Mike Pringle

8 Dec 2004 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what correspondence it has had with the British Geological Survey regarding the use of fishing boats to carry out seabed mapping.

Answer · Lewis Macdonald: The British Geological Survey (BGS) responded to the Scottish Executive’s public consultation on the European Commission’s proposals for a European Fisheries Fund. In its response BGS proposed the use of fishing boats to carry out seabed mapping.</p>

3 Nov 2004 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to relocate public sector jobs from Edinburgh.

Answer · Tavish Scott: Our relocation policy aimsto ensure that government in Scotland is efficient and decentralised, bringing benefits tothe whole of Scotland by spreading public sector posts across the country.</p><p>There are currently around1,800 posts being considered for rel…

27 Oct 2004 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will provide the data, broken down by local authority area, which was used in the calculation of how the redistribution of Supporting People funding was carried out.

Answer · Malcolm Chisholm: The data requested is held in the Parliament’s Reference Centre (Bib. number 34277) named <i>Supporting People allocations</i>. </p><p>The formula distributes resources more fairly against relative need across Scotland. To help those authorities in the transi…

27 Oct 2004 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what factors were applied in determining the redistribution of Supporting People funding.

Answer · Malcolm Chisholm: (1) The allocation methodology is based on a formula composed of indicators that reflect the key client groups which are intended to benefit from the Supporting People programme and for which data of a sufficient quality is available. The formula is composed …

12 Oct 2004 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what action it is taking to encourage overseas students to stay in Scotland after graduation.

Answer · Tom McCabe: From summer 2005 students from outside the European economic area (EEA) who graduate from Scottish institutions will be eligible for a two year visa extension, including the right to work without a work permit (overseas students and graduates from within the …

11 Oct 2004 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what procedures are in place for the recruitment of overseas nurses and doctors by the NHS.

Answer · Andy Kerr: Recruitment of overseas doctors and nurses in Scotland has historically been undertaken by NHSScotland boards who have developed their own recruitment arrangements.</p><p>The Executive is reviewing and exploring a range of methods which will access appropriat…

4 Oct 2004 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether its further education policy takes into account population growth in specific regions.

Answer · Jim Wallace: Yes. I refer the member to the answer given to S2W-11153, on 1 November 2004. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament's website, the search facility for which can be found at <a href="http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/we…

4 Oct 2004 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what additional resources are being made available to further education colleges in Edinburgh and the Lothians to address increasing population figures.

Answer · Jim Wallace: I refer the member to the answer given to S2W-11153, on 1 November 2004. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament's website, the search facility for which can be found at <a href="http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/…

4 Oct 2004 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what strategy is in place to address any undersupply of vocational further education (FE) courses in Edinburgh and the Lothians.

Answer · Jim Wallace: In February 2004, the Scottish Further Education Funding Council commissioned the second mapping exercise of supply of and demand for further education in Scotland. A national report and 11 area reports, including one for Edinburgh and the Lothians, are due t…

30 Sep 2004 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how it is encouraging more people to be involved in fostering.

Answer · Euan Robson: For 2004-05 grant aided expenditure (GAE) of approximately £1.8 billion has been allocated to local authorities to carry out their social work functions; these include the provision of foster care. The Executive also provides funding to The Fostering Network …

30 Sep 2004 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what support it is giving to local authorities to provide temporary accommodation for under-12s.

Answer · Euan Robson: No specific support is provided.</p>

30 Sep 2004 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many children under 12 are in young persons&#146; units.

Answer · Euan Robson: As at 31 March 2004 there were 186 children aged under 12 in residential accommodation of which one was in secure accommodation, 87 were in residential schools and 98 were in residential units.</p>

28 Sep 2004 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Executive when it will decide whether to raise the limit on claims before the small claims court.

Answer · Cathy Jamieson: I am currently considering this matter in light of the representations which havebeen made to ministers.</p><p>We need to strike the right balance in what we propose the increased levels should be. In doing so, we need to consider the differing interests of t…

15 Sep 2004 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what action it is taking to reduce litter.

Answer · Allan Wilson: Over the last two years we have provided over £1 million of funding to support Keep Scotland Beautiful campaigns on anti-littering and flytipping. In addition, under the Anti-Social Behaviour Act we are giving powers to police officers to allow them to issue …

13 Sep 2004 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many people applied for the recently advertised post of chief executive of sportscotland and, of these, what percentage were women, how many candidates were shortlisted for interview and, of these, what percentage were women, and what the shortlisting criteria were.

Answer · Frank McAveety: <b>Sport</b>scotland is committed to achieving equality of opportunity in employment and eliminating discrimination in all its forms including discrimination on the grounds of sex, marital status, race, colour, nationality, ethnic or national origin, age, dis…

27 Aug 2004 · SPCB Written Question

To ask the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body how much the installation of television sets for MSPs has cost and how much has been saved by the reconfiguration of these televisions to restrict access to some channels.

Answer · George Reid: The cost of the installation of the 385, various sized television sets and plasma screens, across the Parliament building complex, amounts to £20,925 excluding VAT.</p><p>Parliament will also pay £135,716 per annum to Telewest for the provision and maintenanc…

24 Jun 2004 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what on-going assessment it makes in respect of the quality of patient advocacy services in psychiatric hospitals.

Answer · Malcolm Chisholm: NHS Quality Improvement Scotland’s (NHS QIS) health care governance and schizophrenia standards include a requirement for NHS boards to make advocacy services available to those that need them. NHS QIS carry out assessment visits to ensure local compliance wi…

24 Jun 2004 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what funding is in place for patient advocacy in psychiatric hospitals.

Answer · Malcolm Chisholm: The funding of advocacy services is a matter for the NHS and their local planning partners. Current details of funding are contained in <i>A Map of Independent Advocacy Across Scotland 2003-04</i> (Bib. number 33240) which has been prepared by the Advocacy Sa…

24 Jun 2004 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what national guidelines are in place for the treatment of foreign nationals by the NHS.

Answer · Malcolm Chisholm: The treatment of foreign nationals by the NHS in Scotland is governed by The National Health Service (Charges to Overseas Visitors) (Scotland) Regulations 1989 (SI 1989 No. 364), as amended by The NHS (Charges to Overseas Visitors) (Scotland) Amendment Regula…

24 Jun 2004 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many foreign nationals were treated by the NHS (a) under reciprocal health agreements and (b) as fee-paying patients, broken down by NHS board area in each year since 1999.

Answer · Malcolm Chisholm: Information is only available centrally for people treated in hospitals, and will therefore exclude foreign nationals whose treatment was entirely handled by the primary care sector. The information requested for hospital treatment, by year ended 31 December,…

23 Jun 2004 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive which public sector employees' pension schemes have statements of investment principles incorporating ethical criteria.

Answer · Tavish Scott: There are only two funded public service pension schemes. These are the Local Government Pension Scheme and the Scottish Parliamentary Pension Scheme. In the case of the Local Government Pension Scheme, although the Scottish Public Pensions Agency is responsi…

10 Jun 2004 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has any plans to collect statistics on the total amount of compensation paid out by (a) local authorities, (b) NHS Scotland and (c) other public bodies, broken down into (i) settlement out of court and (ii) court-awarded compensation.

Answer · Andy Kerr: This Scottish Executive does not hold information centrally about these bodies’ compensation payments which is broken down in this manner. It does not have any plans to collect statistics on this matter.</p>

10 Jun 2004 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how much local authorities have paid out in compensation in each of the last five years.

Answer · Andy Kerr: This information is not held centrally.</p>

8 Jun 2004 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what measures are being taken to ensure that land is identified and set aside for the provision of new waste recycling and treatment infrastructure for the delivery of area waste plans in (a) Edinburgh and (b) Scotland in order to meet EU landfill directive waste diversion targets.

Answer · Mary Mulligan: Planning authorities provide policies and identify potential locations or areas for the waste facilities likely to be required to implement the area waste plans. They do this through their development plans.</p><p>We wrote to all planning authorities in April…

21 May 2004 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will provide an update on the work being undertaken by the Financial Services Strategy Group.

Answer · Jim Wallace: At the first meeting of theFinancial Services Strategy Group (FSSG) in November, it was agreed that thegroup would develop a vision and strategy for the future success of the sectorin Scotland. Three sub-groups were established to considerparticular aspects o…

18 May 2004 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S2W-7205 by Malcolm Chisholm on 28 April 2004, how much surplus has been generated by car parking charges at the Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh and whether Consort, the City of Edinburgh Council and NHS Lothian receive equal shares of this surplus.

Answer · Malcolm Chisholm: There are two agreementsconcerning any surplus income (net of running and funding costs) generated fromthe car parking spaces at the Royal Infirmary Edinburgh. The agreement concerningthe original car parking spaces stated that NHS Lothian would receive 50% o…

7 May 2004 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will make an assessment in respect of whether any money already paid to Duo Airways Limited from the route development fund could be reclaimed due to the cancellation of its services.

Answer · Nicol Stephen: Investment from the Route DevelopmentFund is paid out retrospectively to the airport operator on the basis of actualpassenger carryings. No payments have been made in respect of future cancelled services.</p>

7 May 2004 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what assessment was made of the financial situation of Duo Airways Limited prior to the allocation of money from the route development fund.

Answer · Nicol Stephen: Before an operating licence isgranted, any new airline is subject to detailed scrutiny by the Civil Aviation Authority.In addition, the Route Development Fund’s stringent evaluation process ensures that,where there is any doubt about an airline’s ability to m…

7 May 2004 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how much has been paid out from the route development fund to Duo Airways Limited.

Answer · Nicol Stephen: Investment from the Route DevelopmentFund is paid to airport operators to enhance discounts given for the start-up ofnew air services. No money has been paid to duo.</p>

7 May 2004 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what assessment it has made of the effect of the withdrawal of the second post on small businesses.

Answer · Allan Wilson: Royal Mail, post offices andpostal services are reserved to the UK Government. The Postal Services Commission(Postcomm) as independent regulator, has responsibility for ensuring that postaloperators including Royal Mail meet the needs of their customers throu…