Parliamentary questions

Robert Brown

1,531 questions tabled in the Scottish Parliament, most recent first.

21 Sep 2004 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what the average percentage improvement in energy efficiency was in Scotland in comparison with England under the Home Energy Conservation Act 1995 in each year from 1997-98 to date.

Answer · Johann Lamont: I have asked Angiolina Foster, the Chief Executive of Communities Scotland, to respond. Her response is as follows:In Scotland, local authorities report on their percentage improvement in energy efficiency every two years. In England reports are provid…

20 Sep 2004 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will introduce mandatory targets for local authorities to improve domestic energy efficiency under the Home Energy Conservation Act 1995.

Answer · Johann Lamont: I have asked Angiolina Foster, the Chief Executive of Communities Scotland to respond. Her response is as follows:Individual local authorities were asked to submit their initial Home Energy Conservation Act (HECA) strategies to the then Secretary of St…

20 Sep 2004 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what action it is taking to enable the original 30% target for substantial improvements in energy efficiency under the Home Energy Conservation Act 1995 to be met.

Answer · Johann Lamont: I have asked Angiolina Foster, the Chief Executive of Communities Scotland to respond. Her response is as follows:The Scottish Executive has taken action on a number of fronts to help to improve energy efficiency in dwellings, including insulating almo…

20 Sep 2004 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will increase the training support given to social care employers in the voluntary sector.

Answer · Euan Robson: We are currently investing an additional £3 million over three years for voluntary sector training.We have also invested an additional £9 million in local authorities over three years for social work training. I have made it clear I expect that volunta…

20 Sep 2004 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what action it is taking to address the issue of recruitment and retention of social care staff in the voluntary sector.

Answer · Euan Robson: The Care in Scotland campaign, launched in 2002, continues to address the issue of recruitment and retention in all sectors of social care, public, private and voluntary. The latest drive in January and February involved significant press and radio advertisin…

10 Sep 2004 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive when it will publish its hepatitis C action plan.

Answer · Malcolm Chisholm: The aim is to publish the Hepatitis C Action Plan later in the year.

10 Sep 2004 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what action it is taking to tackle the growth of hepatitis C infection.

Answer · Malcolm Chisholm: I refer the member to the answer given to question S2W-9189 on 1 July 2004. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at <ahref="http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webap…

10 Sep 2004 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it plans to introduce managed clinical networks for hepatitis C sufferers.

Answer · Malcolm Chisholm: An application from the Scottish Viral Hepatitis Group for assistance with the administrative costs of developing a Scotland-wide Managed Clinical Network in Hepatitis C care will be considered by National Services Advisory Group at its next meeting.

8 Sep 2004 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what support it gives to Chinese community organisations.

Answer · Margaret Curran: Chinese voluntary and community groups have received financial support as follows:<table class=MsoNormalTable border=1 cellspacing=0 cellpadding=3 width=145> <tr> <td> 2001‑02 </td> <td> £33,774 </td> </tr> <tr> <td> 2002&…

8 Sep 2004 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what action it is taking to protect and enhance green space in urban areas.

Answer · Mary Mulligan: The Scottish Executive already has in place planning policy and guidance designed to protect and enhance open spaces.The partnership agreement commits us to setting minimum standards for open space in new developments. This work will feed into the revi…

6 Sep 2004 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will require Network Rail to obtain planning permission for the construction of digital telecommunication masts.

Answer · Mary Mulligan: Under the Town and Country planning (General permitted Development) (Scotland) Order 1992, Network Rail have permitted development rights which remove the need to obtain planning permission for a wide range of works on their operational land required in conne…

6 Sep 2004 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what steps it will take to ensure that communities are consulted regarding the siting of digital telecommunication masts by Network Rail.

Answer · Nicol Stephen: The implementation of the new railway communications system (GSM-R) is primarily a matter for Network Rail, however the Scottish Executive is aware of the significant concern of local people at some of the mast sites. Network Rail have confirmed that they wil…

24 Aug 2004 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive when it expects to publish its youth strategy.

Answer · Euan Robson: The partnership agreement gives a commitment to encourage the active participation of young people through the development of a national strategy for youth work. The Executive is encouraged by the interest around the strategy. Discussions with stakehol…

24 Aug 2004 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what steps it, or any other relevant agency, has taken to investigate the safety of children at Kerelaw and Kibble schools.

Answer · Peter Peacock: The following action has been taken by the relevant agencies in relation to Kerelaw School:Strathclyde Police is conducting an investigation into the allegations made.Following a request by Glasgow City Council, the Care Commission and HM Inspec…

28 Jul 2004 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether marriage guidance and couple counselling services form part of its strategy for supporting families.

Answer · Hugh Henry: The Scottish Executive recognises the importance of relationship support services in helping toprovide stable family settings where children can prosper. In our recent consultationon family law reform - Family Matters: Improving Family Law in Scotland …

28 Jul 2004 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has any plans to fund marriage guidance and couple counselling services on a national basis.

Answer · Hugh Henry: The Scottish Executive already provides core and training grant funding for Couple CounsellingScotland and Scottish Marriage Care. Some £355,000 will be made available this yearfor activities by them at a national level. Our total contribution to family relat…

28 Jul 2004 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has any plans to issue guidance directly, or through COSLA, on the appropriate level of support for marriage and couple counselling services.

Answer · Hugh Henry: The role of the Scottish Executive is to support strategic development of family relationship services at nationallevel. It is for local funders to assess how they might support these services intheir own areas.

23 Jun 2004 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what steps it is taking to meet its environmental targets in cities.

Answer · Ross Finnie: Our commitment to Scotland’s environment is at the heart of A Partnership for a Better Scotland. That includes our commitment to improve the quality of the environment in our cities.For example, Glasgow, Edinburgh and Aberdeen have declared Air …

23 Jun 2004 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what action it is taking to improve the funding of Citi'ens Advice Bureaux.

Answer · Mary Mulligan: The Executive is aware of the excellent work done by Citizens Advice Bureaux across Scotland. However, core funding for Citizens Advice Bureaux is a matter for local authorities who are best placed to decide on the allocation of resources according to the nee…

18 Jun 2004 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what action it is taking to increase the number of consultant neurologists and epilepsy nurse specialists.

Answer · Malcolm Chisholm: The future number of consultant neurologists nationally will be shaped both by the workforce planning infrastructure, as outlined within the Scottish Health Workforce Plan 2004 Baseline document and the implications of Modernising Medical Careers</i…

18 Jun 2004 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many (a) consultant neurologists and (b) epilepsy nurse specialists are currently in post.

Answer · Malcolm Chisholm: The information on neurologists is collected via the annual medical and dental census and is correct to 30 September each year. Table 1 identifies the number of neurology consultants in post and the number of vacancies at 30 September 2003.Table 1 – Ne…

1 Jun 2004 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what alternative provision it will make for patients who benefit from the Centre for Integrative Care at Glasgow Homeopathic Hospital in the event of its closure and for whom the NHS currently offers no other effective palliation or treatment.

Answer · Malcolm Chisholm: This is primarily a matterfor NHS Greater Glasgow. I would expect details of alternative serviceprovision to be included in any proposals that are presented to me.

1 Jun 2004 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what alternative use is planned by NHS Greater Glasgow of the in-patient facilities at Glasgow Homeopathic Hospital in the event of the closure of the in-patient unit and how much it will cost to adapt the facilities for such purposes.

Answer · Malcolm Chisholm: This is a matter for NHS Greater Glasgow. This information is not held centrally.

1 Jun 2004 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how much NHS Greater Glasgow expects will be saved (a) in total and (b) by NHS Greater Glasgow through the closure of the Centre for Integrative Care at Glasgow Homeopathic Hospital.

Answer · Malcolm Chisholm: These are matters for NHS Greater Glasgow.

1 Jun 2004 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how much the Centre for Integrative Care at Glasgow Homeopathic Hospital has cost to run in each of the last five years.

Answer · Malcolm Chisholm: This is a matter for NHS Greater Glasgow. This information is not held centrally.

1 Jun 2004 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how much NHS Greater Glasgow has received from other NHS boards in each of the last five years for patients using the Centre for Integrative Care at Glasgow Homeopathic Hospital.

Answer · Malcolm Chisholm: This is a matter for NHS Greater Glasgow. This information is not held centrally.

1 Jun 2004 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many patients have used the in-patient facilities at Glasgow Homeopathic Hospital in each of the last five years.

Answer · Malcolm Chisholm: This is a matter for NHS Greater Glasgow. This information is not held centrally.

26 May 2004 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what progress has been made towards implementation of the Freedom of Information (Scotland) Act 2002.

Answer · Tavish Scott: The second annual report of the Scottish ministers on progress towards implementation of the Freedom of Information(Scotland) Act 2002 is today being laid in Parliament and will be made availableon the Executive’s FOI website. The report describes the work th…

20 May 2004 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions it has had with the Serious Crime Squad in respect of the report on the security industry on Frontline Scotland on 18 May 2004.

Answer · Cathy Jamieson: My officials have discussed theFrontline Scotland programme with Strathclyde Police who are responsible for operationalpolicing in Glasgow. It is for the police to investigate allegations of criminalactivities and to take action as appropriate.

20 May 2004 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has made representations to Her Majesty's Government to expedite legislation to regulate the Scottish security industry, in light of the report on Frontline Scotland on 18 May 2004.

Answer · Cathy Jamieson: I have written to the Home Secretary to make clear the urgency which the Scottish Executive attaches to introducing legislation to regulate the private security industry.