Parliamentary questions
John Swinburne
208 questions tabled in the Scottish Parliament, most recent first.
26 Oct 2004 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it plans to roll out a universal individual learning accounts scheme and, if so, when it will do so.
Answer · Jim Wallace: The successor Individual learning Account scheme in Scotland (ILA), ILA Scotland, will be subject to a phased roll out.</p><p>The initial phase will be a targeted offer aimed at non traditional, low-income learners including those on specific benefits. The lo…
26 Oct 2004 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether individual learning accounts are available to men and women over 65 who are (a) in receipt of pension credit, (b) not in receipt of pension credit and (c) in receipt of pension credit but have an income of less than £15,000 per annum.
Answer · Jim Wallace: The new Individual Learning Account scheme(ILA), ILA Scotland, is not yet available. Ministers will decide shortly on the launch timing for the scheme. </p><p>The initial offer will be targeted towards individuals on low income (gross annual earned income of …
5 Oct 2004 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what initiatives it has implemented, either independently or in collaboration with Her Majesty’s Government, to increase awareness of pensions by young people.
Answer · Malcolm Chisholm: None.</p>
5 Oct 2004 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what initiatives it has implemented, either independently or in collaboration with Her Majesty’s Government, to enhance the opportunities of employment for people aged 55 and over.
Answer · Malcolm Chisholm: Having a job increases the economic wellbeing of individuals and their families. We continue to work with the UK Government to reach the many people who, for a range of reasons find themselves unemployed.</p><p>We have established the all age careers service …
15 Jun 2004 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive when it plans to issue guidance on consultation procedures to be followed on the proposed closure of schools.
Answer · Peter Peacock: I indicated to the Education Committee on 26 May that I plan to write to local authorities on these issues in September.</p>
11 Jun 2004 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S2W-5121 by Nicol Stephen on 23 January 2004, whether this matter has now been raised with the Confederation for Passenger Transport and the operator concerned and, if so, what the outcome of these representations was.
Answer · Nicol Stephen: Following consultation, the busoperator is now able to allow concessionary passengers to undertake a cross-boundaryjourney on the same vehicle. A split fare is available comprising free travel tothe scheme boundary and the appropriate fare for the remainder …
25 May 2004 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S2W-5115 by Nicol Stephen on 3 February 2004, what the actual spend was of each local authority on concessionary travel fares in 2002-03.
Answer · Nicol Stephen: The information requested is as follows:</p><p>Concessionary Fares Net<sup>1</sup> Revenue Expenditure</p><table border=1 cellspacing=0 cellpadding=3 width=497> <thead> <tr> <td> <p> </p> </td> <td> <p align=center>2002-03 </p> </td> </tr> <tr>…
17 May 2004 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what arrangements have been put in place to ensure the servicing of the growing school roll in light of the increasing housing stock in Hamilton, following its decision to close Earnock High School, Hamilton.
Answer · Peter Peacock: It is for South Lanarkshire Councilto determine the detailed need for school places across its area, in the contextof fulfilling its statutory duty to provide adequate and efficient school education.</p>
17 May 2004 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what arrangements have been put in place to ensure the safety of pupils travelling to Blantyre following the decision to close Earnock High School, Hamilton.
Answer · Peter Peacock: This will be a matter for SouthLanarkshire Council as part of its detailed planning of future school provision.</p>
17 May 2004 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what arrangements have been put in place to ensure that pupils have access to all out-of-school activities following the decision to close Earnock High School, Hamilton.
Answer · Peter Peacock: This will be a matter for SouthLanarkshire Council as part of its detailed planning of future school provision.</p>
17 May 2004 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what evidence or information it received from interested parties prior to the decision to close Earnock High School, Hamilton.
Answer · Peter Peacock: The Scottish Executive received over a thousand representations from interested parties expressingtheir views on various aspects of South Lanarkshire Council’s proposals for Earnock High School.</p>
17 May 2004 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive which organisations or individuals it received representations from prior to the decision to close Earnock High School, Hamilton.
Answer · Peter Peacock: The Scottish Executive received over a thousand representations concerning South Lanarkshire Council’sproposals for Earnock High School, but does not maintain a comprehensive list. Those whomade representations included MSPs, local councillors, school boards,…
6 May 2004 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has any plans to provide an additional #111 million to meet the needs of current care home provision, as requested by local authorities.
Answer · Tom McCabe: Local authorities have submitteda case to increase care home fee levels under Spending Review 2004. Decisions followingthe review will be made in the autumn.</p>
6 May 2004 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has any plans to introduce means-testing for free personal care for the elderly and what the reasons are for its position on this matter.
Answer · Tom McCabe: There are no plans to introducemeans testing for free personal care for older people. The existing policy has beenin place for less than two years and the Executive is still monitoring its operation.</p>
6 May 2004 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what the implications for the future provision of care services for the elderly will be of the new population figures projected by Her Majesty's Government Actuary's Department and what action it will take as a result.
Answer · Tom McCabe: The Executive is aware of theprojected population figures and is considering the implications.</p>
21 Apr 2004 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S2W-7353 by Mrs Mary Mulligan on 15 April 2004, whether the allocation of #350 million in 2001 for the delivery of the free central heating programme was ring-fenced and, if not, what the remaining #170 million has been allocated to.
Answer · Mary Mulligan: I have asked Angiolina Foster,the Chief Executive of Communities Scotland to respond. Her response is as follows:</p><p>The £350 million figure was anestimate of the possible cost of delivering the programme made at its launch in2001 on the basis of a possibl…
21 Apr 2004 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S2W-7353 by Mrs Mary Mulligan on 15 April 2004, what the reasons are for the difference between the original estimate of #350 million in 2001 for the delivery of the free central heating programme and the current estimate of #180 million.
Answer · Mary Mulligan: I have asked Angiolina Foster,the Chief Executive of Communities Scotland to respond. Her response is as follows:</p><p>The original estimate was basedon a figure of 140,000 eligible dwellings that could benefit under the centralheating programme. This number…
30 Mar 2004 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S2W-6589 by Mrs Mary Mulligan on 11 March 2004, what the remaining #170 million from the initial budget of #350 million for the delivery of the free central heating programme has been spent on.
Answer · Mary Mulligan: I have asked Angiolina Foster, the Chief Executive of Communities Scotland to respond. Her response isas follows:</p><p>£350 million wasa 2001 estimate of the cost of providing the central heating programme, derivedfrom information looking back to 1996. This …
19 Mar 2004 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has any plans to include in its free central heating programme heating systems that have deteriorated and now require replacement since the introduction of the programme in 2000 and based on need identified in the Scottish House Condition Survey 1996.
Answer · Mary Mulligan: I have asked Angiolina Foster, the Chief Executive of Communities Scotland to respond. Her response isas follows:</p><p>Any applicant who meets theeligibility criteria set out in the central heating programme, and comesforward before the programme’s close, wi…
19 Mar 2004 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what the reasons are for the reduction in the number of free central heating installations projected for completion by 2007 from the original number of households identified by assessors in 1996.
Answer · Mary Mulligan: I have asked Angiolina Foster, the Chief Executive of Communities Scotland to respond. Her response isas follows:</p><p>The targets forthe central heating programme have remained unchanged since its launch in 2001.Estimates of the numbers eligible to receive …
19 Mar 2004 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answers to questions S2W-6588 and S2W-6589 by Mrs Mary Mulligan on 11 March 2004, what the reasons are for the increase in the final cost to #180 million and the completion date being 2007 for the free central heating programme, in light of forecasts given in December 2003…
Answer · Mary Mulligan: I have asked Angiolina Foster, the Chief Executive of Communities Scotland to respond. Her response isas follows:</p><p>The completion of the centralheating programme is set at:</p><p>April 2004 for local authorities;</p><p>during 2004 for housing association…
27 Feb 2004 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what it anticipates that the final cost will be of its central heating installation programme.
Answer · Mary Mulligan: I have asked Angiolina Foster, Chief Executive of Communities Scotland to respond. Her response is asfollows:</p><p>It is expected that thefinal cost of the central heating programme will be in the region of £180million.</p>
27 Feb 2004 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive on what date it estimates that its central heating installation programme will be completed.
Answer · Mary Mulligan: I have asked Angiolina Foster, Chief Executive of Communities Scotland to respond. Her response is asfollows:</p><p>It is estimated that thecurrent central heating programme will be completed by March 2007. Localauthorities are expected to have their part o…
27 Feb 2004 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many central heating installations in (a) local authority, (b) housing association, (c) rented and (d) owner-occupied homes have been completed under its central heating installation programme, showing the total cost per category.
Answer · Mary Mulligan: I have asked Angiolina Foster, Chief Executive of Communities Scotland to respond. Her response is asfollows:</p><p>The latest availableinformation is as follows:</p><p> </p><p>(a) Local authorities –9,699 installations. Cost £24.248 million</p><p> …
13 Feb 2004 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what a local authority's statutory powers and duties are in respect of funding residential care for elderly people.
Answer · Tom McCabe: Local authorities have aduty under the Social Work (Scotland) Act 1968 to make such arrangements as they considerappropriate for the provision of suitable residential accommodation for personsassessed as needing such care.</p>
12 Feb 2004 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many care home residents have a deferred payment agreement in place with the appropriate local authority, broken down by local authority area.
Answer · Tom McCabe: The following table provides the information requested:</p><p>Deferred Payment Agreements as at 30 September 2003</p><table border=1 cellspacing=0 cellpadding=3> <thead> <tr> <td> <p> </p> </td> <td> <p align=center>Number of Agreements</p> </td>…
27 Jan 2004 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether its directive for a national minimum standard for its national concessionary travel scheme for blind people includes concessions for companions travelling with the person who is blind and, if not, whether it intends to include such a concession.
Answer · Nicol Stephen: The national free concessionary travel scheme for blind people was introduced in December 1999 and offers card holders free travel at any time on trains, buses, ferries and the Glasgow Underground. The scheme provides considerable benefits to cardholders. The…
15 Jan 2004 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what its position is on local authorities commencing collection of next year's council tax in April 2004 rather than May 2004.
Answer · Andy Kerr: This is not new. Councilshave had the power to start the 10-part instalment scheme in April rather thanMay since the year 2001-02. I understand that 25 councils made the change in2001-02, a further 4 in 2002-03, with one more council planning to make thechang…
8 Jan 2004 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what arrangements will be put in place to ensure the servicing of the growing school roll in light of the increasing housing stock in Hamilton, should the Executive decide to close Earnock High School.
Answer · Peter Peacock: I refer the member to the answergiven to question S2W-5347. All answers to written parliamentary questions areavailable on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can befound at <a href="http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/search_wa"targe…
8 Jan 2004 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what arrangements will be put in place to ensure that pupils have access to all out-of-school activities, should it decide to close Earnock High School, Hamilton.
Answer · Peter Peacock: I refer the member to the answergiven to question S2W-5347. All answers to written parliamentary questions areavailable on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can befound at <a href="http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/search_wa"targe…