Parliamentary questions
David Whitton
156 questions tabled in the Scottish Parliament, most recent first.
20 Mar 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive when it plans to review the work carried out by family contact centres.
Answer · Adam Ingram: The Minister for Children and Early Years will be meeting with Relationships Scotland, the largest provider of child contact centres in Scotland, in the near future to discuss child contact centres in greater detail. These discussions will help inform his thi…
20 Mar 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what action can be taken to ensure that court orders are adhered to with regard to family contact centres.
Answer · Fergus Ewing: An order for contact is made under the Children (Scotland) Act 1995 and the court can specify where that contact should take place. If a contact order is breached by either party, the court may be asked to consider the circumstances of that breach, and can im…
20 Mar 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what stage the design and construction procurement process for the new prison at Low Moss has reached.
Answer · Kenny MacAskill: I have asked Mike Ewart, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service (SPS) to respond. His response is as follows:</p> <p >The design and construction procurement process for HM Prison Bishopbriggs will shortly be advertised in the Official Journal of the…
20 Mar 2008 · General Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what progress it has made in developing its housing policy.
Answer · Stewart Maxwell: </b>In its discussion document, <i >Firm Foundations</i>, the Scottish Government outlined proposals for improving supply, quality and choice in housing. Almost 400 stakeholders responded to the proposals. Their comments are currently being analysed and will …
31 Jan 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what each NHS board’s policy is on the provision of a 20-week scan for expectant mothers.
Answer · Shona Robison: We are committed to every pregnant woman having a foetal anomaly scan as a matter of routine and we are working with the NHS to ensure that this happens as soon as possible. Currently, all maternity units in Scotland offer an ultrasound scan at booking and ar…
12 Dec 2007 · General Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how the £11 billion block allocation to local government and the £8 billion block allocation to NHS boards are aligned to contribute to sustainable economic growth.
Answer · John Swinney: Together, the GESand Scottish Budget provide the approach and the strategic framework to ensure thatgovernment spending supports local government, NHS boards and other public servicesin meeting our overarching purpose of increasing sustainable economic growth…
26 Nov 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, with reference to third party rights of access to courts under the provisions of sections 25 to 29 of the Law Reform (Miscellaneous Provisions) (Scotland) Act 1990, (a) how many applications it has received, (b) when they were received, (c) when a decision can be expected and (d) whether…
Answer · Kenny MacAskill: The informationrequested is as follows:</p><p>a.One applicationhas been received to date.</p><p>b.The applicationwas received on 4 July 2007.</p><p>c.It is notpossible to say when a decision can be expected because in this, as in anyfuture cases, the progress…
26 Nov 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether the review of fuel poverty programmes includes consideration of the programmes being made available to vulnerable groups, such as families with children aged under five, who are in fuel poverty.
Answer · Stewart Maxwell: I have asked officialsto examine the potential to improve and build on the success achieved by currentprogrammes to ensure that they are operating fairly across Scotland and that available resources are going where they canmake the most impact upon ending fue…
21 Nov 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will provide a breakdown of the 70 cannabis factories discovered by the police in the last 12 months by (a) parliamentary constituency and (b) local authority area.
Answer · Kenny MacAskill: The Scottish Executivedoes not collect information about the number of police operations that havediscovered cannabis factories.</p><p>The ScottishExecutive does collect drug seizure data from the eight police forces within Scotland and these data do contain …
19 Nov 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to further increase the provision of free early years education for three and four-year-old children.
Answer · Adam Ingram: As announced on 14 November 2007, the hours of pre-school education will increase to 570per year from August 2010.</p><p>The government isconsidering options for achieving the final step towards our commitment to a 50%increase in entitlement during 2011.</p>
19 Nov 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many local authorities provide funding for early years education from (a) the day of a child’s third birthday and (b) the start of term following a child’s third birthday.
Answer · Adam Ingram: The date at whichchildren become eligible for free pre-school education is set out in the Provisionof School Education for Children under School Age (Prescribed Children)(Scotland)Order 2002.</p><p>Children become eligiblefor pre-school education at the follo…
31 Oct 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the statement on enterprise networks by the Cabinet Secretary for Finance and Sustainable Growth on 26 September 2007, who under the new structure will make decisions currently made by Scottish Enterprise Dunbartonshire and where the new decision-makers will be based.
Answer · Jim Mather: This will be anoperational matter for Scottish Enterprise. However, as now, decisionsaffecting East Dunbartonshire will reflect local priorities and beinformed by a continued local Scottish Enterprise presence.</p>
31 Oct 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the statement on enterprise networks by the Cabinet Secretary for Finance and Sustainable Growth on 26 September 2007, how community partnerships in East Dunbartonshire will be able to have input to operations at local, regional or Scotland-wide level under the new Scottish En…
Answer · Jim Mather: As the CabinetSecretary for Finance and Sustainable Growth made clear in his statement, theproposed regional structure will enable existing partnerships andcollaborations with the enterprise networks to continue.</p>
31 Oct 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many Scottish Enterprise Dunbartonshire full-time equivalent staff are employed in the East Dunbartonshire area and whether the Executive will ensure that these levels do not fall following restructuring of the enterprise networks.
Answer · Jim Mather: Allocation ofstaff resources is an operational matter for Scottish Enterprise. There arecurrently 44.5 full-time equivalent staff based at the local ScottishEnterprise Dunbartonshire office in Clydebank. There isno separate Scottish Enterprise Dunbartonshire …
31 Oct 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many VisitScotland and Scottish Enterprise Dunbartonshire staff will be relocated to East Dunbartonshire Council.
Answer · Jim Mather: This will be anoperational matter for VisitScotland and Scottish Enterprise in discussion withEast Dunbartonshire Council.</p>
31 Oct 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the statement on enterprise networks by the Cabinet Secretary for Finance and Sustainable Growth on 26 September 2007, what the financial costs and savings will be of co-locating Scottish Enterprise Dunbartonshire staff with local authority staff in East Dunbartonshire.
Answer · Jim Mather: Co-location ofstaff will be an operational matter for discussion between Scottish Enterpriseand relevant local authorities. It is therefore not possible to quantify costs or savings at present.</p>
31 Oct 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the statement on enterprise networks by the Cabinet Secretary for Finance and Sustainable Growth on 26 September 2007, what decisions regarding enterprise and economic development will continue to be made at the local level in East Dunbartonshire.
Answer · Jim Mather: As regards the enterprisenetworks, this will be an operational matter for Scottish Enterprise. However,as now, such decisions will reflect local priorities and be informed by acontinued local Scottish Enterprise presence. Other decisions will continue tobe ma…
31 Oct 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the statement on enterprise networks by the Cabinet Secretary for Finance and Sustainable Growth on 26 September 2007, how it will ensure that aligning VisitScotland with the six new regional enterprise bodies will not lead to a reduction in focus on East Dunbartonshire’s tour…
Answer · Jim Mather: This is an operationalmatter for VisitScotland. However, the realignment of the VisitScotland areas tomatch those of the new enterprise network regions does not signal any weakeningof VisitScotland’s work in local areas. Indeed the aim is to increase the effe…
31 Oct 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the statement on enterprise networks by the Cabinet Secretary for Finance and Sustainable Growth on 26 September 2007, what powers and assets will be transferred from Scottish Enterprise Dunbartonshire to East Dunbartonshire Council.
Answer · Jim Mather: Localregeneration activity and management of the local Business Gateway contractswill become the responsibility of local authorities. This will mean somereallocation of funds from Scottish Enterprise to local authorities but thedetail of this will be decided …
19 Oct 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will continue to fund the Bus Route Development Grant scheme and, if so, for how long and how much it will allocate.
Answer · Stewart Stevenson: Yes. With effect from2008-09 the funding currently provided by the Bus Route Development Grant will besubsumed within the local government finance settlement and will be available tolocal authorities to support new bus services in their area.</p>
19 Oct 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how much was allocated under the Bus Route Development Grant scheme in the last financial year; which local authorities requested assistance under the scheme, and how much was allocated in each case.
Answer · Stewart Stevenson: In 2006-07, £11,256,026was allocated under the Bus Route Development Grant Scheme. This is broken downas follows:</p><table border=1 cellspacing=0 cellpadding=3> <thead> <tr> <td width=240 valign=top> <p align=center>Local Transport Authority</p> </td…
24 Sep 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it intends to introduce rights to assistance in Scottish courts by means of a litigation friend system, similar to that operated in England and Wales.
Answer · Kenny MacAskill: This is a matter forthe presiding judge to decide in individual cases. Litigants may ask the judge toallow them to have someone to assist them and such requests will be considered bythe judge according to the individual circumstances.</p>
24 Sep 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what steps are being taken, and in what timescale, to make access to civil justice more affordable to those who do not qualify for legal aid
Answer · Kenny MacAskill: The Scottish LegalAid Board has commissioned analysis of financial eligibility for civil legal aidand is currently considering the costs and benefits of a tapered system of financialeligibility. We will consider whether there are affordable changes to benefit…
24 Sep 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many petrol forecourts have sold biodiesel in each of the last four years, broken down by parliamentary constituency, and what measures are in place to encourage the use and promotion of biodiesel over the next four years.
Answer · Stewart Stevenson: Figures forbiodiesel sales by forecourt are not held by the Scottish Government or the UKGovernment.</p><p class=MsoFooter>Ialso refer the member to the answer to question S3W-4501 on 5 October 2007. All answers to written parliamentary questions areavailable…
3 Sep 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether the Scottish Prison Service can tender to build the new Low Moss prison.
Answer · Kenny MacAskill: I have asked MikeEwart, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service to respond. His response isas follows:</p><p>No, the Scottish PrisonService will be inviting the private sector to bid for the design and constructionof a publicly operated prison at Bisho…
3 Sep 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether any penalty payments will be made to the four private sector firms that had reached stage two of the original tendering process for the new Low Moss prison.
Answer · Kenny MacAskill: I have asked MikeEwart, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service to respond. His response isas follows:</p><p>No.</p>
3 Sep 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will provide details of the cost difference between a private sector company running the new Low Moss prison and providing its staff from the public sector.
Answer · Kenny MacAskill: I have asked MikeEwart, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service to respond. His response isas follows:</p><p>A direct cost comparisonis not possible. The Scottish Prison Service will work with its trade union partnersto deliver a publicly operated pris…
3 Sep 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive by what date it now expects the new Low Moss prison to be opened.
Answer · Kenny MacAskill: I have asked MikeEwart, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service (SPS) to respond. His response is as follows:</p><p>The date of openingwill be determined following completion of the design and construction procurementprocess and will also need to take …
3 Sep 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what the new timetable is for the tendering process to construct the new Low Moss prison.
Answer · Kenny MacAskill: I have asked MikeEwart, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service to respond. His response isas follows:</p><p>The Scottish PrisonService will be inviting the private sector to bid for the design and constructionof a new publicly built prison at Bishopbr…
3 Aug 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will direct local authorities to make full use of their discretionary powers in order that those claiming kinship allowance can receive payments equal to those paid to foster carers.
Answer · Adam Ingram: I refer the memberto the question S3W-2946 on<b> </b>27<b> </b>August 2007. 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…