Parliamentary questions

Robert Brown

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

20 May 2004 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive when it will publish its finalised integrated strategy for early years.

Answer · Peter Peacock: We plan to publish the IntegratedEarly Years Strategy this summer.

14 May 2004 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what action it is taking to improve NHS facilities for the deaf, in light of the report A Simple Cure - A national report into deaf and hard of hearing people's experiences of the National Health Service, published by the Royal National Institute for the Deaf.

Answer · Malcolm Chisholm: I refer you to the answers givento questions S2W-6895 on 29 March 2004, S2W-7379, S2W-7380 and S2W-7381 on 28 April 2004. All answersto written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament's website, the searchfacility for which can be found at:</p…

13 May 2004 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive when it will introduce legislation to establish a Scottish Human Rights Commission, as referred to in A Partnership for a Better Scotland.

Answer · Cathy Jamieson: The responses to the second publicconsultation on the proposals to establish a Scottish Human Rights Commission, alongwith a report providing an analysis of those responses, were published on 4 May 2004. Those responsesare being considered by the Executive, a…

30 Apr 2004 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what it estimates the current cumulative extent of shortfalls of social-rented housing is, broken down by local authority area, and what the timescale is for these needs being met by the provision of affordable quality housing in that sector.

Answer · Margaret Curran: The Executive is carrying out a wide rangingreview of affordable housing in consultation with key stakeholders. Work is underwaywithin this review to estimate current andfuture requirements for affordable housing including social rented provision atboth natio…

28 Apr 2004 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will follow the practice in England of training and recruiting specialist skin cancer nurses in the NHS.

Answer · Malcolm Chisholm: NHS boards are responsible for planning services in their area and for securing staff needed to deliver them. The Scottish Executive remains committed to building the capacity of the NHS workforce. Under the Facing the Future banner £10 million has bee…

26 Apr 2004 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has any plans to remove provision of free travel to school for children.

Answer · Peter Peacock: The Executive has no plans toremove provision of free travel to school.

21 Apr 2004 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to support the United Nations Decade of Education for Sustainable Development 2005-14.

Answer · Peter Peacock: As yet there are no plans in place arising from the UN Decade of Education for Sustainable Development.I do, however, support in principle the objectives for the Decade, which go far wider than just formal education, and officials in the Executive and …

21 Apr 2004 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will consider raising fines against landlords for non-compliance of a multiple occupancy licence as a deterrent to unscrupulous landlords.

Answer · Mary Mulligan: We have no plans at present toincrease the maximum fine for operating a house in multiple occupation without alicence. The specific fines imposed in particular cases are, of course, a matterfor the courts.

11 Mar 2004 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has had discussions with Strathclyde Police in respect of any racially discriminatory entry policies operated by any Glasgow nightclubs.

Answer · Cathy Jamieson: I understand from StrathclydePolice that they are not aware of any specific issues relating to raciallydiscriminatory entry policies in nightclubs and have received no complaintsfrom the public. Refusal of entry to a nightclub on the grounds of a person’srace…

11 Mar 2004 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what powers local authorities have to take action in respect of nightclubs operating racially discriminatory entry policies.

Answer · Andy Kerr: The Executive is not awarethat local authorities have any specific powers to take action in thecircumstances described. Nightclubs and other premises which are open to thepublic are subject to the Race Relations Act 1976.

10 Mar 2004 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it plans to roll out the restorative justice pilot scheme in Glasgow across the rest of Scotland.

Answer · Hugh Henry: Almost all local authorities have Restorative Justiceschemes, with around 3,000 places available across Scotland. We intend to doublethat number by 2006. I recently announced additional funding of £3 millionto local authorities to help them achi…

23 Feb 2004 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what steps it is taking to make more provision in the school timetable for the formal study of art and design.

Answer · Peter Peacock: The National Guidelines onExpressive Arts 5-14 give guidance on the provision of the curriculum for artand design. The guidelines on the structure and balance of the curriculumadvise education authorities and schools that a minimum of 15% of a pupil’stime sho…

23 Feb 2004 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what action it is taking to support, and assist the expansion of, Alcohol Focus Scotland and its affiliated agencies.

Answer · Tom McCabe: The Scottish Executive values the important contribution of Alcohol Focus Scotland (AFS) andits affiliated agencies in reducing alcohol-related harm in Scotland. Inrecognition of that contribution we have been making increasing levels of corefunding available…

28 Jan 2004 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions it has had with Scottish Water over connecting new developments in Glasgow to the water and drainage infrastructure.

Answer · Allan Wilson: The Executive maintains aregular dialogue with Scottish Water on a wide range of issues affecting itsoperations, and these are not confined to any particular areas of the country,or to specific issues.In relation to Glasgow, the Executive is maintainin…

5 Jan 2004 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what action it is taking to support the provision of aids and adaptations for blind people, specifically with regard to guide dogs and white canes.

Answer · Malcolm Chisholm: The Scottish Executive published Equipped for Inclusion – Report of the Strategy Forum:Equipment and Adaptations in 2003. This report made recommendations on waysin which the provision of these services, which includes those items used byblind people, …

5 Jan 2004 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive on what basis any decision is taken regarding support for the Guide Dogs for the Blind Association.

Answer · Tom McCabe: Following expressions ofconcern regarding the proposal by the Guide Dogs for the Blind Association toclose the School of Vision and Rehabilitation Studies in Glasgow, an agreementbetween the Executive and the association to keep the school open for one furthe…

23 Dec 2003 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will issue guidelines for schools on continuing involvement of both parents in their children's education following a matrimonial separation.

Answer · Peter Peacock: I have made clear mycommitment to improving all aspects of parents’ involvement in their children’seducation and will consider in that context whether there is a need forspecific guidelines for schools on the involvement of separated parents.

1 Dec 2003 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what action it is taking in response to Audit Scotland's report Dealing with offending by young people - A follow-up report.

Answer · Cathy Jamieson: The Executive welcomes AuditScotland’s report and accepts all its recommendations. We look to every agencyto plan how to improve and deliver on their statutory duties with the extraresources we have allocated. I will be meeting with council leaders and chief …

24 Nov 2003 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what action it is taking to support the campaign Sea Vision UK: Promoting our Maritime Future.

Answer · Nicol Stephen: Scottish Executive officialshave met with representatives of the Sea Vision UK campaign and been briefed onits plans to promote the maritime sector in Scotland. The Executive wasalso represented at the first meeting of Scottish partner organisations in July.T…

6 Nov 2003 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what the reasons were for not calling in for determination planning application 03/765/DC relating to the proposed development at 66 Great George Street and 62 Cecil Street, Glasgow.

Answer · Mary Mulligan: In circumstances such asthis, when the Scottish ministers are not determining a planning application, adetailed report of their assessment is not issued. However, as a broadindication of the considerations that led to the decision, I can advise that the Scott…

5 Nov 2003 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what action it is taking to support sustainable development in education.

Answer · Peter Peacock: Guidance to localauthorities and schools sets out opportunities for teaching sustainable developmentat every level of the school curriculum.Under the arrangements toreport against the National Priorities for Education, local authorities will submitinfo…

5 Nov 2003 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will continue to support Eco-Schools after 2005.

Answer · Peter Peacock: The support for the Eco-Schoolsprogramme has been as part of the overall framework of improvement on theNational Priorities in Education, introduced by the Standards in Scotland’sSchools etc. Act 2000. The Executiveremains committed to the importance of susta…

5 Nov 2003 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what the membership is of the Cabinet Sub-Committee on Sustainable Scotland.

Answer · Jack McConnell: I chair the Cabinet SubCommittee on Sustainable Scotland and the membership comprises the Deputy FirstMinister, Ross Finnie, Nicol Stephen, Mary Mulligan, Tavish Scott and AllanWilson.

5 Nov 2003 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has any plans to review the organisation of pre-school and out-of-school care in order to provide a more effective wraparound service.

Answer · Euan Robson: The Scottish Executive publication School’s Out – A Framework for the Development of Out ofSchool Care set out a number of recommendations for local authorities andother bodies to develop out of school care (OSC) provision. Recommendation 1calls on loc…

5 Nov 2003 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what the optimum si'e is of a new community school.

Answer · Peter Peacock: There is no optimum size ofschool for adoption of the integrated (formerly new) community school approach.All schools are expected to become integrated community schools by 2007.Experience over the pilot programme and the first year of the roll outprogramme i…

5 Nov 2003 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive which new community schools have been developed so far and how many pupils and teachers have been allocated to each school.

Answer · Peter Peacock: Under the pilot programme, some430 schools across all local authority areas have adopted the integrated(formerly new) community school approach. We understand that, since the startof the roll out programme in April 2002, the number of schools involved hasrise…

5 Nov 2003 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether the Care Commission applies the same standards to schools as it does to organisations using school premises.

Answer · Tom McCabe: The Care Commission does notregulate schools. It is responsible for the regulation of certain care servicesincluding day care of children services and some school care accommodationservices. Both public and independent sector services are regulated takingacco…

22 Oct 2003 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what action it is taking to tackle the illegal use of lead solder in drinking water pipes.

Answer · Ross Finnie: The Scottish Executive is taking action on several fronts to tackle the illegal use of lead solder. These include:working with the Scottish and Northern Ireland Plumbing Employers’ Federation to reiterate that the use of leaded solder on drinking water…

6 Oct 2003 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it supports the development of a sector skills council for young people.

Answer · Lewis Macdonald: Those who work with young peoplefall within the ambit of a number of options for sector skills councilscurrently under consideration. We are keen to secure the option which bestsupports the diverse professional groups working with young people.

25 Sep 2003 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what support it is giving to the capital costs of New Struan House being developed by the Scottish Society for Autism.

Answer · Peter Peacock: The Scottish Executive does notprovide capital funding to independent schools. However, support is given to organisationsworking with children and young people with autistic spectrum disorder, includingthe Scottish Society for Autism.In 2002-04, the Ex…