Parliamentary questions
Robert Brown
1,531 questions tabled in the Scottish Parliament, most recent first.
17 Mar 2003 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what action it is taking to give every child access to affordable child care.
Answer · Cathy Jamieson: The Scottish Executive Childcare Strategy aims to provide affordable, accessible, good quality child care for children aged 0 to 14 in all neighbourhoods. Responsibility for addressing local child care needs rests with the local authorities in conjunction wit…
17 Mar 2003 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive when it intends to start accepting applications for its #2 million fund that aims to promote regeneration by sustaining and improving post office branches located in deprived urban areas.
Answer · Des McNulty: The Executive began accepting applications from 3 March 2003.
5 Mar 2003 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether the Ad Hoc Committee of Ministers on Flooding Issues has reported its findings and whether it has any plans to improve current arrangements to deal with flooding.
Answer · Ross Finnie: Recognising the misery and distress that flooding can cause and having resolved to improve current arrangements to address flooding concerns, ministers have agreed to implement the recommendations of the Ad Hoc Committee on Flooding Issues in full. These deci…
5 Feb 2003 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what action it is taking to address any low uptake of further education opportunities in Lanarkshire.
Answer · Iain Gray: The Scottish Executive is committed to ensuring that further education opportunities are accessible by everyone no matter where they live or their personal circumstances. Our widening access policy aims to break down barriers and ensure that social prejudice …
3 Feb 2003 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive when it will publish its second consultation paper on the proposed Scottish Human Rights Commission.
Answer · Jim Wallace: I am delighted to be able to announce that the consultation paper, the<I> Scottish Human Rights Commission </I>has been published today. <P>The Executive's proposals for the establishment of a Scottish Human Rights Commission firmly underline our commitment t…
27 Jan 2003 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it is intended that appointments of principals of further education colleges will be covered by the Public Appointments and Public Bodies etc. (Scotland) Bill.
Answer · Iain Gray: No. The Public Appointments and Public Bodies etc. (Scotland) Bill covers non-executive ministerial appointments to non-departmental public bodies in Scotland. Further education colleges are independent corporate bodies under the terms of the Further and High…
27 Jan 2003 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it is its policy that senior posts in new college structures following amalgamation of further education colleges should be the subject of open advertisement.
Answer · Iain Gray: Employment issues within further education colleges, which are autonomous bodies in terms of the Further and Higher Education (Scotland) Act 1992, are for the colleges themselves to address.
27 Jan 2003 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what arrangements have been made for public accountability when further education colleges amalgamate.
Answer · Iain Gray: In general, the Boards of Management of further education colleges are accountable to the Scottish ministers through powers delegated to the Scottish Further Education Funding Council in the Further and Higher Education (Scotland) Act 1992. <P>Where there is …
22 Jan 2003 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether any areas are free of lead pipes or lead solder on pipes in the domestic water supply system.
Answer · Ross Finnie: This is a matter for Scottish Water. I have asked Jon Hargreaves, Chief Executive of Scottish Water to respond. His response is as follows:<P>There are areas of Scotland where there are no lead pipes on the public water supply network, although there may stil…
22 Jan 2003 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what action is currently being taken by Scottish Water to reduce the level of lead content in water supplies.
Answer · Ross Finnie: This is a matter for Scottish Water. I have asked Jon Hargreaves, Chief Executive of Scottish Water to respond. His response is as follows:<P>Through regular sampling of drinking water supplies, Scottish Water identifies areas where water is picking up lead f…
20 Jan 2003 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what assistance it is giving to local urban post offices.
Answer · Mary Mulligan: I have asked Angiolina Foster, Chief Executive of Communities Scotland to respond. Her response is asfollows:</p><p>The Executive beganaccepting applications for its £2 million fund to develop post offices indeprived urban areas from March 2003. Post offices …
16 Jan 2003 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it supports the plans of Her Majesty's Government for a university of the National Health Service.
Answer · Malcolm Chisholm: The Scottish Executive is fully committed to the education and training of all health professionals and recognises the important and vital role played by the Scottish Universities and NHS Education for Scotland in supporting education.<P>The Scottish Executiv…
9 Jan 2003 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has issued, or plans to issue, advice to local authorities, similar to that available in England, on the steps to be taken to make taxi services more accessible to disabled people.
Answer · Peter Peacock: Executive officials have twice written to local authorities in recent years to update them on progress on the introduction of the taxi provisions contained in the Disability Discrimination Act 1995. This is a reserved matter for the Westminster Government and…
9 Jan 2003 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has any plans to introduce a taxi concessionary fare for disabled users.
Answer · Lewis Macdonald: No. The operation of concessionary travel schemes (including schemes for taxis) is a matter for individual local authorities, based on local needs and circumstances. As part of their concessionary travel schemes, a number of local authorities provide taxicard…
9 Jan 2003 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether there is a standard for accessibility to taxis for people with disabilities and whether it has any powers under the Civic Government (Scotland) Act 1982 or other legislation that can be used to require a percentage of taxis in each local authority area to be accessible to disable…
Answer · Peter Peacock: There is no threshold at the moment in relation to the number of taxis operating in Scotland which are accessible for people with disabilities. Nor are there any powers under the Civic Government (Scotland) Act 1982 or other legislation at the present time wh…
8 Jan 2003 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what action it is taking to secure the continued teaching of Slavonic languages at university level.
Answer · Iain Gray: Higher education institutions are autonomous bodies and are therefore responsible for deciding the type and levels of subject provision. Ministers have no locus in these decisions.<P>The Scottish Higher Education Funding Council, working with institutions, se…
8 Jan 2003 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it is appropriate for NHS boards to provide support to dyslexia organisations and what the reasons are for the position on this matter.
Answer · Malcolm Chisholm: Section 16 of the National Health Service (Scotland) Act 1978, as amended, enables NHS boards to give grant to voluntary organisations subject to certain conditions. It would be for boards to consider whether any application from an organisation dealing with …
8 Jan 2003 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what support it is giving to dyslexia organisations.
Answer · Cathy Jamieson: The Scottish Executive has a range of funding programmes available to voluntary organisations, including dyslexia organisations. The Executive is currently funding two specific projects, through the Special Educational Needs Innovation Grants Programme 2002-0…
8 Jan 2003 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what action it is taking to assist the textile industry.
Answer · Iain Gray: We established the Scottish Textile Forum in June 2000 to develop measures to support the textile sector and to provide an opportunity for regular consultation on issues facing the Scottish textile industry. The Scottish Textile Forum launched a three-year ac…
1 Jan 2003 · General Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how the extension by Her Majesty's Government of the consultation on the future development of air transport will affect Scotland.
Answer · Lewis Macdonald: The extension of the consultation period on <I>The Future Development of Air Transport in the United Kingdom </I>will, inevitably, delay the publication of the UK white paper. The Executive is currently discussing the implications for Scotland with the Depart…
5 Dec 2002 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether Scottish Ministers will, under the Building (Scotland) Bill, be able to require that improvements be made, to a level no higher than that required by building standards, in an existing building or class of buildings where there is a clear public health and safety interest or othe…
Answer · Margaret Curran: Yes. The relevant powers are set out in section 22 of the Building (Scotland) Bill.
27 Nov 2002 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what information it has on what applications for projects valued over #100,000 have been received by the New Opportunities Fund from Lanarkshire since 1 September 2002.
Answer · Elaine Murray: This is a matter for the New Opportunities Fund. The information requested is not held centrally.
27 Nov 2002 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what projects valued over #100,000 have been rejected for funding from the New Opportunities Fund in (a) Glasgow, (b) Edinburgh and (c) Lanarkshire.
Answer · Elaine Murray: This is a matter for the New Opportunities Fund. The information requested is not held centrally.
27 Nov 2002 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what projects valued over #100,000 have been funded from the New Opportunities Fund in (a) Glasgow, (b) Edinburgh and (c) Lanarkshire and on what dates each such project was approved.
Answer · Elaine Murray: This is a matter for the New Opportunities Fund. The information requested is not held centrally.
27 Nov 2002 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many prosecutions have been brought against the owners of unlicensed houses of multiple occupation in (a) Edinburgh and (b) Glasgow in each year since 1999.
Answer · Margaret Curran: (a) No cases have been reported to the Procurator Fiscal at Edinburgh and, accordingly, none have been prosecuted.<P>(b) One case was reported to the Procurator Fiscal at Glasgow on 29 October 2002. It is being prosecuted but has not yet been called in court.
27 Nov 2002 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what action it is taking to enable prosecutions of unlicensed houses of multiple occupation to be brought against absentee and foreign-based house owners.
Answer · Margaret Curran: A prosecution can be brought against an owner residing anywhere within the UK. If they are outside the UK, the position is the same as for other offences which do not carry the possibility of a sentence of imprisonment. A Complaint can be served on them and, …
27 Nov 2002 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will re-examine with the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service the nature of the evidence required for prosecutions of unlicensed houses of multiple occupation.
Answer · Jim Wallace: There are no plans to re-examine evidential requirements for prosecutions of breaches of law on licensing of houses in multiple occupation, but the local procurator fiscal would be happy to discuss specific concerns with any local council responsible for admi…
27 Nov 2002 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will introduce a requirement that managers or persons in charge of houses of multiple occupation have permanent responsibility for complying with the licenses of such properties.
Answer · Margaret Curran: The Scottish Executive has no plans to change the provision whereby the owner of a house in multiple occupation is responsible for obtaining a licence and ensuring compliance with the conditions of the licence.
27 Nov 2002 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has made any representations to Her Majesty's Government on NHS trusts in England "poaching" nursing staff from trusts in Scotland.
Answer · Mary Mulligan: No.
27 Nov 2002 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether NHS trusts are allowed to "poach" nursing staff from other trusts by offering higher gradings or other perks.
Answer · Mary Mulligan: NHS trusts have local responsibility for the Recruitment and Retention strategies that they adopt. Currently they are also free to vary Whitley terms and conditions of service to reflect their local circumstances. <P>Staff are also free to choose and plan the…