Robert Brown

27 Apr 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what contribution the M74 northern extension will make to its objectives of reducing road usage and improving public transport.

Answer · Sarah Boyack: From the traffic analysis undertaken to date it is expected the M74 scheme will achieve a significant reduction in traffic flows on a number of busy parallel local roads over a wide area within Glasgow and South Lanarkshire. The contribution that public trans…

27 Apr 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether any requirements will be placed on local authorities to ensure that the M74 northern extension does not become congested with commuter traffic, and, if so, what these requirements will be.

Answer · Sarah Boyack: The Scottish Executive and its partners, Glasgow, South Lanarkshire and Renfrewshire Councils, are currently working together with Strathclyde Passenger Transport, in the Executive's Central Scotland Transport Corridor Study, and through the Public Transport …

27 Apr 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what the estimated timetable is from commencement to completion of construction of the M74 northern extension.

Answer · Sarah Boyack: I expect the M74 project to be completed in 2008.

27 Apr 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what the estimated cost is of the M74 northern extension between Parkhead and the Kingston Bridge and how this will be financed.

Answer · Sarah Boyack: The current estimated project cost for the M74 from Fullarton Interchange on the existing M74 to the M8 west of Kingston Interchange is £245 million at May 2000 prices. This cost excludes design costs and VAT, if applicable.<P>The project costs have been allo…

27 Apr 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what number of midwives each NHS Trust specified as its desired establishment level and how many midwives each trust actually had in post, in each of the last three years.

Answer · Susan Deacon: Information on the establishment level of midwives for each NHS Trust is not available centrally. Following Trust reconfiguration in 1999, the numbers of whole-time equivalent midwives in post at 30 September 1999 and 2000 are shown in the table below.<P>Midw…

27 Apr 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive which institutions currently train midwives; how many midwives graduated from each institution in each of the last three years, and how many of these graduates subsequently obtained employment as midwives in the NHS.

Answer · Susan Deacon: The information requested is in the table below. However, the number of graduates finding employment in the NHS as midwives is not collected centrally.<P>Midwifery Completions by Year of Completion<TABLE BORDER CELLSPACING=1 CELLPADDING=2 WIDTH=625><TR><TD WI…

23 Apr 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive when it expects the Housing Improvement Task Force to bring forward recommendations on how the system of multiple surveys for housing transactions can be improved or replaced.

Answer · Jackie Baillie: I refer the member to the answer given to question S1W-15252.

23 Apr 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will bring forward proposals to require energy audits of houses at point of sale.

Answer · Jackie Baillie: The Housing Improvement Task Force will consider the information provided to purchasers under the current arrangements and advise on whether changes to those arrangements to promote energy efficiency would be deliverable. The Scottish Executive will consider …

23 Apr 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what assessment it has made of any benefits which could result from the adoption of a system of energy audits for residential property transactions and, in particular, what contribution such a system could make to reducing carbon dioxide emissions over the next 10 years.

Answer · Jackie Baillie: No assessment has been made at this stage.

23 Apr 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether the existing system of multiple surveys acts as a barrier to the adoption of energy audits for all house sales.

Answer · Jackie Baillie: The information about house condition that is available to individuals selling and buying houses is being considered by the Housing Improvement Task Force. The task force will consider whether there are barriers in the current arrangements to the provision of…

23 Apr 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what progress is being made with regard to the introduction of sellers' or independent surveys for residential property transactions.

Answer · Jackie Baillie: As part of its work to examine issues which inhibit or encourage housing improvement, the Housing Improvement Task Force will consider the likely effect of providing better information as part of the house purchase process, taking account of proposals for sel…

23 Apr 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S10-2658 by Jackie Baillie on 7 December 2000, whether all local authorities have reported on progress towards their Home Energy Conservation Act 1995 targets and when it intends to publish a report on authorities' progress in this area.

Answer · Jackie Baillie: The first progress reports have now been received from all local authorities and a report on them by the Scottish Executive will be published shortly.

6 Apr 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what action it is taking to provide for independent assessment of snagging problems on completion of new house building.

Answer · Lewis Macdonald: The contractual arrangements between builders and buyers of new houses are the responsibility of the buyer. Most builders will offer purchasers of new homes warranties from insurance bodies such as the National House Building Council (NHBC) or Zurich Building…

6 Apr 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what action it is taking to improve standards in new house building.

Answer · Lewis Macdonald: The Scottish Executive undertakes continuous review and revision of the building regulations and their associated Technical Standards. As part of this regular updating of standards, the sixth amendment to the Building Standards (Scotland) Regulations 1990 wil…

29 Mar 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive when it intends to launch its consultation document on whether a Human Rights Commission should be established in Scotland.

Answer · Jim Wallace: The document, <I>Protecting our Rights. A Human Rights Commission for Scotland? Consultation Document</I>, is being launched today. The consultation period lasts until the end of June. Copies are being distributed widely and can be obtained from the Parliamen…

14 Mar 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has made any representations to Her Majesty's Government regarding the developing shortfall in orders to BAe Systems Scotstoun.

Answer · Wendy Alexander: The Scottish Executive is in regular contact with the UK Government on a wide range of issues, including Ministry of Defence contracts.

13 Mar 2001 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what action it is taking to ensure that adequate resources are in place to provide suitable support and counselling services to prevent recurrent homelessness of people who have been re-housed.

Answer · Iain Gray: I have made available an additional £11 million in the next two years to begin delivery of the recommendations of the Homelessness Task Force. Local authorities and others will also be expected to deploy existing resources more efficiently and effectively. In…

8 Mar 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to allow the Strathclyde Passenger Transport Executive to retain revenue generated as a result of investment in new facilities.

Answer · Sarah Boyack: The Scottish Executive is looking to the Strathclyde Passenger Transport Executive to provide more detailed information so that further consideration may be given to this matter.

8 Mar 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will extend the free parking badge scheme to cover community nurses and health visitors.

Answer · Susan Deacon: I refer the member to the answer given to question S1O-3168 on 22 March 2001.

8 Mar 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will institute a review of car leasing and mileage rates available to NHSiS staff, particularly community nurses and health visitors.

Answer · Susan Deacon: The Scottish Executive, along with the other UK Health Departments, is currently undertaking a joint review of section 24 of the General Whitley Council Handbook which covers car leasing and mileage rates for all NHS staff.

2 Mar 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how much capital funding was allocated to the NHS in Scotland in each of the last three years and how much will be allocated in each of the next three years, broken down by health board area in each case.

Answer · Susan Deacon: The following table sets out the capital allocations issued to the NHSScotland on a health board area basis for the period 1998-99 to 2000-01:<TABLE BORDER CELLSPACING=1 CELLPADDING=7 WIDTH=491><TR><TD WIDTH="35%" VALIGN="TOP" HEIGHT=48><P>Health Boards</TD><…

2 Mar 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it is prepared in principle to assist the funding of a new south side hospital in Glasgow by making available a significant part of the funds required for such a project through direct capital grant.

Answer · Susan Deacon: I welcome the prospect of a redesign of south side hospitals services in Glasgow. The Scottish Executive Health Department will play its full part in ensuring that the plans eventually agreed are pursued.<P>The Health Department will assess any Business Case …

2 Mar 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many nurse practitioners there are within the Greater Glasgow Health Board area, broken down by NHS Trust.

Answer · Susan Deacon: The information requested is not held centrally.

1 Mar 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has any plans to encourage local authorities to allow access to facilities in their area on an equal basis regardless of place of residence.

Answer · Peter Peacock: Local authorities are independent corporate bodies responsible for their own charging structures.

1 Mar 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has any plans to review and modernise planning law.

Answer · Sam Galbraith: Yes. We will consult during 2001 on proposals to modernise the planning system including: the overall planning framework; more public involvement in the planning process, and getting better quality development in urban and rural Scotland. Any legislative chan…

30 Jan 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what steps it has taken to monitor the effects on staffing levels of a reduction in junior doctors' hours.

Answer · Susan Deacon: The New Deal Implementation Support Group (ISG) is working with trusts to help them reduce junior doctors' hours and improve working conditions. We have recently expanded the group to increase the practical support which it can offer. The ISG is currently und…

30 Jan 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether there are minimum standards of staffing levels in place for hospital trusts.

Answer · Susan Deacon: Minimum levels of staffing for NHS Trusts in Scotland are not prescribed centrally. It is a matter for health boards and trusts to assess and provide for local needs and to determine the staffing levels required for effective service delivery. National recomm…

30 Jan 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many Scottish residents applied to (a) Strathclyde University, (b) Glasgow University and (c) Glasgow Caledonian University in each of the last three academic years.

Answer · Wendy Alexander: This information is not available centrally.

24 Jan 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will support the work of the Scottish Working People's History Trust.

Answer · Allan Wilson: We have no plans to do so.

19 Jan 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has had any discussions with colleges of education regarding provision and funding of English language courses for asylum seekers.

Answer · Wendy Alexander: No such direct discussions between the Executive and colleges have taken place.