Parliamentary questions
Bill Kidd
404 questions tabled in the Scottish Parliament, most recent first.
26 Feb 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many children and young people require moving and handling assistance.
Answer · Adam Ingram: This information is not held centrally.</p>
25 Feb 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, under the Solidarity Golden Rule of its Government Economic Strategy, what representations it intends making to influence the UK Government to reduce inequality by ensuring that welfare reform addresses Scotland’s social equity issues and whether this includes addressing the level of wit…
Answer · Fiona Hyslop: I am contacting Stephen Timms MP, Minister for Employment and Welfare Reform, to arrange a meeting soon to discuss a number of matters, including the impact of welfare reform, on the people of Scotland. The Scottish Government liaises regularly with the UK Go…
14 Feb 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will investigate, as part of its strategy on tackling poverty, the possibility of setting up a website to act as a portal for access to information on benefits, work opportunities, support, and training opportunities.
Answer · Stewart Maxwell: Effective access to advice and information is an important aspect of tackling poverty. In relation to advice on benefits, work opportunities and training opportunities it is important for a website to be able to provide information on both national aspects, s…
14 Feb 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will investigate, while ensuring compatibility with Historic Scotland’s involvement with the bid for World Heritage status, the possibility of the full reconstruction of a section of the Antonine Wall, similar to the reconstruction of part of the Roman frontier in Germany.
Answer · Linda Fabiani: The World Heritage Committee''s <i >Operational Guidelines for the Implementation of the World Heritage Convention </i>states that the reconstruction of archaeological remains or historic buildings or districts is justifiable only in exceptional circumstances…
12 Feb 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many installations under the central heating programme were completed from October to December 2007, broken down by local authority area.
Answer · Stewart Maxwell: Information is not held by local authority area but by main postcode. The monthly installation rate over the period requested is shown in the following table:</p> <table border=0 cellspacing=0 cellpadding=0 > <thead> <tr > <td nowrap valign=bottom > …
12 Feb 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many installations under the central heating programme were completed from October to December 2006, broken down by local authority area.
Answer · Stewart Maxwell: Information is not held by local authority area but by main postcode. The managing agent (Scottish Gas) has provided installation figures for the three-month period October to December 2006 from its commencement as managing agent on 1 October 2006, not for th…
16 Jan 2008 · General Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what impact an increased number of police officers on the beat will have on crime reduction.
Answer · Kenny MacAskill: The Scottish Government is committedto increasing frontline policing to deter criminals and reassure communities. Thatis why we will deliver an additional 1,000 police officers in our communities throughincreased recruitment, improved retention and redeployme…
20 Dec 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how it will address concerns in respect of the effect of Mosquito ultrasonic youth deterrents on young people with disabilities, autism or visual impairments.
Answer · Fergus Ewing: It is the responsibility of companiesproducing and selling such devices and those using them to address concerns in respectof the effect of Mosquito ultrasonic youth deterrents on young people with disabilities,autism or visual impairments.</p>
20 Dec 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether the use of Mosquito ultrasonic youth deterrents contravenes discrimination or human rights legislation.
Answer · Fergus Ewing: It is the responsibility of thoseusing such devices to ensure that they comply with discrimination and human rightslegislation. The Scottish Government has not undertaken any such assessment.</p>
20 Dec 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what legal advice it has received on the use of Mosquito ultrasonic youth deterrents.
Answer · Fergus Ewing: The Scottish Governmenthas not received any legal advice on the use of Mosquito ultrasonic youth deterrents.</p>
20 Dec 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what studies have been undertaken to evaluate the safety of Mosquito ultrasonic youth deterrents.
Answer · Fergus Ewing: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-8073 on 22 January 2008. All answers to written parliamentaryquestions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for whichcan be found at <a href="http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/w…
20 Dec 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what percentage of adults do not suffer from presbycusis.
Answer · Shona Robison: There is no internationally acknowledgeddefinition of presbycusis. However, Medical Research Council information for GreatBritain, indicates the percentages of bilateral hearing problems in the followingage groups:</p><p>60-64: 29.73%</p><p>65-69: 44.18%</p><…
20 Dec 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive who is responsible for the deployment and licensing of Mosquito ultrasonic youth deterrents.
Answer · Fergus Ewing: The responsibility for the deploymentand licensing of Mosquito ultrasonic youth deterrents lies with local agencies andothers who choose to use them.</p>
20 Dec 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether Mosquito ultrasonic youth deterrents affect all young people under the age of 20.
Answer · Fergus Ewing: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-8073 on 22 January 2008. All answers to written parliamentaryquestions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for whichcan be found at <a href="http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/w…
20 Dec 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many Mosquito ultrasonic youth deterrents are in use in Scotland, also broken down by local authority area.
Answer · Fergus Ewing: The information requested isnot held centrally.</p>
20 Dec 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to regulate the use of Mosquito ultrasonic youth deterrents.
Answer · Fergus Ewing: The Scottish Government has noplans to regulate the use of Mosquito ultrasonic youth deterrents.</p>
20 Dec 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what evidence there is to support claims that Mosquito ultrasonic youth deterrents affect only young people under the age of 20.
Answer · Fergus Ewing: The Scottish Government has notundertaken any research into the effect of the Mosquito ultrasonic youth deterrentdevice or reviewed the publicly available evidence.</p>
10 Dec 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what the average costs of fully wheelchair-accessible homes are compared with homes without such access.
Answer · Stewart Maxwell: The information requested isnot held centrally.</p>
10 Dec 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many (a) local authority and (b) housing association new-build homes have been fully wheelchair-accessible in each year since 1999, also expressed as a percentage of the total number of their new-build homes.
Answer · Stewart Maxwell: The numbers of social sectornew build wheelchair housing units are shown in the following table. The housingassociation figures represent units approved during the year and the local authorityfigures are for new build starts.</p><p>Social Sector New BuildWhee…
10 Dec 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to increase the quota of fully wheelchair-accessible homes in new-build developments.
Answer · Stewart Stevenson: The Scottish Government has noplans to introduce such a quota.</p><p>Scottish Planning Policy 3: Planningfor Housing encourages more diverse, attractive, mixed residential communities,both in terms of tenure and land use. To create mixed communities, a range …
10 Dec 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether new-build developments are required to include a quota of fully wheelchair-accessible homes.
Answer · Stewart Stevenson: There is no requirement in planninglegislation or guidance to require such a quota. However, we are aware that, asexamples, both City of Glasgow and City of Edinburgh Councils have prepared supplementary planningguidance which requires developers to demonstr…
5 Dec 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what the (a) maximum, (b) minimum and (c) average cost was of land sold for housing units by each local authority to (i) local housing associations and (ii) private developers in each year since 1999.
Answer · Stewart Maxwell: This information isnot held centrally.</p>
20 Nov 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will consider the creation of a one-stop shop to make it easier for voluntary and other social enterprise organisations to apply for funding.
Answer · John Swinney: The Scottish Governmentrecognises the important role and value provided by organisations, such as voluntarybodies and social enterprises, delivering services and support in communities. Fundingis primarily a matter for local authorities and other public bodie…
20 Nov 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it is considering ways in which funding can be made more accessible to small organisations that rely on such funding for their survival.
Answer · John Swinney: The Scottish Governmentrecognises the important role and value provided by organisations, such as voluntarybodies and social enterprises, delivering services and support in communities. Fundingis primarily a matter for local authorities and other public bodie…
20 Nov 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-4775 by John Swinney on 22 October 2007, whether it will consider introducing set criteria for designating land as greenspace.
Answer · Stewart Stevenson: The ScottishGovernment’s policy on open space is contained in <i>Scottish Planning Policy(SPP) 11: Open Space and Physical Activity</i>, published earlier this month,available at:</p><p><ahref="http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Publications/2007/11/12152424/0">www.s…
19 Nov 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how it ensures that people with learning difficulties are involved in the formulation of anti-bullying strategies.
Answer · Maureen Watt: Respect<i>me</i>, Scotland’s anti-bullying service, provides information, advice and training to supportthose working with children and young people on all aspects of bullying. Respect<i>me</i>has developed a toolkit to support training, including an outline …
19 Nov 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many reports of bullying of children with learning difficulties were reported in each year since 2002, broken down by local education authority.
Answer · Maureen Watt: The information requestedis not held centrally.</p>
19 Nov 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what support is available to children with learning difficulties who experience bullying in school.
Answer · Maureen Watt: Respect<i>me</i>, Scotland’s anti-bullying service, provides advice, information and training to supportthose who work with children and young people in dealing effectively with incidentsof bullying.</p><p>In addition, the ScottishGovernment provides funding …
7 Nov 2007 · General Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether the planned provision of accident and emergency units in Glasgow will be reviewed in light of the recent forecast of a higher than expected rise in the Scottish population.
Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: I have made it clearthat there will not be a general review of service changes that have already beenmade in the NHS. NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde’s proposals for the modernisation of hospital services in Glasgow, which will also see the reconfiguration of a…
17 Oct 2007 · General Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what funding it has provided, or will provide, to Greenspace and other similar organisations that promote local action to improve the environment for the citizens of our towns and cities, as in the development of the Drumchapel Way in Glasgow.
Answer · Michael Russell: During this and theprevious administration the Scottish Government has provided funding to many organisationsincluding local authorities, through grant schemes and core funding, to promotenational and local action to improve the environment of our towns and c…