Tommy Sheridan

13 Sep 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how much the Glasgow Housing Association has spent to date and whether it will provide a detailed breakdown of this expenditure.

Answer · Jackie Baillie: In 2000-01, £3.401 million of New Housing Partnership resources was allocated to meet purchaser's pre-transfer costs in connection with the proposed transfer of Glasgow City Council's housing stock. The actual spend at 31 March 2001 was £3.043 million.<P ALIG…

12 Sep 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many schools employed home economics teachers in each year from 1994-95 to 2000-01.

Answer · Jack McConnell: This information is not held centrally.

12 Sep 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many home economics teachers have been employed in schools in each year from 1994-95 to 2000-01.

Answer · Jack McConnell: Information on the number of Home Economics teachers employed in each year is not available. <P ALIGN="JUSTIFY">The periodic Teacher Census estimates that in 1994-95 there were 1,251 (FTE) teachers in publicly funded secondary schools who recorded Home Econom…

11 Sep 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether information is supplied to parents about GPs offering single vaccines and what the reasons are for its position on this matter.

Answer · Malcolm Chisholm: Protection against measles, mumps and rubella in the UK is recommended through the combined MMR vaccine. This policy is based on independent expert advice from the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation and the Committee on Safety of Medicines, and w…

11 Sep 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it intends to set up an MMR helpline and what the reasons are for its position on this matter.

Answer · Malcolm Chisholm: We have no plans to set up an MMR helpline. However, in order to provide parents and health professionals with an accessible source of balanced information about MMR, new publicity materials have been developed. A leaflet, poster and discussion pack was issue…

11 Sep 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many organisations involved in the provision of school meals require staff employed in this area to have nutritional health qualifications and what qualifications are required in each case.

Answer · Jack McConnell: The information requested is not held centrally. The organisation of, and contracting for, the school meals service is a matter for local authorities. The Model Nutritional Guidelines for Catering Specifications for the Public Sector in Scotland issued in 199…

11 Sep 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what minimum weekly level of structured physical exercise (a) primary and (b) secondary schools are expected to provide for pupils; how it encourages schools to provide this level of exercise, and how the level of exercise in each school is monitored.

Answer · Jack McConnell: Guidance on the curriculum recommends one hour's physical exercise per week for all pupils up to the age of 16. The Scottish Executive has encouraged schools to promote physical exercise in recent years through a range of sport scotland initiatives which incl…

11 Sep 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will detail the nutritional standards that school meals should meet; who sets these standards, and who monitors the standards achieved in this respect in each school.

Answer · Jack McConnell: Model Nutritional Guidelines for Catering Specifications were provided to local authorities together with <I>Eating for Health</I>, The Scottish Diet Action Plan, published by the Scottish Office in 1996. The implementation and subsequent monitoring of any ar…

22 Aug 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it was consulted prior to attempts by Strathclyde Police to secure TV footage from the BBC and STV of the recent Govanhill protests in Glasgow and what its position is on the issue.

Answer · Jim Wallace: No. The policing of the Govanhill protests, and the subsequent investigation to identify those responsible for the violence and disorder that occurred, are operational matters for Strathclyde Police.

15 Aug 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what its response is to reports that police forces have been secretly filming members of the Scottish Socialist Party at demonstrations and carrying out undercover surveillance of these and other protesters and whether it will give an assurance, if such activities have occurred, that they…

Answer · Jim Wallace: The use of covert surveillance is a matter for relevant public authorities, including police forces. Its use, oversight and associated complaints procedure is governed by the Regulation of Investigatory Powers (Scotland) Act 2000. Under section 23 of the 2000…

5 Jul 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive why the functions of the Scottish Conveyancing and Executry Services Board are being passed to the Law Society and how the bard's role of providing low cost conveyancing options will be maintained.

Answer · Iain Gray: The bard was established to regulate the provision of conveyancing and executry services by persons who are not solicitors, the policy intention being to promote competition in relation to such services. The expectation was that the board would become self-fi…

5 Jul 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive why the Scottish Conveyancing and Executry Services Board is being abolished.

Answer · Iain Gray: The proposal to abolish the board reflects the fact that the policy of introducing competition with solicitors in relation to conveyancing and executry services has had very limited success. Since reopening for business in March 1997 after a period of suspens…

31 May 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it plans to ban the promotion of food and drink brand names on school premises.

Answer · Jack McConnell: I refer the member to the answer given to question S1W-16130.

31 May 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it plans to ban the use of genetically modified foods in the preparation of school food.

Answer · Malcolm Chisholm: It is a matter for local authorities (where appropriate) or schools themselves to decide whether specific ingredients should be omitted from school meals. Current legislation requires that all foods or food ingredients containing approved GM soya, maize, addi…

31 May 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to set standards for safe and nutritional school food similar to those already in existence in England and Wales.

Answer · Jack McConnell: The Scottish Diet Action Plan <I>Eating for Health</I> Model Nutritional guidelines provides the framework for the Scottish Executive's drive towards healthier eating, makes it clear that schools should take steps to ensure that school meals, tuck shops and v…

31 May 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will invite the Food Standards Agency Scotland to consider the introduction of dye staining of all meat products used to produce school food.

Answer · Malcolm Chisholm: I am advised by the Food Standards Agency that there are no plans to dye any meat products used to produce school food.

31 May 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will request the Food Standards Agency Scotland to conduct an investigation into the safety of school meals.

Answer · Jack McConnell: The Food Standards Agency Scotland reports that it has no evidence that food being served in schools is unsafe. Direct responsibility for the safety of food served in schools rests with the environmental health department of each local authority. Were there t…

31 May 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has informed parents and the public in general of any schools which may have used illegally imported pet food meat in the preparation of school meals after any such imports have been brought to its attention by the Food Standards Agency Scotland.

Answer · Malcolm Chisholm: It is the policy of the Food Standards Agency to ensure that the public is informed quickly and effectively whenever it is aware that there is a risk of unsafe food entering the food chain.<P>Recent identification of the illegal use of meat designated for pet…

31 May 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what information it has on the extent to which schools may be serving unsafe food, in particular that derived from pet food meat.

Answer · Malcolm Chisholm: The Food Standards Agency has advised that direct responsibility for the safety of food served in Scottish schools rests with the environmental health department of each local authority. They ensure that the relevant caterers meet the standard required of all…

29 May 2001 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how it ensures that food served in schools is safe.

Answer · Jack McConnell: Direct responsibility for the safety of food served in schools rests with the environmental health departments of each local authority. They ensure that the relevant caterers meet the standards required of all food businesses; this includes ensuring food is f…

9 May 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will set out its powers and policy on decisions regarding the onward movement of livestock on to auction marts within island communities which have been provisionally designated as foot-and-mouth disease free areas and whether it will clarify the current situation with regards …

Answer · Ross Finnie: Revised movement controls, effective from 1 May, permit the transfer of store and fat animals from the Scottish islands through collecting centres licensed for that purpose. Orkney Auction Mart has been granted collecting centre status and movements first occ…

30 Apr 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will make central funding available to enable medical secretaries in the NHS to be upgraded.

Answer · Susan Deacon: The Scottish Executive has announced record funding for the NHS. Health boards' unified budgets have increased to £4.4 billion in 2001-02 with individual board increases ranging from 5.5% to 9.8%. It is for health boards and NHS Trusts to decide how to apply …

26 Apr 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it plans to review the decision to close Stobhill Hospital, Victoria Infirmary and the Western Infirmary and what reasons were given by the Chief Executive of Greater Glasgow Health Board and the board itself for their proposed closure.

Answer · Susan Deacon: There are no plans to close Stobhill Hospital or the Victoria Infirmary. Greater Glasgow Health Board's proposal to transfer services at the Western Infirmary to modern facilities at Gartnavel General Hospital and elsewhere in the city, and subsequently to cl…

26 Apr 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it is appropriate for the Chief Executive of Greater Glasgow Health Board to remain in post until September 2001 now that he has tendered his resignation.

Answer · Susan Deacon: This is a matter for Greater Glasgow Health Board as employer. It is, however, a normal expectation that NHS staff work their notice period. The continued employment of the current Chief Executive until the end of September provides for an element of manageme…

23 Apr 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what the average cost per animal would be for (a) sheep, (b) cattle and (c) pigs of a vaccination programme in relation to foot-and-mouth disease.

Answer · Ross Finnie: The vaccination contingency plan was prepared only for cattle, and only for the three areas of Dumfries, North Cumbria and Devon. It is therefore not possible to give figures for sheep or pigs. The estimated cost of setting up and delivering a vaccination pro…

23 Apr 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what measures are being taken to prevent tenant farmers in the south of Scotland from going bankrupt.

Answer · Ross Finnie: We have taken steps to ease the cashflow problems of all farmers by paying the main livestock subsidies amounting to £146 million as early as possible in April and May. I have also announced the payment of £24 million of agrimonetary compensation to beef, she…

23 Apr 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what the average rise in the price per kilo has been of (a) beef, (b) pork, (c) ham, (d) bacon and (e) lamb since the foot-and-mouth disease outbreak began.

Answer · Ross Finnie: The following table provides the average retail meat prices as published by the Meat and Livestock Commission. The averages cover all cuts of meat, for example, beef includes a number of cuts from fillet steak to mince.<P>Average Retail Prices (pence per kg)<…

23 Apr 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what proportion of the cost of its slaughter policy in relation to foot-and-mouth disease is being met by (a) itself, (b) the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, (c) the European Union and (d) the local councils of Dumfries and Galloway and the Borders.

Answer · Ross Finnie: These costs fall to the UK Exchequer. In Scotland, as at 8 May 2001, the cost of compensation for the compulsory slaughter is currently around £170 million. Almost £150 million of this is in Dumfries and Galloway with the rest chiefly being in the Borders. At…

23 Apr 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what the average cost is per animal slaughtered under its policy on foot-and-mouth disease, whether this includes the cost for restocking after the outbreak and, if so, what sum is allocated for restocking (a) a cow, (b) a pig and (c) a sheep.

Answer · Ross Finnie: The SERAD website (under Foot and Mouth Disease (Ascertainment of Value) (Scotland) (No 3) Order 2001) provides information on average costs per animal slaughtered. Costs for all categories of sheep, pigs and cattle are listed. Restocking costs are not includ…

23 Apr 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive Scottish Executive how many (a) cattle, (b) sheep and (c) pigs have been slaughtered to date under its policy in respect of foot-and-mouth disease.

Answer · Ross Finnie: These statistics appear in the regular Parliament's Reference Centre Foot and Mouth Briefing Note.