Parliamentary questions
Robert Brown
1,531 questions tabled in the Scottish Parliament, most recent first.
9 Jun 2000 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will make representations to Her Majesty's Government to exempt, in the calculation of income support, sums paid under the Access Fund.
Answer · Henry McLeish: The Scottish Executive is in regular contact with her Majesty's Government on a range of issues including the interface between the student support and benefits systems.
9 Jun 2000 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it plans to exempt part of a dependant's income for the purpose of calculating entitlement to supplementary student grants.
Answer · Henry McLeish: Currently, part of a dependant's income is disregarded for the purpose of calculating entitlement to supplementary grants. For academic session 2000-01, £930 for each dependant will be disregarded in the calculation of dependants' grant. The fundamental revie…
9 Jun 2000 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it plans to extend the provision of supplementary student grants for the dependants of students to include partners as well as spouses.
Answer · Henry McLeish: A fundamental review of the means test used to assess support for higher education students is underway. It will encompass issues such as whether partners should be treated on the same footing as spouses in terms of their eligibility for the Dependants' Grant…
9 Jun 2000 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has been involved in any discussions with Strathclyde Passenger Transport Authority to support the reintroduction of trams in Glasgow.
Answer · Sarah Boyack: No approach has been made to the Scottish Executive by SPTE on this matter.
9 Jun 2000 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what new public transport projects will have to be approved through procedures in the Private Legislation Procedure (Scotland) Act 1936.
Answer · Sarah Boyack: Following an amendment made to the Private Legislation Procedure (Scotland) Act 1936 by paragraph 5 of Schedule 8 to the Scotland Act 1998, it is no longer possible to apply under the 1936 Act where the powers sought are wholly within the legislative competen…
2 Jun 2000 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has any plans to increase funding to the Scottish Tenants Organisation.
Answer · Jackie Baillie: We have no plans at present.
2 Jun 2000 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether any guidance is issued to local authorities as to the procedure for choosing independent tenant advisers to advise tenants on the housing stock transfer proposals.
Answer · Wendy Alexander: Procedural guidelines for local authorities undertaking stock transfers and a code of practice on tenant participation and stock transfers will be published shortly. These publications will recommend that councils involve tenants in the selection of the tenan…
2 Jun 2000 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what the criteria are on which Scottish Homes approves appointments to the Tenant Adviser Panel.
Answer · Wendy Alexander: In order to be included on Scottish Home's panel of independent advisors, prospective advisors have to undergo an application and selection process designed to establish that they have the appropriate knowledge, skills and expertise required of them to fulfil…
2 Jun 2000 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what the composition is of the panel of independent advisers approved by Scottish Homes for the purpose of providing independent tenant advice in the housing stock transfer process.
Answer · Wendy Alexander: The table below lists the approved members of Scottish Homes' panel of independent advisors from which its tenants are able to select their preferred adviser. Tenants and/or their representative groups are not required to select solely from this panel, and ca…
2 Jun 2000 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what the composition is of the Scottish Executive group which will appraise the bids under the new Housing Partnership proposals.
Answer · Wendy Alexander: The New Housing Partnerships Steering Group comprises representatives of the Convention of Scottish Local Authorities, the Scottish Federation of Housing Associations, the Chartered Institute of Housing in Scotland, Scottish Homes and the Scottish Executive, …
25 May 2000 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will take action to tackle any problems with the waiting list at Glasgow Dental Hospital pending the completion of the major strategic review of dental services.
Answer · Susan Deacon: Health boards and their partner Trusts are required to manage the services they provide in a way which best meets the needs of those who use the services.<P ALIGN="JUSTIFY">It is for North Glasgow University NHS Trust, which has management responsibility for …
25 May 2000 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive when the major strategic review of the operation of Glasgow Dental Hospital will be complete.
Answer · Susan Deacon: I am advised by North Glasgow University Hospitals NHS Trust that its major strategic review of the operation of Glasgow Dental Hospital will be completed by the end of the summer, when the proposals flowing from the review will be the subject of a public con…
16 May 2000 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether there are savings to be made from co-ordination of NHS procurement.
Answer · Susan Deacon: At the recent NHS Conference in Peebles the establishment of a National Network Group to consider smarter ways of managing capital projects and delivering value for money in procurement was announced. This group will seek out best practice across the NHS in S…
16 May 2000 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it is taking any steps to co-ordinate the procurement of NHS equipment on a Scotland-wide basis.
Answer · Susan Deacon: The procurement of NHS equipment is undertaken by NHS Trust supplies departments. There are a large number of national contracts set up by Scottish Healthcare Supplies for Trusts to use. NHS Trusts are encouraged to use the services of Scottish Healthcare Sup…
11 May 2000 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what steps it is taking to make cycling safer for children.
Answer · Sarah Boyack: The Scottish Executive provides funding to the Scottish Road Safety Campaign to enable it to develop road safety education initiatives. Following a review of the Scottish Cycle Training Scheme by the campaign, the written training materials were revised and a…
11 May 2000 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has any plans to support a national subsidised public transport fare scheme for young people aged 16 and 17.
Answer · Sarah Boyack: The Scottish Executive has no plans to support such a scheme. Local authorities have powers under section 93 of the Transport Act 1985 to provide concessionary fares for certain categories of person, including young people aged over 16 and under 18 who are un…
11 May 2000 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has any plans to increase the uptake of modern studies in Scottish secondary schools.
Answer · Sam Galbraith: The 5-14 Environmental Studies curriculum guidelines cover modern studies through the outcome "People and Society".<P ALIGN="JUSTIFY">Thereafter, the range of options available to pupils to continue studies in almost all subjects is the responsibili…
11 May 2000 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has any plans to require local authorities to offer courses in modern studies to Higher levels in all secondary schools.
Answer · Sam Galbraith: The eight modes identified by the Scottish Consultative Council on the curriculum's guideline for secondary schools as core curriculum requirements in S3-S4, remain important in structuring the total curricular provision in S5-S6 years. However, all of these …
11 May 2000 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether any assessment is being carried out as to the effect on traffic accidents of the introduction of the Greenways Routes system in Edinburgh.
Answer · Sarah Boyack: The monitoring of accidents on these routes is the responsibility of the local authority. However, accident information has been collected as part of the report <I>A comparative evaluation of Greenways and Conventional Bus Lanes</I>, which was published on 19…
11 May 2000 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has issued any guidance to Scottish police forces as to the format in which accident statistics should be kept.
Answer · Jim Wallace: Police forces do not normally collect statistical information on accidents. The exception is road accidents that involve personal injury. <I>Road Accidents Scotland 1998</I>, published by the Scottish Executive and available in the Scottish Parliament Informa…
11 May 2000 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to reduce the incidence of osteoporosis in Scotland.
Answer · Susan Deacon: The only measures known to prevent the development of osteoporosis are weight-bearing exercise, the reduction of alcohol consumption to moderate levels, the reduction of tobacco consumption and a balanced diet with a higher consumption of calcium and vitamin …
11 May 2000 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it intends to produce a national osteoporosis strategy for Scotland.
Answer · Susan Deacon: There are no current plans to develop a national strategy for osteoporosis. It is for local health boards to determine the services which are required to meet the needs of their local population within available resources. Guidance to help health boards devis…
4 May 2000 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what account has been taken of access for disabled people in the guidance given to local authorities in respect of bus lanes and other traffic arrangements.
Answer · Sarah Boyack: The Scottish Executive has issued no such guidance. However, we have issued guidance to local authorities on local transport strategies which makes very clear that such strategies should address the particular travel requirements of those with special needs.
4 May 2000 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will liaise with the new Health Technology Board for Scotland regarding the adequacy of disabled aids and adaptations provided by local authorities and health boards.
Answer · Susan Deacon: The Health Technology Board for Scotland is independent of the NHS Management Executive and decisions on its programme of work rests with the Chairman, Dr Angus Mackay, and his board members.<P ALIGN="JUSTIFY">The Rehabilitation Technology Services Advisory G…
4 May 2000 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has any plans to require local authorities to provide minimum standards and a common access route to funding in respect of the provision of disabled aids and adaptations, and whether it has any plans to standardise charging policies of local authorities with regard to the provi…
Answer · Iain Gray: The Joint Future Group<B>, </B>which I<B> </B>chair, is examining how equipment services can be better managed. We will be considering a wide range of aspects relevant to the question.
4 May 2000 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what progress has been made towards the appointment of a permanent Scottish Parliament Commissioner for Administration and what the timescale is for the associated consultation.
Answer · Jack McConnell: An initial consultation paper is being prepared to seek views on issues to be addressed in framing the Act of the Scottish Parliament which will put in place permanent arrangements for investigating complaints of maladministration. Work on this paper is neari…
4 May 2000 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will consider imposing on local authorities a statutory duty to promote home safety and ensure that necessary funding is provided for this function.
Answer · Susan Deacon: We have no present plans to do so.
4 May 2000 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many local authorities have appointed Home Safety Officers.
Answer · Iain Gray: I understand that 10 local authorities have appointed officers with specific responsibility for home safety on a full-time or part-time basis.
4 May 2000 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has had any discussions with the Ministry of Defence (MoD) or Her Majesty's Government's Ministers about the stock disposal of MoD Housing being carried out by the MoD Housing Executive in Scotland.
Answer · Wendy Alexander: The Executive has had direct discussions with Comhairle Nan Eilean Siar and the Defence Housing Executive concerning the disposal of MoD properties in Benbecula. In addition, Scottish Homes has been involved in discussions about surplus MoD housing in Helensb…
5 Apr 2000 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive to detail the percentage of students dropping out of HNC/HND college courses by year of course and by college.
Answer · Henry McLeish: This information is not held centrally.