Robert Brown

27 Nov 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what steps it is taking to reduce NHS dependence on agency nursing staff.

Answer · Mary Mulligan: The Executive is committed to building capacity within the existing nursing workforce through a range of recruitment and retention strategies under the banner of Facing the Future. This includes the Return to Practice programme and increasing the Student Nurs…

27 Nov 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether local authorities have the power to differentiate between residents by charging housing associations but not owner occupiers or private landlords for taking away bulky items of refuse from back courts.

Answer · Ross Finnie: Local authorities have a discretionary power to charge householders for the collection of certain types of household waste, including bulky items. A list of such wastes is prescribed by The Controlled Waste Regulations 1992. In exercising this power, local au…

25 Nov 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive which, and what percentage of, publications produced by the Scottish Court Service from May 1999 to June 2002 refer people to the Citi'en's Advice Bureau service for advice and assistance and whether Citi'ens Advice Scotland is made aware of such referrals prior to publication.

Answer · Hugh Henry: The Scottish Court Service has issued eight publications which contain a reference to the Citizens Advice Bureau as a potentially useful contact for users of the courts. These were:<I><P>Office of the Public Guardian</I><P>Power of Attorney. Guidance - Genera…

25 Nov 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to questions S1W-30900 and S1W-30904 by Mr Andy Kerr on 21 November 2002, which publications of its Development and Justice departments refer people to the Citi'en's Advice Bureau service for advice and assistance.

Answer · Andy Kerr: The Development Department issued three publications that contain references to the Citizens Advice Bureau service. These were: <I>Mortgage Rights (Scotland) Act 2002</I>; <I>We Are All Responsible</I>, and the <I>Model Scottish Secure Tenancy Agreement</I>. …

25 Nov 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what action it is taking to support the findings of the British Medical Association's report, Towards smoke-free public places, and to encourage the banning of smoking in the workplace.

Answer · Mary Mulligan: The Scottish Executive is well aware of the health risks posed by passive smoking and has consistently pressed for smoke-free facilities in both public places and workplace. <P>To drive forward an increase in smoke-free facilities in public places we launched…

20 Nov 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what information it has received from Consignia or Her Majesty's Government about how many post offices are expected to close in Scotland as a result of Consignia's restructuring plans and how many such offices will be in the (a) Glasgow City Council and (b) South Lanarkshire Council area.

Answer · Allan Wilson: I understand from the Department of Trade and Industry that there is no pre-determined closure list. Under the <I>Code of practice. Post Office branch relocation, closure and conversion agreed between Consignia plc and Postwatch</I> (November 2001), Post Offi…

20 Nov 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what action it is taking to support growth in business for urban post offices.

Answer · Allan Wilson: I refer the member to the answer given to question S1O-5935 on 21 November 2002, which is available on the Parliament's website, the search facility for which can be found at <A HREF="http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/search_wa">http://www.scottish.par…

20 Nov 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether the Your Guide project will be rolled out to post offices across Scotland.

Answer · Allan Wilson: I refer the member to the answer given to question S1W-30292 on 5 November 2002. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament's website, the search facility for which can be found at: <A HREF="http://www.scottish.parliament.u…

20 Nov 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive when decisions will be made on the #1.5 million allocated for the support of post offices in deprived urban areas.

Answer · Margaret Curran: The Executive is currently developing a fund to support post offices in deprived urban areas. Further details will be announced in due course.

20 Nov 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive when a BSc degree course for the education and training of audiologists will be in place in Scotland.

Answer · Mary Mulligan: I refer the member to the answer given to question S1W-31280 on 18 November 2002. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament's website, the search facility for which can be found at:<P><A HREF="http://www.scottish.parliamen…

20 Nov 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive on what assumptions and calculations the estimate of an extra #200 million investment for council housing was based, as referred to in the ministerial statement on housing by the Minister for Social Justice on 7 November 2002, including (a) the extra investment that will be raised for eac…

Answer · Margaret Curran: The figure of £200 million is our broad estimate of the additional borrowing that the Prudential Regime might permit in Scotland as whole. It is based on the assumption that 20-25% of the rental income currently used for capital investment purposes could inst…

20 Nov 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what level of funding (a) has been available in each year from 2000-01 to 2002-03 and (b) will be available in 2003-04 and 2004-05 to local authorities seeking resources from Communities Scotland for the funding of partial transfers, as referred to in the ministerial statement on housing …

Answer · Margaret Curran: I have asked Mr Bob Millar, Chief Executive of Communities Scotland to respond. His response is as follows:<P>The resources provided to councils by the Scottish Executive and Communities Scotland for projects involving partial transfers of housing stock are a…

20 Nov 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will give details of the timetable of the proposed consultation period on the improvement to the stock transfer process, as announced in the ministerial statement on housing by the Minister for Social Justice on 7 November 2002, including the proposed start date and closing da…

Answer · Margaret Curran: The review is initially being focused, through interviews, on those directly involved to date in developing transfer proposals. Therefore, meetings are taking place with those involved in the whole transfer proposals in Glasgow, Dumfries and Galloway, Scottis…

20 Nov 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, with regard to its news release SEsj073/2002 of 7 November 2002, when it plans to publish (a) the final definition of the Scottish Standard for Social Housing and (b) the target date by which the standard is to be achieved.

Answer · Margaret Curran: As my statement to Parliament on 7 November made clear, the final definition of the standard and the setting of a target date for meeting it will require full and careful consultation with local authorities, Registered Social Landlords and others. That proces…

20 Nov 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, with regard to its news release SEsj073/2002 of 7 November 2002, what the timetable will be of the proposed consultation period on the Scottish Standard for Social Housing, including the proposed start date and closing date for submissions.

Answer · Margaret Curran: I indicated in my statement to Parliament on 7 November that we would begin this consultation by the end of the year. The consultation will adhere to the normal Executive practice of allowing three months for comments.

20 Nov 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it plans to amend the Civic Government (Scotland) Act 1982 in order to require that planning consent be granted before licence applications for houses in multiple occupancy (HMO) can be determined.

Answer · Margaret Curran: Planning and licensing controls are for different statutory and policy purposes and we have no plans to amend the Civic Government (Scotland) Act 1982 in the manner suggested. In those instances where the owner needs both a licence and planning permission he …

20 Nov 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what action it plans to take to help blind people in the light of the Royal National Institute of the Blind campaign report, Changing the Way We Think About Blindness.

Answer · Frank McAveety: The Executive is hosting a seminar on 11 December 2002, Community Care Services for Adults with Sensory Impairments - Shaping the Future. This will provide us with a sound basis for developing an action plan of short-, medium- and long-term goals to take forw…

31 Oct 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what action it is taking "to promote positive, participatory and non-violent forms of discipline and respect for children's equal right to human dignity and physical integrity, engaging with children and parents and all those who work with and for them, and to carry out public education …

Answer · Richard Simpson: The Executive wishes Scottish parents to have information on the possible effects of physical punishment of children, and to have access to positive parenting approaches to discipline. In the Criminal Justice (Scotland) Bill it is also seeking to clarify and …

28 Oct 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive when the Scottish Information Commissioner will be appointed.

Answer · Jim Wallace: Section 42 of the Freedom of Information (Scotland) Act 2002 provides that the appointment of the Scottish Information Commissioner is a matter for the Scottish Parliament. I understand, however, that it is intended that interviews of candidates for this post…

28 Oct 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what action it is taking to tackle levels of illiteracy amongst young adults in South Lanarkshire.

Answer · Iain Gray: The South Lanarkshire Community Learning Strategy Partnership has been allocated £912,000 over three years to 2004 to help raise levels of adult literacy and numeracy. The partnership has submitted an action plan and subsequent mid-year report which estimates…

28 Oct 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether there has been a recent reduction in the number of students taking science and engineering courses in Scottish universities.

Answer · Iain Gray: The most recent figures available from the Universities and Colleges Admissions Service (UCAS) show the number of students accepted to take up full-time undergraduate courses in science and engineering has increased by over 4% from 8,937 in 2000 to 9,306 in 2…

28 Oct 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many students from (a) Scottish addresses and (b) in total have applied for entry to Scottish universities in each of the last three years.

Answer · Iain Gray: The available information for the last three years is given in the following table.<P>Applicants to Scottish Higher Education Institutions via UCAS, 1999 to 2001<TABLE BORDER CELLSPACING=1 CELLPADDING=7 WIDTH=396><TR><TD WIDTH="55%" VALIGN="TOP">&nbsp;</TD><T…

24 Oct 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive which, and what percentage, of its publications produced by the Finance and Central Services Department from May 1999 to June 2002 refer people to the Citi'ens Advice Bureau service for advice and assistance and whether Citi'ens Advice Scotland is made aware of such referrals prior to pub…

Answer · Andy Kerr: This information is not held centrally and could only be provided at disproportionate cost. However, you may wish to be aware that, as part of new procedures which are shortly to be put in place within the Executive, departments will be required to obtain pri…

24 Oct 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive which, and what percentage, of its publications produced by the Justice Department from May 1999 to June 2002 refer people to the Citi'ens Advice Bureau service for advice and assistance and whether Citi'ens Advice Scotland is made aware of such referrals prior to publication.

Answer · Andy Kerr: The Justice Department have issued two publications which contain a reference to the Citizens Advice Bureau. In future the Executive will make Citizens Advice Scotland aware of any such future references prior to publication.

24 Oct 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive which, and what percentage, of its publications produced by the Health Department from May 1999 to June 2002 refer people to the Citi'ens Advice Bureau service for advice and assistance and whether Citi'ens Advice Scotland is made aware of such referrals prior to publication.

Answer · Malcolm Chisholm: No publications produced by the Health Department from May 1999 to June 2002 referred people to the Citizens Advice Bureau service. The Executive will make Citizens Advice Scotland aware of any such referrals prior to publication.

24 Oct 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive which, and what percentage, of its publications produced by the Enterprise and Lifelong Learning Department from May 1999 to June 2002 refer people to the Citi'ens Advice Bureau service for advice and assistance and whether Citi'ens Advice Scotland is made aware of such referrals prior to…

Answer · Andy Kerr: No publications produced by the Enterprise and Lifelong Learning Department from May 1999 to June 2002 referred people to the Citizens Advice Bureau service. The Executive will make Citizens Advice Scotland aware of any such referrals prior to publication.

24 Oct 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive which, and what percentage, of its publications produced by the Education Department from May 1999 to June 2002 refer people to the Citi'ens Advice Bureau service for advice and assistance and whether Citi'ens Advice Scotland is made aware of such referrals prior to publication.

Answer · Andy Kerr: We have been unable to identify any publications produced by the Education Department from May 1999 to June 2002 which referred people to the Citizens Advice Bureau service. The Executive will make Citizens Advice Scotland aware of any such referrals prior to…

24 Oct 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive which, and what percentage, of its publications produced by the Development Department from May 1999 to June 2002 refer people to the Citi'ens Advice Bureau service for advice and assistance and whether Citi'ens Advice Scotland is made aware of such referrals prior to publication.

Answer · Andy Kerr: The Development Department issued three publications containing references to the Citizens Advice Bureau service during this period. In future the Executive will make Citizens Advice Scotland aware of any such future references prior to publication.

9 Oct 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what support it is giving to Scottish Enterprise Glasgow's #25 million plan to tackle Glasgow's construction skills shortage.

Answer · Iain Gray: The Scottish Executive has measures in place to reduce skills shortages in the construction industry. The Scottish Welfare to Work Task Force has established a construction sub-group to develop an appropriate construction industry training course for New Deal…

3 Oct 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what action it is taking to support the development of the Construction Licensing Executive to improve standards in the construction industry.

Answer · Iain Gray: The Scottish Executive supports the aims of the Scottish Construction Licensing Executive to provide a framework for self-regulation of companies in the construction industry. We are represented as an observer on the Licensing Executive.<P>The Scottish Execut…