Parliamentary questions
Jim Tolson
304 questions tabled in the Scottish Parliament, most recent first.
30 Sep 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what assessment has been made of the number of children suffering from coeliac disease.
Answer · Shona Robison: Based on diagnostic information held on hospital discharge records, there were an estimated 478 children in Scotland (46 per 100,000) aged 17 years or under, living with a diagnosis of coeliac disease at 31 December 2007. This may underestimate the true preva…
30 Sep 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what guidance is issued to schools on the provision of gluten-free meals.
Answer · Adam Ingram: The Scottish Government does not issue guidance to schools on the provision of gluten-free meals. We expect each local authority to have developed its own policy for delivering appropriate provision for children and young people with medically prescribed diet…
11 Sep 2008 · General Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how it is encouraging the transport of freight by rail and sea rather than road.
Answer · Stewart Stevenson: We operate three freight grant schemes all of which encourage the transport of freight by rail or water rather than road. These are the Freight Facilities, Waterborne Freight and Rail Environmental Benefits Procurement Grant schemes. Our budget of £14.9 milli…
2 Sep 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive which local authorities have prudential borrowing capacity to build social housing and how many homes each could deliver through prudential borrowing in the next 10 years.
Answer · Stewart Maxwell: Since 2004-05 it has been for local authorities to determine their prudential borrowing capacity. In making this determination a local authority is required to have regard to <i >The Prudential Code for Capital Finance in Local Authorities</i> issued by the C…
28 Aug 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many houses owned by (a) registered social landlords and (b) local authorities have not met the Scottish Housing Quality Standard.
Answer · Stewart Maxwell: I have asked Karen Watt, Chief Executive of the Scottish Housing Regulator, to respond. Her response is as follows:</p> <p >Scottish ministers have asked registered social landlords (RSLs) and local authorities to meet the Scottish Housing Quality Standard (…
28 Aug 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many houses owned by (a) registered social landlords and (b) local authorities have already met the Scottish Housing Quality Standard.
Answer · Stewart Maxwell: I have asked Karen Watt, Chief Executive of the Scottish Housing Regulator, to respond. Her response is as follows:</p> <p >According to information supplied by registered social landlords (RSLs) in 2006-07 a total of 125,895 RSL dwellings met the Scottish H…
28 Aug 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many houses in each local authority area are not expected to achieve the Scottish Housing Quality Standard by the end of 2015
Answer · Stewart Maxwell: I have asked Karen Watt, Chief Executive of the Scottish Housing Regulator, to respond. Her response is as follows:</p> <p >According to the information provided to us by landlords the number of properties which are not expected to achieve the Scottish Housi…
25 Aug 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the announcement by the First Minister on 19 August 2008 that up to £100 million is being brought forward in the Affordable Housing Investment Programme from 2010-11, whether this affects assumptions about how much is being invested in Glasgow and Edinburgh for 2008-09 and, if…
Answer · Stewart Maxwell: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-15759 on 16 September 2008. 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./w…
25 Aug 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the announcement by the First Minister on 19 August 2008 that up to £100 million is being brought forward in the Affordable Housing Investment Programme from 2010-11, how it expects the commitment to fund low-cost home ownership programmes to the sum of £250 million over three…
Answer · Stewart Maxwell: The spend profile and allocation of the up to £100 million of affordable housing investment has yet to be finalised. In allocating this accelerated funding we will prioritise bringing forward new construction but will also spend on off the shelf units and lan…
25 Aug 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the announcement by the First Minister on 19 August 2008 that up to £100 million is being brought forward in the Affordable Housing Investment Programme from 2010-11, what the (a) revised level of expenditure and (b) revised unit approvals are expected to be for Scotland as a …
Answer · Stewart Maxwell: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-15759 on 16 September 2008. 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./w…
25 Aug 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the announcement by the First Minister on 19 August 2008 that up to £100 million is being brought forward in the Affordable Housing Investment Programme from 2010-11, what the (a) revised level of expenditure and (b) revised unit approvals are expected to be for 2008-09 for ot…
Answer · Stewart Maxwell: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-15759 on 16 September 2008. 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./w…
25 Aug 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the announcement by the First Minister on 19 August 2008 that up to £100 million is being brought forward in the Affordable Housing Investment Programme from 2010-11, what the (a) revised level of expenditure and (b) unit approvals are expected to be for 2008-09 for each local…
Answer · Stewart Maxwell: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W- 15759 on 16 September 2008. 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./…
25 Aug 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the announcement by the First Minister on 19 August 2008 that up to £100 million is being brought forward in the Affordable Housing Investment Programme from 2010-11, what the (a) revised level of expenditure and (b) number of unit approvals are expected to be for 2008-09 for …
Answer · Stewart Maxwell: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W- 15759 on 16 September, 2008. 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.…
25 Aug 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the announcement by the Cabinet Secretary for Health and Wellbeing on 25 June 2008 of £25 million for the homeowners’ support fund over two years, how much it anticipates will be spent in 2008-09 and 2009-10 on mortgage rescue.
Answer · Stewart Maxwell: £10 million has been allocated for 2008-09. £15 million is the planned expenditure for 2009-10 to fund Mortgage to Rent and other aspects of the new Home Owners Support Fund. However, actual expenditure levels will depend on demand from eligible home owners.<…
25 Aug 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what the (a) planned and (b) outturn investment was in the Affordable Housing Investment Programme for (i) 2005-06, (ii) 2006-07 and (iii) 2007-08, inclusive of receipts.
Answer · Stewart Maxwell: The Affordable Housing Investment Programme planned and outturn investment, inclusive of receipts for 2005-06, 2006-07 and 2007-08 is as follows:</p> <table border=0 cellspacing=0 cellpadding=0 > <thead> <tr > <td > <p align=center >Year</p> <…
25 Aug 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the announcement by the First Minister on 19 August 2008 that £60 million of already identified money has been brought forward in the Affordable Housing Investment Programme, (a) which national programmes this has been diverted from and (b) how that £60 million will be split a…
Answer · Stewart Maxwell: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-15759 on 16 September 2008. 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./w…
25 Aug 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the announcement by the First Minister on 19 August 2008 that up to £100 million of affordable housing investment is to be spent this year and next, rather than in 2010-11 as originally planned, what the expected investment is and how many affordable housing units are expected…
Answer · Stewart Maxwell: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-15759 on 16 September 2008. 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./w…
25 Aug 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the announcement by the First Minister on 19 August 2008 that up to £100 million of affordable housing investment is to be spent this year and next, rather than in 2010-11 as originally planned, what the impact will be on planned units and investment for affordable housing in …
Answer · Stewart Maxwell: The spend profile and allocation of the up to £100 million has yet to be finalised. In allocating this accelerated funding we will prioritise bringing forward new construction but will also spend on off the shelf units and land acquisitions where this is stra…
19 Aug 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what measures it intends to take to support more disabled people into employment.
Answer · Fiona Hyslop: Officials are working on a number of approaches to support disabled people into employment. A Supported Employment Framework is currently being developed by the Scottish Government and COSLA as a result of recommendations from the Scottish Parliament''s Equal…
19 Aug 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how much funding has been allocated to helping disabled people find employment in each of the last five years.
Answer · Fiona Hyslop: Allocation of funding to help disabled people find employment is a matter reserved to Westminster. Further investment in disability employment services is currently commissioned at a local level in Scotland and is a responsibility for local authorities.</p>
19 Aug 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what support is currently available to assist disabled people in finding employment.
Answer · Fiona Hyslop: Employment and job search are matters reserved to Westminster. The responsibility for delivering services to assist disabled people into employment lies with the Department for Work and Pensions. Through Jobcentre Plus it offers a range of employment support …
19 Aug 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions it has had with COSLA on developing a framework for supported employment.
Answer · Fiona Hyslop: The Scottish Government is currently working in partnership with COSLA in relation to the development of a Supported Employment Framework for Scotland. A task group has been convened that will oversee the development of the framework and it is expected to rep…
1 Aug 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what support is available to small businesses to help them with employee training and development.
Answer · Fiona Hyslop: Small businesses can currently access learndirect scotland for business support through three engagement channels: the web at <a href="http://www.lds4b.com/">www.lds4b.com</a>, the National Business Training Advice helpline on 08456 000 111 and the Training P…
1 Aug 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how it plans to encourage workers across all sectors of the economy to continuously upgrade their skills.
Answer · Fiona Hyslop: The Scottish Government outlines its plans to encourage workers across all sectors to continuously upgrade their skills in <i >Skills for Scotland – a Lifelong Skills Strategy</i>.</p> <p >In the strategy we recognise that an important factor in employee lea…
1 Aug 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive which organisations and groups were consulted prior to changes being made to national training programmes and modern apprenticeships.
Answer · Maureen Watt: <i >Skills for </i><i >Scotland</i><i >,</i> our skills strategy published in September 2007, clearly signalled that we fully supported the all age nature of the modern apprenticeship (MA) programme, but we recognised the need for us to prioritise our resou…
10 Jul 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many (a) parliamentary questions and (b) letters to the First Minister and the Cabinet issued by MSPs in the current parliamentary session remain unanswered, broken down into those which are (i) one month overdue, (ii) two months overdue, (iii) three months overdue, (iv) four months o…
Answer · Bruce Crawford: Cabinet Secretaries and ministers have received 15,614 parliamentary questions since 1 May 2007 and 11 questions fall into the category of being one month or more overdue.</p> <table border=1 cellspacing=0 cellpadding=0 > <thead> <tr > <td width=120 …
10 Jul 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many single homeless (a) women and (b) men were in bed and breakfast accommodation in May (i) 2007 and (ii) 2008.
Answer · Stewart Maxwell: Councils provide information on numbers of homeless households in temporary accommodation at the end of each quarter. The information provided identifies numbers of households with children or a pregnant household member from other types of household. The inf…
10 Jul 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how much has been spent in recruiting its staff in (a) Edinburgh and (b) Scotland in each year since 2000.
Answer · John Swinney: The Scottish Government does not collate information on the total spend in recruiting its staff. Information is collated on certain aspects of cost of recruitment where the spend is made through the centrally managed contracts which have been put in place by …
10 Jul 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what strategies it has in place to ensure that there is no age discrimination in its recruitment and retention processes.
Answer · John Swinney: The Scottish Government has introduced a “no retirement age” policy for Band A-C staff and the Cabinet Office has raised the normal retirement age for the Senior Civil Service (SCS) from 60 to 65. Staff in the SCS can apply for an extension to their contract …
16 Jun 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what the (a) expenditure and (b) unit approvals in the Affordable Housing Investment Programme are for (i) each local authority area and (ii) and Scotland for 2008-09, also showing the distribution of investment for (A) registered social landlords for rented accommodation, (B) registered …
Answer · Stewart Maxwell: Planned expenditure in the Affordable Housing Investment Programme (AHIP) for 2008-09 by local authority area is set out in the answer to question S3W-13606 on 30 May 2008. Planned unit approvals in AHIP for 2008-09 split by local authority area is set out in…