Parliamentary questions
John Wilson
696 questions tabled in the Scottish Parliament, most recent first.
20 May 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what the anticipated PFI/PPP debt-servicing commitment is for each local authority department in (a) 2009-10, (b) 2010-11 and (c) 2011-12.
Answer · John Swinney: This information is not held centrally.</p>
20 May 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what the financial commitment to PFI/PPP is estimated to be for each local authority in (a) 2010-11 and (b) 2011-12.
Answer · John Swinney: The information requested can be found in the following table.</p> <p >Estimated Total Annual PFI/PPP Unitary Payments by Local Authority</p> <table border=1 cellspacing=0 cellpadding=0 > <thead> <tr > <td > <p align=center >Local Authority</p> …
20 May 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what the financial commitment to PFI/PPP is for each local authority in 2009-10.
Answer · John Swinney: The information requested can be found in the following table.</p> <p >Estimated Total Annual PFI/PPP Unitary Payments by Local Authority</p> <table border=1 cellspacing=0 cellpadding=0 > <tr > <td width=211 > <p align=center >Local Authority</p> …
7 May 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what funding is in place for support services for male victims of domestic violence.
Answer · Alex Neil: There have been no specialist male services tackling domestic abuse established in Scotland to date.</p> <p >However, over £4 million was allocated to Victim Support Scotland (VSS) for 2008-09 (an increase of 2% from 2007-08). VSS provides practical and emo…
7 May 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what recording mechanisms are in place for the police in relation to male victims of domestic violence.
Answer · Kenny MacAskill: All police forces in Scotland, regardless of the gender of the victim or accused, record incidents of domestic abuse based on the following agreed definition:</p> <p >Domestic abuse is any form of physical, non-physical, or sexual abuse which takes place wit…
7 May 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive when the results of research commissioned by it on male victims of domestic violence will be published.
Answer · Alex Neil: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-23656 on 14 May 2009. 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/Apps2/Bu…
7 May 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive when and from whom it commissioned research on male victims of domestic violence.
Answer · Alex Neil: The Scottish Government commissioned research on domestic abuse against men in 2002. This research was carried out by David Gadd, Stephen Farrall, Damian Dallimore & Nancy Lombard, Dept of Criminology at Keele University and published in September 2002. T…
30 Apr 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-22489 by Richard Lochhead on 22 April 2009, how the £25 million allocation for the Zero Waste Fund is broken down in terms of revenue and capital monies.
Answer · Richard Lochhead: The £25 million distribution to local authorities from the Zero Waste Fund for 2009-10 is broken down in terms of revenue and capital, as follows:</p> <p >(£ Million Rounded)</p> <table border=1 cellspacing=0 cellpadding=0 > <thead> <tr > <td width…
21 Apr 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether Disclosure Scotland plans to review the service level target of 90% of applications processed within 14 calendar days, particularly with regard to standard and enhanced disclosure checks.
Answer · Adam Ingram: We have no plans to review the service level target now. We intend to introduce the PVG Scheme in Scotland next year and a consequence of that will mean that around 90% of applications for the enhanced disclosure carried out under Part 5 of the Police Act 199…
21 Apr 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, following publication of the Bichard Inquiry Report in 2004, what progress has been made by Disclosure Scotland in relation to accessing foreign conviction information.
Answer · Adam Ingram: It is still not possible to access foreign conviction information unless that information has been transferred to the UK and recorded in the central records searched by Disclosure Scotland.</p> <p >We are working with colleagues in the UK Government to secur…
21 Apr 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has reviewed the decision to make it possible to apply for standard and enhanced disclosure checks online and, if so, whether it will publish its review.
Answer · Adam Ingram: All of the existing IT system was reviewed as part of the programme to deliver the Protecting Vulnerable Groups (PVG) Scheme. A new IT system is being developed to deliver the PVG Scheme and the remaining disclosure checks under Part 5 of the Police Act 1997.…
21 Apr 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it plans to review procedures used by Disclosure Scotland in processing applications.
Answer · Adam Ingram: There is no plan to review the procedures for processing applications at this time. Disclosure Scotland currently has in place quality assurance and quality improvement procedures. This oversight of processing arrangements allows the identification of aspects…
15 Apr 2009 · General Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, in light of recent research by the Institute of Directors that suggested that Scottish workers may have to work until over the age of 70 to pay for public sector pensions, whether the Scottish Government intends to conduct a review of public sector pay and conditions.
Answer · John Swinney : <i> This question was answered in the Chamber. The answer can be viewed in the Official Report using the following link:</i></p> <p ><a href="http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/business/officialReports/meetingsParliament/or-09/sor0423-01.htm">http://www.scott…
31 Mar 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how much (a) North Lanarkshire, (b) South Lanarkshire, (c) Falkirk and (d) East Ayrshire councils have been allocated from the £20.85 million Zero Waste Fund for 2009-10.
Answer · Richard Lochhead: The Zero Waste Fund for 2009-10 is £25 million, not £20.85 million.</p> <p >The actual sums allocated from the Zero Waste Fund to each of these authorities for 2009-10 is as follows:</p> <table border=1 cellspacing=0 cellpadding=0 > <thead> <tr > <t…
20 Mar 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3O-6270 by Richard Lochhead on 19 March 2009, where in the 32 single outcome agreements there is reference to fortnightly refuse collections.
Answer · Richard Lochhead: Generally speaking, single outcome agreements (SOAs) do not include references to alternate weekly collections. The introduction, or otherwise, of alternate weekly collections for residual household waste is a matter for individual local authorities.</p> <p …
19 Mar 2009 · General Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it monitors the performance of local authorities that have moved to fortnightly refuse collections.
Answer · Richard Lochhead: Scottish Government has a commitment to monitor the performance of local authorities across Scotland. That is why we have developed single outcome agreements with all 32 local authorities.</p> <p >In addition, detailed monitoring of service provision at a lo…
5 Mar 2009 · General Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has had, or plans to have, discussions with COSLA or the Society of Local Authority Chief Executives and Senior Managers on the issue of executive pay in local government.
Answer · John Swinney: <i >This question was answered in the Chamber. The answer can be viewed in the Official Report using the following link:</i></p> <p ><a href="http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/business/officialReports/meetingsParliament/or-09/sor0305-01.htm">http://www.scott…
24 Feb 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what funding is provided for drug and alcohol services in Lanarkshire and how this funding is allocated.
Answer · Fergus Ewing: Funding is allocated to NHS boards for drug and alcohol treatment and support services and for the delivery of alcohol brief interventions. It is for NHS boards together with local Alcohol and Drug Action Teams to decide which services to fund based on identi…
24 Feb 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how much was spent on (a) direct and (b) indirect drug and alcohol services in Lanarkshire in 2007-08.
Answer · Fergus Ewing: Information on what is spent directly and indirectly on drug and alcohol services is not held centrally. Funding is allocated to NHS boards for drug and alcohol treatment and support services. It is for NHS boards together with partners in local Alcohol and D…
24 Feb 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether additional funding will be provided to NHS Lanarkshire to ensure the successful implementation of the national bowel screening programme in August 2009.
Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: Costs for the home test kits, laboratory functions, call/recall office and helpline are centrally funded and managed.</p> <p >NHS Education Scotland (NES) was commissioned in March 2006 to develop a national programme to support the education and training of…
24 Feb 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what action is being taken by NHS boards participating in the national bowel screening programme to target groups with low uptake.
Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: Data from the Scottish Bowel Screening pilot showed that uptake was higher in women than in men and uptake was lowest in deprived areas.</p> <p >NHS boards are looking at means to encourage relevant individuals'' participation in the programme through, for …
24 Feb 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, in light of the publication of Asset Management in the NHS in Scotland by Audit Scotland, whether it plans to initiate strategies for the routine collation of information from NHS bodies on the performance and maintenance of fixed NHS assets.
Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-20499 on 23 February 2009. 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/App…
24 Feb 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it proposes to initiate programmes as part of its Youth Justice Framework based on evidence from the Action for Children Scotland Renfrewshire Primary Support Project.
Answer · Fergus Ewing: The Action for Children Scotland Renfrewshire Primary Support Project is in line with the principles of <i >Preventing Offending by Young People “ A Framework for Action </i>(Bib. number 46408), published in June 2008.</p> <p >In this partnership Framework, …
24 Feb 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive when the Scottish Housing Regulator will publish its comparative study of homelessness services of five registered social landlords and Glasgow City Council.
Answer · Alex Neil: I have asked Karen Watt, Chief Executive of the Scottish Housing Regulator, to respond.</p> <p >Her response is as follows:</p> <p >The regulator aims to publish its inspection report on Glasgow City Council''s homeless service in the early summer. It pla…
12 Feb 2009 · General Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has proposals with regard to updating and increasing flexibility to the traditional one week work experience for secondary school pupils.
Answer · Fiona Hyslop: <i > This question was answered in the Chamber. The answer can be viewed in the Official Report using the following link:</i></p> <p ><a href="http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/business/officialReports/meetingsParliament/or-09/sor0212-01.htm">http://www.scot…
5 Feb 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many people were diagnosed with myalgic encephalopathy/chronic fatigue syndrome in the North Lanarkshire council area in each of the last five years.
Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: The information requested is not available centrally.</p>
5 Feb 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many people diagnosed with myalgic encephalopathy/chronic fatigue syndrome entered further or higher education in 2007-08, broken down by local authority area.
Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: The information requested is not available centrally.</p>
5 Feb 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what information it has on how many people suffering from myalgic encephalopathy/chronic fatigue syndrome are in receipt of incapacity benefit.
Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: The issue of incapacity benefit entitlement is a matter reserved to the UK Government and is the responsibility of the Department for Work and Pensions.</p>
5 Feb 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what information it has on how many people suffering from myalgic encephalopathy/chronic fatigue syndrome are recorded as unemployed.
Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: The data on CFS/ME collected by the Information Services Division of NHS National Services Scotland do not include details of people''s employment status.</p>
5 Feb 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what the total expenditure by NHS Scotland was on medical research in the field of myalgic encephalopathy/chronic fatigue syndrome in each of the last five years and how this compares with the UK Government’s expenditure for the same period.
Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: The Chief Scientist Office (CSO), of the Scottish Government''s Health Directorates, has responsibility for encouraging and supporting research into health and health care needs in Scotland. One of the main agencies through which the UK Government funds medic…