Parliamentary questions

Robert Brown

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

23 Sep 1999 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-555 by Susan Deacon on 29 July 1999, whether a decision has yet been made on the future of orthoptic education in Scotland.

Answer · Susan Deacon: No decision has yet been made on this issue.

7 Sep 1999 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what action it is taking to address the issues raised in the Demos report, Overdue: How to create a Modern Public Library Service.

Answer · Frank McAveety: The Demos report, although claiming to describe the situation in libraries across the UK, deals solely with the library service in England. Libraries are a devolved responsibility of the Scottish Parliament. Scotland's public libraries provide a high level of…

31 Aug 1999 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it would support public appointments in Scotland being subject to a Public Appointments Committee of the Parliament and, if so, which appointments it would envisage being referred to such a committee.

Answer · Jack McConnell: I recently announced that the Executive will embark on a wide-ranging consultation exercise early in the New Year which will invite views on the current public appointments system and on possible options for change.The consultatio…

31 Aug 1999 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what progress is being made towards the appointment of a permanent Scottish Parliamentary Commissioner for Administration and how this appointment will be made.

Answer · Jack McConnell: Under section 91 of the Scotland Act 1998, an Act of the Scottish Parliament will be required to put in place the permanent arrangements for investigating complaints of maladministration. This will be preceded by a wide-ranging consultation process. My offici…

31 Aug 1999 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what the terms of appointment of the Scottish Parliamentary Commissioner for Administration are, who he is employed by, what the cost of his office is, whether this cost is met from the Scottish block and whether he is based in his Edinburgh or London office.

Answer · Jack McConnell: The Scottish Parliamentary Commissioner for Administration is appointed by Her Majesty under article 4 of the Scotland Act 1998 (Transitory and Transitional Provisions) (Complaints of Maladministration) Order 1999 (S.I. 1999/1351). He holds office under Her M…

31 Aug 1999 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it was consulted about the appointment of the Scottish Parliamentary Commissioner for Administration.

Answer · Jack McConnell: The Scottish Executive was informed of the appointment by the Secretary of State for Scotland. The appointment was made under transitional arrangements made by the then Scottish Office Ministers, so as to ensure that appropriate arrangements were in place to …

26 Aug 1999 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive when an announcement will be made on the introduction of a new definition of "tolerable standard" for housing as recommended in the consultation paper Beyond the Tolerable Standard.

Answer · Wendy Alexander: I expect to announce our intentions on changes to the Tolerable Standard before the end of the year.

26 Aug 1999 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what action it intends to take on the parts of the Immigration and Asylum Bill which amend domestic Scottish legislation in fields not reserved to Westminster.

Answer · Susan Deacon: The Scottish Executive is in regular discussion with the UK Government on the Bill, including those parts which amend domestic Scottish Legislation.

26 Aug 1999 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions it has had with Her Majesty's Government as to the effects on Scotland of the Immigration and Asylum Bill.

Answer · Susan Deacon: The Scottish Executive is in regular contact with the UK Government about the effects for Scotland of the Immigration and Asylum Bill.

25 Aug 1999 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what the cost of introducing the new system of student tuition fees was, what the additional annual cost of the administration and collection of tuition fees is and what amount of tuition fees due in academic year 1998-99 remain uncollected.

Answer · Henry McLeish: This information is not collected centrally. Institutions already had in place arrangements for administration and collection of tuition fees from students. The extent to which additional costs are incurred as a result of the introduction of private contribut…

25 Aug 1999 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive to specify, for each of the last 3 years, the cost of administration to (a) the Student Awards Agency for Scotland, (b) the Student Loans Company and (c) further and higher education institutions of the assessment, collection and payment of student maintenance support and tuition fees.

Answer · Henry McLeish: The information requested is given in the table. A. 	Cost of Administering the Student Awards Agency for Scotland Expenditure is shown by Financial years. <TABLE BORDER CELLSPACING=1 CE…

23 Aug 1999 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive to specify, for each of the last 6 years, (a) the total number of students attending further education colleges in Scotland, broken down into full-time and part-time students (b) the total amount of capital and revenue support provided to further education colleges in Scotland, including …

Answer · Henry McLeish: The information requested is as follows -<TABLE BORDER CELLSPACING=1 CELLPADDING=2 WIDTH=634><TR><TD WIDTH="95%" VALIGN="TOP" COLSPAN=8 HEIGHT=17>Student Enrolments on Further and Higher Education Cou…

23 Aug 1999 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how much funding the Scottish Further Education Funding Council has available to bring financial stability to further education colleges in the current financial year and what the procedure is for allocating these funds between colleges, including the precise basis for allocation.

Answer · Henry McLeish: When the Comprehensive Spending Review settlement for the FE sector was announced last year, one of the main objectives of the extra £214 million for the current and the next two financial years was to improve the sector's financial stability.<FONT FACE="Aria…

23 Aug 1999 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what action it proposes to take to ensure that further education colleges are advised of their annual financial allocations at an earlier stage than is currently the case.

Answer · Henry McLeish: The Scottish Further Education Funding Council is now responsible for allocating funding to individual further education colleges. It has announced its intention to advise colleges of their next annual financial allocations three clear months before the start…

23 Aug 1999 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what financial provision it intends to make to enable further education colleges operating from unsuitable buildings to provide purpose-built campuses.

Answer · Henry McLeish: Around £45 million has been identified for capital investment in college buildings between now and 2002. Over £9 million is being allocated to colleges in the current financial year. The balance will be allocated over the next two financial years by the Scott…

19 Aug 1999 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will undertake to give Sheriffs discretion to refuse or delay repossession decrees in the light of family circumstances in its first housing legislation.

Answer · Wendy Alexander: The Courts already have discretion to supersede (that is, postpone) extract of decrees to repossess property if either or both parties to an action request that this be done and in considering this option, and where asked to, we would expect the Courts to tak…

19 Aug 1999 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive to specify, for each of the last 3 years, broken down between (a) council tenants (b) housing associations and co-operative tenants, and (c) private tenants, (i) how many eviction actions were raised in Scotland; (ii) how many such actions proceeded to decree; (iii) how many evictions too…

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

19 Aug 1999 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive to specify for each of the last 3 years, broken down, if possible, between actions raised by first and second standard security holders (a) how many home repossession actions were raised in Scottish courts against private house owners; (b) how many such actions proceeded to decree; (c) ho…

Answer · Wendy Alexander: The court records do not differentiate between first and second security holders as regards the actions raised. Nor do they differentiate between actions against private home owners and other mortgagors. The available information is given in the table below. …

19 Aug 1999 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will publish the full text of the correspondence between the Minister for Communities and the Scottish Association of Law Centres relative to reform of the law on home repossession.

Answer · Wendy Alexander: I have already made available the text of my letter of 30 June replying to the letter from the Scottish Association of Law Centres (Scottish Executive News Release SE0310/99 of 16 August 1999). It is for the Scottish Association of Law Centres to de…

13 Aug 1999 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what planning regulations and ownership provisions require to be met before the erection of a mobile phone transmitter mast.

Answer · Sarah Boyack: As with any other form of development, mobile phone transmitter masts require planning permission from the planning authority, unless they qualify for permitted development rights under the Town and Country Planning (General Permitted Development) (Scotland) …

13 Aug 1999 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what level of financial support is given to each health board in Scotland for fertility care (a) in total, and (b) per head of population and on what basis is the level of support identified.

Answer · Susan Deacon: Each Health Board determines the resources to be made available for fertility care for patients resident in its area from within its general allocation. Resources are not made specifically available for fertility or other health care.Inform…

13 Aug 1999 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has any plans to institute a "one stop" approach for complaints by members of the public against the Executive and other Scottish public bodies.

Answer · Jack McConnell: As part of its preparation for the necessary legislation, the Scottish Executive will be examining the current arrangements for public sector Ombudsmen in Scotland. In doing so we would expect to examine and draw on experience in the UK and elsewhere. In the …

16 Jul 1999 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it intends to increase the resources available to local authorities in order to support the educational requirements of disabled children with special needs.

Answer · Peter Peacock: Grant-aided expenditure for special educational needs within the local government finance settlement for 1999-2000 is £169.36 million, an increase of 7.1% on the previous year. In addition, an additional £3 million has been alloca…

16 Jul 1999 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it or the Greater Glasgow Health Board has any involvement in proposals for the future of the Healthcare International hospital at Clydebank.

Answer · Susan Deacon: In 1997 Health Care International (HCI) expressed interest in Greater Glasgow Health Board's proposals to create a new Western Infirmary under the Private Finance Initiative (PFI). Those proposals were not pursued.Currently Grea…

16 Jul 1999 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive to provide a list of Ministers and departments, together with their current departmental addresses, telephone numbers and private office contact details.

Answer · Donald Dewar: A list will be provided shortly to the Scottish Parliament Information Centre (SPICe).

15 Jul 1999 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will confirm levels below which companies affected by planning blight can claim compensation, and whether it will consider re-examining these limits.

Answer · Sarah Boyack: In order to claim compensation for a non-domestic property which is affected by planning blight, the annual rateable value of the property must not exceed £21,500. This limit was set in 1995. There are no plans at present to alter the limit, but compulsory p…

15 Jul 1999 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will support Glasgow City Council in implementing traffic reduction measures and improvements in public transport in the Glasgow area as an alternative to building the M74 extension.

Answer · Sarah Boyack: Glasgow City Council has already been awarded £4.75m from the Public Transport Fund towards the cost of developing the Faifley to Baillieston bus corridor. Bids for the next round of allocations are due by 16 August and I am looking forward to receivin…

15 Jul 1999 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive to provide details of the progress to date and timescales for the building of the M74 extension between Parkhead and the Kingston Bridge, and of how it will be financed.

Answer · Sarah Boyack: The M74 Northern Extension is one of 17 major road schemes being considered in the Strategic Roads Review. I expect to report to Parliament on the review after the summer recess.

22 Jun 1999 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has any plans to enable greater Glasgow Health Board to modernise or replace its hospital buildings.

Answer · Susan Deacon: Greater Glasgow Health Board's recently finalised Health Improvement Programme (HIP) for the 5-year period from April 1999-2004 sets out the challenges facing the provision of services and details specific service proposals that are being considered to meet i…

22 Jun 1999 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what financial and administrative criteria it intends to use in assessing the viability of proposals submitted by local authorities under the New Housing Partnership initiative.

Answer · Wendy Alexander: The criteria used to assess proposals submitted by local authorities under the New Housing Partnerships initiative were set out in the Scottish Office Development Department letter of 24 August 1998. A reference copy has been placed in the Scottish Parliamen…