Tommy Sheridan

15 Nov 1999 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what its definition is of poverty in relation to income in Scotland today and, within the terms of its definition, how many families, pensioners and children live in poverty in Scotland today.

Answer · Wendy Alexander: As is described in detail in the Technical Document which accompanied <I>Social Justice: a Scotland Where Everyone Matters</I>, published on 22 November, we recognise a number of definitions of income poverty, covering relative, absolute and persistent low in…

15 Nov 1999 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many loans the Student Loans Company in Scotland has dispersed in each year over the last three years; how many loans have been issued late in each year over the last three years, and what is the average waiting time for the receipt of late loans.

Answer · Henry McLeish: In Academic Year 1996-97 the Student Loans Company Limited paid out a total of 590,000 loans to students throughout the United Kingdom. This rose to 615,000 loans in Academic Year 1997-98 and 659,488 loans in Academic Year 1998-99.<P>Statistics on the average…

12 Nov 1999 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many warrants allowing the interception of communications in Scotland were issued in (a) 1997, (b) 1998 and (c) 1999.

Answer · Jim Wallace: The annual reports of the Commissioner appointed under the Interception of Communications Act 1985 list the number of interception warrants issued in Scotland in the course of each year. In 1997 256 warrants were issued. In 1998 the number was 268. During the…

11 Nov 1999 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether the transfer of housing stock in North Ayrshire has any implications for the jobs of council staff and in particular whether it is likely to have any implications for the future of the North Ayrshire Direct Labour Organisation.

Answer · Frank McAveety: This is a matter for North Ayrshire Council. I understand that the council is currently considering a number of initiatives which may involve the transfer of all or some or its housing stock. In the event of such transfer, it will be for the Council to assess…

11 Nov 1999 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will investigate the recent redundancies of painters at North Ayrshire Council and what plans it has to address the implications of these redundancies.

Answer · Frank McAveety: This is a matter for North Ayrshire Council.

9 Nov 1999 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what implications the bankruptcy of J.W. Soils, the company given the original planning permission for the open cast and landfill development at Greengairs, will have in relation to the original commitments given to the local community on planning gain.

Answer · Sarah Boyack: I understand that a contribution of nearly £100,000 to a Community Fund was the subject of a private arrangement between J W Soils Ltd and the Community Council. It formed no part of the planning considerations and will, therefore, be a matter for the Communi…

9 Nov 1999 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will provide a report on the threat posed to the environment by the proposed open cast and landfill development at Greengairs in Lanarkshire.

Answer · Sarah Boyack: The report of the Public Local Inquiry held in June/July 1998 fully addressed all of the environmental protection issues associated with the extraction of coal by the open cast method. As with all PLI reports, copies are provided to those parties who attended…

5 Nov 1999 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what role will local authorities in Scotland play in relation to the provision of housing services in the event of the proposed housing stock transfers for Glasgow and other local authority areas going ahead.

Answer · Wendy Alexander: Where council houses transfer into community ownership, local authorities will be able to concentrate on their strategic role. This means taking a comprehensive view of housing requirements in their area and developing a local housing strategy to tackle these…

29 Sep 1999 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will initiate a full investigation into the impact of the Working Families Tax Credit on indebted Scots.

Answer · Wendy Alexander: No. We consider the introduction of the Working Families Tax Credit, which is the responsibility of the UK Government, to be a very positive step in tackling poverty in Scotland. We are advised that indebtedness is not a factor affecting an individual's eligi…

2 Sep 1999 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive to provide a breakdown of the estimated costs of upgrading the A801 to a trunk road.

Answer · Sarah Boyack: The Scottish Executive does not hold the information requested. The A801 is a local road and the costs of upgrading it are a matter for the local authorities concerned. There are currently no plans to extend the trunk road network.

2 Sep 1999 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what its view is on the suitability of the Avon Gorge route as a means of travel from the M8 to the M9 and what action it proposes to take to reduce the volume of traffic using the Avon Gorge route.

Answer · Sarah Boyack: The A801 is a local rather than trunk road, and as such this is entirely a matter for the local authorities concerned.

2 Sep 1999 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will ensure that no genetically modified crops are introduced into the Scottish environment unless they are proven to be safe for the environment and human health.

Answer · Susan Deacon: Genetically modified crops can only be introduced into the Scottish environment if they have been granted consent under the Genetically Modified Organisms (Deliberate Release) Regulations 1992 as amended. All applications for consent are subject to a rigorous…

27 Aug 1999 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what action it intends to take to address the issue of homophobic bullying in schools.

Answer · Sam Galbraith: Bullying of any kind is unacceptable, whatever the motivation, and should be addressed quickly and firmly whenever it arises. The Scottish Executive is funding the national Anti-Bullying Network to help schools across Scotland share good practice in tackling …

27 Aug 1999 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what action it intends to take to repeal Section 28 of the 1988 Local Government Act.

Answer · Frank McAveety: Section 28 of the Local Government Act 1988 inserts a new provision, section 2A, in the Local Government Act 1986. The Scottish Executive is considering how section 2A of the 1986 Act, which prohibits local authorities from promoting homosexuality through tea…

27 Aug 1999 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-190 by Jackie Baillie on 11 August 1999, what additional information it can provide about how policies are examined for any differential impact on different groups within society, and in particular how this is done in respect of the impact on single …

Answer · Jackie Baillie: The new Equality Unit in the Scottish Executive will be developing a comprehensive strategy on mainstreaming equality in policy development. This work will support the commitment to putting equality of opportunity at the heart of policy making within the Scot…

3 Jun 1999 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it intends to investigate allegations that the British National Party has committed electoral fraud in relation to the elections to the European Parliament to be held on 10 June 1999.

Answer · Donald Dewar: It is for the returning officers concerned, rather than for Ministers, to decide whether to accept nominations at the European Parliamentary elections, and for the police and prosecuting authorities to investigate whether any criminal offences have been commi…

1 Jun 1999 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it intends to inform the Parliament how many members of the Parliament benefited from a student maintenance grant.

Answer · Henry McLeish: No. This information is not held centrally.