Parliamentary questions

Tommy Sheridan

857 questions tabled in the Scottish Parliament, most recent first.

9 Nov 2000 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will name all the members and the organisations they represent who have been or will be appointed to the working group on implementation of the central heating programme, how regularly the working group will meet and who will represent the City of Glasgow Council on it.

Answer · Jackie Baillie: The members of the working group are drawn from the power companies and Transco, CoSLA, Eaga, Scottish Homes, the SFHA, Age Concern, Help the Aged, Energy Action Scotland, the Energy Saving Trust and the Solid Fuel Association. Local authorities, including th…

3 Nov 2000 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has formally replied to the public comments on 29 September 2000 of the Director of the Scottish Federation of Housing Associations in relation to plans for housing and stock transfer across Scotland.

Answer · Jackie Baillie: The comments referred to relate to the Federation's response to the Executive's proposals for the Housing Bill as set out in Better Homes for Scotland's Communities. All the responses to that document are currently being considered.

3 Nov 2000 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether the contract for motorway maintenance on the A90 awarded to Yuill & Dodds was awarded by the Scottish Office or by it, when the contract was awarded and how much it was for.

Answer · Sarah Boyack: The Scottish Executive has not awarded any motorway maintenance contract to Yuill & Dodds Ltd.

20 Oct 2000 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what consideration the cross-party Parliamentary Working Group on diligence against moveable property to replace poindings and warrant sales will give to the impact of the shape and operation of the Social Fund when considering debt, bank arrestment, poindings and warrant sales.

Answer · Jim Wallace: The Cross-Party Parliamentary Working Group on a Diligence Against Moveable Property to Replace Poinding and Warrant Sale is giving due consideration to all matters which are relevant to its work.

18 Oct 2000 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what consideration it has given to any implications for its policy on poverty of the recommendation made in the report Poverty in Scotland by the Scottish Affairs Select Committee to review the Social Fund and how it ensures joint working in this area.

Answer · Wendy Alexander: I refer the member to the answer given to question S1W-10518.

18 Oct 2000 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what input it will have into any plans for any new system of granting loans for people who have previously tried to access the Social Fund.

Answer · Wendy Alexander: I refer the member to the answer given to question S1W-10518.

18 Oct 2000 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will make representations to the Department of Social Security about the impact the Fund has within its general poverty strategy and in this context about increasing the funding for the Social Fund in Scotland or otherwise reviewing the Fund.

Answer · Wendy Alexander: The operation of the Social Fund is a matter for DSS.As was set out in the Scottish Executive's strategy to tackle poverty and social exclusion, Social Justice: A Scotland where everyone matters<…

5 Oct 2000 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what assessment it has made of any benefits to the NHS of contracting out portering services and whether such contracting out to private companies offers better value for money.

Answer · Susan Deacon: The Scottish Executive has not made such an assessment. It is a matter for individual NHS health boards and Trusts to assess the benefits and value for money when considering contracting out services. In doing so they must follow guidance which makes clear th…

4 Oct 2000 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will initiate a public inquiry into the handling of Aberdeenshire Council's budget with a view to the council reprioritising its expenditure.

Answer · Jack McConnell: I refer the member to the answer given to question S1W-10261.

4 Oct 2000 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will make representations to or hold discussions with Aberdeenshire Council on funding required for provision of free school bus transport for primary school children living in rural areas.

Answer · Jack McConnell: I refer the member to the answer given to question S1W-10261.

4 Oct 2000 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will make representations to or hold discussions with Aberdeenshire Council on funding required to reopen public toilet facilities.

Answer · Jack McConnell: I refer the member to the answer given to question S1W-10261.

4 Oct 2000 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will make representations to or hold discussions with Aberdeenshire Council on funding required to continue the Central Aberdeenshire Youth Advice Project.

Answer · Jack McConnell: I refer the member to the answer given to question S1W-10261.

4 Oct 2000 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will investigate why Aberdeenshire Council has spent #306,000 of public money on the "Archeo-Link" over the last three years.

Answer · Jack McConnell: It is for the council to determine its spending priorities within its statutory powers.

18 Aug 2000 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether the Scottish Prison Service is trying to make further efficiency savings and, if so, in what areas and for what reasons.

Answer · Jim Wallace: I have asked Tony Cameron, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service to respond. His response is as follows:The SPS seeks to provide an excellent service at a competitive cost. To achieve this, efficiency savings need to be implemented…

18 Aug 2000 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what the main features are of the new staff attendance system and absence management procedure being introduced in the Scottish Prison Service from 1 September 2000 and whether any changes were made to these systems during their development as a result of consultation with employees.

Answer · Jim Wallace: I have asked Tony Cameron, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service to respond. His response is as follows:Our new staff attendance system will enable our staff resources to be used more effectively and efficiently. It has been discus…

18 Aug 2000 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what assessment it has made of the value for money offered by private prisons.

Answer · Jim Wallace: I have asked Tony Cameron, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service to respond. His response is as follows:SPS has assessed the privately-managed HMP Kilmarnock as offering excellent value for money.

3 Aug 2000 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many students have received discretionary assistance from the Student Awards Agency for Scotland for a period during which they temporarily withdrew from their course since 1990.

Answer · Nicol Stephen: A student who has temporarily withdrawn from his or her course, for whatever reason, is ineligible to receive student support from the Awards Agency as he or she is no longer a registered student in attendance on a course.

3 Aug 2000 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what position it has taken in its discussions with the Department of Social Security about the harmonisation of student support and state benefit provision.

Answer · Nicol Stephen: My officials are presently in discussions with the Department of Social Security and the other UK education departments about the relationship between the student support and the benefits systems with a view to identifying areas where greater harmonisation wo…

3 Aug 2000 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what level of support is available at the discretion of the Student Awards Agency for Scotland to students who have to take time out from their course due to illness or other incapacity and how such discretionary assistance is administered.

Answer · Nicol Stephen: I refer the member to the answer given to question S1W-9031 on 4 September 2000.

3 Aug 2000 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what measures are in place to ensure that doctors, student associations and other support workers who deal with students who have had to take a break from full-time study are fully aware of such students' entitlement to financial support and the method for claiming such support.

Answer · Nicol Stephen: Representatives from the Students Awards Agency for Scotland meet with members of the higher education sector on a regular basis. Issues such as this have been raised during these discussions.Students are responsible for informing the Agenc…

3 Aug 2000 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what financial support is available to pregnant students who become incapacitated for both study and work in the time leading up to the birth.

Answer · Nicol Stephen: I refer the member to the answer I gave to question S1W-9031.

3 Aug 2000 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what financial support is available to full-time higher education students who become incapacitated for both study and work through illness and are unable to resume studying at the start of the next academic year.

Answer · Nicol Stephen: The Education (Scotland) Act 1980 permits student support payments to be made only in respect of persons attending courses of education. Therefore to be eligible for support from the Student Awards Agency for Scotland, students must be registered as attending…

16 Jun 2000 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether and why police officers are allowed to keep firearms in their own home, whether this practice has given rise to any security or public safety issues and whether it has any plans to review any existing guidance.

Answer · Jim Wallace: Police officers may keep personally owned firearms, such as rifles or shotguns, in their own homes provided that they have an appropriate certificate issued by the relevant chief constable. They are not permitted to keep police issue firearms in their own hom…

15 Jun 2000 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many NHS Trusts have implemented the Working Time Regulations; whether these Trusts have incorporated the extra costs of implementing these regulations into their financial projections, and how much of the #86 million additional health funding earmarked for Scotland will be available …

Answer · Susan Deacon: All Trusts and health boards in the NHS in Scotland are expected to comply with the provisions of the Working Time Regulations. An additional £173 million has been allocated to the health budget in Scotland, following the Chancellor's budget in March. This br…

13 Jun 2000 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-6963 by Henry McLeish on 24 May 2000, whether Coatbridge College's recognition and procedures agreement, in particular insofar as it allows the college management a role in determining acceptable trade union representatives, accords with the Executiv…

Answer · Henry McLeish: The Board of Management of a further education college has a statutory duty to manage the college.

13 Jun 2000 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1O-1752 by Mr Frank McAveety on 25 May 2000, whether local authorities should abide by industrial tribunal decisions in relation to local authority employees.

Answer · Frank McAveety: Local authorities, like other employers, must comply with the terms of Employment Tribunal decisions but may seek a review or appeal on a point of law to the Employment Appeal Tribunal as they see fit.

1 Jun 2000 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will review its intention to allocate further money to the NHSiS only if targets relating to waiting times and lists and efficiency improvements, amongst others, are achieved, in the light of present demands on the NHS.

Answer · Susan Deacon: Health boards have received allocations for the current year for their hospital and community health services and prescribed drugs totalling £4.1 billion. In addition, health boards will be able to spend the £60 million announced on 2 May once they have devel…

1 Jun 2000 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many patients in NHS mental health care are kept in locked wards inappropriately because no other beds are available.

Answer · Susan Deacon: This information is not available.In keeping with the Framework for Mental Health Services for Scotland it is for health boards, NHS Trusts and local authorities, in planning and delivering services, to ensure that the care and secur…

1 Jun 2000 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, in view of the alleged increase in harassment and hate crimes experienced by the lesbian, gay and bisexual (LGB) communities during the Keep the Clause advertising campaign, which Scottish police forces have appointed community gay liaison officers and LGB staff contact officers; who the…

Answer · Jim Wallace: This information is not held centrally. Police forces liaise with all the communities they serve and the arrangements for links between forces and specific groups are matters for Chief Constables.

25 May 2000 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether North Lanarkshire Council acted within its powers in suspending all community councils with effect from 31 May 2000 and requiring each community council to return all holding funds.

Answer · Frank McAveety: Section 22(2) of the Local Government etc (Scotland) Act 1973 contains provisions for local authorities to either revoke or amend a community council scheme and make new schemes in their area. It is for individual local authorities to ensure that any actions …