Parliamentary questions

Robert Brown

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

19 Jan 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to provide support to pre-five nursery and education services for asylum seekers.

Answer · Nicol Stephen: Where families with pre-school children are granted exceptional leave to remain in the UK, these children are entitled to receive the full benefit of up to two years of grant-funded pre-school education.Where asylum decisions are …

19 Jan 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many prosecutions arising from road traffic deaths there were in the High Court of Justiciary in each of the last five years.

Answer · Jim Wallace: The information requested cannot be separately identified from the data collected centrally. The table contains the available information on prosecutions, which by legal definition, involved fatal road accidents.Persons proceeded against in…

19 Jan 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many prosecutions there were in each of the last five years on charges of culpable homicide arising from road traffic deaths.

Answer · Jim Wallace: he information requested is given in the table.Persons proceeded against in all Scottish courts where the main crime was causing death by dangerous driving, 1995-1999<TABLE BORDER CELLSPACING=1 CELLPADDING=7 WIDTH=616><TR><TD WIDTH="49%" VA…

10 Jan 2001 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what implications the Chancellor of the Exchequer's pre-budget statement will have for the promotion of rail freight in Scotland.

Answer · Sarah Boyack: Rail freight is a reserved matter. The Scottish Executive of course has responsibility for freight grants in Scotland, and is in regular contact with the Strategic Rail Authority on a wide range of issues, including rail freight.

20 Dec 2000 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has any plans to change the rules on the write-off of old community charge and council tax debt.

Answer · Peter Peacock: The write-off of local taxation debts which cannot be recovered is a matter for local authorities, in line with their statutory duties, and in consultation with their auditors as necessary.

20 Dec 2000 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what definition of "fuel poverty" was used in determining the figure of 236,000 households in fuel poverty (Press Release SE3192/2000, 12 December 2000).

Answer · Jackie Baillie: The figure refers to the number of households which have to spend 10% or more of income on all fuel used in the home. The assessment is based on the results of the 1996 Scottish House Condition Survey.

14 Dec 2000 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will develop its own, centrally-funded initiative similar to the Grand Central Union Scheme launched by The Big Issue in Glasgow to tackle long-term unemployment and homelessness.

Answer · Jackie Baillie: The Executive recognises the value of employment in both preventing homelessness in the first place, and as a route out of homelessness. Through the New Futures Fund we are ensuring that intensive support is being provided to many young homeless people to hel…

14 Dec 2000 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to support and encourage the Grand Central Union Scheme recently launched by The Big Issue in Glasgow as a means to tackle long-term unemployment and homelessness.

Answer · Jackie Baillie: The Executive has no plans to support this particular venture but the Executive welcomes and encourages such partnership initiatives between the voluntary and private sectors to address unemployment and homelessness.

9 Nov 2000 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-9789 by Ms Wendy Alexander on 4 October 2000, when it will publish the findings and recommendations of the review of the Tolerable Standard.

Answer · Jackie Baillie: The result of the review of the Tolerable Standard was announced in December. The Standard is to be amended to include all the standard amenities as currently set out in the Housing (Scotland) Act 1987 but will otherwise remain unchanged. The Executive has al…

9 Nov 2000 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many households and how many people will be relieved of fuel poverty as a result of all the initiatives currently in place to address this issue.

Answer · Jackie Baillie: At the meeting of the Social Inclusion, Housing and Voluntary Sector Committee on 1 November, I said that the Executive hope to take 250,000 households out of fuel poverty over the lifetime of this administration and the next. We will work towards this target…

9 Nov 2000 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to eliminate any duplication in work between the Health Technology Board for Scotland and the Drugs and Therapeutics Committees of health boards.

Answer · Susan Deacon: The Chief Medical Officer has had discussions with Professor David Lawson, Vice-President of the Royal College of Physicians in Edinburgh and a leading figure in UK therapeutics, to ask him to take forward work to promote consistency of advice across Scotland…

9 Nov 2000 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what arrangements are in place for co-operation between the Health Technology Board for Scotland and the National Institute for Clinical Excellence in England.

Answer · Susan Deacon: The Health Technology Board for Scotland (HTBS) and the National Institute for Clinical Excellence (NICE) have established a good collaborative relationship. This includes reciprocal "observer" status at board meetings.There are particularl…

9 Nov 2000 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive when it will publish (a) the procedural guidelines for local authorities undertaking stock transfers and (b) the code of practice on tenant participation in stock transfers.

Answer · Jackie Baillie: The document Guidance for Local Authorities on Housing Transfer to Community Ownership was published on 28 August and copies are available in the Parliament's Reference Centre. The code of practice on tenant participation in stock transfers was …

9 Nov 2000 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what the most recent statistics are and relating to sudden infant deaths (cot deaths) and how many of these can be linked to exposure to tobacco smoke.

Answer · Susan Deacon: There were 41 cot deaths in the calendar year 1999. Figures for year 2000 are not yet available.Information on the number of cot deaths linked to exposure to tobacco smoke is not held centrally.

9 Nov 2000 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what action will it take to protect children and young people from the health risks of passive smoking.

Answer · Susan Deacon: The health issues associated with passive smoking are clear and the Scottish Executive recognises the importance for children and young people to be protected from such risks.The Executive will consider the need for further measures on the …

9 Nov 2000 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, for each year since 1996, how many prosecutions were carried out by the Scottish Environment Protection Agency, how many prosecutions were successful, what the total cost was of carrying out prosecutions and what the level of fines was from successful prosecutions.

Answer · Sam Galbraith: The Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA) does not carry out prosecutions. Cases of contravention of environment protection legislation, which are considered by SEPA to warrant legal action, are referred to the Procurators Fiscal service for prosecuti…

9 Nov 2000 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to encourage more energy efficient use of offices and other buildings.

Answer · Wendy Alexander: The Scottish Executive, through our Scottish Energy Efficiency Office, operates an extensive best practice programme to encourage more efficient use of energy in both industrial processes and building use. The programme provides free advice and consultancy in…

31 Oct 2000 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what the inclusive capital spend was on council housing by Glasgow District Council and Glasgow City Council, broken down to show (a) the borrowing consent, (b) the spend from capital receipts and (c) capital expenditure funded from revenue in each financial year from 1975-76 to 1999-2000.

Answer · Jackie Baillie: The following table provides a breakdown of Glasgow District/City Council's capital expenditure on council housing in each financial year from 1979-80 to 1999-2000. Information prior to 1979-80 is not readily available.Glasgow District/City…

26 Oct 2000 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will support legislative and administrative changes designed to facilitate the use of buy back flexible tenure schemes by housing associations and other registered social landlords.

Answer · Jackie Baillie: I refer the member to the answer given to question S1W-10685.

26 Oct 2000 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has any plans to encourage the development of flexible tenure schemes on the model of the buy back scheme used by Weslo Housing Management.

Answer · Jackie Baillie: Mortgage rescue provides support to home owners in mortgage difficulties and can help families to remain in their homes and avoid the negative effects of repossession. We are aware of a number of mortgage rescue schemes operating in Scotland with support from…

24 Oct 2000 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to modernise technology in Scottish hospitals.

Answer · Susan Deacon: The Government is committed to the use of modern technologies across the NHS in Scotland. On 6 July additional funds totalling £30 million were announced for medical and IM&T equipment. The funds were allocated in August to health boards and Trusts who we…

24 Oct 2000 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has any plans to make use of leasing rather than purchasing to facilitate the modernisation of technology in Scottish hospitals.

Answer · Susan Deacon: NHS Trusts have the flexibility to lease or purchase equipment. It is a local decision for them and will depend on the type of equipment required, its expected life, priorities for the use of available capital and the achievement of best value for money.

16 Oct 2000 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has any plans to provide training for epilepsy specialist nurses.

Answer · Susan Deacon: Post-registration education for nurses, including training for epilepsy specialist nurses is a matter for NHS employers.

16 Oct 2000 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many consultant neurologists were in post in each hospital in Scotland in each of the last three years for which figures are available.

Answer · Susan Deacon: Information on the number of consultants in post is collected at Trust level and does not detail the number of staff in each hospital. The tables below show the number of consultant neurologists employed by the NHS in Scotland for the last three years. Table …

16 Oct 2000 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it intends to start keeping statistics on the number of careless driving charges in incidents where death has occurred.

Answer · Jim Wallace: Our statistics on motor vehicle offences reflect associated legal definitions. In the case of deaths, the offences for which statistics are provided are "causing death by dangerous driving" and "causing death by careless driving when under the influence of dr…

4 Oct 2000 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive when it expects to publish the consultation paper on a Scottish Human Rights Commission.

Answer · Jim Wallace: As I told the Justice and Home Affairs Committee on 6 September, we expect to publish a consultation paper at the end of this year or early next year.

4 Oct 2000 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it proposes to make provision for travel concessions for carers as part of the proposed national travel concession arrangements.

Answer · Sarah Boyack: The current provisions of the Transport (Scotland) Bill would enable Scottish Ministers to require local authorities to make concessionary travel schemes covering inter alia "eligible persons", who are further defined as persons of pensionable age or w…

4 Oct 2000 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has any plans to extend the categories of illness or other conditions which entitle applicants to free prescriptions.

Answer · Susan Deacon: We have no current plans to do so.

4 Oct 2000 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether people reaching pensionable age in future years will be eligible for the central heating provision recently announced by the Minister for Communities.

Answer · Frank McAveety: The programme will run from 1 April 2001 to March 2006 and will benefit all those who are or will be pensioners during those years and whose homes lack central heating. We have not yet considered arrangements beyond 2006.

4 Oct 2000 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what its definition is of "pensioner" for the purposes of entitlement to the central heating scheme recently announced by the Minister for Communities.

Answer · Frank McAveety: I am convening a group to determine how the central heating initiative will be implemented. It will include representatives of the power companies and relevant charities. This is one of the issues which will be considered.