottish Prison Service for 1999-2000 will be published in July.

14 Jun 2000 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has received the recommendations of the inquiry into the Ayr United stadium planning application and whether it will give an assurance that it will publish its verdict quickly.

Answer · Sarah Boyack: The report of the public local inquiry has not yet been submitted to the Scottish Ministers. When it is received, every effort will be made to issue a decision at the earliest possible opportunity.

13 Jun 2000 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive Scottish Executive how many applications were made by those accused of rape to have victims questioned on their sexual history and how many applications were granted in each of the years 1996-97, 1997-98, 1998-99 and 1999-2000.

Answer · Colin Boyd: Statistics are not held regarding the number of applications made on behalf of accused to, and granted by, the court in terms of section 275 of the Criminal Procedure (Scotland) Act 1995 to question an alleged victim of rape about her previous sexual history …

13 Jun 2000 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many cases of rape were reported in the years 1996-97, 1997-98, 1998-99 and 1999-2000 and how many of these were (a) found to be based upon false allegation, (b) prosecuted, (c) abandoned at the request of the victim and (d) abandoned due to lack of evidence or for other reasons, and …

Answer · Colin Boyd: There are no statistics held as to the information requested at (a) and (c). Statistics on the number of reports of rape recorded by the police, of persons proceeded against for rape, and the number of cases in which proceedings were dropped, discontinued or …

13 Jun 2000 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what proportion of rape prosecutions processed through the courts in each of the years 1996-97, 1997-98, 1998-99 and 1999-2000 ended with verdicts of (i) guilty of rape or lesser charge, (ii) not proven and (iii) not guilty and in how many cases the victims were women and in how many case…

Answer · Colin Boyd: The available statistics were published in the reply to question S1W-4882 to which Mr Gallie is referred. In addition, the Crown Office conducted a review of all rape cases that were indicted at the High Court in 1998. The conviction rate, including pleas of …

9 Jun 2000 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive which private and voluntary sector residential treatment centres for alcohol dependent persons are available for use by public sector bodies for referral of patients; what bodies can authorise such treatment, and what funding is currently available to meet such requirements.

Answer · Iain Gray: For the first part of the question, I refer to the answer to Parliamentary Question S1W-7800. Health and social work professionals make referrals, preferably following joint assessment. Information about the sums currently made available by health boards and …

9 Jun 2000 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what residential treatment facilities are available for alcohol dependent persons in (i) the public sector; (ii) the private sector and (iii) the voluntary sector.

Answer · Iain Gray: There is no central register of such services maintained by the Scottish Executive but the information is contained in the publication <I>Alcohol Services in Scotland 1998-99' published by the Scottish Council on Alcohol</I>, who we core-fund. A copy of the d…

9 Jun 2000 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many alcohol related deaths there were for the last year for which figures are available.

Answer · Susan Deacon: There were 831 deaths from alcohol related diseases in Scotland in 1998. The provisional total for 1999 was 928.<P ALIGN="JUSTIFY">The figures cover deaths certified for the following underlying causes (the relevant codes from the International Classification…

9 Jun 2000 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what staffing arrangements are currently in place within the office of the Scottish Legal Services Ombudsman and whether these arrangements are adequate.

Answer · Jim Wallace: The information requested is given in the Scottish Legal Services Ombudsman's Annual Report 1999 (at paragraph 7.2), which was published on 7 June 2000. A copy is available in the Parliament's Reference Centre (Bib. number 6774). The staffing complement of th…

9 Jun 2000 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will investigate and report on the backlog of complaints which currently exist with the Scottish Legal Services Ombudsman.

Answer · Jim Wallace: The Executive already has been monitoring the workload of the office and agreed appropriate action. Information on action being taken on the backlog of cases is given in the Scottish Legal Services Ombudsman's Annual Report 1999 (at paragraphs 2.5 to 2.7), wh…

1 Jun 2000 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will list all the task forces, working groups, review groups, action groups and similar committees established by the Minister for Justice and his deputy Minister since 6 May 1999 and when each group is expected to publish its report.

Answer · Jim Wallace: The information requested is listed in the following table:<TABLE BORDER CELLSPACING=1 CELLPADDING=7 WIDTH=616><TR><TD WIDTH="33%" VALIGN="TOP"><P ALIGN="JUSTIFY">Adults with Incapacity (Scotland) Act National Implementation Steering Group</TD><TD WIDTH="33%"…

24 May 2000 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what steps are being taken to ensure the survival of the papermaking industry in Scotland.

Answer · Henry McLeish: The Scottish Executive and the Enterprise Network offer a wide range of schemes and initiatives to help companies address particular issues affecting their competitiveness. Scottish Enterprise is currently in discussion with the paper and timber industries in…

18 May 2000 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to remunerate dentists, given that they are independent contractors paid on a scale of fees basis, for costs incurred while involved in work on the Executive's strategic and planning activities as well as local health boards' and NHS Trusts' activities.

Answer · Susan Deacon: General Dental Practitioners are currently eligible for remuneration for their participation in various committees operated by the Scottish Executive, health boards and Trusts.

18 May 2000 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what assessment it has made of the contribution made by dentists through their participation in committee work relating to the Executive's strategic and planning activities as well as to local health boards' and NHS Trusts' activities.

Answer · Susan Deacon: Dentists are able to make a positive contribution to the Scottish Executive's planning and strategy through their participation in various committees at both national and local levels.

17 May 2000 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive when the report on the pilot project on equipping the police with CS gas sprays will be available.

Answer · Jim Wallace: The police report on the Scottish trial of CS incapacitant spray was published in November 1998. I am arranging for a copy of the report to be placed in the Scottish Parliament Information Centre.

19 Apr 2000 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Executive why, if sex education is generally well handled in schools as it has stated, underage pregnancies are on a steep rate of increase.

Answer · Peter Peacock: Underage pregnancies are not on a steep rate of increase. Nevertheless they are too high. The Executive is taking forward a range of measures to reduce the incidence of teenage pregnancy and to meet the commitments set out in <I>Towards a Healthier Scotland</…

5 Apr 2000 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, with regard to the trade in illegal passports, what steps it will take to prevent any misuse of records on births and deaths held by the General Register Office for Scotland.

Answer · Jim Wallace: It would not be helpful in combating identity fraud to be too specific about the Scottish Administration's co-operation in this field with UK Government agencies and with those responsible for law-enforcement north and south of the Border, nor about the new c…

10 Mar 2000 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what was the number of cases that were brought before the Courts against drivers considered to be unable to drive through alcohol and drug impairment where alcohol levels were beneath the statutory limit in each of the years 1996-97, 1997-98 and 1998-99.

Answer · Jim Wallace: Information is not available on drivers who have not exceeded the statutory limit for alcohol. The number of offences proceeded against in respect of persons driving or attempting to drive, or in charge of a motor vehicle on a road or other public place while…

10 Mar 2000 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what was the number of cases brought before the Courts against drivers considered to be unfit to drive due to the effects of drugs abuse in each of the years 1996-97, 1997-98 and 1998-99.

Answer · Jim Wallace: The following table gives the available information. It is not possible to identify which of the offences proceeded against under sections 4(1) or 4(2) of the Road Traffic Act 1988 involved drugs. 1998 is the latest year for which figures are currently availa…

10 Mar 2000 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what assessment it has made of the effect on the economy and on passenger numbers for airports such as Prestwick of the introduction of airport tax on a single leg journey and what discussions it has had on this issue with Her Majesty's Government and the European Commission.

Answer · Sarah Boyack: The main lowland airports in Scotland, including Prestwick, have sustained a strong increase in passenger numbers since the introduction of air passenger duty. This increase in passenger numbers has helped maintain and extend economic and employment opportuni…

10 Mar 2000 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what the added annual cost is of the removal of Crown Exemption for police properties with respect to the rate payments of each Scottish police constabulary.

Answer · Jim Wallace: Prior to 1 April 2000 a contribution was made in lieu of rates on behalf of the police estate. Sufficient additional provision was included in the police Grant Aided Expenditure (GAE) settlement for 2000-01 to fully cover the estimated additional direct costs…

25 Feb 2000 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how much public funding the charity "Gay Men's Health" receives annually and what the purpose of this public funding is.

Answer · Iain Gray: In 1998-99, Gay Men's Health received funding of £101,146 from Lothian Health Board in support of its work to promote sexual health, including HIV prevention, among gay men.

16 Feb 2000 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many secure residential schools there are in Scotland; what the total number of places available within them is, and what steps it is taking to ensure that supply meets the need for such places.

Answer · Sam Galbraith: There are 87 secure places at present in Scotland. Of these, 49 places are in Rossie (near Montrose) and St Mary's (Bishopbriggs, Glasgow) independent schools. The remainder are in local authority units in Kerelaw, Glasgow, Howdenhall, St Katherine's, Edinbur…

9 Feb 2000 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive why the successful candidate for the post of President of Employment Tribunals (Scotland) will be expected to remain in the post until retirement; what timetable it is working to for the filling of this vacancy; whether this timetable will allow enough opportunity for a full and careful e…

Answer · Jim Wallace: I refer the member to my answer to S1O-1172.

9 Feb 2000 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what temporary arrangements have been put in place for the filling of the post of President of Employment Tribunals (Scotland) following the retirement of Doris Littlejohn.

Answer · Jim Wallace: The appointment of the President of Employment Tribunals (Scotland) is a reserved matter. Under Regulations made by the Department of Trade and Industry the responsibility for the appointment rests with the Lord President of the Court of Session.<P>I understa…

7 Feb 2000 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether the closing date for applications for the post of President of Employment Tribunals (Scotland) was 1 February 2000, how many applications have been received; what arrangements have been put in place for determining a short list, interviewing and selecting a successful applicant, a…

Answer · Jim Wallace: I refer the Member to my reply to his question S1O-1172.

7 Feb 2000 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what advertisements have been placed for the position of President of Employment Tribunals (Scotland), when they were placed and whether it will list the journals, newspapers and any other media in which they were published.

Answer · Jim Wallace: I refer the Member to my reply to his question S1O-1172.

2 Feb 2000 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-2109 by Susan Deacon on 10 November 1999, whether it has now received the advice from the National Services Advisory Group on the provision of cochlear implants, whether it will place a copy of this advice in the Scottish Parliament Information Centr…

Answer · Susan Deacon: I refer Mr Gallie to my answer S1W-737 of Wednesday 9 February to Margaret Jamieson.