Scott Barrie

26 Jun 2000 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive when it expects to receive the report of the Renewing Local Democracy Working Group.

Answer · Frank McAveety: The Scottish Executive are extremely grateful for the work of the group led by Richard Kerley and their report has been published and presented to the Executive today. Copies are available from the Scottish Parliament Information Centre (SPICe). The findings …

24 May 2000 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to prioritise youth work in Scotland.

Answer · Sam Galbraith: Youth work in the statutory and voluntary sectors already makes a major contribution to the personal and social development of many young people across Scotland. We believe it has the potential to do more. I expect to make a statement about this once we have …

10 May 2000 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has any plans to re-examine the guidance it offers local authorities regarding the issue of deferred entry to primary school.

Answer · Peter Peacock: There is no central guidance on deferred entry although we have established a short-term working group to consider the matter further.

8 May 2000 · First Minister's Question

To ask the First Minister what progress is being made in eliminating child poverty in Fife and in Scotland as a whole.

Answer · Jim Wallace: In Fife, and across Scotland, our policies are making a real difference to children in poverty. This year we are investing £880,000 in young children in deprived areas in Fife through the Sure Start Scotland Programme, and £14 million in Scotland as a whole. …

3 May 2000 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has any plans to increase awareness of mental health difficulties amongst children in care.

Answer · Sam Galbraith: Each child and young person looked after by a local authority must have a care plan that addresses all individual needs, including mental health needs. The Looking After Children materials which we launched in Scotland last year require a detailed assessment …

19 Apr 2000 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive when pension sharing on divorce will be introduced in Scotland.

Answer · Jim Wallace: Pension sharing will become available in actions for divorce or nullity which start on or after 1 December 2000.<P ALIGN="JUSTIFY">We are today laying before Parliament the Scottish Executive commencement order and regulations in respect of the devolved aspec…

13 Apr 2000 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what arrangements it intends to put in place to implement proposals equivalent to those set out in the Her Majesty's Government White Paper Building Trust in Statistics.

Answer · Jack McConnell: The Scottish Executive is firmly committed to the principles set out in the White Paper. The provision of high quality statistics free from political interference is vital if there is to be informed decision-making and debate in the Executive, the Parliament …

28 Mar 2000 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what progress has been made by the Scottish Integrated Workforce Planning Group and how its work will improve the quality and standard of care provided to patients.

Answer · Susan Deacon: The Scottish Integrated Workforce Planning Group (SIWPG) has made its interim report to the Director of Human Resources for the NHS in Scotland, on the principles and key issues for workforce planning in the NHS environment. It has clearly identified for the …

28 Mar 2000 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether there are any plans to fund local victim support schemes from a central budget.

Answer · Jim Wallace: The Scottish Executive is the major source of funding for Victim Support Scotland local schemes. For 2000-01, the Executive has made available grant of £1.213 million for local victim support services from central funds under the provisions of section 10(1) o…

28 Mar 2000 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether health boards have the power to appoint a chairperson of a local Health Council, or whether this decision rests solely with the members of the health council concerned.

Answer · Susan Deacon: Health boards do not have the power to appoint a Chairperson of a local Health Council. The Chairman and Vice Chairman of a Health Council are selected by the council members from within their own number and this procedure is enshrined within the establishmen…

22 Mar 2000 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has any plans to assist the proposed 3-D seismic survey at the Longannet complex.

Answer · Henry McLeish: Mining Scotland is currently in discussion with the Department of Trade and Industry and the Scottish Executive about financing its overall operational requirements for the year ahead.

22 Mar 2000 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what representations it has recently had regarding the future of the Longannet deep-pit.

Answer · Henry McLeish: The Scottish Executive, and before it, The Scottish Office, has always taken a close interest in the future of the Longannet deep mine and has maintained close contact with Mining Scotland. The company has kept Scottish Ministers informed on a day-to-day basi…

22 Mar 2000 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-4697 by Sarah Boyack on 21 March 2000, what discussions it has had with the East of Scotland Water Authority regarding the improvement of Fife's drainage and sewerage system and whether it has instructed the authority to prioritise certain projects.

Answer · Sarah Boyack: My officials have regular discussions with all of the Scottish Water Authorities about the whole range of responsibilities relating to their water and sewerage duties and powers under the relevant legislation, including those responsibilities imposed by Europ…

21 Mar 2000 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to legislate for the introduction of individual learning accounts in Scotland.

Answer · Henry McLeish: In the <I>Partnership for Scotland</I> agreement we made a commitment to promote lifelong learning through the introduction of individual learning accounts (ILAs), and we are committed to the development of a UK framework. The concept of ILAs was developed as…

15 Mar 2000 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what impact the New Deal has made on long-term youth unemployment in Scotland.

Answer · Henry McLeish: Employment policy is reserved to the UK Government, which therefore takes the lead on the funding and delivery of the New Deal throughout Great Britain, although in close consultation with its partners, including the Scottish Executive. Many partner organisat…

8 Mar 2000 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what measures are being taken to alleviate long term unemployment.

Answer · Henry McLeish: Employment policy is reserved to the UK Government which takes the lead on funding and delivery of the New Deal.<P>The New Deal for Young People and the New Deal for the Long Term Unemployed Aged 25 plus are aimed at alleviating long term unemployment. Alread…

1 Mar 2000 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what its plans are for improving support for Scottish manufacturing.

Answer · Henry McLeish: Manufacturing industry plays a vital role in the Scottish economy, both as a direct employer and indirectly as a customer for services. The Scottish Executive recognises that the manufacturing sector in Scotland, as in the rest of the UK, faces intense global…

24 Feb 2000 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether any discussions have taken place with East of Scotland Water Authority regarding the rescheduling of the Culross main drainage scheme and, if so, whether this project is likely to go ahead before the statutory deadline set by the European Union of the end of 2005.

Answer · Sarah Boyack: I understand that East of Scotland Water Authority intends to complete this project in advance of the statutory deadline of the end of 2005.

23 Feb 2000 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what progress is being made in supporting best practice and best value in local authority service delivery.

Answer · Frank McAveety: The Best Value Task Force published its final report on 10 December. We are considering the recommendations and intend to report soon. In the interim the Scottish Executive have continued to work in partnership with CoSLA, the Accounts Commission, the various…

16 Feb 2000 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what progress has been made in tackling youth unemployment.

Answer · Henry McLeish: The number of 18-24 year olds in Scotland claiming unemployment related benefits has fallen by 19% over the last two years to 31,200.

9 Feb 2000 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what measures are being taken to allow fans a greater voice in the football clubs which they support.

Answer · Sam Galbraith: The Scottish Executive is in the process of considering views from the football authorities and other interests, including the Scottish Federation of Football Supporters, on the ideas discussed in the Co-operative Party's <I>pamphlet Mutualism-A Golden Goal?<…

2 Feb 2000 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what steps are being taken to encourage the take-up of career opportunities in childcare.

Answer · Peter Peacock: The Scottish Executive published on 24 January an information booklet called <I>Working with Children</I> which sets out the career opportunities available in early education, childcare and playwork.

28 Jan 2000 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what measures are in place to ensure that routine health checks are carried out in state schools.

Answer · Susan Deacon: The 1996 Policy Review of Health Services in Schools placed the responsibility for the provision of Health Services in Schools at local level with Primary Care Trusts. The review recommended a shift away from routine physical examinations towards a more selec…

28 Jan 2000 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what steps it will take to ensure that there is no further cancellation of elective surgery at the Queen Margaret Hospital, Dunfermline.

Answer · Susan Deacon: Health boards and NHS Trusts prepared contingency plans, including opening more beds, to increase capacity to cope with extreme seasonal pressures and ensure those who needed emergency care received it. NHS Trusts have been managing the situation by re-schedu…

26 Jan 2000 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what additional measures are being proposed to prevent the causes of pollution identified by the Scottish Environment Protection Agency in the report Improving Scotland's Water Environment which the Minister for Transport and the Environment launched last year.

Answer · Sarah Boyack: The existing water pollution control legislation has been very effective at addressing problems of industrial and sewage pollution, but SEPA has identified the need for additional statutory powers which would secure further water quality improvements.<FONT FA…

20 Jan 2000 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive when it intends to publish guidance on common working arrangements between Departments of Her Majesty's Government and UK agencies and their counterparts or contacts in the Scottish Executive.

Answer · Tom McCabe: Guidance on Common Working Arrangements between the Scottish Executive and Her Majesty's Government and UK Agencies is being published today.<P>The texts have been made available to the Parliament and are available in the Document Supply Centre and on the Exe…

20 Jan 2000 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive when it intends to launch the consultation on the National Parks Bill.

Answer · Sarah Boyack: The consultation paper is being launched today. The consultation period will last until 3 March 2000.

13 Jan 2000 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many people died as a result of (a) road traffic accidents; (b) using Class A drugs and (c) using volatile substances in (i) Fife and (ii) Scotland for each of the last five years.

Answer · Susan Deacon: The information requested is given in the table below.<TABLE BORDER CELLSPACING=1 CELLPADDING=2 WIDTH=597><TR><TD WIDTH="22%" VALIGN="TOP" ROWSPAN=2 HEIGHT=17><P>Underlying cause of death</TD><TD WIDTH="8%" VALIGN="TOP" ROWSPAN=2 HEIGHT=17><P ALIGN="CENTER">Y…

13 Jan 2000 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many people under 18 years old died as a result of (a) road traffic accidents; (b) using Class A drugs and (c) using volatile substances in (i) Fife and (ii) Scotland for each of the last five years.

Answer · Susan Deacon: I refer the Member to the answer I gave him to question S1W-3695.

13 Jan 2000 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many people under 16 years old died as a result of (a) road traffic accidents; (b) using Class A drugs and (c) using volatile substances in (i) Fife and (ii) Scotland for each of the last five years.

Answer · Susan Deacon: I refer the Member to the answer I gave him to question S1W-3695.