Scott Barrie

7 Dec 2004 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what its Closing the Opportunity Gap targets are.

Answer · Malcolm Chisholm: We have chosen 10 Closing the Opportunity Gap targets to drive action to tackle poverty and deprivation in Scotland and to build on the progress made towards our Social Justice Milestones.</p><p>The targets that we have chosen are:</p><p>Target A: Reduce the …

7 Dec 2004 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what its performance in answering ministerial correspondence was in the second and third quarters of 2004.

Answer · Margaret Curran: In the answer given to question S1W-24583, I undertook to continue to report quarterly on the number of letters received by ministers and our performance in answering them.</p><p>In the quarter April to June 2004, 3,031 letters were received for ministerial r…

30 Nov 2004 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what the outcomes were of the 5th Conference of Minister-Presidents of regions with legislative powers on 29 and 30 November 2004

Answer · Jack McConnell: I am delighted that 39 regional governments were represented at the 5th Conference of Minister-Presidents of regions with legislative powers (REGLEG), which I chaired in Edinburgh on 29 and 30 November 2004. </p><p>The Edinburgh Declaration, which the Confere…

25 Nov 2004 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many (a) primary and (b) secondary teaching posts are vacant in state schools, broken down by local authority area.

Answer · Peter Peacock: The latest information available from the teacher vacancies survey returned by local authorities at February 2004 is given in a set of tables <i>Full-time Equivalent Teacher Vacancies in Schools</i> which has been placed in the Parliament’s Reference Centre (…

25 Nov 2004 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what the level of use of bank or agency nursing staff was in each of the last three years, broken down by NHS board area.

Answer · Andy Kerr: Information on nursing and midwifery posts in NHS Scotland is published on the Scottish Health Statistics website under Workforce Statistics, at <b><a href="http://www.isdscotland.org/workforce">www.isdscotland.org/workforce</a></b>. </p><p>Section E gives de…

25 Nov 2004 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many nursing posts are vacant within the NHS, broken down by NHS board area.

Answer · Andy Kerr: Information on vacant nursing posts in NHS Scotland is published on the Scottish Health Statistics website under Workforce Statistics, at <b><a href="http://www.isdscotland.org/workforce">www.isdscotland.org/workforce</a></b>.</p><p>Section E gives details of…

25 Nov 2004 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many consultant posts are filled by locums within the NHS, broken down by NHS board area.

Answer · Andy Kerr: The table shows the number of consultant vacancies and those filled by locums at the census point of 30 September 2003, broken down by NHS board. Locums covering short and long-term consultant absence e.g. covering sick leave, are not included. </p><p>NHSScot…

25 Nov 2004 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what the most recent figures are on how many consultant posts are vacant within the NHS, broken down by NHS board area.

Answer · Andy Kerr: The table shows the headcount and whole time equivalent (WTE) number of consultant vacancies at 30 September 2003, broken down by NHS Board. WTE adjusts to take account of part-time working. Latest available figures are at 30 September 2003.</p><p>NHSScotland…

23 Nov 2004 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what Sewel motions it will lodge in the Parliament in connection with the legislative programme of the UK Government that is announced today in the Queen’s Speech.

Answer · Margaret Curran: Under the Sewel Convention, the UK Government does not normally legislate with regard to devolved matters in Scotland without the consent of the Scottish Parliament. This is an important part of the devolution settlement, signifying respect for the role of th…

19 Nov 2004 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, in light of the assurance given by the Deputy Minister for Education and Young People during Stage 3 consideration of the Education (Additional Support for Learning) (Scotland) Bill on 1 April 2004 (Official Report c 7342), what action has been taken regarding the consultation to ensure …

Answer · Euan Robson: The issue of the age of capacity in relation to children’s rights is wide-ranging and cuts across a number of portfolio interests. Scrutinising all legislation which impacts on children’s rights is a major undertaking about which internal discussions have com…

3 Nov 2004 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what steps it is taking to encourage young people to apply for membership of community councils.

Answer · Tavish Scott: The Executive,through its renewing local democracy agenda, is seeking to encourage greater participationby young people at all levels of the democratic process. We will also be lookingat this issue in our forthcoming review of community councils.</p>

28 Oct 2004 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what assistance is available to key workers within the public sector to obtain property in the socially rented sector or to buy so that they can take up employment opportunities.

Answer · Malcolm Chisholm: The Executive considered as part of its Affordable Housing review whether there was a case for any specific housing support for defined key workers. It was considered better to think in terms of house prices, the levels of incomesnecessary to purchase a house…

27 Oct 2004 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether the review of land managed by Forestry Commission Scotland has been completed and, if so, whether the Executive has considered the report of the review.

Answer · Lewis Macdonald: In August 2003, we announced a review of the long-term role of Scotland's national forest estate. This land, owned by Scottish ministers and managed by Forestry Commission Scotland, represents 8.5% of Scotland's land area. Staff from the Forestry Commission, …

27 Oct 2004 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how it will ensure that delays in processing applications by Disclosure Scotland do not recur.

Answer · Cathy Jamieson: Disclosure Scotland is now processing applications within its service level targets, and to ensure that this improved performance is sustained a performance management system has been put in place. Disclosure Scotland managers are in regular contact with cust…

20 Oct 2004 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what action it is taking to support community-led projects under the Land Reform (Scotland) Act 2003 in rural areas.

Answer · Lewis Macdonald: New rights to buy for communities under the Land Reform (Scotland) Act 2003 came into force on 14 June 2004. Since then we have published detailed guidance on the right to buy process, considered applications received and provided advice on individual cases.<…

24 Sep 2004 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how it will respond to the statement in The Herald on 23 September 2004 that there may be a loophole in the Land Reform (Scotland) Act 2003 that allows landowners to stop crofters gaining royalties from mineral developments and prevent crofting communities from taking estate land under c…

Answer · Lewis Macdonald: I will consider whether further legislative action is required, in the context of the forthcoming Crofting Reform Bill, if it becomes clear that some landowners are frustrating the purpose of part 3 of the Land Reform (Scotland) Act 2003.</p>

22 Sep 2004 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what assessment it has made of the projected demand for passenger rail services between Fife and Edinburgh up to 2009.

Answer · Nicol Stephen: Projected future demand was assessed prior to the decision to introduce new longer trains on services to Fife, but not for the period to 2009.</p>

15 Sep 2004 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what progress has been made in implementing the Large Combustion Plants Directive.

Answer · Ross Finnie: The Large Combustion Plants Directive is being implemented in two phases in line with the directive’s time provisions. For post-1987 plant, tighter emission limit values for sulphur dioxide, nitrogen dioxide and dust were introduced in 2002 through regulation…

8 Sep 2004 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what its position is on reviewing bridge tolls.

Answer · Nicol Stephen: We have stated in our partnership agreement that we are committed to reviewing existing tolls on the Erskine, Forth, Skye and Tay road bridges. The review is being carried out in two phases. The first phase will deal with existing tolls including the way they…

16 Jun 2004 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Executive when it last met representatives of Communities Scotland.

Answer · Margaret Curran: I meet with my officials in Communities Scotland on a regular basis to discuss progress with the implementation of our plans for regenerating our communities.</p>

9 Jun 2004 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what the remit and scope is of the forthcoming review of social work and who will be represented on the group undertaking the review.

Answer · Peter Peacock: The remit of the fundamental look at social work which I intend to call “21st Century Social Work”, is to define the role for social work and social workers for the 21st century; to explore how to improve quality assurance mechanisms and embed a culture of co…

10 May 2004 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive when it will publish its volunteering strategy and the report of the working group established to develop proposals for a full-time volunteer programme for young people.

Answer · Margaret Curran: The Scottish Executive VolunteeringStrategy, which aims to embed a robust culture of volunteering in Scotland, isbeing published today. The centrepiece of the strategy is Project Scotland, theprogramme proposed by the working group to encourage full-time volu…

28 Apr 2004 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many young people are educated at home and what the implications are for child protection.

Answer · Peter Peacock: In 2002-03,education authorities reported 480 children being home educated through parental choice.</p><p>We are notaware of evidence that this has any implications for child protection. Childprotection is everyone’s responsibility whether children are educat…

23 Apr 2004 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S2O-2032 by Euan Robson on 22 April 2004, what progress the child and adolescent mental health development group has made on planning to meet the demand for psychiatric and psychological services needed by looked-after children.

Answer · Euan Robson: It is NHS boards’responsibility to plan and provide services to meet the needs of their residentpopulations. However, as I advised in my answer to question S2O-2030 on 22April, the Scottish Executive has established a national Child and Adolescent MentalHealt…

20 Apr 2004 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what progress has been made with the Royal Dunfermline Urban Regeneration Company's bid for Pathfinder status.

Answer · Margaret Curran: Ministers welcome the Royal DunfermlinePartnership’s proposals for an Urban Regeneration Company (URC). Officials fromthe Executive will be working closely with the partnership over the coming monthsto develop these proposals. Further announcements on URCs wi…

24 Mar 2004 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how it plans to reduce the number of offences committed by individuals already granted bail.

Answer · Hugh Henry: TheSentencing Commission chaired by Lord McLean is reviewing the use of bail andremand. I have asked them as part of this review to give me their views on moreeffective sanctions against offending on bail. In the meanwhile we have lodgedan amendment to the Cr…

17 Mar 2004 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what action it is taking to reduce industrial and domestic waste arisings.

Answer · Allan Wilson: We supportbodies such as Envirowise which provide advice to business on waste minimisation.On domestic waste, we are funding a programme by the Waste and Resources ActionProgramme which includes work on real nappies; home composting and work withretailers. We…

5 Feb 2004 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many Distinction Awards were made by NHS Scotland in each year since 1999, showing whether the recipients were employed in (a) the Common Services Agency, (b) primary care, (c) teaching hospitals or (d) non-teaching hospitals.

Answer · Malcolm Chisholm: The table details how many Distinction Awards were made from 1999–2003 inclusive. The breakdown includes the number of awards made to those employed by the Common Services Agency and those employed in primary care trusts. A breakdown of the number of awards m…

23 Jan 2004 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will review the implications of the Court of Appeal ruling in R v Cannings for any child placement decisions where unexplained infant death in the family was a material consideration.

Answer · Euan Robson: We have asked the ScottishChildren Reporters Administration to identify any such cases. Should any casescome to light we will announce any furtheraction after this investigation is complete.</p>

21 Jan 2004 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what the current process is for determining which individuals should receive merit awards within the NHS.

Answer · Malcolm Chisholm: Distinctionawards (or merit awards) are determined by the Scottish Advisory Committee onDistinction Awards (SACDA). A guide to the scheme can be found on ScottishHealth on the Web (<a href="http://www.scot.nhs.uk/sehd/pcs.asp">http://www.scot.nhs.uk/sehd/pcs.…