Bob Doris

28 Nov 2007 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what specific help it is giving to GPs in deprived areas.

Answer · Shona Robison: GP practices in deprivedlocations face challenges that would not be experienced elsewhere. We are determinedto see resources to GP practices increasingly distributed according to the healthneeds of the local population.</p><p>A specific exampleof this is the …

15 Nov 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will consider establishing a biofuels task force.

Answer · Stewart Stevenson: There is no evidencethat such an approach to the use of biofuels is required. The Scottish Governmentis pursuing a package of measures to address both transport CO₂ emissionsand the research, development and production of renewable energy. In relat…

7 Nov 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many physically disabled individuals there are working in each Scottish Government department, also expressed as a percentage of all employees in each department.

Answer · John Swinney: The following tablesets out the number of staff who have declared that they have a physical disability.The figures are forcore permanent staff working in the Scottish Government at 3 November 2007 and are broken down by the businessareas line managed by each …

7 Nov 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many staff promotions were awarded across the Scottish Government in each year since 1999 and what percentage of these were awarded to physically disabled workers.

Answer · John Swinney: The ScottishGovernment has four grading bands for staff: A, B , C and the Senior Civil Service.The numbers of physically disabled staff promoted between these bands in all of the Scottish Government’s core Departments are set out as follows.</p><table border=…

7 Nov 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what percentage of physically disabled adults of working age are in (a) full-time and (b) part-time employment.

Answer · Jim Mather: Information on peoplewho declare themselves as disabled using the Disability Discrimination Act (DDA)definition, people who declare themselves as work limiting disabled and people whodeclare themselves as both DDA and work limiting disabled is available from …

7 Nov 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what figures are held in respect of the number of adults of working age who are physically disabled but able to work also expressed as a percentage of (a) all adults and (b) the total workforce.

Answer · Jim Mather: Data on the numberof people who are physically disabled but still able to work are not held centrally.</p><p>However informationon people who declare themselves as disabled using the Disability DiscriminationAct (DDA) definition, people who declare themselves…

7 Nov 2007 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what support it gives to environmental initiatives in Glasgow.

Answer · Michael Russell: The Scottish Governmentsupports a range of environmental initiatives in Glasgow, including those to addresscontaminated land, waste management and recycling, urban woodland management, communityengagement and sustainable development projects. Furthermore, in …

30 Oct 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what representations it intends to make to the new child poverty unit set up by the UK Government.

Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: My officials havealready made contact with the new child poverty unit and will continue to work closelywith them to ensure that the analysis, measures and proposals they put forward properlyreflect the needs and circumstances of Scottish children, and the pol…

27 Sep 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to standardise across each local authority area the (a) eligibility criteria for and (b) level of clothing grants for school uniforms.

Answer · Adam Ingram: As noted in the answer to question S3W-4725 on 22 October 2007, in response toa public petition brought forward by Jim Milne on behalf of Dundee Anti-PovertyForum, we have agreed to undertake a review of clothing grant provision across Scotland.</p><p>It is a…

27 Sep 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it is aware of the assessment criteria used by each local authority to determine eligibility for clothing grants for school uniforms and, if so, whether it will publish this information and, if not, whether it will collate such information.

Answer · Adam Ingram: In response to aPublic Petition brought forward by Jim Milne on behalf of Dundee Anti-PovertyForum, we have agreed to undertake a review of clothing grant provision across Scotland.</p><p>It is anticipatedthat the review will collect information on the assess…

27 Sep 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what the average level of clothing grant award for school uniforms has been per child in each year since 1999, broken down by local authority.

Answer · Adam Ingram: Information onthe average level of clothing grant per child, broken down by local authoritysince 1999, is not held centrally.</p>

27 Sep 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many schoolchildren have been in receipt of a clothing grant for school uniforms in each year since 1999, broken down by local authority.

Answer · Adam Ingram: Information onthe number of schoolchildren who have been in receipt of a clothing grant forschool uniforms in each year since 1999 is not held centrally.</p>

12 Sep 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive when the report of the Historical Abuse Systemic Review: Residential Care for Children and Young People in Scotland 1950-1995 will be submitted.

Answer · Adam Ingram: I have agreed Mr TomShaw’s request for approval to submit his report of the Historical Abuse SystemicReview: Residential Care for Children and Young People in Scotland 1950-1995 by 15 November 2007. It will be published shortly thereafter.</p>

18 Jul 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what actions the Scottish Government has taken to promote public health initiatives with particular reference to pregnant women and their unborn children.

Answer · Linda Fabiani: I refer themember to the answer to question S3W-2241 on 6 August 2007. All answers to written parliamentary questions areavailable on the Parliament's website the search facility for which can befound at:</p><p><ahref="http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp…

14 Jun 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether the public money, including any interest accrued on such money, that was provided to Glasgow Housing Association for the building of new social rented housing was ring-fenced for that purpose at point of transfer and, if so, whether it will continue to be so ring-fenced.

Answer · Stewart Maxwell: I have asked Angiolina Foster, Chief Executive of Communities Scotland, to respond. Her response is asfollows:</p><p>At the point of stocktransfer, Scottish ministers entered into a legal agreement with Glasgow HousingAssociation to provide £113 million betwe…

14 Jun 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what steps are being taken to ensure that the criteria used by Glasgow Housing Association to determine the valuation per house on the basis of which it would charge to local housing associations involved in preparing business plans for second stage stock transfer proposals will be fair a…

Answer · Stewart Maxwell: I am currently reviewingthe progress made in delivering all the transfer promises to tenants in Glasgow, including second stage transfer. I recognise that thefinancial issues surrounding second stage transfer are extremely complex.</p>