Parliamentary questions
Ms Rosemary Byrne
600 questions tabled in the Scottish Parliament, most recent first.
29 Oct 2003 · General Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it is achieving its targets in the recruitment of social workers.
Answer · Euan Robson: There are more social workers in Scotland now than atany time in the past and 25% more graduates entering the workforce this yearthan last. Demand for social workers remains high and a range of recentinitiatives on training and workforce development will take…
22 Oct 2003 · General Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it is satisfied with the financial security of construction firms engaged in PFI/PPP contracts.
Answer · Andy Kerr: Scottish Executive recommendedguidance for PPP projects states that any public sector client undertaking aPPP project should complete comprehensive reviews of potential bidders. Thiswill be carried out by advisers appointed by the public sector client, and wi…
2 Oct 2003 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what protection will be given to the local ecosystem and Aucheninnes bog from any heavy traffic at the proposed Aucheninnes landfill site, Dalbeattie.
Answer · Ross Finnie: I refer the member to the answer given to question S2W-3086. All answers to written parliamentaryquestions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility forwhich can be found at:</p><p><ahref="http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/search_w…
2 Oct 2003 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what protection will be given to the local ecosystem and Aucheninnes bog from the discharge of surface water at the proposed Aucheninnes landfill site, Dalbeattie.
Answer · Ross Finnie: I refer the member to the answer given to question S2W-3086. All answers to written parliamentaryquestions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility forwhich can be found at:</p><p><ahref="http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/search_w…
2 Oct 2003 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what protection will be given to the local ecosystem and Aucheninnes bog from any leachate treatment at the proposed Aucheninnes landfill site, Dalbeattie.
Answer · Ross Finnie: I refer the member to the answer given to question S2W-3086. All answers to written parliamentaryquestions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility forwhich can be found at:</p><p><ahref="http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/search_w…
2 Oct 2003 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what protection will be given to the local ecosystem and Aucheninnes bog from any gas flare installation at the proposed Aucheninnes landfill site, Dalbeattie.
Answer · Ross Finnie: This is a matter for Dumfries andGalloway Council, as the planning authority, and for the Scottish EnvironmentProtection Agency, as environmental regulator.</p>
2 Oct 2003 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what protection endangered flora and fauna at Aucheninnes bog, Dalbeattie, are receiving.
Answer · Allan Wilson: I refer the member to the answer given to question S2W-3084 on 29 October 2003. All answers to written parliamentaryquestions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility forwhich can be found at <ahref="http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/web…
2 Oct 2003 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what protection Aucheninnes bog, Dalbeattie, is being given.
Answer · Allan Wilson: Aucheninnes Mossis not considered by Scottish Natural Heritage to form raised bog habitat as itconsists of modified bog habitat which takes the form of wet heath. Scottish Natural Heritage do nottherefore consider that Aucheninnes Moss merits notification as …
2 Oct 2003 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what its position is on whether access roads to landfill sites are unsuitable for heavy traffic.
Answer · Ross Finnie: I refer the member to the answer given to question S2W-3080 today. All answers to written parliamentaryquestions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility forwhich can be found at:</p><p><ahref="http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/se…
2 Oct 2003 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what its policy is with regard to the discharge of surface water from landfill sites.
Answer · Ross Finnie: I refer the member to the answer given to question S2W-3080 on 23 October 2003.All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at <ahref="http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/we…
2 Oct 2003 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what its policy is with regard to leachate treatment.
Answer · Ross Finnie: I refer the member to the answer given to question S2W-3080 today. All answers to written parliamentaryquestions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility forwhich can be found at:</p><p><ahref="http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/s…
2 Oct 2003 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what its policy is with regard to landfill gas flare systems.
Answer · Ross Finnie: The Landfill (Scotland)Regulations 2003 (as amended) control possible environmental risks. Amongstother provisions, the regulations require systems to be put into place tocontrol gas, collect and treat leachate, control water access and minimise thenuisances …
2 Oct 2003 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what its policy is with regard to protection of raised bogs.
Answer · Allan Wilson: Raised bogs are listed inAnnex I of the EC Habitats Directive as a habitat for which Special Areas ofConservation (SACs) must be designated. The Scottish Executive is committedto meeting its obligations under the Habitats Directive and has designated 27raised…
2 Oct 2003 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what its policy is with regard to new landfill developments.
Answer · Ross Finnie: The Scottish Executivewishes to reduce the amount of waste going to landfill. In the National WastePlan we have set targets to reduce the amount of biodegradable municipal waste disposed of tolandfill by 25% (of 1995 amounts) by 2010, 50% by 2013 and 65% by 2…
17 Sep 2003 · General Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what its position is on the OECD report on educational performance and on what lessons can be learned from Finland's level of educational performance.
Answer · Euan Robson: We welcome OECD's <i>Educationat a Glance 2003</i> publication as an extensive and authoritative source of internationalcomparisons in education. It is important that we are able to compare ourselveswith other countries in this way, and to learn from others w…
5 Sep 2003 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether plans for new schools being built under PPP will accommodate any future reduction in class si'es.
Answer · Peter Peacock: The detailed specificationfor new schools, whether procured under PPP or by other means, is a matter forthe local authorities concerned. They need to take a range of factors,including class sizes, into account in such specifications. The Scottish Executive re…
5 Sep 2003 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what the average capacity will be for new schools being built under PPP.
Answer · Peter Peacock: These are matters for local authorities. The Scottish Executive does not collect comprehensive or systematic information on school capacities.</p>
5 Sep 2003 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what mechanisms are in place to monitor spending by local authorities from the Better Neighbourhood Services Fund.
Answer · Margaret Curran: Twelve local authorities havebeen allocated Better Neighbourhoods Services Funding (BNSF) over the period2001-04 on the basis of Local Outcome Agreements (LOAs). These LOAs detailoutcome objectives and what will be funded through BNSF. Funding in years twoand…
5 Sep 2003 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what research has been carried out regarding the relationship between pupil rolls in secondary schools and the number of exclusions and behavioural referrals.
Answer · Peter Peacock: There has been no researchconducted looking specifically at the relationship between pupil rolls insecondary schools and the number of exclusions and behavioural referrals.</p><p>Executive research in thisarea has focussed on number of exclusions at education…
5 Sep 2003 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what the optimum roll for pupil numbers in secondary schools is.
Answer · Peter Peacock: The number of pupils onschool rolls is influenced by various factors which will differ for particularschools. Schools operate effectively with rolls of varying sizes. The Scottish Executive does not specify what the optimum roll of any category of school shou…
7 Aug 2003 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will direct Scottish Enterprise to stop the prosecution of businesses that default on the repayment of loans granted by Scottish Enterprise to businesses affected by the foot-and-mouth disease outbreak.
Answer · Jim Wallace: No. This is an operational matter for Scottish Enterprise. Scottish Enterprise have specific criteria by which they assess what action is appropriate depending on the circumstances of the case.
7 Aug 2003 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what the criteria are for prosecution of businesses that default on loans granted by Scottish Enterprise to businesses affected by the foot-and-mouth disease outbreak.
Answer · Jim Wallace: This is an operational matter for Scottish Enterprise.
7 Aug 2003 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what the criteria are for the repayment of loans granted by Scottish Enterprise to businesses affected by the foot-and-mouth disease outbreak.
Answer · Jim Wallace: This is an operational matter for Scottish Enterprise.
7 Aug 2003 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive in light of Audit Scotland's assessment in Moving to Mainstream: The inclusion of people with special educational needs in mainstream schools, whether mainstreaming does not work for every pupil with special educational needs; whether parents of children with special educational needs sho…
Answer · Peter Peacock: Our Programme for a Better Scotland supports the inclusion of pupils with special educational needs in mainstream schools where this is in their best interests. It also recognises that the learning of some children may be best addressed in specialist provisio…
30 Jul 2003 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what estimate has been made of any interest lost as a result of late payments of business rates for 2002-03.
Answer · Andy Kerr: Local authorities have no powers to charge interest.
30 Jul 2003 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many businesses have been allocated extra time to pay their business rates for 2002-03 and what the average length of additional time allowed was for such payment.
Answer · Andy Kerr: The information requested is not held centrally.
29 Jul 2003 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how any shortfall in income from business rates for 2002-03 was made up.
Answer · Andy Kerr: The amount of income from non-domestic rates collected by local authorities for 2002-03 is not yet available.<P>Figures on the actual amount collected will not be available until November.
29 Jul 2003 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what regulations exist in respect of the late payment of business rates.
Answer · Andy Kerr: The Local Government (Scotland) Act 1975 makes provision for recovery procedures to be initiated by local authorities where payment by instalment is not maintained.
19 Jun 2003 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will return further education colleges to the control of local authorities; whether this will produce greater accountability and financial control than at present, and what the benefit will be of the Scottish Further Education Funding Council engaging consultants to conduct a b…
Answer · Jim Wallace: There is no question of the Scottish Executive seeking to give local authorities control of Scotland's incorporated further education colleges. I am satisfied that the existing statutory framework ensures proper accountability and financial control.<P>The Sco…
15 May 2003 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many school- and nursery-age children are being accommodated in Dungavel House immigration removal centre and whether these children are being educated in local schools.
Answer · Peter Peacock: Immigration and asylum issues, including the educational provision for children at Dungavel, are reserved matters.