Jeremy Purvis

29 Aug 2005 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has any plans to develop mediation schemes for adult offenders.

Answer · Hugh Henry: The Scottish Executive provides a wide range of interventions targeting the problem of low-level offending, including funding of £335,654 for reparation and mediation schemes operated by SACRO (Safeguarding Communities Reducing Offending) in partnership with …

29 Aug 2005 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how much it plans to allocate to the Youth Crime Prevention Fund in the next three years.

Answer · Cathy Jamieson: I refer the member to the answerto question S2W-18768 on 21 September 2005. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the searchfacility for which can be found at <ahref="http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp…

29 Aug 2005 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what the total allocation for the Youth Crime Prevention Fund has been since 2002.

Answer · Cathy Jamieson: The table sets out funding under the Youth Crime Prevention Fund in each year since it started. This table provides an update to the funding position laid out in the answer to question S2W–11334 on 4 November 2004. By outlining actual spend for 2004-05 and an…

29 Aug 2005 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether every local authority has a young offender mediation and reparation project.

Answer · Cathy Jamieson: Since 2002, the Executive has provided dedicated additional funding to every local authority in Scotland to introduce restorative approaches to youth offending or to enhance their existing provision. Details are published as part of the annual youth justice m…

29 Aug 2005 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how it has developed young offender mediation and reparation projects since 2002.

Answer · Cathy Jamieson: The Executive recognises the important contribution that properly targeted and focused restorative approaches can make to the wider repertoire of services aimed at preventing, tackling and cutting youth crime.</p> <p>The Scottish Executive’s Action Programme …

23 Aug 2005 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many applications have been received for Futurebuilders Scotland and, of these, how many have been (a) successful and (b) rejected.

Answer · Malcolm Chisholm: I have asked Angiolina Foster, Chief Executive of Communities Scotland, to respond. Her response is as follows:</p> <p>As of 9 September 2005, the number of application received for Futurebuilders Scotland funding was 1,025, of these 273 were successful, and …

29 Jul 2005 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how much funding has been allocated for (a) palliative care, (b) hospices and (c) pain relief training by each NHS board in the last year.

Answer · Andy Kerr: Of the £25 millionadditional <i>Cancer in Scotland </i>investment, more than £2.3m is availableon a recurring basis for palliative care. This investment has been used forstaffing, training and equipment to support improvements in patient care in thecommunity.…

22 Jun 2005 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will report on the outcome of the British-Irish Council summit held in Douglas, Isle of Man on 20 May 2005.

Answer · Jim Wallace: On 20 May 2005, the Isle of Man hostedthe seventh British–Irish Council (BIC) Summit in Douglas, attended by myself and Mr Andy Kerr MSP, Minister forHealth and Community Care. The focus of the summit was telemedicine, on which theIsle of Man takes the lead i…

17 Jun 2005 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what representations it has made to the organisers of the London 2012 Olympic bid regarding the reinstatement of rugby sevens as an Olympic sport.

Answer · Patricia Ferguson: The Sports Programme at an Olympic Games is determined by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) and not the host city or the local organising committee. The Executive has no plans to make representations to the IOC about the inclusion of a particular spor…

3 Jun 2005 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to use European structural funds to upgrade further education facilities in the south of Scotland.

Answer · Allan Wilson: The Executive is committed to providing modern high-quality education facilities to encourage people to take up the development opportunities offered by our lifelong learning agenda. This will provide a sound basis to stimulate economic growth and tackle prob…

12 May 2005 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what the average waiting time is for dermatology services, broken down by NHS board, and what action it is taking to monitor this.

Answer · Andy Kerr: The median waiting times for a first out-patient appointment with a consultant in the specialty of dermatology, following referral by a general medical practitioner, by NHS board of residence, in the year ended 31 December 2004, are given in the table.</p> <p…

9 Mar 2005 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions it has had with the Association of Chief Police Officers in Scotland regarding the threat of terrorism activity within and against Scotland.

Answer · Cathy Jamieson: We are in regularcontact with the Association of Chief Police Officers in Scotland at both ministerial and official levelon a range of issues, including matters relating to the threat of terrorism.</p>

23 Feb 2005 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what support it is giving to rural development trusts.

Answer · Lewis Macdonald: Development trusts in rural areas are supported in a number of ways. The Scottish Rural Partnership Fund offers grant aid through a competitive bidding process for development trusts to build community capacity and provide local services or facilities. Develo…

23 Feb 2005 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what representations it has received about changing funding structures for voluntary community care forums.

Answer · Rhona Brankin: We are not aware of any representations other than the member’s recent letter about changing funding structures for community care forums. I replied to that letter on 28 February highlighting the increasingly important role for the voluntary sector in local p…

9 Feb 2005 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S2W-10879 by Hugh Henry on 5 October 2004, when it will publish the consultation paper on the system of handling complaints against advocates and solicitors and the powers of the Scottish Legal Services Ombudsman.

Answer · Hugh Henry: The consultation paper is being finalised and will be published as soon as possible. As I explained to Parliament on 20 January, the Executive wished to consider the contents of Sir David Clementi's report on the regulation of legal services in England and Wa…

7 Feb 2005 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it is considering legislative steps to improve contact arrangements for children and their parents in Scotland.

Answer · Cathy Jamieson: The Family Law (Scotland) Bill,introduced on 7 February, includes provisions aimed at giving greater support tochildren and families. However, legislationwill not provide the solution to every problem. This is why, at the same time aswe progress our bill, the…

7 Feb 2005 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has had any discussions with the UK Government regarding measures in the draft Children (Contact) and Adoption Bill.

Answer · Euan Robson: We have had discussions with the UK Government about both main parts of the draft bill. We are currently carrying out our own reforms of family law but will monitor the progress of the provisions on contact between children and parents, and implications for t…

4 Feb 2005 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many community police officers there are in each police force area.

Answer · Cathy Jamieson: Information on deployment of officers is not held centrally. The Scottish Executive holds statistics on overall police officer numbers, but deployment of officers between community, response and other roles is an operational matter for each chief constable.</…

17 Jan 2005 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to ensure that the eco schools programme continues to expand with the support of the eco schools team within Keep Scotland Beautiful.

Answer · Ross Finnie: The Executive intends to continue funding the eco schools programme with £125,000 per year, for the next three years, from the Education Department and £100,000 per year, for the next three years, through the Environment and Rural Affairs Department. This rep…

15 Dec 2004 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many schools are broadband-enabled.

Answer · Peter Peacock: 301 (78%) of secondary, 853 (38%) of primary and 96 (52%) of special schools have broadband connections of 2Mb or more.</p>

24 Nov 2004 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many schools teach Cantonese.

Answer · Euan Robson: There is only limited information held centrally on the teaching and assessment of Cantonese and Mandarin in schools and in further and higher education. The last entrant to an SQA examination in Cantonese was in 1999.</p>

17 Nov 2004 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what action it is taking to support biofuel production as a renewable energy source.

Answer · Allan Wilson: The main means of support for biofuels is through tax relief.  Cuts in fuel duty for biodiesel and bioethanol have already been introduced by the UK Government, and further steps are being considered.</p><p>In Scotland, we have also boosted this developing se…

27 Oct 2004 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what proportion of Scottish tourism revenue is generated from tourists from England.

Answer · Patricia Ferguson: In 2003 total tourism revenue in Scotland was estimated from survey data to be around £4.4 billion. Of that, just over £2 billion was generated from tourists from England, accounting for around 46% of the total tourism revenue earned in Scotland.</p>

29 Jun 2004 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what progress has been made in respect of implementing its response to Determined to Succeed: A Review of Enterprise in Education.

Answer · Jim Wallace: There has been significant progress since we published our response to <i>Determined to Succeed</i>. All 32 local authorities in Scotland arenow actively engaged in delivering on the Enterprise in Education agenda. Our report – ‘‘<i>Determined to Succeed” One…

23 Jun 2004 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions the Minister for Environment and Rural Development has had with the Minister for Communities on the implications for rural development of the supply of social housing in rural areas.

Answer · Ross Finnie: The Minister for Communities and I are in agreement that affordable housing is an important issue for many parts of rural Scotland. That is why Communities Scotlandhave committed an increased proportion of their development programme resourcesto new and impro…

16 Jun 2004 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how it is promoting the Southern Upland Way as a tourist attraction.

Answer · Frank McAveety: Walking is one of Scotland’s most significant outdoor activities, and VisitScotland and the Area Tourist Boards work hard to encourage visitors to experience the varied walking terrain found across the country. This work includes publicising the network of fo…

26 May 2004 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will adopt a policy of universal broadband coverage for the south of Scotland.

Answer · Jim Wallace: Ourpolicy aim is for pervasive, affordable broadband coverage across Scotland and we are making substantialprogress. Some 82% of Scotland’s population now have access tobroadband services and coverage is expected to reach around 95% by next summer.</p><p>We i…

13 May 2004 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-31063 by Mr Jim Wallace on 2 December 2002, which meetings of the European Council it has attended since 1999.

Answer · Andy Kerr: The European Council bringstogether the Heads of State or Government of the European Union and the Presidentof the Commission. The Executive has not attended any meetings of the EuropeanCouncil since 1999.</p>

28 Apr 2004 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will meet organisers of local public festivals and local authorities to discuss any methods of providing insurance cover for such festivals.

Answer · Tavish Scott: The Scottish Executive are prepared to meet organisers of local public festivals and localauthorities to discuss arrangements concerning events, but it is for suchorganisers (including local authorities) to arrange the appropriate insurancecover for such even…

14 Apr 2004 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what support is available for the building of houses to rent in areas where there are shortages of affordable housing, such as the Scottish Borders.

Answer · Margaret Curran: The main support is provided through the Communities Scotland development programme. In 2004-05 this will invest £264 million in affordable housing resulting in 5,350 new or improved homes.</p><p>In addition, I announced in July an extra £20 million for 2004-…