Parliamentary questions
Ms Rosemary Byrne
600 questions tabled in the Scottish Parliament, most recent first.
20 Dec 2006 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what provision has been made to make alternative funding available to people with additional support needs who will be affected by funding cuts to the Supporting People programme.
Answer · Rhona Brankin: The reductions in SupportingPeople funding, which affect some but not all councils, arose from the need, inthe light of the Treasury-led review of the programme, to improve efficiencies inthe delivery of services and redistribute overall funding in a fairer w…
13 Dec 2006 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S2W-29157 by Peter Peacock on 14 November 2006, what specific support and expert advice is offered to schools on securing sustained improvement; whether schools and education authorities have the flexibility to internally divert all resources allocated t…
Answer · Hugh Henry: A wide range of materials andexpert guidance supporting improvement is made available by Her Majesty’s Inspectorateof Education (HMIE) and Learning and TeachingScotland.</p><p>The specific support and expertadvice offered to schools will be dependent on the c…
13 Dec 2006 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive which drug and alcohol action teams have caps on the level of methadone treatment offered.
Answer · Cathy Jamieson: This information is not heldcentrally. Decisions on the provision of prescribing services are taken byindividual health boards in the context of local need.</p>
11 Dec 2006 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what funding is currently available to Strathclyde Fire and Rescue Service in respect of fire service college courses.
Answer · Johann Lamont: I refer the member to the answer to question S2W-30483 on 17 January 2007. 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/webapp/wa…
11 Dec 2006 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what funding it has given to Strathclyde Fire and Rescue Service in respect of fire service college courses in (a) 2002, (b) 2003 and (c) 2004.
Answer · Johann Lamont: Funding for training is not specificallyidentified within Fire and Rescue Service running costs. The amount spent on trainingis a matter for the Chief Fire Officer. The vast majority of the costs of coursesprovided at the Scottish Fire Services College are me…
17 Nov 2006 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what funding has been provided to each NHS board for harm reduction and, in particular, needle exchange under the Executive’s hepatitis C action plan.
Answer · Andy Kerr: Funding of £4 million overtwo financial years has been allocated to assist NHS boards in supporting the actionsoutlined in the Hepatitis C Action Plan for Scotland as detailed as follows:</p><table border=1 cellspacing=0 cellpadding=3> <tr> <td nowrap valign…
16 Nov 2006 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what funding will be allocated for dedicated specialist stimulant service provision in 2007-08 (a) in total and (b) broken down by local alcohol and drug action team area.
Answer · Johann Lamont: Breakdown of funding for dedicated specialist stimulant services in each localAlcohol and Drug Action Team area is not available centrally.</p><p>Planning for services is doneat local rather than national level. Alcohol and Drug Action Teams and their partner…
16 Nov 2006 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what funding has been allocated for dedicated specialist stimulant service provision in each of the last three financial years (a) in total and (b) broken down by local alcohol and drug action team area.
Answer · Johann Lamont: Breakdown of funding for dedicated specialist stimulant services in each localAlcohol and Drug Action Team area is not available centrally.</p><p>Planningfor services is done at local rather than national level. Alcohol and Drug ActionTeams and their partner …
16 Nov 2006 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many newly qualified teachers have secured permanent teaching posts in (a) 2004-05, (b) 2005-06 and (c) 2006-07 following their probationary year.
Answer · Hugh Henry: This information is not heldcentrally.</p><p>However, Audit Scotland publisheda report in May 2006 on the implementation of the agreement <i>A Teaching Professionfor the 21st Century.</i> It reported that “research in 2005 for the General TeachingCouncil for …
16 Nov 2006 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to continue its Integrated Community Schools project.
Answer · Hugh Henry: The Integrated CommunitySchools project has developed since its launch in 1998 and the concept is now mainstreamedinto the wider integrated children’s services agenda. In this context it is no longerappropriate to think of integrated community schools as a se…
9 Nov 2006 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what changes to HM Inspectorate of Education’s inspections are planned, in light of current changes in education policy.
Answer · Robert Brown: HM Inspectorate of Educationconstantly review their procedures and shape inspections to take account of changingcircumstances, including the impact of educationalpolices on pupils’ experiences. As part ofthis on-going process, they also take account of feedba…
9 Nov 2006 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what opportunity there is for HM Inspectorate of Education to take into consideration national assessment results and attainment targets in school inspections.
Answer · Robert Brown: HM Inspectors of Education usea range of evidence in evaluating attainment in primary and secondary schools. Thisincludes national assessment results for the 5-14 stages.</p>
1 Nov 2006 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether parents and pupils would have the right to opt out of using biometric scanner systems installed in any schools.
Answer · Robert Brown: There is currently no proposalto implement such systems across schools in Scotland. The specific detail ofany system which is implemented in a Scottish school would be a matter for the relevantcouncil.</p>
1 Nov 2006 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether parents and pupils have the right to opt out of using the biometric scanner system recently installed in Todholm Primary School in Paisley.
Answer · Robert Brown: I refer the member to the answer to question S2W-29415 on 15 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/webapp/…
1 Nov 2006 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what safeguards are in place in respect of the storage of personal data from the biometric scanner system recently installed in Todholm Primary School in Paisley.
Answer · Robert Brown: I refer the member to the answer to question S2W-29415 on 15 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/webapp/…
1 Nov 2006 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive who stores the personal data from the biometric scanner system recently installed in Todholm Primary School in Paisley.
Answer · Robert Brown: I refer the member to the answer to question S2W-29415 on 15 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/webapp/…
1 Nov 2006 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how the contract for supply of a biometric scanner system in Todholm Primary School in Paisley was awarded.
Answer · Robert Brown: I refer the member to the answer to question S2W-29415 on 15 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/webapp/…
1 Nov 2006 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive who is supplying the biometric scanner system recently installed in Todholm Primary School in Paisley.
Answer · Robert Brown: I refer the member to the answer to question S2W-29415 on 15 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/webapp/…
1 Nov 2006 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how the cost of implementing any proposal to supply a biometric scanner system in every school would be met and from which budget this funding would come.
Answer · Robert Brown: There is currently no proposalto implement such systems across schools in Scotland.</p>
1 Nov 2006 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive who is paying for the biometric scanner system recently installed in Todholm Primary School in Paisley.
Answer · Robert Brown: I refer the member to the answer to question S2W-29415 on 15 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/webapp/…
1 Nov 2006 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what the total cost would be of supplying a biometric scanner system in every school.
Answer · Robert Brown: I refer the member to the answer to question S2W-29415 on 15 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/webapp/…
1 Nov 2006 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what the total cost is of the biometric scanner system recently installed in Todholm Primary School in Paisley.
Answer · Robert Brown: This information is not heldcentrally. The decision to install a biometric scanning system in Todholm Primary Schoolwas made by Renfrewshire Council. Any requests for information regarding this systemshould be directed to Renfrewshire Council.</p>
31 Oct 2006 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what the percentage increase in agricultural rents has been in each year since 1999.
Answer · Ross Finnie: The following table showsthe percentage change in average agricultural rents for each year since 1999,as reported by the Survey of Tenanted Land in Scotland.</p><table border=1 cellspacing=0 cellpadding=3> <thead> <tr> <td width=52 nowrap valign=bottom> …
31 Oct 2006 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what the average rent is for agricultural land.
Answer · Ross Finnie: The latest available resultsfrom the Survey of Tenanted Land in Scotland, show that in 2004, the overall average rent foragricultural land was £31.10 per hectare.</p><p>Notes :</p><p>1. For 2004, the overallrent figure is comprised of average rents of £17.53 …
31 Oct 2006 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how much land has been made available by large estates to young entrants into farming in each year since 1999.
Answer · Ross Finnie: I regret that the Environmentand Rural Development Department does not capture information on the scale of businessesletting land nor the status of those entering agriculture in any detail that wouldallow me to answer to the question.</p>
23 Oct 2006 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what safeguards it is putting in place for farmers due less favoured area payments, in light of reports of problems with the Scottish Rural Development Programme.
Answer · Ross Finnie: We recognise that a change inthe timing of Less FavouredArea Support Scheme payments could have anadverse impact on the cash flow of farms and crofts in LFA’s. Accordingly I havesubmitted a proposal to Brussels that we make a supplementary payment of £40 mill…
23 Oct 2006 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether less favoured area payments will be made on time and in full, in light of reports of problems with the Scottish Rural Development Programme.
Answer · Ross Finnie: We expect less favoured areapayments for 2007, 2008, and 2009 to be made in full, towards the end of each calendaryear. In recognition of the financial costs arising from the change from traditionalspring payments, we have proposed to the European Commission …
23 Oct 2006 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what level of modulation will be set for the Scottish Rural Development Programme.
Answer · Ross Finnie: In line with previous statementsin relation to modulation, we expect the combined EU and national modulation rateto be at least 10% by 2007. The EU contribution to this rate is fixed at 5%. Anyincrease in national modulation beyond 5% will be implemented in a…
23 Oct 2006 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive when the next stage of the Scottish Rural Development Programme will be announced.
Answer · Ross Finnie: The timing of the introductionof the new Scotland Rural Development Programme is complicated by a number of factorsout with our control. In particular, we need clarity on the terms of the Europeanvoluntary modulation regulation before we can formally submit o…
20 Oct 2006 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what the average primary class size is.
Answer · Peter Peacock: The latest available averageprimary class size is shown in the <i>2005 Pupil Census</i>. This can be accessedusing the following link <ahref="http://www.scotland.gov.uk/stats/bulletins/00487">http://www.scotland.gov.uk/stats/bulletins/00487</a>.</p>