Parliamentary questions
Tommy Sheridan
857 questions tabled in the Scottish Parliament, most recent first.
30 Nov 2006 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what the job roles and responsibilities are of all positions within the Scottish Fingerprint Service.
Answer · Cathy Jamieson: Information about the currentroles and responsibilities of positions in the Scottish Fingerprint Service havebeen placed in the Scottish Parliament Information Centre (Bib. number 41321).</p><p>The Scottish Fingerprint Servicewill become part of the Scottish …
30 Nov 2006 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what the staffing establishment and structure are of each of the four bureaux of the Scottish Fingerprint Service and to whom each head of bureau reports.
Answer · Cathy Jamieson: The current staffing establishmentof the Scottish Fingerprint Service is:</p><table border=1 cellspacing=0 cellpadding=3> <thead> <tr> <td width=191 nowrap> <p align=center> </p> </td> <td width=74> <p align=center>Glasgow</p> </td> <td wi…
30 Nov 2006 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive which organisations are the official employers of individuals working in the four bureaux of the Scottish Fingerprint Service.
Answer · Cathy Jamieson: Individuals working in the bureauxof the Scottish Fingerprint Service (SFS) are currently employed by the Joint PoliceBoard of the area where they work (Grampian, Lothian and Borders, Strathclyde orTayside).</p>
30 Nov 2006 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it agrees with Shelter Scotland’s statement, as reported in The Big Issue on 30 November 2006, that nearly 30,000 children are currently homeless in Scotland and mostly living in unsuitable temporary accommodation.
28 Nov 2006 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive why NHS Quality Improvement Scotland (NHS QIS) has decided to wait until the Department of Health’s National Service Framework is published in May 2008 before undertaking further work on chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD); why NHS QIS is not committing to developing clinical sta…
Answer · Andy Kerr: NHS Quality Improvement Scotland hasindependent status and determines its own work programme, taking full accountof NHS Scotland priorities.</p><p>In relation to thedevelopment of COPD clinical standards, I understand NHS QIS has taken the viewthat it would n…
22 Nov 2006 · SPCB Written Question
To ask the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body what its position is on the principle, in relation to allowances generally and the Edinburgh Accommodation Allowance specifically, that no MSP should personally profit from the use of allowances.
Answer · Nora Radcliffe: The functions of the currentSPCB with regard to the Members’ Allowances Scheme have been conferred byresolution of the Parliament unanimously agreed in June 2001. Therefore theSPCB interprets, administers and enforces the current scheme by virtue of thewill o…
22 Nov 2006 · SPCB Written Question
To ask the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body whether the current review of allowances will result in changes to prevent any sitting MSP from personally profiting from the sale of property which was bought using the Edinburgh Accommodation Allowance on an interest-only mortgage.
Answer · Nora Radcliffe: There is no review ofallowances currently being undertaken. Officials have been asked to identifyissues on allowances generally, not just the Edinburgh Accommodation Allowance,which issues will inform a legacy paper which the current SPCB intends to leavefor …
22 Nov 2006 · SPCB Written Question
To ask the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body whether it monitors or calculates how much individual MSPs personally gain by using the Edinburgh Accommodation Allowance to purchase properties on interest-only mortgages and then selling them privately.
Answer · Nora Radcliffe: As Mr Sheridan is aware,having received a written response from the Head of Allowances on 23 September2005, the SPCB does not monitor any financial gain or loss which may be made byan individual MSP who has claimed the Edinburgh Accommodation Allowance to mee…
22 Nov 2006 · SPCB Written Question
To ask the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body whether it accepts that use of the Edinburgh Accommodation Allowance to pay for interest-only mortgages for MSPs enables those MSPs to personally profit from future sale of the properties purchased on the basis of such mortgages.
Answer · Nora Radcliffe: The Scottish ParliamentaryCorporate Body meets or reimburses the interest payments on a mortgage up tothe limit set by the Parliament for this purpose within the rules of the schemeapproved by the Parliament. It does not concern itself with whether the member…
22 Nov 2006 · SPCB Written Question
To ask the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body how many of the mortgages paid for through the Edinburgh Accommodation Allowance are interest-only mortgages.
Answer · Nora Radcliffe: The number is 25.</p>
22 Nov 2006 · SPCB Written Question
To ask the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body how many MSPs currently have properties for which the mortgage interest is paid through the Edinburgh Accommodation Allowance.
Answer · Nora Radcliffe: The number is 38. </p>
15 Nov 2006 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many individuals are considered to be low paid, broken down by local authority area.
Answer · Nicol Stephen: Low pay can be defined in variousways. The Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) definesthe low pay group as those who work more than 15 hours per week and receive an hourlywage less than two-thirds the median wage in their country of …
15 Nov 2006 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what the average wage is in Scotland and how many households have (a) one working adult, (b) two working adults, (c) three working adults and (d) more than three working adults, also expressed as a percentage of all households with working adults and indicating how many of those working a…
Answer · Nicol Stephen: The preferred source for earningsestimates is the Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings (ASHE), which is carried outby the Office for National Statistics.</p><p>The median gross weekly pay forfull-time employees, excluding overtime, in Scotland in 2006 was £403…
15 Nov 2006 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what the average domestic water and sewage bills have been in each year since 1999, broken down by local authority and showing year-on-year percentage changes.
Answer · Rhona Brankin: The average household chargesare shown as follows for each year since 2000-01 when unified charges were introducedacross each of the areas covered by the former Water Authorities. Prior to thatyear, the information is not available in the form requested.</p><…
15 Nov 2006 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how much the Burt review into local government finance cost.
Answer · George Lyon: Because there are still a numberof outstanding invoices, it is not possible to give a final figure for the committee’scosts during the period of its inquiry, from its establishment in June 2004 to thepublication of its report on 9 November 2006. The committee…
15 Nov 2006 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive when it will publish its response to the Local Government Finance Review Committee report.
Answer · George Lyon: We will need time to give thecommittee’s conclusions and findings detailed and careful consideration. The issuesit was asked to review are substantial ones and it would not be appropriate to rushto comment.</p>
31 Oct 2006 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what marine routes, including harbours and piers, in Scotland are used for the transportation of nuclear material.
Answer · Tavish Scott: I refer the memberto the answer to question S2W-29384<b> </b>on 13 November 2006. All answers to writtenparliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facilityfor which can be found at <ahref="http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/w…
31 Oct 2006 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what road routes in Scotland are used for the transportation of nuclear material.
Answer · Tavish Scott: The transportation of irradiatedor spent nuclear fuel is governed by the stringent internationally-agreedstandards recommended by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), theagency appointed by the United Nations to promote safe, secure and peacefulnucl…
31 Oct 2006 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what rail lines in Scotland are used for the transportation of nuclear material.
Answer · Tavish Scott: I refer themember to the answer to question S2W-29384 on 13 November 2006. All answers to written parliamentary questions areavailable on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can befound at: <a href="http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp…
26 Oct 2006 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what studies it has undertaken, or plans to undertake, into the potential for jobs to be created from cleaning up contaminated land in Glasgow.
Answer · Rhona Brankin: We have no plansto do so. Part IIA of the Environmental Protection Act 1990 gives local authoritiespowers to identify contaminated land within their areas and to secure its remediation.In practice most contaminated land is remediated as a result of conditions…
26 Oct 2006 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what studies it has undertaken, or plans to undertake, into the potential health risks resulting from contaminated land in Glasgow.
Answer · Rhona Brankin: We have no plans to do so. Asprimary regulators for the contaminated land regime it is a matter for local authoritiesto identity and investigate suspected contaminated sites and to determine whethercontamination is causing, or is likely to cause, significant …
26 Oct 2006 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what studies it has undertaken, or plans to undertake, into the potential environmental damage resulting from contaminated land in Glasgow.
Answer · Rhona Brankin: We have no plans to do so. Asprimary regulators for the contaminated land regime it is a matter for local authoritiesto identity and investigate suspected contaminated sites and to determine whethercontamination is causing, or is likely to cause, significant …
26 Oct 2006 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how much money it has set aside to clean up contaminated land in Glasgow.
Answer · Rhona Brankin: Over the years 2000-01 to 2005-06£3.225 million has been allocated to Glasgow City Council to take forward its responsibilitiesfor implementing the contaminated land regime. Under current expenditure plans thecouncil is eligible to access contaminated land gr…
26 Oct 2006 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to clean up contaminated land in Glasgow.
Answer · Rhona Brankin: The Scottish Executive does nothave direct responsibility for cleaning up contaminated land but provides financialassistance to local authorities who have a duty under Part IIA of the EnvironmentalProtection Act 1990 to identify contaminated land and secure i…
26 Oct 2006 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how much contaminated land there is in Glasgow.
Answer · Rhona Brankin: The Scottish Executive does nothold centrally information on the amount of contaminated land within local authorityareas. Under Part IIA of the Environmental Protection Act 1990 local authoritieshave a statutory duty to inspect their areas to identify land th…
25 Oct 2006 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how much of Glasgow has been designated as brownfield land since 1999.
Answer · Johann Lamont: Brownfield land is definedin Scottish Planning Policy 3 (SPP3) as land which has previously beendeveloped. The Scottish Executive does not hold centrally information on thetotal area of brownfield land within local authority areas.</p><p>A significant proport…
25 Oct 2006 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what percentage of brownfield sites in Glasgow have been undeveloped for over (a) 10, (b) 20 and (c) 30 years.
Answer · Johann Lamont: Brownfield land is definedin Scottish Planning Policy 3 (SPP3) as land which has previously beendeveloped. The Scottish Executive does not hold centrally information on thequantity of brownfield land within local authority areas.</p><p>A significant proportio…
24 Oct 2006 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what the prevalence of mental health problems has been in Glasgow in each year since 1999.
Answer · Lewis Macdonald: The Information requested is not held centrally.</p><p>Understanding evidence around the prevalence of mental health problems is a complex matter. The <i>Well? What Do You Think?</i> National Survey of Public Attitudes to Mental Health (2004) estimated that o…
24 Oct 2006 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what the rate of childhood obesity has been in Glasgow in each year since 1999.
Answer · Lewis Macdonald: Childhood obesity figures forNHS Greater Glasgow are only available for pre-school children. The following tableshows the body mass index distribution inchildren receiving a 39 to 42 month review, up to 2001.</p><table border=1 cellspacing=0 cellpadding=3> <t…
24 Oct 2006 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how much green space has been lost in Glasgow since 1999.
Answer · Malcolm Chisholm: This information is not heldcentrally. Draft Scottish Planning Policy 11: <i>Physical Activity and Open Space</i>, which is out for consultation until 3 November, proposes a requirementon local authorities to undertake audits of open space in their areas and …