Questions · Scott Barrie

7 Jan 2000 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive when it intends to announce its proposals for the next Census in Scotland.

Answer · Jim Wallace: Our proposals for the Census in Scotland on 29 April 2001 are contained in the draft Census (Scotland) Order 2000 which I have laid before Parliament today.In deciding which topics to cover we have consulted widely, and taken full account o…

22 Dec 1999 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what steps it has taken in relation to the Programme for Government commitment that it will publish by the end of 1999 its strategy for modernising government in Scotland.

Answer · Jack McConnell: On 20 December I addressed a conference on modernising government. I set out the Scottish Executive's strategic vision for modernising government. The Executive is determined that Scotland has a 21st-century government to meet the challenges and the changing …

22 Dec 1999 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how the introduction of the pilot PET Travel Scheme will affect Scottish owners wishing to travel with their pets.

Answer · Ross Finnie: As from 28 February, pet owners in Scotland will be able to travel with their cats or dogs to and from the designated countries in exactly the same way as owners from elsewhere in the UK. Entry during this pilot phase will be through a number of ports selecte…

21 Dec 1999 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive when the Report on the Review of the Public Health Function in Scotland will be published.

Answer · Susan Deacon: I am pleased to announce that I launched the Report on 21 December. The Review reassessed the role, relationships and locus of public health medicine, to ensure the optimal use of all available resources in the drive to safeguard and improve Scotland's health…

21 Dec 1999 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will report on progress in relation to the UK proposals for Objective 2 European Structural Funds coverage in Scotland from 2000-06.

Answer · Jack McConnell: I am pleased that the Commission gave its approval on 22 December to the UK proposals for Objective 2 coverage from 2000-06. We now estimate that the Scottish Objective 2 programmes will be worth some €710 million (currently £452 million) over the next seven …

9 Dec 1999 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what estimates have been made of the number of vehicles which have crossed the Kincardine Bridge and the Forth Road Bridge in each of the last two years and how many vehicles each bridge was originally designed to carry each year.

Answer · Sarah Boyack: The traffic information requested is given in the table below:Total Annual Traffic<TABLE BORDER CELLSPACING=1 CELLPADDING=7 WIDTH=616><TR><TD WIDTH="33%" VALIGN="TOP"> </TD><TD WIDTH="33%" VALIGN="TOP"><P A…

8 Dec 1999 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive when it intends to publish further bilateral Concordats between departments of Her Majesty's Government and UK agencies and their counterparts or contacts in the Scottish Executive.

Answer · Tom McCabe: The following bilateral Concordats are being published today:<UL><LI>Ministry of Defence</LI><LI>Lord Chancellor's Department</LI><LI>Home Office</LI><LI>HM Treasury</LI><P ALIGN="JUS…

2 Dec 1999 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has any plans to conduct an audit of local authorities to ensure that they are carrying out their statutory requirements under sections 29 and 30 of the Children (Scotland) Act 1995.

Answer · Peter Peacock: The Scottish Executive has commissioned research into the extent and effectiveness of local authority throughcare and aftercare arrangements, as governed by Sections 29 and 30 of the 1995 Act. The study is being conducted by the University of York and all loc…

2 Dec 1999 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it proposes to introduce legislation to prohibit fur farming in Scotland.

Answer · Ross Finnie: A Bill to prohibit fur farming in England and Wales was published on 23 November. There are currently no fur farms in Scotland. Nevertheless, I propose to bring forward a Bill in the Scottish Parliament to prevent any existing fur farming businesses in Englan…

1 Dec 1999 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has any plans to conduct an audit of local authorities to ensure that they are carrying out their statutory requirements under sections 29 and 30 of the Children (Scotland) Act 1995.

Answer · Peter Peacock: The Scottish Executive has commissioned research into the extent and effectiveness of local authority throughcare and aftercare arrangements, as governed by Sections 29 and 30 of the 1995 Act. The study is being conducted by the University of York and all loc…

15 Nov 1999 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what progress has been made so far to implement its Land Reform Action Plan, published in August 1999.

Answer · Jim Wallace: Our Land Reform Action Plan sets out an integrated programme of action and legislation on land reform over the next 4 or 5 years. It has 43 separate items, and demonstrates the scale of our commitment to change.I promised that we would p…

15 Nov 1999 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what progress is being made with implementing the Food Standards Act 1999 and setting up the Food Standards Agency in Scotland.

Answer · Susan Deacon: The Food Standards Bill received Royal Assent on 11 November. The establishment of the Agency underlines the Executive's commitment to food safety, from farm to fork. We will make sure that the Agency gets the best possible start so that it can quickly achiev…

4 Nov 1999 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will comment on Dunfermline's victory in the UK final of 'It's a Knockout'.

Answer · Rhona Brankin: I would like to congratulate the team representing Dunfermline on their win.

3 Nov 1999 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will comment on Dunfermline's victory in the UK final of 'It's a Knockout'.

Answer · Rhona Brankin: I would like to congratulate the team representing Dunfermline on their win.

2 Nov 1999 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it can provide details of where the model of ambulatory and non-ambulatory hospitals has been successful.

Answer · Susan Deacon: The ambulatory care model has been successfully developed in various countries: the United States, Scandinavia and England. Such centres offer a day care service combining in one process consultation, diagnosis and intervention, usually by day surgery. They o…

2 Nov 1999 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how much it will cost Fife Health Board to establish one ambulatory care hospital and one non-ambulatory hospital in Fife.

Answer · Susan Deacon: Fife Health Board indicates that work on the options for the future provision of acute services in Fife is ongoing. This work will identify the costing of the possible options.

2 Nov 1999 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it can confirm that land originally set aside for Phase 3 of the Queen Margaret Hospital has now been sold off by Fife Health Board and, if so, for what amount and to whom.

Answer · Susan Deacon: In terms of land originally set aside for Phase three of Queen Margaret Hospital, there has been no sale of land on this site. The Trust notes however that there is land available on this site for future development.

2 Nov 1999 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, in the light of the recent announcement by Fife Health Board on the proposals to transfer maternity services to Victoria Hospital, Kirkcaldy and transfer the "care" provision of Lynebank Hospital to the Queen Margaret Hospital, Dunfermline, whether it believes the Fife Health Board's cur…

Answer · Susan Deacon: Fife Health Board and the two NHS Trusts in Fife are still developing their proposals for acute hospital services. The Health Board has been encouraged to involve all its planning partners, the public and interest groups in this process and is expected to con…

28 Oct 1999 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions it has had with Her Majesty's Government to ensure that the two European Football Championship play-offs proceed without disorder, both inside the stadiums and elsewhere.

Answer · Rhona Brankin: All agencies associated with the fixture are already in close contact in the lead up to the matches. These include representatives from the respective Football Associations, the Metropolitan Police, Strathclyde Police, British Transport Police Forces, the Nat…

28 Oct 1999 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will support plans to make it an offence to strike a child with any implement, whether or not this was deemed to be to the child's injury.

Answer · Jim Wallace: I refer the Member to the answer given to question S1W-2202.

28 Oct 1999 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will consider bringing forward proposals to clarify the issue of parental chastisement of children.

Answer · Jim Wallace: A UK inter-departmental working group is currently examining this question in the light of the judgement of the European Court of Human Rights in the case of A v UK. The Scottish Executive is represented on the working group and will consider its recom…

27 Oct 1999 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions it has had with Her Majesty's Government to ensure that the two European Football Championship play-offs proceed without disorder, both inside the stadiums and elsewhere.

Answer · Rhona Brankin: All agencies associated with the fixture are already in close contact in the lead up to the matches. These include representatives from the respective Football Associations, the Metropolitan Police, Strathclyde Police, British Transport Police Forces, the Na…

19 Oct 1999 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to establish a national young offenders (14 to 21 year olds) strategy.

Answer · Jim Wallace: There are no plans to establish a national young offenders strategy. However, the Executive has signalled the importance it attaches to addressing the behaviour of young offenders in supporting a number of innovative projects to identify what works in tacklin…

19 Oct 1999 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many young people under the age of 16 years old have been accommodated in adult prisons or police cells due to a lack of other suitable accommodation in each of the last three years.

Answer · Jim Wallace: The number of young people under the age of 16 years old who have been accommodated in adult prisons on unruly certificates in each of the past three years is as follows:<TABLE BORDER CELLSPACING=1 CELLPADDING=7 WIDTH=481><TR><TD WIDTH="51%"…

7 Oct 1999 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether, in the light of the proposals currently being discussed regarding the future of acute service provision for Fife, it would support the most senior position within Fife Health Board being made permanent.

Answer · Susan Deacon: I understand that Fife Health Board now has in hand arrangements for the appointment of the general manager post, which is currently filled on a locum basis.

21 Sep 1999 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what assurances can be given that no final decision has been made regarding acute services in Fife, given that Fife Health Board has already made public its preferred option.

Answer · Susan Deacon: I refer Mr Barrie to the answer given to question S1W-1654.

21 Sep 1999 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it is satisfied with Fife Health Board's plans for public consultation regarding the future of acute services in Fife.

Answer · Susan Deacon: The Scottish Executive expects Health Boards to undertake thorough consultation on their strategic proposals. In doing so, Health Boards should consult all bodies with a valid interest in time to allow all comments to be considered and taken into account befo…

15 Sep 1999 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it plans to strengthen the provision of support for young people requiring local authority throughcare and aftercare services.

Answer · Sam Galbraith: The Scottish Executive is committed to improving the quality of provision for the throughcare and aftercare of children and young people looked after by local authorities.My Department is issuing today a consultation paper proposi…

7 Sep 1999 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive to provide details of Ministers' programme of visits during the summer recess.

Answer · Donald Dewar: Ministers have completed a programme of study tours covering all regions of Scotland and relating to all key aspects of their portfolios. These visits allowed Ministers to see at first hand many of the activities and places for which they are responsible and …

1 Sep 1999 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to take forward the proposals in the Housing Green Paper.

Answer · Wendy Alexander: Further to the answer I gave on 22 July to question S1W-505 from Fiona Hyslop, I have today published a summary of responses to the Housing Green Paper "Investing in Modernisation" and made it available on the Internet. Copies of the summary are als…