| December 2007 | 24 | 20 | 5 | 6 | ","AnswerDate":"2008-01-17T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-01-21T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Adam Ingram","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":214904,"EventID":"S3W-08243","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1837,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":36,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-07T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-07T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive how many staff will be recruited to provide the national Child Protection Line and how they will be managed.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive how many staff will be recruited to provide the national Child Protection Line and how they will be managed.","AnswerText":"The tender for this service waswon last January (2007) by Essentia Group based in Glasgow. Essentiarun this service using a reserved bureau of 26 specialist staff within their staffcomplement of 400+ who work exclusively on the CPLine and other more specialisthelplines such as Know the Score, Sexwise, Smokeline, CALM mental health serviceand Learndirect. All the Essentia staff within this reserved bureau are graduatesand many have qualifications such as nursing, youth work, addiction work and similar.All the bureau staff have been trained in basic child protection and all have receivedone day of bespoke training and a further day of refresher training on the detailedoperations of the CPLine. Essentia’s bureau staff do not provide phone-based childprotection counselling as the CPLine is a gateway and not a counselling service. Essentia’s performance is managedthrough the contract and through their participation in the national CPLine WorkingGroup. ","AnswerDate":"2008-01-17T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-01-21T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Adam Ingram","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":214905,"EventID":"S3W-08244","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1837,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":36,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-07T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-07T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what agencies, apart from local authority social work departments, will be involved with the national Child Protection Line.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what agencies, apart from local authority social work departments, will be involved with the national Child Protection Line.","AnswerText":"The range of agencies involved with the CPLine are represented on the CPLine Working Group which consists of several Child Protection Committee (CPC) representatives, including social work and police. In addition, the working group includes representatives from ChildLine and from NHS24 as well as some out-of-hours social work representatives. The vast majority of calls referred forward so far by the CPLine have been to local authority social work departments although a proportion (less than 10% of all referrals) have been routed forward to services such as ParentLine and ChildLine. ","AnswerDate":"2008-01-17T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-01-21T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Adam Ingram","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":214906,"EventID":"S3W-08245","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1839,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":3,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-07T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-07T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive how children and adults with obesity problems will be assessed, monitored and directed to treatment.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive how children and adults with obesity problems will be assessed, monitored and directed to treatment.","AnswerText":"Treatment needs are assessedand managed on a case by case basis, including through discussion between the individual,their family and health professionals.Boththe NICE and the SIGN obesity guidelines provide advice for GPs and healthboards to assess the suitability of interventions. the Scottish Government will publish guidance on the appropriate treatment and referralpathways for patients with unhealthy weight and on the provision of weight lossservices by the end of 2008. We shall publish further detailsof planned activities to tackle obesity through both treatment and preventativemeans in spring 2008. ","AnswerDate":"2008-01-17T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-01-21T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Shona Robison","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":214907,"EventID":"S3W-08246","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1839,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":3,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-07T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-07T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether health checks for 40-year-olds, as proposed in the SNP manifesto, will include obesity assessments.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether health checks for 40-year-olds, as proposed in the SNP manifesto, will include obesity assessments.","AnswerText":"We are currently examining howbest to design these health checks to ensure the maximum benefits for patients,building on the success of the Keep Well programme. We shall announce decisionson implementation in due course.","AnswerDate":"2008-01-17T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-01-21T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Shona Robison","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":214908,"EventID":"S3W-08247","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1839,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":3,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-07T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-07T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what standardised method is used for assessing obesity.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what standardised method is used for assessing obesity.","AnswerText":"The most commonly used methodof assessing obesity is body mass index (BMI). The GP Quality and Outcomes Framework(QOF) specifies using BMI to identify patients for practice obesity registers.BMI is calculated by dividingan individual’s weight in kilograms by their height in metres squared. In adults, obesity is defined as a BMI greater than orequal to 30. As children have different growth patterns at different stages of childhood,obesity in children is defined as having a BMI within the top 5% of the 1990 UKreference range for their age and sex. ","AnswerDate":"2008-01-17T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-01-21T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Shona Robison","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":214909,"EventID":"S3W-08248","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1839,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":3,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-07T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-07T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what is being done to train health professionals to assess and treat obesity.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what is being done to train health professionals to assess and treat obesity.","AnswerText":"Assessment and treatment of obesityis included in the training of health professionals. However, the Scottish Governmentis aware that there may be a need for further training opportunities for healthprofessionals in this priority area, particularly in managing unhealthy weight inchildren. We shall publish further details of planned activities to tackle obesitythrough both treatment and preventative means in spring 2008.","AnswerDate":"2008-01-17T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-01-21T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Shona Robison","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":214910,"EventID":"S3W-08249","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1826,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":35,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-08T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-08T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what action it has taken to ensure that all individuals in receipt of medical care, particularly those with visual impairments, are fully informed about such care in a su","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what action it has taken to ensure that all individuals in receipt of medical care, particularly those with visual impairments, are fully informed about such care in a suitable and timely manner.","AnswerText":"The Fair for All-Disability projectwas established in 2005 as a partnership with the Disability Rights Commission tosupport the NHS in Scotland to understand Part 3 of the Disability DiscriminationAct (access to goods, services and facilities) and take action to remove barriersdisabled people face in accessing health services.Further information on the workundertaken so far and guidance issued by Fair for All-Disability is available onthe Fair for All website at http://www.healthscotland.com/about/FairForAll/index.aspx. From 1 April 2008, Fair for All-Disabilitywill sit within the new Equality and Planning Directorate of NHS Health Scotland. ","AnswerDate":"2008-01-22T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-01-22T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Nicola Sturgeon","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":214911,"EventID":"S3W-08250","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1826,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":35,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-08T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-08T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will consider establishing a working party to investigate how best to ensure that individuals with severe vision impairment who are in receipt of medical care ","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will consider establishing a working party to investigate how best to ensure that individuals with severe vision impairment who are in receipt of medical care are provided with essential information relating to such care in a timely manner and suitably accessible format.","AnswerText":"There are currently no plansto establish a working party.I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-8249 on 22 January 2008. All answers to written parliamentaryquestions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for whichcan be found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/wa.search. ","AnswerDate":"2008-01-22T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-01-22T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Nicola Sturgeon","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":214912,"EventID":"S3W-08251","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2675,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":3,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-08T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-08T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive how often the Chief Scientific Adviser has visited the Rothamsted Research centre and when she last visited the centre.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive how often the Chief Scientific Adviser has visited the Rothamsted Research centre and when she last visited the centre.","AnswerText":"The Chief Scientific Adviserfor Scotland, Professor Anne Glover, has visited Rothamsted Researchonce, on 10 December 2007.","AnswerDate":"2008-01-17T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-01-22T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Richard Lochhead","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":214913,"EventID":"S3W-08252","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2675,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":3,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-08T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-08T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what evidence has been provided by the Chief Scientific Adviser to ministers to justify the view that “the public doesn’t get good-quality information and decisions are b","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what evidence has been provided by the Chief Scientific Adviser to ministers to justify the view that “the public doesn’t get good-quality information and decisions are being made based on prejudice about GM crops”.","AnswerText":"Ministers have not asked for,nor been provided with, advice on GM crops from the Chief Scientific Adviser forScotland, Professor Anne Glover.","AnswerDate":"2008-01-18T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-01-22T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Michael Russell","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":214914,"EventID":"S3W-08253","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1839,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":3,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-08T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-08T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what action is being taken to ensure that wheelchairs are provided to meet the medical, postural and social needs of users in as short a time as possible.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what action is being taken to ensure that wheelchairs are provided to meet the medical, postural and social needs of users in as short a time as possible.","AnswerText":"Since 2005 the Scottish Governmenthas provided almost £3 million in additional interim funding to improve NHS wheelchairwaiting times. The funding has been used to purchase additional wheelchairs andto employ additional staff in the five rehabilitation centres in Scotland. Itis planned to spend a total of £16 million over the next three financial years (2008-09to 2011-12) to modernise NHS wheelchair and seating services.Following the independent reviewof NHS wheelchair and seating services, a project board has been established anda project manager has been appointed. The project team will assess, prioritise andimplement the recommendations of the review, including those recommendations thatrelate to the provision of wheelchairs that meet users’ medical, postural and socialneeds. I refer the member to the answersto questions S3W-7723 and S3W-7724 on 16 January 2008. All answers to written parliamentaryquestions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for whichcan be found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/wa.search. ","AnswerDate":"2008-01-22T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-01-22T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Shona Robison","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":214915,"EventID":"S3W-08254","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1839,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":3,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-08T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-08T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what action is being taken to help prevent aneurysms.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what action is being taken to help prevent aneurysms.","AnswerText":"There are a number of risk factorsassociated with aneurysms, including smoking and raised blood pressure. Allhealth improvement measures which encourage smoking cessation and reducing raisedblood pressure will reduce the risk of an aneurysm. In addition, we are consideringintroduction of a screening programme for abdominal aortic aneurysm following theadvice of the UK National Screening Committee.","AnswerDate":"2008-01-22T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-01-22T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Shona Robison","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":214916,"EventID":"S3W-08255","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1839,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":3,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-08T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-08T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what screening is offered to detect signs of heart disease, stroke and kidney disease.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what screening is offered to detect signs of heart disease, stroke and kidney disease.","AnswerText":"The National Screening Committee,which advises the UK health departments on issues related to screening programmes,has recommended the introduction of a population-wide vascular risk management programme.This is very much in keeping with the approach set out SIGN Guideline 97 on risk estimation and prevention of cardiovascular disease,which we are taking forward in part through our Keep Well pilots with their focuson cardiovascular disease.The Quality and Outcomes Frameworkof the GMS contract uses estimated Glomerular Filtration Rate (eGFR) for the detectionof chronic kidney disease (CKD). This allows earlier detection of the conditionthan had been possible previously. CKD is an important risk factor for cardiovasculardisease, and using eGFR makes it easier to identify those who should be offeredtreatment to reduce the risk. ","AnswerDate":"2008-01-21T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-01-22T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Shona Robison","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":214917,"EventID":"S3W-08256","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1894,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":1,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-08T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-08T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will review its use of low copy number DNA, in light of recent developments in other judiciaries in the United Kingdom.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will review its use of low copy number DNA, in light of recent developments in other judiciaries in the United Kingdom.","AnswerText":"Low copy number (LCN) DNA analysisis not performed by any of the Scottish Forensic Science Laboratories but, if itis believed that such analysis could be appropriate in any case, police forces inScotland may send DNA samples to other forensic service providers. This would bean operational decision for the police, as would any review of that practice. Forits interests, the Crown Office and ProcuratorFiscal Service is currently looking at recent developments relating to LCN DNA analysisto assess the implications.","AnswerDate":"2008-01-21T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-01-22T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Kenny MacAskill","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":214918,"EventID":"S3W-08257","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2030,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":1,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-08T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-08T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to replace the strategic waste fund.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to replace the strategic waste fund.","AnswerText":"The Budget Announcement of 14 November 2007 outlinedthat allocations made through the Strategic Waste Fund are being transferred tothe local government settlement. In addition, £154 million over three years hasbeen retained by the Scottish Government to support zero waste initiatives.","AnswerDate":"2008-01-17T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-01-22T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Richard Lochhead","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":214919,"EventID":"S3W-08258","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2030,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":1,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-08T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-08T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive how it ensures that the strategic waste fund is appropriately distributed by local authorities and not retained by them for their own use.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive how it ensures that the strategic waste fund is appropriately distributed by local authorities and not retained by them for their own use.","AnswerText":"The Strategic Waste Fund is beingtransferred to the overall Local Government Finance Settlement. We are working towardsa single outcome agreement with each council. This will set the national and localoutcomes for each council, to which local authorities will report on each year,as agreed in the concordat with the Convention of Scottish Local Authorities.","AnswerDate":"2008-01-29T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-01-22T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Richard Lochhead","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":214920,"EventID":"S3W-08259","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2030,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":1,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-08T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-08T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive which organisation will be responsible for the oversight and distribution of any scheme introduced as a replacement of the strategic waste fund.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive which organisation will be responsible for the oversight and distribution of any scheme introduced as a replacement of the strategic waste fund.","AnswerText":"The Budget Statement indicatedthat the Scottish Government will retain over £154 million over three years to assistimplementation of the National Waste Plan and to provide support for bodies carryingout zero waste activities. These resources will be distributed by the Scottish Government,working closely with the Convention of Scottish Local Authorities.","AnswerDate":"2008-01-17T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-01-22T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Richard Lochhead","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":214921,"EventID":"S3W-08260","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2030,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":1,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-08T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-08T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive how much money from the strategic waste fund was distributed by each local authority, and to which organisations, in each of the last five years.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive how much money from the strategic waste fund was distributed by each local authority, and to which organisations, in each of the last five years.","AnswerText":"I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-7635 on 21 December 2007. All answers to written parliamentaryquestions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for whichcan be found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/wa.search.","AnswerDate":"2008-01-17T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-01-22T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Richard Lochhead","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":214922,"EventID":"S3W-08261","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2030,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":1,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-08T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-08T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what progress it has made in implementing each of the seven key points for action in HM Inspectorate of Education’s October 2007 report on the implementation of the Educa","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what progress it has made in implementing each of the seven key points for action in HM Inspectorate of Education’s October 2007 report on the implementation of the Education (Additional Support for Learning) (Scotland) Act 2004.","AnswerText":"The seven key points for actionare for a wide range of agencies and organisations; the Scottish Government is notsolely responsible for their implementation. We are currently considering our rolein taking these actions forward.Under the new relationship betweencentral and local government, the Scottish Government will work more closely withlocal government to develop policy in a genuinely collaborative way. ","AnswerDate":"2008-01-17T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-01-22T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Maureen Watt","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":214923,"EventID":"S3W-08262","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2030,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":1,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-08T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-08T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive by what dates each of the key points for action in HM Inspectorate of Education’s October 2007 report on the implementation of the Education (Additional Support for Learn","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive by what dates each of the key points for action in HM Inspectorate of Education’s October 2007 report on the implementation of the Education (Additional Support for Learning) (Scotland) Act 2004 will be achieved.","AnswerText":"Since the key points for actionare for a wide range of agencies and organisations, it is not possible to be prescriptiveabout achievement dates.","AnswerDate":"2008-01-17T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-01-22T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Maureen Watt","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":214924,"EventID":"S3W-08263","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2080,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":17,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-08T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-08T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what meetings have been held with women’s organisations to discuss the funding for places in refuges for women suffering from domestic abuse.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what meetings have been held with women’s organisations to discuss the funding for places in refuges for women suffering from domestic abuse.","AnswerText":"No meetings have been held withwomen’s organisations to specifically discuss the funding for places in refugesfor women suffering from domestic abuse. However, as chair of the National Groupto Address Violence Against Women I get a report on progress from the Domestic AbuseAccommodation and Provision Working Group. This group last met on 12 June 2007 andprovided an update report to the last National Group meeting held on 26 November2007. The next meeting of the Domestic Abuse Accommodation and Provision WorkingGroup is due to take place at the end of February 2008.","AnswerDate":"2008-01-16T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-01-22T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Stewart Maxwell","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":214925,"EventID":"S3W-08264","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2080,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":17,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-08T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-08T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what meetings are planned with women’s organisations to discuss the funding of places in refuges for women suffering from domestic abuse.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what meetings are planned with women’s organisations to discuss the funding of places in refuges for women suffering from domestic abuse.","AnswerText":"The Domestic Abuse Accommodationand Provision Working Group, which was established by the National Group to AddressViolence Against Women is due to meet at the end of February 2008. Scottish Women’sAid is represented on this group, as is COSLA, and the Violence Against Women Teamand Housing Support from the Scottish Government.The issue of funding for refugeprovision will be raised with this group. ","AnswerDate":"2008-01-16T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-01-22T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Stewart Maxwell","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":214926,"EventID":"S3W-08265","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2080,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":17,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-08T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-08T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will postpone for two or three years the removal of ring-fencing from funds for violence against women to local authorities until agreements are in place to gu","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will postpone for two or three years the removal of ring-fencing from funds for violence against women to local authorities until agreements are in place to guarantee that sufficient places will be available in refuges for women suffering from domestic abuse.","AnswerText":"Under the concordat agreed betweenScottish ministers and COSLA, the Supporting People fund and an element of the ViolenceAgainst Women Fund will from 1 April 2008, be absorbed into the main local government settlement.This decision to remove ring fencing from these funds will not be postponed.Removingthe ring fencing from these funds will reduce unnecessary administrative and accountingburdens, freeing up more resources for front line services, as well as promotingmore integrated and efficient planning and delivery of services, and allow moreflexibility in how support packages for individuals are funded. Bothnational and local government recognise the importance of tackling violence againstwomen. The Scottish Government will be providing local government in Scotland withrecord levels of funding over the period covered by the spending review 2008-11.It will be the responsibility of each local authority to allocate the resourcesavailable to it on the basis of local needs and priorities, to fulfil its statutoryobligations and meet the Scottish Government’s key strategic objectives and nationaloutcomes, which were set out in the concordat and agreed with COSLA. Furthermore, the Scottish Governmenthas shown its on-going commitment to the work to tackle violence against women,including domestic abuse through the allocation of more than £40 million over thenext three years to this agenda. For example, both the Violence Against Women Fundand the Children’s Services Women’s Aid Fund will continue, as well as funding forScottish Women’s Aid. ","AnswerDate":"2008-01-16T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-01-22T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Stewart Maxwell","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":214927,"EventID":"S3W-08266","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2080,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":17,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-08T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-08T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will postpone for two or three years the removal of ring-fencing from funds to local authorities until agreements are in place to guarantee that domestic abuse","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will postpone for two or three years the removal of ring-fencing from funds to local authorities until agreements are in place to guarantee that domestic abuse services will be enhanced rather than diminished.","AnswerText":"Under the concordat agreed betweenScottish ministers and COSLA, the Supporting People fund and an element of the ViolenceAgainst Women Fund will from 1 April 2008, be absorbed into the main local government settlement.This decision to remove ring fencing from these funds will not be postponed.Removingthe ring fencing from these funds will reduce unnecessary administrative and accountingburdens, freeing up more resources for front line services, as well as promotingmore integrated and efficient planning and delivery of services, and allow moreflexibility in how support packages for individuals are funded. Bothnational and local government recognise the importance of tackling violence againstwomen. The Scottish Government will be providing local government in Scotland withrecord levels of funding over the period covered by the spending review 2008-11.It will be the responsibility of each local authority to allocate the resourcesavailable to it on the basis of local needs and priorities, to fulfil its statutoryobligations and meet the Scottish Government’s key strategic objectives and nationaloutcomes, which were set out in the concordat and agreed with COSLA. Furthermore, the Scottish Governmenthas shown its on-going commitment to the work to tackle violence against women,including domestic abuse through the allocation of more than £40 million over thenext three years to this agenda. For example, both the Violence Against Women Fundand the Children’s Services Women’s Aid Fund will continue, as well as funding forScottish Women’s Aid. ","AnswerDate":"2008-01-16T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-01-22T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Stewart Maxwell","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":214928,"EventID":"S3W-08267","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2080,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":17,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-08T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-08T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the statement by the Minister for Community Safety, in respect of the provision of £34 million for disabled children, that the Cabinet Secretary for Education","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the statement by the Minister for Community Safety, in respect of the provision of £34 million for disabled children, that the Cabinet Secretary for Education and Lifelong Learning was “considering the matter carefully” (Official Report, c.3846-7), whether it will provide an update on the progress made by the Cabinet Secretary on the matter. ","AnswerText":"Consistent with the concordatwith local government and in order to reduce bureaucracy and improve local flexibility,resources flowing as consequentials from the May 2007 announcement of £340 millionto support disabled children in England have been rolled into the main Scottishlocal government settlement and will not be ring-fenced. On this and a range ofother issues relating to support for families with disabled children, ministerscontinue to engage with disability organisations and the “For Scotland’s DisabledChildren” coalition.","AnswerDate":"2008-01-22T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-01-22T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Adam Ingram","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":214929,"EventID":"S3W-08268","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2080,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":17,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-08T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-08T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what meetings have been held with the Prince’s Trust to discuss its concerns regarding changes in funding arrangements.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what meetings have been held with the Prince’s Trust to discuss its concerns regarding changes in funding arrangements.","AnswerText":"Scottish Government officialsmeet regularly with representatives of the Princes Trust to discuss delivery offunding. This includes quarterly management meetingsto discuss delivery of specific programmes and a number of these meetingshave included discussion on future funding arrangements.","AnswerDate":"2008-01-29T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-01-22T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Jim Mather","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":214930,"EventID":"S3W-08269","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2080,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":17,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-08T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-08T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what meetings are planned with the Prince’s Trust to discuss its concerns regarding changes in funding arrangements.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what meetings are planned with the Prince’s Trust to discuss its concerns regarding changes in funding arrangements.","AnswerText":"Officials met representativesof the Princes Trust on 21 January to discuss concerns held about future fundingarrangements. Informal discussions continue.","AnswerDate":"2008-02-06T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-01-22T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Jim Mather","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":214931,"EventID":"S3W-08270","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2080,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":17,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-08T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-08T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what consideration has been given to a request from the Prince’s Trust to maintain ring-fencing of the Youth Crime Prevention Fund for two to three years.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what consideration has been given to a request from the Prince’s Trust to maintain ring-fencing of the Youth Crime Prevention Fund for two to three years.","AnswerText":"The money previously distributedthrough the Youth Crime Prevention Fund to the Third Sector will be included inthe local government finance settlement in future years.Theconcordat agreed between central and local government sets out the overall resourceavailable to local government, from which resources can be drawn to meet local needand priorities. Officials have written to localauthorities informing them of the blocks of funding that are currently allocatedby central government directly to service providers, including to the third sector,and that will be rolled up into the local government settlement from 2008. ","AnswerDate":"2008-01-18T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-01-22T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Fergus Ewing","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":214932,"EventID":"S3W-08271","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":3811,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":4,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-08T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-08T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what the total production costs were of the First Minister’s (a) Christmas message and (b) New Year message.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what the total production costs were of the First Minister’s (a) Christmas message and (b) New Year message.","AnswerText":"The Christmas message and theNew Year message were produced by the Scottish Government’s Video Production Unitin conjunction with the Communications Directorate’s Website Team as part of theirnormal duties. There was no separate budget allocation.","AnswerDate":"2008-01-18T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-01-22T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"John Swinney","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":214933,"EventID":"S3W-08272","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2068,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":22,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-08T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-08T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what outreach public services, such as advice on student finance and concessionary rail and bus travel, it is considering providing through Scotland’s network of urban an","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what outreach public services, such as advice on student finance and concessionary rail and bus travel, it is considering providing through Scotland’s network of urban and rural post offices.","AnswerText":"The Scottish Government recognisesthe role that post offices can play in supporting small businesses and in providinga lifeline to communities in fragile or remote areas. In July 2007, I wrote to thePresident of COSLA noting the government’s wish to encourage local authorities andother service providers to become involved in examining the excellent examples ofinnovative practice we have already seen across Scotland in order to sustain orextend the range of post office coverage throughout Scotland. Whether this wouldinvolve councils considering revising existing service delivery plans in light ofany emerging developments in service options from Royal Mail Group would remainan issue for local decision. Postal services are reserved to Westminster andthe Scottish Government has limited scope for independent action.There are currently no plansto provide advice on student finance through Scotland’s network of urban andrural post offices. I am aware that some Post Offices act as agents for certainlocal authorities (Angus, Scottish Borders, Aberdeenshire, Perth and Kinross,Western Isles and Strathclyde Area Councils) and validate applications for NationalEntitlement Cards for Older People under the Scotland-Wide Concessionary TravelScheme for Older and Disabled People. The contract is owned by the Improvement Servicewho act on behalf of the aforementioned local authorities. ","AnswerDate":"2008-01-17T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-01-22T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"John Swinney","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":214934,"EventID":"S3W-08273","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2892,"Party":"Scottish Green Party","RegionID":2,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-09T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-09T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-7536 by Stewart Stevenson on 13 December 2007, whether it will implement in full the updated shadow price of carbon guidance issued","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-7536 by Stewart Stevenson on 13 December 2007, whether it will implement in full the updated shadow price of carbon guidance issued by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs on 19 December 2007 in policy appraisal for all devolved policies and, if not, what account it will take of carbon in future policy appraisal.","AnswerText":"The Scottish Government is developingguidance, incorporating the government’s new shadow price of carbon, to be usedduring the next budgetary period. This guidance will set out the circumstances underwhich the carbon impacts of future devolved strategies, plans, programmes and policiesare appraised.","AnswerDate":"2008-01-17T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-01-23T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Stewart Stevenson","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":214935,"EventID":"S3W-08274","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2892,"Party":"Scottish Green Party","RegionID":2,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-09T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-09T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-7536 by Stewart Stevenson on 13 December 2007, whether it will implement in full the updated shadow price of carbon guidance issued","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-7536 by Stewart Stevenson on 13 December 2007, whether it will implement in full the updated shadow price of carbon guidance issued by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs on 19 December 2007 in appraisal for all devolved strategies, plans or programmes and, if not, what account it will take of carbon in developing future strategies, plans or programmes.","AnswerText":"I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-8273 on 17 January 2008. All answers to written parliamentaryquestions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for whichcan be found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/wa.search.","AnswerDate":"2008-01-17T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-01-23T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Stewart Stevenson","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":214936,"EventID":"S3W-08275","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2892,"Party":"Scottish Green Party","RegionID":2,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-09T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-09T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-7536 by Stewart Stevenson on 13 December 2007, under what circumstances it would not be considered appropriate to incorporate the m","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-7536 by Stewart Stevenson on 13 December 2007, under what circumstances it would not be considered appropriate to incorporate the monetary cost of carbon emissions into spending decisions using the government’s new shadow price of carbon guidance.","AnswerText":"The Scottish Government is committedto incorporating the monetary cost of carbon emissions into the policy assessmentprocess using the government’s new shadow price of carbon guidance. It may not befeasible or appropriate to incorporate the monetary cost of carbon emissions inall circumstances if, for example, the impacts can not be reliably quantified orthe policy proposal is not expected to have a significant carbon impact. We aredeveloping guidance that will set out the circumstances under which the monetarycosts of carbon emissions should be incorporated into the policy assessment process.","AnswerDate":"2008-01-17T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-01-23T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Stewart Stevenson","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":214937,"EventID":"S3W-08276","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2892,"Party":"Scottish Green Party","RegionID":2,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-09T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-09T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether it is satisfied with arrangements for applications for prisoner transfer between Scottish and English prisons and whether it has considered making changes to allo","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether it is satisfied with arrangements for applications for prisoner transfer between Scottish and English prisons and whether it has considered making changes to allow prisoners to apply for transfers between England and Scotland under the ordinary transfer system, as they can between England and Wales.","AnswerText":"I have asked Mike Ewart, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service to respond. His response is as follows:We are not aware of any difficultieswith the framework arrangements for prisoner transfer. Prisoners are normally expectedto serve their sentence in the jurisdiction in which they are sentenced. This generalposition applies throughout the world. The UK comprises three jurisdictions: Scotland, Englandand Wales and Northern Ireland. Each jurisdiction has separate legislative sentencingand release arrangements. Transfers between England and Wales are transfers withinthe same jurisdiction and prison service whereas transfers between England and Scotlandinvolve two jurisdictions. Provision is made under the terms of the Crime (Sentences)Act 1997 for the transfer of prisoners from one UK jurisdiction to another. Theprisoner must apply in the first instance to the jurisdiction in which he or sheis detained; both jurisdictions must agree to the transfer before it takes place.Transfer is not a legal entitlement. Each case is considered on its merits takinginto account the published criteria and any compelling circumstances. The linkswhich a prisoner has to the receiving jurisdiction, including family contact, playan important part in the consideration of any application. ","AnswerDate":"2008-01-21T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-01-23T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Kenny MacAskill","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":214938,"EventID":"S3W-08277","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2610,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":1,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-09T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-09T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive when it was informed that Strathclyde Police had been called out to HM Prison Kilmarnock on 4 January 2008 to quell a disturbance.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive when it was informed that Strathclyde Police had been called out to HM Prison Kilmarnock on 4 January 2008 to quell a disturbance.","AnswerText":"I have asked Mike Ewart, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service to respond. His response is as follows:Strathclyde police were not calledout to HM Prison Kilmarnock on 4 January 2008 to quell a disturbance. In line with the Nationally AgreedMemorandum of understanding the Scottish Prison Service and Strathclyde Police wereadvised of the incident at the outset. In line with these procedures the policewere present at the prison but SERCO remained in control throughout the durationof the incident. ","AnswerDate":"2008-01-21T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-01-23T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Kenny MacAskill","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":214939,"EventID":"S3W-08278","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2610,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":1,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-09T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-09T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive in what capacity Strathclyde Police assisted Premier Prison Service’s management at an incident in HM Prison Kilmarnock on 4 January 2008.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive in what capacity Strathclyde Police assisted Premier Prison Service’s management at an incident in HM Prison Kilmarnock on 4 January 2008.","AnswerText":"I have asked Mike Ewart, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service to respond. His response is as follows:Strathclyde Police attended thecommand room within HM Prison Kilmarnock as part of the nationally agreed IncidentCommand Protocol in order to offer advice and assistance as may be required. ","AnswerDate":"2008-01-21T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-01-23T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Kenny MacAskill","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":214940,"EventID":"S3W-08279","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2610,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":1,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-09T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-09T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what procedures were undertaken to transfer responsibility from Premier Prison Service's management to Strathclyde Police in respect of an incident in HM Prison Kilmarnoc","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what procedures were undertaken to transfer responsibility from Premier Prison Service's management to Strathclyde Police in respect of an incident in HM Prison Kilmarnock on 4 January 2008.","AnswerText":"I have asked Mike Ewart,Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service to respond. His response is asfollows:The management of theincident on 4 January 2008 remained the responsibility of SERCO and theincident was brought to a successful conclusion with no injuries or loss ofaccommodation to the prison estate. Appropriate procedures were followed andStrathclyde police attended the incident in line with a nationally agreedmemorandum. ","AnswerDate":"2008-01-21T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-01-23T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Kenny MacAskill","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":214941,"EventID":"S3W-08280","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2610,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":1,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-09T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-09T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether, in the event of prison staff needing assistance to deal with internal violent incidents, it is normal practice for staff to be deployed from other prisons to pro","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether, in the event of prison staff needing assistance to deal with internal violent incidents, it is normal practice for staff to be deployed from other prisons to provide such assistance.","AnswerText":"I have asked Mike Ewart,Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service to respond. His response is asfollows:Yes and contingency plansexist to enable this. ","AnswerDate":"2008-01-21T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-01-23T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Kenny MacAskill","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":214942,"EventID":"S3W-08281","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2610,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":1,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-09T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-09T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what the role of the Scottish Prison Service was in relation to an incident at HM Prison Kilmarnock on 4 January 2008.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what the role of the Scottish Prison Service was in relation to an incident at HM Prison Kilmarnock on 4 January 2008.","AnswerText":"I have asked Mike Ewart,Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service to respond. His response is asfollows:The SPS were made fullyaware of the incident at HM Prison Kilmarnock on 4 January 2008. The SPS played no active role onsite in relation to the incident although were regularly briefed during theincident and under nationally agreed protocols SPS were available to offeradvice and assistance if requested by HM Prison Kilmarnock. The incident wasbrought to a successful conclusion by SERCO. ","AnswerDate":"2008-01-21T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-01-23T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Kenny MacAskill","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":214943,"EventID":"S3W-08282","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":3896,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":25,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-09T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-09T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether Scottish ministers have had discussions with their UK counterparts on (a) how any nuclear power stations will be funded, (b) whether the UK Government will be inv","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether Scottish ministers have had discussions with their UK counterparts on (a) how any nuclear power stations will be funded, (b) whether the UK Government will be investing any public money in new nuclear power and (c) whether the UK Government will match incentives offered to companies funding nuclear power stations with incentives for the renewables industry.","AnswerText":"We have had no discussions withUKministers on any aspect of the development of new nuclear power stations in Scotland. However,we provided a full response to the UK Government’s consultation on nuclear power,which is available from the Scottish ParliamentInformation Centre. More generally we have made our position clear – Scotland does not want or neednew nuclear power stations and therefore such discussions are not necessary.","AnswerDate":"2008-01-17T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-01-23T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Jim Mather","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":214944,"EventID":"S3W-08283","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2603,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":6,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-09T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-09T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to lift the cap on student numbers in higher education.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to lift the cap on student numbers in higher education.","AnswerText":"There are currently no plansto lift the cap on student numbers in higher education. The Scottish Government is satisfied that opportunitiesto enter higher education in Scotland exist for all suitably qualified Scottish applicants.","AnswerDate":"2008-01-21T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-01-23T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Fiona Hyslop","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":214945,"EventID":"S3W-08284","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2223,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":26,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-09T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-09T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive when the European Fisheries Fund will be opened to applications from Scottish businesses and when the first payments will be made to successful applicants.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive when the European Fisheries Fund will be opened to applications from Scottish businesses and when the first payments will be made to successful applicants.","AnswerText":"The European Fisheries Fund willopen to applications once the UK Government has submitted, and the EC approved,the UK Operational Programme. It is anticipated that the programme will be operationaltowards the end of 2008. Subsequent grant payments will be dependent on businessesincurring approved project expenditure and submitting eligible claims to the ScottishGovernment.","AnswerDate":"2008-01-18T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-01-23T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Richard Lochhead","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":214946,"EventID":"S3W-08285","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2223,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":26,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-09T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-09T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what criteria will be used when assessing applications to the European Fisheries Fund.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what criteria will be used when assessing applications to the European Fisheries Fund.","AnswerText":"The criteria for assessing applicationswill be finalised following full public consultation on the European Fisheries FundOperational Programme. It is anticipated that assessment in Scotland will remainalong similar lines to that employed under the successful predecessor FinancialInstrument for Fisheries Guidance programme.","AnswerDate":"2008-01-18T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-01-23T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Richard Lochhead","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":214947,"EventID":"S3W-08286","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2223,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":26,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-09T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-09T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what funding from the European Fisheries Fund will be available to Scottish businesses in each year from 2007-08 to 2012-13 and how such funding will be shared between th","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what funding from the European Fisheries Fund will be available to Scottish businesses in each year from 2007-08 to 2012-13 and how such funding will be shared between the highlands and islands and the rest of Scotland.","AnswerText":"Approximately €17.62 millionwill be available to the Scottish Highlands and Islands area, with the rest of Scotland allocatedapproximately €37.52 million during the European Fisheries Fund programming period.Annual allocations will be subject to industry input to the forthcoming public consultationon the draft UK Operational Plan.","AnswerDate":"2008-01-18T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-01-23T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Richard Lochhead","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":214948,"EventID":"S3W-08287","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2223,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":26,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-09T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-09T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what criteria were used, or will be used, when determining the distribution of funding from the European Fisheries Fund between the highlands and islands and the rest of ","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what criteria were used, or will be used, when determining the distribution of funding from the European Fisheries Fund between the highlands and islands and the rest of Scotland.","AnswerText":"The allocation of European FisheriesFund resources between the convergence area of the Highlands and Islands and thenon-convergence area of the rest of Scotland was determined, at the memberstate level, by the European Commission. The UK’s convergence and separatenon-convergence allocations were then split by agreement between all four UK administrations,largely based on historic allocation and expenditure patterns of the predecessorfund the Financial Instrument for Fisheries Guidance.","AnswerDate":"2008-01-18T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-01-23T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Richard Lochhead","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":214949,"EventID":"S3W-08288","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2223,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":26,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-09T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-09T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will list the fisheries and aquaculture sectors that will be able to apply for grants from the European Fisheries Fund, showing the specific share allocated to","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will list the fisheries and aquaculture sectors that will be able to apply for grants from the European Fisheries Fund, showing the specific share allocated to each sector.","AnswerText":"Eligible applicants under theEuropean Fisheries Fund will include all individuals, companies, trade and publicbodies that have a direct interest in commercial fisheries. Sectoral allocationswill be subject to industry input to the forthcoming public consultation on theproposed UK Operational Programme and accompanying arrangements for delivery of the programme in Scotland.","AnswerDate":"2008-01-18T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-01-23T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Richard Lochhead","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":214950,"EventID":"S3W-08289","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1839,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":3,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-09T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-09T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what percentage of stroke victims have access to a CT or MRI scan within (a) three and (b) 24 hours, broken down by NHS board.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what percentage of stroke victims have access to a CT or MRI scan within (a) three and (b) 24 hours, broken down by NHS board.","AnswerText":"The data requested is notheld centrally in the form requested.The latest Scottish Stroke Care Audit monitors performanceagainst the NHS Quality Improvement Scotland clinical standards for stroke. Itsnational report includes data describingthe quality of stroke care in each acute hospital grouped by NHS board during 2005and 2006. These show that 15 out of 21 hospitals and 12 out of 14 boards now meet the standard of “80% ofpatients having a CT or MRI scan within 48 hours of admission”. The report alsofound that 79% of all Scottish stroke patients received a brain scan within 48hours of admission, an improvement of 5% on 2004. ","AnswerDate":"2008-01-22T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-01-23T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Nicola Sturgeon","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":214951,"EventID":"S3W-08290","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1839,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":3,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-09T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-09T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive how the use of anti-psychotic drugs in care homes for elderly people is audited and monitored.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive how the use of anti-psychotic drugs in care homes for elderly people is audited and monitored.","AnswerText":"The National Care Standards forCare Homes for Older People require providers to have in place comprehensive policies,procedures and systems for ordering medication and for its safe storage and administration,and for the safe disposal of unused medicines. The standards also require a carehome’s staff to be fully aware of the systems,and to be fully trained in how to manage each resident’s medication safely and inthe way which suits them best.Providers are also required underthe Regulation of Care (Requirements as to Care Services) (Scotland) Regulations2002 to keep a record of any medicines for the use of residents which are kept onthe care service premises, and details of any instances in which medication hasbeen administered to a resident without the resident’s or their representative’sconsent. The Care Commission is responsiblefor regulating providers against these requirements and has a wide range of sanctionsavailable to it should a provider fail to meet any of the requirements. ","AnswerDate":"2008-01-17T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-01-23T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Shona Robison","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":214952,"EventID":"S3W-08291","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1839,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":3,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-09T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-09T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what action has been taken in response to the Care Commission report, Pressure for Change, to address “serious failings in the standards of care” in every care home revie","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what action has been taken in response to the Care Commission report, Pressure for Change, to address “serious failings in the standards of care” in every care home reviewed, as referred to by the commission when the report was published.","AnswerText":"the Scottish Government accepts the findings of the Care Commission’s report Pressure for Change, which includes important recommendations for care providers,NHS boards and local authorities.We are keen to ensure a nationalapproach in responding to this issue. The Scottish Government is establishing aNational Programme Board, to be chaired by the Chief Nursing Officer, to overseeand quality assure a programme of work on pressure ulcers and skin care. The boardwill consider and advise on any necessary action. It will involve representativesfrom a wide range of relevant interests. ","AnswerDate":"2008-01-21T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-01-23T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Shona Robison","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":214953,"EventID":"S3W-08292","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1839,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":3,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-09T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-09T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive why 11 enforcement notices were served by the Care Commission when it states that, of the 62 care homes involved in its Pressure for Change review, “in every care home we","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive why 11 enforcement notices were served by the Care Commission when it states that, of the 62 care homes involved in its Pressure for Change review, “in every care home we reviewed, we found serious failings in the standards of care”.","AnswerText":"Under the Regulation of Care(Scotland) Act 2001 the Care Commission has a wide range of measures available toit where it sees the need for a care home to make improvements. It can make recommendations,place requirements on the care home or serve an improvement notice which detailsthe required improvements that need to be made and the timescales for this. If thecare home fails to make the improvements then, ultimately, the Care Commission cantake steps to cancel the service’s registration.Decisions on what action to takeif a service is not meeting the National Care Standards or the Regulations are anoperational matter for the Care Commission. Any decisions made by thecommission take account of all the relevant circumstances and are proportionate You can contact the Chief Executiveat the following address: Ms Jacquie Roberts Chief Executive Scottish Commission for the Regulationof Care Compass House Riverside Drive Dundee DD1 4NY T: 01382 207100 E: Jacquie.roberts@carecommission.com. ","AnswerDate":"2008-01-17T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-01-23T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Shona Robison","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":214954,"EventID":"S3W-08293","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1839,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":3,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-09T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-09T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what compensation has been paid to families whose relatives died from septicaemia following infected pressure ulcers, as identified by the Care Commission report, Pressur","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what compensation has been paid to families whose relatives died from septicaemia following infected pressure ulcers, as identified by the Care Commission report, Pressure for Change.","AnswerText":"The Care Commission report refersto three fatal accident inquiries following the death of residents from septicaemiaassociated with an infected pressure ulcer. Of the inquiries, one found that deficienciesin the care home had contributed towards a resident’s death. No central informationis held on whether any compensation was paid by the home to the relatives of theresident. The home has subsequently closed.","AnswerDate":"2008-01-21T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-01-23T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Nicola Sturgeon","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":214955,"EventID":"S3W-08294","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2345,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":56,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-09T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-09T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether it considers that all food purchased by public bodies should have been produced to similar standards of welfare, hygiene and traceability as those applying to Sco","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether it considers that all food purchased by public bodies should have been produced to similar standards of welfare, hygiene and traceability as those applying to Scottish farmers and food producers and, if so, what action it is taking to achieve this.","AnswerText":"The Scottish Government’spolicy is that the procurement of goods and services should be based on value formoney having due regard to propriety and regularity, including compliance with legalobligations. This allows procurement decisions to take account of specific requirementsincluding quality assurance standards, required delivery frequency, seasonal availabilityand freshness, provided that these criteria are not designed to discriminate againstnon local suppliers. These legal obligations cover the whole EU and are not specificto Scottish buyers.Livestock identificationrequirements in Scotland are set at EU level and are applicable toall live animals (only applies to cattle, sheep, goats and pigs) irrespective oftheir final destination in the food chain. Animals from EU member states will beidentified to similar standards as on Scottish farms and any animal arriving fromthird countries require to be identified on arrival to the same level as domesticanimals. ","AnswerDate":"2008-02-01T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-01-23T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Richard Lochhead","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":214956,"EventID":"S3W-08295","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2345,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":56,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-09T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-09T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to make Scotland a Maedi Visna accredited area.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to make Scotland a Maedi Visna accredited area.","AnswerText":"The Scottish Executive has noplans to make Scotland a Maedi Visna accredited area.","AnswerDate":"2008-01-22T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-01-23T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Richard Lochhead","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":214957,"EventID":"S3W-08296","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2345,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":56,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-09T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-09T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive how many new regulations relating to agriculture it has implemented since 1999, broken down by year.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive how many new regulations relating to agriculture it has implemented since 1999, broken down by year.","AnswerText":"This information ispublicly available in the form of the Scottish Statutory Instruments Statisticsand is available from the Office of the Queen’s Printer for Scotland (OQPS). Thestatistics show the total number of Scottish Statutory Instruments broken down byyear since Devolution in 1999 and by subject area since 2001. The information canbe accessed on the OQPS website at the following address http://www.oqps.gov.uk/legislation/ssi/statistics.","AnswerDate":"2008-02-01T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-01-23T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Richard Lochhead","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":214958,"EventID":"S3W-08297","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2345,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":56,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-09T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-09T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether food businesses are to be excluded from accessing the European Social Fund and, if so, what steps the Executive is taking to ensure that support for skills relate","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether food businesses are to be excluded from accessing the European Social Fund and, if so, what steps the Executive is taking to ensure that support for skills related to the retail meat and craft bakery sectors will continue to be available.","AnswerText":"The eligibility rules under the Scottish Rural Development Plan effectively preclude support for training for thefood processing sector. This was not apparent when the Operational Programmes forthe European Social Fund (ESF) were being negotiated with the European Commission.To avoid the risk of dual eligibility and potential double funding, ESF programmesspecifically exclude such training. This was clearly set out in the draft programmesthat went out to public consultation in October 2006.the Scottish Government is involved in on-going discussions with the food processingsector, geared towards addressing the issue of funding for food sector training.In particular, a discussion is taking place on a national food policy, demonstratingour commitment to the future of the Scottish food industry. This discussion willhelp identify key issues and future opportunities for production of food. With ministerial support, officialsin the European Structural Funds Division are currently pursuing with the EuropeanCommission the case for adjusting the two Scottish ESF programmes to include thefood sector. While this would not in itself guarantee European Social Fund support,it would allow projects from the food sector to compete for funding with other eligibleprojects. ","AnswerDate":"2008-01-17T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-01-23T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Jim Mather","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":214959,"EventID":"S3W-08298","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1996,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":19,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-09T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-09T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the Minister for Communities and Sport’s ministerial statement on the future of sportscotland on 9 January 2008, how many existing sportscotland jobs will be ","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the Minister for Communities and Sport’s ministerial statement on the future of sportscotland on 9 January 2008, how many existing sportscotland jobs will be (a) relocated to the new headquarters in Glasgow and (b) dispersed between the Glasgow, Edinburgh, Stirling and Aberdeen hubs.","AnswerText":"The majority of jobs will berelocated to Glasgow, it is anticipated that approximately:80 to 100 jobs will go to Glasgow 30 to 35 jobs will remain inEdinburgh five to 10 jobs will go to Aberdeen five to 10 jobs will go to Stirling. It should be noted these figuresare indicative and illustrative and final numbers will not be available until meetingswith sportscotland’s management team, human resources team and staff are complete. ","AnswerDate":"2008-01-23T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-01-23T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Stewart Maxwell","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":214960,"EventID":"S3W-08299","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1996,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":19,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-09T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-09T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the Minister for Communities and Sport’s ministerial statement on the future of sportscotland on 9 January 2008, what the proposed timescale is for the reloca","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the Minister for Communities and Sport’s ministerial statement on the future of sportscotland on 9 January 2008, what the proposed timescale is for the relocation of sportscotland’s headquarters to Glasgow and, if the relocation is to occur before the completion of the National Indoor Sports Arena, what provision of services will be made in the interim.","AnswerText":"It is intended to initiate thismove as soon as possible. The new organisation will be expected to identify a temporarylocation in Glasgow, until it moves to the site of the new indoor arena.This is likely to be in 2011.These moves will be managed sothat disruption to the provision of services is kept to a minimum. ","AnswerDate":"2008-01-17T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-01-23T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Stewart Maxwell","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":214961,"EventID":"S3W-08300","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1996,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":19,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-09T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-09T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the Minister for Communities and Sport’s ministerial statement on the future of sportscotland on 9 January 2008, what the overall costs will be of the relocat","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the Minister for Communities and Sport’s ministerial statement on the future of sportscotland on 9 January 2008, what the overall costs will be of the relocation and dispersal of sportscotland’s staff to the Glasgow, Edinburgh, Stirling and Aberdeen hubs.","AnswerText":"The previous Executive’s planfor the relocation of sportscotland is estimated at a cost of £15 million at today’sprices. No money was identified in the previous administration’s budget to coverthe costs of this relocation.The cost of sportscotland’s relocationwill now be approximately £7.9 million. However, it is intended to sell CaledoniaHouse, sportscotland’s headquarters, the current market price of which is approximatelybetween £4 to £6 million. sportscotland will retain the receipts from this saleto re-invest in sport. However, it will not possibleto provide exact and final figures until the process has been completed. The finalfigures will be released as soon as they become available. ","AnswerDate":"2008-01-23T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-01-23T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Stewart Maxwell","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":214962,"EventID":"S3W-08301","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2167,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":3,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-09T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-09T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether the budget line for flood and coast protection held centrally in the current year, and which remained unallocated for the spending review period, formed part of t","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether the budget line for flood and coast protection held centrally in the current year, and which remained unallocated for the spending review period, formed part of the grants rolled up and distributed to local authorities as part of the recently announced funding settlement for local government.","AnswerText":"No.","AnswerDate":"2008-01-18T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-01-23T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Michael Russell","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":214963,"EventID":"S3W-08302","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2167,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":3,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-09T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-09T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive how the distribution of the capital funding element of the recent settlement with local authorities was arrived at.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive how the distribution of the capital funding element of the recent settlement with local authorities was arrived at.","AnswerText":"The distribution of the capitalfunding element of the recent settlement with local authorities was arrived at inconsultation with COSLA.For those grants rolled-up, where a distribution mechanism was previously used, thismechanism generally stays the same. Where a rolled‑up grant was distributedon the basis of a bidding process, the grant has either been (i) distributed basedon a new mechanism agreed with COSLA; (ii) distributed based on bids already committedto during the settlement e.g. Flood Prevention Grant, or (iii) has not yet beendistributed but will be based on a mechanism agreed with local government throughCOSLA. The additional capital element was distributed based on the new supportedborrowing mechanism as agreed with COSLA. Ring‑fenced grants continueto be distributed as previously, unless otherwise agreed with COSLA. ","AnswerDate":"2008-01-17T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-01-23T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"John Swinney","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":214964,"EventID":"S3W-08303","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2167,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":3,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-09T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-09T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what distribution methods applied to each element of the rolled-up grants distributed to local authorities for capital spending announced as part of the recent settlement","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what distribution methods applied to each element of the rolled-up grants distributed to local authorities for capital spending announced as part of the recent settlement with local government.","AnswerText":"The position with regard to previouslyring-fenced grants that have now been rolled up is that they have, as far as possible,continued to be allocated in the same way. Where a distribution mechanism was previouslyused, this mechanism stays the same unless otherwise agreed. Where a grant was distributedon the basis of a bidding process, the grant has either been (i) distributed basedon a new mechanism agreed with COSLA; (ii) distributed based on bids already committedto during the settlement e.g. Flood Prevention Grant, or (iii) has not yet beendistributed but will be based on a mechanism agreed with local government throughCOSLA. The additional capital element has been distributed based on the new supportedborrowing mechanism as agreed with COSLA.","AnswerDate":"2008-01-17T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-01-23T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"John Swinney","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":214965,"EventID":"S3W-08304","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1862,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":37,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-09T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-09T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what proportion of its budget it proposes to spend on children","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what proportion of its budget it proposes to spend on children","AnswerText":"The national outcomes and spendingproposals set out in the Scottish Budget: Spending Review 2007 underline the Scottish Government’s commitment to childrenand young people. This document also contains more detailed expenditure plans, forportfolios. Almost all of the budgetthat is spent on services for children is now contained within the local governmentsettlement and the budgets for health boards.","AnswerDate":"2008-01-16T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-01-23T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Adam Ingram","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":214966,"EventID":"S3W-08305","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1862,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":37,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-09T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-09T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive how many schools in each local authority area deliver the xlerate with xl programme through the Prince’s Trust.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive how many schools in each local authority area deliver the xlerate with xl programme through the Prince’s Trust.","AnswerText":"Our information from thePrinces Trust Scotland is that, in 2007-08, the number of schoolsdelivering Xlerate with xl clubs in each local authority is as follows: | Local Authority | No. of Schools | | Aberdeen | 1 | | Aberdeenshire | 2 | | Angus | 5 | | Argyll and Bute | 6 | | Dumfries and Galloway | 2 | | Dundee | 5 | | East Ayrshire | 8 | | East Dunbartonshire | 2 | | East Lothian | 1 | | East Renfrewshire | 3 | | Edinburgh | 6 | | Falkirk | 1 | | Fife | 5 | | Glasgow | 17 | | Highland | 6 | | Inverclyde | 4 | | Midlothian | 2 | | Moray | 2 | | North Ayrshire | 4 | | North Lanarkshire | 9 | | Orkney | 1 | | Perth and Kinross | 2 | | Renfrewshire | 4 | | Scottish Borders | 4 | | Shetland Isles | 2 | | South Ayrshire | 5 | | South Lanarkshire | 3 | | Stirling | 3 | | West Dunbartonshire | 2 | | West Lothian | 5 | | Western Isles | 1 | Note 1.There are currentlyno Xlerate with xl clubs in Clackmannanshire. ","AnswerDate":"2008-01-18T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-01-23T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Maureen Watt","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":214967,"EventID":"S3W-08306","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1862,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":37,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-09T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-09T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive how much funding each local authority has received each year from Determined to Succeed since the inception of the programme.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive how much funding each local authority has received each year from Determined to Succeed since the inception of the programme.","AnswerText":"The information requested isas follows: | Local Authority | 2003-04 | 2004-05 | 2005-06 | 2006-07 | 2007-08 | | Aberdeen City | 428,332 | 298,245 | 298,245 | 567,271 | 574,404 | | Aberdeenshire | 0 | 596,229 | 1,305,818 | 1,052,226 | 1,065,456 | | Angus | 0 | 246,161 | 539,122 | 434,848.50 | 440,316 | | Argyll and Bute | 288,083 | 200,590 | 200,590 | 381,163.5 | 385,956 | | Clackmannanshire | 0 | 95,689 | 209,571 | 168,213 | 170,328 | | Dumfries and Galloway | 0 | 366,344 | 802,338 | 646,009.5 | 654,132 | | Dundee City | 334,772 | 233,101 | 233,101 | 443,796 | 449,376 | | East Ayrshire | 329,025 | 229,098 | 229,098 | 434,848.5 | 440,316 | | East Dunbartonshire | 0 | 235,685 | 516,181 | 416,953.5 | 422,196 | | East Lothian | 0 | http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/wa.search. The Scottish Government willawait the completion of the pilot in Lothian and Borders Community Justice Authoritybefore taking a decision on further roll-out of the scheme. ","AnswerDate":"2008-01-18T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-01-24T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Fergus Ewing","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":214969,"EventID":"S3W-08308","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2603,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":6,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-10T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-10T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive when the Minister for Transport, Infrastructure and Climate Change will next meet Nestrans to discuss the Aberdeen Crossrail project.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive when the Minister for Transport, Infrastructure and Climate Change will next meet Nestrans to discuss the Aberdeen Crossrail project.","AnswerText":"I have no plans to meetNESTRANS. However Transport Scotland officials have been involved in discussions withNESTRANS on the emerging conclusions from the STAG 2 report.","AnswerDate":"2008-01-24T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-01-24T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Stewart Stevenson","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":214970,"EventID":"S3W-08309","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2603,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":6,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-10T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-10T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive when it will move from assessing proposals for Aberdeen Crossrail to construction of the project and what timescale it anticipates for the construction.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive when it will move from assessing proposals for Aberdeen Crossrail to construction of the project and what timescale it anticipates for the construction.","AnswerText":"I refer the member to the answerto question S3W-8313 on 24 January 2008. All answers to written parliamentary questions areavailable on the Parliament’s website the search facility for which can befound at http://www.Scottish Parliament.uk/webapp/wa.search.","AnswerDate":"2008-01-24T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-01-24T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Stewart Stevenson","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":214971,"EventID":"S3W-08310","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2603,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":6,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-10T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-10T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive how much funding in the spending review will be allocated to developing transport projects in Grampian.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive how much funding in the spending review will be allocated to developing transport projects in Grampian.","AnswerText":"The spending plans set out inthe Scottish Budget have not yet been approved by the Scottish Parliament. The draftScottish Budget proposes the overall funding allocated for transport, but this hasnot been broken down for each local authority area.","AnswerDate":"2008-01-17T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-01-24T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Stewart Stevenson","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":214972,"EventID":"S3W-08311","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2603,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":6,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-10T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-10T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive how much funding in the spending review will be allocated to developing rail projects in Grampian.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive how much funding in the spending review will be allocated to developing rail projects in Grampian.","AnswerText":"I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-8310 on 17 January. All answers to written parliamentaryquestions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for whichcan be found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/wa.search","AnswerDate":"2008-02-07T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-01-24T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Stewart Stevenson","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":214973,"EventID":"S3W-08312","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2603,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":6,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-10T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-10T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will conduct a consultation on the proposed Aberdeen Crossrail project and, if so, when it anticipates that such a consultation will take place.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will conduct a consultation on the proposed Aberdeen Crossrail project and, if so, when it anticipates that such a consultation will take place.","AnswerText":"I refer the member to the answerto question S3W-8313 on 24 January 2008. All answers to written parliamentary questions areavailable on the Parliament's website, the search facility for which can befound at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/wa.search.","AnswerDate":"2008-01-24T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-01-24T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Stewart Stevenson","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":214974,"EventID":"S3W-08313","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2603,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":6,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-10T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-10T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive when the Minister for Transport, Infrastructure and Climate Change expects to receive the STAG 2 report on the Aberdeen Crossrail project which was due at the end of summ","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive when the Minister for Transport, Infrastructure and Climate Change expects to receive the STAG 2 report on the Aberdeen Crossrail project which was due at the end of summer 2007.","AnswerText":"Transport Scotlandofficials have been involved in discussions with NESTRANS on the emergingconclusions from the STAG 2 report on the Aberdeen Crossrail project which hasbeen received in draft format only. As a result of this dialogue, it wasjointly agreed that NESTRANS should give further examination to the passengerbenefits which could be achieved from the existing infrastructure. Alternativeproposals have been identified and submitted to Transport Scotland. Theseare currently being assessed to identify which meet our strategic prioritiesand best meet the needs of rail users in the Aberdeen area whilst at thesame time offering best value.","AnswerDate":"2008-01-24T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-01-24T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Stewart Stevenson","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":214975,"EventID":"S3W-08314","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2603,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":6,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-10T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-10T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether the Minister for Transport, Infrastructure and Climate Change has yet received the STAG 2 report on the Aberdeen Crossrail project which was due at the end of sum","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether the Minister for Transport, Infrastructure and Climate Change has yet received the STAG 2 report on the Aberdeen Crossrail project which was due at the end of summer 2007 and, if not, what the reasons are for the delay.","AnswerText":"I refer the member to the answerto question S3W-8313 on 24 January 2008. All answers to written parliamentary questions areavailable on the Parliament’s website the search facility for which can befound at http://www.Scottish Parliament.uk/webapp/wa.search.","AnswerDate":"2008-01-24T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-01-24T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Stewart Stevenson","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":214976,"EventID":"S3W-08315","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2603,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":6,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-10T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-10T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive when it will report on its findings in respect of the contents of the Nestrans transport strategy.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive when it will report on its findings in respect of the contents of the Nestrans transport strategy.","AnswerText":"Scottish ministers will consider the Nestrans regional transport strategyfollowing receipt of a revised draft requested recently.","AnswerDate":"2008-01-22T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-01-24T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"John Swinney","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":214977,"EventID":"S3W-08316","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2603,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":6,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-10T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-10T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive how many antisocial behaviour orders were issued in Grampian as a result of vandalism-related incidents during (a) 2003-04, (b) 2004-05, (c) 2005-06, (d) 2006-07 and (e) ","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive how many antisocial behaviour orders were issued in Grampian as a result of vandalism-related incidents during (a) 2003-04, (b) 2004-05, (c) 2005-06, (d) 2006-07 and (e) 2007-08.","AnswerText":"Although the Scottish Governmentcollects data on the number of ASBOs granted in each local authority area, it doesnot collect data on the nature of the misconduct that prompted the ASBO. This informationis not held centrally.","AnswerDate":"2008-01-22T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-01-24T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Fergus Ewing","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":214978,"EventID":"S3W-08317","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2603,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":6,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-10T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-10T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive how many antisocial behaviour orders were issued in Aberdeen city during (a) 2003-04, (b) 2004-05, (c) 2005-06, (d) 2006-07 and (e) 2007-08.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive how many antisocial behaviour orders were issued in Aberdeen city during (a) 2003-04, (b) 2004-05, (c) 2005-06, (d) 2006-07 and (e) 2007-08.","AnswerText":"According to research on theuse of civil antisocial behaviour orders (ASBOs) undertaken by DTZ Pieda and Heriot-WattUniversity, 13 ASBOs were issued in Aberdeen City in 2003-04, 14 in 2004-05 and11 in 2005-06.Since this research has now reported,figures on the use of ASBOs for subsequent years are obtained directly from Aberdeen City. Accordingto their records there were 14 ASBOs issued in 2006-07 and 21 issued from Aprilto September 2007. These figures include interimASBOs that were later granted as full ASBOs (as well as those that were still inforce as interim ASBOs at the end of the reporting period). ","AnswerDate":"2008-01-22T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-01-24T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Fergus Ewing","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":214979,"EventID":"S3W-08318","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2603,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":6,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-10T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-10T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive how many antisocial behaviour orders were issued in Aberdeenshire during (a) 2003-04, (b) 2004-05, (c) 2005-06, (d) 2006-07 and (e) 2007-08.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive how many antisocial behaviour orders were issued in Aberdeenshire during (a) 2003-04, (b) 2004-05, (c) 2005-06, (d) 2006-07 and (e) 2007-08.","AnswerText":"According to research on theuse of civil antisocial behaviour orders (ASBOs) undertaken by DTZ Pieda and Heriot-WattUniversity, no ASBO were issued in Aberdeenshire in 2003-04 and 2004-05 and fivewere issued in 2005-06.Sincethis research has now reported, figures on the use of ASBOs for subsequent yearsare obtained directly from Aberdeenshire Council. According to their records therewere five ASBOs issued in 2006-07 and one issued from April to September 2007. These figures include interimASBOs that were later granted as full ASBOs (as well as those that were still inforce as interim ASBOs at the end of the reporting period). ","AnswerDate":"2008-01-17T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-01-24T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Fergus Ewing","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":214980,"EventID":"S3W-08319","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2603,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":6,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-10T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-10T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive how many incidents of vandalism were reported to Grampian Police during (a) 2003-04, (b) 2004-05, (c) 2005-06, (d) 2006-07 and (e) 2007-08.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive how many incidents of vandalism were reported to Grampian Police during (a) 2003-04, (b) 2004-05, (c) 2005-06, (d) 2006-07 and (e) 2007-08.","AnswerText":"The available information isgiven in the following table.Crimes of Vandalism Recordedin the Grampian Police Force Area, 2003-04 to 2007-08. | Year | Number of Recorded Crimes of Vandalism | | 2003–04 | 8,809 | | 2004–05 | 10,822 | | 2005–06 | 11,403 | | 2006–07 | 11,249 | | 2007–08 | not available | For the purpose of this analysis,vandalism has been defined as vandalism, reckless damage and malicious mischief. ","AnswerDate":"2008-01-21T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-01-24T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Kenny MacAskill","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":214981,"EventID":"S3W-08320","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2603,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":6,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-10T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-10T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what the total cost was of restoring vandalised public sector property in Grampian during (a) 2003-04, (b) 2004-05, (c) 2005-06, (d) 2006-07 and (e) 2007-08.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what the total cost was of restoring vandalised public sector property in Grampian during (a) 2003-04, (b) 2004-05, (c) 2005-06, (d) 2006-07 and (e) 2007-08.","AnswerText":"We do not maintain informationpermitting a full answer to this question. We have no information relating to buildingsother than Scottish Government buildings and no records are kept which would enableus to readily discriminate any historical costs related to vandalism from othermaintenance costs for Scottish Government buildings.However, officials are unawareof any substantial items of expenditure in the period to restore vandalised coreScottish Government buildings in Grampian. ","AnswerDate":"2008-01-18T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-01-24T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Fergus Ewing","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":214982,"EventID":"S3W-08321","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2603,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":6,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-10T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-10T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive how many vandalism-related arrests were made by Grampian Police from 2003 to 2007 and, of these, how many were of individuals aged from (a) 10 to 15, (b) 16 to 18, (c) 18","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive how many vandalism-related arrests were made by Grampian Police from 2003 to 2007 and, of these, how many were of individuals aged from (a) 10 to 15, (b) 16 to 18, (c) 18 to 25 and (d) over 25.","AnswerText":"Information on the number ofarrests made by the police is not held centrally, only the number of crimesrecorded. Statistics on the number of crimes of vandalism recorded in theGrampian Police Force Area, 2003-04 to 2007-08, are available in the answergiven to parliamentary question S3W-8319. All answers to written parliamentaryquestions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility forwhich can be found at:http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/wa.search. ","AnswerDate":"2008-01-25T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-01-24T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Kenny MacAskill","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":214983,"EventID":"S3W-08322","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2603,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":6,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-10T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-10T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive how many individuals who committed vandalism-related offences received community service orders in Grampian during (a) 2003, (b) 2004, (c) 2005, (d) 2006 and (e) 2007.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive how many individuals who committed vandalism-related offences received community service orders in Grampian during (a) 2003, (b) 2004, (c) 2005, (d) 2006 and (e) 2007.","AnswerText":"In Grampian police force areafor the years 2003-04, 2004-05 and 2005-06 (the latest year for which data is available)six, eight and 10 persons respectively received community service orders for vandalismrelated offences. Vandalism related offences covers offences of vandalism, recklessdamage and malicious mischief.","AnswerDate":"2008-01-21T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-01-24T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Kenny MacAskill","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":214984,"EventID":"S3W-08323","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2892,"Party":"Scottish Green Party","RegionID":2,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-10T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-10T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will support the proposed Sentencing of Offences Aggravated by Prejudice (Scotland) Bill.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will support the proposed Sentencing of Offences Aggravated by Prejudice (Scotland) Bill.","AnswerText":"Living in safe and strong communitiesis an essential part of the Scottish Government’s positive vision for Scotland. Fortoo many people that vision is blurred by the fear of crime and intolerance.While good government needs aclear vision it must also deal decisively with immediate problems. To do otherwisewould compromise public safety. I can therefore confirm the Scottish Government’ssupport for the proposed Sentencing of Offences Aggravated by Prejudice (Scotland) Bill.This will extend statutory aggravations to cover crimes motivated by malice or illwill towards victims based on their sexual orientation, transgender identity ordisability. No one in Scotland shouldbe targeted or victimised because of their sexual orientation, transgender identityor disability. Our clear aim is to prevent and deter crime but where crime doeshappen we must send a clear signal that it will not be tolerated. ","AnswerDate":"2008-01-15T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-01-24T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Kenny MacAskill","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":214985,"EventID":"S3W-08324","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1970,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":65,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-10T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-10T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will commission an independent assessment of how the enhancements to Edinburgh and Glasgow airports, included in the nine infrastructure projects identified as","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will commission an independent assessment of how the enhancements to Edinburgh and Glasgow airports, included in the nine infrastructure projects identified as potential national developments in the second National Planning Framework, will contribute to or impact on the 80% greenhouse gas reduction targets.","AnswerText":"No. The projects which are designatedas national developments such as the Glasgow and Edinburghairport enhancements are considered to be essential to the delivery of the spatialstrategy set out in the second National Planning Framework discussion draft. Thehigh-level environmental effects are assessed in the accompanying EnvironmentalReport. Measures to eliminate or mitigate any potential negative effects of proposalswill be addressed in more detail through the assessment of development plans andspecific development proposals.","AnswerDate":"2008-01-16T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-01-24T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"John Swinney","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":214986,"EventID":"S3W-08325","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1970,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":65,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-10T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-10T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will commission an independent assessment of how the replacement Forth crossing, included in the nine infrastructure projects identified as potential national ","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will commission an independent assessment of how the replacement Forth crossing, included in the nine infrastructure projects identified as potential national developments in the second National Planning Framework, will contribute to or impact on the 80% greenhouse gas reduction targets.","AnswerText":"No. The projectswhich are designated as national developments such as the Forth Replacement Crossingare considered to be essential to the delivery of the spatial strategy set out inthe second National Planning Framework discussion draft. The high-level environmentaleffects are assessed in the accompanying Environmental Report. Measures to eliminateor mitigate any potential negative effects of proposals will be addressed in moredetail through the assessment of development plans and specific development proposals.","AnswerDate":"2008-01-16T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-01-24T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"John Swinney","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":214987,"EventID":"S3W-08326","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1970,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":65,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-10T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-10T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will commission an independent assessment of how the Rosyth International Container Terminal, included in the nine infrastructure projects identified as potent","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will commission an independent assessment of how the Rosyth International Container Terminal, included in the nine infrastructure projects identified as potential national developments in the second National Planning Framework, will contribute to or impact on the 80% greenhouse gas reduction targets.","AnswerText":"No. The projectswhich are designated as national developments such as the Rosyth International ContainerTerminal are considered to be essential to the delivery of the spatial strategyset out in the second National Planning Framework discussion draft. The high-levelenvironmental effects are assessed in the accompanying Environmental Report. Measuresto eliminate or mitigate any potential negative effects of proposals will be addressedin more detail through the assessment of development plans and specific developmentproposals.","AnswerDate":"2008-01-16T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-01-24T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"John Swinney","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":214988,"EventID":"S3W-08327","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1970,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":65,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-10T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-10T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will commission an independent assessment of how enhanced access to the Grangemouth Freight Hub, included in the nine infrastructure projects identified as pot","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will commission an independent assessment of how enhanced access to the Grangemouth Freight Hub, included in the nine infrastructure projects identified as potential national developments in the second National Planning Framework, will contribute to or impact on the 80% greenhouse gas reduction targets.","AnswerText":"No. The projectswhich are designated as national developments such as the Grangemouth Freight Hubare considered to be essential to the delivery of the spatial strategy set out inthe second National Planning Framework discussion draft. The high-level environmentaleffects are assessed in the accompanying Environmental Report. Measures to eliminateor mitigate any potential negative effects of proposals will be addressed in moredetail through the assessment of development plans and specific development proposals.","AnswerDate":"2008-01-16T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-01-24T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"John Swinney","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":214989,"EventID":"S3W-08328","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1970,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":65,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-10T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-10T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will commission an independent assessment of how the Scapa Flow Container Transhipment Facility, included in the nine infrastructure projects identified as pot","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will commission an independent assessment of how the Scapa Flow Container Transhipment Facility, included in the nine infrastructure projects identified as potential national developments in the second National Planning Framework, will contribute to or impact on the 80% greenhouse gas reduction targets.","AnswerText":"No. The projectswhich are designated as national developments such as the Scapa Flow Container TranshipmentFacility are considered to be essential to the delivery of the spatial strategyset out in the second National Planning Framework discussion draft. The high-levelenvironmental effects are assessed in the accompanying Environmental Report. Measuresto eliminate or mitigate any potential negative effects of proposals will be addressedin more detail through the assessment of development plans and specific developmentproposals.","AnswerDate":"2008-01-16T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-01-24T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"John Swinney","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":214990,"EventID":"S3W-08329","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1751,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":3,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-10T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-10T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has any plans to cancel community charge arrears. ","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has any plans to cancel community charge arrears. ","AnswerText":"The ScottishGovernment does not have any plans to change the current arrangements fordealing with community charge arrears.","AnswerDate":"2008-01-30T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-01-24T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"John Swinney","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":214991,"EventID":"S3W-08330","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2108,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":68,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-10T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-10T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will make an announcement on establishing a judicial inquiry into the Shirley McKie case before the end of June 2008.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will make an announcement on establishing a judicial inquiry into the Shirley McKie case before the end of June 2008.","AnswerText":"Yes.","AnswerDate":"2008-01-21T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-01-24T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Kenny MacAskill","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":214992,"EventID":"S3W-08331","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2108,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":68,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-10T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-10T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-4068 by Kenny MacAskill on 12 September 2007, what work it has undertaken in preparing to announce a judicial inquiry into the Shir","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-4068 by Kenny MacAskill on 12 September 2007, what work it has undertaken in preparing to announce a judicial inquiry into the Shirley McKie case.","AnswerText":"Work has been undertaken to informParliament of the intention to establish this inquiry under powers conferred bythe Inquiries Act 2005 and to meet the requirements laid down in that act.","AnswerDate":"2008-01-21T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-01-24T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Kenny MacAskill","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":214993,"EventID":"S3W-08332","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2651,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":41,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-10T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-10T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether it still intends to fully fund the permanent works associated with the upgrading of the Royal Commonwealth Pool, as set out in Table 8.4.2 of Volume 2 of the Glas","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether it still intends to fully fund the permanent works associated with the upgrading of the Royal Commonwealth Pool, as set out in Table 8.4.2 of Volume 2 of the Glasgow Commonwealth Games bid documentation.","AnswerText":"When Scotland submitted its bid document for the 2014 Commonwealth Games,it was necessary for the Scottish Government to give a guarantee that thediving competition facility would comply with the regulations set out by theCommonwealth Games Federation. At no point did theprevious Executive or the Scottish Government commit to fully fund theupgrading of the Royal Commonwealth Pool. Under the National and Regional Sports FacilityStrategy, the City of Edinburgh Council was allocated £4 milliontowards the redevelopment of the Royal Commonwealth Pool.","AnswerDate":"2008-01-21T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-01-24T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Stewart Maxwell","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":214994,"EventID":"S3W-08333","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2651,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":41,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-10T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-10T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether it still recognises £28.8 million as an accurate figure for the permanent works required to upgrade the Royal Commonwealth Pool, as set out in Table 8.4.2 of Volu","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether it still recognises £28.8 million as an accurate figure for the permanent works required to upgrade the Royal Commonwealth Pool, as set out in Table 8.4.2 of Volume 2 of the Glasgow Commonwealth Games bid documentation, and whether it will honour its commitment to fully fund the upgrade in the event of any escalation in its costs.","AnswerText":"No. The City of Edinburgh Council’s Design and Build project team estimatethat the cost of the upgrade of the Royal Commonwealth Pool (RCP) is now £37.5 million.As stated in S3W-8332, theprevious Executive and the Scottish Government made no commitment to fully fundthe upgrading of the RCP. It should not beassumed that the government will meet the costs of the RCP upgrade given thatthe proposal to develop the pool was planned prior to the Glasgow bid. It would be unrealistic to expect government tosupport the full cost of any one project. All answers to writtenparliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the searchfacility for which can be found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/wa.search. ","AnswerDate":"2008-01-21T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-01-24T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Stewart Maxwell","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":214995,"EventID":"S3W-08334","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2651,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":41,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-10T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-10T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions it has had with the City of Edinburgh Council in relation to the Royal Commonwealth Pool upgrade since the announcement that the 2014 Commonwealth Games ","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions it has had with the City of Edinburgh Council in relation to the Royal Commonwealth Pool upgrade since the announcement that the 2014 Commonwealth Games are to be held in Glasgow.","AnswerText":"Scottish Government officialshave had regular discussions with officials of the City of Edinburgh Council to discuss all its sports facilities under the National and Regional SportsFacilities Strategy before and after the 2014 Bid announcement.","AnswerDate":"2008-01-21T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-01-24T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Stewart Maxwell","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":214996,"EventID":"S3W-08335","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":4080,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":6,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-10T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-10T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive when the Minister for Transport, Infrastructure and Climate Change will respond to my letter dated 6 November 2007.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive when the Minister for Transport, Infrastructure and Climate Change will respond to my letter dated 6 November 2007.","AnswerText":"A response to the letter wasissued on Friday 18 January 2008.","AnswerDate":"2008-01-24T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-01-24T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Stewart Stevenson","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":214997,"EventID":"S3W-08336","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1839,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":3,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-10T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-10T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what progress has been made in allocating a named mental health link person in every school and basic mental health training for all those looking after children and youn","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what progress has been made in allocating a named mental health link person in every school and basic mental health training for all those looking after children and young people in care.","AnswerText":"We remain on target for deliveryby the end of 2008. In some areas Primary Mental Health Care workers are alreadyperforming this role, while others are considering how best to fulfil the commitmentobjectives. A national event is planned for March this year to further aid and informthese local considerations.A training programme has beendesigned and implemented with over 500 people graduates so far. Attention continueson this important agenda. ","AnswerDate":"2008-01-17T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-01-24T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Shona Robison","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":214998,"EventID":"S3W-08337","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1839,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":3,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-10T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-10T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has any plans to establish a telephone helpline for young people with mental health and emotional problems.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has any plans to establish a telephone helpline for young people with mental health and emotional problems.","AnswerText":"The Scottish Government currentlyhas no plans to establish a telephone helpline specifically for children and youngpeople with mental health and/or emotional problems.Childline already provides afree, confidential 24-hour helpline across the UK for children and young people,who can talk to Childline’s trained volunteer counsellors about any problems theymay be experiencing, including abuse, bullying, family issues and teenage pregnancy. A 24-hour helpline for peoplein emotional crisis is also well established across the UK through Samaritans.The Scottish Government supports Samaritans’ work in Scotland throughcore grant funding, and in addition Choose Life (the implementationteam for the Scottish Government’s strategy on suicide prevention) has providedfunding to enable Samaritans to develop a co-ordinated approach to suicide interventionin branches in Scotland. The Scottish Government alsofunds the free BreathingSpace advice and signposting telephone line.It is aimed primarily (though not exclusively) at young men experiencing low moodor depression. ","AnswerDate":"2008-01-21T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-01-24T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Shona Robison","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":214999,"EventID":"S3W-08338","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1853,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":16,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-10T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-10T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive how many prosecutions for health and safety breaches there were in the courts in each of the last five years.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive how many prosecutions for health and safety breaches there were in the courts in each of the last five years.","AnswerText":"The available information isgiven in the following table.Persons Proceeded Against forOffences Related to Health and Safety at Work Acts1 | 2001-02 | 2002-03 | 2003-04 | 2004-05 | 2005-06 | | 137 | 120 | 132 | 92 | 56 | Note: 1.Where main offence. ","AnswerDate":"2008-01-18T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-01-24T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Fergus Ewing","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":215000,"EventID":"S3W-08339","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1853,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":16,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-10T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-10T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive how many prosecutions for breaches of health and safety legislation in the last five years failed in court.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive how many prosecutions for breaches of health and safety legislation in the last five years failed in court.","AnswerText":"The available information isgiven in the following table.Persons with a Charge not Proved1for Offences Related Health and Safety at Work Acts2 | 2001-02 | 2002-03 | 2003-04 | 2004-05 | 2005-06 | | 18 | 18 | 14 | 8 | 7 | Notes: 1. Includes findings of acquittednot guilty, acquitted not proven, pleas of not guilty accepted, or where cases weredeserted or dropped after a person has been called to court. 2. Where main offence. ","AnswerDate":"2008-01-18T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-01-24T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Fergus Ewing","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":215001,"EventID":"S3W-08340","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1853,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":16,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-10T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-10T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what costs were incurred by Strathclyde Police as a result of the inquiry into the causes of the Stockline disaster.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what costs were incurred by Strathclyde Police as a result of the inquiry into the causes of the Stockline disaster.","AnswerText":"This information is not heldcentrally. Responsibility for the conduct of police investigations rests withchief constables.","AnswerDate":"2008-01-21T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-01-24T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Kenny MacAskill","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":215002,"EventID":"S3W-08341","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1853,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":16,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-11T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-11T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what costs were incurred by the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service as a result of the prosecutions that took place following the inquiry into the causes of the St","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what costs were incurred by the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service as a result of the prosecutions that took place following the inquiry into the causes of the Stockline disaster.","AnswerText":"The Crown Office and ProcuratorFiscal Service do not routinely record the costs of individual cases. However, officialsare able to estimate the cost of the ICL Tech and ICL Plastics Ltd prosecution frominformation available at £654,000.","AnswerDate":"2008-01-25T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-01-25T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Elish Angiolini","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":215003,"EventID":"S3W-08342","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1853,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":16,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-10T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-10T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what steps it is taking to tackle internet fraud.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what steps it is taking to tackle internet fraud.","AnswerText":"In 2006, total UK losses foronline banking fraud from scams such as phishing and Trojans reached £33.5 million.There were 14,156 phishing incidents in 2006, up from 1,713 in 2005. “Card Not Present”fraud, including online, phone and mail order fraud, totalled £212.6 million in2006. Data published by Post Office on 17Dec 2007 shows that fear of fraud is the single largest barrier for the over 50sconsidering internet access. These are thereforeserious issues that need to be tackled by government, police and business.The Scottish Government is engagingwith the UK Government on its Fraud Review, the report of which was published inMarch 2007. Activity is under way in relation to the establishment of a NationalFraud Strategic Authority to provide leadership and coordination for anti-fraudeffort, development of better measurement of fraud loss, and improvements to fraudreporting and intelligence to target investigations. Guidance for members of the publicto help them to stay safe online is available at www.stop-idfraud.co.uk, www.identitytheft.org.uk and www.banksafeonline.org.uk. Thereare established links and processes in place which allow the Scottish police serviceto engage with forces internationally on a range of issues, including investigationsinto internet fraud. For example, Europol facilitates co-operation between the competentauthorities of the member states in preventing and combating serious internationalorganised crime. Her Majesty’s Inspectorate ofConstabulary for Scotland are conducting a thematic review of serious fraud in Scotland. Their report and recommendations will be published indue course. HM Inspectorate of Constabulary for Scotland’s work has shown that the financial and banking sectorsare very active in crime and fraud prevention. Some institutions are bringing intwo factor authentication for web-based transaction and most are well integratedwith law enforcement and counter fraud forums. The banking industry works closely with SOCA, the SCDEA and overseas partnersto minimise online banking fraud committed via phishing and Trojan scams. The Scottish Crime and Drug EnforcementAgency houses the e‑crime Unit which provides specialist support to the ScottishPolice Service on serious organised crime facilitated by computer and other informationtechnology. The unit is also continually researching, evaluating and developingnew techniques which allow them to remain effective in the rapidly changing worldof hi‑tech crime. This includes forging links with the Scottish business communityto maximise opportunities for information sharing and to identify solutions in responseto concerns over potential vulnerabilities in corporate e‑infrastructures. The Scottish Government sponsorsthe Scottish Business Crime Centre, a non-profit making organisation created in 1996 and which operatesas a partnership approach between the police, business community and government. The centre acts as secretariat to the Scottish FinancialCrime Group and a sub-group of that is the e-crime Group. This group involves thepolice and major Scottish banks and was formed in early 2007 with the purpose ofestablishing a forum in which to share information and good practice on e-crime. The centre also act as secretariatto the Scottish Commercial Crime Group. As part of the remit of this group, it wasdecided that the retail sector should be included and a number of meetings havetaken place. Again, this sub-group is in its infancy but it will undoubtedly belooking at current and emerging threats, including e-crime. The centre has produced a bookletentitled Targeting RetailCrime in Scotland – A Training Booklet for Staff. They are presently working on the second booklet which will include cardcrime and helpful advice on preventing internet fraud. ","AnswerDate":"2008-01-21T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-01-24T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Kenny MacAskill","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":215004,"EventID":"S3W-08343","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1853,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":16,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-10T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-10T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions it has had with the UK Government concerning internet fraud.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions it has had with the UK Government concerning internet fraud.","AnswerText":"I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-8342 on 21 January 2008. All answers to written parliamentaryquestions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for whichcan be found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/wa.search.","AnswerDate":"2008-01-21T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-01-24T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Kenny MacAskill","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":215005,"EventID":"S3W-08344","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1853,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":16,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-10T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-10T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what steps it will take to ensure that the public is aware of the dangers of internet fraud.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what steps it will take to ensure that the public is aware of the dangers of internet fraud.","AnswerText":"I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-8342 on 21 January 2008. All answers to written parliamentaryquestions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for whichcan be found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/wa.search.","AnswerDate":"2008-01-21T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-01-24T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Kenny MacAskill","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":215006,"EventID":"S3W-08345","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1853,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":16,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-10T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-10T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions have taken place with the banking and financial services sector concerning internet fraud.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions have taken place with the banking and financial services sector concerning internet fraud.","AnswerText":"I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-8342 on 21 January 2008. All answers to written parliamentaryquestions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for whichcan be found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/wa.search.","AnswerDate":"2008-01-21T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-01-24T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Kenny MacAskill","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":215007,"EventID":"S3W-08346","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1853,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":16,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-10T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-10T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions it has had with the retail industry to enlist it in the fight against internet crime.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions it has had with the retail industry to enlist it in the fight against internet crime.","AnswerText":"I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-8342 on 21 January 2008. All answers to written parliamentaryquestions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for whichcan be found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/wa.search.","AnswerDate":"2008-01-21T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-01-24T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Kenny MacAskill","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":215008,"EventID":"S3W-08347","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1853,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":16,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-10T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-10T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether Scotland’s police forces engage with forces internationally to tackle internet fraud.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether Scotland’s police forces engage with forces internationally to tackle internet fraud.","AnswerText":"I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-8342 on 21 January 2008. All answers to written parliamentaryquestions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for whichcan be found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/wa.search.","AnswerDate":"2008-01-21T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-01-24T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Kenny MacAskill","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":215009,"EventID":"S3W-08348","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2167,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":3,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-10T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-10T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to support investment in improved radar coverage to assist in the prediction of serious potential flooding events in the Highlands and Islands parliamen","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to support investment in improved radar coverage to assist in the prediction of serious potential flooding events in the Highlands and Islands parliamentary region.","AnswerText":"Investment to provide or improveweather radar coverage is the responsibility of the Met Office, an agency of theMinistry of Defence, not the Scottish Government.The Scottish EnvironmentProtection Agency (SEPA) provide a comprehensiveflood prediction and warning system in Scotland. In doing so they use Met Officedata together with their own data on river and rainfall, to predict and warn ofpotential flooding from rivers in Scotland. SEPA pay the Met Office for the provision of additionalweather services including weather radar data. ","AnswerDate":"2008-01-22T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-01-24T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Michael Russell","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":215010,"EventID":"S3W-08349","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2167,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":3,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-10T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-10T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive which agencies are responsible for making investments to secure radar coverage for the purpose of assisting in the prediction of serious potential flooding events and wha","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive which agencies are responsible for making investments to secure radar coverage for the purpose of assisting in the prediction of serious potential flooding events and what role it considers it has in supporting any such investments.","AnswerText":"Investment to provide weatherradar coverage is the responsibility of the Met Office, an agency of the Ministryof Defence, not the Scottish Government. However, the Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA) pay the Met Office for the provision of additionalweather services including weather radar data. SEPA uses Met Office data togetherwith their own data on river and rainfall to predict and warn of potential floodingfrom rivers in Scotland. The Scottish Government provides resources to its agenciesto support their functions.","AnswerDate":"2008-01-22T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-01-24T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Michael Russell","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":215011,"EventID":"S3W-08350","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2167,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":3,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-10T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-10T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether single outcome agreements with local authorities will include provision for those local authorities in flood-prone areas to secure and make investments in the pro","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether single outcome agreements with local authorities will include provision for those local authorities in flood-prone areas to secure and make investments in the provision of appropriate radar cover for their areas to assist in predicting serious potential flooding events.","AnswerText":"The single outcome agreementswill cover the services delivered by local authorities. These do not include weatherinformation, which is supplied by the Met Office, or flood warnings, which are theresponsibility of the Scottish Environment Protection Agency.","AnswerDate":"2008-01-22T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-01-24T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Michael Russell","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":215012,"EventID":"S3W-08351","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2133,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":6,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-10T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-10T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether patients suffering from dementia can be prescribed donepezil, rivastigmine and galantamine as treatment under the NHS.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether patients suffering from dementia can be prescribed donepezil, rivastigmine and galantamine as treatment under the NHS.","AnswerText":"Donepezil, galantamine and rivastigmineare recommended as options for the treatment of moderate Alzheimer’s disease inNHS Scotland.","AnswerDate":"2008-01-17T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-01-24T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Shona Robison","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":215013,"EventID":"S3W-08352","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2610,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":1,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-10T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-10T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive how many employees of the Scottish Prison Service are currently on secondment and to which organisations they are seconded.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive how many employees of the Scottish Prison Service are currently on secondment and to which organisations they are seconded.","AnswerText":"I have asked Mike Ewart, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service to respond. His response is as follows:There are six SPS staff currentlyseconded to other organisations. The organisations are: Inspectorate of Prisons(two staff), The Wise Group (one), International Corrections and Prisons Association(one), SACRO (one) and The Scottish Crime and Drug Enforcement Agency (one). ","AnswerDate":"2008-01-21T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-01-24T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Kenny MacAskill","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":215014,"EventID":"S3W-08353","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2610,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":1,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-10T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-10T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what the nature is of the Scottish Prison Service’s relationship with the International Corrections and Prisons Association.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what the nature is of the Scottish Prison Service’s relationship with the International Corrections and Prisons Association.","AnswerText":"I have asked Mike Ewart, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service to respond. His response is as follows:The Scottish Prison Service isa national member of the International Corrections and Prisons Association (ICPA). ","AnswerDate":"2008-01-21T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-01-24T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Kenny MacAskill","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":215015,"EventID":"S3W-08354","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2610,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":1,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-10T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-10T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will provide details of the salaries and positions of employees of the Scottish Prison Service who are currently on secondment.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will provide details of the salaries and positions of employees of the Scottish Prison Service who are currently on secondment.","AnswerText":"I have asked Mike Ewart, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service (SPS) to respond. His response is as follows:The SPS Grades (Bands) and salariesof the SPS staff who are currently seconded to external organisations are as follows: | Band | Salary (£) | Costs Met By | | H | 53,777 | SPS | | H | 53,777 | External organisation | | G | 44,715 | External organisation | | F | 38,991 | External organisation | | F | 37,986 | SPS | | D | 26,591 | SPS | ","AnswerDate":"2008-01-21T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-01-24T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Kenny MacAskill","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":215016,"EventID":"S3W-08355","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2610,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":1,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-10T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-10T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will review the number of secondments that currently operate in relation to Scottish Prison Service staff.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will review the number of secondments that currently operate in relation to Scottish Prison Service staff.","AnswerText":"I have asked Mike Ewart, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service (SPS) to respond. His response is as follows:There are no plans to reviewthe number of secondments that currently operate in relation to SPS staff. ","AnswerDate":"2008-01-21T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-01-24T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Kenny MacAskill","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":215017,"EventID":"S3W-08356","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2133,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":6,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-10T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-10T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive when the Stirling-Alloa-Kincardine rail line will be fully operational for transport freight.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive when the Stirling-Alloa-Kincardine rail line will be fully operational for transport freight.","AnswerText":"The construction of the railwayis due to be completed in spring 2008 and available for the operation of freighttrains following a period of commissioning and driver training in summer 2008.","AnswerDate":"2008-02-08T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-01-24T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Stewart Stevenson","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":215018,"EventID":"S3W-08357","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2228,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":8,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-10T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-10T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answers to questions S3W-4527 and S3W-5969 by Jim Mather on 5 October and 12 November 2007 respectively, whether it has been advised whether the Chief Exe","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answers to questions S3W-4527 and S3W-5969 by Jim Mather on 5 October and 12 November 2007 respectively, whether it has been advised whether the Chief Executive of Scottish Enterprise has written to John Wilson MSP stating that Mr Willie Haughey has never received remuneration nor claimed expenses in relation to his membership of the board of Scottish Enterprise Glasgow or his role as Chair of the Scottish Enterprise Careers Scotland Advisory Board.","AnswerText":"I understand that on 5 December 2007 theChief Executive of Scottish Enterprise responded to John Wilson MSP in regard toquestion S3W-4527. In that letter, the Chief Executive confirmed that Mr WillieHaughey’s role as a board member of Scottish Enterprise Glasgow is not a remuneratedpost, and that no claims for expenses have been made by Mr Haughey. Nor has Mr Haugheybeen remunerated or claimed expenses in relation to his role as Chair of the ScottishEnterprise Careers Scotland Advisory Board.","AnswerDate":"2008-01-28T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-01-24T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Jim Mather","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":215019,"EventID":"S3W-08358","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2066,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":3,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-10T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-10T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive how it will ensure that forestry interests, including the interests of private forest owners, are properly represented on regional project assessment committees.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive how it will ensure that forestry interests, including the interests of private forest owners, are properly represented on regional project assessment committees.","AnswerText":"Forall 11 Regional Proposal Assessment Committee areas there is an on-goingprocess of consultation on the development of the list of Regional Prioritiesinvolving the full range of stakeholder interests represented in rural Scotland. Representatives coveringforestry interests are engaged in this process. Regional Priorities are beingderived from existing priorities contained in a wide range of strategiesrelating to rural Scotland including the ScottishForestry Strategy. Once completed, these Regional Priorities will be used, byRegional Proposal Assessment Committees, which includes Forestry CommissionScotland in the assessment of proposals for funding. The process of updatingand refining Regional Priorities will continue throughout the Scottish Rural Development Plan funding period.","AnswerDate":"2008-01-18T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-01-24T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Michael Russell","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":215020,"EventID":"S3W-08359","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2066,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":3,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-10T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-10T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive how it will respond to concerns that grant applications to regional project assessment committees will be unnecessarily bureaucratic and how it will reduce red tape in th","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive how it will respond to concerns that grant applications to regional project assessment committees will be unnecessarily bureaucratic and how it will reduce red tape in this process.","AnswerText":"The use of Regional Project Assessment Committees is nota new process, having been successfully used to administer the Farm Business DiversificationScheme previously operated by the Scottish Executive. Other significant changesbeing implemented to deliver the new elements of the Scottish Rural Development Fund will also offer opportunities for further streamliningof administration both for applicants and government officials.In particular, bringing togetherin excess of ten funding streams into one integrated application process under theRural Development Contracts – Rural Priorities, will cut down much duplication forapplicants, both in terms of the application and claims processes and reduce inspectionvisits. Rural Priorities will also allowapplicants to seek information and guidance, and submit applications to any officeof the Rural Payments and Inspections Directorate, Forestry Commission Scotlandand Scottish Natural Heritage. The three bodies will be jointly responsible foroperating Rural Priorities, and applicants will receive the same service from whicheveroffice they choose to visit. This “one stop shop” approach will offer applicantsgreater flexibility and efficiency savings when accessing funding from the ScottishGovernment to support their rural development proposals. ","AnswerDate":"2008-01-24T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-01-24T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Michael Russell","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":215021,"EventID":"S3W-08360","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2066,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":3,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-10T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-10T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive why applications for grants to regional project assessment committees have to be made online; how it expects potential applicants who do not have access to the internet t","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive why applications for grants to regional project assessment committees have to be made online; how it expects potential applicants who do not have access to the internet to make such applications, and how it will respond to the concerns of those applicants.","AnswerText":"It is important to recognisethat it is only applications for the new competitive Rural DevelopmentContracts – Rural Priorities (RDC RPs) which will be on-line. Hard copyapplication processes are being used for all the other funding streams (seven)in the Scotland Rural Development Programme (SRDP).2. The online applicationapproach has been chosen on the understanding that the vast majority ofapplicants to the predecessor schemes replaced by RDC RPs, chose to use anagent to complete their applications. We expect a similar proportion to do sofor RDC RPs, and in addition, will provide funding towards the cost ofcompleting a proposal. 3. There are a number ofclear benefits, both from an applicant and an administrative perspective, forthe adoption of an on-line application process for this element of the SRDP: RDC RPs offers over 120options, each with differing information required from applicants. This wouldbe unmanageable on paper; web forms ensure applicants only see the questionsthey have to answer for their selected circumstances; Similarly, the guidance willbe extensive and putting it on the web, makes it easier to navigate and ensuresany updates are immediately available; Web forms greatly reduceerrors, effort and delay in the application process (e.g. they ensure allmandatory information is completed; they offer only valid choices of answer;they can be pre-populated with data already recorded); Developing and operating anon-line system uses public funds much more efficiently than a manual,paper-based service, and RDC RPs is a competitiveopportunity and it is reasonable to expect those who wish to bid for funds touse effective and efficient business tools to do so. 4. Whilst we recognise thaton-line submission may provide challenges for a limited number of those wishingto apply for funding under RDC RPs, the SRDP Implementation Team is takingaction to assess the scope and nature of any barriers to access and to provideappropriate assistance to overcome these: Broadband coverage nowextends to 99% of the Scottish population. Scottish Government’s ‘Broadband forScotland’ initiative is proactively helping to fill the remaining gaps; Many libraries, communitycentres, schools and other public facilities provide internet access, andassistance to novice users; Staff are engaged with localenterprise companies and other rural agencies regarding the provision ofservices for small rural businesses and land managers, including guidance onaccess; Crofters Commission havebeen allocated £100,000 to assist community groups within the Crofting Countiesto apply for funding under the SRDP; We are in discussion withScottish Council for Voluntary Organisations to fund a similar service outwiththe Crofting Counties. 5. Our regional staff alsointend to engage with local authorities and other regional stakeholders toidentify further ways to direct applicants to existing facilities and supportservices. ","AnswerDate":"2008-01-24T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-01-24T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Michael Russell","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":215022,"EventID":"S3W-08361","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2066,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":3,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-10T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-10T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what grants are available for replanting felled woodlands and whether it recognises concerns expressed that an appropriate grant system has not yet been put in place.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what grants are available for replanting felled woodlands and whether it recognises concerns expressed that an appropriate grant system has not yet been put in place.","AnswerText":"The Scottish Forestry Grant Schemeand the Woodland Grant Scheme continue to provide support for replanting but onlywhere the funding commitment was made prior to 31 December 2007 when the previousScotland Rural Development Plan (SRDP) closed.At the present time there areno grants schemes open to new applications which provide support for the replantingof felled woodlands. When the Rural Development Contracts – Regional Prioritiesopens to applicants, in the spring of 2008, it will include options which will supportthe replanting and restructuring of woodlands. It is a matter of concern for the Scottish Government that the process of SRDP approval by the EC has taken so longand that this has, so far, prevented the introduction of any new grant scheme whichcan support replanting and restructuring. ","AnswerDate":"2008-01-24T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-01-24T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Michael Russell","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":215023,"EventID":"S3W-08362","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1783,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":67,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-11T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-11T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-7680 by Nicola Sturgeon on 9 January 2008, whether the specific legislation published at public expense in Annex B to the White Pap","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-7680 by Nicola Sturgeon on 9 January 2008, whether the specific legislation published at public expense in Annex B to the White Paper “Choosing Scotland’s Future” is within the legislative competence of the Parliament. ","AnswerText":"I have nothing to add to myanswers to questions S3W-7680 and S3W-7681 on 9 January 2008.","AnswerDate":"2008-01-22T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-01-25T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Nicola Sturgeon","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":215024,"EventID":"S3W-08363","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1839,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":3,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-11T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-11T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive how it plans “ending private involvement in the national health service” as stated by the First Minister on 10 January 2008 (Official Report c. 4937).","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive how it plans “ending private involvement in the national health service” as stated by the First Minister on 10 January 2008 (Official Report c. 4937).","AnswerText":"I refer the member to the questionS2W-7857 on 15 January 2008. All answers towritten parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the searchfacility for which can be found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/wa.search.","AnswerDate":"2008-01-21T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-01-25T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Nicola Sturgeon","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":215025,"EventID":"S3W-08364","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1839,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":3,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-11T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-11T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what residential facilities are available for people suffering from eating disorders.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what residential facilities are available for people suffering from eating disorders.","AnswerText":"There are established referralarrangements with the private sector to meet the needs of NHS patients likely tobenefit from in-patient eating disorder care. In all cases quality and continuityof care are paramount for both the referring and receiving clinicians.Plans are at an advanced stageof consideration for a new regional NHS specialist eating disorderservice and accommodation in the north of Scotland which will complement existing arrangements. ","AnswerDate":"2008-01-21T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-01-25T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Shona Robison","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":215026,"EventID":"S3W-08365","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1839,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":3,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-11T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-11T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive how many people have been diagnosed with an eating disorder in each of the last five years, broken down by NHS board area.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive how many people have been diagnosed with an eating disorder in each of the last five years, broken down by NHS board area.","AnswerText":"The latest available informationis shown in the following tables.Estimates, from a sample of generalpractices considered broadly representative of the Scottish population are givenin the following table. These data are not available by NHS board area: Patients (Estimated)Consulting for Anorexia, Bulimia andOther Psychological Eating Disorders | Financial Years | | | 2003-04 | 3,200 | | 2004-05 | 2,900 | | 2005-06 | 3,100 | Note:Rounded to the nearest 100. Patients discharged from non-obstetric, non psychiatric acute hospitals withany diagnosis of eating disorder are shown in the following table: | Years Ending 31 March | 2003 | 2004 | 2005 | 2006 | 2007 | | Scotland | 180 | 193 | 190 | 198 | 209 | | NHS Boards | | | | | | | Argyll and Clyde (former) | 12 | 10 | 11 | 5 | n/a | | Ayrshire and Arran | 11 | 12 | 8 | 19 | 12 | | Borders | 2 | 3 | 3 | 4 | 5 | | Dumfries and Galloway | 10 | If the service is provided toa disabled person under the Chronically Sick and Disabled Persons Act 1971, thelocal authority has a specific duty to provide that service to the individual. Theintroduction of single outcome agreements between the Scottish Government and localauthorities will not affect an individual’s legal entitlement to community careservices. ","AnswerDate":"2008-01-24T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-01-25T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Shona Robison","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":215028,"EventID":"S3W-08367","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1839,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":3,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-11T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-11T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what sanctions will be placed on local authorities that fail to achieve the targets set in their single outcome agreements.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what sanctions will be placed on local authorities that fail to achieve the targets set in their single outcome agreements.","AnswerText":"The single outcome agreementswill contain measures and a mechanism for addressing under performance. These measuresand mechanism will be determined by the group overseeing the process towards theimplementation of the single outcome agreements.","AnswerDate":"2008-01-22T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-01-25T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"John Swinney","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":215029,"EventID":"S3W-08368","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":3061,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":1,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-11T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-11T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive how many pupils in secondary education in Scotland were identified in the 2007 census as having dyslexia.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive how many pupils in secondary education in Scotland were identified in the 2007 census as having dyslexia.","AnswerText":"The results of the 2007pupil census are due to be published on 26 February 2008 and will be availableon the government website at:http://www.scotland.gov.uk/stats/bulletins/00641. The number of pupils withdyslexia in publicly funded secondary education in Scotlandidentified in the 2006 census is available on the government website at: http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Publications/2007/02/27083941/48. http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Publications/2007/02/27083941/50. Data on pupils withdyslexia in the independent sector are available at the following links: http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Publications/2007/04/16162451/27. http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Publications/2007/04/16162451/29. ","AnswerDate":"2008-01-21T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-01-25T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Adam Ingram","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":215030,"EventID":"S3W-08369","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2103,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":38,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-11T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-11T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will provide a breakdown of how much it spent on the 2003 (a) Scottish Parliament and (b) local government elections.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will provide a breakdown of how much it spent on the 2003 (a) Scottish Parliament and (b) local government elections.","AnswerText":"The main expenditure on the Scottish Parliament elections was by the Scotland Office and on the local elections by localauthorities. Detailed information on those costs is not held centrally. The ScottishGovernment spent just over £384,200 in total in 2003 in connection with the Scottish Parliament and local government elections. Of this, £371,600 was spent on a publicitycampaign for both elections (carried out jointly with the Electoral Commission)with the balance spent on opinion research and research on media coverage specificto local authority elections.","AnswerDate":"2008-01-22T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-01-25T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Bruce Crawford","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":215031,"EventID":"S3W-08370","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2103,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":38,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-11T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-11T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what information it has on how much local authorities spent on the 2003 (a) Scottish Parliament and (b) local government elections.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what information it has on how much local authorities spent on the 2003 (a) Scottish Parliament and (b) local government elections.","AnswerText":"Information is not held centrallyon the cost to local authorities of the 2003 Scottish Parliament and local governmentelections. However, information published in Scottish Local Government Statistics2003-04 shows that local authorities spent £4.2 million in that year on conductingelections and £7.2 million on the registration of electors. Full details of thepublication are at http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Publications/2005/02/20724/52956.","AnswerDate":"2008-01-28T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-01-25T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Bruce Crawford","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":215032,"EventID":"S3W-08371","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2103,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":38,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-11T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-11T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive how much it spent on the 2007 Scottish Parliament and local government elections and whether it will provide a breakdown of the expenditure, including any fees paid to DR","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive how much it spent on the 2007 Scottish Parliament and local government elections and whether it will provide a breakdown of the expenditure, including any fees paid to DRS Data & Research Services plc.","AnswerText":"The Scotland Office is responsiblefor meeting costs associated with the Scottish Parliament elections. The main expenditureassociated with running local government elections is normally met by local authoritiesfrom within their own budgets. For the 2007 elections the Scottish Government fundedthe following specific elements. | Funding to local authorities associated with the introduction of electronic counting | £3.56 million | | Research on format of local government ballot paper | £22,795 | | Electronic counting software verification | £12,955 | | Printing and web conversion costs of code of practice for observers at local authority elections | £268 | | Estimated costs of printing and web conversion of legislation dealing with the local authority elections and local government boundary review | £7,200 | | VoteScotland campaign - run jointly with the Electoral Commission | £1.25 million | | Payments to DRS Data & Research Services | £1.26 million | ","AnswerDate":"2008-01-28T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-01-25T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Bruce Crawford","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":215033,"EventID":"S3W-08372","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2103,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":38,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-11T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-11T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what information it has on how much local authorities spent on the 2007 Scottish Parliament and local government elections and whether it will provide a breakdown of the ","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what information it has on how much local authorities spent on the 2007 Scottish Parliament and local government elections and whether it will provide a breakdown of the expenditure, including any fees paid to DRS Data & Research Services plc.","AnswerText":"Information is not held centrallyon the cost to local authorities of the 2007 Scottish Parliament and local governmentelections. Information is provided by local authorities on the overall annual costsof holding elections and for the registration of electors and this information ispublished annually in Scottish Local Government Statistics. Scottish Local GovernmentStatistics 2006-07 is due to be published in February.","AnswerDate":"2008-01-28T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-01-25T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Bruce Crawford","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":215034,"EventID":"S3W-08373","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2603,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":6,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-11T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-11T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive when the Office of Rail Regulation will report back to the Cabinet Secretary for Finance and Sustainable Growth on the proposal to electrify the rail line from Aberdeen t","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive when the Office of Rail Regulation will report back to the Cabinet Secretary for Finance and Sustainable Growth on the proposal to electrify the rail line from Aberdeen to Edinburgh.","AnswerText":"I refer the member to answerto question S3W-8374 on 28 January 2008. All answers to written parliamentary questions are availableon the Parliament’s website the search facility for which can be found at http://www.Scottish Parliament.uk/webapp/wa.search.We do not expect the Office ofRail Regulation to report back to the Cabinet Secretary for Finance and SustainableGrowth on the electrification of the rail line between Aberdeen andEdinburgh, as it would be for Transport Scotland with industry partnersto lead on the development of rail projects. ","AnswerDate":"2008-01-28T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-01-25T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Stewart Stevenson","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":215035,"EventID":"S3W-08374","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2603,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":6,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-11T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-11T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what proposals it submitted to the Office of Rail Regulation in respect of the electrification of the rail line from Aberdeen to Edinburgh.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what proposals it submitted to the Office of Rail Regulation in respect of the electrification of the rail line from Aberdeen to Edinburgh.","AnswerText":"Our High Level Output Specification(HLOS), published in July 2007, outlined outputs we expect Network Rail to deliveror prepare to deliver between 2009-14. The HLOS (tier 3) provides for infrastructureenhancements such as those which would reduce journey times between Aberdeen andthe central belt. Our long-term desire is to see all Scotland’s rail network electrified.","AnswerDate":"2008-01-28T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-01-25T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Stewart Stevenson","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":215036,"EventID":"S3W-08375","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1826,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":35,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-11T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-11T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive in what circumstances it would consider intervening in a planning decision once it has been taken by a local authority.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive in what circumstances it would consider intervening in a planning decision once it has been taken by a local authority.","AnswerText":"Scottish ministers have ageneral power, under section 46 of the Town and Country Planning (Scotland)Act 1997, to intervene by calling in any planning application for their owndetermination – but only prior to a written decision notice being issued by theplanning authority. There are no set criteria for the circumstances in whichScottish ministers will call in planning applications, but some generalguidance is published in paragraphs 24-27 of Scottish Executive Planning Circular 5/2007, which is available on the Scottish Governmentwebsite at:www.scotland.gov.uk/Publications/2007/04/30162614/0. ","AnswerDate":"2008-01-22T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-01-25T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"John Swinney","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":215037,"EventID":"S3W-08376","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2066,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":3,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-11T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-11T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what its response is to concerns that planned new arrangements for pier and harbour grants will mean that the local authorities involved will prioritise their own piers a","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what its response is to concerns that planned new arrangements for pier and harbour grants will mean that the local authorities involved will prioritise their own piers and harbours at the expense of independent piers and harbours.","AnswerText":"I refer the member to the questionS3W-8377 on 21 January 2008. All answers towritten parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the searchfacility for which can be found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/wa.search.","AnswerDate":"2008-01-21T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-01-25T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Stewart Stevenson","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":215038,"EventID":"S3W-08377","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2066,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":3,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-11T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-11T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive why it has decided that the arrangements for the administration of pier and harbour grants should be transferred to local authorities.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive why it has decided that the arrangements for the administration of pier and harbour grants should be transferred to local authorities.","AnswerText":"As part of the local governmentsettlement for the years 2008-09 to 2010-11, we have removed the ring fencing ona number of funding streams, including piers and harbours grant, to allow localauthorities greater flexibility in determining their own local spending priorities.Recipient councils will be expected to fund their own local harbours projects fromthe resources that are made available to them under the local government settlement,and any other funding that is available to them from their own or other sources.As at present, it will be forlocal authorities to consider whether they should provide any financial supporttowards the development of piers and harbours in their areas that are owned by independentharbour trusts or other bodies. The Scottish Government willcontinue to fund the development of berthing facilities used by lifeline ferry servicesthat are owned by Caledonian Maritime Assets Ltd, independent harbour trusts andother bodies. Caledonian Maritime Assets Ltd will from 1 April 2008 be responsiblefor the administration of new grant arrangements to ensure that those berthing facilitiesremain fit for purpose. It will invite grant applications to enhance or developfacilities to support lifeline ferry services from independent harbour authoritiesand others and will consider those applications alongside the need for investmentin the infrastructure that it owns. We shall be taking a number of detailed stepsto ensure that the company does not favour unduly its own projects to the detrimentof independent harbour authorities and others that may be seeking grant fundingunder the new arrangements. ","AnswerDate":"2008-01-21T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-01-25T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Stewart Stevenson","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":215039,"EventID":"S3W-08378","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2066,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":3,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-11T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-11T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive how it will ensure that the interests of independent pier and harbour trusts are properly protected if the administration of pier and harbour grants is transferred to loc","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive how it will ensure that the interests of independent pier and harbour trusts are properly protected if the administration of pier and harbour grants is transferred to local authorities.","AnswerText":"I refer the member to the questionS3W-8377 on 21 January 2008. All answers towritten parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the searchfacility for which can be found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/wa.search.","AnswerDate":"2008-01-21T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-01-25T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Stewart Stevenson","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":215040,"EventID":"S3W-08379","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1894,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":1,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-11T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-11T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what information it has on the destination of leavers from higher education institutions, broken down by (a) mode of study, (b) level of qualification, (c) domicile and (","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what information it has on the destination of leavers from higher education institutions, broken down by (a) mode of study, (b) level of qualification, (c) domicile and (d) institution, as shown in the DLHE survey, showing also the (i) the full-time paid work category broken down into (A) graduate and (B) non-graduate type work and (ii) UK destination category broken down into (A) Scotland and (B) the rest of the United Kingdom, for each academic year from 2002-03 to 2005-06, giving unrounded data and highlighting any major problems of low response.","AnswerText":" 1. The informationrequested is given in tables 1 to 5 of Destinations of graduates from Scottish universities:2002-03 to 2005-06, a copy ofwhich has been placed in the Scottish Parliament Information Centre (Bib. number44474). 2. The Destinations of Leaversfrom Higher Education (DLHE) is a voluntary annual survey conducted by Higher Education StatisticsAgency (HESA) of all graduates and their destinations six months after graduation.The data contained within the survey refers only to those graduates who respondedto the survey. 3. The coverage of the DLHE survey is limited to qualifiers of UK and other European Union (EU) domicile. It excludesthose domiciled outside the EU. Qualifiers from part-time study programmes are included. For DLHE in 2005-06 there were 262,635 valid responses in the UK from a possible total of 350,995 qualifiers from full-time programmes,a percentage with known destinations of 74.8% (2004-05: 76.0%; 2003-04: 77.3%).There were 65,120 valid responses from a possible total of 94,920 qualifiers frompart-time programmes, a percentage with known destinations of 68.6% (67.5%; 68.2%).In total there were 327,760 valid responses from 445,910 qualifiers, giving a survey-widefigure of 73.5% (74.2%; 75.5%). There is no evidence that response numbers fromScottish universities are different. ResponseRates to the DLHE Survey by Mode of Study and Domicile: 2005-06 | | Responses | Qualifiers | Rate | | Full-time UK | 253,960 | 322,745 | 78.70% | | Full-time other EU | 14,520 | 28,250 | 51.40% | | Part-time UK | 66,175 | 91,455 | 72.40% | | Part-time other EU | 1,745 | 3,465 | 50.40% | Source: HigherEducation Statistics Agency (HESA). Note: Figures inthis table have been rounded to the nearest five. 3. Student and graduate datais supplied to Scottish Government by HESA and is on condition that figures arerounded to the nearest 5. 0, 1, 2 have been rounded to 0. ","AnswerDate":"2008-01-23T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-01-25T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Fiona Hyslop","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":215041,"EventID":"S3W-08380","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1894,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":1,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-11T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-11T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive how many, and what percentage of, students dropped out of a higher education course after one year of study in (a) 2002-03, (b) 2003-04, (c) 2004-05 and (d) 2005-06.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive how many, and what percentage of, students dropped out of a higher education course after one year of study in (a) 2002-03, (b) 2003-04, (c) 2004-05 and (d) 2005-06.","AnswerText":"The number and percentage offull-time first year students at Scottish higher education institutions (HEI) whodid not continue their education at an HEI in the United Kingdomafter one year is shown in table 1.Table 1: Number andPercentage of Full-Time First Year Students at Scottish Higher Education InstitutionsNot Continuing in Higher Education 2002-03 to 2004-05 | Academic Year | First Degree | Other Undergraduates | | Number | Percent | Number | Percent | | 2002-03 | 3,760 | 12.1 | 1,505 | 25.4 | | 2003-04 | 3,645 | 11.6 | 1,655 | 29.1 | | 2004-05 | 3,205 | 10.7 | 1,225 | 21.8 | Source: Higher Education StatisticsAgency. Other undergraduates are studentsstudying for HNC or HND qualifications, professional qualifications below degreelevel or are undertaking related modules. The figures for 2005-06 will be publishedon 5 June 2008. Student retention statisticsfor higher education courses delivered in Scotland’s colleges are calculated on a different basis, as manycourses at colleges last one year or less. The Scottish Funding Council measures“early student retention” describing the percentage of initial students who stayedfor 25% of the course duration, and “student retention”, the number of studentscompleting the programme, expressed as a percentage of those passing the early retentionthreshold. In the ‘student retention’ indicator each student is weighted by theamount of teaching input he or she receives. Table 2 combines these two percentagesto provide an approximate percentage of students who do not complete their course.These students could have transferred to another course or a higher educationinstitution, terminated their studies because they found work or for other reasons. Table 2: Percentage ofFull-Time Higher Education Students at Scotland’s Colleges Not Completing their Course, 2002-03 to 2005-06 | Academic Year | Percentage Not Completing their Course | | 2002-03 | 27% | | 2003-04 | 27% | | 2004-05 | 24% | | 2005-06 | 24% | Source: Scottish Funding Council. ","AnswerDate":"2008-01-21T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-01-25T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Fiona Hyslop","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":215042,"EventID":"S3W-08381","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2223,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":26,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-11T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-11T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-6141 by Jim Mather on 29 November 2007, when the post of Chief Executive of Scottish Development International will be advertised a","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-6141 by Jim Mather on 29 November 2007, when the post of Chief Executive of Scottish Development International will be advertised and when it expects any new appointee to be in post.","AnswerText":"The post of chief executive ofScottish Development International is scheduled to be advertised as an open competitionon Friday 18 January 2008. We hope to have the appointee in post as soon as possiblethereafter.","AnswerDate":"2008-01-28T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-01-25T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Jim Mather","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":215043,"EventID":"S3W-08382","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2223,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":26,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-11T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-11T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-6141 by Jim Mather on 29 November 2007, what the composition will be of any recruitment panel for the appointment of the new Chief ","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-6141 by Jim Mather on 29 November 2007, what the composition will be of any recruitment panel for the appointment of the new Chief Executive of Scottish Development International and what role ministers will have in the appointment.","AnswerText":"The recruitment panelfor the appointment of the new chief executive of Scottish Development Internationalwill consist of representatives from the Scottish Government and from Scottish Enterprise;a Civil Service Commissioner, and an external member.The involvement ofministers in senior recruitment is set out in the Civil Service Commissioners’ Guidanceon Senior Recruitment, which can be found here: http://www.civilservicecommissioners.gov.uk/upload/assets/www.civilservicecommissioners.gov.uk/ocsc_guidance.pdf. Ministers will notbe directly involved in the selection and recruitment process for this post, butwill be kept fully up-to-date on the progress of the competition. ","AnswerDate":"2008-01-30T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-01-25T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Jim Mather","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":215044,"EventID":"S3W-08383","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2223,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":26,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-11T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-11T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what role it envisages for Scottish Development International in assisting VisitScotland to attract overseas investors for future tourism-related projects in Scotland.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what role it envisages for Scottish Development International in assisting VisitScotland to attract overseas investors for future tourism-related projects in Scotland.","AnswerText":"Scottish Development International(SDI) has lead responsibility for attracting foreign direct investment, includingtourism-related projects, to Scotland. In doing this, SDI works closely with colleagues inthe enterprise networks and in VisitScotland, and discussions are currently takingplace to consider how VisitScotland might support SDI’s inward investment activityin tourism.","AnswerDate":"2008-01-28T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-01-25T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Jim Mather","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":215045,"EventID":"S3W-08384","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2167,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":3,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-11T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-11T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether single outcome agreements with local authorities will set targets for each local authority to extend the amount of school budgets devolved to schools.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether single outcome agreements with local authorities will set targets for each local authority to extend the amount of school budgets devolved to schools.","AnswerText":"Under the terms of the concordat,local authorities will help deliver on progress towards a range of national outcomesand associated national indicators and targets, some of which relate to education.single outcome agreements will be based on the agreed set of national outcomes andindicators and targets to which local authorities will be held accountable. We willalso be working with local government to develop a new Performance Management Systemto replace the myriad of systems currently in operation.","AnswerDate":"2008-01-22T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-01-25T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"John Swinney","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":215046,"EventID":"S3W-08385","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2167,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":3,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-11T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-11T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether single outcome agreements with local authorities will set targets for each local authority with regard to improving the attainment levels of pupils.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether single outcome agreements with local authorities will set targets for each local authority with regard to improving the attainment levels of pupils.","AnswerText":"Raising attainmentis an important part of school improvement. However, we have concerns from previousexperience that narrow attainment-based targets can encourage teaching to the testand can narrow the curriculum. Teaching and assessment should focus on supportingpupils’ learning and should not be driven by performance targets.Local indicatorswhich, alongside the published national indicators, will form the basis of individualsingle outcome agreements for each local authority are currently being developed.It is too early in this process to comment on the focus of specific indicators,but we look forward to working with authorities to ensure that performance informationin single outcome agreements is of a high quality and supports good learning andteaching. ","AnswerDate":"2008-01-22T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-01-25T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"John Swinney","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":215047,"EventID":"S3W-08386","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":8,"MSPID":1756,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":7,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-11T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-11T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body, further to the announcement of the appointment of MSPs to the Art Advisory Group, which MSPs applied for membership but were unsuccessful; whether uns","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body, further to the announcement of the appointment of MSPs to the Art Advisory Group, which MSPs applied for membership but were unsuccessful; whether unsuccessful applicants were notified prior to the announcement being made; what the process was for selection; what criteria were used to make the selection, and whether those selected have any background or expertise in design or fine art.","AnswerText":"The Art Advisory Group was firstestablished in 2005. Its membership included MSPs and three experts. The three expertshave agreed to be members of the new group. The SPCB invited expressions of interestfrom MSPs on 8 October 2007 for the remainder of positions but did not require membersto provide details of background or expertise in design or fine art.The following members expressedtheir interest: Labour (4): Patricia FergusonMSP, Ken Macintosh MSP, Frank McAveety MSP, Cathy Peattie MSP SNP (4): Roseanna CunninghamMSP, Christine Grahame MSP, Ian McKee MSP, Mike Russell MSP Liberal Democrats (3): AlisonMcInnes MSP, Jeremy Purvis MSP, Jamie Stone MSP, Conservative (1): Ted BrocklebankMSP Other (1): Robin Harper MSP. The matter was considered bythe SPCB on 7 November 2007 and given the level of interest in membership SPCB askedofficials to discuss membership of the group with the parties to establish a practicalnumber of members. The outcomes of these discussions with parties was presentedto SPCB and approved by them at their meeting on 19 December 2007. There was noformal communication back to individual members who were not selected in advanceof the confirmation of membership by the SPCB. ","AnswerDate":"2008-01-16T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-01-25T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Tricia Marwick","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":215048,"EventID":"S3W-08387","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2892,"Party":"Scottish Green Party","RegionID":2,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-14T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-14T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what action it is taking to reduce the incidence of work-related stress in the public sector.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what action it is taking to reduce the incidence of work-related stress in the public sector.","AnswerText":"The Scottish Governmentstrategy in this and related areas was setout in the action plan for health and safety in Scotland,which was published in May and will contribute to theSmart Successful Scotland agenda, a robust strategy to deliver long-term, sustainableeconomic growth. Companies that have a good track record on health and safety tendto be the most progressive and successful. Further information about the plan canbe found at http://www.iosh.co.uk.The Scottish Government also works closely with otherorganisations such as the Health and Safety Executive, the STUC and employers organisationsto support approaches that address the promotion of health and safety in the workplace,most notably through the Partnership on Health and Safety in Scotland (PHASS) whichis chaired by the Health and Safety Commission.An important element of the strategyis the Healthy Working Lives (HWL) programme which offers advice to employers inthe public and private sectors on ways to improve the health and wellbeing of theirworkforce. Employers are encouraged to participate in the related award scheme whichrecognises and rewards good practice. Criteria for the Award include actions topromote good mental health. At the first Healthy Working Lives Awards ceremony on15 January, the public sector was well represented amongst those gaining awards.The Scottish Government itself holds the silverlevel of the Scotland Health at Work award (the previous version) and is workingtowards obtaining the gold level of the new award. ","AnswerDate":"2008-01-28T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-01-28T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"John Swinney","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":215049,"EventID":"S3W-08388","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2641,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":28,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-14T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-14T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what representations it has made to Her Majesty’s Government over the sovereignty of Rockall and its associated sea area.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what representations it has made to Her Majesty’s Government over the sovereignty of Rockall and its associated sea area.","AnswerText":"The Scottish Governmenthas not made any representations to the UK Government concerning the sovereigntyof Rockall nor its 12nm territorial sea, both of which constitute recognised partsof Scotland.The Scottish Government has made representations to the UK Governmentconcerning the conduct of negotiations with neighbouring coastal States over theagreement of boundaries to the UK’s claim foran Exclusive Economic Zone including the area extending 200nm from the St Kildabaseline to seas beyond Rockall and its adjacent sea area. Following these representations,the negotiating aims and conduct, including the participation of the Scottish Government,have been agreed with the Foreign andCommonwealth Office. With regard to energyissues, while again we have not made any specific representations regarding Rockall,we have made clear, as part of the national conversation, that we would wish toundertake discussions with the UK Governmentregarding options for the transfer of responsibility of oil and gas resources tothe Scottish Government in the long-term. ","AnswerDate":"2008-01-28T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-01-28T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Jim Mather","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":215050,"EventID":"S3W-08389","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2228,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":8,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-14T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-14T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what action it has taken to improve business links between Scotland and Shandong.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what action it has taken to improve business links between Scotland and Shandong.","AnswerText":"Our trade and investment arm,Scottish Development International (SDI), has been targeting companies across China, includingin Shandong, that offer Scotland investment or collaboration opportunities. Scotland signeda Co-operation Agreement with Shandong in 2006, and this has helped SDI developrelationships with economic development officials, which has in turn facilitatedintroductions to leading Shandong companies in the life sciences, financial services,electronics and communication technologies and energy sectors.A Shandong lifesciences company visited Scotland in summer 2007 and is helping SDI explore possibilitiesfor a broader life sciences collaboration. SDI also exhibited at the CreativityWorld Forum in Qingdao in November 2007. ","AnswerDate":"2008-01-28T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-01-28T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Linda Fabiani","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":215051,"EventID":"S3W-08390","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2228,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":8,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-14T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-14T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether any links have been established between Scotland and Shandong to encourage collaboration between science and technology industries.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether any links have been established between Scotland and Shandong to encourage collaboration between science and technology industries.","AnswerText":"Our trade and investment arm,Scottish Development International (SDI), has been targeting companies across China, includingin Shandong, that offer Scotland investment or collaboration opportunities. Scotland signeda Co-operation Agreement with Shandong in 2006, and this has helped SDI developrelationships with economic development officials, which has in turn facilitatedintroductions to leading Shandong companies in the science and technology sectors.A Shandong lifesciences company visited Scotland in summer 2007 and is helping SDI explore possibilitiesfor a broader life sciences collaboration. ","AnswerDate":"2008-01-28T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-01-28T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Linda Fabiani","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":215052,"EventID":"S3W-08391","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2228,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":8,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-14T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-14T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what measures have been taken to improve links between schools in Scotland and Shandong.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what measures have been taken to improve links between schools in Scotland and Shandong.","AnswerText":"The Scottish Government has provided£346,000 over three years (2005-08) to the British Council Scotland to promote andadminister a Scotland-China Schools Links Programme, which includes Shandong Province,where up to 120 young Scots will learn Chinese and experience Chinese culture andway of life. The initiative provides funding for Scottish head teachers and teachersto travel to China, for one week visits to establish new school links. Fundingis also available for head teachers and teachers to visit their partner schoolsto ensure that links can be consolidated and developed.In October 2007, a group of sixhead teachers from four primary and two secondary schools in Scotland visited ShandongProvince to establish new school links. ","AnswerDate":"2008-01-28T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-01-28T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Linda Fabiani","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":215053,"EventID":"S3W-08392","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2228,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":8,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-14T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-14T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what efforts it has undertaken to improve the understanding of Chinese languages in Scotland.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what efforts it has undertaken to improve the understanding of Chinese languages in Scotland.","AnswerText":"The Scottish Government is currentlyproviding £4 million to local authorities to support modern language teaching andlearning in Scottish schools. Across Scotland, we are beginning to see greater numbers of pupils studyingChinese languages and culture and increasing numbers of Chinese language assistantsworking in schools.Through the concordat with COSLAwe are moving to an outcomes-focused approach which empowers local authorities andgives them more flexibility to meet the Scottish Government’s national outcomes,including making Scotland the most attractive place to do business in Europe, realisingour full economic potential and ensuring that we are better educated, more skilledand more successful and our young people are successful learners, confident individuals,effective contributors and responsible citizens. Understanding of a diversifiedrange of languages including Chinese makes a valuable contribution to the successfuldelivery of all these outcomes. We are also supporting the developmentof certificated courses in Cantonese and Mandarin at Intermediate 1 and 2 whichwill be available from August 2008, with Higher and Advanced Higher following inAugust 2009. Courses at Access 3 are already available. Additionally, we are sponsoringLearning and Teaching Scotland (LTS) and British Council Scotland to coordinatea number of Scotland-China educational opportunities, including summer schools forpupils and study visits for teachers and head teachers. ","AnswerDate":"2008-01-28T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-01-28T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Linda Fabiani","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":215054,"EventID":"S3W-08393","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2228,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":8,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-14T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-14T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has developed joint education programmes and increased student flow between universities and colleges in Scotland and Shandong.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has developed joint education programmes and increased student flow between universities and colleges in Scotland and Shandong.","AnswerText":"The Scottish Government continuesto support the development of educational links with China and Shandong. Forexample, in September 2007 we welcomed a high-level education delegation from theShandong Provincial Education Department. In November, we also supported a delegationof college and university principals on their visit to Jinan in Shandong. Thisdelegation met the Vice Governor of Shandong and presented him with a letter ofsupport from the Cabinet Secretary for Education and Lifelong Learning.","AnswerDate":"2008-01-28T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-01-28T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Linda Fabiani","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":215055,"EventID":"S3W-08394","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2228,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":8,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-14T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-14T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what work is being done between Scotland and Shandong to raise the awareness of areas and attractions in (a) Scotland for tourists from Shandong and (b) Shandong for tour","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what work is being done between Scotland and Shandong to raise the awareness of areas and attractions in (a) Scotland for tourists from Shandong and (b) Shandong for tourists from Scotland.","AnswerText":"China is one of the emerging markets for VisitScotland witha huge potential for expansion. That is why VisitScotland is keen to take furthersteps to see a significant increase in Chinese visitors to Scotland including ShandongProvince through targeted promotion of Scotland as a tourism destination.In particular, we hope to buildon successes such as Angus Council’s close links with Yantai City, Shandong Provinceto promote each others historical sites and golf courses. A range of marketing materials,brochures in Chinese etc and initiatives aimed at the Chinese market has thereforebeen developed by VisitScotland. VisitScotland also participate in sales missionsand trade shows in China which provide opportunities to meet with agents fromthe whole of the China market. In particular, VisitScotland hosted over 60 representativesfrom Chinese travel agencies for their International Chinese Tourist Association (ICTA) AnnualLeadership Summit held in Edinburgh in November 2007. The first time the ICTA haveheld their summit in Scotland. The Scottish Government has alsoprovided funding to support specific training for Chinese-speaking students to workas tour guides in Scotland. The first of these guides will qualify to coincide withChinese New Year. ","AnswerDate":"2008-01-28T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-01-28T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Linda Fabiani","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":215056,"EventID":"S3W-08395","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2228,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":8,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-14T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-14T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what efforts it has made to develop links with Shandong in respect of oil and renewable energy.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what efforts it has made to develop links with Shandong in respect of oil and renewable energy.","AnswerText":"Our trade and investment arm,Scottish Development International (SDI) has been targeting companies across China, includingin Shandong, that offer Scotland investment or collaboration opportunities.Recent developments relatingto energy include organising a visit by academics to the Ministry of Science andTechnology in June 2008 in pursuit of a Scottish element of the wider UK-China researchand development agreement. SDI officials have also built relationships with a rangeof Chinese oil and gas companies and will carry out further market research during2008 to identify specific oil and gas opportunities in China, includingin Shandong province. ","AnswerDate":"2008-01-28T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-01-28T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Linda Fabiani","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":215057,"EventID":"S3W-08396","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2030,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":1,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-14T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-14T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will carry out any further consultation in respect of the sentencing guidelines on causing death by driving offences in the Sentencing Guidelines Council and S","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will carry out any further consultation in respect of the sentencing guidelines on causing death by driving offences in the Sentencing Guidelines Council and Sentencing Advisory Panel reports.","AnswerText":"The Sentencing Guidelines Council’sproposed guideline does not apply to Scotland. Scottish judgeswill continue to be able to impose whatever sentence they consider appropriate.","AnswerDate":"2008-01-24T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-01-28T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Kenny MacAskill","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":215058,"EventID":"S3W-08397","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2030,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":1,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-14T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-14T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether the sentencing guidelines on causing death by driving offences are to be implemented in Scotland and, if so, who will make that decision; what further training wi","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether the sentencing guidelines on causing death by driving offences are to be implemented in Scotland and, if so, who will make that decision; what further training will be given to prosecutors and sheriffs, and when the new guidelines will be implemented.","AnswerText":"I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-8396 on 24 January 2008. All answers to written parliamentaryquestions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for whichcan be found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/wa.search.","AnswerDate":"2008-01-24T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-01-28T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Kenny MacAskill","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":215059,"EventID":"S3W-08398","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1752,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":57,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-14T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-14T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-5670 by Jim Mather on 8 November 2007, when it will make a decision on the (a) Mark Hill, (b) Arecleoch, (c) Dersalloch, (d) Afton,","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-5670 by Jim Mather on 8 November 2007, when it will make a decision on the (a) Mark Hill, (b) Arecleoch, (c) Dersalloch, (d) Afton, and (e) Kyle windfarm applications under section 36 of the Electricity Act 1989. ","AnswerText":"I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-5670 on 8 November 2008. All answers to written parliamentaryquestions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for whichcan be found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/wa.search.","AnswerDate":"2008-01-17T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-01-28T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Jim Mather","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":215060,"EventID":"S3W-08399","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1752,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":57,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-14T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-14T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what monitoring will be in place to measure hospital delayed discharges in 2008-09. ","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what monitoring will be in place to measure hospital delayed discharges in 2008-09. ","AnswerText":"Information on delayed dischargesis collected as a snapshot census on a quarterly basis by the Information ServicesDivision (ISD) of NHS Scotland. The census dates are on or around the 15 of January,April, July and October. The information is validated by ISD and published on thelast Tuesday of the month following the census date.","AnswerDate":"2008-01-21T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-01-28T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Shona Robison","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":215061,"EventID":"S3W-08400","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1752,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":57,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-14T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-14T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what changes will be made to health, equality, access and treatment targets in respect of hospital delayed discharges. ","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what changes will be made to health, equality, access and treatment targets in respect of hospital delayed discharges. ","AnswerText":"The current HEAT target, agreedwith NHS boards and local authorities, is to eliminate all inappropriate delaysoutwith the six week discharge planning period by April 2008. Following that weexpect that to be maintained as a standard, thereby ensuring no patient is inappropriatelydelayed in hospital for more than six weeks.","AnswerDate":"2008-01-23T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-01-28T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Shona Robison","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":215062,"EventID":"S3W-08401","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1752,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":57,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-14T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-14T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what criteria will be used to refer decisions to independent scrutiny panels following NHS boards’ decisions on reviews of services. ","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what criteria will be used to refer decisions to independent scrutiny panels following NHS boards’ decisions on reviews of services. ","AnswerText":"The consultation on the futurearrangements to introduce Independent examination of proposals for major change in NHS services, is due to close on 25 January 2008. I will make anannouncement about future arrangements once the responses to this have been analysed.http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Publications/2007/10/26111633/0.The preferred option proposesthe involvement of an independent expert panel at beginning of the public engagementprocess when a board is beginning to gather evidence and develop options for consultation.The panel would assess the information and evidence available, and ensure that thefull range of safe and sustainable options were being identified and evaluated ina clear and transparent way. The panel’s report would be publishedbefore the formal consultation stage, and the board would be required to reflectits conclusions in the final proposal for public consultation. The report wouldalso be available to ministers as an input to the final decision-making and approvalprocess. ","AnswerDate":"2008-01-23T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-01-28T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Nicola Sturgeon","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":215063,"EventID":"S3W-08402","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1752,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":57,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-14T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-14T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what weight it places on public consultation in the NHS given the restricted public input to independent scrutiny panels. ","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what weight it places on public consultation in the NHS given the restricted public input to independent scrutiny panels. ","AnswerText":"We place great importance onpublic involvement in the design and delivery of NHS services and this is reflectedin our recently published Better Health Better Care Action Plan which puts the interests of those who use the services at the heart of allthat we do to improve health and health care in Scotland. The action plan is availableat:http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Publications/2007/12/13102832/0. The independent scrutiny panel which considered revised proposalsfor service change in Ayrshire and Lanarkshire was established after a period of extensive public consultation which clearlyidentified that the public’s view was that Accident and Emergency services should be retained at Ayr and Monklands Hospitals. Consequently, the priority for the panel was to deliverrobust scrutiny and engagement whilst minimising delays and uncertainty around theseservices. I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-8401 on 23 January 2008. All answers to written parliamentaryquestions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for whichcan be found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/wa.search. ","AnswerDate":"2008-01-23T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-01-28T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Nicola Sturgeon","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":215064,"EventID":"S3W-08403","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1752,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":57,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-14T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-14T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what support it is providing for sea angling.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what support it is providing for sea angling.","AnswerText":"VisitScotland is representedon and has contributed funding to the Angling Development Tourism Group, which wasinstrumental in the development of the FishScotland website. VisitScotland alsohas a section on its own website dedicated to sea angling, along with two pagesabout the sport in its Fishing in Scotland brochure. In addition, VisitScotland has contributedsome funding to the Country Sports Tourism Group, which has looked at a number ofprojects to further develop angling of all kinds in Scotland.","AnswerDate":"2008-01-28T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-01-28T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Jim Mather","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":215065,"EventID":"S3W-08404","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1752,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":57,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-14T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-14T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions it intends to have with the Scottish Federation of Sea Anglers about support for recreational sea angling. ","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions it intends to have with the Scottish Federation of Sea Anglers about support for recreational sea angling. ","AnswerText":"Officials have engaged with the Scottish Federation of Sea Anglers over a considerable period of time to discusssupport for recreational sea angling. These discussions continue, not least in connectionwith a study which the government is undertaking to seek to establish the economicvalue of recreational sea angling.","AnswerDate":"2008-01-28T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-01-28T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Jim Mather","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":215066,"EventID":"S3W-08405","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1831,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":6,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-14T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-14T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive in which financial year it intends to establish a Scottish National Institute for Life Sciences in Dundee.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive in which financial year it intends to establish a Scottish National Institute for Life Sciences in Dundee.","AnswerText":"My officials have been in activediscussion with the Scottish Funding Council and Scottish Enterprise over the lastfew months to clarify the best way of delivering the institute. Once this is clarified,we should have a better idea of the timescale for delivery, but I expect that fundingsupport will be introduced from 2008-09 in line with the Scottish Budget: Spending Review 2007.","AnswerDate":"2008-01-21T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-01-28T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Fiona Hyslop","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":215067,"EventID":"S3W-08406","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1831,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":6,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-14T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-14T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether the draft budget expenditure for Life Sciences, as shown on page 114 of Scottish Budget: Spending Review 2007, of (a) £2 million in 2008-09, (b) £3 million in 200","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether the draft budget expenditure for Life Sciences, as shown on page 114 of Scottish Budget: Spending Review 2007, of (a) £2 million in 2008-09, (b) £3 million in 2009-10 and (c) £5 million in 2010-11 represents expenditure associated solely with the proposed Scottish National Institute for Life Sciences in Dundee.","AnswerText":"The funding of £2 million/£3million/£5 million represents expenditure which is intended to be associated solelywith the proposed life sciences institute.","AnswerDate":"2008-01-21T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-01-28T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Fiona Hyslop","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":215068,"EventID":"S3W-08407","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1831,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":6,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-14T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-14T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive how the £2 million for Life Sciences in 2008-09, as shown on page 114 of Scottish Budget: Spending Review 2007, will be spent.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive how the £2 million for Life Sciences in 2008-09, as shown on page 114 of Scottish Budget: Spending Review 2007, will be spent.","AnswerText":"I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-8405 on 21 January 2008. All answers to written parliamentaryquestions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for whichcan be found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/wa.search.Once these discussions have beenconcluded, we will be in a position to determine how the first year’s expenditurewill be spent. ","AnswerDate":"2008-01-21T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-01-28T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Fiona Hyslop","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":215069,"EventID":"S3W-08408","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1831,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":6,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-14T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-14T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether there are tables other than table 22.06 on page 114 of Scottish Budget: Spending Review 2007 that refer to expenditure associated with the proposed Scottish Natio","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether there are tables other than table 22.06 on page 114 of Scottish Budget: Spending Review 2007 that refer to expenditure associated with the proposed Scottish National Institute for Life Sciences in Dundee.","AnswerText":"There are no other tables inthe Scottish Budget that refer to expenditure directly associated with the proposedinstitute.","AnswerDate":"2008-01-21T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-01-28T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Fiona Hyslop","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":215070,"EventID":"S3W-08409","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1831,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":6,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-14T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-14T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive how many people were employed in the life sciences sector in (a) Dundee and (b) Scotland in the most recent year for which figures are available.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive how many people were employed in the life sciences sector in (a) Dundee and (b) Scotland in the most recent year for which figures are available.","AnswerText":"Specific information on the numberof people employed in the life sciences sector is not centrally available.However information on staffemployed in NHSScotland is published on the Scottish Health Statistics website underWorkforce Statistics at www.isdscotland.org/workforce. Section F gives details of therapeutic, health carescience, technical, pharmacy and ambulance staff. Life sciences staff are includedin figures for Healthcare Science but are not explicitly identifiable. Tables F1 and F2 show the whole-timeequivalent (WTE) and head count of health care science staff by specialty and NHSboard and region. Specific information on the number of health care science staffemployed in Dundee is not centrally available. WTE adjusts headcount totake account of part time staff. Latest available data is at 30 September 2006. ","AnswerDate":"2008-01-23T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-01-28T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Nicola Sturgeon","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":215071,"EventID":"S3W-08410","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2029,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":71,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-15T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-15T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive how many police hours on the beat could be provided for £1 million.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive how many police hours on the beat could be provided for £1 million.","AnswerText":"This is an operational matterfor Chief Constables. Attributing cost to any particular police activity will dependon the definitions used and variables such as the rank of the officers concerned,shift patterns in place and other operational considerations.","AnswerDate":"2008-01-23T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-01-29T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Kenny MacAskill","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":215072,"EventID":"S3W-08411","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2167,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":3,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-14T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-14T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what constitutes a non-compliant bid in relation to tenders for the services currently operated by CalMac Ferries Ltd.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what constitutes a non-compliant bid in relation to tenders for the services currently operated by CalMac Ferries Ltd.","AnswerText":"The Invitation to Tender (ITT,)issued by the previous administration on 14 December 2006, set out the minimumservice specification for the Public Service Contract for the Clyde and HebridesFerry Services as the then current timetable of services plus the specified enhancements.Any bid that did not meet the minimum service requirement would be deemed to benon-compliant with the terms of the ITT.","AnswerDate":"2008-01-28T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-01-28T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Stewart Stevenson","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":215073,"EventID":"S3W-08412","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2167,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":3,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-14T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-14T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether any one part of a tender bid for ferry services which is deemed to be non-compliant renders the entire bid non-compliant.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether any one part of a tender bid for ferry services which is deemed to be non-compliant renders the entire bid non-compliant.","AnswerText":"No. The options that includeda service for Mallaig to Lochboisdale were submitted by CalMac Ferries Ltd as supplementsto the main bid. The “base network” bid was fully evaluated both technically andfinancially and was considered to be fully compliant with the terms of the Invitationto Tender and the contract was awarded on that basis.","AnswerDate":"2008-01-28T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-01-28T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Stewart Stevenson","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":215074,"EventID":"S3W-08413","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2167,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":3,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-14T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-14T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether, during the tendering process for services currently operated by CalMac Ferries Ltd, it advised CalMac Ferries Ltd that some of its proposals were non-compliant a","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether, during the tendering process for services currently operated by CalMac Ferries Ltd, it advised CalMac Ferries Ltd that some of its proposals were non-compliant and, if so, how that advice was given, on what date, by whom and to whom.","AnswerText":"The Invitation To Tender (ITT)set the service specification for the Clyde and Hebrides Ferry Services (CHFS) contract as the thencurrent timetable plus a number of specified enhancements. The ITT also requiredtenderers to submit a variant bid that included a Mallaig to Lochboisdale servicewhile continuing to provide an Oban to Caslebay service and the rest of the CHFSservices as specified.In response to the Invitationto Tender for the Clyde and Hebrides Ferry Services Contract CalMac Ferries Limitedsubmitted: A “base network” bid that wascompliant with the ITT for the minimum service specification; A “variant bid” for a Mallaigto Lochboisdale service that was compliant with the terms of the ITT, and An “optional variant bid” thatwas not compliant with the terms of the ITT. CalMac recognised that this proposed“optional variant bid” would have been a medium term option, which would have requiredconsultation and the support of all communities affected had it been deemed appropriateby the Scottish Government. This potentially attractive solution was submitted bythe company as an innovative alternative to the main proposal. The contract was awarded forthe “base network” bid which delivered the minimum service level and some minorenhancements. There was extensive dialoguewith CalMac Ferries Ltd, and their advisors, during the tender process regardingtheir proposals. ","AnswerDate":"2008-01-28T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-01-28T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Stewart Stevenson","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":215075,"EventID":"S3W-08414","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2167,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":3,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-14T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-14T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether an issue that was non-compliant at the time of bidding in terms of the tender specification for ferry services to the islands now operated by CalMac Ferries Ltd c","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether an issue that was non-compliant at the time of bidding in terms of the tender specification for ferry services to the islands now operated by CalMac Ferries Ltd could now be considered competent as a separate addition to the contract.","AnswerText":"Under the terms of the PublicService Contract no changes can be made to the timetable during the first six monthsof the contract. Thereafter the terms of the Public Service Contract allow CalMacFerries Ltd to make minor and major changes to the timetable with the agreementof Scottish ministers. Users must be consulted prior to any changes being made andin the event of a major change Scottish ministers would need to see community support.","AnswerDate":"2008-01-28T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-01-28T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Stewart Stevenson","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":215076,"EventID":"S3W-08415","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2167,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":3,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-14T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-14T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what it meant in the tender specification for island ferry services now operated by CalMac Ferries Ltd by the reference to seeking innovative solutions to problems of fer","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what it meant in the tender specification for island ferry services now operated by CalMac Ferries Ltd by the reference to seeking innovative solutions to problems of ferry service delivery .","AnswerText":"The Invitation to Tender wasissued by the previous administration. However, the Scottish Government has takenthe view that innovative solutions would be any new option that delivered at leastthe minimum service specification.","AnswerDate":"2008-01-28T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-01-28T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Stewart Stevenson","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":215077,"EventID":"S3W-08416","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2167,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":3,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-14T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-14T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether any innovative solutions offered by CalMac Ferries Ltd during the tendering process for the current contract operated by CalMac Ferries Ltd formed part of the fin","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether any innovative solutions offered by CalMac Ferries Ltd during the tendering process for the current contract operated by CalMac Ferries Ltd formed part of the final contract and, if so, why such solutions were considered to be compliant at the time.","AnswerText":"I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-8413 on 28 January 2008. All answers to written parliamentaryquestions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for whichcan be found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/wa.search.","AnswerDate":"2008-01-28T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-01-28T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Stewart Stevenson","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":215078,"EventID":"S3W-08417","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2167,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":3,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-14T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-14T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what constitutes the difference between what may have been deemed to be a non-compliant innovative solution to a ferry problem and a compliant innovative solution, in ter","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what constitutes the difference between what may have been deemed to be a non-compliant innovative solution to a ferry problem and a compliant innovative solution, in terms of the tender specification for services currently operated by CalMac Ferries Ltd.","AnswerText":"I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-8411 on 28 January 2008. All answers to written parliamentaryquestions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for whichcan be found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/wa.search.","AnswerDate":"2008-01-28T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-01-28T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Stewart Stevenson","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":215079,"EventID":"S3W-08418","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2167,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":3,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-14T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-14T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether it is free to add new routes, or variations to routes, to the contract operated by CalMac Ferries Ltd.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether it is free to add new routes, or variations to routes, to the contract operated by CalMac Ferries Ltd.","AnswerText":"I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-8414 on 28 January 2008. All answers to written parliamentaryquestions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for whichcan be found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/wa.search.","AnswerDate":"2008-01-28T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-01-28T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Stewart Stevenson","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":215080,"EventID":"S3W-08419","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2167,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":3,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-14T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-14T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether CalMac Ferries Ltd is free to suggest alterations to its contract in order to accommodate new services or variations to services currently on offer.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether CalMac Ferries Ltd is free to suggest alterations to its contract in order to accommodate new services or variations to services currently on offer.","AnswerText":"I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-8414 on 28 January 2008. All answers to written parliamentaryquestions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for whichcan be found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/wa.search.","AnswerDate":"2008-01-28T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-01-28T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Stewart Stevenson","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":215081,"EventID":"S3W-08420","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2167,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":3,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-14T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-14T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has invited CalMac Ferries Ltd to explore the possibilities of operating a Lochboisdale to Mallaig ferry service and recommend to the Scottish Government how t","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has invited CalMac Ferries Ltd to explore the possibilities of operating a Lochboisdale to Mallaig ferry service and recommend to the Scottish Government how this might be achieved and at what cost.","AnswerText":"Following the award of thenew contract, and in response to issues raised by local elected representatives,CalMac Ferries Ltd were asked to search the market place for suitable vesselsthat might be available to support a Mallaig – Lochboisdale service. They havecompleted the search and have reported their findings to the ScottishGovernment. I also met with community representatives from South Uist on 22January to listen to their views on the possibility of a Mallaig – Lochboisdaleservice.","AnswerDate":"2008-01-28T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-01-28T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Stewart Stevenson","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":215082,"EventID":"S3W-08421","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2167,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":3,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-14T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-14T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether a Lochboisdale to Mallaig ferry service could be operated with the current vessels owned by Caledonian Maritime Assets Ltd.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether a Lochboisdale to Mallaig ferry service could be operated with the current vessels owned by Caledonian Maritime Assets Ltd.","AnswerText":"A dedicated service between Mallaigand Lochboisdale could not be delivered with the existing vessels. However, therecould be other options possibly involving summer services.","AnswerDate":"2008-01-28T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-01-28T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Stewart Stevenson","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":215083,"EventID":"S3W-08422","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2167,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":3,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-14T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-14T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether, under the terms of an invitation to look at innovative solutions as part of the bidding process for the contract, CalMac Ferries Ltd offered optional variants on","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether, under the terms of an invitation to look at innovative solutions as part of the bidding process for the contract, CalMac Ferries Ltd offered optional variants on how a Lochboisdale to Mallaig service could operate.","AnswerText":"I refer the member to the answerto question S3W-8413 on 28 January 2008. All answers to written parliamentary questions areavailable on the Parliament's website, the search facility for which can befound at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/wa.search","AnswerDate":"2008-01-28T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-01-28T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Stewart Stevenson","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":215084,"EventID":"S3W-08423","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2167,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":3,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-14T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-14T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what costs were provided by CalMac Ferries Ltd for the operation of options that it presented to achieve the introduction of a ferry service from Lochboisdale to Mallaig ","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what costs were provided by CalMac Ferries Ltd for the operation of options that it presented to achieve the introduction of a ferry service from Lochboisdale to Mallaig at the time of the tendering exercise for current services, or since.","AnswerText":"The mandatory “variant bid”for a dedicated service between Mallaig and Lochboisdale required the purchaseof an additional vessel with a suggested capital cost of £25 million andadditional running costs of £4 million per annum.The “optional variant bid”would have required significant changes to services to Barra and an additionalsubsidy of some £600,000 per annum. ","AnswerDate":"2008-01-28T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-01-28T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Stewart Stevenson","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":215085,"EventID":"S3W-08424","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1837,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":36,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-14T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-14T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will list the schools that are no longer available for community use following refurbishment or rebuilding using PPP funding.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will list the schools that are no longer available for community use following refurbishment or rebuilding using PPP funding.","AnswerText":"The management of school buildingsis the responsibility of the local authorities, shared, where appropriate, withother partners. The Scottish Government continues to encourage authorities to assessthe need and demand for community access to school facilities and to respond tothat, although it does not collect detailed information of the kind requested.","AnswerDate":"2008-01-24T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-01-28T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Maureen Watt","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":215086,"EventID":"S3W-08425","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2029,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":71,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-14T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-14T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what the complement of police officers will be once the additional 52 officers now being trained finish that training.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what the complement of police officers will be once the additional 52 officers now being trained finish that training.","AnswerText":"Police officer and police staffnumbers are collected on a quarterly basis by the Scottish Government and placedin the Scottish Parliament Information Centre. The next quarterly strength returnwill be published in February 2008.","AnswerDate":"2008-01-23T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-01-28T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Kenny MacAskill","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":215087,"EventID":"S3W-08426","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2029,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":71,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-14T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-14T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what the complement of police officers will be once the additional 150 officers due to undergo training finish that training.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what the complement of police officers will be once the additional 150 officers due to undergo training finish that training.","AnswerText":"I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-8425 on 23 January 2008. All answers to written parliamentaryquestions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for whichcan be found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/wa.search.","AnswerDate":"2008-01-23T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-01-28T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Kenny MacAskill","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":215088,"EventID":"S3W-08427","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2029,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":71,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-14T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-14T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive how many police officers had been scheduled to undergo training in the current financial year prior to the announcement of 150 additional places.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive how many police officers had been scheduled to undergo training in the current financial year prior to the announcement of 150 additional places.","AnswerText":"Before the announcementof the additional 150 recruits in this financial year was made in November, thisgovernment had inherited a situation where police forces had projected that 577officers would be recruited in 2007-08, the lowest level since devolution.Projections are madeby police forces at the beginning of each year but are subject to change due toa number of factors such as increased unexpected retirements and other natural wastageor an increase in retentions. ","AnswerDate":"2008-01-30T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-01-28T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Kenny MacAskill","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":215089,"EventID":"S3W-08428","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2029,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":71,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-14T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-14T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive how many police officers need to be trained in the current financial year to maintain police numbers at the level of May 2007.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive how many police officers need to be trained in the current financial year to maintain police numbers at the level of May 2007.","AnswerText":"Levels of police recruitmentand establishment are an operational matter for chief constables. Police officer numbers by whole-time equivalent are collectedon a quarterly basis by the Scottish Government and placed in the Scottish ParliamentInformation Centre.The last quarterly figures showthat the numbers of whole-time equivalent police officers in Scotland had increasedby 72 since the end March 2007 and by 42 since the end of June. The next figureswill be available in February 2008. ","AnswerDate":"2008-01-23T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-01-28T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Kenny MacAskill","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":215090,"EventID":"S3W-08429","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2029,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":71,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-14T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-14T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive how many police officers will need to be trained in 2008-09 to maintain police numbers at the level of May 2007.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive how many police officers will need to be trained in 2008-09 to maintain police numbers at the level of May 2007.","AnswerText":"I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-8428 on 28 January 2008. All answers to written parliamentaryquestions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for whichcan be found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/wa.search.","AnswerDate":"2008-01-23T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-01-28T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Kenny MacAskill","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":215091,"EventID":"S3W-08430","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2394,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":5,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-14T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-14T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive how much per head has been spent on (a) health, (b) school education, (c) justice and the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service, (d) transport and (e) enterprise and","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive how much per head has been spent on (a) health, (b) school education, (c) justice and the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service, (d) transport and (e) enterprise and lifelong learning in each of the last 10 years.","AnswerText":"The informationrequested is set out in the following tables:(a) Spend perHead on Health (£) | 1997-98 | 1998-99 | 1999-2000 | 2000-01 | 2001-02 | 2002-03 | 2003-04 | 2004-05 | 2005-06 | 2006-07 | | 856 | 904 | 974 | 1,063 | 1,231 | 1,342 | 1,418 | 1,610 | 1,741 | 1,837 | (b) Spend perHead on School Education (£) | 1997-98 | 1998-99 | 1999-2000 | 2000-01 | 2001-02 | 2002-03 | 2003-04 | 2004-05 | 2005-06 | 2006-07 | | 425 | 446 | 480 | 601 | 660 | 704 | 771 | 830 | 890 | 1,023 | (c1) Spendper head on Justice (£) | 1997-98 | 1998-99 | 1999-2000 | 2000-01 | 2001-02 | 2002-03 | 2003-04 | 2004-05 | 2005-06 | 2006-07 | | 170 | 171 | 182 | 194 | 205 | 223 | 235 | 270 | 292 | 291 | (c2) Spend per","AnswerDate":"2008-02-13T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-01-28T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"John Swinney","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":215092,"EventID":"S3W-08431","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2394,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":5,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-14T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-14T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S2W-24534 by Tom McCabe on 21 April 2006, whether it will publish comparative data on total managed expenditure in real terms for each ","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S2W-24534 by Tom McCabe on 21 April 2006, whether it will publish comparative data on total managed expenditure in real terms for each year from 1996-97 to 2010-11, broken down by department.","AnswerText":"The information is shown in thefollowing table. It should be noted that there will be slight differences from thedata provided in the response to question S2W-24534 mainly as a result of the ScottishGovernment restructuring last year and the rebasing of real terms numbers to 2007-08prices. | | 1996-97 Outturn (£ Million) | 1997-98 Outturn (£ Million) | 1998-99 Outturn (£ Million) | 1999-2000 Outturn (£ Million) | 2000-01 Outturn (£ Million) | | OFM | 153 | 157 | 146 | 145 | 143 | | Finance and Sustainable Growth (inc Local Government) | 8,526 | 7,972 | 7,762 | 7,985 | 8,083 | | Health and Wellbeing | 6,031 | 5,971 | 6,118 | 6,197 | 6,563 | | Education and Lifelong Learning | 1,623 | 1,714 | 1,697 | 1,867 | 2,066 | | Justice | 1,053 | 1,065 | 1,046 | 1,124 | 1,137 | | Rural Affairs and the Environment | 282 | 314 | 309 | 299 | 295 | | Administration | 224 | 191 | 199 | 209 | 213 | | Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal | 63 | 60 | 64 | 64 | 67 | | General Register Office of Scotland | 3 | 7 | 6 | 6 | 12 | | National Archives of Scotland | 7 | 6 | 4 | 5 | 7<","AnswerDate":"2008-02-08T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-01-28T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"John Swinney","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":215093,"EventID":"S3W-08432","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2394,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":5,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-14T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-14T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive, further to Scottish Budget: Spending Review 2007, whether it will publish an update to The Scottish Executive's Expenditure: Comparative Trends: 1996-97 - 2005-06 publis","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive, further to Scottish Budget: Spending Review 2007, whether it will publish an update to The Scottish Executive's Expenditure: Comparative Trends: 1996-97 - 2005-06 published in 2004, to provide comparable spending data in real terms, broken down by department to level 2 figures.","AnswerText":"The Scottish Government hasno plans to update the comparative trends data. The comparative trend datamerely provided an indication of trends in expenditure over an arbitrary 10year period and was flawed due to the complication of the introduction ofResource Accounting and Budgeting. However, the following table, based on AnnexB of the Scottish Budget Spending Review 2007, provides comparative expenditurefor year 2002-03 to 2010-11 in real terms which is broken down by portfolio tolevel 2. | Department | 2002-03 Outturn (£ Million) | 2003-04 Outturn (£ Million) | 2004-05 Outturn (£ Million) | 2005-06 Outturn (£ Million) | 2006-07 Estimated Outturn (£ Million) | | Europe and External Affairs | 0.4 | 0.8 | 3.9 | 9.4 | 10.5 | | Culture and Gaelic | 118.2 | 143.2 | 154.7 | 157.2 | 175.1 | | Corporate and Central Budgets | 1.1 | 12.6 | 12.7 | 14.4 | 13.8 | | Historic Scotland | 44.8 | 42.0 | 4- | 43.9 | 45.4 | | National Archives of Scotland | 11.5 | 11.4 | 8.7 | 9.2 | 14.9 | | Total First Minister | 176.0 | 21- | 22- | 234.1 | 259.7 | | Scottish Public Pensions Agency | 241.9 | 1,172.7 | 1,454.4 | 1,892.7 | 1,987.9 | | Committees, commissions and","AnswerDate":"2008-01-28T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-01-28T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"John Swinney","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":215094,"EventID":"S3W-08433","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2117,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":47,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-14T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-14T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answers to questions S3W-7656, S3W-7657, S3W-7658, S3W-7659, S3W-7660 and S3W-7661 by Shona Robison on 14 January 2008, what the timetable is for the prop","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answers to questions S3W-7656, S3W-7657, S3W-7658, S3W-7659, S3W-7660 and S3W-7661 by Shona Robison on 14 January 2008, what the timetable is for the proposed incremental introduction of the comprehensive programme which will ultimately serve very young, nursery and school children.","AnswerText":"Scotland will be divided into three areas, north, east andwest for the purpose of Childsmile with Childsmile Nursery/School and Practice plannedto roll out in the north in 2008-09. Childsmile Practice to rollout in 2009-10 inthe east and Childsmile Nursery/School to roll out in 2009-10 in the west. ","AnswerDate":"2008-01-23T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-01-28T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Shona Robison","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":215095,"EventID":"S3W-08434","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":3758,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":1,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-15T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-15T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what plans exist to educate children on how to use the internet safely.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what plans exist to educate children on how to use the internet safely.","AnswerText":"The Scottish Government wantschildren and young people to make full use of the internet and is committed to ensuringthat they are able to do so in a safe and responsible manner.Wecontinue to work with a number of agencies to raise children and young people’sawareness about how to “surf safely”. Learning and Teaching Scotland provides adviceon school policies for internet use and access and links to a number of websitesthat provide advice on internet safety. Respectme the national bullying servicerecently published advice on the use of the internet to prevent cyber bullying.Chatsafer, a Scottish Government information website, is a parental guide to saferchatting on the web. “Safe and Well” guidance, whichissued to schools in 2005, includes good practice guidance on computer safety. As part of our on-going commitmentto protect children, the draft outcomes and experiences for technology, which willbe published later this year as part of the work on the curriculum review, are likelyto include opportunities for teachers to develop young people’s knowledge of safeand responsible use of the internet. ","AnswerDate":"2008-01-24T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-01-29T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Maureen Watt","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":215096,"EventID":"S3W-08435","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2033,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":61,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-15T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-15T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to change how low and intermediate-level waste from the civil nuclear industry is dealt with.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to change how low and intermediate-level waste from the civil nuclear industry is dealt with.","AnswerText":"The Scottish Government has noplans to change how low-level radioactive waste from the civil nuclear industryis managed. We continue to support the UK-wide policy for the Long Term Managementof Solid Low Level Radioactive Waste published in March 2007.The Scottish Government’s policyfor higher activity waste in Scotland was announced on 25 June 2007 and supportslong-term “near surface near site” storage facilities. We are developing this policyin conjunction with the regulators, the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority and othersand have no plans to change it. ","AnswerDate":"2008-01-24T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-01-29T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Richard Lochhead","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":215097,"EventID":"S3W-08436","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2167,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":3,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-15T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-15T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive how many properties were owned by Highlands and Islands Enterprise in each of the last three years, broken down by local enterprise network area.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive how many properties were owned by Highlands and Islands Enterprise in each of the last three years, broken down by local enterprise network area.","AnswerText":"This is an operational matterfor Highlands and Islands Enterprise. I will ask its Chief Executiveto write to you in this regard.","AnswerDate":"2008-01-28T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-01-29T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Jim Mather","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":215098,"EventID":"S3W-08437","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2167,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":3,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-15T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-15T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive how much rental income Highlands and Islands Enterprise received in each of the last three years from properties in the region, also broken down by local enterprise netwo","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive how much rental income Highlands and Islands Enterprise received in each of the last three years from properties in the region, also broken down by local enterprise network area.","AnswerText":"This is an operational matterfor Highlands and Islands Enterprise. I will ask its Chief Executiveto write to you in this regard.","AnswerDate":"2008-01-28T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-01-29T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Jim Mather","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":215099,"EventID":"S3W-08438","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2167,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":3,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-15T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-15T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive how much revenue Highlands and Islands Enterprise accrued from property sales in each of the last three years, also broken down by local enterprise network area.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive how much revenue Highlands and Islands Enterprise accrued from property sales in each of the last three years, also broken down by local enterprise network area.","AnswerText":"This is an operational matterfor Highlands and Islands Enterprise. I will ask its Chief Executiveto write to you in this regard","AnswerDate":"2008-01-28T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-01-29T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Jim Mather","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":215100,"EventID":"S3W-08439","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2167,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":3,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-15T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-15T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what plans Highlands and Islands Enterprise has to stimulate property development in the highlands and islands.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what plans Highlands and Islands Enterprise has to stimulate property development in the highlands and islands.","AnswerText":"This is an operationalmatter for Highland and Islands Enterprise. I will ask its Chief Executive to write to you in this regard.","AnswerDate":"2008-01-28T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-01-29T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Jim Mather","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":215101,"EventID":"S3W-08440","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2167,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":3,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-15T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-15T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive how many businesses have sought assistance from Highlands and Islands Enterprise to build new business premises or enhance existing premises in each of the last three yea","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive how many businesses have sought assistance from Highlands and Islands Enterprise to build new business premises or enhance existing premises in each of the last three years, broken down by local enterprise network area and showing the types of assistance available.","AnswerText":"This is an operational matterfor Highlands and Islands Enterprise. I will ask its Chief Executive to write to you in this regard.","AnswerDate":"2008-01-28T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-01-29T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Jim Mather","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":215102,"EventID":"S3W-08441","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2167,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":3,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-15T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-15T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive how many businesses have gained assistance from Highlands and Islands Enterprise to build new business premises or enhance existing premises in each of the last three yea","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive how many businesses have gained assistance from Highlands and Islands Enterprise to build new business premises or enhance existing premises in each of the last three years, broken down by local enterprise network area.","AnswerText":"This is an operational matterfor Highlands and Islands Enterprise. I will ask its Chief Executiveto write to you in this regard.","AnswerDate":"2008-01-28T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-01-29T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Jim Mather","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":215103,"EventID":"S3W-08442","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2167,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":3,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-15T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-15T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive how much has been allocated by Highlands and Islands Enterprise to acquire property in the last three years, also broken down by local enterprise network area.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive how much has been allocated by Highlands and Islands Enterprise to acquire property in the last three years, also broken down by local enterprise network area.","AnswerText":"This is an operational matterfor Highlands and Islands Enterprise. I will ask its Chief Executiveto write to you in this regard.","AnswerDate":"2008-01-28T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-01-29T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Jim Mather","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":215104,"EventID":"S3W-08443","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2167,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":3,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-15T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-15T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether it owns property jointly with other parties and, if so, how many properties are owned jointly with (a) other organisations in the public sector and (b) companies ","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether it owns property jointly with other parties and, if so, how many properties are owned jointly with (a) other organisations in the public sector and (b) companies in the private sector.","AnswerText":"There are no suchbuildings.","AnswerDate":"2008-02-01T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-01-29T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"John Swinney","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":215105,"EventID":"S3W-08444","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2167,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":3,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-15T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-15T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what total area of land is owned by Highlands and Islands Enterprise.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what total area of land is owned by Highlands and Islands Enterprise.","AnswerText":"This is an operational matterfor Highlands and Islands Enterprise. I will ask its Chief Executiveto write to you in this regard.","AnswerDate":"2008-01-28T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-01-29T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Jim Mather","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":215106,"EventID":"S3W-08445","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2167,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":3,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-15T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-15T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what total value of land is owned by Highlands and Islands Enterprise.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what total value of land is owned by Highlands and Islands Enterprise.","AnswerText":"This is an operational matterfor Highlands and Islands Enterprise. I will ask its Chief Executiveto write to you in this regard.","AnswerDate":"2008-01-28T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-01-29T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Jim Mather","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":215107,"EventID":"S3W-08446","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2167,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":3,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-15T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-15T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive how many business tenants who lease property from Highlands and Islands Enterprise have leases of (a) less than two years, (b) from two to four years and (c) more than fo","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive how many business tenants who lease property from Highlands and Islands Enterprise have leases of (a) less than two years, (b) from two to four years and (c) more than four years.","AnswerText":"This is an operational matterfor Highlands and Islands Enterprise. I will ask its Chief Executiveto write to you in this regard.","AnswerDate":"2008-01-28T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-01-29T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Jim Mather","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":215108,"EventID":"S3W-08447","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2167,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":3,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-15T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-15T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive how many leases of property owned by Highlands and Islands Enterprise are due to expire in 2008-09.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive how many leases of property owned by Highlands and Islands Enterprise are due to expire in 2008-09.","AnswerText":"This is an operational matterfor Highlands and Islands Enterprise. I will ask its Chief Executiveto write to you in this regard.","AnswerDate":"2008-01-28T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-01-29T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Jim Mather","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":215109,"EventID":"S3W-08448","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1778,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":40,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-15T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-15T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive when it last had discussions with other EU regional legislatures on matters related to sport. ","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive when it last had discussions with other EU regional legislatures on matters related to sport. ","AnswerText":"No meetings or consultationshave taken place with other European Union regional legislatures on matters relatedto sport as of yet. Sports Officials attended the EU Sports Directors Conferenceon 12 to 14 July 2007 where Sports Directors from the 27 member states were present.Discussions were held on the European Commission White Paper on Sport, health insport and anti-doping.","AnswerDate":"2008-01-23T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-01-29T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Stewart Maxwell","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":215110,"EventID":"S3W-08449","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1778,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":40,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-15T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-15T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions on matters related to public procurement it has had with the joint HM Treasury and DTI Procurement Policy Unit since May 2007.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions on matters related to public procurement it has had with the joint HM Treasury and DTI Procurement Policy Unit since May 2007.","AnswerText":"Officials from the Scottish ProcurementDirectorate have met, and are in regular contact, with colleagues from the Officeof Government Commerce Policy and Standards Division (previously known as HM Treasuryand DTI Procurement Policy Unit) to discuss matters related to public procurementpolicy and legislation. Due to the frequency of contact between both offices, itis not possible to list details of every discussion that has taken place over thepast nine months.","AnswerDate":"2008-01-28T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-01-29T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"John Swinney","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":215111,"EventID":"S3W-08450","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1778,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":40,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-15T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-15T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has a European policy co-ordination office. ","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has a European policy co-ordination office. ","AnswerText":"European policy co-ordinationis carried out by the Scottish Government EU Office in Brussels and Europe Divisionin Edinburgh under the overall responsibility of the government’s EU Director, currentlyMichael Aron.","AnswerDate":"2008-01-28T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-01-29T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Linda Fabiani","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":215112,"EventID":"S3W-08451","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1778,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":40,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-15T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-15T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive when it last met the head of the Cabinet Office European Secretariat.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive when it last met the head of the Cabinet Office European Secretariat.","AnswerText":"The Prime Minister’s Adviser on International Economic Affairsand Europe and head of the Cabinet OfficeEuropean Secretariat, Jon Cunliffe, was present at the Joint Ministerial Committeeon Europe on 5 December which I attended. Scottish Government officials are alsoinvited to the regular meetings jointly chaired by the head of the Cabinet OfficeEuropean Secretariat and the UK Permanent Representative to the European Union,which they attend when items of interest to the Scottish Government are on the agenda.Most recently, the Scottish Government’s EU Director, Michael Aron, attended themeeting on 23 January.","AnswerDate":"2008-01-28T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-01-29T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Linda Fabiani","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":215113,"EventID":"S3W-08452","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1778,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":40,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-15T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-15T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive when it last met the UK Permanent Representative in Brussels.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive when it last met the UK Permanent Representative in Brussels.","AnswerText":"The Scottish Government’s EUDirector, Michael Aron, meets with the UK Permanent Representative to the EuropeanUnion on a regular basis. They last met on 23 January. The EU Director has a standinginvitation to the Permanent Representative’s weekly senior management meetings whichhe attends as necessary. Scottish Government officials are also invited to the regularmeetings jointly chaired by the head of the Cabinet Office European Secretariatand the UK Permanent Representative to the EU, which they attend when there areitems of interest to the Scottish Government on the agenda.","AnswerDate":"2008-01-28T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-01-29T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Linda Fabiani","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":215114,"EventID":"S3W-08453","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1778,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":40,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-15T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-15T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to train procurement officials on issues related to Article 19 of the EU public procurement directive.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to train procurement officials on issues related to Article 19 of the EU public procurement directive.","AnswerText":"There are currently no plansto run training courses specifically related to Article 19 of the EU procurementdirective.However, guidance on “reservedcontracts” was made available to public bodies in March 2006 and in October lastyear, the Scottish Government issued a guidance document Social Issues in Public Procurement which reconfirmed the Government’s support of the useof article 19. In additional, the Minister for Enterprise, Energy and Tourism andofficials met with Supported Businesses representatives last December to agree anumber of action points addressing issues arising around the use of reserved contractsfrom both the public sector side and from the “supported businesses” side. ","AnswerDate":"2008-01-28T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-01-29T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"John Swinney","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":215115,"EventID":"S3W-08454","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1778,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":40,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-15T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-15T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive when it last had discussions with other EU regional legislatures on matters related to health. ","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive when it last had discussions with other EU regional legislatures on matters related to health. ","AnswerText":"There have been no such discussionsat ministerial level. The Scottish Governmentwill be looking to engage with national governments to place Scotland as anation rather than a region, but we will continue to cooperate with EU regions inareas where there is sufficient interest, goodwill and mutual benefit. We are currentlydeveloping a European Strategy which will include the Scottish Government’s engagementwith our European partners.","AnswerDate":"2008-01-23T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-01-29T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Nicola Sturgeon","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":215116,"EventID":"S3W-08455","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1778,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":40,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-15T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-15T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive when it last had discussions with other EU regional legislatures on matters related to transport.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive when it last had discussions with other EU regional legislatures on matters related to transport.","AnswerText":"Since May 2007, no formal transportrelated discussions have been held with EU regional legislatures. However, in thecourse of day-to-day business, Brussels based Scottish Government officials may have had informaldiscussions with representatives of such legislatures.","AnswerDate":"2008-01-28T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-01-29T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Stewart Stevenson","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":215117,"EventID":"S3W-08456","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1778,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":40,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-15T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-15T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive when it last had discussions with other EU regional legislatures on matters related to tourism.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive when it last had discussions with other EU regional legislatures on matters related to tourism.","AnswerText":"Tourism is not an EU competence.However, officials keep in touch with developments affecting tourism across Europe, includingon the subject of funding for tourism projects involving other member states. TheEU organises an annual conference on tourism issues, and officials have in the pastattended these when the agenda has promised to be of relevance to tourism issuesin Scotland, using them as an opportunity to speak to representativesof other regional legislatures. In addition, delegations of ministers and officialswith an interest in tourism from legislatures such as Catalonia visit Scotland fromtime to time, and these visits are opportunities for further exchanges of views.","AnswerDate":"2008-01-18T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-01-29T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Jim Mather","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":215118,"EventID":"S3W-08457","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1778,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":40,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-15T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-15T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive when it last had discussions with other EU regional legislatures on matters related to the environment.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive when it last had discussions with other EU regional legislatures on matters related to the environment.","AnswerText":"The Scottish Government is engagingwith national governments to place Scotland as a nation rather than a region, but we will continueto cooperate with EU regions in areas where there is sufficient interest, goodwilland mutual benefit. Ministers are currently considering the Scottish Government’sengagement with our European partners and this will form part of the European Strategythat is being drawn up at the moment.I have accepted an invitationto speak at the 2008 ENCORE (Environmental Conference of the Regions of Europe)event later this year. Most recently, Scottish ministers were represented at a sideevent to the Conference of the Partiesto the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change in Bali in December2007. The event was organised by The Climate Group, for politicians and officials from states and regions, includingrepresentatives from EU regional legislatures, to discuss climate change policysolutions. ","AnswerDate":"2008-01-24T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-01-29T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Michael Russell","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":215119,"EventID":"S3W-08458","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2603,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":6,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-15T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-15T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive when the area hub of sportscotland in Aberdeen will be fully operational.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive when the area hub of sportscotland in Aberdeen will be fully operational.","AnswerText":"It is proposed to have allfour hubs operational by April 2009. However, it is my intention to ensure thatthe de-centralised structure is in place as quickly as possible.","AnswerDate":"2008-01-24T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-01-29T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Stewart Maxwell","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":215120,"EventID":"S3W-08459","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2603,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":6,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-15T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-15T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive when the Minister for Communities and Sport will meet Aberdeen City Council to discuss the need for an Olympic-standard swimming pool in Aberdeen.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive when the Minister for Communities and Sport will meet Aberdeen City Council to discuss the need for an Olympic-standard swimming pool in Aberdeen.","AnswerText":"I have no current plans to meetwith Aberdeen City Council to discuss the proposed swimming pool in Aberdeen.sportscotland has accepted aninvitation to join the project board, which has been set up to take forward theswimming pool proposal and a meeting has been scheduled for 28 January. ","AnswerDate":"2008-01-23T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-01-29T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Stewart Maxwell","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":215121,"EventID":"S3W-08460","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2603,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":6,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-15T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-15T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive how much funding the area hub of sportscotland in Aberdeen and the Grampian Institute of Sport will receive over the four years up to the 2012 London Olympics.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive how much funding the area hub of sportscotland in Aberdeen and the Grampian Institute of Sport will receive over the four years up to the 2012 London Olympics.","AnswerText":"Funding for the Aberdeen Huband the Grampian Institute of Sport will be a matter for the new management teamand board of sportscotland to determine once the structures and staffing are inplace.","AnswerDate":"2008-01-24T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-01-29T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Stewart Maxwell","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":215122,"EventID":"S3W-08461","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2603,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":6,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-15T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-15T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what percentage of primary 1 to 3 pupils in Aberdeen city primary schools were in class sizes of (a) 18 and under, (b) 19 to 25, (c) 26 to 30 and (d) over 30 in each scho","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what percentage of primary 1 to 3 pupils in Aberdeen city primary schools were in class sizes of (a) 18 and under, (b) 19 to 25, (c) 26 to 30 and (d) over 30 in each school year from 2003-04 to 2007-08.","AnswerText":"Information for the 2007 census is due to be published on 26 February. Data for the previous years are shown in the following table: Percentage of P1-P3 Pupils in Aberdeen City Primary Schools, by Size of Class | | 2003 | 2004 | 2005 | 2006 | | 0-18 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 13 | | 19-25 | 57 | 59 | 62 | 56 | | 26-30 | 35 | 34 | 31 | 31 | | over 30 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | The following is the original answer (published on 29 January 2008); see below. Information for the 2007 census is due to be published on 26 February. Data for the previous years are shown in the following table Percentage of P1-P3 Pupils in Aberdeen City Primary Schools, by Size of Class | | 2003 | 2004 | 2005 | 2006 | | 0-18 | 10 | 13 | 12 | 17 | | 19-25 | 67 | 64 | 66 | 61 | | 26-30 | 22 | 22 | 22 | 22 | | over 30 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | As a first step to deliveringits commitment to make 1,000 additional officers available in Scotland’s communities,the government has pledged to fund the direct recruitment of 500 additional officersof which 150 will be recruited this year. Funding for these additionalrecruits will be provided to forces according to the distribution formula in placeat the time, including any provision for levelling up. Grampian Police will benefitfrom the recruitment of 14 additional officers in 2007-08 and at least the samenumber in 2008-09. Further additional recruits will be funded in subsequent yearsof this Parliament. ","AnswerDate":"2008-01-24T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-01-29T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Kenny MacAskill","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":215124,"EventID":"S3W-08463","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2603,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":6,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-15T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-15T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive how many police officers it expects to redeploy to Grampian over the next three years.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive how many police officers it expects to redeploy to Grampian over the next three years.","AnswerText":"The deployment and redeploymentof police officers is a matter for which the chief constable is responsible.We will work with chief constablesand other partners to support the introduction of initiatives designed to reducebureaucracy and strip out red tape and the reinvestment of these efficiency gainsto enable chief constables to redeploy officers to strengthen operational policingin our communities. ","AnswerDate":"2008-01-24T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-01-29T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Kenny MacAskill","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":215125,"EventID":"S3W-08464","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2603,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":6,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-15T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-15T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive how many people who were convicted of a sexual offence in Grampian were sentenced to (a) a prison sentence of six months or more, (b) a prison sentence of less than six m","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive how many people who were convicted of a sexual offence in Grampian were sentenced to (a) a prison sentence of six months or more, (b) a prison sentence of less than six months, (c) another custodial sentence or (d) community service in each year from 2003 to 2007.","AnswerText":"The available information isgiven in the following table.Persons with a Charge Provedin Grampian Police Force Area for Sexual Offences1,2, by Selected Sentences,2003-04 to 2005-06 | Year | Prison | | | | Less than 6 Months | 6 Months or More | Other Custodial | Community Sentence | | 2003-04 | 8 | 8 | - | 17 | | 2004-05 | - | 13 | 1 | 19 | | 2005-06 | 7 | 16 | 1 | 34 | Notes: 1. Where main offence. 2. Includes offences of rapeand attempted rape, indecent assault, lewd and libidinous behaviour and other crimesof indecency (including prostitution offences). ","AnswerDate":"2008-01-24T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-01-29T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Kenny MacAskill","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":215126,"EventID":"S3W-08465","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2603,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":6,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-15T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-15T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive how much public funding will be allocated to the Scottish Futures Trust in each of the next three financial years.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive how much public funding will be allocated to the Scottish Futures Trust in each of the next three financial years.","AnswerText":"The Scottish Futures Trust (SFT)initiative is our alternative funding mechanism to the “standard PFI” and will deliverbetter, more efficient infrastructure for taxpayers. A consultation paper on SFTwas launched in December 2007 and this can be accessed at: www.scotland.gov.uk/consultations. ","AnswerDate":"2008-01-22T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-01-29T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"John Swinney","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":215127,"EventID":"S3W-08466","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2603,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":6,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-15T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-15T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive how much private investment it expects to generate for the Scottish Futures Trust in each of the next three financial years.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive how much private investment it expects to generate for the Scottish Futures Trust in each of the next three financial years.","AnswerText":"I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-8465 on 22 January. All answers to written parliamentaryquestions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for whichcan be found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/wa.search.","AnswerDate":"2008-01-22T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-01-29T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"John Swinney","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":215128,"EventID":"S3W-08467","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2603,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":6,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-15T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-15T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive how much funding it expects to generate from commercial banks for the Scottish Futures Trust in each of the next three financial years .","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive how much funding it expects to generate from commercial banks for the Scottish Futures Trust in each of the next three financial years .","AnswerText":"I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-8465 on 22 January 2008. All answers to written parliamentaryquestions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for whichcan be found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/wa.search.","AnswerDate":"2008-01-22T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-01-29T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"John Swinney","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":215129,"EventID":"S3W-08468","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2603,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":6,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-15T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-15T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what percentage of a project funded by the Scottish Futures Trust would be funded by (a) public, (b) private and (c) commercial finance.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what percentage of a project funded by the Scottish Futures Trust would be funded by (a) public, (b) private and (c) commercial finance.","AnswerText":"I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-8465 on 22 January 2008. All answers to written parliamentaryquestions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for whichcan be found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/wa.search.","AnswerDate":"2008-01-22T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-01-29T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"John Swinney","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":215130,"EventID":"S3W-08469","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2603,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":6,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-15T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-15T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive when the Scottish Futures Trust will be fully operational.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive when the Scottish Futures Trust will be fully operational.","AnswerText":"The Scottish Futures Trust (SFT)is our alternative funding mechanism to the “standard PFI” and will deliver better,more efficient infrastructure for taxpayers. A consultation paper on SFT was launchedin December 2007 and this can be accessed at: www.scotland.gov.uk/consultations. Work on the development of SFTis continuing and making good progress. ","AnswerDate":"2008-01-22T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-01-29T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"John Swinney","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":215131,"EventID":"S3W-08470","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2603,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":6,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-15T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-15T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what its latest cost estimates are to fund the building of the Aberdeen Western Peripheral Route and what percentage of its financing would come from (a) public, (b) priv","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what its latest cost estimates are to fund the building of the Aberdeen Western Peripheral Route and what percentage of its financing would come from (a) public, (b) private and (c) commercial sources through the Scottish Futures Trust.","AnswerText":"We are making provision for thepreferred route of between £295 million and £395 million at outturn cost in 2012.This is based on the risks currently identified but we will continue to monitorthis in light of prevailing tender prices for roads contracts. The project willbe examined for its suitability for taking forward under the proposed Scottish FuturesTrust to ensure that it delivers value for money for the Scottish Taxpayer.","AnswerDate":"2008-01-28T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-01-29T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Stewart Stevenson","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":215132,"EventID":"S3W-08471","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2223,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":26,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-15T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-15T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive how many nature designations, including Special Protection Areas, have been approved by Scottish ministers since May 2007.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive how many nature designations, including Special Protection Areas, have been approved by Scottish ministers since May 2007.","AnswerText":"Scottish ministers have designatedtwo such sites since May 2007. These are the Renfrewshire Heights and Oronsayand South Colonsay Special Protection Areas.","AnswerDate":"2008-01-24T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-01-29T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Michael Russell","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":215133,"EventID":"S3W-08472","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2223,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":26,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-15T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-15T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive how many local nature reserves have been approved by Scottish ministers since May 2007.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive how many local nature reserves have been approved by Scottish ministers since May 2007.","AnswerText":"This is a matter entirely withinthe responsibility of local authorities.","AnswerDate":"2008-01-24T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-01-29T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Michael Russell","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":215134,"EventID":"S3W-08473","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2223,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":26,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-15T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-15T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what its policy is to improve the accuracy of the determination of croft boundaries and when it last discussed this with the Crofters Commission.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what its policy is to improve the accuracy of the determination of croft boundaries and when it last discussed this with the Crofters Commission.","AnswerText":"As with all privately owned land,the responsibility for accurate boundary information rests with the owner and occupierof that land. Determination of boundary disputes is a matter for the courts ratherthan the Crofters Commission. The Register of Crofts held by the Crofters Commissionwill record such boundary information as is supplied to it. No formal discussionson improving the accuracy of croft boundaries have been held with the Crofters Commission.The commission already assists landowners and crofters in identifying boundaries.","AnswerDate":"2008-01-24T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-01-29T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Michael Russell","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":215135,"EventID":"S3W-08474","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2223,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":26,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-15T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-15T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive when the Scottish Rural Development Programme will be opened for applications.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive when the Scottish Rural Development Programme will be opened for applications.","AnswerText":"I can confirm that the ScotlandRural Development Programme 2007-13 was approved by the European Commission’s RuralDevelopment Committee on 23 January. This milestone was achieved following intensedialogue between my officials and officials of the Commission to address a numberof outstanding issues.We can expect formal writtenapproval to follow from the Commission within two to three weeks. The programmewill open as soon as practicable thereafter. ","AnswerDate":"2008-01-28T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-01-29T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Richard Lochhead","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":215136,"EventID":"S3W-08475","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2223,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":26,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-15T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-15T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether it accepts the recommendation of Heriot-Watt University’s review of Scottish Natural Heritage’s (SNH) role in the planning process that states that SNH should lim","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether it accepts the recommendation of Heriot-Watt University’s review of Scottish Natural Heritage’s (SNH) role in the planning process that states that SNH should limit its official objections to UK or European law breaches or in respect of the most substantial development proposals.","AnswerText":"The Heriot Watt University reviewof Scottish Natural Heritage’s (SNH) role in planning casework is still being finalisedby the consultants. Once the report has been finalised it will be for Scottish NaturalHeritage, in the first instance, to consider the recommendations and any actionthey intend to take. I look forward to discussing with SNH now they do so.","AnswerDate":"2008-01-24T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-01-29T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Michael Russell","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":215137,"EventID":"S3W-08476","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2223,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":26,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-15T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-15T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive, following the public comments of the Minister for Enterprise, Energy and Tourism that a nine-month timescale should be the upper limit for renewable energy planning appl","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive, following the public comments of the Minister for Enterprise, Energy and Tourism that a nine-month timescale should be the upper limit for renewable energy planning applications, whether this is now its policy and whether it applies only to renewable projects or to all planning applications.","AnswerText":"Scottish ministers have set anaspirational target to process new section 36 and 37 applications within nine months,under the Electricity Act 1989, provided no public local inquiry is called. Thisdoes not apply to planning applications, including those for renewable projectsof 50MW capacity or less, which have separate statutory provisions.","AnswerDate":"2008-01-28T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-01-29T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Jim Mather","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":215138,"EventID":"S3W-08477","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2223,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":26,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-15T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-15T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive, following the conclusion of the Beauly to Denny transmission line local public inquiry, when ministers plan to make a determination on the planning application.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive, following the conclusion of the Beauly to Denny transmission line local public inquiry, when ministers plan to make a determination on the planning application.","AnswerText":"The main public sessions of theBeauly to Denny line public inquiry concluded on 20 December 2007 but hearings connectedwith land acquisition and the sub-station at Beauly will not be concluded untilFebruary or later of this year. Following the complete closure of the inquiry, thereporters will compile their report for the Scottish ministers who will take thisinto account in reaching their determination. Their report is not expected untilthe end of 2008, consequently it is likely to be 2009 before a decision is madeby the Scottish ministers.","AnswerDate":"2008-01-28T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-01-29T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Jim Mather","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":215139,"EventID":"S3W-08478","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1862,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":37,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-15T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-15T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what percentage of the budget was allocated for spending on children in each year from 2003 to 2007.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what percentage of the budget was allocated for spending on children in each year from 2003 to 2007.","AnswerText":"The Scottish Government’s consolidatedresource accounts are laid before Parliament annually and detail expenditure onthe government’s stated aims for each financial year, including spend on childrenand young people. Some spending on childrenand young people will of course be subsumed within budgets that cover services topeople of all ages – e.g. community health. As such, it is not possible to identifythe total budget for children and young people over this period. The accounts can be accessed through both the Parliamentand Scottish Government’s websites.<","AnswerDate":"2008-01-21T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-01-29T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Fiona Hyslop","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":215141,"EventID":"S3W-08480","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1862,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":37,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-15T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-15T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether the outcomes listed in its concordat with COSLA represent all its key priorities in relation to children and young people for the 2007-11 parliamentary session.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether the outcomes listed in its concordat with COSLA represent all its key priorities in relation to children and young people for the 2007-11 parliamentary session.","AnswerText":"The national outcomes containedin the Scottish Budget: Spending Review 2007 outline what the Scottish Government, working with ourpartners, aim to deliver for children and young people. These outcomes underpinthe concordat which the Scottish Government agreed with COSLA in November 2007 andare complemented by the specified set of commitments which are also set out in thatdocument.","AnswerDate":"2008-01-21T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-01-29T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Fiona Hyslop","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":215142,"EventID":"S3W-08481","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1862,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":37,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-15T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-15T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has any further priorities in relation to children and young people, other than those outlined in its concordat with COSLA, and what funding it has identified ","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has any further priorities in relation to children and young people, other than those outlined in its concordat with COSLA, and what funding it has identified to deliver these priorities.","AnswerText":"The Scottish Government’s aimsfor children and young people are outlined in and underpinned by the national outcomesand spending proposals set out in the Scottish Budget: Spending Review 2007. The same set of national outcomes form the basis of theagreement between local government and the Scottish government, as set out in theconcordat.","AnswerDate":"2008-01-21T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-01-29T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Fiona Hyslop","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":215143,"EventID":"S3W-08482","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1862,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":37,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-15T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-15T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what total amount was allocated to the National Priorities Action Fund in each year from 2003 to 2007 and what percentage of the budget for children and young people this","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what total amount was allocated to the National Priorities Action Fund in each year from 2003 to 2007 and what percentage of the budget for children and young people this represented.","AnswerText":"Whilst local government had flexibilityto allocate other resources to this area, the specific amounts allocated to localgovernment from the National Priority Action Fund from 2003 to 2007 were as follows:2003-04:£128.1 million 2004-05:£144.8 million 2005-06:£191.4 million 2006-07:£236.9 million. Some spending on children andyoung people will have been subsumed within budgets that covered services to peopleof all ages – e.g. community health – and as such, it is not possible to identifythe total budget for children and young people over this period. It is not thereforepossible to present spending from the National Priorities Action Fund as a percentageof the budget for children and young people. ","AnswerDate":"2008-01-29T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-01-29T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Adam Ingram","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":215144,"EventID":"S3W-08483","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1862,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":37,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-15T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-15T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what total amount was allocated to the Educational Attainment of Looked After Children scheme in each year from 2003 and 2007 and what percentage of the budget for childr","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what total amount was allocated to the Educational Attainment of Looked After Children scheme in each year from 2003 and 2007 and what percentage of the budget for children and young people this represented.","AnswerText":"Whilst local government had flexibilityto allocate other resources to this area, the specific amounts allocated to localgovernment to support pilot initiatives aimed at improving the educational attainmentof looked after children from 2003 to 2007 were as follows:2003-04:Nil 2004-05:Nil 2005-06:£645,544 2006-07:£2,466,549. Some spending on children andyoung people will have been subsumed within budgets that covered services to peopleof all ages – e.g. community health – and as such, it is not possible to identifythe total budget for children and young people over this period. It is not thereforepossible to present this as a percentage of the budget for children and young people. ","AnswerDate":"2008-01-23T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-01-29T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Fiona Hyslop","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":215145,"EventID":"S3W-08484","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1862,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":37,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-15T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-15T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what total amount was allocated to the Changing Children’s Services Fund in each year from 2003 to 2007 and what percentage of the budget for children and young people th","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what total amount was allocated to the Changing Children’s Services Fund in each year from 2003 to 2007 and what percentage of the budget for children and young people this represented.","AnswerText":"Whilst local government had flexibilityto allocate other resources to this area, the specific amounts allocated to localgovernment for the Changing Children’s Services Fund from 2003 to 2007 were as follows:2003-04:£49.166 million 2004-05:£60.5 million 2005-06:£65.5 million 2006-07:£65.5 million. Some spending on children andyoung people will have been subsumed within budgets that covered services to peopleof all ages - e.g. community health - and as such, it is not possible to identifythe total budget for children and young people over this period. It is not thereforepossible to present this as a percentage of the budget for children and young people. ","AnswerDate":"2008-01-25T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-01-29T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Adam Ingram","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":215146,"EventID":"S3W-08485","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1862,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":37,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-15T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-15T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what total amount was allocated to the Teacher Induction Scheme in each year from 2003 to 2007 and what percentage of the budget for children and young people this repres","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what total amount was allocated to the Teacher Induction Scheme in each year from 2003 to 2007 and what percentage of the budget for children and young people this represented.","AnswerText":"£13 million was added to thelocal government finance settlement in 2003-04 in respect of the newly introducedteacher induction scheme. In addition to this ongoing funding the followingamounts have been paid to local authorities. 2003-04- £9.4 million 2004-05- £9.4 million 2005-06- £18.1 million 2006-07- £29.5 million 2007-08- £36.1 million. Localgovernment also had flexibility to allocate other resources to this area. Some spending on childrenand young people will have been subsumed within budgets that covered servicesto people of all ages – e.g. community health – and as such, it is not possibleto identify the total budget for children and young people over period. It isnot therefore possible to present spending on the teacher induction scheme as apercentage of the budget for children and young people. ","AnswerDate":"2008-01-29T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-01-29T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Adam Ingram","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":215147,"EventID":"S3W-08486","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1862,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":37,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-15T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-15T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what total amount was allocated to the Early Years and Childcare Workforce Development Fund in each year from 2003 to 2007 and what percentage of the budget for children ","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what total amount was allocated to the Early Years and Childcare Workforce Development Fund in each year from 2003 to 2007 and what percentage of the budget for children and young people this represented.","AnswerText":"Whilst localgovernment had flexibility to allocate other resources to this area, thespecific amounts allocated to local government for Early Years and ChildcareWorkforce Development from 2003 to 2007 were as follows:2003-04 - £3.6 million 2004-05 - £6 million 2005-06 - £6 million 2006-07 - £6 million. Some spending onchildren and young people will have been subsumed within budgets that coveredservices to people of all ages – e.g. community health – and as such, it is notpossible to identify the total budget for children and young people over thisperiod. It is not therefore possible to present this as a percentage of thebudget for children and young people. ","AnswerDate":"2008-01-30T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-01-29T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Adam Ingram","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":215148,"EventID":"S3W-08487","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1862,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":37,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-15T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-15T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what total amount was allocated to the National Fostering and Kinship Care Strategy in each year from 2003 to 2007 and what percentage of the budget for children and youn","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what total amount was allocated to the National Fostering and Kinship Care Strategy in each year from 2003 to 2007 and what percentage of the budget for children and young people this represented.","AnswerText":"The total funding allocated tothe development and implementation of the National Fostering and Kinship Care Strategybetween 2003 and 2007 was:2003-04:£0 2004-05:£0 2005-06:£3 million 2006-07:£8.03 million. Some spending on children andyoung people will have been subsumed within budgets that covered services to peopleof all ages – e.g. community health – and as such, it is not possible to identifythe total budget for children and young people over this period. It is not thereforepossible to present this as a percentage of the budget for children and young people. ","AnswerDate":"2008-01-23T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-01-29T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Fiona Hyslop","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":215149,"EventID":"S3W-08488","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1862,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":37,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-15T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-15T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what total amount was allocated to youth work for local delivery in each year from 2003 to 2007 and what percentage of the budget for children and young people this repre","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what total amount was allocated to youth work for local delivery in each year from 2003 to 2007 and what percentage of the budget for children and young people this represented.","AnswerText":"Whilst local government had flexibilityto allocate other resources to this area, the specific amounts allocated to localgovernment for community education, which includes funding for youth work, from2003 to 2007 were as follows:2003-04 £109.107 million 2004-05 £116.237 million 2005-06 £120.633 million 2006-07 £121.253 million. As with the community educationallocations, some spending on children and young people will have been subsumedwithin other budgets that covered services to people of all ages - e.g. communityhealth – and as such, it is not possible to identify the total budget for childrenand young people over this period. It is not therefore possible to present thisas a percentage of the budget for children and young people. ","AnswerDate":"2008-01-21T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-01-29T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Fiona Hyslop","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":215150,"EventID":"S3W-08489","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1862,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":37,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-15T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-15T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what total amount was allocated to the Schools Fund in each year from 2003 to 2007 and what percentage of the budget for children and young people this represented.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what total amount was allocated to the Schools Fund in each year from 2003 to 2007 and what percentage of the budget for children and young people this represented.","AnswerText":"Whilst local government had flexibilityto allocate other resources for work on the school estate, the specific amountsallocated to local government for the Schools Fund from 2003 to 2007 were as follows:2003-04:£36.7 million 2004-05:£76.7 million 2005-06:£96.7 million 2006-07:£151.35 million. Some spending on children andyoung people will have been subsumed within budgets that covered services to peopleof all ages - e.g. community health – and as such, it is not possible to identifythe total budget for children and young people over this period. It is not thereforepossible to present this as a percentage of the budget for children and young people. ","AnswerDate":"2008-01-22T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-01-29T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Fiona Hyslop","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":215151,"EventID":"S3W-08490","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1862,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":37,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-15T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-15T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what total amount was allocated to adoption services in each year from 2003 to 2007 and what percentage of the budget for children and young people this represented.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what total amount was allocated to adoption services in each year from 2003 to 2007 and what percentage of the budget for children and young people this represented.","AnswerText":"Funding allocations were notcalculated with specific reference to adoption services within grant aidedexpenditure for these years. Whilst local government had flexibility to allocateother resources to this area, the specific amounts allocated to local governmentunder the more general heading of Casework and Related Administration – Children,which would include adoption services, were as follows:2003-04:£66.4 million 2004-05:£68.9 million 2005-06:£71.5 million 2006-07:£73.4 million. Some spending on children andyoung people will have been subsumed within budgets that covered services to peopleof all ages - e.g. community health - and as such, it is not possible to identifythe total budget for children and young people over this period. It is not thereforepossible to present this as a percentage of the budget for children and young people. ","AnswerDate":"2008-01-25T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-01-29T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Adam Ingram","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":215152,"EventID":"S3W-08491","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1862,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":37,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-15T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-15T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what total amount was allocated for additional support for learning in each year from 2003 to 2007 and what percentage of the budget for children and young people this re","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what total amount was allocated for additional support for learning in each year from 2003 to 2007 and what percentage of the budget for children and young people this represented.","AnswerText":"Whilst local government had flexibilityto allocate other resources to this area, the specific amounts allocated to localgovernment for additional support for learning from 2003 to 2007 were as follows:2003-04:£0 million 2004-05:£8 million 2005-06:£9.5 million 2006-07:£12.5 million. Inaddition, £3 million per annual was allocated to NHS boards in 2004-05 and 2005-06. Some spending on children andyoung people will have been subsumed within budgets that covered services to peopleof all ages - e.g. community health – and as such, it is not possible to identifythe total budget for children and young people over this period. It is not thereforepossible to present this as a percentage of the budget for children and young people. ","AnswerDate":"2008-01-18T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-01-29T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Fiona Hyslop","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":215153,"EventID":"S3W-08492","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1862,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":37,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-15T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-15T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what total amount is being allocated for additional support for learning in each year from 2007 to 2011 and what percentage of the budget for children and young people th","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what total amount is being allocated for additional support for learning in each year from 2007 to 2011 and what percentage of the budget for children and young people this represents.","AnswerText":"Whilst local government had flexibilityto allocate other resources to this area, the specific amount allocated to localgovernment for additional support for learning in 2007-08 was £12.5 million.For future years, this fundingwill be included within the overall local government finance settlement. It willbe the responsibility of each local authority, in conjunction with their communityplanning partners, to allocate the funding on the basis of their local needs andpriorities - having first fulfilled its statutory obligations and the agreed setof national outcomes, including the Scottish Government’s key strategic objectivesand the full terms of the concordat. Further details on these new arrangements canbe found in the Scottish Budget Report and related concordat with local authorities.Copies of both documents are available in the Scottish Parliament Information Centre(Bib. numbers 44076 and 44077 respectively). ","AnswerDate":"2008-01-18T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-01-29T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Fiona Hyslop","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":215154,"EventID":"S3W-08493","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1862,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":37,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-15T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-15T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what total amount was allocated for additional support needs in-service training in each year from 2003 to 2007 and what percentage of the budget for children and young p","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what total amount was allocated for additional support needs in-service training in each year from 2003 to 2007 and what percentage of the budget for children and young people this represented.","AnswerText":"Whilst local government had flexibilityto allocate other resources to this area, the specific amounts allocated to localgovernment for additional support needs in-service training from 2003 to 2007 wereas follows:2003-04:£7.2 million 2004-05:£7.2 million 2005-06:£7.2 million 2006-07:£7.2 million. Some spending on children andyoung people will have been subsumed within budgets that covered services to peopleof all ages - e.g. community health – and as such, it is not possible to identifythe total budget for children and young people over this period. It is not thereforepossible to present this as a percentage of the budget for children and young people. ","AnswerDate":"2008-01-18T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-01-29T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Fiona Hyslop","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":215155,"EventID":"S3W-08494","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1862,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":37,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-15T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-15T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what total amount is being allocated for additional support needs in-service training in each year from 2007 to 2011 and what percentage of the budget for children and yo","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what total amount is being allocated for additional support needs in-service training in each year from 2007 to 2011 and what percentage of the budget for children and young people this represents.","AnswerText":"Whilst local government had flexibilityto allocate other resources to this area, the specific amount allocated to localgovernment for additional support needs in-service training in 2007-08 was £7.2million.For future years, this fundingwill be included within the overall local government finance settlement. It willbe the responsibility of each local authority, in conjunction with their communityplanning partners, to allocate the funding on the basis of their local needs andpriorities – having first fulfilled its statutory obligations and the agreed setof national outcomes, including the Scottish Government’s key strategic objectivesand the full terms of the concordat. Further details on these new arrangements canbe found in the Scottish Budget Report and related concordat with local authorities.Copies of both documents are available in the Scottish Parliament Information Centre(Bib. numbers 44076 and 44077 respectively). ","AnswerDate":"2008-01-18T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-01-29T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Fiona Hyslop","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":215156,"EventID":"S3W-08495","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1862,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":37,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-15T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-15T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what total amount was allocated for additional teachers for early years in each year from 2003 to 2007 and what percentage of the budget for children and young people thi","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what total amount was allocated for additional teachers for early years in each year from 2003 to 2007 and what percentage of the budget for children and young people this represented.","AnswerText":"Whilst local government hadflexibility to allocate other resources to this area, the specific amountsallocated to local government for additional teachers from 2003 to 2007 were asfollows (Information on what total amount was allocated for additional teachersfor early years is not available separately):2006-07: £32.5 million –Funding for additional teachers for the previous administration’s commitmentsto reduce class sizes in P1 to 25 and S1/S2 maths and English classes to 20. 2007-08: £50.3 million –Funding for additional teachers for the previous administration’s commitmentsto reduce class sizes in P1 to 25 and S1/S2 maths and English classes to 20. Inaddition a further £6m was allocated by this government as part year costs toenable local authorities to employ additional teachers in early years and forclass size reduction in primary 1 to primary 3. Some spending on childrenand young people will have been subsumed within budgets that covered servicesto people of all ages e.g. community health – and as such, it is not possibleto identify the total budget for children and young people over this period. Itis not therefore possible to present spending for additional teachers for earlyyears as a percentage of the budget for children and young people. ","AnswerDate":"2008-01-29T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-01-29T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Adam Ingram","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":215157,"EventID":"S3W-08496","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1862,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":37,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-15T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-15T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what total amount is being allocated for additional teachers for early years in each year from 2007 to 2011 and what percentage of the budget for children and young peopl","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what total amount is being allocated for additional teachers for early years in each year from 2007 to 2011 and what percentage of the budget for children and young people this represents.","AnswerText":"Whilst local government had flexibilityto allocate other resources to this area, the specific amounts allocated to localgovernment for additional teachers (Information on what total amount was allocatedfor additional teachers for early years is not available separately) in 2007 and2008 was:2007-08: £50.3 million – Fundingfor additional teachers for the previous administration’s commitments to reduceclass sizes in P1 to 25 and S1/S2 maths and English classes to 20. In addition,a further £6 million was allocated by this government as part year costs to enablelocal authorities to employ additional teachers in early years and for class sizereduction in primary 1 to primary 3. 2008-09: Prior to the local governmentfinance settlement and at the same time as the £6 million was announced, fundingof £3 million in addition to the £6 million was announced for the same purpose tobe allocated from financial year 2008-09. For 2008-09 onwards, all of thisfunding will now be included in the overall local government finance settlement.It will be the responsibility of each local authority, in conjunction with theircommunity planning partners, to allocate the funding on the basis of their localneeds and priorities – having first fulfilled its statutory obligations and theagreed set of national outcomes including the Scottish Government’s key strategicobjective and the full terms of the concordat. Further details on these new arrangementscan be found in the Scottish Budget Report and related concordat with local authorities.Copies of both documents are available in the Scottish Parliament Information Centre(Bib. number 44076 and 44077 respectively). ","AnswerDate":"2008-01-29T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-01-29T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Adam Ingram","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":215158,"EventID":"S3W-08497","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1862,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":37,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-15T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-15T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what total amount was allocated to the Alternatives to Exclusion programme in each year from 2003 to 2007 and what percentage of the budget for children and young people ","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what total amount was allocated to the Alternatives to Exclusion programme in each year from 2003 to 2007 and what percentage of the budget for children and young people this represented.","AnswerText":"Whilst local governmenthad flexibility to allocate other resources to this area, the specific amounts allocatedto local government for Alternatives to Exclusion programme from 2003 to 2007 wereas follows:2003-04: £11 million 2004-05: £11 million 2005-06: £11 million 2006-07: £11 million. Some spending on childrenand young people will have been subsumed within budgets that covered services topeople of all ages - e.g. community health – and as such, it is not possible toidentify the total budget for children and young people over this period. It isnot therefore possible to present this as a percentage of the budget for childrenand young people. ","AnswerDate":"2008-01-31T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-01-29T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Fiona Hyslop","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":215159,"EventID":"S3W-08498","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1862,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":37,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-15T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-15T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what total amount is being allocated to the Alternatives to Exclusion programme in each year from 2007 to 2011 and what percentage of the budget for children and young pe","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what total amount is being allocated to the Alternatives to Exclusion programme in each year from 2007 to 2011 and what percentage of the budget for children and young people this represents.","AnswerText":"Whilst local government had flexibilityto allocate other resources to this area, the specific amount allocated to localgovernment for Alternatives to Exclusion programme in 2007-08 was £11 million.For future years, this fundingwill be included within the overall local government finance settlement. It willbe the responsibility of each local authority, in conjunction with their communityplanning partners, to allocate the funding on the basis of their local needs andpriorities – having first fulfilled its statutory obligations and the agreed setof national outcomes, including the Scottish Government’s key strategic objectivesand the full terms of the concordat. Further details on these new arrangements canbe found in the Scottish Budget Report and related concordat with local authorities.Copies of both documents are available in the Scottish Parliament InformationCentre (Bib. numbers 44076 and 44077 respectively). ","AnswerDate":"2008-01-24T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-01-29T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Maureen Watt","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":215160,"EventID":"S3W-08499","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1862,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":37,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-15T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-15T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what total amount was allocated for continuing professional development for teachers in each year from 2003 to 2007 and what percentage of the budget for children and you","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what total amount was allocated for continuing professional development for teachers in each year from 2003 to 2007 and what percentage of the budget for children and young people this represented.","AnswerText":"Whilst local government had flexibilityto allocate other resources to this area, the specific amounts allocated to localgovernment for CPD provision for teachers (in respect of co-ordinating activity,building a local framework and budgeting for individual teachers’ plans) from 2003to 2007 were as follows:2003-04: £14.0 million 2004-05: £13.5 million 2005-06: £13.5 million* 2006-07: £13.5 million* *Paid via the National PrioritiesAction Fund. Some spending on children andyoung people will have been subsumed within budgets that covered services to peopleof all ages – e.g. community health – and as such, it is not possible to identifythe total budget for children and young people over this period. It is not thereforepossible to present spending on continuing professional development as a percentageof the budget for children and young people. ","AnswerDate":"2008-01-29T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-01-29T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Adam Ingram","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":215161,"EventID":"S3W-08500","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1862,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":37,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-15T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-15T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what total amount is being allocated for continuing professional development for teachers in each year from 2007 to 2011 and what percentage of the budget for children an","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what total amount is being allocated for continuing professional development for teachers in each year from 2007 to 2011 and what percentage of the budget for children and young people this represents.","AnswerText":"Whilst local government had flexibilityto allocate other resources to this area, the specific amount allocated to localgovernment for CPD provision for teachers (in respect of co-ordinating activity,building a local framework and budgeting for individual teachers’ plans) in 2007-08was £13.5 million. This was allocated through the National Priorities Action Fund.For future years, this fundingwill be included within the overall local government finance settlement. It willbe the responsibility of each local authority, in conjunction with their communityplanning partners, to allocate the funding on the basis of their local needs andpriorities – having first fulfilled its statutory obligations and the agreed setof national outcomes, including the Scottish Government’s key strategic objectivesand the full terms of the concordant. Further details on these new arrangementscan be found in the Scottish Budget Report and related concordant with local authorities.Copies of both documents are available in the Scottish Parliament Information Centre(Bib. numbers 44076 and 44077 respectively). ","AnswerDate":"2008-01-29T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-01-29T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Adam Ingram","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":215162,"EventID":"S3W-08501","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1862,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":37,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-15T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-15T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what total amount was allocated for improving discipline in schools in each year from 2003 to 2007 and what percentage of the budget for children and young people this re","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what total amount was allocated for improving discipline in schools in each year from 2003 to 2007 and what percentage of the budget for children and young people this represented.","AnswerText":"Whilst local government had flexibilityto allocate other resources to this area, the specific amounts allocated to localgovernment for improving discipline and school ethos from 2003 to 2007 were as follows:2003-04:£29.5 million 2004-05:£29.5 million 2005-06:£29.5 million 2006-07:£29.5 million. Inaddition, £35 million was allocated over three years (from 2005-06) to fund additionalsupport staff to free teachers to teach, help pupils to learn undisturbed, and helpdeal intensively with those pupils who need it most. Some spending on children andyoung people will have been subsumed within budgets that covered services to peopleof all ages - e.g. community health – and as such, it is not possible to identifythe total budget for children and young people over this period. It is not thereforepossible to present this as a percentage of the budget for children and young people. ","AnswerDate":"2008-01-29T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-01-29T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Maureen Watt","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":215163,"EventID":"S3W-08502","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1862,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":37,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-15T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-15T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what total amount is being allocated for improving discipline in schools in each year from 2007 to 2011 and what percentage of the budget for children and young people th","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what total amount is being allocated for improving discipline in schools in each year from 2007 to 2011 and what percentage of the budget for children and young people this represents.","AnswerText":"Whilst local government had flexibilityto allocate other resources to this area, the specific amount allocated to localgovernment for improving discipline and school ethos in 2007-08 was £29.5 million.Inaddition 2007-08 was included as part of an allocation of £35 million spread overthree years (2005-06; 2006-07, and 2007-08), to fund additional support staff tofree teachers to teach, help pupils to learn undisturbed, and help deal intensivelywith those pupils who need it most. For future years, this fundingwill be included within the overall local government finance settlement. It willbe the responsibility of each local authority, in conjunction with their communityplanning partners, to allocate the funding on the basis of their local needs andpriorities – having first fulfilled its statutory obligations and the agreed setof national outcomes, including the Scottish Government’s key strategic objectivesand the full terms of the concordat. Further details on these new arrangements canbe found in the Scottish Budget Report and related concordat with local authorities.Copies of both documents are available in the Scottish Parliament InformationCentre (Bib. numbers 44076 and 44077 respectively). ","AnswerDate":"2008-01-24T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-01-29T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Maureen Watt","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":215164,"EventID":"S3W-08503","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1862,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":37,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-15T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-15T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what total amount was allocated for inclusion in schools in each year from 2003 to 2007 and what percentage of the budget for children and young people this represented.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what total amount was allocated for inclusion in schools in each year from 2003 to 2007 and what percentage of the budget for children and young people this represented.","AnswerText":"Whilst local government had flexibilityto allocate other resources to this area, the specific amounts allocated to localgovernment for inclusion in schools from 2003 to 2007 were as follows:2003-04:£20 million 2004-05:£25 million 2005-06:£25 million 2006-07:£25 million. Some spending on children andyoung people will have been subsumed within budgets that covered services to peopleof all ages - e.g. community health – and as such, it is not possible to identifythe total budget for children and young people over this period. It is not thereforepossible to present this as a percentage of the budget for children and young people. ","AnswerDate":"2008-01-21T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-01-29T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Fiona Hyslop","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":215165,"EventID":"S3W-08504","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1862,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":37,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-15T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-15T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what total amount is being allocated for inclusion in schools in each year from 2007 to 2011 and what percentage of the budget for children and young people this represen","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what total amount is being allocated for inclusion in schools in each year from 2007 to 2011 and what percentage of the budget for children and young people this represents.","AnswerText":"Whilst local government had flexibilityto allocate other resources to this area, the specific amount allocated to localgovernment for inclusion 2007-08 was £25 million.For future years, this fundingwill be included within the overall local government finance settlement. It willbe the responsibility of each local authority, in conjunction with their communityplanning partners, to allocate the funding on the basis of their local needs andpriorities – having first fulfilled its statutory obligations and the agreed setof national outcomes, including the Scottish Government’s key strategic objectivesand the full terms of the concordat. Further details on these new arrangements canbe found in the Scottish Budget Report and related concordat with local authorities.Copies of both documents are available in the Scottish Parliament InformationCentre (Bib. numbers 44076 and 44077 respectively). ","AnswerDate":"2008-01-21T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-01-29T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Fiona Hyslop","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":215166,"EventID":"S3W-08505","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1862,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":37,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-15T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-15T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what total amount was allocated for additional support staff in schools in each year from 2003 to 2007 and what percentage of the budget for children and young people thi","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what total amount was allocated for additional support staff in schools in each year from 2003 to 2007 and what percentage of the budget for children and young people this represented.","AnswerText":"Whilst local government had flexibilityto allocate other resources to this area, the specific amounts allocated to localgovernment for the provision of additional support staff from 2003-07 were as follows:2003-04:£86 million unhypothecated through GAE 2004-05:£86 million unhypothecated through GAE 2005-06:£93.5 million including £86 million unhypothecatedthrough GAE 2006-07:£97.3 million including £86 million unhypothecatedthrough GAE 2007-08:£103.1 million including £86 million unhypothecatedthrough GAE. Some spending on children andyoung people will have been subsumed within budgets that covered services to peopleof all ages – e.g. community health – and as such, it is not possible to identifythe total budget for children and young people over this period. It is not thereforepossible to present spending on additional support staff as a percentage of thebudget for children and young people. ","AnswerDate":"2008-01-29T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-01-29T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Adam Ingram","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":215167,"EventID":"S3W-08506","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1862,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":37,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-15T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-15T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what total amount is being allocated for additional support staff in schools in each year from 2007 to 2011 and what percentage of the budget for children and young peopl","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what total amount is being allocated for additional support staff in schools in each year from 2007 to 2011 and what percentage of the budget for children and young people this represents.","AnswerText":"Whilst local government had flexibilityto allocate other resources to this area, the specific amount allocated to localgovernment for the provision of additional support staff in 2007-08 was £103.1 million,which comprises of £86 million unhypothecated in GAE and £17.1 million allocatedthrough the National Priorities Action Fund (NPAF) to improve discipline and behaviourin schools.For future years, £86 millionwill continue to be available to local authorities in GAE. The distribution of the£17.1 million in 2007-08 is the final instalment of the three year grant to assistschools and local authorities improve discipline and behaviour in schools. ","AnswerDate":"2008-01-29T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-01-29T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Adam Ingram","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":215168,"EventID":"S3W-08507","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2234,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":2,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-15T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-15T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive how many prisoners are serving sentences of 12 months or less in the open estate and how many were serving similar sentences five years ago.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive how many prisoners are serving sentences of 12 months or less in the open estate and how many were serving similar sentences five years ago.","AnswerText":"I have asked Mike Ewart, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service to respond. His response is as follows:As of 17 January 2008 thereare no prisoners in the Open Estate serving 12 months or less. As of 17 January 2005 therewas one prisoner in Castle Huntly and one prisoner in Noranside serving sentencesof 12 months or under. ","AnswerDate":"2008-01-24T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-01-29T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Kenny MacAskill","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":215169,"EventID":"S3W-08508","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2234,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":2,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-15T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-15T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive how many prisoners are serving sentences of 12 months or less in (a) HM Prison Castle Huntly and (b) HM Prison Noranside and what the figures were five years ago.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive how many prisoners are serving sentences of 12 months or less in (a) HM Prison Castle Huntly and (b) HM Prison Noranside and what the figures were five years ago.","AnswerText":"I have asked Mike Ewart, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service to respond. His response is as follows:As of 17 January 2008 thereare no prisoners in either (a) Castle Huntly or (b) Noranside serving 12 monthsor less. As of 17 January 2005 therewas 1 prisoner in Castle Huntly and one prisoner in Noranside serving sentencesof 12 months or under. ","AnswerDate":"2008-01-24T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-01-29T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Kenny MacAskill","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":215170,"EventID":"S3W-08509","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1860,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":3,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-15T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-15T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive how many protection orders have been granted under the Salmon and Freshwater Fisheries (Consolidation) (Scotland) Act 2003 and which waters they cover.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive how many protection orders have been granted under the Salmon and Freshwater Fisheries (Consolidation) (Scotland) Act 2003 and which waters they cover.","AnswerText":"There has been one protectionorder made under the Salmon and Freshwater Fisheries (Consolidation) (Scotland) Act2003, namely, by the Assynt-Coigach Area Protection Variation Order 2006 (SI 2006/488).This applies to the catchment area of all rivers entering the sea on the west coastof Scotland between, in the north, a point south of the Unapool Burn and, in thesouth, a point south of the River Runnie, and all rivers which enter the sea onthe east coast of Scotland between, in the north, a point north of River Oykel and,in the south, a point south of the River Oykel, as described in The Assynt – CoigachArea Protection Order 2004 (SSI 2004/260) varied by the Assynt-Coigach Area ProtectionVariation Order 2006 (SI 2006/488).","AnswerDate":"2008-01-24T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-01-29T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Richard Lochhead","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":215171,"EventID":"S3W-08510","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1860,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":3,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-15T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-15T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether it is considering granting any further protection orders under the Salmon and Freshwater Fisheries (Consolidation) (Scotland) Act 2003.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether it is considering granting any further protection orders under the Salmon and Freshwater Fisheries (Consolidation) (Scotland) Act 2003.","AnswerText":"The Scottish ministers may onlymake a protection order upon application to them, and each application must be consideredon its merits. Currently, no applications are under consideration.","AnswerDate":"2008-01-24T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-01-29T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Richard Lochhead","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":215172,"EventID":"S3W-08511","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1860,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":3,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-15T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-15T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether there have been any criminal prosecutions as a result of the Salmon and Freshwater Fisheries (Consolidation) (Scotland) Act 2003 and, if so, how many.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether there have been any criminal prosecutions as a result of the Salmon and Freshwater Fisheries (Consolidation) (Scotland) Act 2003 and, if so, how many.","AnswerText":"The Salmon and Freshwater Fisheries(Consolidation) (Scotland) Act 2003 came into force on 1 April 2005. Threepersons were proceeded against in Scottish courts for offences under this act in2005-06, the latest year for which data are available.","AnswerDate":"2008-01-29T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-01-29T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Kenny MacAskill","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":215173,"EventID":"S3W-08512","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1860,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":3,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-15T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-15T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what action it has taken to extend public access to areas currently covered by protection orders under the Salmon and Freshwater Fisheries (Consolidation) (Scotland) Act ","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what action it has taken to extend public access to areas currently covered by protection orders under the Salmon and Freshwater Fisheries (Consolidation) (Scotland) Act 2003.","AnswerText":"When an area is granted a protectionorder it is on condition that wider public access is made available on terms andconditions that the Scottish ministers consider to be necessary. This access requiresto be maintained unless a different agreement is reached on conservation grounds.","AnswerDate":"2008-01-24T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-01-29T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Richard Lochhead","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":215174,"EventID":"S3W-08513","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1860,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":3,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-15T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-15T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to revoke any protection orders under the Salmon and Freshwater Fisheries (Consolidation) (Scotland) Act 2003.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to revoke any protection orders under the Salmon and Freshwater Fisheries (Consolidation) (Scotland) Act 2003.","AnswerText":"There are currently no plansto revoke any protection order. However, the operation of protection orders is underconstant review, and any protection order may be revoked or varied where appropriate.","AnswerDate":"2008-01-24T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-01-29T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Richard Lochhead","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":215175,"EventID":"S3W-08514","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1860,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":3,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-15T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-15T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what progress it has made on creating a national freshwater fisheries policy.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what progress it has made on creating a national freshwater fisheries policy.","AnswerText":"The Scottish Government has undertakena consultation on a draft framework for freshwater fisheries developed in associationwith stakeholders. It proposes a national policy that seeks to protect biodiversityand our environment as well as enhancing the economic benefit for our rural economythat results from angling. The consultation period closed on 4 January 2008 andthe responses are being analysed. Thereafter the Freshwater Fisheries Steering Groupwhose members represent the main interests within the sector will prepare a finalversion that government can consider.","AnswerDate":"2008-01-24T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-01-29T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Richard Lochhead","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":215176,"EventID":"S3W-08515","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1860,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":3,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-15T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-15T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to open up access to all inland waters in Scotland.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to open up access to all inland waters in Scotland.","AnswerText":"Fishing rights are held as privateheritable titles and access is, therefore, controlled by the fishery owner. A draftStrategic Framework for Scottish Freshwater Fisheries was published for consultationin September 2007, with a closing date for responses of 4 January 2008. Amongthe priorities for action contained within the proposals are examination of accessand protection issues, promotion of angling in Scotland and broadening social inclusionin the sport.","AnswerDate":"2008-01-29T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-01-29T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Richard Lochhead","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":215177,"EventID":"S3W-08516","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1860,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":3,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-15T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-15T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to market the quality of river and loch angling in the highlands and islands as part of Scotland’s tourism industry. ","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to market the quality of river and loch angling in the highlands and islands as part of Scotland’s tourism industry. ","AnswerText":"VisitScotland is responsiblefor promoting Scotland to potential tourists. The marketing aimedat fishing, which focuses on thequality of the wonderful fishing experience that is available in Scotland, is not specifically aimed at particular regions butpromotes the whole of Scotland according to types of fishing, of which angling isone of the most popular.VisitScotland hasdeveloped a website (www.visitscotland.com/fish)that provides information on where to fish, what to bring and when to come for thebest chance of success. There is also information on permit availability for nearlyall of the main lochs and rivers in Scotland; some of whichmay be booked online. The information is divided into types of fishing rather thanlocations but does provide a regional listing of quality accommodation for visitors,making it easier for them to visit and book. VisitScotland has also produced anannual brochure on angling in Scotland that is mailed to over 30,000 people on theirdatabase with an interest in fishing. In March, April andMay this year, VisitScotland will be promoting the quality of Scotland’s angling and fishing industry with full-page advertisementsin several specialised fishing magazines. ","AnswerDate":"2008-02-04T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-01-29T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Jim Mather","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":215178,"EventID":"S3W-08517","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1860,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":3,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-15T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-15T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what targets it has in relation to growth in employment in the highlands and islands as a direct consequence of freshwater fishing.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what targets it has in relation to growth in employment in the highlands and islands as a direct consequence of freshwater fishing.","AnswerText":"We share the vision that is containedwithin the draft Strategic Framework for Scottish Freshwater Fisheries that Scotland willhave sustainably managed freshwater fish and fisheries that provide significanteconomic and social benefits for its people.","AnswerDate":"2008-01-24T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-01-29T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Richard Lochhead","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":215179,"EventID":"S3W-08518","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1860,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":3,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-15T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-15T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what additional resources it intends to make available to develop freshwater fishing.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what additional resources it intends to make available to develop freshwater fishing.","AnswerText":"Over the next three years wehave committed to make available £1.2 million towards management and developmentof freshwater fisheries.","AnswerDate":"2008-01-24T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-01-29T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Richard Lochhead","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":215180,"EventID":"S3W-08519","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1860,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":3,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-15T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-15T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what targets it has to increase participation in angling among young people in the highlands and islands.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what targets it has to increase participation in angling among young people in the highlands and islands.","AnswerText":"We recognise the issue of decliningyouth participation within angling and we are working with the sector to informyoung people about fish and to introduce them to angling.","AnswerDate":"2008-01-24T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-01-29T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Richard Lochhead","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":215181,"EventID":"S3W-08520","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1860,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":3,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-15T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-15T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what action it intends to take to reverse the decline in west coast sea trout numbers. ","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what action it intends to take to reverse the decline in west coast sea trout numbers. ","AnswerText":"The Scottish Government has forsome time recognised the concerns about declining sea trout catches on the westcoast. Through our agency, Fisheries Research Services, the Shieldaig Sea TroutProject was set up in 1998 to address these issues. The project operates in partnershipwith the Loch Torridon Area Management Group, part of the Scottish Government’sTripartite Working Group, to identify the causes of the decline in sea trout numberson the west coast. The causes are likely to be complex and multi-factorial. Theproject is currently developing and testing restoration techniques. Improvementsin marine survival have continued, and results from the Shieldaig Sea Trout Projectfor 2006-07 saw increased numbers of mature fish returning to spawn.","AnswerDate":"2008-01-29T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-01-29T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Richard Lochhead","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":215182,"EventID":"S3W-08521","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1839,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":3,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-16T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-16T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what action is being taken to identify and address the risk of suicide in the treatment programmes for people with drug and alcohol addiction.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what action is being taken to identify and address the risk of suicide in the treatment programmes for people with drug and alcohol addiction.","AnswerText":"Commitment 7 in Delivering for Mental Health states that “Key frontline mental health services, primarycare and accident and emergency staff will be educated and trained in using suicideassessment tools/suicide prevention training programmes. 50% of target staff willbe trained by 2010.” NHS staff who work in substance misuse will be considered aspart of frontline staff.Also two recent reports- Mental Health in Scotland: Closing theGaps- Making a Difference and National Forum On Drug Related Deaths-Annual Report 2007 -highlighted the increasinglinkage between suicide prevention and substance misuse. Alcohol and Drug ActionTeams and suicide prevention groups are in the process of agreeing joint workingarrangements to ensure that local actions reflect the close linkages between theirwork. Work by Choose Life at a nationallevel has included mainstreaming and integration of suicide prevention into substancemisuse treatment services. ","AnswerDate":"2008-01-24T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-01-30T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Shona Robison","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":215183,"EventID":"S3W-08522","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1839,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":3,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-16T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-16T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive which residential establishments treat (a) bipolar disorder and (b) depression as part of drug and alcohol detoxification and rehabilitation.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive which residential establishments treat (a) bipolar disorder and (b) depression as part of drug and alcohol detoxification and rehabilitation.","AnswerText":"This information is not heldcentrally. However, all NHS in-patient mental health services provide treatmentfor bipolar disorder and depression along with drug and alcohol detoxification.This treatment may be provided as part of an acute general adult inpatient service,or specialist alcohol, and drugs unit dependent on the area.","AnswerDate":"2008-01-24T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-01-30T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Shona Robison","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":215184,"EventID":"S3W-08523","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1839,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":3,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-16T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-16T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what advice should be given to young children and adults using mobile phones in response to Mobile Telecommunications and Health Research Programme Report 2007.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what advice should be given to young children and adults using mobile phones in response to Mobile Telecommunications and Health Research Programme Report 2007.","AnswerText":"The 2007 report of the MobileTelecommunications Health Research (MTHR) programme, found no association betweenmobile phone use and any biological or adverse health effects. Advice from the UK governmentson mobile phone use is provided in their leaflet on Mobile Phones and Health. Thisrecommends “a precautionary approach” to the use of mobile phones, particularlyfor children, including keeping calls short, and not using mobile phones when driving.The need to update this leaflet, and the associated advice on Mobile Phone BaseStations and Health, in the light of the findings of the MTHR programme and otherresearch internationally is currently under consideration. Meanwhile, the advicefrom the UK governments remains as that in the current leaflets.","AnswerDate":"2008-01-25T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-01-30T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Nicola Sturgeon","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":215185,"EventID":"S3W-08524","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1783,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":67,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-16T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-16T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive how many times and on what dates since May 2007 the First Minister has stayed overnight at the Marcliffe of Pitfodels Hotel in Aberdeen in his official capacity.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive how many times and on what dates since May 2007 the First Minister has stayed overnight at the Marcliffe of Pitfodels Hotel in Aberdeen in his official capacity.","AnswerText":"The First Minister has notstayed overnight in the Marcliffe of Pitfodels Hotel in Aberdeen inhis official capacity since May 2007.","AnswerDate":"2008-01-22T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-01-30T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"John Swinney","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":215186,"EventID":"S3W-08525","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1783,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":67,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-16T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-16T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive how much it paid for the First Minister’s overnight stays at the Marcliffe of Pitfodels Hotel in Aberdeen from May to December 2007 inclusive.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive how much it paid for the First Minister’s overnight stays at the Marcliffe of Pitfodels Hotel in Aberdeen from May to December 2007 inclusive.","AnswerText":"I refer the member to the answerto question S3W-8524 on 22 January 2008. All answers to written parliamentary questions areavailable on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can befound at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/wa.search.","AnswerDate":"2008-01-22T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-01-30T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"John Swinney","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":215187,"EventID":"S3W-08526","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1783,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":67,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-16T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-16T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether there were any outstanding bills to be paid by it to the Marcliffe of Pitfodels Hotel in Aberdeen as at 31 December 2007.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether there were any outstanding bills to be paid by it to the Marcliffe of Pitfodels Hotel in Aberdeen as at 31 December 2007.","AnswerText":"No.","AnswerDate":"2008-01-22T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-01-30T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"John Swinney","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":215188,"EventID":"S3W-08527","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2603,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":6,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-16T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-16T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive how much it would cost to electrify the Aberdeen to Edinburgh rail line.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive how much it would cost to electrify the Aberdeen to Edinburgh rail line.","AnswerText":"We expect electrificationoptions, including cost, to emerge from the Strategic Transport Projects Review(STPR). The review will deliver its findings to the Scottish ministers in thesummer of 2008.","AnswerDate":"2008-01-28T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-01-30T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Stewart Stevenson","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":215189,"EventID":"S3W-08528","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2603,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":6,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-16T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-16T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what action it is taking to encourage people to use the rail network for commuting to work. ","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what action it is taking to encourage people to use the rail network for commuting to work. ","AnswerText":"We are improving journeytimes, we are investing in new services, we are enhancing rolling stock and, inthe last year, we have provided funding for more than 250 extra parking spaces atrail stations.","AnswerDate":"2008-01-30T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-01-30T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Stewart Stevenson","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":215190,"EventID":"S3W-08529","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2603,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":6,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-16T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-16T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive how many incidents of alcohol-related violence were reported in (a) Aberdeen City, (b) Grampian and (c) Angus from 2003 to 2007.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive how many incidents of alcohol-related violence were reported in (a) Aberdeen City, (b) Grampian and (c) Angus from 2003 to 2007.","AnswerText":"No information on whether ornot particular crimes or incidents are “alcohol-related” is held centrally.","AnswerDate":"2008-01-29T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-01-30T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Kenny MacAskill","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":215191,"EventID":"S3W-08530","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2603,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":6,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-16T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-16T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive how many people convicted of alcohol-related offences in (a) Aberdeen and (b) Grampian from 2003 to 2007 received an antisocial behaviour order or were sentenced to (i) a","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive how many people convicted of alcohol-related offences in (a) Aberdeen and (b) Grampian from 2003 to 2007 received an antisocial behaviour order or were sentenced to (i) a prison sentence of six months or less, (ii) a prison sentence of more than six months, (iii) another custodial sentence or (iv) community service.","AnswerText":"The available information isgiven in the table below. Civil antisocial behaviour orders cannot be broken downto the level of detail asked for.Persons with a Charge Provedin Scottish Courts for Alcohol-Related Offences1,2, in GrampianPolice Force Area or Aberdeen Approximate Local Authority Area3, 2003-04to 2005-06 | Year | Prison | Other Custodial | Antisocial Behaviour Order | Community Sentence | | Less Than 6 Months | 6 Months or More | | 2003-04 | | | | | | | Grampian | 10 | 3 | 2 | - | 49 | | Aberdeen3 | 3 | 2 | 2 | - | 27 | | 2004-05 | | | | | | | Grampian | 13 | - | 3 | - | 39 | | Aberdeen3 | 9 | - | 2 | - | 24 | | 2005-06 | | | | | | | Grampian | 12 | ","AnswerDate":"2008-01-29T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-01-30T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Shona Robison","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":215193,"EventID":"S3W-08532","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2603,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":6,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-16T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-16T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive how many people in (a) Aberdeen and (b) Grampian were victims of (i) manslaughter or (ii) murder caused by alcohol-related violence from 2003 to 2007.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive how many people in (a) Aberdeen and (b) Grampian were victims of (i) manslaughter or (ii) murder caused by alcohol-related violence from 2003 to 2007.","AnswerText":"The crime of Manslaughterexists under English law and in other jurisdictions but is not a crime known tothe law of Scotland. The nearest similar crime under Scots Lawis that of Culpable Homicide. Figures for culpable homicide have therefore beenused in this answer. The information requestedis contained in the following tables: Number of Victimsof Homicide1, by Drink/Drug Status of Accused at the Time of theCrime | 2003-04 | Drink/Drug Status of Accused | All Victims | | Drunk | Under the Influence of Drugs | Both Drunk and Under the Influence of Drugs | Neither Drunk nor on Drugs | Not Known | | (a) Aberdeen City | | | | | | | | All Homicide | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 4 | | Murder | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 2 | | Culpable Homicide | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 2 | | (b) Grampian | | | | | | | | All Homicide | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 5 | 6 | | Murder | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 3 | | Culpable Homicide | 0 | 0 | | Year | Granted | Refused | Withdrawn | Total | | 2003 | 29 | 0 | 3 | 32 | | 2004 | 23 | 0 | 3 | 26 | | 2005 | 31 | 0 | 2 | 33 | | 2006 | 29 | 0 | 10 | 39 | On Sales licence covers hotels,restricted hotels (where a bar counter is not permitted), public houses, restaurants,entertainment venues and cafes. Night clubs are licensed as entertainment venues. ","AnswerDate":"2008-01-24T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-01-30T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Kenny MacAskill","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":215195,"EventID":"S3W-08534","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2603,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":6,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-16T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-16T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive how many licences issued to pubs and clubs were revoked by Aberdeen City Licensing Board in (a) 2003, (b) 2004, (c) 2005, (d) 2006 and (e) 2007.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive how many licences issued to pubs and clubs were revoked by Aberdeen City Licensing Board in (a) 2003, (b) 2004, (c) 2005, (d) 2006 and (e) 2007.","AnswerText":"Licensing boards have no powersto revoke a licence under the Licensing (Scotland) Act 1976, they do, however, have powers to suspend alicence. The following table gives the number of suspensions of public house andentertainment licences by Aberdeen City Licensing Boards during 2003, 2004, 2005and 2006. | Licence | 2003 | 2004 | 2005 | 2006 | | Public House | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | | Entertainment | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | No exact figure can be givenfor nightclubs as they are usually licensed through entertainment licences and thiscategory also includes other premises where the sale of alcohol is ancillary totheir main activity. Registered clubs restricted to members and their guests arepresently licensed through the sheriff court. ","AnswerDate":"2008-01-24T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-01-30T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Kenny MacAskill","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":215196,"EventID":"S3W-08535","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2603,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":6,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-16T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-16T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive how many (a) shop owners with an off-licence and (b) licensed drinking establishments in Grampian were prosecuted from 2003 to 2007 for selling alcohol to underage teenag","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive how many (a) shop owners with an off-licence and (b) licensed drinking establishments in Grampian were prosecuted from 2003 to 2007 for selling alcohol to underage teenagers.","AnswerText":"In Grampian police force areafor the years 2003-04, 2004-05 and 2005-06 (the latest year for which data is available),four, nil, and three persons respectively were proceeded against in Scottish courtsfor selling alcohol to persons aged under 18 (includes the offences of sale of drinkto person under 18 and wholesaler selling liquor to person under 18). A breakdownof these figures by shop owners and licensed drinking establishments is not availablefrom the data held centrally.","AnswerDate":"2008-01-29T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-01-30T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Kenny MacAskill","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":215197,"EventID":"S3W-08536","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2603,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":6,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-16T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-16T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive how many (a) shop owners with an off-licence and (b) licensed drinking establishments in each local authority area were prosecuted from 2003 to 2007 for selling alcohol t","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive how many (a) shop owners with an off-licence and (b) licensed drinking establishments in each local authority area were prosecuted from 2003 to 2007 for selling alcohol to underage teenagers.","AnswerText":"The information requested isgiven in the table below. The data held centrally cannot be broken down by shopowners and licensed drinking establishments. The latest year for which data is availableis 2005-06Persons Proceeded Against inScottish Courts for Selling Alcohol to Person Aged Under 181,2, byApproximate Local Authority Area3, 2003-04 to 2005-06 | Local Authority | 2003-04 | 2004-05 | 2005-06 | | Aberdeen City | 3 | - | 3 | | Aberdeenshire | - | - | - | | Angus | - | - | - | | Argyll and Bute | - | - | - | | Clackmannanshire | - | 3 | 1 | | Dumfries and Galloway | 2 | 3 | 6 | | Dundee City | 5 | - | - | | East Ayrshire | 3 | 5 | 4 | | East Dunbartonshire | - | 2 | - | | East Lothian | - | - | 2 | | East Renfrewshire | - | - | - | | Edinburgh, City of | 3 | 5 | 5 | | Eilean Siar | - | - | - | | Falkirk | 4 | 2 | ","AnswerDate":"2008-01-29T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-01-30T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Kenny MacAskill","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":215199,"EventID":"S3W-08538","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":3896,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":25,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-16T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-16T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3O-101 by Richard Lochhead on 7 June 2007, what progress has been made on the review of the EU agricultural subsidies appeals procedur","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3O-101 by Richard Lochhead on 7 June 2007, what progress has been made on the review of the EU agricultural subsidies appeals procedure; what the membership is of the group undertaking the review; what bodies or individuals have been consulted by those undertaking the review; whether the remit of the review includes consideration of the scale of the penalties applied, and when the outcome of the review is expected to be announced.","AnswerText":"I have now set up an independentpanel to review the current EU agricultural subsidies appeals process. It held itsfirst meeting at the end of November 2007. The panel is chaired by JohnKinnaird, a past President of NFU Scotland. The other members are Sheriff RoddyMacLeod from the Scottish Land Court, Professor Julie Fitzpatrick, Chief Executiveof the Moredun Foundation and Mrs Isobel McCallum, vice president of the Black IsleFarmers Society. The review will be wide rangingand cover all aspects of the current process including the legislative framework(which sets out the level of penalties) within which panels have to operate. As part of its considerationthe panel has also invited the industry to provide its views and opinions on thecurrent procedure. I expect to receive the findingsin May. ","AnswerDate":"2008-01-24T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-01-30T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Richard Lochhead","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":215200,"EventID":"S3W-08539","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":3896,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":25,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-16T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-16T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-3672 by Stewart Stevenson on 13 September 2007, what progress has been made on the study into the use of road equivalent tariff to ","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-3672 by Stewart Stevenson on 13 September 2007, what progress has been made on the study into the use of road equivalent tariff to set ferry fares on services to the northern and western isles; which stakeholders (a) have met or (b) are still to meet the consultants undertaking the study; what stage has been reached in the choice of ferry route or routes to be used for the road equivalent tariff pilot and when the choice will be announced, and when it is expected that the overall study will be completed and its conclusions and recommendations announced.","AnswerText":"It is anticipatedthat the first phase of the RET study will be concluded in February. The conclusionof the first phase of the study will provide details of the planned pilot. An announcementon the way forward for RET will be made shortly.The consultants havemet with representatives from the following organisations- Argyll and Bute Council Caledonian Maritime Assets Ltd CalMac Ferries Ltd Comhairle nan Eilean Siar Highland Council Highlands and Islands Enterprise HITRANS North Ayrshire Council Northlink Orkney Islands Council Shetland Islands Council Strathclyde Partnershipfor Transport ZETRANS. The consultants alsomet with representatives drawn from the local community, business and the haulageindustry in the Western Isles. The consultants are currently organising a furthermeeting with stakeholders to discuss the emerging findings from the first phaseof the study. ","AnswerDate":"2008-01-30T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-01-30T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Stewart Stevenson","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":215201,"EventID":"S3W-08540","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":3743,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":6,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-16T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-16T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive when it will make a decision about further youth courts.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive when it will make a decision about further youth courts.","AnswerText":"The existing youth courts inHamilton and Airdrie have operated successfully since 2003 and 2004 respectively.Following positive evaluation, funding has been continued to allow their positionto be reviewed in spring 2009 in the light of the impact of the wider summary justicereforms. We have concluded that it would not be appropriate to commit to furtheryouth courts at this stage but to reconsider the position in spring 2009 when theexisting youth courts will be reviewed. This will provide opportunity in the interimperiod for a study to be commissioned to assess the effectiveness of youth courtsin relation to achieved outcomes and specifically their impact on reconviction rates.","AnswerDate":"2008-01-17T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-01-30T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Kenny MacAskill","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":215202,"EventID":"S3W-08541","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":3750,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":4,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-16T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-16T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what progress it has made in considering a response to the Crerar Review into regulation, audit, inspection and complaints handling of public services in Scotland. ","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what progress it has made in considering a response to the Crerar Review into regulation, audit, inspection and complaints handling of public services in Scotland. ","AnswerText":"The Scottish Government has consideredthe Crerar Review and its recommendations carefully and has paid close attentionto the comments made in the parliamentary debate on 3 October 2007. Government andParliament have an opportunity here to make a real difference to the way servicesare provided, and so need to make sure action taken in response to the review isright and will lead to significant improvement. The government has today publisheda detailed response to the Crerar recommendations. The response will be sent toall those who contributed to the Crerar Review, and a copy has been made availableon the government’s official website. The government has accepted most of the recommendationsin the review, either in full or in principle, but has identified some recommendationswhere further work is required before a commitment can be given. To reach a viewon these, and to turn the other recommendations into action, the government willwork closely with the Parliament, with COSLA and with Audit Scotland, taking accountof the views of other stakeholders - most notably those representing the publicand service users. The government has established five fixed-term action groupsto consider the recommendations in detail and provide ministers and the Parliamentwith proposals for improving the scrutiny and complaints handling landscape.","AnswerDate":"2008-01-17T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-01-30T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"John Swinney","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":215203,"EventID":"S3W-08542","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":3759,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":1,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-16T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-16T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will provide details of any changes to the rates of student support for further and higher education students that will apply for academic year 2008-09.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will provide details of any changes to the rates of student support for further and higher education students that will apply for academic year 2008-09.","AnswerText":"I am delighted to announce thenew rates of support for students in further and higher education for academic year2008-09. I am today placing in the Scottish Parliament Information Centre details of the rates of those loans, bursaries and grants, which will be available to eligibleundergraduate and postgraduate students in full-time higher education.Ageneral uprating factor of 2.5%, in line with inflation, will be applied to theexisting schemes of support in 2008-09, thus maintaining their value in realterms. the Scottish Funding Council (SFC) has also agreed to maintain the alignment betweenthe further and higher education sectors by, where appropriate, uprating the supportavailable to further education students by 2.5%. A copy of these rates is alsobeing placed in the Scottish ParliamentInformation Centre (44263). ","AnswerDate":"2008-01-17T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-01-30T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Fiona Hyslop","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":215204,"EventID":"S3W-08543","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":3811,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":4,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-16T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-16T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether the revenue generated by a reduced council tax discount on second homes remains ring-fenced for the purpose of affordable housing.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether the revenue generated by a reduced council tax discount on second homes remains ring-fenced for the purpose of affordable housing.","AnswerText":"Yes. Localauthorities have the discretion to reduce or retain the council tax discount onsecond homes and long-term empty properties to between 10% and 50%. Theadditional income is retained locally and routed through registered sociallandlords for the provision of new-build affordable social housing to meetlocally determined priorities.","AnswerDate":"2008-01-30T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-01-30T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"John Swinney","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":215205,"EventID":"S3W-08544","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":4086,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":7,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-16T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-16T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what guidance it will give to local authorities to help them to achieve their contribution towards the national target of 40% energy generation from wind power.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what guidance it will give to local authorities to help them to achieve their contribution towards the national target of 40% energy generation from wind power.","AnswerText":"There are no targetsfor individual local authorities. The national target is to generate 50% of Scottishelectricity demand from renewable sources by 2020.However, the ScottishGovernment will provide advice and support to planning authorities on implementingScottish Planning Policy (SPP) 6. In regards to onshore windfarms, we will issueguidance on the preparation of supplementary planning guidance. We have also recentlyappointed a team of consultants to provide expert advice to authorities on the tasksof reviewing and if necessary amending existing policies. ","AnswerDate":"2008-01-30T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-01-30T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Jim Mather","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":215206,"EventID":"S3W-08545","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":4086,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":7,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-16T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-16T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will set individual targets for local authorities to help them to achieve their contribution towards the national target of 40% energy generation from wind pow","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will set individual targets for local authorities to help them to achieve their contribution towards the national target of 40% energy generation from wind power and, if so, what those targets will be, broken down by local authority.","AnswerText":"The target for theamount of electricity generated from renewables in Scotland is 50% of whole Scottish demand by 2020. There are no targets for individualtechnologies and the 50% target will be met from a wide range of renewable sources.There are no plansto set targets for individual local authorities. ","AnswerDate":"2008-01-30T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-01-30T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Jim Mather","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":215207,"EventID":"S3W-08546","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":3896,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":25,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-16T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-16T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has made an assessment of the implications for Scottish farmers and crofters of the proposed introduction of an electronic identification system for sheep and,","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has made an assessment of the implications for Scottish farmers and crofters of the proposed introduction of an electronic identification system for sheep and, if so, what the conclusion is of any assessment made.","AnswerText":"Previous trials havehighlighted that the introduction of electronic identification (EID) across allsectors of the Scottish sheep industry will be challenging due to the unique stratifiednature of our industry. Results of these trials were given to the Commission ina joint UK Evidence Report and the Commission also undertook trials in the UK in 2006-07. We will continue to work with all sectorsof the industry to help better understand the various potential issues surroundingEID of sheep within the Scottish context. We will use the information from thisto help inform Industry, the Scottish and UK Governments and the Commission policydecisions in establishing a workable and affordable EID system.","AnswerDate":"2008-01-30T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-01-30T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Richard Lochhead","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":215208,"EventID":"S3W-08547","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":3896,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":25,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-16T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-16T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what representations it has received from agricultural industry stakeholders concerning the proposed introduction of an electronic identification system for sheep and wha","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what representations it has received from agricultural industry stakeholders concerning the proposed introduction of an electronic identification system for sheep and what the terms were of any representations.","AnswerText":"The Scottish Governmentcontinues to work with all agricultural industry stakeholders through the jointGovernment/industry working group on electronic identification (EID). The industrystakeholders provided their time and resource to earlier trials which formed partof the UK Evidence Report. We urged the Commission to take account of the reportin seeking a delay for the introduction of EID on 1 January 2008 as laid out inEU Council Regulation 21/2004. The Commission recommended that the introductionof EID be delayed until 31 December 2009 and we believe that wasbecause of the extensive lobbying and representations by both the Scottish Governmentand industry stakeholders. The Scottish Government will continue to work with industrystakeholders and the Commission to find a workable and affordable EID system forthe industry taking account of the unique stratified nature of the Scottish sheepmovement system.","AnswerDate":"2008-01-30T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-01-30T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Richard Lochhead","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":215209,"EventID":"S3W-08548","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":3896,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":25,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-16T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-16T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what representations it has made to Her Majesty’s Government concerning the proposed introduction of an electronic identification system for sheep and what the terms were","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what representations it has made to Her Majesty’s Government concerning the proposed introduction of an electronic identification system for sheep and what the terms were of any representations","AnswerText":"The Scottish Governmentcontinues to work with Her Majesty’s Government and indeed the rest of the UK asregards the introduction of electronic identification (EID). Part of that workwas the submission of the UK Evidence Report which highlighted the findings oftrials within the UK and urged the Commission to take account of thesefindings in seeking a delay to the introduction of EID on 1 January 2008 (aslaid out in EU Council Regulation 21/2004). It is believed that the extensivelobbying by the Scottish Government, Her Majesty’s Government and industrystakeholders resulted in the Commission recommending that the introduction ofEID be delayed until 31 December 2009. A qualified majority vote on the implementationdate of 31 December 2009 was secured by the Portuguese Presidency at ECAgriculture and Fisheries Council on 17 December 2007. The Scottish Government will continue to work with Her Majesty’sGovernment other UK Departments to make representations at EU Working Groupsand to try find a workable and affordable EID system for the UK industrytaking account of the unique stratified nature of the sheep movement system inthe UK.","AnswerDate":"2008-01-28T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-01-30T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Richard Lochhead","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":215210,"EventID":"S3W-08549","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":3896,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":25,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-16T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-16T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what representations it has made to the European Commission concerning the proposed introduction of an electronic identification system for sheep and what the terms were ","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what representations it has made to the European Commission concerning the proposed introduction of an electronic identification system for sheep and what the terms were of any representations.","AnswerText":"The Scottish Governmentprovided submissions to the Commission as part of the UK Evidence Report whichhighlighted the findings of trials within the UK and urged the Commission totake account of these findings in seeking a delay to the introduction ofelectronic identification (EID) on 1 January 2008as laid out in EU Council Regulation 21/2004. We believe that followingextensive lobbying by both the Scottish Government and industry stakeholdersthe Commission recommended that the introduction of EID be delayed until 31 December 2009. Aqualified majority vote on the implementation date of 31 December 2009was secured by the Portuguese Presidency at EC Agriculture and FisheriesCouncil on 17 December 2007. A UK delegation, headed by the Chief Veterinary Officerfor Scotland, visited the Commission in July 2007 to seekapproval to continue to work with them in order to find a workable andaffordable EID system for the Scottish industry taking account of the uniquestratified nature of the Scottish sheep movement system.","AnswerDate":"2008-01-28T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-01-30T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Richard Lochhead","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":215211,"EventID":"S3W-08550","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":3896,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":25,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-16T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-16T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what representations it has received from the manufacturers and suppliers of electronic identification systems for sheep and what the terms were of any representations.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what representations it has received from the manufacturers and suppliers of electronic identification systems for sheep and what the terms were of any representations.","AnswerText":"No. Representations have beenreceived by the Scottish Government from manufacturers and suppliers of electronicidentification systems.","AnswerDate":"2008-01-28T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-01-30T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Richard Lochhead","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":215212,"EventID":"S3W-08551","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1860,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":3,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-16T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-16T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether it considers Inverness Sheriff Court to be fit for purpose.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether it considers Inverness Sheriff Court to be fit for purpose.","AnswerText":"Inverness Sheriff Court has been progressively modernised over the years andcontinues to be fit for purpose. Following Court Unification the Scottish CourtService will acquire part of the North Tower adjacent to Inverness Sheriff Court and will programme refurbishmentwork to ensure our courts continue to be fit for purpose.","AnswerDate":"2008-01-25T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-01-30T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Fergus Ewing","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":215213,"EventID":"S3W-08552","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1860,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":3,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-16T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-16T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive how many cases in each of the last three years have been postponed or moved to other premises due to a lack of facilities at Inverness Sheriff Court.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive how many cases in each of the last three years have been postponed or moved to other premises due to a lack of facilities at Inverness Sheriff Court.","AnswerText":"During the last three years onecase due to be held in Inverness Sheriff Court has been held elsewhere. This wasa Fatal Accident Inquiry on 9 January 2008, which was held in Dingwall Sheriff Courtas a result of a heating system fault in the North Tower at Inverness Sheriff Court.No additional costs were incurred for the use of other premises as the case wasmoved to Dingwall Sheriff Court. There was no business planned in Dingwall SheriffCourt that day and therefore no cases were delayed as a result.","AnswerDate":"2008-01-25T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-01-30T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Fergus Ewing","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":215214,"EventID":"S3W-08553","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1860,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":3,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-16T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-16T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what the total costs were for the use of other premises to stage cases that should have proceeded at Inverness Sheriff Court in each of the last three years.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what the total costs were for the use of other premises to stage cases that should have proceeded at Inverness Sheriff Court in each of the last three years.","AnswerText":"I refer the member to answerto question S3W-8552 on 25 January 2008. All answers towritten parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the searchfacility for which can be found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/wa.search.","AnswerDate":"2008-01-25T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-01-30T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Fergus Ewing","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":215215,"EventID":"S3W-08554","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1860,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":3,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-16T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-16T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether any cases due to be held in Inverness Sheriff Court but held elsewhere have caused other cases to be delayed and, if so, how many.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether any cases due to be held in Inverness Sheriff Court but held elsewhere have caused other cases to be delayed and, if so, how many.","AnswerText":"I refer the member to the answerto question S3W-8552 on 25 January 2008. All answers towritten parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the searchfacility for which can be found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/wa.search.","AnswerDate":"2008-01-25T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-01-30T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Fergus Ewing","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":215216,"EventID":"S3W-08555","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1860,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":3,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-16T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-16T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what technical or administrative problems have led to cases due to be dealt with at Inverness Sheriff Court being held elsewhere.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what technical or administrative problems have led to cases due to be dealt with at Inverness Sheriff Court being held elsewhere.","AnswerText":"I refer the member to the answerto question S3W-8552 on 25 January 2008. All answers towritten parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the searchfacility for which can be found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/wa.search.","AnswerDate":"2008-01-25T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-01-30T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Fergus Ewing","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":215217,"EventID":"S3W-08556","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1839,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":3,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-16T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-16T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what is being done to ensure that all pregnant women are given a second trimester anomaly scan.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what is being done to ensure that all pregnant women are given a second trimester anomaly scan.","AnswerText":"The Scottish Government is workingclosely with NHS boards to develop the pregnancy screening programme to includethe anomaly scan as a matter of routine right across the country. The introductionof fetal anomaly scans however has significant implications for the health servicein terms of resources, workforce, equipment and training.A Pregnancy Screening PolicyImplementation Group has started work and had a preliminary meeting on 17 January 2008 to takethis work forward. We are hoping to advise boards of resource allocation and likelytimescales for introduction and roll out of the amendments to the pregnancy screeningprogramme in the spring. ","AnswerDate":"2008-01-28T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-01-30T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Shona Robison","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":215218,"EventID":"S3W-08557","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":3763,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":8,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-16T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-16T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive when the new guidance regarding car parking charges at hospitals in the NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde area will be published.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive when the new guidance regarding car parking charges at hospitals in the NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde area will be published.","AnswerText":"Revised guidance on hospitalcar park charging was published by the Scottish Government on 18 January 2008. A copyof the guidance is available in the Scottish Parliament Information Centre.","AnswerDate":"2008-01-25T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-01-30T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Nicola Sturgeon","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":215219,"EventID":"S3W-08558","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":3763,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":8,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-16T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-16T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether car parking charges will not be introduced at Inverclyde Royal Hospital, Vale of Leven Hospital or Royal Alexandra Hospital if all measures to manage car parking ","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether car parking charges will not be introduced at Inverclyde Royal Hospital, Vale of Leven Hospital or Royal Alexandra Hospital if all measures to manage car parking at these hospitals are undertaken by NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde and it is proved that charges are not justified at the hospitals which were not included in the original consultation exercise carried out by NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde.","AnswerText":"It is a matter for NHS GreaterGlasgow and Clyde to determine in light of the revised guidance whethercharging is necessary and justified to manage the car parking space available atInverclyde Royal, Vale of Leven and Royal Alexandra hospitals.In accordance with the revisedcar parking guidance published on 18 January 2008,through their travel plans NHS boards have a responsibility to work with local andregional partners to help to ensure good access to NHS sites for patients, carers,visitors and staff. At most NHS sites, car parking should be free of charge, however,NHS boards may make reasonable charges for car parking as part of a planned approachto facilitating access to sites and to cover the costs of car park provision. ","AnswerDate":"2008-01-25T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-01-30T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Nicola Sturgeon","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":215220,"EventID":"S3W-08559","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":3901,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":53,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-16T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-16T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what the implications would be of cutting the Roads Improvements budget by £20 million (a) in the next year and (b) over the next three years.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what the implications would be of cutting the Roads Improvements budget by £20 million (a) in the next year and (b) over the next three years.","AnswerText":"A £20 million cut in Roads Improvements spend next year would represent a 37% reduction in budget. This would require Transport Scotland to delay or cancel over a third of work in the Minor Scheme, Road safety and Intelligent Transport Systems programmes. These programmes are essential in meeting targets on road casualty reduction, reducing emissions and congestion. Preparation work for major new capital schemes would also be affected. A £20 million cut over three years would represent a 12% reduction in budget and would be unsustainable for the same reasons. Funding cuts would require the following actions to be considered: Minor Road schemes such as A737 Barrmill Road Roundabout, A77 Burnside Improvement, A9 Bankfoot Junction Improvement or A82 Bilingual Signing amongst others, would require to be identified for delay beyond the present Spending Review period. The proactive works identified in our Road Safety Action Plan would require to be delayed beyond the present Spending Review period. Our Intelligent Transport Systems Action Plan would require to be rescheduled including delivery of the proposed new National Network Control Centre. Preparation work for major new Capital road projects such as Aberdeen Western Peripheral Route may require to be rescheduled. Delivery of the identified Roads Improvements programme is essential to supporting Scotland and its economy. The schemes and action plans contained within the programme are being delivered as commitments to address strong community concerns centred on road safety, journey time and environmental issues. ","AnswerDate":"2008-03-05T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-01-30T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Stewart Stevenson","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":215221,"EventID":"S3W-08560","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":3901,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":53,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-16T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-16T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive which projects could be at risk if (a) £15 million, (b) £20 million and (c) £25 million were cut from the Capital Works budget over the period of the spending review.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive which projects could be at risk if (a) £15 million, (b) £20 million and (c) £25 million were cut from the Capital Works budget over the period of the spending review.","AnswerText":"Any proposal to reduce expenditure on Capital Works would have adverse effects on delivery of a programme of new construction road schemes that have been designed for road safety reasons, or to reduce road congestion or improve access to strategic points such as ferry terminals and airports. Transport Scotland is responsible for overseeing the safe and efficient management and maintenance of Scotland''s trunk roads. S5(2) of the Roads (Scotland) Act 1984 places an obligation on Scottish ministers to keep under review the trunk road network and to trunk, de-trunk or construct new trunk roads as appropriate. Any proposal to reduce funding on capital works has significant adverse consequences for the delivery of a programme of new schemes previously approved by Parliament. In 2008-09, committed expenditure on capital works on schemes that are already under construction would not allow the transfer of the full £15 million. ","AnswerDate":"2008-02-25T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-01-30T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Stewart Stevenson","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":215222,"EventID":"S3W-08561","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":3901,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":53,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-16T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-16T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what the implications would be if £10 million per annum was cut from the Routine and Winter Maintenance level 3 budget line for the next three years.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what the implications would be if £10 million per annum was cut from the Routine and Winter Maintenance level 3 budget line for the next three years.","AnswerText":"A funding cut of £10 million per annum will not be sustainable. It will reduce the level of funding below that required for contractually committed sums, winter maintenance, defects and hazards. The Scottish ministers would not meet their minimum Duty of Care Commitments to keep the trunk road network in a safe condition for road users. A funding cut of £10 million per annum would significantly affect the commercial viability of the operating companies and the insurance indemnity that they provide and would lead to significant job losses in the Scottish road maintenance industry. ","AnswerDate":"2008-02-20T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-01-30T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Stewart Stevenson","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":215223,"EventID":"S3W-08562","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":3901,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":53,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-16T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-16T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what services are funded from the Police Support Services budget.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what services are funded from the Police Support Services budget.","AnswerText":"This budget funds a wide rangeof police services, including those provided by the Scottish Police Services Authority,which directly support or complement front line policing. These services includethe Scottish Crime and Drug enforcement agency, other specialist policing activitiessuch as national support for Scotland’s counter-terrorism capability, forensic science services,police training and development, criminal records and international policing.","AnswerDate":"2008-01-29T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-01-30T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Kenny MacAskill","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":215224,"EventID":"S3W-08563","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":3901,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":53,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-16T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-16T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what services are funded from the Police Information and Communications budget.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what services are funded from the Police Information and Communications budget.","AnswerText":"The Police Information and Communicationsbudget funds the development and maintenance of both Scottish and UK-wide informationand communication technology (ICT) systems to support operational policing in Scotland.The budget covers the Scottish contribution to UK wide systems including the frameworkcontract for the Airwave radio system, the Police National Computer and joint developmentof other national systems to enable police forces to share information and intelligenceacross the UK. The development and maintenance of Scottish systemsincludes the Criminal History System, custody management systems and the AutomaticNumber-plate Recognition System.","AnswerDate":"2008-01-29T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-01-30T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Kenny MacAskill","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":215225,"EventID":"S3W-08564","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":3901,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":53,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-16T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-16T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what the implications would be if £75 million was cut from the Support for Borrowing line of the Water budget over the next three years.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what the implications would be if £75 million was cut from the Support for Borrowing line of the Water budget over the next three years.","AnswerText":"If the Support forBorrowing line for Scottish Water was cut by £75 million, a corresponding cut inits investment programme would be required.A cut of this sizewould mean the deferment or cancellation of many essential projects which improveservices to customers. ","AnswerDate":"2008-01-30T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-01-30T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Stewart Stevenson","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":215226,"EventID":"S3W-08565","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":3901,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":53,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-16T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-16T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what the implications would be if £12.5 million per annum was cut from the Health Information budget for the next three years.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what the implications would be if £12.5 million per annum was cut from the Health Information budget for the next three years.","AnswerText":"The eHealth budget funds a numberof key national systems supporting the operation of NHS Scotland, such as ScreeningProgrammes, General Practice IT systems and the communications infrastructure. Inaddition, it supports boards in making the changes to IT which will underpin thewider improvements signalled in Better Health, Better Care; such as 18 weeks andimprovements to the management of long-term conditions. The priorities for futureimprovement will be set out in a new eHealth Strategy scheduled for the spring of2008.A reduction of £12.5 millionper annum, unless the shortfall was made up by NHS boards from their general allocations,would mean a reduction in existing services and commitments in both 2008-09 and2009-10. In 2010-11 it would reduce the scope for the new eHealth Strategy to enablethe improvements in patient care to which we are committed. ","AnswerDate":"2008-01-23T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-01-30T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Nicola Sturgeon","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":215227,"EventID":"S3W-08566","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2866,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":63,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-16T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-16T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what regulatory regimes exist for the scrutiny of financial management of care homes for elderly people.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what regulatory regimes exist for the scrutiny of financial management of care homes for elderly people.","AnswerText":"Under the Regulation of Care(Scotland) Act 2001 (the act) and its associated regulations, a care home serviceis required, as part of its application for registration, to provide the Care Commissionwith a business plan and cash flow statement, and where available, its annual accountsfor any part of the three year period preceding the date of application during whichthe care service was in operation.In addition, as part of theon-going regulatory framework, care homes are required to provide the Care Commissionwith such information and documents as it may require in order to consider the financialviability of the care home. These documents include the certifiedannual accounts of the care home, a bank reference expressing an opinion as to theprovider’s financial standing and information as to the financing and financialresources of the care service. The Care Commission regulatecare homes against the act and its associated regulations, taking account of anyrelevant National Care Standards. It has a wide range of sanctions available toit ranging from placing conditions on a care service’s registration to cancellationof a registration should providers fail to make any required improvements. ","AnswerDate":"2008-01-24T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-01-30T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Shona Robison","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":215228,"EventID":"S3W-08567","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2866,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":63,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-16T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-16T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive how many care homes for elderly people have been reported to regulatory bodies for financial mismanagement since 1999.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive how many care homes for elderly people have been reported to regulatory bodies for financial mismanagement since 1999.","AnswerText":"The Care Commission has a statutoryduty under the Regulation of Care (Scotland) Act 2001 to investigate any complaints against careservice providers.Information relating to complaintsinvestigations, including the number of complaints that have been made about thefinancial mismanagement of care homes for elderly people is an operational matterfor the Care Commission. You can contact the commission at: The Care Commission Compass House 11 Riverside Drive Dundee DD1 4NY 0845 603 0890. ","AnswerDate":"2008-01-24T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-01-30T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Shona Robison","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":215229,"EventID":"S3W-08568","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2866,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":63,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-16T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-16T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what improvements it is seeking in the scrutiny of the financial management of companies owning and operating care homes for elderly people.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what improvements it is seeking in the scrutiny of the financial management of companies owning and operating care homes for elderly people.","AnswerText":"The Regulation of Care (Scotland) Act2001 and its associated regulations provide a robust regulatory framework withinwhich care homes must operate. This includes requirements in respect of the financialposition of care services.We have no current plans to reviewthe framework. ","AnswerDate":"2008-01-24T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-01-30T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Shona Robison","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":215230,"EventID":"S3W-08569","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1970,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":65,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-16T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-16T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive how and where survivors of historic in-care and institutional abuse can access the appropriate services that they require to help them to recover from the effects of the ","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive how and where survivors of historic in-care and institutional abuse can access the appropriate services that they require to help them to recover from the effects of the physical and psychological damage caused by such abuse; when specific proposals for survivors of historic in-care and institutional abuse will be brought forward as part of the Scottish Government’s wider Survivor Scotland strategy for survivors of childhood sexual abuse, and who the providers of the services will be.","AnswerText":"A range of national andlocal services are available to provide support to survivors of in-care andinstitutional abuse. I will announce proposals for improving the supportavailable to survivors in due course. I refer the member to the answer to questionS3W-7290 on 13 December 2007. All answersto written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website,the search facility for which can be found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/wa.search.","AnswerDate":"2008-01-29T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-01-30T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Adam Ingram","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":215231,"EventID":"S3W-08570","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1970,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":65,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-16T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-16T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what the estimated cost is of the inquiry being led by Mr Eddie Frizzell into what went wrong at Kerelaw school.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what the estimated cost is of the inquiry being led by Mr Eddie Frizzell into what went wrong at Kerelaw school.","AnswerText":"Glasgow City Council and the Scottish Government will share equally the costs of the Kerelaw IndependentInquiry. The detailed cost calculations are not yet completed.","AnswerDate":"2008-01-24T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-01-30T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Fiona Hyslop","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":215232,"EventID":"S3W-08571","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2633,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":5,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-16T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-16T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-5123 by Stewart Stevenson on 5 November 2007, whether Fife Council has submitted its proposed revisions to the Fife Structure Plan ","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-5123 by Stewart Stevenson on 5 November 2007, whether Fife Council has submitted its proposed revisions to the Fife Structure Plan and, if so, when it did so. ","AnswerText":"Proposed housing modifications to the Fife Structure Plan were submitted to Scottish ministers on 27 December 2007. ","AnswerDate":"2008-01-28T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-01-30T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Stewart Stevenson","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":215233,"EventID":"S3W-08572","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1826,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":35,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-17T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-17T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive why the responses to the public consultation on the new Forth crossing were not made available prior to the announcement of its decision on the form and location of the n","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive why the responses to the public consultation on the new Forth crossing were not made available prior to the announcement of its decision on the form and location of the new crossing on 19 December 2007.","AnswerText":"Following extensive analysisof the 756 feedback forms received, Transport Scotland completed the FeedbackReport in November. The report was then submitted to ministers for considerationprior to making a decision on the form and location of the crossing.The Feedback Report was publishedonline immediately after the ministerial announcement, to coincide with the publicationof additional reports which document the further work undertaken since last summer,on the proposed crossing options. ","AnswerDate":"2008-01-28T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-01-31T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Stewart Stevenson","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":215234,"EventID":"S3W-08573","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":3771,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":2,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-17T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-17T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what progress has been made towards meeting the SNP manifesto commitment to introduce legislation to improve the Children’s Hearings system.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what progress has been made towards meeting the SNP manifesto commitment to introduce legislation to improve the Children’s Hearings system.","AnswerText":"I am pleased to announce thatScottish ministers intend to bring together the existing bodies which make up Scotland’s distinctiveChildren’s Hearings system of care and justice into a single body. We intend todo this in a way which ensures that local delivery and the links with local communities,which are vital to the system, are fully maintained. This will ensure a strongerand more consistent national approach to the work of the Children’s Reporters service;to the delivery and administration of Children’s Hearings, and to the recruitment,training and support provided to the volunteer Panel members who make the localdecisions at hearings. By incorporating all these functions into one body we canrefocus on the individuals who deliver the Children’s Hearings system, rather thanon the bodies of which they are members.Panelmembers will continue to be recruited from local communities, and will serve thoselocal communities. Local authorities will continue to have a crucial role to playin ensuring that the system works effectively in their area. We plan to take the necessarysteps, including bringing forward any legislative proposals, to give effect to this.In the meantime, we will work closely with COSLA and other key interests to developthe detail of the new approach. ","AnswerDate":"2008-01-18T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-01-31T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Fiona Hyslop","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":215235,"EventID":"S3W-08574","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2610,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":1,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-17T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-17T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether there has been any revision to the performance thresholds in the contract for prisoner escort duties with Reliance.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether there has been any revision to the performance thresholds in the contract for prisoner escort duties with Reliance.","AnswerText":"I have asked Mike Ewart, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service to respond. His response is as follows:There have been no revisionsto the minimum threshold standards within the PECCS contract. ","AnswerDate":"2008-01-29T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-01-31T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Kenny MacAskill","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":215236,"EventID":"S3W-08575","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2610,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":1,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-17T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-17T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has made any revisions to the financial penalties for breach of performance thresholds in the contract for prisoner escort duties with Reliance.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has made any revisions to the financial penalties for breach of performance thresholds in the contract for prisoner escort duties with Reliance.","AnswerText":"I have asked Mike Ewart, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service to respond. His response is as follows:The term “financial penalties”is not used in the contract. Service credits are applied where performance failureoccurs. The minimum threshold standard is effectively the cap or the maximum numberof failures that will be taken in to account in any given month for the calculationof the service credit. There has been no revisions tothe contract in relation to either service credits or the minimum threshold standards. ","AnswerDate":"2008-01-29T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-01-31T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Kenny MacAskill","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":215237,"EventID":"S3W-08576","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2610,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":1,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-17T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-17T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has made any revisions to the volume bandings at which prisoner movements are reimbursed in the contract for prisoner escort duties with Reliance.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has made any revisions to the volume bandings at which prisoner movements are reimbursed in the contract for prisoner escort duties with Reliance.","AnswerText":"I have asked Mike Ewart, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service (SPS) to respond. His response is as follows:Additional bandings have beenadded to reflect the increased volume of prisoner movements. The contract variationis available on the SPS website. http://www.sps.gov.uk/default.aspx?documentid=24887896-f880-4764-8fa5-c529c7612e97. ","AnswerDate":"2008-01-29T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-01-31T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Kenny MacAskill","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":215238,"EventID":"S3W-08577","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2610,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":1,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-17T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-17T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether the contract awarded to Reliance for prisoner escort duties is still operating to the original budget set.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether the contract awarded to Reliance for prisoner escort duties is still operating to the original budget set.","AnswerText":"I have asked Mike Ewart, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service to respond. His response is as follows:Expenditure to date has beenwithin the agreed annual budget each year since the contract went live. ","AnswerDate":"2008-01-29T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-01-31T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Kenny MacAskill","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":215239,"EventID":"S3W-08578","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2610,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":1,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-17T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-17T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether any variance has been made to the budget for prisoner escort duties and, if so, when the variance was agreed; how much extra expenditure is projected to the end o","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether any variance has been made to the budget for prisoner escort duties and, if so, when the variance was agreed; how much extra expenditure is projected to the end of 2011-12, and how many prisoner movements the revised estimates envisage in (a) 2008-09, (b) 2009-10, (c) 2010-11 and (d) 2011-12.","AnswerText":"I have asked Mike Ewart, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service (SPS) to respond. His response is as follows:To date, there has been no variationsto the annual budget set by SPS for this contract. In determining any additionalexpenditure, I would refer the member to response to S3W-8577 on 29 January 2008. Thebudget is based on the actual volume data for the previous calendar year, we haveno estimates beyond fiscal year 2008-09 and would not anticipate any additionalexpenditure. To date, prisoner movement dataindicates that total prisoner movements have varied between 177-198,000 movementsper year. All answers to written parliamentaryquestions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for whichcan be found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/wa.search. ","AnswerDate":"2008-01-29T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-01-31T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Kenny MacAskill","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":215240,"EventID":"S3W-08579","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1837,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":36,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-17T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-17T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether it intends to be part of National Year of Reading 2008 launched by Prime Minister, Gordon Brown MP, on 8 January 2008 and what the reasons are for its position on","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether it intends to be part of National Year of Reading 2008 launched by Prime Minister, Gordon Brown MP, on 8 January 2008 and what the reasons are for its position on the matter.","AnswerText":"No. The National Yearof Reading 2008 is an initiative in England funded by theDepartment for Children, Schools and Families and led by the National Literacy Trustand the Reading Agency. In Scotland, activities to promote reading and literacyare delivered through a wide range of partners, including the Scottish Book Trust,the Books, Reading and Writing (BRAW) project, Communities Scotland and Learningand Teaching Scotland as well as, of course, through public libraries.","AnswerDate":"2008-01-31T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-01-31T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Linda Fabiani","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":215241,"EventID":"S3W-08580","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1837,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":36,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-17T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-17T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions it has held with library organisations in Scotland on National Year of Reading 2008.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions it has held with library organisations in Scotland on National Year of Reading 2008.","AnswerText":"None. Library provisionand education are devolved matters, including issues connected with reading andliteracy. The National Year of Reading 2008 is an initiative in England funded bythe Department for Children, Schools and Families and led by the National LiteracyTrust and the Reading Agency. In Scotland, activitiesto promote reading and literacy are delivered through a wide range of partners,including the Scottish Book Trust, the Books, Reading and Writing (BRAW) project, Communities Scotland and Learning and TeachingScotland as well of course through public libraries.","AnswerDate":"2008-01-31T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-01-31T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Linda Fabiani","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":215242,"EventID":"S3W-08581","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1837,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":36,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-17T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-17T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive when it last met library organisations in Scotland and what issues were discussed.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive when it last met library organisations in Scotland and what issues were discussed.","AnswerText":"The Scottish Governmentfunds the National Library of Scotland and the Scottish Library and InformationCouncil by way of support for the library sector. Officials meet the National Librarianand the Director of the Scottish Library and Information Council regularly, withthe most recent meetings on 19 November 2007 and 16 January 2008 respectively. A range of financial and policy issueswere discussed, including projects being supported under the Public Library QualityImprovement Matrix supported by £500,000 per year from the Scottish Government.","AnswerDate":"2008-01-31T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-01-31T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Linda Fabiani","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":215243,"EventID":"S3W-08582","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1831,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":6,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-17T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-17T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what percentage of mothers in the NHS Tayside area were recorded at their six-to-eight-week review as breastfeeding in the most recent year for which figures are availabl","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what percentage of mothers in the NHS Tayside area were recorded at their six-to-eight-week review as breastfeeding in the most recent year for which figures are available.","AnswerText":"The requested information ispublished on the Scottish Health Statistics website under Child Health at www.isdscotland.org/child_breastfeeding.The latest available statistics are for children born in 2006.","AnswerDate":"2008-01-28T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-01-31T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Shona Robison","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":215244,"EventID":"S3W-08583","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1831,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":6,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-17T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-17T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive how many full-time university students domiciled in the (a) Dundee City, (b) Angus and (c) Aberdeenshire local authority areas have been in receipt of bursaries in the mo","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive how many full-time university students domiciled in the (a) Dundee City, (b) Angus and (c) Aberdeenshire local authority areas have been in receipt of bursaries in the most recent academic year for which figures are available.","AnswerText":"The following table givesthe number of full-time university students domiciled in Aberdeenshire, Angusand Dundee City local authority areas who were in receipt of bursarysupport from the Student Awards Agency for Scotland (SAAS) in academic year2006-07. The total number of Scottish domiciled full-time university studentsin receipt of bursaries is also shown. | Local Authority Area | Number of Full-Time Students Receiving Bursary Support | | Aberdeenshire | 1,770 | | Angus | 1,020 | | Dundee City | 1,370 | | Scotland | 42,995 | Source: Student AwardsAgency for Scotland (SAAS), Scottish Government. In the above table a bursaryrefers to non-repayable student support received under any of the highereducation award schemes administered by SAAS. These award schemes include: youngstudent’s bursary, travel expenses, disabled student’s allowance, standard maintenanceallowances, lone parent’s grant, Scottish Executive Health Department Bursary, loneparent’s child care grant and other smaller schemes. Students who come underthe nursing and midwifery bursary scheme are not included in the table. ","AnswerDate":"2008-01-29T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-01-31T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Fiona Hyslop","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":215245,"EventID":"S3W-08584","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1831,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":6,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-17T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-17T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive how many dental students attended Dundee Dental School in each undergraduate year in the most recent academic year for which figures are available.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive how many dental students attended Dundee Dental School in each undergraduate year in the most recent academic year for which figures are available.","AnswerText":"The number of undergraduate studentsstudying pre-clinical and clinical dentistry at the University of Dundee (Dundee Dental School) during the academic year 2006-07 (the latest year forwhich the figures are available) are shown in the following table.Number of Undergraduate DentistryStudents at Dundee University - 2006-07 | Year of Study programme | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | Total | | Number of students | 75 | 90 | 70 | 55 | 55 | 345 | Sources: Higher EducationStatistics Agency (HESA) Notes: In this table 0, 1, 2 arerounded to 0. All other numbers are rounded up or down to the nearest 5. Numbers may not sum tototals exactly due to rounding. ","AnswerDate":"2008-01-23T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-01-31T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Fiona Hyslop","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":215246,"EventID":"S3W-08585","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1831,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":6,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-17T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-17T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive when the Childsmile School programme will be introduced into primary schools in (a) Dundee and (b) Angus.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive when the Childsmile School programme will be introduced into primary schools in (a) Dundee and (b) Angus.","AnswerText":"It is anticipated thatChildsmile School will be introduced into primary schools in Dundee in February2008 and Angus in March 2008.","AnswerDate":"2008-01-28T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-01-31T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Shona Robison","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":215247,"EventID":"S3W-08586","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1831,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":6,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-17T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-17T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive how many dental nurses will be involved in implementing the Childsmile School programme in NHS Tayside.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive how many dental nurses will be involved in implementing the Childsmile School programme in NHS Tayside.","AnswerText":"Nine dental nurses will be involvedin implementing Childsmile School in NHS Tayside.","AnswerDate":"2008-01-28T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-01-31T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Shona Robison","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":215248,"EventID":"S3W-08587","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1831,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":6,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-17T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-17T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what the cost will be and what resources will be made available from 2008-09 to increase the percentage of all three to five-year-olds in NHS Tayside who are registered w","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what the cost will be and what resources will be made available from 2008-09 to increase the percentage of all three to five-year-olds in NHS Tayside who are registered with a dentist from 75% in June 2007 to 80% by 2010-11, as promised by the Cabinet Secretary for Health and Wellbeing on 12 December 2007 (Official Report c. 4291).","AnswerText":"The costs are yet to be determinedbut will be made available through the general dental services budget.","AnswerDate":"2008-01-28T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-01-31T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Shona Robison","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":215249,"EventID":"S3W-08588","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1831,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":6,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-17T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-17T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what the cost will be and what resources will be made available from 2008-09 to increase the percentage of all three to five-year-olds in NHS Grampian who are registered ","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what the cost will be and what resources will be made available from 2008-09 to increase the percentage of all three to five-year-olds in NHS Grampian who are registered with a dentist from 75% in June 2007 to 80% by 2010-11, as promised by the Cabinet Secretary for Health and Wellbeing on 12 December 2007 (Official Report c. 4291).","AnswerText":"The costs are yet to be determinedbut will be made available through the general dental services budget.","AnswerDate":"2008-01-28T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-01-31T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Shona Robison","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":215250,"EventID":"S3W-08589","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2140,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":55,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-17T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-17T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive how many students have applied through UCAS to study at the Aberdeen dental school.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive how many students have applied through UCAS to study at the Aberdeen dental school.","AnswerText":"Due to the tight timescales ofestablishing the new dental school in Aberdeen, applications are not being channelled through UCAS thisyear. Adverts will be placed shortly in the media and a number of expressions ofinterest have already been received.","AnswerDate":"2008-01-28T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-01-31T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Shona Robison","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":215251,"EventID":"S3W-08590","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2140,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":55,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-17T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-17T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive which institution will award degrees to students who study at the Aberdeen dental school.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive which institution will award degrees to students who study at the Aberdeen dental school.","AnswerText":"Initially Aberdeen andDundee Universities will award a joint degree.","AnswerDate":"2008-01-28T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-01-31T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Shona Robison","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":215252,"EventID":"S3W-08591","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2140,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":55,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-17T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-17T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive how many lecturers will be employed at the (a) Aberdeen, (b) Dundee and (c) Glasgow dental schools in the academic year 2008-09.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive how many lecturers will be employed at the (a) Aberdeen, (b) Dundee and (c) Glasgow dental schools in the academic year 2008-09.","AnswerText":"This information isnot held centrally.The latest informationcurrently available is for academic year 2005-06. In 2005-06, there the followingnumber of academic staff (full-time equivalents) were employed in clinical dentistry: (a) Aberdeen 0 (b) Dundee 36 (c) Glasgow 45. Higher educationinstitution staffing informationfor 2006-07 will be published in spring 2008. ","AnswerDate":"2008-02-04T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-01-31T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Fiona Hyslop","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":215253,"EventID":"S3W-08592","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2596,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":7,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-17T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-17T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what the relevant figures under section 2(2)(b)(i) and section 2(2)(b)(ii) of the Public Finance and Accountability (Scotland) Act 2000 would be for each month in 2008-09","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what the relevant figures under section 2(2)(b)(i) and section 2(2)(b)(ii) of the Public Finance and Accountability (Scotland) Act 2000 would be for each month in 2008-09 in the event of section 2 being relevant.","AnswerText":"The relevant figures, based onlatest approved budgets for 2007-08, for each calendar month are show in the followingtable: | Portfolio | Monthly Amount 2007-08* (£ Million) | | Office of the First Minister | 21.2 | | Finance and Sustainable Growth | 298.4 | | Health and Wellbeing | 827.6 | | Education and Lifelong Learning | 268.2 | | Justice | 140.0 | | Rural Affairs and the Environment | 82.3 | | Scottish Government Administration | 21.1 | | Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal | 8.4 | | Local Government | 666.7 | | General Register Office for Scotland | 1.1 | | National Archives of Scotland | 1.1 | | Office of the Scottish Charity Regulator | 0.3 | | Scottish Teachers’ and NHS Pensions | 220.7 | | Forestry Commission | 8.5 | | Food Standards Agency | 0.9 | | Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body | 8.2 | | Audit Scotland | 0.8 | Note: *Budgets following Autumn Budget Revision 2007-08. ","AnswerDate":"2008-02-07T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-01-31T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"John Swinney","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":215254,"EventID":"S3W-08593","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":3775,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":7,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-17T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-17T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive how the additional funding for wheelchair services allocated in each year of the spending review will be distributed, broken down by (a) NHS board, (b) parliamentary cons","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive how the additional funding for wheelchair services allocated in each year of the spending review will be distributed, broken down by (a) NHS board, (b) parliamentary constituency and (c) local authority within the South of Scotland region and what the funding levels would be without the additional allocation.","AnswerText":"The Scottish Governmentwill provide a total of £16 million of additional funding, over the next three financialyears (2008-09 to 2011-12), to reconfigure and modernise NHS wheelchair and seatingservices. The resources will be allocated to the five rehabilitation centres inScotland following the submission of a robust business case from each of the fivecentres, and its approval by the Wheelchair and Seating Services Project Board.In 2006-07 NHS boardsprovided approximately £15 million in total for wheelchair and seating services.Further detailed analysis is not available in the format requested. ","AnswerDate":"2008-01-25T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-01-31T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Nicola Sturgeon","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":215255,"EventID":"S3W-08594","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":3758,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":1,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-17T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-17T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive how the additional funding for wheelchair services allocated in each year of the spending review will be distributed, broken down by (a) NHS board, (b) parliamentary cons","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive how the additional funding for wheelchair services allocated in each year of the spending review will be distributed, broken down by (a) NHS board, (b) parliamentary constituency and (c) local authority within Central Scotland region and what the funding levels would be without the additional allocation.","AnswerText":"I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-8593 on 25 January 2008. All answers to written parliamentaryquestions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for whichcan be found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/wa.search.","AnswerDate":"2008-01-25T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-01-31T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Nicola Sturgeon","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":215256,"EventID":"S3W-08595","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2123,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":32,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-17T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-17T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what action it will take to implement the recommendations of the report that it commissioned, Communication Support Needs: a Review of the Literature.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what action it will take to implement the recommendations of the report that it commissioned, Communication Support Needs: a Review of the Literature.","AnswerText":"The Scottish Governmentvery much welcomes the findings of the research report Communication SupportNeeds: a Review of the Literature, published in June 2007. The review concludedwith recommendations for three further research studies and we are considering theoptions carefully. We hope to respond in the spring with our plans for addressingthe issues raised.","AnswerDate":"2008-01-31T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-01-31T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Stewart Maxwell","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":215257,"EventID":"S3W-08596","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2123,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":32,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-17T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-17T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-7677 by Stewart Maxwell on 20 December 2007, what the total value is of the (a) More Choices More Chances and (b) Workforce Plus fu","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-7677 by Stewart Maxwell on 20 December 2007, what the total value is of the (a) More Choices More Chances and (b) Workforce Plus funds in 2007-08 and on what basis the social inclusion element of each fund was calculated. ","AnswerText":"In 2007-08 the total value of the More Choices More Chances fund was £4.675 million and the total value of WorkforcePlus funding (including the New Futures Fund) was £7.028 million. Investment inboth programmes was made by areas across government, including social inclusion,in order to reflect the importance of a joined-up commitment to tackling issuesof employability.","AnswerDate":"2008-01-25T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-01-31T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Stewart Maxwell","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":215258,"EventID":"S3W-08597","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2633,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":5,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-17T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-17T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answers to question S3F-191 on 4 October 2007 indicating the Executive’s commitment to match the previous administration’s school building programme brick","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answers to question S3F-191 on 4 October 2007 indicating the Executive’s commitment to match the previous administration’s school building programme brick for brick and not to use the private finance initiative for this purpose (Official Report c. 2465), how it intends to finance its school building programme and when the necessary finance will become available.","AnswerText":"The Scottish Budget and the concordatsigned by the Scottish Government and the Convention of Scottish Local Authoritiesprovide revenue resources which include support for PPP projects, as well as significantgrowth in the capital resources being made available to local authorities. Thereis almost £3 billion over the three year period 2008-09 to 2010-11 to secure investmentin schools and other local government infrastructure, including an extra £115 millionin 2008-09 which can be invested in schools if authorities so choose. The localgovernment capital budget represents an average increase of 15% in each year of the settlement compared to 2007-08 figures.The overall local governmentsettlement enables the government to match the previous Executive’s school buildingprogramme brick for brick. ","AnswerDate":"2008-02-08T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-01-31T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Maureen Watt","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":215259,"EventID":"S3W-08598","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2633,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":5,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-17T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-17T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to provide access to funding over and above its three-year settlement to Fife Council for new school buildings in each of the next three financial years","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to provide access to funding over and above its three-year settlement to Fife Council for new school buildings in each of the next three financial years.","AnswerText":"The concordat signedwith COSLA on 14 November 2007 set out the resources being made availableby the Scottish Government to local authorities over the next three years. Underthe terms of the concordat, we will be providing local authorities with almost £3billion of capital resources over that period to secure investment in schools andother local authority infrastructure.Allocations of capital resources within the three-yearsettlement are set out in Annex I of Finance Circular 6/2007, which can be foundon the Scottish Government website at: http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Topics/Government/local-government/17999/11203. It is now for FifeCouncil to determine what proportion of those allocations will be spent on new schoolbuildings. ","AnswerDate":"2008-01-30T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-01-31T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Maureen Watt","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":215260,"EventID":"S3W-08599","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2633,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":5,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-17T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-17T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions it has had with Fife Council regarding the building of new schools in Fife.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions it has had with Fife Council regarding the building of new schools in Fife.","AnswerText":"The Scottish Governmenthas periodic meetings with all local authorities to discuss their school estatemanagement and investment plans detailed decisions on the deployment of capitalresources and plans for new schools are matters for the local authorities.","AnswerDate":"2008-01-30T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-01-31T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Maureen Watt","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":215261,"EventID":"S3W-08600","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2633,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":5,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-17T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-17T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive when funding will be available for Fife Council through the Scottish Futures Trust.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive when funding will be available for Fife Council through the Scottish Futures Trust.","AnswerText":"I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-8469 on 22 January 2008. All answers to written parliamentaryquestions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for whichcan be found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/wa.search.","AnswerDate":"2008-01-22T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-01-31T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"John Swinney","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":215262,"EventID":"S3W-08601","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2633,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":5,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-17T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-17T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive how much funding has been provided in each of the last three years to each local authority area under the (a) the Community Regeneration, (b) Working for Families, (c) Ch","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive how much funding has been provided in each of the last three years to each local authority area under the (a) the Community Regeneration, (b) Working for Families, (c) Changing Children’s Services (social inclusion element), (d) Community Voices, (e) Financial Inclusion, (f) Workforce Plus and (g) More Choices, More Chances funds, also giving the total for all seven funds.","AnswerText":"The funding to each local authorityarea for each of the last three years for each of the named funds are shown in thetables below.2005-06 Allocations (£ Million) | Local Authority | CRF | CV | WFF | WF+ (inc NFF) | MCMC | FIF | CCSF# | Total | | Aberdeen City | 1.22 | 0.06 | - | - | - | - | 0.16 | 1.44 | | Aberdeenshire | 0.14 | 0.03 | - | - | - | - | 0.21 | 0.38 | | Angus | 0.2 | 0.03 | - | - | - | - | 0.1 | 0.33 | | Argyll and Bute | 0.99 | 0.06 | - | - | - | - | 0.09 | 1.14 | | Clackmannanshire | 1.1 | 0.06 | - | - | - | - | 0.05 | 1.21 | | Dumfries and Galloway | 0.68 | 0.03 | 0.6 | - | - | - | 0.15 | 1.46 | | Dundee City | 5.78 | 0.24 | 1 | - | - | - | 0.17 | 7.19 | | East Ayrshire | | Local Authority Area | Funding in 2008-09 (£ Million) | Funding in 2009-10 (£ Million) | Funding in 2010-11 (£ Million) | Total (£ Million) | | Aberdeen City | 2.118 | 2.481 | 2.843 | 7.442 | | Aberdeenshire | 0.791 | 1.038 | 1.286 | 3.115 | | Angus | 0.735 | 0.988 | 1.240 | 2.963 | | Argyll and Bute | 0.826 | 0.965 | 1.104 | 2.895 | | Clackmannanshire | 1.823 | 2.043 | 2.263 | 6.129 | | Dumfries and Galloway | 1.574 | 1.634 | 1.694 | 4.902 | | Dundee City | 8.441 | 8.286 | 8.131 | 24.858 | | East Ayrshire | 4.652 | 4.621 | 4.589 | 13.862 | | East Dunbartonshire | 0.426 | 0.523 | 0.621 | 1.57 | | East Lothian | 0.279 | 0.413 | 0.546 | 1.238 | | East Renfrewshire | 0.624 | 0.575 | 0.526 | 1.725 | | Edinburgh, City of | 7.645 | 7.599 | ","AnswerDate":"2008-02-13T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-01-31T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Stewart Maxwell","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":215265,"EventID":"S3W-08604","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2633,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":5,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-17T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-17T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive on what basis funds were distributed to each local authority area under the (a) Community Regeneration, (b) Working for Families, (c) Changing Children’s Services (social","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive on what basis funds were distributed to each local authority area under the (a) Community Regeneration, (b) Working for Families, (c) Changing Children’s Services (social inclusion element), (d) Community Voices, (e) Financial Inclusion, (f) Workforce Plus and (g) More Choices, More Chances funds.","AnswerText":"These fundingprogrammes did not share a common allocation methodology. Each was allocated basedon the key principle of up-to-date objective evidence of levels of need inlocal areas. ","AnswerDate":"2008-01-30T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-01-31T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Stewart Maxwell","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":215266,"EventID":"S3W-08605","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2633,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":5,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-17T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-17T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what estimates it has made from the efficiency savings from combining the Community Regeneration, Working for Families, Changing Children’s Services (social inclusion ele","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what estimates it has made from the efficiency savings from combining the Community Regeneration, Working for Families, Changing Children’s Services (social inclusion element), Community Voices, Financial Inclusion, Workforce Plus and More Choices, More Chances funds into the Fairer Scotland Fund.","AnswerText":"The replacement of seven individual funds, each with its own individualmonitoring regime, with the Fairer Scotland Fund will bring real benefits forCommunity Planning partners in terms of reduced bureaucracy, and monitoring andreporting requirements. Consolidation of these funding streams will also givelocal partners more flexibility to allocate funds to meet local needs andpriorities. It will be for each individual Community Planning Partnership toestimate and manage any resultant savings.","AnswerDate":"2008-01-30T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-01-31T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Stewart Maxwell","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":215267,"EventID":"S3W-08606","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2030,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":1,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-17T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-17T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-8259 by Richard Lochhead on 17 January 2008, how it will specifically allocate the £154 million retained portion of the Strategic W","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-8259 by Richard Lochhead on 17 January 2008, how it will specifically allocate the £154 million retained portion of the Strategic Waste Fund. ","AnswerText":"In my statement on waste policyto Parliament on 24 January 2008, I indicated that we intended to allocate over £100 millionof this fund to support recycling and composting infrastructure; anaerobic digestionplants treating source segregated organic waste; high efficiency energy from wasteplants and other facilities which divert waste from landfill and have high environmentalperformance. I will establish a short-life working group with the Convention ofScottish Local Authorities to discuss this further. The remainder of the fund willbe used to support work on markets for recycled products, waste education and awareness,litter and flytipping, community recycling, waste prevention and commercial andindustrial waste.","AnswerDate":"2008-01-28T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-01-31T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Richard Lochhead","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":215268,"EventID":"S3W-08607","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":3811,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":4,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-17T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-17T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether it supports the reported comments by the Cabinet Secretary for Justice to Portobello High School Parents Council on 14 January 2008 that, as a result of the local","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether it supports the reported comments by the Cabinet Secretary for Justice to Portobello High School Parents Council on 14 January 2008 that, as a result of the local government settlement, councils no longer apply to the Scottish Government for additional capital funding as they have been allocated additional budget to use as they see fit.","AnswerText":"The Scottish Government, like the Scottish Executive before it, does not provide specific funding for the rebuilding of individual schools. Under the local government settlement the government makes capital resources available to authorities. It is then for the authority to decide what proportion of their allocation, together with any other resources they wish so to deploy, will be used to fund capital investment in schools, and in which particular schools. The Scottish Budget and the concordat signed by the Scottish Government and the Convention of Scottish Local Authorities provide for significant growth in the capital resources being made available to local authorities. There is almost £3 billion over the three year period 2008-09 to 2010-11 to secure investment in schools and other local government infrastructure, including an extra £115 million in 2008-09 which can be invested in schools if authorities so choose. The local government capital budget represents an average increase of 15% in each year of the settlement compared to 2007-08 figures. ","AnswerDate":"2008-01-31T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-01-31T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Maureen Watt","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":215269,"EventID":"S3W-08608","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":3811,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":4,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-17T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-17T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether it supports the reported comments by the Cabinet Secretary for Justice to Portobello High School Parents Council on 14 January 2008 that City of Edinburgh Council","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether it supports the reported comments by the Cabinet Secretary for Justice to Portobello High School Parents Council on 14 January 2008 that City of Edinburgh Council does not need to present a business case or apply to the Scottish Government for funding for a new Portobello High School and that, once it has decided to commit to a new school, the council must determine how to fund the project from its own resources.","AnswerText":"The ScottishGovernment, like the Scottish Executive before it, does not provide specificfunding for the rebuilding of individual schools. Under the local governmentsettlement the government makes capital resources available to authorities. Itis then for the authority to decide what proportion of their allocation,together with any other resources they wish so to deploy, will be used to fundcapital investment in schools and in which particular schools.The ScottishBudget and the concordat signed by the Scottish Government and the Conventionof Scottish Local Authorities provide for significant growth in the capitalresources being made available to local authorities. There is almost £3 billionover the three year period 2008-09 to 2010-11 to secure investment in schoolsand other local government infrastructure, including an extra £115 million in2008-09 which can be invested in schools if authorities so choose. The localgovernment capital budget represents an average increase of 15% in each year of the settlement compared to 2007-08 figures. ","AnswerDate":"2008-01-31T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-01-31T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Maureen Watt","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":215270,"EventID":"S3W-08609","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1803,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":58,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-17T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-17T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-7864 by Adam Ingram on 17 January 2008, how much of the £34 million will be allocated to South Lanarkshire, regardless of whether o","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-7864 by Adam Ingram on 17 January 2008, how much of the £34 million will be allocated to South Lanarkshire, regardless of whether or not it has been ring-fenced.","AnswerText":"the Scottish Government is investing record levels of funding in local governmentand creating a new relationship built on mutual trust and respect. As describedin the Concordat this gives local government increased local flexibility andreduced bureaucracy to assist them and their partners in delivering highquality services. South Lanarkshire Council will receive a proportionate shareof this record funding and can use these resources to improve support to disabledchildren and their families as well as the many other groups throughout thecommunity to whom they provide vital services.","AnswerDate":"2008-01-30T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-01-31T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Adam Ingram","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":215271,"EventID":"S3W-08610","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1803,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":58,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-17T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-17T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive which third sector organisations will be funded directly by the Scottish Government and how much each organisation will receive in (a) 2008-09, (b) 2009-10 and (c) 2010-1","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive which third sector organisations will be funded directly by the Scottish Government and how much each organisation will receive in (a) 2008-09, (b) 2009-10 and (c) 2010-11.","AnswerText":"The Scottish Government willsupport a number of third sector organisations over the coming spending period.The number and identity of organisations, together with associated levels of funding,cannot be determined at this stage as many funds are competitive in nature, opento organisations out with the third sector, or dependent on an application process.In addition, responsibility forsome local delivery decisions will transfer to local authorities over the comingspending period as part of the single outcome agreement approach. The government has historicallycollated and published its levels of support to the sector retrospectively, andwill continue to do so. ","AnswerDate":"2008-01-28T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-01-31T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Jim Mather","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":215272,"EventID":"S3W-08611","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1803,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":58,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-17T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-17T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive how much of the £45 million previously allocated by the Scottish Government for flood alleviation and now part of the local government settlement will be allocated to Sou","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive how much of the £45 million previously allocated by the Scottish Government for flood alleviation and now part of the local government settlement will be allocated to South Lanarkshire Council in (a) 2008-09, (b) 2009-10 and (c) 2010-11.","AnswerText":"The local government settlement included £42.346 million in flood prevention/coast protection grant previously committed for the years 2008-11 for such schemes which were already underway. The settlement for South Lanarkshire Council for 2008-09 includes £30,000 being the balance of a flood prevention grant committed to the council since 2006. ","AnswerDate":"2008-01-24T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-01-31T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Michael Russell","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":215273,"EventID":"S3W-08612","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1803,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":58,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-17T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-17T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive how much was allocated to South Lanarkshire Council for 2007-08 to provide nursery places to vulnerable two-year-olds and how much will be allocated to it as part of the ","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive how much was allocated to South Lanarkshire Council for 2007-08 to provide nursery places to vulnerable two-year-olds and how much will be allocated to it as part of the local government settlement that was previously ring-fenced for this purpose in (a) 2008-09, (b) 2009-10 and (c) 2010-11.","AnswerText":"No specific funding was allocated to South Lanarkshire Council for 2007-08 to provide nursery places for vulnerable two year olds. The local government finance settlement for 2008-11 sees a move away from a focus on such inputs and targets to focussing on outcomes. Single outcome agreements will be agreed with each council which will set out the local priorities for each area. Record levels of funding have been invested in local government over 2008-11 to help them work towards the agreed priorities. ","AnswerDate":"2008-01-29T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-01-31T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Adam Ingram","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":215274,"EventID":"S3W-08613","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1803,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":58,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-17T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-17T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive how many vulnerable two-years-olds in the South Lanarkshire Council area have been provided with nursery places as a result of ring-fenced funding in 2007-08.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive how many vulnerable two-years-olds in the South Lanarkshire Council area have been provided with nursery places as a result of ring-fenced funding in 2007-08.","AnswerText":"I refer the member to the answerto question S3W-8612 on 29 January 2008.All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/wa.search.","AnswerDate":"2008-01-29T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-01-31T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Adam Ingram","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":215275,"EventID":"S3W-08614","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1803,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":58,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-17T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-17T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether it intends to replace the Chief Executive of sportscotland.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether it intends to replace the Chief Executive of sportscotland.","AnswerText":"The replacementof the chief executive of sportscotland is a matter for the board of sportscotland.There are no plans to replace Stewart Harris the current chief executive of sportscotland.","AnswerDate":"2008-01-31T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-01-31T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Stewart Maxwell","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":215276,"EventID":"S3W-08615","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1803,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":58,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-17T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-17T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive how much of the GAE for South Lanarkshire Council is for investment in the non-trunk roads network.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive how much of the GAE for South Lanarkshire Council is for investment in the non-trunk roads network.","AnswerText":"GAE is not funding. Rather, it is a means of distributingthe grant that the Scottish Government provides to local government. Generally itis the responsibility of each local authority to allocate the total financial resourcesavailable to it on the basis of local needs and priorities, having first fulfilledits statutory obligations and addressed the jointly agreed set of national and localpriorities including the Scottish Government’s key strategic objectives and manifestocommitments.It is, therefore, for South LanarkshireCouncil to determine its spending priorities, including investment on non-trunkroads in its area. ","AnswerDate":"2008-01-28T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-01-31T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Stewart Stevenson","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":215277,"EventID":"S3W-08616","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1803,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":58,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-17T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-17T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to increase the range of services available to adults with learning disabilities.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to increase the range of services available to adults with learning disabilities.","AnswerText":"The provision of support servicesfor people with learning disabilities is the responsibility of local governmentto be drawn from the local government settlement of £34.7 billion over three years.The Scottish Government is alsocommitted to increasing the uptake of self-directed support for people with learningdisabilities. This will enable people to have more choice about how they are supportedand what services they receive. ","AnswerDate":"2008-01-28T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-01-31T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Shona Robison","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":215278,"EventID":"S3W-08617","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1803,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":58,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-17T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-17T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether its negotiating approach to the December fisheries council would have differed from that of the UK Government and, if so, how it would have differed and what spec","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether its negotiating approach to the December fisheries council would have differed from that of the UK Government and, if so, how it would have differed and what specific different outcomes it considers would have been achieved.","AnswerText":"The deal securedat the EU December Council was good for Scotland’s fishing industry and good for Scotland’s marine environment. It was also positive for all other parts of the UK, and I was pleased with the positive collaborativeworking, particularly with my ministerial colleague from Northern Ireland.The UK line would have been less persuasive and less wellarticulated, and the deal less beneficial for the UKfishing industry as a whole, without the effective, informed input of the ScottishGovernment. If Scotland had a seat at the Brussels negotiating table, that input would be even moreinfluential, both during the autumn negotiations and, critically, in shapingthe debate throughout the year. There would also be better negotiatingprocesses, with a more transparent, systematic and proactive approach topreparing the negotiations in close and open collaboration with stakeholdersacross the UK. There is littleto be gained by speculating on what specific outcomes might have beendifferent. A key strength of the preparations undertaken by the ScottishGovernment was the intensive engagement with the fishing industry. From this itwas clear that there should have been earlier acceptance across the UK of the merits of the approach behind Scotland’s Conservation Credits Scheme. I am delighted thatthe benefits of our approach have now been fully recognised by the UKGovernment and the English fishing industry as a better way to bring aboutreductions in cod mortality. Had this position been adopted earlier, an even morepersuasive and transparent message could have been sent out to the EuropeanCommission and other member states about the UK’sposition. ","AnswerDate":"2008-01-30T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-02-01T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Richard Lochhead","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":215279,"EventID":"S3W-08618","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1803,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":58,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-17T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-17T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what support it is giving to the textile industry.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what support it is giving to the textile industry.","AnswerText":"Scottishministers provide a wide range of support to the textiles industry through the EnterpriseNetworks, Scottish Development International and Regional Selective Assistance,our national scheme of financialassistance to industry.The Textiles Teamin Scottish Enterprise works closely with the industry on a range of projects aimedat raising the profile of the industry, forging collaborative links in complementarytechnologies and supporting skill development. Textiles companies can rely on therange of business support services offered by Scottish Enterprise through BusinessGateway and the account management mechanism. In addition, the Scottish ManufacturingAdvisory Service delivers specialist advice to manufacturing companies in Scotland,including the textile industry. ","AnswerDate":"2008-01-30T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-01-31T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Jim Mather","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":215280,"EventID":"S3W-08619","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1803,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":58,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-17T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-17T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive how it will support Scottish fishermen to maximise the opportunities from the conservation credit scheme.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive how it will support Scottish fishermen to maximise the opportunities from the conservation credit scheme.","AnswerText":"The Conservation Credit Schemegives us the flexibility to reward our fishermen with additional days at sea wherethey can demonstrate that they are signed up to initiatives which have an appreciableimpact on the conservation of fragile fish stocks.A Conservation Credit SchemeSteering Group, whose membership includes industry and conservation representatives,has been established to oversee the design, implementation and operation of thescheme. Funding is available from a range of government sources to support the opportunitieswhich will arise as a result of the scheme, such as the European Fisheries Fundand the Scottish Industry Science Partnership. ","AnswerDate":"2008-01-28T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-01-31T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Richard Lochhead","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":215281,"EventID":"S3W-08620","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":4080,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":6,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-17T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-17T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions it has had with Aberdeenshire Council on the provision of funding for a replacement Ellon Academy.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions it has had with Aberdeenshire Council on the provision of funding for a replacement Ellon Academy.","AnswerText":"There have been general,rather than school specific, discussions with representatives of Aberdeenshire Councilon the council’s school estate management and investment plans. Decisions on thedeployment of capital resources at their disposal are matters for the council accordingto their assessment of needs and priorities.","AnswerDate":"2008-01-30T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-01-31T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Maureen Watt","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":215282,"EventID":"S3W-08621","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":4080,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":6,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-17T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-17T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has with regards to funding a second round of the Scottish Biomass Support Scheme.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has with regards to funding a second round of the Scottish Biomass Support Scheme.","AnswerText":"Following the spending review,substantial additional funding is available for microgeneration and community renewables,including biomass projects. The Scottish Government is currently considering futuresupport for biomass projects outside these categories, and will take into accountthe potential to increase support for biomass under the Renewables Obligation aswell as the progress made by projects under the current Scottish Biomass SupportScheme.","AnswerDate":"2008-02-08T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-01-31T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Jim Mather","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":215283,"EventID":"S3W-08622","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2603,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":6,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-17T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-17T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive how many children and young people were admitted to hospital in Grampian as a result of domestic violence in (a) 2002, (b) 2003, (c) 2004, (d) 2005, (e) 2006 and (f) 2007","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive how many children and young people were admitted to hospital in Grampian as a result of domestic violence in (a) 2002, (b) 2003, (c) 2004, (d) 2005, (e) 2006 and (f) 2007.","AnswerText":"The requested information isnot centrally available.There is no specific diagnosisfor domestic violence as coded by International Classification of Diseases and RelatedHealth Problems (10th Revision). Statistics on incidentsof domestic abuse reported to the police are published annually, most recently inNovember 2007. The bulletin, Domestic Abuse Recorded by the Police in Scotland, 2006-07, can be accessed via the following link: http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Publications/2007/11/22153700/0. ","AnswerDate":"2008-01-25T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-01-31T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Nicola Sturgeon","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":215284,"EventID":"S3W-08623","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2603,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":6,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-17T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-17T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive how many people in (a) Aberdeen, (b) Grampian and (c) Angus were convicted on charges related to domestic violence in (i) 2002, (ii) 2003, (iii) 2004, (iv) 2005, (v) 2006","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive how many people in (a) Aberdeen, (b) Grampian and (c) Angus were convicted on charges related to domestic violence in (i) 2002, (ii) 2003, (iii) 2004, (iv) 2005, (v) 2006 and (vi) 2007.","AnswerText":"In 2005-06 in Aberdeen, Grampianand Angus areas there were 18, 39 and 73 persons respectively, with a charge provedin Scottish courts where a domestic abuse aggravator has been recorded. Figuresin Aberdeen and Angus are presented on an approximate local authority basis, whileGrampian figures are presented on a police force basis. 2005-06 is the first yearwhere it has been considered that the use and recording of domestic abuse aggravatorcodes from the Scottish Government Court Proceedings Database has been of sufficientcoverage to be used.","AnswerDate":"2008-01-29T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-01-31T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Kenny MacAskill","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":215285,"EventID":"S3W-08624","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2603,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":6,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-17T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-17T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive how many incidents of domestic violence were reported to Grampian Police in (a) 2002, (b) 2003, (c) 2004, (d) 2005, (e) 2006 and (f) 2007.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive how many incidents of domestic violence were reported to Grampian Police in (a) 2002, (b) 2003, (c) 2004, (d) 2005, (e) 2006 and (f) 2007.","AnswerText":"The available information isgiven in the following table.Incidents of Domestic AbuseRecorded by the Police in Grampian, 2001-02 to 2006-07 | | Year Recorded | | 2001-02 | 2002-03 | 2003-04 | 2004-05 | 2005-06 | 2006-07 | | Grampian | 3,934 | 4,128 | 4,269 | 4,373 | 3,560 | 3,137 | ","AnswerDate":"2008-01-29T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-01-31T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Kenny MacAskill","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":215286,"EventID":"S3W-08625","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2603,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":6,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-17T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-17T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what it is doing to ensure that there is adequate provision of mental health services in (a) Aberdeen, (b) Grampian and (c) Angus.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what it is doing to ensure that there is adequate provision of mental health services in (a) Aberdeen, (b) Grampian and (c) Angus.","AnswerText":"Mental health is a priority forthe Scottish Government. Improved mental health is an important part of the higherquality of life that we want to deliver for everyone in Scotland. Therehas been steady progress in developing and improving mental health services acrossScotland, supported by the record levels of funding that we and our partner agenciesare continuing to invest in mental health care. We want this progress to continueand we have 18 published targets and commitments relating to mental health. Theseare designed to address specific needs earlier and to engage more closely than everbefore with people who use services.Within this framework NHSboards, working with partner agencies, are responsible for assessing local serviceneeds and for providing services to meet these needs. It is therefore for NHS Grampianto ensure that appropriate services are in place in Aberdeen and the wider Grampianarea and for NHS Tayside to do so in Angus. Both NHS boards have well-developedmental health strategies that aim to deliver services that are consistent with needthroughout the areas for which they are responsible. We will continue to work closelywith the boards as they implement these strategies. ","AnswerDate":"2008-01-28T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-01-31T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Shona Robison","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":215287,"EventID":"S3W-08626","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2167,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":3,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-17T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-17T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive how it plans to progress the broadband reach project following the closing of registration for those currently unable to receive a broadband service.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive how it plans to progress the broadband reach project following the closing of registration for those currently unable to receive a broadband service.","AnswerText":"Our broadband reach projectis progressing well. We are currently completing the verification of all the registrationswe have received. The Scottish Government consider all registered premises withoutbroadband access to be a priority and their details will thus be passed topotential suppliers, as part of our procurement process.We will now be entering acompetitive dialogue phase with several suppliers. Over the next few months they will be asked to show, withintheir bids, how they propose to deliver solutions to registered premises. We are aiming to sign acontract by April and have allocated up to £3.5 million to deliver broadband accessover 2008. ","AnswerDate":"2008-01-28T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-01-31T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Jim Mather","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":215288,"EventID":"S3W-08627","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2167,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":3,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-17T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-17T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what timescale it has to respond to those who have registered their details through the Broadband for Scotland campaign.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what timescale it has to respond to those who have registered their details through the Broadband for Scotland campaign.","AnswerText":"We are currently contactingthose who made registrations under our broadband campaign. This work iscompleting in the next few weeks and will verify the list of access problems beingaddressed in our procurement exercise. Our timescale for deploying actualsolutions is the end of 2008.","AnswerDate":"2008-01-28T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-01-31T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Jim Mather","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":215289,"EventID":"S3W-08628","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2167,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":3,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-17T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-17T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive how it plans to prioritise the provision of broadband to all households and businesses in Scotland currently unable to obtain an ADSL service.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive how it plans to prioritise the provision of broadband to all households and businesses in Scotland currently unable to obtain an ADSL service.","AnswerText":"I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-8626 on 28 January 2008. Allanswers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website,the search facility for which can be found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/wa.search","AnswerDate":"2008-01-28T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-01-31T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Jim Mather","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":215290,"EventID":"S3W-08629","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2167,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":3,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-17T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-17T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what funding measures are in place to ensure that all households and businesses will be provided with a broadband service.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what funding measures are in place to ensure that all households and businesses will be provided with a broadband service.","AnswerText":"I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-8626 on 28 January 2008. Allanswers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website,the search facility for which can be found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/wa.search.","AnswerDate":"2008-01-28T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-01-31T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Jim Mather","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":215291,"EventID":"S3W-08630","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1853,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":16,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-17T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-17T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-5755 by Linda Fabiani on 9 November 2007, when an announcement will be made about the detailed arrangements for the implementation ","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-5755 by Linda Fabiani on 9 November 2007, when an announcement will be made about the detailed arrangements for the implementation of the artists’ grant scheme.","AnswerText":"Further to the response I providedon 9 November, I have no additional information to offer at this stage.","AnswerDate":"2008-01-28T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-01-31T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Linda Fabiani","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":215292,"EventID":"S3W-08631","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1853,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":16,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-17T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-17T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-5756 by Linda Fabiani on 8 November 2007, when a report on the outcome of the July 2007 Scotland-Malawi Joint Commission meeting wi","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-5756 by Linda Fabiani on 8 November 2007, when a report on the outcome of the July 2007 Scotland-Malawi Joint Commission meeting will be published.","AnswerText":"Following formal clearancefrom the Government of Malawi a copy of the outcomes of the Joint Commission meetingheld in July 2007 was placed on the Scottish Government’s website at:http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Topics/Government/International-Relations/internationaldevelopment/JointCommissionMeetings/JointCommissionMeetings. ","AnswerDate":"2008-01-31T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-01-31T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Linda Fabiani","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":215293,"EventID":"S3W-08632","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1853,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":16,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-17T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-17T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-5747 by Linda Fabiani on 8 November 2007, when an announcement will be made on the outcome of its consideration of its proposal to ","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-5747 by Linda Fabiani on 8 November 2007, when an announcement will be made on the outcome of its consideration of its proposal to merge the Royal Commission on Ancient and Historical Monuments and Historic Scotland.","AnswerText":"The First Ministermade a statement to Parliament on 30 January, setting out a broad packageto deliver a new, coherent approach to shaping Scotland’s public service.As part of this, wepropose to rationalise historic archival, recording and scheduling functions andexamine the scope for streamlining across RCAHMS, Historic Scotland and the NationalArchives of Scotland. ","AnswerDate":"2008-01-31T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-01-31T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Linda Fabiani","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":215294,"EventID":"S3W-08633","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1853,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":16,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-17T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-17T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-5757 by Linda Fabiani on 6 November 2007, when it will make an announcement on the outcome of the review of legislation covering he","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-5757 by Linda Fabiani on 6 November 2007, when it will make an announcement on the outcome of the review of legislation covering heritage protection.","AnswerText":"I responded to the Historic Environment Advisory Council for Scotland''s reports on heritage legislation and local government on 21 December 2007, and this was supplemented with further information on 29 January 2008. I have asked my officials in Historic Scotland to forward copies of both responses to you for information. ","AnswerDate":"2008-01-31T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-01-31T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Linda Fabiani","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":215295,"EventID":"S3W-08634","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1853,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":16,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-17T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-17T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-6487 by Stewart Maxwell on 26 November 2007, which stakeholders have consented to the publication of their response to the review o","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-6487 by Stewart Maxwell on 26 November 2007, which stakeholders have consented to the publication of their response to the review of sportscotland and when the responses will be published.","AnswerText":"We have contactedthe stakeholders involved with the review seeking permission to release all availablecorrespondence. We have already received a number of consents and will await allresponses before we publish, subject to freedom of information legislation.","AnswerDate":"2008-01-31T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-01-31T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Stewart Maxwell","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":215296,"EventID":"S3W-08635","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1853,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":16,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-17T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-17T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-5748 by Linda Fabiani on 8 November 2007, when it will make an announcement on the outcome of the review of the International Devel","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-5748 by Linda Fabiani on 8 November 2007, when it will make an announcement on the outcome of the review of the International Development Policy, showing which African countries it will provide with aid and when such aid will be provided.","AnswerText":"An announcement on the outcomeof the review and future funding will be made soon.","AnswerDate":"2008-01-28T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-01-31T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Linda Fabiani","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":215297,"EventID":"S3W-08636","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":3896,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":25,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-18T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-18T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has received the Scottish Law Commission’s report on its review of aspects of the law on time bar relating to personal injury claims and, if so, when both the ","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has received the Scottish Law Commission’s report on its review of aspects of the law on time bar relating to personal injury claims and, if so, when both the report and the Executive’s response to any of the commission’s recommendations will be made public.","AnswerText":"The Scottish Executive has receivedthe Scottish Law Commission’s (SLC) report on Personal Injury Actions: Limitation and Prescribed Claims. The report was published on 5 December 2007 and canbe viewed on the SLC’s website at:http://www.scotlawcom.gov.uk/downloads/rep207.pdf. The Scottish Executive is currentlyconsidering the recommendations in the report. ","AnswerDate":"2008-01-24T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-02-01T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Fergus Ewing","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":215298,"EventID":"S3W-08637","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":4080,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":6,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-17T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-17T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what consultation it has undertaken on the transferring of powers from Scottish Enterprise to local authorities.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what consultation it has undertaken on the transferring of powers from Scottish Enterprise to local authorities.","AnswerText":"No formal consultation processwas conducted in formulating the enterprise networks reform proposals, which includesthe transfer of Scottish Enterprise’s local regeneration functions and responsibilityof Business Gateway contracts to local authorities. However, both the Cabinet Secretaryfor Finance and Sustainable Development and I, as well as officials, engaged in a significant period of discussion with stakeholdersrepresenting a wide range of interests from across the business community, localauthorities, COSLA, trade unions, the enterprise networks and LEC Board membersthemselves.","AnswerDate":"2008-01-28T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-01-31T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Jim Mather","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":215299,"EventID":"S3W-08638","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":4080,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":6,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-17T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-17T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive which powers of Scottish Enterprise it is planning to transfer to local authorities.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive which powers of Scottish Enterprise it is planning to transfer to local authorities.","AnswerText":"Under the reforms, responsibilityfor certain functions in relation to local regeneration activity and to the BusinessGateway will transfer from Scottish Enterprise to local authorities.","AnswerDate":"2008-01-28T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-01-31T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Jim Mather","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":215300,"EventID":"S3W-08639","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":4080,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":6,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-17T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-17T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what progress has been made on transferring powers from Scottish Enterprise to local authorities.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what progress has been made on transferring powers from Scottish Enterprise to local authorities.","AnswerText":"The transfer of activity, ratherthan formal powers, is currently subject to on-going discussion between ScottishEnterprise, COSLA and local authorities. Good progress is being made and this processwill be completed as soon as possible.","AnswerDate":"2008-01-28T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-01-31T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Jim Mather","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":215301,"EventID":"S3W-08640","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2123,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":32,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-18T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-18T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answers to questions S3W-6591 and S3W-6592 by Linda Fabiani on 6 December 2007, what percentage the total planned cultural budget, including Historic Scot","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answers to questions S3W-6591 and S3W-6592 by Linda Fabiani on 6 December 2007, what percentage the total planned cultural budget, including Historic Scotland, for (a) 2007-08 and (b) 2008-09 is of the total Scottish budget in each year, expressed to two decimal places.","AnswerText":"The budget for culture is part of the First Minister portfolio's total allocation and is detailed as follows. The cultural aspects of the budget are highlighted in bold. | | 2007-08 Budget (£ Million) | 2008-09 Draft Budget (£ Million) | 2009-10 Plans (£ Million) | 2010-11 Plans (£ Million) | | Europe and External Affairs | 13.8 | 15.2 | 15.2 | 18.2 | | Culture and Gaelic | 181.7 | 189.1 | 204.2 | 211.2 | | Corporate and Central Budgets | 14.1 | 14.4 | 14.5 | 15.0 | | Historic Scotland | 47.7 | 51.7 | 49.3 | 50.3 | | National Archives of Scotland | 9.0 | 10.3 | 10.3 | 10.5 | | Culture Total | 238.4 | 251.1 | 263.8 | 272 | | Overall Portfolio Total | 266.3 | 280.7 | 293.5 | 305.2 | I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-6592 on 6 December 2007, which provided figures which were calculated using total Scottish Budget figures that included Annually Managed Expenditure which contains those elements of expenditure that are not readily predictable such as NHS and Teachers' pensions and the cost of capital for Scotland's trunk road network. The alternative measure of Scottish Government budget is Departmental Expenditure Limit. Both these figures for each year are noted as follows. 2007-08 Total Managed Expenditure (TME) = £31,894.9 million. Departmental Expenditure Limit (DEL) (minus AME) = £26,717.4 million. 2008-09 Total Managed Expenditure (TME) = £33,181.2 million. Departmental Expenditure Limit (DEL) (minus AME) = £27,891.7million. For consistency's sake, the percentage figures requested have been provided using both TME and DEL b","AnswerDate":"2008-03-03T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-02-01T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Linda Fabiani","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":215302,"EventID":"S3W-08641","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2123,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":32,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-18T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-18T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will provide a breakdown of the planned culture budget for (a) 2007-08 and (b) 2008-09 into (i) capital and (ii) resource.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will provide a breakdown of the planned culture budget for (a) 2007-08 and (b) 2008-09 into (i) capital and (ii) resource.","AnswerText":"The budget for culture is part of the First Minister's portfolio total allocation and is detailed as follows. | | 2007-08 | 2008-09 | | Resource | Capital | Total | Resource | Capital | Total | | Europe and External Affairs | 13.8 | 0.0 | 13.8 | 15.2 | 0.0 | 15.2 | | Culture and Gaelic | 163.7 | 18.0 | 181.7 | 173.1 | 16.0 | 189.1 | | Corporate and Central Budgets | 14.1 | 0.0 | 14.1 | 14.4 | 0.0 | 14.4 | | Historic Scotland | 46.7 | 1.0 | 47.7 | 47.0 | 4.7 | 51.7 | | National Archives of Scotland | 7.4 | 1.6 | 9.0 | 7.6 | 2.7 | 10.3 | | Culture Total | 217.8 | 20.6 | 238.4 | 227.7 | 23.4 | 251.1 | | Overall Portfolio Total | 245.7 | ","AnswerDate":"2008-01-28T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-02-01T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Linda Fabiani","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":215304,"EventID":"S3W-08643","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2123,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":32,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-18T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-18T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what action it will take to protect archaeological artefacts, following the decision not to proceed with Part 4 of the draft Culture Bill.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what action it will take to protect archaeological artefacts, following the decision not to proceed with Part 4 of the draft Culture Bill.","AnswerText":"The government remainssympathetic to legislation which would create a criminal offence relating to dealingin tainted cultural objects. Should a suitable opportunity arise in our legislativeprogramme, we will consider progressing this matter further.","AnswerDate":"2008-02-01T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-02-01T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Linda Fabiani","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":215305,"EventID":"S3W-08644","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2123,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":32,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-18T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-18T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what proposals it has to strengthen the Treasure Trove system, either by the appointment of finds liaison officers or in other ways.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what proposals it has to strengthen the Treasure Trove system, either by the appointment of finds liaison officers or in other ways.","AnswerText":"My officials haverecently held discussions with the chair of the Scottish Archaeological FindsAllocation Panel and the Queen and Lord Treasurer's Remembrancer to discuss theoperation of the Treasure Trove system in Scotland. I have also offered to meet the chair and the other panel members. In addition tothis I have recently agreed to the publication of a code of practice onTreasure Trove which is intended to act as an advisory notice setting outguidance and best practice in relation to Scots common law as applied toportable antiquities. The code will bepublished and widely distributed shortly. ","AnswerDate":"2008-01-31T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-02-01T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Linda Fabiani","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":215306,"EventID":"S3W-08645","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2123,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":32,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-18T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-18T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what legislative changes it believes are required to ensure that dealing in tainted cultural objects does not occur in Scotland.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what legislative changes it believes are required to ensure that dealing in tainted cultural objects does not occur in Scotland.","AnswerText":"While we are not aware that Scotlandhas a problem with this type of illicit activity at present, the government remainssympathetic to such legislation and we are looking at the options available to us,including examining legislation that already exists such as the Dealing in CulturalObjects (Offences) Act 2003. This will assist ministers in determining how bestto proceed.","AnswerDate":"2008-02-08T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-02-01T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Linda Fabiani","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":215307,"EventID":"S3W-08646","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2123,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":32,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-18T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-18T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what (a) legislative or (b) other action it believes is required to ensure that all newly discovered Scottish archaeological material is reported through the Treasure Tro","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what (a) legislative or (b) other action it believes is required to ensure that all newly discovered Scottish archaeological material is reported through the Treasure Trove system.","AnswerText":"I refer themember to the answer given to question S3W-8644 on 31 January 2008. All answers to written parliamentary questions areavailable on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can befound at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/wa.search.","AnswerDate":"2008-01-31T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-02-01T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Linda Fabiani","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":215308,"EventID":"S3W-08647","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2123,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":32,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-18T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-18T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will provide an update on the progress of the cultural pathfinder programmes, showing how their current purpose compares with their purpose as originally descr","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will provide an update on the progress of the cultural pathfinder programmes, showing how their current purpose compares with their purpose as originally described.","AnswerText":"The pathfinder programme,the majority of whose 13 projects began in January 2007, was established by thelast administration to explore community engagement at a “grass roots” level, and ways to engage those who do not take partin culture – through some novel and meaningful approaches. Interim reports are currentlybeing submitted by the projects. There is evidence that the programme is havingsome success in achieving its objectives, engaging target groups who were identifiedas “hard to reach” and under-represented in terms of cultural participation, anddiscovering what culture means to them and what their aspirations are. That is acommon thread which runs through all of the projects; they are also exploring linksbetween culture and community planning.Most of the projectsin the programme are due to finish in the early part of 2008. An independent evaluationwill soon be commissioned which will consider the interim findings and, later, thefinal impacts from the programme. The evaluation report will be published and widelydisseminated. ","AnswerDate":"2008-02-04T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-02-01T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Linda Fabiani","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":215309,"EventID":"S3W-08648","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2123,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":32,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-18T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-18T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive when it will introduce its Creative Scotland Bill to the Parliament.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive when it will introduce its Creative Scotland Bill to the Parliament.","AnswerText":"We will introduce a bill to establishCreative Scotland as soon as possible in 2008.","AnswerDate":"2008-01-28T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-02-01T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Linda Fabiani","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":215310,"EventID":"S3W-08649","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2596,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":7,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-18T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-18T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3O-1869 by Shona Robison on 17 January 2008, what the projected cost to it will be of the reduction in the costs of prepayment prescri","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3O-1869 by Shona Robison on 17 January 2008, what the projected cost to it will be of the reduction in the costs of prepayment prescription certificates and individual prescription charges in each year from 2008-09 to 2010-11.","AnswerText":"We estimate the projectedcosts, taking into account lost income from charges and the potential increaseddemand on drug costs, of phasing out prescription charges in each year from 2008-09to 2010-11 to be as set out in the table below. The projected costs will dependupon the actual level of any increased demand. | Year | Proposed Charge | Estimated Additional Cost | | 2008-09 | £5.00 | £17 million | | 2009-10 | £4.00 | £24 million | | 2010-11 | £3.00 | £32 million | ","AnswerDate":"2008-01-31T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-02-01T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Shona Robison","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":215311,"EventID":"S3W-08650","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1783,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":67,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-18T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-18T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive at what time and on what date the office of the Minister for Parliamentary Business was made aware of any difficulties with motion S3M-1087 on the Dormant Bank and Buildi","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive at what time and on what date the office of the Minister for Parliamentary Business was made aware of any difficulties with motion S3M-1087 on the Dormant Bank and Building Society Accounts Bill - UK Legislation.","AnswerText":"There were no difficultieswith motion S3M-1087.","AnswerDate":"2008-01-31T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-02-01T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Bruce Crawford","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":215312,"EventID":"S3W-08651","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1783,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":67,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-18T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-18T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive at what time and on what date the Minister for Parliamentary Business was made aware of any difficulties with motion S3M-1087 on the Dormant Bank and Building Society Acc","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive at what time and on what date the Minister for Parliamentary Business was made aware of any difficulties with motion S3M-1087 on the Dormant Bank and Building Society Accounts Bill - UK Legislation.","AnswerText":"I refer the memberto the answer to question S3W-8650 on 31 January 2008. All answers to written parliamentary questions are availableon the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/wa.search.","AnswerDate":"2008-01-31T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-02-01T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Bruce Crawford","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":215313,"EventID":"S3W-08652","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2167,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":3,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-18T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-18T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether it considers that there is a case for paying lay members of school inspection teams for any loss of earnings and costs incurred in conducting their responsibiliti","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether it considers that there is a case for paying lay members of school inspection teams for any loss of earnings and costs incurred in conducting their responsibilities.","AnswerText":"Lay members of schoolinspection teams provide an invaluable perspective on the quality of educationin Scotland. Her Majesty’s Inspectorate of Education (HMIE) meetall their related travel and subsistencecosts. However, I am concerned that theintegrity and independence of lay members could be called into question if anyother costs were to be paid for by HMIE.","AnswerDate":"2008-01-24T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-02-01T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Fiona Hyslop","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":215314,"EventID":"S3W-08653","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1752,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":57,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-18T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-18T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what net benefit to GAE in East Ayrshire has been derived from the area’s small rural schools in each of the last three financial years, broken down by school.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what net benefit to GAE in East Ayrshire has been derived from the area’s small rural schools in each of the last three financial years, broken down by school.","AnswerText":"GAE allocations arenot assessed or allocated on a school-by-school basis. They are a component of themore complex local government funding formula which is used to calculate a singlerevenue grant figure for each council. It is then a matter for each individual councilto decide how best to deploy the resources according to local needs and priorities.","AnswerDate":"2008-01-30T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-02-01T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Maureen Watt","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":215315,"EventID":"S3W-08654","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1752,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":57,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-18T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-18T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what net benefit to GAE in East Ayrshire is projected to be derived from the area’s small rural schools in each of the next three financial years, broken down by school.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what net benefit to GAE in East Ayrshire is projected to be derived from the area’s small rural schools in each of the next three financial years, broken down by school.","AnswerText":"GAE allocations arenot assessed or allocated on a school-by-school basis. They are a component of themore complex local government funding formula which is used to calculate a singlerevenue grant figure for each council. It is then a matter for each individual councilto decide how best to deploy the resources according to local needs and priorities.","AnswerDate":"2008-01-30T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-02-01T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Maureen Watt","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":215316,"EventID":"S3W-08655","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1752,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":57,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-18T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-18T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what net benefit to GAE in South Ayrshire has been derived from the area’s small rural schools in each of the last three financial years, broken down by school.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what net benefit to GAE in South Ayrshire has been derived from the area’s small rural schools in each of the last three financial years, broken down by school.","AnswerText":"GAE allocations arenot assessed or allocated on a school-by-school basis. They are a component of themore complex local government funding formula which is used to calculate a singlerevenue grant figure for each council. It is then a matter for each individual councilto decide how best to deploy the resources according to local needs and priorities.","AnswerDate":"2008-01-30T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-02-01T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Maureen Watt","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":215317,"EventID":"S3W-08656","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1752,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":57,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-18T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-18T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what net benefit to GAE in South Ayrshire is projected to be derived from the area’s small rural schools in each of the next three financial years, broken down by school.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what net benefit to GAE in South Ayrshire is projected to be derived from the area’s small rural schools in each of the next three financial years, broken down by school.","AnswerText":"GAE allocations arenot assessed or allocated on a school-by-school basis. They are a component of themore complex local government funding formula which is used to calculate a singlerevenue grant figure for each council. It is then a matter for each individual councilto decide how best to deploy the resources according to local needs and priorities.","AnswerDate":"2008-01-30T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-02-01T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Maureen Watt","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":215318,"EventID":"S3W-08657","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":3811,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":4,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-18T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-18T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what consultative committees, groups, councils and other bodies have been set up by ministers since October 2007 and what the estimated cost is of running them.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what consultative committees, groups, councils and other bodies have been set up by ministers since October 2007 and what the estimated cost is of running them.","AnswerText":"The Scottish Government published a baseline list of 199 formally constituted national public organisations which they are committed to reduce to at least 121 by 2011. No further national public bodies have been set up by ministers since October 2007. The following consultative groups have been set by the Scottish Government since October. These groups are not formally constituted public bodies and do not command any separate legal or administrative identity in their own right. There are no formal budget lines associated with these groups and in most cases costs are limited to incidental travel and subsistence expenses. | Name | Estimated Cost |
Business Experts & Law Forum | £1,600 (note1) | | Housing Advice for Prisoners Working Group | None (note 2) | | Towards a Mentally Flourishing Scotland “ National Reference Group | None (note 2,3) | | Flooding Bill Advisory Groups | None (note 2) | | Speciality Training Programme Board | None (note 2) | | Serious Organised Crime Task Force | None (note 2) | | NHS 60th Anniversary Steering Group | None (note 2) | | Network 100 “ Advisory Group on Children''s Hearing Systems Reforms | | | Working Group to Review Identification of those Eligible for Free School Meals, and School Clothing Grant Provision Across Scotland | None (note 2) | | Substance Misuse Education Steering Group | None (note 2) | | Steering Group to Support the Development of Building the Curriculum Guidance on Vocational Learning | None (note 2) | | Mental Health Act Review Group | £5,000 (note 1) | | EU Agricultural Appeals Review Panel | £8,000 (note 1) | | Joint Future Thinking Task Force on Universities | None (note 2) | | Sustainable Seas Task Force | £10,800 (note 1) | Notes: 1. Funded from within existing resources. 2. No formal budget “ expenditure limited to modest inc","AnswerDate":"2008-02-25T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-02-01T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"John Swinney","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":215319,"EventID":"S3W-08658","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1839,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":3,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-18T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-18T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive when the A96 between Inverness and Nairn will be upgraded to a dual carriageway.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive when the A96 between Inverness and Nairn will be upgraded to a dual carriageway.","AnswerText":"The Aberdeen to InvernessMulti-Modal Transport Corridor Study, and the outcome of a design study for a dualcarriageway improvement of the A96 between Inverness and Inverness Airport willfeed directly into the Strategic Transport Projects Review. The next round of major new investmentin the trunk road network will emerge from the Strategic Transport Projects Review,which will examine the longer terms needs of Scotland’s nationally strategictransport network to develop the investment plan for 2012 to 2022. The StrategicTransport Projects Review is due to report to ministers in summer 2008. ","AnswerDate":"2008-01-28T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-02-01T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Stewart Stevenson","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":215320,"EventID":"S3W-08659","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1768,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":60,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-18T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-18T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether registrars are required to take additional training to be permitted to officiate at civil partnership ceremonies.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether registrars are required to take additional training to be permitted to officiate at civil partnership ceremonies.","AnswerText":"The registration servicein Scotland is delivered by the 32 local authorities whoare responsible for employing registration staff. Registrars are trained to performa number of duties such as civil marriage ceremonies and civil partnership registrations.The necessary training is provided by the local authorities in accordance with guidanceon the law and practice of registration issued by the General Register Office forScotland.","AnswerDate":"2008-01-30T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-02-01T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Jim Mather","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":215321,"EventID":"S3W-08660","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1831,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":6,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-18T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-18T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive how many dental practices began offering NHS general dental services in NHS Tayside from April 2006 to March 2007.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive how many dental practices began offering NHS general dental services in NHS Tayside from April 2006 to March 2007.","AnswerText":"Three dental practicesbegan providing NHS general dental services in NHS Tayside in the relevant period.","AnswerDate":"2008-01-30T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-02-01T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Shona Robison","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":215322,"EventID":"S3W-08661","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1831,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":6,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-18T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-18T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive how many dental practices stopped offering NHS general dental services in NHS Tayside from April 2006 to March 2007.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive how many dental practices stopped offering NHS general dental services in NHS Tayside from April 2006 to March 2007.","AnswerText":"One dental practicestopped providing NHS general dental services in NHS Tayside in the relevant period.","AnswerDate":"2008-01-30T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-02-01T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Shona Robison","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":215323,"EventID":"S3W-08662","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1831,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":6,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-18T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-18T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive how many dental practices have begun offering NHS general dental services in NHS Tayside since April 2007.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive how many dental practices have begun offering NHS general dental services in NHS Tayside since April 2007.","AnswerText":"One dental practicebegan providing NHS general dental services in NHS Tayside in the relevant period.","AnswerDate":"2008-01-30T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-02-01T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Shona Robison","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":215324,"EventID":"S3W-08663","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1831,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":6,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-18T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-18T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive how many dental practices have stopped offering NHS general dental services in NHS Tayside since April 2007.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive how many dental practices have stopped offering NHS general dental services in NHS Tayside since April 2007.","AnswerText":"Three dental practicesstopped providing NHS general dental services in NHS Tayside in the relevant period.","AnswerDate":"2008-01-30T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-02-01T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Shona Robison","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":215325,"EventID":"S3W-08664","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1831,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":6,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-18T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-18T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what the median waiting times were for first outpatient appointments at Dundee Dental Hospital in the last 12-month period for which figures are available, broken down by","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what the median waiting times were for first outpatient appointments at Dundee Dental Hospital in the last 12-month period for which figures are available, broken down by (a) quarter and (b) speciality.","AnswerText":"The latest availableinformation is shown in the table below. Later data are not currently held centrallybecause of changes to NHS Tayside’s patient administration records.NHSScotlandMedian Waiting Times in Days for a First Out-Patient Appointment followingReferral by a General Medical or Dental Practitioner to Dundee Dental Hospital. Years Ending 30 September 2004 to 30 June 2005 | Speciality | Median Wait in Days for the Year Ending | | September 2004 | December 2004 | March 2005 | June 2005 | | Oral Medicine | 71 | 80 | 101 | 101 | | Oral Surgery | 97 | 98 | 98 | 98 | | Orthodontics | 52 | 69 | 81 | 83 | | Paediatric Dentistry | 36 | 36 | 40 | 40 | | Restorative Dentistry | 83 | 81 | 86 | 88 | Source: SMR00, ISDScotland. ","AnswerDate":"2008-01-30T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-02-01T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Shona Robison","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":215326,"EventID":"S3W-08665","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1831,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":6,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-18T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-18T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive how many patients were waiting for first outpatient appointments following referral at Dundee Dental Hospital in each of the last four quarters for which figures are avai","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive how many patients were waiting for first outpatient appointments following referral at Dundee Dental Hospital in each of the last four quarters for which figures are available, broken down by department.","AnswerText":"The information requestedis not held centrally. Information held relates only to the number of patients waitingfor a first out-patient appointment with a consultant in all facilities providingdental specialties in Tayside, including Dundee Dental Hospital, Perth Royal Infirmary and Stracathro Hospital. The following table shows this information for the quarterend dates between 31 December 2006 and 30 September 2007. | Quarter Ending | Specialty | Number of patients waiting | | December 2006 | Oral Medicine | 105 | | Oral Surgery | 225 | | Orthodontics | 30 | | Paediatric Dentistry | 76 | | Restorative Dentistry | 487 | | March 2007 | Oral Medicine | 151 | | Oral Surgery | 258 | | Orthodontics | 74 | | Paediatric Dentistry | 50 | | Restorative Dentistry | 478 | | June 2007 | Oral Medicine | 224 | | Oral Surgery | 328 | | Orthodontics | 88 | | Paediatric Dentistry | 33 | | Restorative Dentistry | 442 | | September 2007 | Oral Medicine | 238 | | Oral Surgery | 311 | | Orthodontics | 114 | | Paediatric Dentistry | 60 | | Restorative Dentistry | 465 | Source:Outpatient Waiting List (OPWL), ISD Scotland. ","AnswerDate":"2008-01-30T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-02-01T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Shona Robison","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":215327,"EventID":"S3W-08666","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2603,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":6,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-18T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-18T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will launch a study into the potential for establishing a youth court in Aberdeen.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will launch a study into the potential for establishing a youth court in Aberdeen.","AnswerText":"I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-8540 on 17 January 2008. All answers to writtenparliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the searchfacility for which can be found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/wa.search.","AnswerDate":"2008-01-29T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-02-01T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Fergus Ewing","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":215328,"EventID":"S3W-08667","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2603,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":6,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-18T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-18T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive how many community service orders were issued to young people aged under 18 in (a) Aberdeen City and (b) Grampian in each year since 2002.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive how many community service orders were issued to young people aged under 18 in (a) Aberdeen City and (b) Grampian in each year since 2002.","AnswerText":"The available information isgiven in the following table: Persons Receiving Community ServiceOders1 in Aberdeen City2 and Grampian Police Force Area,2002-03 to 2005-06 | Police Force Area | 2002-03 | 2003-04 | 2004-05 | 2005-06 | | Aberdeen City | 5 | 12 | 18 | 14 | | Grampian | 16 | 25 | 33 | 27 | Notes: 1. Where main penalty. 2. Incorporates anapproximate mapping of sheriff courts into local authority areas. Some sheriffcourts will deal with cases from more than one local authority area. ","AnswerDate":"2008-01-28T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-02-01T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Fergus Ewing","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":215329,"EventID":"S3W-08668","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2603,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":6,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-18T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-18T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive how many probation orders were issued to young people aged under 18 in (a) Aberdeen City and (b) Grampian in each year since 2002.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive how many probation orders were issued to young people aged under 18 in (a) Aberdeen City and (b) Grampian in each year since 2002.","AnswerText":"The available information isgiven in the following table.Persons Receiving Probation Orders1in Aberdeen City2 and Grampian Police Force Area,2002-03 to 2005-06 | Police Force Area | 2002-03 | 2003-04 | 2004-05 | 2005-06 | | Aberdeen City | 68 | 108 | 48 | 99 | | Grampian | 89 | 143 | 80 | 136 | Notes: 1. Where main penalty. 2. Incorporates anapproximate mapping of sheriff courts into local authority areas. Some sheriffcourts will deal with cases from more than one local authority area. ","AnswerDate":"2008-01-28T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-02-01T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Fergus Ewing","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":215330,"EventID":"S3W-08669","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2603,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":6,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-18T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-18T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive how many supervised attendance orders were issued to young people aged under 18 in (a) Aberdeen City and (b) Grampian in each year since 2004.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive how many supervised attendance orders were issued to young people aged under 18 in (a) Aberdeen City and (b) Grampian in each year since 2004.","AnswerText":"The available information isgiven in the following table.Persons Receiving SupervisedAttendance Orders1 in Aberdeen City2 and Grampian Police ForceArea, 2003-04 to 2005-06 | Police Force Area | 2003-04 | 2004-05 | 2005-06 | | Aberdeen City | - | - | - | | Grampian | 3 | 1 | 2 | Notes: 1. Where main penalty 2. Incorporates anapproximate mapping of sheriff courts into local authority areas. Some sheriffcourts will deal with cases from more than one local authority area. ","AnswerDate":"2008-01-28T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-02-01T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Fergus Ewing","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":215331,"EventID":"S3W-08670","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2029,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":71,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-18T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-18T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what car parking charges were applied at each hospital as at April 2007.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what car parking charges were applied at each hospital as at April 2007.","AnswerText":"Minimum and maximum dailycharges to park at hospital sites in Scotland where car parking charges were applied at April 2007were as follows: | NHS Board | Hospital | Car Park Daily Charge* | | NHS Highland | Raigmore Hospital | Min: £1.00 Max: £1.00 | | NHS Grampian | Aberdeen Royal Infirmary Aberdeen Maternity Hospital Royal Aberdeen Children’s Hospital Dr Gray’s Hospital | Min: £0.50 Max: £5.00 Min: £0.50 Max: £5.00 Min: £0.50 Max: £5.00 Min: £1.00 Max: £5.00 | | NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde | Glasgow Royal Infirmary | Min: £1.10 Max: £25.20 | | NHS Lothian | New Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh St John’s Hospital at Howden Western General Hospital | Min: £1.20 Max: £7.00 Min: £1.00 Max: £1.00 Min: £1.00 Max: £7.00 | | NHS Tayside | Ninewells Hospital Perth Royal Infirmary | Min: £1.60 Max: £1.60 Min: £1.20 Max: £1.60 | Note: *Information providedby NHSScotland boards. Decisions to introduce andset parking charges before April 2007 were matters for health boards as part oftheir overall policy on managing car parks. Concessions and free parkingfor certain groups of staff, patients and visitors continue to be available atall hospital sites in Scotland. ","AnswerDate":"2008-01-29T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-02-01T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Nicola Sturgeon","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":215332,"EventID":"S3W-08671","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1803,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":58,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-18T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-18T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what financial assistance it has provided through the International Development Fund in 2007-08 and to which organisations.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what financial assistance it has provided through the International Development Fund in 2007-08 and to which organisations.","AnswerText":"I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-8673 on 4 March 2008. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament's website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/wa.search.","AnswerDate":"2008-03-04T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-02-01T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Linda Fabiani","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":215333,"EventID":"S3W-08672","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1803,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":58,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-18T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-18T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive when it will open applications for a further funding round for the International Development Fund.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive when it will open applications for a further funding round for the International Development Fund.","AnswerText":"I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-8635 on 28 January 2008. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament's website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/wa.search.","AnswerDate":"2008-03-04T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-02-01T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Linda Fabiani","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":215334,"EventID":"S3W-08673","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1803,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":58,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-18T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-18T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will detail expenditure from the International Development Fund in 2007-08 to date and identify projected expenditure to 31 March 2008.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will detail expenditure from the International Development Fund in 2007-08 to date and identify projected expenditure to 31 March 2008.","AnswerText":"The total expenditure to date from the International Development Fund (2007-08) is £3,930,078.04. Identified projected expenditure is £569,641.00. A breakdown of expenditure and identified projected expenditure to date are as follows: 2007-08 Expenditure to Date (Excluding Humanitarian Health Fund) | Organisation | Country | Funding | | Waverley Care Trust “ Support to Limowadi for HIV Prevention and Care | Zambia | £19,646.00 | | Queen Margaret University “ Support for Health Management Capacity Building | Malawi | £57,000.00 | | ALSO - Advanced Life Support in Obstetrics | Malawi | £10,000.00 | | SCIAF “ Fair Trade Forum Core Funding | N/A | £60,000.00 | | Glasgow Caledonian University and Malawi Institute of Tourism “ Infrastructure and Staff Development Programme | Malawi | £111,200.00 | | Enterprising Global Citizen Consortium “ Embedding of Enterprising Global Citizen in Malawi | Malawi | £18,000.00 | | University of Glasgow “ Environmental Management and Sustainable Development Training Programme | Zambia and Ethiopia | £30,950.00 | | Concern Worldwide “ Community Therapeutic Care | Malawi | £83,750.00 | | Bell College “ Transferring Technology Expertise to Primary Healthcare in Rural Malawi | Malawi | £149,600.00 | | SKIP Glasgow “ Orphan Care and Rehabilitation | Malawi | £20,000.00 | | ALSO - Advanced Life Support in Obstetrics | Malawi | £120,000.00 | | University of Edinburgh “ Acute Respiratory Child Health Project | Malawi | £120,000.00 | | Central Scotland Police | £8.5 million | | Dumfries and Galloway Constabulary | £4.5 million | | Fife Police | £10.5 million | | Grampian Police | £13.0 million | | Lothian and Borders Police | £35.1 million | | Northern Constabulary | £8.7 million | | Strathclyde Police | £100.6 million | | Tayside Police | £17.1 million | A similar breakdown is not availablefor future years but ACPOS estimate the total liability to be £232 million in 2009-10and £215 million in 2010-11. As the Cabinet Secretary forFinance and Sustainable Development announced in his statement to Parliament on14 December, funding for police pensions is included within the overall Local GovernmentSettlement. ","AnswerDate":"2008-01-29T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-02-01T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Kenny MacAskill","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":215336,"EventID":"S3W-08675","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2123,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":32,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-18T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-18T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive in what ways it interferes with decisions of the Scottish Arts Council (SAC), other than instructing the SAC to end its support of cultural co-ordinators.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive in what ways it interferes with decisions of the Scottish Arts Council (SAC), other than instructing the SAC to end its support of cultural co-ordinators.","AnswerText":"The Scottish Government does not interfere with the operational decisions of the Scottish Arts Council (SAC), which are the responsibility of the joint board of SAC and Scottish Screen. Where SAC implement national cultural initiatives on behalf of the Scottish Government, as is the case in relation to the Cultural Co-ordinators in Scottish Schools (CCiSS) Initiative, the government works in partnership with SAC to design the means of implementation and evaluation. Money for the implementation of such initiatives is provided to SAC as a restricted fund, which may be used only for the initiative in question, as is the case in relation to CCiSS. The detailed operation of such initiatives is, however, also a matter for SAC. ","AnswerDate":"2008-01-29T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-02-01T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Linda Fabiani","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":215337,"EventID":"S3W-08676","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2651,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":41,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-18T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-18T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether all local authorities were invited to bid for money allocated under its Cashback for Communities scheme.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether all local authorities were invited to bid for money allocated under its Cashback for Communities scheme.","AnswerText":"We are working with several organisationsthroughout Scotland to draw up specific proposals on how to reinvest theproceeds of crime in ways that will most benefit young people. Once this processis complete, a further announcement will be made on how these funds will be allocated,as well as the local application process. The position of local authorities as keypartners will be fully reflected in these proposals.","AnswerDate":"2008-01-29T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-02-01T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Kenny MacAskill","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":215338,"EventID":"S3W-08677","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2651,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":41,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-18T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-18T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether community organisations, such as karate clubs, were invited to bid for money allocated under its Cashback for Communities scheme.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether community organisations, such as karate clubs, were invited to bid for money allocated under its Cashback for Communities scheme.","AnswerText":"I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-8676 on 29 January 2008. All answers to writtenparliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facilityfor which can be found at http://scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/wa.search.","AnswerDate":"2008-01-29T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-02-01T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Kenny MacAskill","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":215339,"EventID":"S3W-08678","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2651,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":41,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-18T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-18T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether all funding decisions for 2008 under its Cashback for Communities scheme have been made.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether all funding decisions for 2008 under its Cashback for Communities scheme have been made.","AnswerText":"I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-8676 on 29 January 2008. All answers to writtenparliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facilityfor which can be found at http://scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/wa.search.","AnswerDate":"2008-01-29T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-02-01T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Kenny MacAskill","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":215340,"EventID":"S3W-08679","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2651,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":41,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-18T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-18T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether it is still inviting bids from (a) local authorities, (b) non-football-based community programmes, such as karate clubs, and (c) football-based community programm","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether it is still inviting bids from (a) local authorities, (b) non-football-based community programmes, such as karate clubs, and (c) football-based community programmes for money allocated under its Cashback for Communities scheme.","AnswerText":"I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-8676 on 29 January 2008. All answers to writtenparliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facilityfor which can be found at http://scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/wa.search.","AnswerDate":"2008-01-29T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-02-01T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Kenny MacAskill","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":215341,"EventID":"S3W-08680","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":3811,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":4,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-18T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-18T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-8271 by John Swinney on 18 January 2008, what the total budget allocation is for the Scottish Government’s Video Production Unit.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-8271 by John Swinney on 18 January 2008, what the total budget allocation is for the Scottish Government’s Video Production Unit.","AnswerText":"The video and televisionproduction unit does not have a specific budget allocation. It forms part of the Scottish Government's multimedia unit, which covers the production ofe-learning material, material for the Scottish Government website and the Scottish Government Intranet, and material for external use. The budget for themultimedia unit is £207,201.","AnswerDate":"2008-02-01T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-02-01T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"John Swinney","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":215342,"EventID":"S3W-08681","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":3811,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":4,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-18T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-18T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-8271 by John Swinney on 18 January 2008, what the total budget allocation for the Scottish Government’s Video Production Unit has b","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-8271 by John Swinney on 18 January 2008, what the total budget allocation for the Scottish Government’s Video Production Unit has been in each year since 1999.","AnswerText":"The total budgetallocation for the Scottish Government’s video and television production unitin each year from 1999 until 2004 is as follows:1999-2000 - £67,235 2000-01 - £67,361 2001-02 - £82,389 2002-03 - £95,213 2003-04 - £96,969. As indicated inthe answer to question S3W-8680 on 1 February 2008, from 2004-05 the Video andTelevision Production Unit did not have a specific budget as it became part of the Scottish Government's multimedia unit. ","AnswerDate":"2008-02-01T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-02-01T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"John Swinney","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":215343,"EventID":"S3W-08682","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":3811,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":4,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-18T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-18T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-8271 by John Swinney on 18 January 2008, what percentage of the Scottish Government’s Video Production Unit’s budget for 2007-08 wa","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-8271 by John Swinney on 18 January 2008, what percentage of the Scottish Government’s Video Production Unit’s budget for 2007-08 was spent on the First Minister’s (a) Christmas and (b) New Year messages.","AnswerText":"Asindicated in the answer to question S3W-8680 on 1 February 2008, there is noseparate budget for the Scottish Government’s video and television production unit.As also indicated in the answer to question S3W-8271, this was done as part ofnormal duties and there was no separate budget allocation.","AnswerDate":"2008-02-01T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-02-01T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"John Swinney","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":215344,"EventID":"S3W-08683","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":3811,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":4,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-18T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-18T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-8271 by John Swinney on 18 January 2008, on what projects the Scottish Government’s Video Production Unit is currently working, gi","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-8271 by John Swinney on 18 January 2008, on what projects the Scottish Government’s Video Production Unit is currently working, giving a breakdown of the costs of each project.","AnswerText":"The ScottishGovernment's video and television production unit is currently working on thefollowing projects. The work is part of normal dutiesand there is no separate budget allocation.1. Supporting the work of the Scottish Broadcasting Commission. 2. The 2008 ScottishGovernment Excellence Awards. 3. A live Q&A withthe Permanent Secretary. 4. Change Masters,Electronic Information System video. ","AnswerDate":"2008-02-01T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-02-01T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"John Swinney","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":215345,"EventID":"S3W-08684","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1853,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":16,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-18T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-18T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what support is available to housing co-operatives.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what support is available to housing co-operatives.","AnswerText":"The £93 million allocated fordevelopment of the third sector in the spending review recognises the existing contributionof third sector organisations, including housing co-operatives, and the potentialfor their entrepreneurial dynamism to contribute to transformational change acrossthe Scottish Government’s five strategic objectives.The new Scottish Investment Fundis expected to come into operation later this year and applications will be invitedfrom properly constituted third sector organisations – organisations which are constitutedfor social purpose and principally non-profit distributing. As registered sociallandlords, housing co-operatives are eligible to apply for Wider Role funding tohelp support regeneration activity they may be involved in beyond their principalrole as landlords. A budget of £12 million per annumfor Wider Role for RSLs, for a three-year period starting on 1 April 2008 was includedin the draft budget announcement made in autumn 2007. ","AnswerDate":"2008-01-28T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-02-01T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Stewart Maxwell","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":215346,"EventID":"S3W-08685","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1853,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":16,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-18T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-18T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what regulatory requirements apply to housing co-operatives.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what regulatory requirements apply to housing co-operatives.","AnswerText":"I have asked James Hynd, ActingChief Executive of Communities Scotland to respond. His response is as follows:Housing co-operatives, like housingassociations, are also known as registered social landlords (RSLs), which meansthey are registered with Communities Scotland. Communities Scotland regulates and inspects RSLs. All RSLs, including housingco-operatives, are required to meet the regulatory requirements set out in Part3 of the Housing (Scotland) Act 2001. Communities Scotland has a set of publishedPerformance Standards for all RSLs in Scotland. RSLs are required to comply with the standards. Theyare also required to submit annual financial and performance monitoring information. We tailor our engagement withRSLs to take into account the size of the RSL. But where there are significant weaknessesor performance issues, we can use our statutory powers of intervention to ensurethat these issues are addressed and the interests of tenants are protected. Thesearrangements will continue under the new interim housing regulatory agency whichwill carry out the regulation of RSLs after Communities Scotland is wound up inApril 2008. ","AnswerDate":"2008-01-28T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-02-01T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Stewart Maxwell","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":215347,"EventID":"S3W-08686","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1857,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":15,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-18T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-18T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive when the Review of Civil Judicial Statistics Advisory Board last met and when it will publish its recommendations.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive when the Review of Civil Judicial Statistics Advisory Board last met and when it will publish its recommendations.","AnswerText":"The Project Board for the Reviewof Civil Judicial Statistics last met on 13 April 2006.Correspondence with the board has occurred since this meeting via email, with themost recent communication taking place during summer 2007.As part of the review, researchhas recently been carried out with users, and potential users, of civil judicialstatistics, to identify their data requirements and suggestions for a revised Civil Judicial Statistics publication. The next step for the review is to considereach of the responses submitted as part of this research, and develop a specificationfor the revised dataset and publication. The first draft of this specification isexpected to be produced by spring 2008. Further details of the Reviewof Civil Judicial Statistics can be found at: http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Topics/Statistics/Browse/Crime-Justice/review-civjudicial-stats. ","AnswerDate":"2008-01-25T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-02-01T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Fergus Ewing","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":215348,"EventID":"S3W-08687","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2117,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":47,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-18T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-18T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to the first supplementary to question S3O-1864 by Kenny MacAskill on 10 January 2008 in which he stated that “The projected figures are for the re","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to the first supplementary to question S3O-1864 by Kenny MacAskill on 10 January 2008 in which he stated that “The projected figures are for the recruitment in Grampian of an additional 150 officers in 2008 and an additional 52 in 2009. There will be a further 28 officers as a result of the additional Government funding. Accordingly, Mr Rumbles can rest assured that Grampian Police will recruit a total of 230 officers over the period 2007 to 2009.” (Official Report c.4924), what it anticipates the number of Grampian police officers will be in each of the next three years and whether it will make a ministerial statement on the matter.","AnswerText":"I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-8462 on 24 January 2008. All answers to written parliamentaryquestions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for whichcan be found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/wa.search.","AnswerDate":"2008-01-29T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-02-01T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Kenny MacAskill","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":215349,"EventID":"S3W-08688","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2117,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":47,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-18T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-18T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to the third supplementary to question S3F-427 by Alex Salmond on 17 January 2008 in which he cited a report in the Press and Journal of 9 January ","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to the third supplementary to question S3F-427 by Alex Salmond on 17 January 2008 in which he cited a report in the Press and Journal of 9 January 2008 that an additional 60 officers will join Grampian Police during the next financial year (Official Report c.5190), what it anticipates the number of Grampian police officers will be in each of the next three years and whether it will make a ministerial statement on the matter.","AnswerText":"I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-8462 on 24 January 2008. All answers to written parliamentaryquestions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for whichcan be found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/wa.search.","AnswerDate":"2008-01-29T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-02-01T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Kenny MacAskill","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":215350,"EventID":"S3W-08689","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2117,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":47,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-18T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-18T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the meeting of Grampian Joint Police Board on 11 January 2008 and the report in the Press and Journal on 12 January 2008 that the Chief Constable of Grampian ","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the meeting of Grampian Joint Police Board on 11 January 2008 and the report in the Press and Journal on 12 January 2008 that the Chief Constable of Grampian Police stated that, as a consequence of police pensions underfunding, “the worst case scenario could be a reduction in police numbers”, what adjustment it will make in projections of police numbers in Grampian; what it anticipates the shortfall in police pension funding will be for Grampian in each of the next three financial years, and whether it will make a ministerial statement on the matter.","AnswerText":"The recruitment and deploymentof police officers in Grampian is a matter for the Chief Constable of Grampian Policeand it is for him to consider the projections of police numbers in Grampian withthe Grampian Joint Police Board whose convener has announced that the force is ontrack to have unprecedented numbers of officers.As the Cabinet Secretary forFinance and Sustainable Development announced in his statement to Parliament on13 December, funding for police pensions is included within the local authorityfunding settlement under the concordat with COSLA. It is for police boards to negotiatebudgets with their constituent local authorities. ","AnswerDate":"2008-01-29T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-02-01T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Kenny MacAskill","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":215351,"EventID":"S3W-08690","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2029,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":71,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-18T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-18T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what funding method will be used to finance the building of the proposed new prison in the north east of Scotland.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what funding method will be used to finance the building of the proposed new prison in the north east of Scotland.","AnswerText":"I have asked Mike Ewart, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service to respond. His response is as follows:The new prison in the northeastwill be procured using conventional public sector procurement methods. Thegovernment has made financial provision in the Spending Review 2007 to support thisprocurement. ","AnswerDate":"2008-01-29T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-02-01T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Kenny MacAskill","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":215352,"EventID":"S3W-08691","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2029,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":71,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-18T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-18T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive how many additional teaching posts were created during the 2006-07 financial year.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive how many additional teaching posts were created during the 2006-07 financial year.","AnswerText":"Information onteacher numbers can be derived from the annual school census. Publication of the 2007 school census in March 2008 will allow the comparison to be madebetween the number of teachers employed in September 2006 and September 2007.","AnswerDate":"2008-02-01T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-02-01T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Maureen Watt","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":215353,"EventID":"S3W-08692","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2029,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":71,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-18T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-18T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive how many additional teaching posts have been created by the current administration.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive how many additional teaching posts have been created by the current administration.","AnswerText":"I refer themember to the answer to question S3W-4189 on 20 September 2007. All answers to written parliamentary questions areavailable on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can befound at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/wa.search.The employment of the additional teachers referred to in the answer to S3W-4189 will be monitoredthrough the National Priorities Action Fund returns by local authorities. Theseshould be available in the spring. ","AnswerDate":"2008-02-01T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-02-01T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Maureen Watt","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":215354,"EventID":"S3W-08693","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2641,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":28,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-21T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-21T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether Orkney and Shetland sheep stockholders are allowed to include adjoining seaweed grazing areas below the level of the mean high water spring tide level as part of ","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether Orkney and Shetland sheep stockholders are allowed to include adjoining seaweed grazing areas below the level of the mean high water spring tide level as part of their eligible forage areas.","AnswerText":"A derogation to claimforage against land below the mean high water spring tide level exists for the island of North Ronaldsay. This is the onlyarea within Orkney and Shetland that is permitted to claim within the inter-tidalzone. The derogation was granted due to the unique foraging abilities of the nativeNorth Ronaldsay sheep, a breed that has genetically evolved over many centuriesto the point where they now survive almost entirely on seaweed.","AnswerDate":"2008-02-01T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-02-04T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Richard Lochhead","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":215355,"EventID":"S3W-08694","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1839,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":3,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-21T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-21T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive how many landlords have been refused registration under the National Registration Scheme for Private Landlords, broken down by local authority area.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive how many landlords have been refused registration under the National Registration Scheme for Private Landlords, broken down by local authority area.","AnswerText":"The Scottish Government recognisesthat the vast majority of landlords operate lawfully. No applications for registrationhave been rejected yet, but several local authorities are taking enforcement actionwhere there are concerns. This may involve the landlord being invited to an interviewwith a panel of officials to discuss those concerns, or a hearing before the relevantcouncil committee.","AnswerDate":"2008-01-29T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-02-04T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Stewart Maxwell","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":215356,"EventID":"S3W-08695","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1839,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":3,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-21T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-21T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive how it can be assured of the validity and accuracy of electronic data in applications relating to the National Registration Scheme for Private Landlords.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive how it can be assured of the validity and accuracy of electronic data in applications relating to the National Registration Scheme for Private Landlords.","AnswerText":"Both online and paper applicationsrequire applicants to declare that the information provided is correct. Applicantsare also informed that it is a criminal offence to give false information in anapplication for registration.If an applicant is found to haveknowingly provided false information or has knowingly failed to provide the requiredinformation in an application form then enforcement sanctions are available to thelocal authority to take action. This may include referring the case to the ProcuratorFiscal or refusing to register the applicant. ","AnswerDate":"2008-01-29T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-02-04T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Stewart Maxwell","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":215357,"EventID":"S3W-08696","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1839,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":3,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-21T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-21T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive how many landlords have registered under the National Registration Scheme for Private Landlords, broken down by local authority.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive how many landlords have registered under the National Registration Scheme for Private Landlords, broken down by local authority.","AnswerText":"The following table shows thenumber of applications for registration by private landlords and letting agentsreceived by each local authority and the number of applications approved, as at7 January 2008. Landlords and agents are required to register in eachauthority where they own or manage property, so these figures include multiple registrationsfor some individuals or organisations. | Local Authority | Registrations Approved | Total Applications Received | | Aberdeen City | 2,958 | 8,833 | | Aberdeenshire | 1,316 | 3,729 | | Angus | 1,520 | 1,941 | | Argyll and Bute | 1,394 | 1,966 | | Clackmannanshire | 527 | 698 | | Dumfries and Galloway | 2,684 | 2,968 | | Dundee City | 1,116 | 3,522 | | East Ayrshire | 1,108 | 1,694 | | East Dunbartonshire | 475 | 1,027 | | East Lothian | 1,233 | 1,987 | | East Renfrewshire | 752 | 938 | | Edinburgh, City of | 12,790 | 22,854 | | Eilean Siar | 36 | 375 | | Falkirk | 1,440 | 1,866 | | Fife | 2,705 | 6,188 | | Glasgow City | 6,577 | 12,978 | | Highland | 440 | 4,435 | | Inverclyde | 496 | ","AnswerDate":"2008-01-29T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-02-04T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Stewart Maxwell","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":215359,"EventID":"S3W-08698","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1839,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":3,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-21T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-21T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether all applications for registration under the National Registration Scheme for Private Landlords require to be made on a signed application form.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether all applications for registration under the National Registration Scheme for Private Landlords require to be made on a signed application form.","AnswerText":"Applicants to the National RegistrationScheme for Private Landlords can apply online or can request a paper applicationform from their local authority. Both online and paper applications require applicantsto declare that the information provided is correct. Paper applications are signed,online applications are not. It is an offence undersection 83(4) of the Antisocial Behaviour etc (Scotland) Act 2004 knowingly toprovide false information or fail to provide the information requested in an applicationfor registration. ","AnswerDate":"2008-01-29T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-02-04T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Stewart Maxwell","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":215360,"EventID":"S3W-08699","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1839,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":3,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-21T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-21T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether the absence of a signed application form for registration under the National Registration Scheme for Private Landlords removes the prospect for any form of prosec","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether the absence of a signed application form for registration under the National Registration Scheme for Private Landlords removes the prospect for any form of prosecution in respect of the scheme.","AnswerText":"The absence of a signed applicationform does not remove the prospect for prosecution in respect of the scheme. Undersection 83(4) of the Antisocial Behaviour etc. (Scotland) Act 2004 it is an offenceknowingly to provide false information or fail to provide the information requestedin an application for landlord registration. This applies to both online and paperapplications.If it is found that a landlordhas knowingly provided false information or failed to provide the required informationthen they can be found guilty of so doing by the courts. ","AnswerDate":"2008-01-29T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-02-04T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Stewart Maxwell","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":215361,"EventID":"S3W-08700","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1839,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":3,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-21T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-21T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what advice, assistance and complaints investigation local authorities offer under the National Registration Scheme for Private Landlords.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what advice, assistance and complaints investigation local authorities offer under the National Registration Scheme for Private Landlords.","AnswerText":"Under the Antisocial Behaviouretc. (Scotland) Act 2004, local authorities have a duty to provide applicantsfor registration with general advice on what constitutes good practice in the lettingof houses. If a local authority proposes to refuse an application for registrationor remove a registered person from the register then it can provide further adviceto the applicant or registered person on actions they may be able to take to resolvethe situation including the appointment of an agent to manage the property.Local authorities also have aduty to provide advice and assistance to tenants where a decision is made to refusean application for registration from a landlord, remove a landlord from the register,or serve a Rent Penalty Notice suspending liability for rent at that property. Finally, in addition to certainprescribed offences, a local authority can also take into account any other informationit considers relevant in determining whether the landlord is fit and proper to letproperty. This can include complaints from tenants. ","AnswerDate":"2008-01-29T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-02-04T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Stewart Maxwell","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":215362,"EventID":"S3W-08701","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":3896,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":25,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-21T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-21T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has had discussions with (a) Ofgem and (b) Her Majesty’s Government regarding proposals from Ofgem for a possible windfall tax on energy companies benefiting f","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has had discussions with (a) Ofgem and (b) Her Majesty’s Government regarding proposals from Ofgem for a possible windfall tax on energy companies benefiting from the free allocation of tradable emissions permits and; if so, what the outcome has been and, if not, whether it will consider initiating such discussions as a matter of urgency.","AnswerText":"The Scottish Governmenthas not had discussions with Ofgem on this proposal, although we do hold regulardiscussions with both Ofgem and the UK Government regarding relevant issues aroundthe regulation of electricity and gas markets.We understand thatsome initial discussions have taken place on this issue at a UK level and we will ensure that we are kept informed onprogress. ","AnswerDate":"2008-01-31T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-02-04T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Jim Mather","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":215363,"EventID":"S3W-08702","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":3896,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":25,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-21T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-21T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether it agrees with the Ofgem proposal to use the money raised through a windfall tax on energy companies to introduce measures targeted at addressing the problems of ","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether it agrees with the Ofgem proposal to use the money raised through a windfall tax on energy companies to introduce measures targeted at addressing the problems of fuel poverty; if so, how it would envisage any such measures being taken forward in Scotland and, if not, what alternative proposals it has for the use in Scotland of the funds raised.","AnswerText":"We think that this proposal from Ofgem merits consideration. We will want to discuss with the UK government their response to it. Were this proposal to be implemented, we would expect Scotland to receive an agreed share of any resources which were raised by this proposal. ","AnswerDate":"2008-02-01T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-02-04T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Stewart Maxwell","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":215364,"EventID":"S3W-08703","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":3743,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":6,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-21T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-21T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether the Inquiries (Scotland) Rules 2007 which came into force on 19 January 2008 apply to the public inquiry into the explosion on 11 May 2004 at the factory in Glasg","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether the Inquiries (Scotland) Rules 2007 which came into force on 19 January 2008 apply to the public inquiry into the explosion on 11 May 2004 at the factory in Glasgow occupied by the ICL group of companies.","AnswerText":"Yes, we announced our intentionto set up this inquiry on 1 October 2007. Lord Gill, the Lord Justice Clerk, was formally appointedas chair on 21 January 2008 and the inquiry has been set up from that date. Therewill be no other appointments to the inquiry panel.The inquiry is a joint inquirybut as it is taking place in Scotland it is appropriate that the Scottish rules should apply. The agreed terms of referencefor the inquiry are: To inquire into the circumstancesleading up to the incident on 11 May 2004 at the premises occupied by the ICL groupof companies, Grovepark Mills, Maryhill, Glasgow. To consider the safety and relatedissues arising from such an inquiry, including the regulation of the activitiesat Grovepark Mills. To make recommendations in thelight of the lessons identified from the causation and circumstances leading upto the incident. To report as soon as practicable. ","AnswerDate":"2008-01-22T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-02-04T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Kenny MacAskill","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":215365,"EventID":"S3W-08704","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":8,"MSPID":1828,"Party":"Independent","RegionID":4,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-21T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-21T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body when it will be able to determine the nature and extent of the water penetration in the foundations and structures of the building in the area adjacent","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body when it will be able to determine the nature and extent of the water penetration in the foundations and structures of the building in the area adjacent to the garden level restaurant.","AnswerText":"Water penetration andassociated work in the area adjacent to the garden level restaurant relates toon-going car park leaks. Investigations, both desk top and physical, areongoing into the water ingress and we hope to identify an acceptable solutionby the end of February. Works will be undertaken thereafter.","AnswerDate":"2008-01-25T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-02-04T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Alex Johnstone","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":215366,"EventID":"S3W-08705","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":8,"MSPID":1828,"Party":"Independent","RegionID":4,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-21T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-21T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body whether the cost of repairs to the foundations and structures of the building in the area adjacent to the garden level restaurant will be borne by it o","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body whether the cost of repairs to the foundations and structures of the building in the area adjacent to the garden level restaurant will be borne by it or the relevant contractors.","AnswerText":"We are determined to pursuerecovery of the costs of the works undertaken from the original trade packagecontractor.","AnswerDate":"2008-01-25T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-02-04T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Alex Johnstone","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":215367,"EventID":"S3W-08706","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":8,"MSPID":1828,"Party":"Independent","RegionID":4,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-21T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-21T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body what retentions in respect of the Holyrood complex are still being held.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body what retentions in respect of the Holyrood complex are still being held.","AnswerText":"These balancesare being held pending the discharge by the relevant parties of all theirresponsibilities under their contracts.","AnswerDate":"2008-02-01T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-02-04T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Alex Fergusson","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":215368,"EventID":"S3W-08707","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":8,"MSPID":1828,"Party":"Independent","RegionID":4,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-21T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-21T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body what investigations it has initiated into the cause of the ingress of water around the windows of the MSP block. ","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body what investigations it has initiated into the cause of the ingress of water around the windows of the MSP block. ","AnswerText":"Following the heavy rain andwater ingress experienced recently in the MSP building, investigations werecarried out on Sunday 20 January to identify possible sources of water ingress.A potential solution has been identified, a trial of which is planned to beundertaken as soon as possible.","AnswerDate":"2008-01-25T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-02-04T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Alex Johnstone","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":215369,"EventID":"S3W-08708","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":8,"MSPID":1828,"Party":"Independent","RegionID":4,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-21T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-21T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body by what process it decided to close the Parliament building to members of the public, other than those who are accompanied by pass holders, on Sundays.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body by what process it decided to close the Parliament building to members of the public, other than those who are accompanied by pass holders, on Sundays.","AnswerText":"The issue of openingtimes and days was considered by the previous SPCB to ensure that resources werebeing used effectively. It noted that a fuller review should be carried out in 2007when more data was available.The process adoptedby the SPCB included: analysis of the established pattern of visitors across theweek and take up of tours and retail; opening patterns at other UK and Europeanlegislatures; opening patterns at other Scottish visitor venues, in particular OurDynamic Earth and the Palace of Holyroodhouse. Taking into accountthese findings the SPCB also considered the savings resulting from closing on aSunday and the benefits this might achieve for the public purse and the Parliament.This includes a shift of resources and emphasis to increased public engagement innew areas such as education activities at Holyrood and in the community. Finally, the SPCBsatisfied itself that Monday – Saturday public opening, alongside members continuedoption of bringing in guests on a Sunday, offered a good range of visit opportunitiesfor the public. ","AnswerDate":"2008-02-04T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-02-04T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Tricia Marwick","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":215370,"EventID":"S3W-08709","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":8,"MSPID":1828,"Party":"Independent","RegionID":4,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-21T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-21T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body what discussions it has had with personnel at the Palace of Holyroodhouse or Our Dynamic Earth regarding the attraction of greater numbers of visitors ","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body what discussions it has had with personnel at the Palace of Holyroodhouse or Our Dynamic Earth regarding the attraction of greater numbers of visitors on Sundays.","AnswerText":"Officials have regularmeetings with the Palace of Holyroodhouse and Our Dynamic Earth. Discussions were held aroundopening times and visitor patterns. Each institution submitted confidentialinformation about their 2007 patterns to inform the SPCB’s discussions. The analysis of the Parliament’s data and that from the other institutions shows that the threeinstitutions have very different patterns of visitors. This is to be expectedgiven the institutions’ different aims. The analysis ofdata shows that Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday are the most popular days forvisitors to the Scottish Parliament. This reflects the fact that parliamentarybusiness and other business day activities, such as constituent meetings andparliamentary events, is consistently the strongest draw forvisitors to the Parliament. This is to be expected, given that the Scottish Parliament is not primarily a visitor attraction but is a working Parliament,seeking to engage the public in its role and business. The oppositetrend is found at the Palace of Holyroodhouse and Our Dynamic Earth, where weekendsare the most popular days, reflecting their particular aims as visitorattractions. ","AnswerDate":"2008-02-04T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-02-04T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Tricia Marwick","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":215371,"EventID":"S3W-08710","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1782,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":59,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-21T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-21T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions it has had with transport partners regarding improving transport links between Cunninghame South, Glasgow and the rest of Scotland.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions it has had with transport partners regarding improving transport links between Cunninghame South, Glasgow and the rest of Scotland.","AnswerText":"Scotland''s Railways, outlines an aspiration to address overcrowding by lengthening trains to Ayrshire. Our High Level Output Specification (HLOS) confirms that aspiration. Transport Scotland, First ScotRail and Network Rail are working together to plan for the introduction of a fleet of new Electric Multiple Units along with any necessary associated infrastructure, to achieve our aspiration of improving journey times and increasing capacity. Additionally, the Scottish Government and Transport Scotland liaise with regional transport partnerships and local authorities as appropriate to ensure the efficient management and operation of the trunk road network. ","AnswerDate":"2008-02-01T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-02-04T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Stewart Stevenson","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":215372,"EventID":"S3W-08711","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1782,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":59,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-21T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-21T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions it has had with transport partners regarding the upgrading of the A737.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions it has had with transport partners regarding the upgrading of the A737.","AnswerText":"The A737 forms part of the national strategic transport corridor linking Glasgow to Ayrshire which is being considered as part of the Strategic Transport Projects Review (STPR). The work informing this review will consider the issues and possible solutions along this route which may be delivered through an investment plan for 2012 to 2022. Throughout the STPR process, Transport Scotland is engaging with a range of key stakeholders through focused reference groups with senior representatives of organisations with considerable knowledge, experience and understanding of the transport issues involved. ","AnswerDate":"2008-02-05T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-02-04T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Stewart Stevenson","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":215373,"EventID":"S3W-08712","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1782,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":59,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-21T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-21T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions it has had with transport partners regarding improving the rail link between Ayr and Glasgow.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions it has had with transport partners regarding improving the rail link between Ayr and Glasgow.","AnswerText":"I refer the memberto the answer to question S3W-8710 on 1 February 2008. All answers to written parliamentary questionsare available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can befound at http://www.Scottish Parliament.uk/webapp/wa.search.","AnswerDate":"2008-02-01T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-02-04T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Stewart Stevenson","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":215374,"EventID":"S3W-08713","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1782,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":59,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-21T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-21T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions it has had with transport partners regarding reducing journey times between Ayr and Glasgow.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions it has had with transport partners regarding reducing journey times between Ayr and Glasgow.","AnswerText":"I refer the memberto the answer to question S3W-8710 on 1 February 2008. All answers to written parliamentary questionsare available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can befound at http://www.Scottish Parliament.uk/webapp/wa.search","AnswerDate":"2008-02-01T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-02-04T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Stewart Stevenson","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":215375,"EventID":"S3W-08714","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1782,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":59,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-21T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-21T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive how much money will be allocated to improving transport links between Cunninghame South and Glasgow in (a) 2008, (b) 2009 and (c) 2010.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive how much money will be allocated to improving transport links between Cunninghame South and Glasgow in (a) 2008, (b) 2009 and (c) 2010.","AnswerText":"The spending plansset out in the Scottish Budget, published on 14 November 2007, have not yet been approved by the Scottish Parliament.","AnswerDate":"2008-02-01T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-02-04T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Stewart Stevenson","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":215376,"EventID":"S3W-08715","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2085,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":27,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-21T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-21T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive how many accidents were reported on the A87 between 25 December 2007 and 21 January 2008 and how this figure compares with previous years.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive how many accidents were reported on the A87 between 25 December 2007 and 21 January 2008 and how this figure compares with previous years.","AnswerText":"Injury accident statisticsfor this period are not yet available.","AnswerDate":"2008-02-01T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-02-04T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Stewart Stevenson","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":215377,"EventID":"S3W-08716","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1915,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":2,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-21T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-21T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what the incidence is of (a) type 1 and (b) type 2 diabetes in each NHS board area, broken down by ethnic group.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what the incidence is of (a) type 1 and (b) type 2 diabetes in each NHS board area, broken down by ethnic group.","AnswerText":"Information onthe incidence (diagnosis of new cases) of diabetes is not held centrally. Thisis because data on the date of diagnosis is still largely incomplete and unreliablein diabetes registers. There are, however, some specific research studies thathave reported on the incidence of diabetes using research registers. Forexample, the Scottish Study Group for the Care of diabetes in the youngreported on the incidence of type 1 diabetes in children (Rangasami JJ, Greenwood DC, McSporran B, Smail PJ, Patterson CC,Waugh NR. Rising incidence of type 1 diabetes in Scottish children, 1984-93.The Scottish Study Group for the Care of Young Diabetics. Arch.Dis.Child1997;77:210-3). As far as we are aware, these studies have not includedinformation on ethnicity.Information onthe prevalence (number of cases of diabetes in the population at a particularpoint in time) of type 1 and type 2 diabetes in each NHS board area isavailable from the annual Scottish Diabetes Survey. This survey includes datafrom primary and secondary care and is currently the most comprehensive sourceof information on diabetes in Scotland. The survey was first published in 2001.The most recent report (for 2005) is available at: http://www.diabetesinscotland.org/diabetes/MaintainPages/pdfFiles/SDS2005.pdf. Information aboutethnic differences in diabetes prevalence is not currently available at anational level. In the 2005 Scottish Diabetes Survey, data about ethnicity wasonly available for around a quarter of all patients. This would not give reliablebreakdowns by ethnic group. The Diabetes Action Plan (Scottish Government,2006) set a target that all areas should have a record of ethnicity for over80% of patients on the register by the end of 2008. However, A report by the National Resource Centre forEthnic Minority Health (NRCEMH) describes the prevalence of diabetes amongethnic minority groups in Glasgow and reports that diabetes prevalence wasparticularly high among Pakistani people see: http://www.nrcemh.nhsscotland.com/pdfs/Full%20Diabetes%20Report.pdf. Also, a study of diabetes among ethnic minorities inTayside NHS Board area found that the prevalence of diabetes among South Asianswas almost twice as high as that in the non-South Asian population see: http://www.chs.med.ed.ac.uk/phs/research/Retrocoding%20final%20report.pdf,table 3.6, page 30. The ScottishPublic Health Observatory (ScotPHO) website (www.scotpho.org.uk) provides a guide tofurther sources of information on diabetes in Scotland, under the Health, Wellbeing and Disease tab at: http://www.scotpho.org.uk/home/Healthwell-beinganddisease/Diabetes/diabetes_keypoints.asp. ","AnswerDate":"2008-01-30T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-02-04T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Shona Robison","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":215378,"EventID":"S3W-08717","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1820,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":12,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-21T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-21T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what measures of diabetes-related hospital admissions rates and bed days will be used in order to assess its HEAT target.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what measures of diabetes-related hospital admissions rates and bed days will be used in order to assess its HEAT target.","AnswerText":"As outlined in the Better Health,Better Care: Action Plan, one of the 2008-09 HEAT targets is “To achieve agreed reductions in the rates of hospitaladmissions and bed days of patients with primary diagnosis of COPD, Asthma, Diabetesor CHD, from 2006-07 to 2010-11”.Information relating to all in-patientsand day cases discharged from non-obstetric and non-psychiatric specialties is collectedvia the SMR01 episode-based patient record. The data collected on the SMR01record includes patient identifiable and demographic details, episode managementdetails and general clinical information. Diagnoses are recorded using the InternationalClassification of Diseases 10th revision (ICD-10). A range of information such aswaiting time for in-patient/day case admission and length of stay may be derivedfrom the SMR01 record and can be aggregated to allow analysis at NHS board level. Within Local Delivery Plans (LDPs),performance against this target will be measured using information on the numberof hospital episodes per 100,000 population for the specified long-term conditions.The number of bed days will alsobe considered. ","AnswerDate":"2008-01-29T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-02-04T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Nicola Sturgeon","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":215379,"EventID":"S3W-08718","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1820,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":12,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-21T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-21T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether it can guarantee that the homebase of the National Theatre of Scotland will be in Easterhouse and that all the implications of the previous administration’s commi","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether it can guarantee that the homebase of the National Theatre of Scotland will be in Easterhouse and that all the implications of the previous administration’s commitment to base the theatre in Easterhouse will be honoured.","AnswerText":"I can confirmthat the National Theatre of Scotland (NTS) remains committed to theirpermanent homebase at the Bridge in Easterhouse and to building on their linkswith the community there.","AnswerDate":"2008-02-01T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-02-04T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Linda Fabiani","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":215380,"EventID":"S3W-08719","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1820,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":12,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-21T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-21T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to increase the number of speech and language therapists.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to increase the number of speech and language therapists.","AnswerText":"All NHS boardsreceive an annual allocation of funds. Each board’s allocation will beincreased in each year of the spending review period. It is for each NHS boardto decide how best to utilise these funds to meet the health care needs of itsresident population taking account of national and local priorities, including speechand language therapy services. It will be for boards to decide whether any of the additional funding being made available to them is used for this purpose.","AnswerDate":"2008-01-30T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-02-04T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Shona Robison","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":215381,"EventID":"S3W-08720","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1820,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":12,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-21T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-21T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what consultation was undertaken in relation to the extension of the Emergency Workers (Scotland) Act 2005.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what consultation was undertaken in relation to the extension of the Emergency Workers (Scotland) Act 2005.","AnswerText":"The extension of theEmergency Workers (Scotland) Act 2005, to cover doctors, nurses and midwives whenever they areon duty, fulfilled a manifesto commitment. Although noadditional consultation was undertaken, the arguments of different stakeholdershave been well rehearsed when the act was originally debated in Parliament in 2005.","AnswerDate":"2008-01-30T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-02-04T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Shona Robison","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":215382,"EventID":"S3W-08721","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":3811,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":4,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-21T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-21T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-8271 by John Swinney on 18 January 2008, how many staff are employed by the Scottish Government’s Video Production Unit.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-8271 by John Swinney on 18 January 2008, how many staff are employed by the Scottish Government’s Video Production Unit.","AnswerText":"Within the Scottish Government’s multimedia unit, two members of staff run the video and televisionproduction unit. One is full- time and the other has 50% of their time allocatedto these duties.","AnswerDate":"2008-02-01T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-02-04T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"John Swinney","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":215383,"EventID":"S3W-08722","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":3811,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":4,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-21T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-21T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-8271 by John Swinney on 18 January 2008, how the output of the Scottish Government’s Video Production Unit is distributed; where it","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-8271 by John Swinney on 18 January 2008, how the output of the Scottish Government’s Video Production Unit is distributed; where it can be accessed, and how its effectiveness is monitored.","AnswerText":"The video and televisionproduction unit's programmes and video output are distributed on-line, and bycompact disc and DVD. They can be accessed externally on the ScottishGovernment website, and on the Scottish Government’s internal IT system. Werecord and monitor viewing statistics for the Scottish Government website andthe Scottish Government’s intranet television network as a means of assessingeffectiveness.","AnswerDate":"2008-02-01T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-02-04T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"John Swinney","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":215384,"EventID":"S3W-08723","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":3901,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":53,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-21T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-21T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what action it is taking to support local authorities in providing additional support for learning needs.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what action it is taking to support local authorities in providing additional support for learning needs.","AnswerText":"The Scottish Government has takena significant number of steps to support local authorities in providing additionalsupport for learning needs including the following:Providing local government inScotland with record levels of funding over the period covered by the spending review2008-11. The vast majority of the funding will be provided by means of a block grant.It is the responsibility of each local authority to allocate the total financialresources available to it on the basis of local needs and priorities having firstfulfilled its statutory obligations and the jointly agreed set of national and localpriorities including the Scottish Government’s key strategic objectives. A code of practice was producedto provide guidance to local authorities and other agencies on carrying out theirfunctions under the Education (Additional Support for Learning) (Scotland) Act2004. In2007-08, the funding made available througheducation GAE is £4.2 billion; this figure includes £273 million for provision forspecial educational needs. In 2007-08, providing £44.7 million specifically for the implementation of theEducation (Additional Support for Learning) (Scotland) Act 2004 (£12.5 million);inclusion of pupils with additional support needs and disabilities in mainstreamschools (£25 million), and the training and development of staff working with pupilswith additional support needs and disabilities (£7.2 million). ","AnswerDate":"2008-01-29T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-02-04T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Adam Ingram","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":215385,"EventID":"S3W-08724","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2345,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":56,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-22T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-22T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what total costs have been calculated to be attributable to the outbreak of foot-and-mouth disease in 2007.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what total costs have been calculated to be attributable to the outbreak of foot-and-mouth disease in 2007.","AnswerText":"In response to thefoot-and-mouth disease outbreak in Surrey the Scottish Governmentcommitted a £25 million support package to provide relief and recovery to thosemost affected.Costs to the industryfrom the impact of the necessary movement restrictions are currently being assessedas part of Professor Scudamore’s review into the Scottish response. The resultsof this research will be published in due course. ","AnswerDate":"2008-01-30T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-02-05T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Richard Lochhead","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":215386,"EventID":"S3W-08725","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2345,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":56,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-22T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-22T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to protect buyers’ and sellers’ animals from bluetongue at the forthcoming Perth Bull Sales.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to protect buyers’ and sellers’ animals from bluetongue at the forthcoming Perth Bull Sales.","AnswerText":"Perth Bull Sales are important sales attractingbuyers and sellers from a wide area of the UK,and the organisers have been in discussion with the Scottish Government, includingveterinary advisors, about what measures are required to best mitigate any risk.Any animals comingto the sales from the bluetongue restricted zone will be subject to EU regulations,including the requirement for negative results from pre-movement testing for bluetonguebefore they can exit the restricted zone. In addition, animalsarriving in Scotland will be subjected to further checks through the post-movementnotification and checking regime recently put in place in Scotland for animals arrivingfrom a bluetongue Restricted Zone. ","AnswerDate":"2008-01-30T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-02-05T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Richard Lochhead","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":215387,"EventID":"S3W-08726","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2345,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":56,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-22T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-22T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive how the new double tagging system for sheep will improve traceability.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive how the new double tagging system for sheep will improve traceability.","AnswerText":"The new sheep and goattraceability system is being introduced to ensure full compliance with Communitylaw following the loss of the UK derogation to avoid double tagging. We were unableto continue with the derogation due to poor compliance levels found through FVOaudits.The new system will bring the UK in line with other memberstates and is designed to simplify sheep identification and traceability burdensfor the industry. This should improve industry compliance levels resulting in improvedtraceability overall. In particular, the use of double tags helps to ensure theidentification of an animal’s birth holding by duplicating the identity of an animal.This duplication provides a benefit for animal disease control in preserving theanimal’s identity if individual tags are lost. It is accepted, however,that the loss of movement tags previously used under the derogation, for which theCommission have confirmed are not allowed under EC law, may provide a dip in traceability.If applied correctly, they could provide a quick visual reference to all of thelocations an animal had been on. In the event of disease outbreak, however, thisinformation can still be gathered from accompanying movement documents, holdingregisters and central databases. ","AnswerDate":"2008-02-01T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-02-05T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Richard Lochhead","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":215388,"EventID":"S3W-08727","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2345,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":56,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-22T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-22T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what it is doing to reduce the costs to the red meat sector of the meat hygiene service, in light of the BSE crisis coming to an end.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what it is doing to reduce the costs to the red meat sector of the meat hygiene service, in light of the BSE crisis coming to an end.","AnswerText":"I am advised by theFood Standards Agency that in July 2007, the FSA Board agreed a stepped approachto achieve a risk-based audit and inspection regime for Specified Risk Materials(SRM) that reflects the widely accepted reduced risk to humans resulting from thereduced prevalence of BSE in cattle in the UK.In parallel, the FSABoard agreed to work towards adopting a more risk and evidence-based approach tothe regulation of meat hygiene, meat inspection activities and enforcement, andfor the Meat Hygiene Service (MHS) to be transformed into a leaner, more efficientorganisation that will carry out its role at less cost. As the FSA Board’sview is that, where possible, a business should pay for the official controls thatare needed, the MHS will develop a new charging system that will move towards fullcost recovery. This will include the costs of applying SRM controls, which havebeen met by central government since they were first introduced in 1989. Reducingthe costs of the controls and progressively increasing charging to industry willencourage businesses to make more efficient use of the MHS, and enable the FSA totarget any continuing subsidy to plants most in need. There is on-going extensiveconsultation with stakeholders as this work progresses. The Scottish Governmentand equivalents in the other UK countries are also working with the EuropeanCommission to raise the age threshold at which adult bovines are subject to BSEtesting before the carcase can be released into the food chain. Once this increaseis agreed in Brussels and implemented here, it will help to further reduce the compliancecosts for meat plants processing older cattle. ","AnswerDate":"2008-02-05T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-02-05T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Shona Robison","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":215389,"EventID":"S3W-08728","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2345,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":56,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-22T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-22T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what progress is being made on limiting the risk of bluetongue being imported to Scotland from continental Europe. ","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what progress is being made on limiting the risk of bluetongue being imported to Scotland from continental Europe. ","AnswerText":"The Scottish Governmenthas ensured that strong representations have been made to the European Commissionto ensure that robust rules are in place to regulate the movement of susceptibleanimals out of bluetongue restricted zones. At the 10 January meeting of the StandingCommittee on the Food Chain and Animal Health the European Commission challengedall member states to ensure that the regulations are observed.As a further protectionpost-import testing of susceptible animals continues to be undertaken. Industrycan help to reduce the risk of disease incursions by not sourcing stock from areasof high-risk. ","AnswerDate":"2008-01-30T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-02-05T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Richard Lochhead","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":215390,"EventID":"S3W-08729","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2345,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":56,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-22T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-22T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to keep sheep and cattle on Less Favoured Area land in the highlands and islands where sheep and cattle are presently coming off that land.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to keep sheep and cattle on Less Favoured Area land in the highlands and islands where sheep and cattle are presently coming off that land.","AnswerText":"We recognise theimportant role of livestock farming in the Less Favoured Areas of the Highlands and Islands. In addition to expenditure of around£4.657 million, in these areas, on the Scottish Beef Calf Scheme (which aims tosustain quality beef production, particularly in remote and fragile areas, andprotect the environment), LessFavoured Area Support Scheme payments(worth around £24.225 million in the Highlands and Islands) are conditional onactive livestock farming.","AnswerDate":"2008-02-01T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-02-05T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Richard Lochhead","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":215391,"EventID":"S3W-08730","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2345,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":56,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-22T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-22T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what it is doing to limit the spread of bracken in the north and west of Scotland.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what it is doing to limit the spread of bracken in the north and west of Scotland.","AnswerText":"Funding tosupport the eradication and/or control of bracken has been available to allfarmers and crofters through agri-environment schemes for a number of years andwill continue to be available via Rural Development Contracts under the new ScotlandRural Development Programme 2007-13.In addition,payment for claims under a number of national schemes including the Single FarmPayment Scheme, requires farmers and crofters to comply with Good Agriculturaland Environmental Condition (GAEC) standards including avoidance of theencroachment of unwanted vegetation, such as bracken, which degrades theagricultural and environmental value of the land to the extent that the land isnot capable of returning to agricultural production by any time during thegrowing season in the following calendar year. ","AnswerDate":"2008-02-01T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-02-05T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Michael Russell","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":215392,"EventID":"S3W-08731","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2345,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":56,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-22T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-22T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what it is doing to ensure that compound fertilisers will be available in the spring.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what it is doing to ensure that compound fertilisers will be available in the spring.","AnswerText":"Following theglobal increase in grain prices, farmers are seeking to boost production. Thishas led to increased demand for fertiliser.Whilst we sympathise with farmers in Scotland, there is little that the Scottish Government can do except to suggest that farmers continue to adoptbest practice so that their use of fertiliser is cost-effective. ","AnswerDate":"2008-02-01T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-02-05T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Richard Lochhead","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":215393,"EventID":"S3W-08732","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2603,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":6,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-22T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-22T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what its plans are to improve the provision of mental health services in (a) Aberdeen, (b) Aberdeenshire and (c) Angus in 2008 to 2011.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what its plans are to improve the provision of mental health services in (a) Aberdeen, (b) Aberdeenshire and (c) Angus in 2008 to 2011.","AnswerText":"I refer the memberto answer to question S3W-8625 on 28 January 2008 for information about what the Scottish Government is doing to developand improve mental health services throughout Scotland and about the responsibilities of NHS Grampianand NHS Tayside for planning and providing these services in the areas mentioned. All answers to written parliamentary questionsare available on the Parliament’s website; the search facility for which can befound at:http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/wa.search. ","AnswerDate":"2008-02-04T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-02-05T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Shona Robison","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":215394,"EventID":"S3W-08733","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2603,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":6,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-22T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-22T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what actions it plans for raising awareness of mental health in local communities.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what actions it plans for raising awareness of mental health in local communities.","AnswerText":"The Scottish Governmentis currently consulting on the future of mental health improvement and populationmental health. Towards a Mentally Flourishing Scotland invites discussionon what objectives and commitments should be set for 2008-11 as the next stage ofthis agenda. One of the proposed main themes for action is the promotion of mentalwellbeing in local communities.Scotland’s Mental Health First Aid course is a training course designed to improvethe mental health literacy of Scotland’s population. Since its launch in 2004 over9000 people have attended the course. Better Health,Better Care, the Government’sover-arching action plan to transform the NHS in Scotland, launched in December 2007, aims to create a mutual NHS, where patientsare partners rather than just recipients of care. A key part of this change willbe in creating enabling health services, where people have the knowledge – includingincreased mental health literacy - confidence and motivation to make healthy choices.Enhancing mental health literacy in local communities – particularly in disadvantagedcommunities - will complement the health-promoting NHS in Scotland envisaged byBetter Health Better Care in tackling priority areas such as smoking cessation,drug and alcohol abuse, obesity and reducing sexually transmitted infections andunwanted pregnancies: all areas where good mental health is a key determining factor. ","AnswerDate":"2008-02-04T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-02-05T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Shona Robison","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":215395,"EventID":"S3W-08734","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2603,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":6,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-22T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-22T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what actions it plans for educating school children about mental health.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what actions it plans for educating school children about mental health.","AnswerText":"The Scottish Governmentrecognises the importance of positive mental health in helping our young peopleto achieve their potential. The Schools (Health Promotion and Nutrition) (Scotland) Act 2007 imposes duties on the Scottish ministers, educationauthorities and managers of grant-aided schools to endeavour to ensure that publicschools and grant-aided schools are health-promoting. The act defines a school orhostel as “health-promoting” if it provides (whether on its own or in conjunctionwith health boards, parents or any other person)-(a) activities, and(b) an environment and facilities, which promote the physical, social, mental andemotional health and well-being of pupils in attendance at the school or residingin the hostel. We are preparing guidanceto support education authorities, schools and partners to meet this duty. This guidancewill contain a section on mental health and emotional well-being and will includereferences to the curriculum. It will be published shortly, on a date to be agreed. The curriculum isclearly a fundamental part of educating school children about mental health andthe Curriculum Review has identified Health and Wellbeing as a curricular area thatwill be the responsibility of all staff who work in schools. The learning outcomesthat cover mental health and emotional wellbeing are currently in draft form. Theywill be published in May, for engagement with the teaching profession and others. ","AnswerDate":"2008-02-01T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-02-05T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Adam Ingram","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":215396,"EventID":"S3W-08735","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2603,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":6,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-22T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-22T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive how much funding it intends to allocate for delivering mental health services across Scotland during the period of the spending review.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive how much funding it intends to allocate for delivering mental health services across Scotland during the period of the spending review.","AnswerText":"The recordfunding included within the draft Scottish Government Budget to 2010-11 will ensurecontinuity of approach and investment on mental health and other priorities by NHSboards, local authorities and other partners.Spendon mental health services will be drawn from the record funds allocated to NHS boardsand local government. It is the responsibility of these agencies to work in partnershipand to allocate funds from the total financial resources available to them on thebasis of local needs, priorities and agreed targets including the Scottish Government’skey strategic objectives and commitments. ","AnswerDate":"2008-02-04T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-02-05T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Shona Robison","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":215397,"EventID":"S3W-08736","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2603,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":6,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-22T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-22T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive how much funding it intends to allocate for delivering mental health services in (a) Aberdeen, (b) Aberdeenshire and (c) Angus during the period of the spending review.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive how much funding it intends to allocate for delivering mental health services in (a) Aberdeen, (b) Aberdeenshire and (c) Angus during the period of the spending review.","AnswerText":"The Scottish Governmentwill be providing the NHS and local government in Scotland with record levels of funding over the period covered by the spending review2008-11.For the NHS in Scotland, all NHS boards receive an annual allocation of funds, which will be announcedshortly. It is for each NHS board to decide how best to utilise these funds to meetthe health care needs of its resident population, including mental health services,taking account of national and local priorities. The record funding included within the draft ScottishGovernment Budget will ensure continuity of approach and investment on mental healthand other priorities by all NHS boards, local authorities and other partners andwill support the delivery of the now four HEAT targets for NHS Scotland includingthe focus on early detection and support for those with dementia and for their families. For local government,the vast majority of the funding, including the funding for mental health services,will be provided by means of a block grant. It is the responsibility of each localauthority to allocate the total financial resources available to it on the basisof local needs and priorities having first fulfilled its statutory obligations andthe jointly agreed set of national and local priorities including the Scottish Government’skey strategic objectives and manifesto commitments. ","AnswerDate":"2008-02-04T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-02-05T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Shona Robison","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":215398,"EventID":"S3W-08737","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":3811,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":4,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-22T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-22T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to support physics in Scottish universities.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to support physics in Scottish universities.","AnswerText":"The Scottish Executivefunds Scottish universities through the Scottish Funding Council (SFC), and fundingdecisions in relation to particular subject areas are a matter for the SFC. TheSFC will continue to provide support to physics in Scottish universities througha variety of funding streams, both for research and teaching, in accordance withits main annual grant letter which is published on the SFC website.","AnswerDate":"2008-01-31T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-02-05T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Fiona Hyslop","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":215399,"EventID":"S3W-08738","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":3811,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":4,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-22T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-22T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether it plans to offer financial assistance to the Royal Observatory in Edinburgh.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether it plans to offer financial assistance to the Royal Observatory in Edinburgh.","AnswerText":"The Royal Observatoryhas not asked the Scottish Government to provide financial assistance and we haveno plans to do so. The UK Government’s Science and Technology Facilities Council(STFC) has the primary responsibility for funding the Royal Observatory throughits UK Astronomy Technology Centre facility (UKATC). We are aware of the potentialdifficulties at the Royal Observatory arising out of the STFC’s budget cuts, followingthe UK Government’s Spending Review. I have therefore written to John Denham, Secretaryof State at the Department of Innovation, Universities and Skills to express myconcerns and I also plan to visit the Royal Observatory soon to discuss this issuefurther.","AnswerDate":"2008-02-04T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-02-05T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Jim Mather","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":215400,"EventID":"S3W-08739","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2066,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":3,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-22T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-22T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive why priority need for housing assessment is to be phased out by 2012 and how it will deliver on this commitment.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive why priority need for housing assessment is to be phased out by 2012 and how it will deliver on this commitment.","AnswerText":"The Homelessness etc (Scotland) Act 2003 contains a target to abolish the current distinction between homeless households assessed as having a priority need foraccommodation and other homeless households by 2012. Achievement of the2012 target is included as an indicator within the national performance frameworkagreed with COSLA.A wide range of actionsis required to deliver on this target. The Scottish Government will take accountof the report of the Homelessness Monitoring Group and the findingsof the Homelessness 2012 Support Project sponsored bythe Scottish Government and the Association of Local Authority Chief Housing Officersin working with local authorities and other delivery partners towards the target. ","AnswerDate":"2008-01-30T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-02-05T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Stewart Maxwell","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":215401,"EventID":"S3W-08740","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2066,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":3,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-22T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-22T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether local connection is to be removed as a criterion for social housing allocation; whether it considers that this will cause concern in communities and, if so, wheth","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether local connection is to be removed as a criterion for social housing allocation; whether it considers that this will cause concern in communities and, if so, whether it will reconsider its position on this matter.","AnswerText":"Local connection isnot a statutory criterion for social housing allocation in Scotland. Social landlords are required by the Housing (Scotland) Act 2001 to admit anyone over 16 to their housing listwho lives in their area or has one of a list of reasons for wanting to move to thearea. Guidance on the 2001 act makes clear that applicants for housing should notbe debarred because they have no local connection with an area, although local connectionmight be a factor in determining priority.Scottish homelessness legislation allows local connection to be takeninto account in determining which local authority has a duty towards a homeless household. The Homelessness(Scotland) Act 2003 introduced powers for Scottishministers to modify the relevant provisions. The Scottish Government will discussthe exercise of these powers with local authorities, following concerns raised duringa consultation exercise carried out by the previous administration and also duringthe Homelessness 2012 Support Project sponsored bythe Association of Local Authority Chief Housing Officers and the Scottish Government. ","AnswerDate":"2008-01-30T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-02-05T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Stewart Maxwell","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":215402,"EventID":"S3W-08741","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1926,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":48,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-22T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-22T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will highlight in its road safety campaigns dangers caused by diesel and oil spills.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will highlight in its road safety campaigns dangers caused by diesel and oil spills.","AnswerText":"The Scottish Governmentprovides funding to Road Safety Scotland for the development of key road safetyeducation initiatives and publicity messages. Road Safety Scotland’s business planfor 2007-08 does not include plans for a campaign on the dangers caused by dieseland oil spills.In deciding its prioritiesfor publicity campaigns, Road Safety Scotland concentrates on known major causesof road deaths and serious injuries, such as speeding, drink driving and seat beltuse. Out of a total of13,109 injury accidents in Scotland in 2006, there were 81 accidents, includingone fatal, in which the presence of oil or diesel on the road was recorded. Thisrepresents 0.6% of injury accidents. ","AnswerDate":"2008-02-06T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-02-05T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Stewart Stevenson","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":215403,"EventID":"S3W-08742","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1926,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":48,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-22T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-22T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what action it plans to take on the enforcement of legislation in respect of diesel and oil spills on roads.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what action it plans to take on the enforcement of legislation in respect of diesel and oil spills on roads.","AnswerText":"The Scottish Governmenthas no such plans as the enforcement of the legislation in respect of diesel andoil spills on roads is a matter for the police.","AnswerDate":"2008-02-06T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-02-05T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Stewart Stevenson","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":215404,"EventID":"S3W-08743","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1926,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":48,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-22T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-22T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether it plans to introduce a safety campaign to highlight the danger of over-filling diesel tanks, given that diesel and oil spills on roads have led to a number of fa","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether it plans to introduce a safety campaign to highlight the danger of over-filling diesel tanks, given that diesel and oil spills on roads have led to a number of fatalities in the north east this year.","AnswerText":"I refer the memberto the answer to question S3W-8741 on 6 February 2008. All answers to written parliamentary questions are availableon the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/wa.search.","AnswerDate":"2008-02-06T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-02-05T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Stewart Stevenson","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":215405,"EventID":"S3W-08744","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1996,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":19,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-22T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-22T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive when it will publish the responses it received to the internal review it carried out on the future of sportscotland.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive when it will publish the responses it received to the internal review it carried out on the future of sportscotland.","AnswerText":"We have contacted the stakeholdersinvolved with the review seeking permission to release all available correspondencesubject to freedom of information legislation.","AnswerDate":"2008-01-29T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-02-05T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Stewart Maxwell","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":215406,"EventID":"S3W-08745","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1996,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":19,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-22T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-22T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions took place with the Chair of the Scottish Institute of Sport prior to the ministerial announcement on 9 January 2008 relating to its future.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions took place with the Chair of the Scottish Institute of Sport prior to the ministerial announcement on 9 January 2008 relating to its future.","AnswerText":"Prior to the ministerial announcementon 9 January 2008 the Scottish Government had discussions with the Chairof the Scottish Institute of Sport via email exchanges. In addition the Ministerfor Communities and Sport met Mr Donnelly on 22 November 2007 to discuss thefuture of the Scottish Institute of Sport.","AnswerDate":"2008-01-29T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-02-05T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Stewart Maxwell","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":215407,"EventID":"S3W-08746","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1996,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":19,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-22T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-22T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions took place with the Chair of sportscotland prior to the ministerial announcement on 9 January 2008 relating to its future.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions took place with the Chair of sportscotland prior to the ministerial announcement on 9 January 2008 relating to its future.","AnswerText":"Prior to the ministerial announcementon 9 January 2008, the Scottish Government held meetings with Ms Bracewellto discuss the future of sportscotland.","AnswerDate":"2008-01-29T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-02-05T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Stewart Maxwell","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":215408,"EventID":"S3W-08747","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1996,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":19,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-22T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-22T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive which individuals at the Scottish Institute of Sport (SIS) were consulted prior to the ministerial announcement on 9 January 2008 that SIS would be merged with sportscotl","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive which individuals at the Scottish Institute of Sport (SIS) were consulted prior to the ministerial announcement on 9 January 2008 that SIS would be merged with sportscotland under one board.","AnswerText":"The Scottish Government consultedthe Executive Director and the Chair of the Scottish Institute of Sport, on themerger, prior to the ministerial announcement on 9 January 2008.","AnswerDate":"2008-01-29T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-02-05T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Stewart Maxwell","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":215409,"EventID":"S3W-08748","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1996,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":19,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-22T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-22T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions took place with the board of the Scottish Institute of Sport about its abolition prior to the ministerial announcement on 9 January 2008.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions took place with the board of the Scottish Institute of Sport about its abolition prior to the ministerial announcement on 9 January 2008.","AnswerText":"Prior to the ministerialannouncement on 9 January 2008 the Scottish Government had discussions directlywith Executive Director Mr Mike Whittingham at a series of meetings.To ensure consistency the Scottish Government contacted the Chief Executives of both sportscotland andthe Scottish Institute of Sport when seeking views and opinions, and in orderto discuss the future of the organisations. ","AnswerDate":"2008-01-29T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-02-05T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Stewart Maxwell","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":215410,"EventID":"S3W-08749","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1996,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":19,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-22T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-22T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive how many of the responses to its internal review on the future of sportscotland called for the absorption of the Scottish Institute of Sport into sportscotland.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive how many of the responses to its internal review on the future of sportscotland called for the absorption of the Scottish Institute of Sport into sportscotland.","AnswerText":"The majority of responsescalled for the retention of a single national agency for sport, a simplificationof the delivery structures and identified concerns over duplication andintegration. More specifically a number of the major Commonwealth and Olympicsports currently within the institute system, identified a much closer workingrelationship was required.","AnswerDate":"2008-01-29T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-02-05T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Stewart Maxwell","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":215411,"EventID":"S3W-08750","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1996,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":19,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-22T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-22T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive when the decision was made to remove the Chairs of sportscotland and the Scottish Institute of Sport from their posts.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive when the decision was made to remove the Chairs of sportscotland and the Scottish Institute of Sport from their posts.","AnswerText":"Once the decision had beenmade to merge sportscotland and the Scottish Institute of Sport into oneorganisation it was always intended that the two chairs would be asked to standdown. It was however not appropriate to have those discussions prior to theformal announcement made to Parliament on 9 January 2008.Both chairs were informed on15 January 2008 of the decision to appoint a chair to the newlymerged organisation through the public appointments process and they were askedto stand down with effect from 15 February 2008. ","AnswerDate":"2008-01-29T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-02-05T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Stewart Maxwell","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":215412,"EventID":"S3W-08751","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1996,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":19,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-22T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-22T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what consultation the Minister for Communities and Sport undertook before making the decision to ask the Chairs of sportscotland and the Scottish Institute of Sport to re","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what consultation the Minister for Communities and Sport undertook before making the decision to ask the Chairs of sportscotland and the Scottish Institute of Sport to resign.","AnswerText":"Once the decision had beenmade to merge the organisations into a single body under one board, it wasobvious only one chair would be required.It was always intended toask both chairs to stand down. ","AnswerDate":"2008-01-29T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-02-05T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Stewart Maxwell","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":215413,"EventID":"S3W-08752","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1996,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":19,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-22T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-22T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will publish any correspondence, email or telephone records in respect of discussions held with the Scottish Institute of Sport (SIS) on the future of sportsco","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will publish any correspondence, email or telephone records in respect of discussions held with the Scottish Institute of Sport (SIS) on the future of sportscotland and the SIS.","AnswerText":"We have contactedall stakeholders involved with the review of sportscotland including SIS seekingpermission to release all available correspondence subject to freedom ofinformation legislation.The Scottish Governmentwill not be able to publish or release telephone records in respect of discussionsheld with SIS as these telephone conversations were not recorded. ","AnswerDate":"2008-02-01T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-02-05T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Stewart Maxwell","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":215414,"EventID":"S3W-08753","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1996,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":19,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-22T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-22T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive why the announcement to remove the Chairs of sportscotland and the Scottish Institute of Sport from their posts was not included in the ministerial statement on 9 January","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive why the announcement to remove the Chairs of sportscotland and the Scottish Institute of Sport from their posts was not included in the ministerial statement on 9 January 2008.","AnswerText":"It was always intended thatthe chairs of both organisations would stand down, however it was notappropriate to have those discussions prior to the ministerial announcement on 9 January 2008.Both chairs were informed on15 January 2008 of the decision to appoint a chair to the newlymerged organisation through the public appointments process and they were askedto stand down with effect from 15 February 2008. ","AnswerDate":"2008-01-29T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-02-05T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Stewart Maxwell","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":215415,"EventID":"S3W-08754","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1996,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":19,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-22T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-22T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what measures have been taken to ensure that Scotland’s elite athletes are not disadvantaged by any recent disruption and uncertainty surrounding the Scottish Institute o","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what measures have been taken to ensure that Scotland’s elite athletes are not disadvantaged by any recent disruption and uncertainty surrounding the Scottish Institute of Sport.","AnswerText":"Support for Scotland’s elite athletes will continue asnormal, but under the new arrangements the Institute of Sport that supports themwill have more secure and stable funding as a result of moving to government fundingrather than the unstable lottery funding on which it has had to rely to date.The structure of the new organisation will ensure ourathletes have the very best of support and the SIS will have the primary responsibilityfor delivering on the elite athlete programme. The high-performance hub will remain in Stirling and will be encouraged and supported to continue operatingin the innovative and unique way appropriate to the performance sport environment. The institute’s objectives will remain to put more ofScotland’s best athletes on the podium at major international sports events. The de-centralisationof the delivery structure will also ensure that we have the right people in theright place across the whole of Scotland. ","AnswerDate":"2008-01-30T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-02-05T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Stewart Maxwell","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":215416,"EventID":"S3W-08755","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1996,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":19,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-22T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-22T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive when the proposed merger of the boards of sportscotland and the Scottish Institute of Sport will take effect.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive when the proposed merger of the boards of sportscotland and the Scottish Institute of Sport will take effect.","AnswerText":"It is intended that the separatecompany that is currently the Scottish Institute of Sport will cease to exist afterthe 31 March 2008.There are three vacancies arisingon the sportscotland board this year. These vacancies will be filled under the auspices of the Office of the Commissioner forPublic Appointments in Scotland (OCPAS). The process to fill these positions musttherefore comply with OCPAS’s Code of Practice. This is an open process and anybody who has the abilities, the skills, thetalents can apply for that job and it isanticipated will take about three to four months to complete. However, it is important thatwe add expertise from the institute board to the sportscotland board and therefore it is intended to co-opt three members with immediate effect. ","AnswerDate":"2008-01-29T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-02-05T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Stewart Maxwell","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":215417,"EventID":"S3W-08756","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1996,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":19,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-22T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-22T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive who will be involved in selecting an appropriate candidate for the position of Chair of the newly merged board of sportscotland and the Scottish Institute of Sport.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive who will be involved in selecting an appropriate candidate for the position of Chair of the newly merged board of sportscotland and the Scottish Institute of Sport.","AnswerText":"Sportscotland in its capacityas a non-departmental public body falls under the auspices of the Office of theCommissioner for Public Appointments in Scotland (OCPAS). The process to fill theposition of chair must therefore comply with OCPAS’s Code of Practice. This is an open process and anybody who has the abilities,the skills, the talents can apply for the job.The selection panel will consistof an independent OCPAS assessor and the Director General and Director of HealthDirectorate. ","AnswerDate":"2008-01-29T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-02-05T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Stewart Maxwell","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":215418,"EventID":"S3W-08757","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1996,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":19,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-22T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-22T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive when an interim Chair will be selected to oversee the merger of the boards of sportscotland and the Scottish Institute of Sport.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive when an interim Chair will be selected to oversee the merger of the boards of sportscotland and the Scottish Institute of Sport.","AnswerText":"The arrangements for the appointmentof a vice chair is a matter for sportscotland.However,we have agreed with sportscotland that it will appoint a vice chair from its boardmembers at its next meeting scheduled on 6 February. The vice chair will act asinterim chair when the current chair stands down on 15 February. ","AnswerDate":"2008-01-29T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-02-05T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Stewart Maxwell","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":215419,"EventID":"S3W-08758","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1996,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":19,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-22T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-22T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive when a new full-time Chair of the merged boards of sportscotland and the Scottish Institute of Sport will be in place.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive when a new full-time Chair of the merged boards of sportscotland and the Scottish Institute of Sport will be in place.","AnswerText":"The vacancy for the Chair ofsportscotland will be advertised in the national press in the next few weeks andthere is normally a minimum closing date period of four weeks. This is followedby a short-list meeting to select candidates for interview and finally the interviewsthemselves will take place. Once the selection panel has made their recommendationsit will be sent to the cabinet secretary/minister for consideration. The processnormally takes between three to four months to complete from advert date.","AnswerDate":"2008-01-29T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-02-05T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Stewart Maxwell","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":215420,"EventID":"S3W-08759","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1752,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":57,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-22T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-22T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S2W-29708 by Lewis Macdonald on 17 November 2006, whether it will detail the findings of the inquiry panel into absconds from Ailsa Hos","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S2W-29708 by Lewis Macdonald on 17 November 2006, whether it will detail the findings of the inquiry panel into absconds from Ailsa Hospital.","AnswerText":"The detail of thefull report with its findings is necessarily subject to restrictions placed on Ministersby the Data Protection Act 1998 and by the general law of patient confidentiality.Recommendations 6 and 11, which were directed to the Scottish Executive’s MentalHealth Division, have since been accepted by the Scottish Government and are beingprogressed in conjunction with the Forensic Mental Health Services Managed CareNetwork and in the provision of a revised Memorandum of Procedure.I have placed a copyof the recommendations contained in the Hawkins Report, along with NHS Ayrshireand Arran Health Board’s response, in the Scottish Parliament InformationCentre (Bib. number 44571). ","AnswerDate":"2008-02-04T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-02-05T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Shona Robison","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":215421,"EventID":"S3W-08760","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1752,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":57,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-22T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-22T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S2W-29708 by Lewis Macdonald on 17 November 2006, what further action was taken in response to the findings of the inquiry panel into a","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S2W-29708 by Lewis Macdonald on 17 November 2006, what further action was taken in response to the findings of the inquiry panel into absconds from Ailsa Hospital.","AnswerText":"I refer the memberto the answer to question S3W-8759 on 4 February 2008. All answers to written parliamentary questions are availableon the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/wa.search.","AnswerDate":"2008-02-04T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-02-05T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Shona Robison","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":215422,"EventID":"S3W-08761","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1752,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":57,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-22T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-22T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S2W-28879 by Lewis Macdonald on 1 November 2006, what steps were taken following the findings of the critical incident review carried o","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S2W-28879 by Lewis Macdonald on 1 November 2006, what steps were taken following the findings of the critical incident review carried out by NHS Ayrshire and Arran.","AnswerText":"The full adverse incidentreport with 30 recommendations was submitted to the Executive Medical Director atAyrshire and Arran Health Board and accepted in full on 24 October 2006. A detailed action plan was developed by the Head ofClinical Governance in Partnership with the Interim General Manager for Mental Health.Progress is monitored by the Clinical Governance Committee.I have placed a copyof the recommendations along with Ayrshire and Arran Health Board’s response inthe Scottish Parliament Information Centre (Bib. number 44572). ","AnswerDate":"2008-02-04T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-02-05T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Shona Robison","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":215423,"EventID":"S3W-08762","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":3775,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":7,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-22T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-22T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive how many cultural co-ordinators have been employed in each year since the scheme started.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive how many cultural co-ordinators have been employed in each year since the scheme started.","AnswerText":"Phases 1 and 2 of the pilot cultural co-ordinators programme were developed with a rollingdeadline, with local authorities starting the scheme at different times throughoutthe financial year. The table below gives the number of co-ordinator postsapplied for in each financial year.Total Number ofCultural Co-ordinators Posts Applied for (both Full and Part-Time) | Year | | | 2002-03 (Phase 1) | 92 | | 2003-04 | 92 | | 2004-05 (Phase 2) | 91 | | 2005-06 (Phase 2) | 91 | | 2006-07 (Transition) | 34* | | 2007-08 | 123** | Notes: *One year offunding available to local authorities who had completed or were nearcompletion of Phase 2 in the financial year 2005-06. **This figuresincludes Creative Links officers who are Cultural Co-ordinator managers, thereare a total of 87 co-ordinators and 32 managers plus four national CreativeLinks officers. ","AnswerDate":"2008-02-05T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-02-05T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Linda Fabiani","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":215424,"EventID":"S3W-08763","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":3775,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":7,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-22T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-22T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive how many cultural co-ordinators are employed in each local authority area.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive how many cultural co-ordinators are employed in each local authority area.","AnswerText":"There arecurrently 123 staff working in the cultural co-ordinator programme across Scotland. These are broken down by local authority asfollows: | Local Authority Area | Part-Time Posts Allocated | Full-Time Posts Applied for | Part-Time Posts Applied for | Managers | Total Posts | | Aberdeen City Council | N/A | 3 | | 1 | 4 | | Aberdeenshire Council | | 4 | | 1 | 5 | | Angus Council | | 1 | | 1 | 2 | | Argyll and Bute Council | | 1 | | 1 | 2 | | Clackmannanshire Council | | 1 | 2 | 1 | 4 | | Comhairle Nan Eilean Siar | | 2 | | 1 | 3 | | Dumfries and Galloway Council | | 2 | | 1 | 3 | | Dundee City Council | | 2 | | 1 | 3 | | East Ayrshire Council | | 1 | 1 | 1 | 3 | | East Dunbartonshire Council | | 1 | 2 | 1 | 4 | | East Lothian Council | | 2 | | 1 | 3 | ","AnswerDate":"2008-02-05T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-02-05T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Linda Fabiani","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":215426,"EventID":"S3W-08765","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":3775,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":7,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-22T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-22T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive how much the Scottish Arts Council has spent on training for cultural co-ordinators in each year since the scheme started.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive how much the Scottish Arts Council has spent on training for cultural co-ordinators in each year since the scheme started.","AnswerText":"Total investment intraining for cultural co-ordinators: | Year | | | 2002-03 (Phase 1) | 0 | | 2003-04 (Phase 1) | £4,564.12 | | 2004-05 (Phase 2) | £41,654.43 | | 2005-06 (Phase 2) | £15,409.30 | | 2006-07 (transition) | £5,607.60 | | 2007-08 | £1,000.00 | ","AnswerDate":"2008-02-05T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-02-05T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Linda Fabiani","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":215427,"EventID":"S3W-08766","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":3775,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":7,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-22T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-22T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what resources have been deployed in the central administration of cultural co-ordinators in each year since the scheme started.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what resources have been deployed in the central administration of cultural co-ordinators in each year since the scheme started.","AnswerText":"Since 2003, the culturalco-ordinators scheme has been supported by a dedicated staff of one full-time officerand one part time administrator based within the Scottish Arts Council EducationDepartment.Associated salaryand employment costs are as detailed here: | Year | Full-Time Officer | Part-Time Administrator | | 2002-03 (Phase 1) | £0 | £0 | | 2003-04 (Phase1) | £27,000 | £9,100 | | 2004-05 (Phase 2) | £28,750 | £9,600 | | 2005-06 (Phase 2) | £30,300 | £10,000 | | 2006-07 (transition) | £31,000 | £10,300 | | 2007-08 | £33,000 | £11,000 | | Total | £150,050 | £50,000 | ","AnswerDate":"2008-02-05T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-02-05T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Linda Fabiani","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":215428,"EventID":"S3W-08767","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":3775,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":7,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-22T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-22T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive how many conferences have been held by government agencies or quangos for cultural co-ordinators in Scotland; how many co-ordinators attended each conference, and what th","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive how many conferences have been held by government agencies or quangos for cultural co-ordinators in Scotland; how many co-ordinators attended each conference, and what the costs were of each conference.","AnswerText":"There has been 1 majorconference for cultural co-ordinators - Diverse Elements was held on 31 May 2004. The total cost was £26,150.58 including publicationof conference report and DVD.There have also beena number of smaller scale specialist training and networking events for culturalco-ordinators, as well as guidance resources and the availability of a “go and see”fund. The annual costs are detailed in the table provided with response to S3W-8765on 5 February 2008. No definitive figuresare available for numbers of cultural co-ordinators in attendance at each. All answers to writtenparliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facilityfor which can be found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/wa.search. ","AnswerDate":"2008-02-05T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-02-05T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Linda Fabiani","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":215429,"EventID":"S3W-08768","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":3806,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":3,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-22T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-22T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what evidence is being gathered on the effectiveness of the Keep Well programme in relation to the diagnosis of diabetes.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what evidence is being gathered on the effectiveness of the Keep Well programme in relation to the diagnosis of diabetes.","AnswerText":"Every patient who attends a Keep Well health check is assessed for diabetes. Patients who are diagnosed with diabetes are added to the diabetes register and as a consequence followed up, at a minimum, every 15 months, as required by the Quality Outcomes Framework (QOF). ","AnswerDate":"2008-01-30T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-02-05T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Shona Robison","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":215430,"EventID":"S3W-08769","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":3806,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":3,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-22T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-22T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will set out how people at risk of type 2 diabetes will be included as a priority target group in the Life Begins programme.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will set out how people at risk of type 2 diabetes will be included as a priority target group in the Life Begins programme.","AnswerText":"The Life Begins programmewill help to identify people at higher risk of disease so that they can be targetedto reduce this risk. This will include help with making lifestyle changes and medicalinterventions to reduce risks and treat any newly detected disease. This would includethe treatment of type 2 diabetes.","AnswerDate":"2008-02-04T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-02-05T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Nicola Sturgeon","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":215431,"EventID":"S3W-08770","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2394,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":5,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-22T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-22T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what the remit is of the Joint Future Thinking Taskforce on Universities.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what the remit is of the Joint Future Thinking Taskforce on Universities.","AnswerText":"The taskforce will consider:Howto optimise and shape the contribution which the Scottish university sector canmake during the next 20 years to the Scottish economy, to Scottish culture and societyand to the political priorities of the Scottish Government. Whatopportunities can be created and what barriers will need to be overcome to achievethat. What resources will be neededand how they will be provided. ","AnswerDate":"2008-01-24T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-02-05T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Fiona Hyslop","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":215432,"EventID":"S3W-08771","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2394,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":5,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-22T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-22T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether minutes will be published of meetings of the Joint Future Thinking Taskforce on Universities.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether minutes will be published of meetings of the Joint Future Thinking Taskforce on Universities.","AnswerText":"There are currently no plansto publish minutes of the meetings of the Taskforce. The taskforce is making communicationof progress a high priority and will consider how best to achieve this as the exercisemoves forward.","AnswerDate":"2008-01-24T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-02-05T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Fiona Hyslop","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":215433,"EventID":"S3W-08772","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2394,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":5,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-22T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-22T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive when and to whom the Joint Future Thinking Taskforce on Universities will report.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive when and to whom the Joint Future Thinking Taskforce on Universities will report.","AnswerText":"The intention is for the finalmeeting of the taskforce to take place in June. The taskforce will report as soonas is feasible after that meeting. I expect the outcomes to be reported to the ScottishGovernment’s Cabinet, amongst others and I would also expect our work to be publishedin due course. In addition, I plan to keep members of the further and highereducation roundtable updated with its progress.","AnswerDate":"2008-01-29T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-02-05T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Fiona Hyslop","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":215434,"EventID":"S3W-08773","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2394,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":5,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-22T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-22T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether the Joint Future Thinking Taskforce on Universities will consider university funding.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether the Joint Future Thinking Taskforce on Universities will consider university funding.","AnswerText":"Yes. The taskforce will consider university funding. ","AnswerDate":"2008-01-24T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-02-05T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Fiona Hyslop","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":215435,"EventID":"S3W-08774","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2394,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":5,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-22T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-22T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether the Joint Future Thinking Taskforce on Universities will consider the use of student contributions towards university funding.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether the Joint Future Thinking Taskforce on Universities will consider the use of student contributions towards university funding.","AnswerText":"The government is firmly committed to access to higher education being based on the ability to learn rather than the ability to pay. The issue of student contributions is excluded from the scope of the taskforce. ","AnswerDate":"2008-01-29T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-02-05T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Fiona Hyslop","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":215436,"EventID":"S3W-08775","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2394,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":5,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-22T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-22T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive why student representatives are not part of the membership of the Joint Future Thinking Taskforce on Universities.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive why student representatives are not part of the membership of the Joint Future Thinking Taskforce on Universities.","AnswerText":"A wide ranging review which mighttake years to produce results is not appropriate in this case. Membership of thetaskforce has deliberately been restricted to the government, university principalsand the chair of the Scottish Funding Council to ensure a short, sharp exercisethat produces tangible outputs.The government does not see thetaskforce’s identification of challenges and next steps as being the end of theprocess. There will be an opportunity for wider engagement with a range of stakeholdersbeyond this. In particular, NUS and CHESS have been specifically asked to providean input to the next meeting in February. I also intend to discuss the student perspectiveat an event in the spring. ","AnswerDate":"2008-01-29T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-02-05T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Fiona Hyslop","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":215437,"EventID":"S3W-08776","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":4016,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":64,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-23T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-23T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has a strategy to deal with antisocial tenants.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has a strategy to deal with antisocial tenants.","AnswerText":"The ScottishGovernment has a national antisocial behaviour strategy which was introduced withthe Antisocial Behaviour Act 2004. The strategy, which applies to all includingtenants is currently under review, the findings of which will be reported to Parliamentby the end of 2008. There are provisions in the act that give registered sociallandlords and local authorities robust powers to address antisocial behaviour oftheir tenants. The Act also contains provisions to ensure that private landlordsfulfil their responsibility to address the behaviour of their tenants.","AnswerDate":"2008-01-31T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-02-06T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Stewart Maxwell","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":215438,"EventID":"S3W-08777","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":4016,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":64,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-23T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-23T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether it plans to give housing associations more powers to evict antisocial tenants.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether it plans to give housing associations more powers to evict antisocial tenants.","AnswerText":"We have no currentplans to add to the robust powers already available to housing associations (andlocal authorities) under the Housing (Scotland) Act 2001.","AnswerDate":"2008-01-31T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-02-06T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Stewart Maxwell","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":215439,"EventID":"S3W-08778","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":4016,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":64,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-23T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-23T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether it plans to give housing associations greater powers to deal with antisocial tenants.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether it plans to give housing associations greater powers to deal with antisocial tenants.","AnswerText":"We have no currentplans to add to the powers housing associations already have to deal with antisocialbehaviour.","AnswerDate":"2008-01-31T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-02-06T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Stewart Maxwell","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":215440,"EventID":"S3W-08779","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1894,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":1,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-23T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-23T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive how many motorists have been charged with driving while banned from driving in each of the last five years.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive how many motorists have been charged with driving while banned from driving in each of the last five years.","AnswerText":"The available informationis given in the table below.The Number of PersonsProceeded Against in Scottish Courts for Driving whilst Disqualified1,2001-02 to 2005-06. | | 2001-02 | 2002-03 | 2003-04 | 2004-05 | 2005-06 | | Scotland | 2,656 | 3,166 | 3,002 | 2,747 | 2,408 | Notes: 1. Where thisis the main offence. ","AnswerDate":"2008-02-05T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-02-06T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Fergus Ewing","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":215441,"EventID":"S3W-08780","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1894,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":1,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-23T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-23T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive how many motorists have been banned from driving in each of the last five years.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive how many motorists have been banned from driving in each of the last five years.","AnswerText":"The available informationis given in the tables.The number of personswith a charge proved in Scottish courts where a driving disqualification had beenrecorded, 2001-02 to 2005-06. | | 2001-02 | 2002-03 | 2003-04 | 2004-05 | 2005-06 | | Scotland | 17,612 | 22,338 | 20,997 | 19,607 | 18,064 | ","AnswerDate":"2008-02-06T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-02-06T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Fergus Ewing","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":215442,"EventID":"S3W-08781","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1754,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":5,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-23T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-23T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether the Minister for Europe, External Affairs and Culture has met representatives of Scottish Arts Council-supported Scots language organisations and, if not, when th","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether the Minister for Europe, External Affairs and Culture has met representatives of Scottish Arts Council-supported Scots language organisations and, if not, when the minister plans to do so.","AnswerText":"I refer the memberto the answer to question S3W-8782 on 5 February 2008. All answers to written parliamentary questions are availableon the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/wa.search.","AnswerDate":"2008-02-05T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-02-06T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Linda Fabiani","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":215443,"EventID":"S3W-08782","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1754,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":5,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-23T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-23T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive how it plans to apply the provisions of the European Charter for Regional and Minority Languages to the Scots language.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive how it plans to apply the provisions of the European Charter for Regional and Minority Languages to the Scots language.","AnswerText":"Scots is a valuablepart of our cultural life. I am keen to see its use promoted in education, the artsand literature. For this reason I have asked for an audit of what measures are currentlyin place to promote the Scots language, and what opportunities exist to make furtherprogress.The cycle of reportingfor the Third Periodic Report on the Council of Europe Charter for Regional andMinority Languages has commenced and the Scottish Government will be providing informationto the Council of Europe in connection with the undertakings which have been agreedfor Gaelic and Scots. In connection withthe Scots language, the Scottish Government will be writing to authorities and publicbodies to remind them of the Charter undertakings and to ask what provision is inplace in their areas. At a later stage we will be informing the Council of Europeof the terms of our proposed audit of Scots language provision and the progresswe hope to make with this in connection with our Charter undertakings. My colleague, theMinister for Schools and Skills, and I have both met and corresponded with a rangeof Scots language organisations. This includes groups supported by the ScottishArts Council and others. The fundamental aimbehind the United Nation’s International Year of Languages, 2008, is the preservationand promotion of linguistic diversity. We share this aim, welcome this initiativeand will encourage local authorities and schools to engage with national and internationalinitiatives such as this. The proposals in theprevious administration’s report, A Strategy for Scotland’s Languages, arebeing taken forward by a range of business areas within the Scottish Government. ","AnswerDate":"2008-02-05T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-02-06T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Linda Fabiani","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":215444,"EventID":"S3W-08783","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1754,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":5,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-23T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-23T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive how it plans to mark the UN’s International Year of Languages 2008, with particular reference to activities and events that promote and encourage the Scots language.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive how it plans to mark the UN’s International Year of Languages 2008, with particular reference to activities and events that promote and encourage the Scots language.","AnswerText":"I refer the memberto the answer to question S3W-8782 on 5 February 2008. All answers to written parliamentary questions are availableon the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/wa.search.","AnswerDate":"2008-02-05T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-02-06T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Linda Fabiani","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":215445,"EventID":"S3W-08784","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1754,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":5,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-23T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-23T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive how it plans to develop the proposals in the national languages strategy.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive how it plans to develop the proposals in the national languages strategy.","AnswerText":"I refer the memberto the answer to question S3W-8782 on 5 February 2008. All answers to written parliamentary questions are availableon the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/wa.search.","AnswerDate":"2008-02-05T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-02-06T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Linda Fabiani","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":215446,"EventID":"S3W-08785","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2140,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":55,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-23T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-23T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive how it will raise standards of animal health and welfare in the farming industry.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive how it will raise standards of animal health and welfare in the farming industry.","AnswerText":"Current examples ofwork include the consideration of compulsory treatment period for sheep scab andwork to protect Scotland from the threat of bluetongue. The ScottishGovernment will seek to have an animal health and welfare measure included in theScotland Rural Development programme in the first modification.","AnswerDate":"2008-02-01T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-02-06T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Richard Lochhead","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":215447,"EventID":"S3W-08786","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2140,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":55,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-23T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-23T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what action it will take on animal disease prevention and control.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what action it will take on animal disease prevention and control.","AnswerText":"The Scottish Governmenthas a range of statutory measures in place to support the control of notifiablediseases. In addition, it works in close partnership with stakeholder organisationsto promote proactive approaches to non notifiable diseases.","AnswerDate":"2008-01-30T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-02-06T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Richard Lochhead","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":215448,"EventID":"S3W-08787","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2140,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":55,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-23T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-23T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive how it will raise public awareness of land management issues.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive how it will raise public awareness of land management issues.","AnswerText":"As part of anon-going communications strategy for the Scotland Rural Development Programme2007-13, my officials have engaged with over 400 agents directly and are holdinga series of 21 public meetings throughout Scotland, the first five of which have been attended by over 1,100 people. Moreover,over 26,000 potential participants in the Scottish Rural Development Plan (SRDP) have been sent an information pack withdetailed information on all aspects of the SRDP. This information pack is also availablefrom SGRPID Area Offices.","AnswerDate":"2008-02-01T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-02-06T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Richard Lochhead","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":215449,"EventID":"S3W-08788","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2140,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":55,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-23T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-23T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive how it will support farmers to achieve membership of quality assurance and organic certification schemes.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive how it will support farmers to achieve membership of quality assurance and organic certification schemes.","AnswerText":"As part of the newScottish Rural Development Plan 2006-13, we will provide support for membershipof food quality assurance and organic certification schemes. Under Rural DevelopmentContracts - Land Managers Options eligible applicants can choose to use part oftheir allocated allowance to select the relevant option under which we will reimburse50% of the applicant’s membership costs up to a maximum of £150 per scheme.The following foodquality assurance schemes are eligible for support: Lion Eggs Linking Environmentand Farming (LEAF) marque Freedom Foods Scottish Quality WildVenison Assurance Scheme. The following organiccertification schemes are also eligible for support under this option: Scottish Organic ProducersCertification Scheme Soil Association AssuranceScheme Organic Food Federation Organic Farmers andGrowers – Organic Assurance Scheme Biodynamic AgriculturalAssociation. Applicants alreadyparticipating in the Organic Aid Scheme, or who are successful in obtaining fundingthrough the new conversion and maintenance of organic farming option included inRural Development Contracts – Rural Priorities, cannot receive funding towards membershipof any of the organic schemes listed here as there is an element of the paymentunder these options to cover membership of these organisations. ","AnswerDate":"2008-02-01T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-02-06T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Richard Lochhead","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":215450,"EventID":"S3W-08789","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2140,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":55,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-23T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-23T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive how it will encourage farmers to maximise the opportunities offered by decoupling under the Common Agriculture Policy (CAP) and CAP Reform.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive how it will encourage farmers to maximise the opportunities offered by decoupling under the Common Agriculture Policy (CAP) and CAP Reform.","AnswerText":"The 2003 reform of the Common Agricultural Policy, which led to decoupling of Single Farm Paymentsfrom levels of production, gave farmers freedom to develop their businesses in responseto market needs. Our £1.6 billion Scotland Rural Development Programme 2007-13,recently cleared by the EU Rural Development Committee, includes a wide range ofmeasures that will help farmers to take this opportunity.","AnswerDate":"2008-02-01T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-02-06T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Richard Lochhead","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":215451,"EventID":"S3W-08790","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2140,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":55,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-23T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-23T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive how it will enhance the profitability of the livestock sector.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive how it will enhance the profitability of the livestock sector.","AnswerText":"We recognise the importanceof a profitable livestock industry in Scotland, to help ensurea sustainable rural economy, to produce high quality food, and to benefit the naturallandscape. The Less Favoured Area Support Scheme provides around 13,000 livestockfarmers and crofters with a total of £61 million per year to maintain their financialviability and protect traditional agricultural landscapes. In addition, over £18million per year is paid, under the Scottish Beef Calf Scheme, to specialist beeffarmers to protect the environment in marginal areas and maintain the productionof quality Scottish beef.","AnswerDate":"2008-02-01T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-02-06T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Richard Lochhead","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":215452,"EventID":"S3W-08791","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2140,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":55,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-23T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-23T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what effect it considers that the decision to remove the animal health and welfare scheme from the Scottish Rural Development Programme will have on standards of animal h","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what effect it considers that the decision to remove the animal health and welfare scheme from the Scottish Rural Development Programme will have on standards of animal health and welfare.","AnswerText":"Animal Health andWelfare Management Programmes have been an important element in the promotion ofanimal health and welfare in Scotland. They are, however, only one element in the Scottish Government’s work to promote good practice and raise standards. Individualanimal keepers remain the best placed to promote good animal health and welfare.","AnswerDate":"2008-01-30T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-02-06T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Richard Lochhead","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":215453,"EventID":"S3W-08792","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2140,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":55,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-23T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-23T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what effect it considers that the decision to remove the animal health and welfare scheme from the Scottish Rural Development Programme will have on disease prevention an","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what effect it considers that the decision to remove the animal health and welfare scheme from the Scottish Rural Development Programme will have on disease prevention and control.","AnswerText":"The Scottish Government is committed to working to get animal health and welfare management programmes restored to the Scotland Rural Development Programme for future years. In the meantime, those producers who have already signed up to the scheme will continue to be supported throughout their five year commitment. ","AnswerDate":"2008-01-30T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-02-06T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Richard Lochhead","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":215454,"EventID":"S3W-08793","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2140,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":55,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-23T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-23T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will seek to reinstate the animal health and welfare scheme in 2009.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will seek to reinstate the animal health and welfare scheme in 2009.","AnswerText":"Yes. As part of thecommitment to reinstate the animal health and welfare scheme, I am writing to MariannFischer Boel to highlight the importance the Scottish Government places in thismeasures and obtain greater clarity on the Commission’s issues.","AnswerDate":"2008-01-30T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-02-06T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Richard Lochhead","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":215455,"EventID":"S3W-08794","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2140,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":55,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-23T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-23T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will seek to reinstate farm assurance membership schemes in 2009.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will seek to reinstate farm assurance membership schemes in 2009.","AnswerText":"Yes, we will seek to reinstatethe quality assurance schemes that had to be removed from the programme. We willwork with stakeholders and the commission to see which schemes can be reinstatedand subject to the commission’s agreement will modify the programme to do so laterthis year. Support, for any of the reinstated measures should then be availablefrom the beginning of 2009.","AnswerDate":"2008-01-28T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-02-06T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Richard Lochhead","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":215456,"EventID":"S3W-08795","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2140,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":55,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-23T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-23T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will seek to reinstate the farm visits programme in 2009.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will seek to reinstate the farm visits programme in 2009.","AnswerText":"Regrettably this measurewas removed from the Scotland Rural Development Programme at the insistence of theEuropean Commission. They judged it to be outside the scope of the Rural DevelopmentRegulation and so it may be difficult to secure re-instatement, but we will pursuethis further.","AnswerDate":"2008-02-01T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-02-06T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Richard Lochhead","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":215457,"EventID":"S3W-08796","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1752,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":57,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-23T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-23T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what additional resources have been provided to assist local authorities to ensure that they process renewable energy planning applications timeously.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what additional resources have been provided to assist local authorities to ensure that they process renewable energy planning applications timeously.","AnswerText":"The councils receiveresources in the form of a fee with each application made under electricity or planninglegislation for renewable energy development. It is for individual councils to allocateresources in line with their priorities. We are providing additional resources througha consultant who is offering support and advice so that planning authorities canprepare up-to-date spatial and policy frameworks for wind farms as a basis for efficientand consistent decision making.","AnswerDate":"2008-02-01T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-02-06T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Stewart Stevenson","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":215458,"EventID":"S3W-08797","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1752,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":57,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-23T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-23T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether it recognises the burden that processing multiple renewable energy planning applications places on local authorities.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether it recognises the burden that processing multiple renewable energy planning applications places on local authorities.","AnswerText":"We recognise that,for some planning authorities, processing multiple renewable energy applicationscan be demanding.","AnswerDate":"2008-02-01T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-02-06T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Stewart Stevenson","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":215459,"EventID":"S3W-08798","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1752,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":57,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-23T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-23T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has received representations from local authorities regarding delays in the planning process due to the size or volume of renewable energy planning application","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has received representations from local authorities regarding delays in the planning process due to the size or volume of renewable energy planning applications.","AnswerText":"The Scottish Governmentis aware that there are delays in some cases and that the size or volume of renewableenergy applications may be a factor in this.","AnswerDate":"2008-02-01T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-02-06T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Stewart Stevenson","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":215460,"EventID":"S3W-08799","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1752,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":57,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-23T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-23T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether it intends to provide additional resources to assist local authorities that have a significant number of planning applications for windfarm developments to proces","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether it intends to provide additional resources to assist local authorities that have a significant number of planning applications for windfarm developments to process these applications timeously.","AnswerText":"The councils receiveadditional resources in the form of a fee with each application for a wind farmmade under the Electricity Act or planning legislation. It is the responsibilityof the councils to allocate resources to their functions as planning authorities.We are also providing additional resources through a consultant who is offeringsupport and advice to planning authorities so that they can prepare up-to-date spatialframeworks and policies for wind farms which should help them to consider applications.","AnswerDate":"2008-02-01T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-02-06T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Stewart Stevenson","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":215461,"EventID":"S3W-08800","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1752,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":57,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-23T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-23T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether it believes that voluntary organisations and community groups will be disadvantaged in relation to local authorities and professional organisations in bidding for","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether it believes that voluntary organisations and community groups will be disadvantaged in relation to local authorities and professional organisations in bidding for funding to hold events as part of the 2009 Year of Homecoming.","AnswerText":"The Homecoming ScotlandThemed Events programme is open to all event organisers. The range of awards (£5,000to £50,000) shows that the scale of activity funded will vary widely. It is a competitiveprocess and the key consideration in allocating funding will be that proposed eventsfit the tourism objectives of Homecoming Scotland. EventScotland’s Homecoming teamis in discussion with a wide range of organisations about potential events, manyof them voluntary or community groups.Each potential applicantis being invited to talk through their proposal with the themed events programmemanager and each project is given appropriate and specific advice to assist themin making the strongest possible application in time for the funding deadline of26 February. EventScotland’s experienceof funding through its Regional Programme, the model on which the Homecoming ThemedEvents Programme is based, is that on average 50% of successful applications comefrom community groups and that often the most innovative ideas come from grass-rootsorganisations. ","AnswerDate":"2008-02-04T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-02-06T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Jim Mather","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":215462,"EventID":"S3W-08801","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1752,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":57,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-23T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-23T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions it has had with local authorities regarding their making match funding available to organisations bidding for funds from the Homecoming Scotland Themed E","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions it has had with local authorities regarding their making match funding available to organisations bidding for funds from the Homecoming Scotland Themed Events programme.","AnswerText":"It is for each localauthority to decide how they allocate their funding to particular projects. A recordlevel of investment in local government is only one part of the package that weagreed with COSLA in our concordat. It also contains a commitment to reduce ringfencing, which will give local authorities much greater freedom and flexibilityto allocate their resources as they wish. However we hope that local authoritieswill wish to allocate funding to homecoming, and early indications are that manywill do so.","AnswerDate":"2008-01-31T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-02-06T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Jim Mather","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":215463,"EventID":"S3W-08802","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1752,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":57,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-23T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-23T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what funding it has allocated to (a) South Ayrshire Council and (b) East Ayrshire Council to allow them to offer match funding for local organisations bidding for funds f","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what funding it has allocated to (a) South Ayrshire Council and (b) East Ayrshire Council to allow them to offer match funding for local organisations bidding for funds from the Homecoming Scotland Themed Events programme.","AnswerText":"It is for each local authorityto decide how they allocate their funding to particular projects. A record levelof investment in local government is only one part of the package that we agreedwith COSLA in our concordat. It also contains a commitment to reduce ring fencing,which will give local authorities much greater freedom and flexibility to allocatetheir resources as they wish. However, we hope that both South Ayrshire and EastAyrshire councils will wish to allocate funding to the Homecoming, and initial indicationsfrom meetings with the Homecoming project team are that they will do so.","AnswerDate":"2008-02-07T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-02-06T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Jim Mather","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":215464,"EventID":"S3W-08803","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1756,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":7,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-23T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-23T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether a fatal accident inquiry into the death from anthrax of Christopher Norris will now take place, following NHS Borders’ report into the matter.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether a fatal accident inquiry into the death from anthrax of Christopher Norris will now take place, following NHS Borders’ report into the matter.","AnswerText":"Crown Counsel havenow taken the decision that there will be a fatal accident inquiry into the circumstancessurrounding the death of Christopher or Pascal Norris.","AnswerDate":"2008-02-06T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-02-06T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Frank Mulholland","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":215465,"EventID":"S3W-08804","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2603,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":6,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-23T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-23T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive how many pupils at (a) primary and (b) secondary schools were suspended or expelled for bringing knives into school buildings in (i) 2002-03, (ii) 2003-04, (iii) 2004-05,","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive how many pupils at (a) primary and (b) secondary schools were suspended or expelled for bringing knives into school buildings in (i) 2002-03, (ii) 2003-04, (iii) 2004-05, (iv) 2005-06 and (v) 2006-07, broken down by local authority.","AnswerText":"This informationis not held centrally.Information on the number and type of incidentswhich led to school exclusion in each year requested is available from: 2002-03: http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Publications/2004/02/18912/33196. 2003-04: http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Publications/2005/02/20735/53114. 2004-05: http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Publications/2006/01/30144545/0. 2005-06: http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Publications/2007/01/30100624/0. 2006-07:http://www.scotland.gov.uk/stats/bulletins/00623. ","AnswerDate":"2008-02-06T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-02-06T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Maureen Watt","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":215466,"EventID":"S3W-08805","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2603,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":6,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-23T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-23T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive how many knives were confiscated by staff at (a) primary and (b) secondary schools in each local authority area during (i) 2002-03, (ii) 2003-04, (iii) 2004-05, (iv) 2005","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive how many knives were confiscated by staff at (a) primary and (b) secondary schools in each local authority area during (i) 2002-03, (ii) 2003-04, (iii) 2004-05, (iv) 2005-06, (v) 2006-07 and (vi) 2007-08.","AnswerText":"This information isnot held centrally","AnswerDate":"2008-02-01T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-02-06T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Maureen Watt","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":215467,"EventID":"S3W-08806","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2603,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":6,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-23T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-23T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive how many incidents were recorded at (a) primary and (b) secondary schools in each local authority area where pupils or teachers were victims of knife-related attacks duri","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive how many incidents were recorded at (a) primary and (b) secondary schools in each local authority area where pupils or teachers were victims of knife-related attacks during (i) 2002-03, (ii) 2003-04, (iii) 2004-05, (iv) 2005-06, (v) 2006-07 and (vi) 2007-08.","AnswerText":"This information isnot held centrally","AnswerDate":"2008-02-01T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-02-06T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Maureen Watt","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":215468,"EventID":"S3W-08807","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2603,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":6,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-23T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-23T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive how many incidents were recorded at each primary and secondary school in (a) Aberdeen City, (b) Aberdeenshire and (c) Angus where pupils or teachers were victims of knife","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive how many incidents were recorded at each primary and secondary school in (a) Aberdeen City, (b) Aberdeenshire and (c) Angus where pupils or teachers were victims of knife-related attacks during (i) 2002-03, (ii) 2003-04, (iii) 2004-05, (iv) 2005-06, (v) 2006-07 and (vi) 2007-08.","AnswerText":"This information isnot held centrally.","AnswerDate":"2008-02-01T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-02-06T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Maureen Watt","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":215469,"EventID":"S3W-08808","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2603,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":6,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-23T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-23T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive how many knives were confiscated by each police force in (a) 2002-03, (b) 2003-04, (c) 2004-05, (d) 2005-06 and (e) 2006-07.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive how many knives were confiscated by each police force in (a) 2002-03, (b) 2003-04, (c) 2004-05, (d) 2005-06 and (e) 2006-07.","AnswerText":"This information isnot held centrally. The number of knives seized by police forces through initiativescarried out as part of the Safer Scotland Anti Violence Campaign 2006-07 are shownin the table below.Number of KnivesSeized, by Police Force, 2006-07 | Force | Number | | Central | 67 | | Dumfries and Galloway | 18 | | Fife | 49 | | Grampian | 127 | | Lothian and Borders | 140 | | Northern | 58 | | Strathclyde | 858 | | Tayside | 49 | | Total | 1,366 | | | | | British Transport Police (BTP) | 9 | | Ministry of Defence Police (MoD) | 0 | | Total - including BTP and MoD | 1,375 | Figures from the 2006-07Safer Scotland anti-violence campaign. ","AnswerDate":"2008-02-04T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-02-06T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Fergus Ewing","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":215470,"EventID":"S3W-08809","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2345,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":56,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-23T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-23T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what effect the Agricultural Wages Board’s most recent award is having on attracting young people as agricultural workers and new entrants to the farming industry.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what effect the Agricultural Wages Board’s most recent award is having on attracting young people as agricultural workers and new entrants to the farming industry.","AnswerText":"Information is notavailable to answer this question.","AnswerDate":"2008-02-01T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-02-06T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Richard Lochhead","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":215471,"EventID":"S3W-08810","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2182,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":5,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-23T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-23T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-7844 by Fergus Ewing on 18 January 2008, whether it will now give a positive timeline for the establishment of its proposed nationa","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-7844 by Fergus Ewing on 18 January 2008, whether it will now give a positive timeline for the establishment of its proposed national drugs commission or whether the answer indicates that it is uncertain about the usefulness of such a commission.","AnswerText":"We are exploring thepotential role of a National Drugs Commission in the context of developing our newDrugs Strategy which we intend to publish in spring 2008.","AnswerDate":"2008-01-31T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-02-06T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Fergus Ewing","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":215472,"EventID":"S3W-08811","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2068,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":22,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-23T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-23T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions it has had with Highland Council regarding any proposal to close the East Sutherland Learning Centre in Brora and, if the council decides that the centre","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions it has had with Highland Council regarding any proposal to close the East Sutherland Learning Centre in Brora and, if the council decides that the centre should be closed, what action the Executive will take to ensure that it remains open.","AnswerText":"It is for HighlandCouncil to determine the provision of learning centres necessary in its area ofresponsibility.","AnswerDate":"2008-01-31T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-02-06T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Fiona Hyslop","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":215473,"EventID":"S3W-08812","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1854,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":72,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-23T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-23T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what area of sea is patrolled by vessels of the Scottish Fisheries Protection Agency, measured in square (a) kilometres and (b) miles.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what area of sea is patrolled by vessels of the Scottish Fisheries Protection Agency, measured in square (a) kilometres and (b) miles.","AnswerText":"The Patrol Vesselsof the Scottish Fisheries Protection Agency (SFPA) patrol Scottish Territorial Waters(0 to 12 miles) and waters under Scottish jurisdiction (12 to 200 miles). The areaof sea is approximately 130,000 square nautical miles (449,900 square kilometres).During 2007, the SFPA also patrolled an area of approximately 68,400 square nauticalmiles (234,612 square kilometres) of international waters to the west of Scotlandas part of the UK commitment to assist in North East Atlantic Fisheries Commission(NEAFC) monitoring and enforcement.","AnswerDate":"2008-02-01T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-02-06T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Richard Lochhead","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":215474,"EventID":"S3W-08813","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1854,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":72,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-23T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-23T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether the two aircraft employed in surveillance of fishing vessels working the Scottish fishing grounds operate on a full-time or part-time basis and what the criteria ","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether the two aircraft employed in surveillance of fishing vessels working the Scottish fishing grounds operate on a full-time or part-time basis and what the criteria are for their deployment.","AnswerText":"The two aircraft ownedby the Scottish Fisheries Protection Agency are operated on a full-time basis. Theyare available to fly seven days a week. A private contractor provides air and groundcrew to enable the aircraft to be deployed for up to 1,900 hours per annum. Theaircraft are deployed principally to verify compliance with licensed fishing activityin Scottish waters and based on fisheries management priorities.","AnswerDate":"2008-02-01T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-02-06T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Richard Lochhead","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":215475,"EventID":"S3W-08814","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1854,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":72,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-23T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-23T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what the average number is of Scottish Fisheries Protection Agency vessels on surveillance and related activities at any one time.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what the average number is of Scottish Fisheries Protection Agency vessels on surveillance and related activities at any one time.","AnswerText":"In 2007 the four PatrolVessels of the Scottish Fisheries Protection Agency were operational for a totalof 1,135 Effective Patrol Days. An Effective Patrol Day is any 24 hour period duringwhich a vessel is available for operational deployment. The average number of PatrolVessels available for deployment on any one day was 3.11.","AnswerDate":"2008-02-01T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-02-06T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Richard Lochhead","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":215476,"EventID":"S3W-08815","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1854,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":72,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-23T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-23T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what information it has anent the number of (a) UK-registered and (b) other EU-registered fishing vessels permitted to fish in the waters patrolled by vessels of the Scot","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what information it has anent the number of (a) UK-registered and (b) other EU-registered fishing vessels permitted to fish in the waters patrolled by vessels of the Scottish Fisheries Protection Agency.","AnswerText":"The Patrol Vesselsof the Scottish Fisheries Protection Agency operate in Scottish Territorial Waters,EU waters under Scottish jurisdiction and International waters to the west of Scotland. With the exception of Scottish Territorial Waters, allEU and UK registered vessels are permitted to fish, subject to available quota andfishing effort, within these areas. At 31 December 2006 the number of UK-registeredvessels was 6,758, the number of EU Registered vessels, excluding UK, was 80,185.","AnswerDate":"2008-02-01T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-02-06T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Richard Lochhead","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":215477,"EventID":"S3W-08816","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1854,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":72,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-23T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-23T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what recent discussions have taken place anent the withdrawal of fishing rights from the skippers and owners of fishing vessels involved in convictions for illegal fishin","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what recent discussions have taken place anent the withdrawal of fishing rights from the skippers and owners of fishing vessels involved in convictions for illegal fishing activities.","AnswerText":"There are a numberof enforcement mechanisms in place to tackle illegal fishing activity includingreferral to court. The Scottish Government is implementing a system of administrativepenalties in April 2008 and also has in place a system of automatic licence suspensionwhere a vessels fishing entitlement can be suspended for periods of seven or 14days. There have been no recent discussions with ministers on the permanent removalof a vessels fishing entitlement.","AnswerDate":"2008-02-01T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-02-06T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Richard Lochhead","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":215478,"EventID":"S3W-08817","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1854,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":72,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-23T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-23T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what recent discussions have taken place with representatives of the UK Government and other interested parties anent the protection of wrecks and vessels on the seabed s","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what recent discussions have taken place with representatives of the UK Government and other interested parties anent the protection of wrecks and vessels on the seabed surrounding the Scottish mainland and islands.","AnswerText":"Historic Scotland officials have had discussions with the Department ofCulture, Media and Sport and with the devolved administrations in Northern Ireland and Wales about the development of new legislation toprotect the marine historic environment, and further, about Scottish ministers’decision to legislate on this devolved matter in the Scottish Parliament.To facilitate a widerdebate on future strategy in this area, Historic Scotland arranged a seminar attendedby 50 delegates from across the UK. Discussions on Scotland’smost important historic wreck sites have taken place between Historic Scotland andthe UK-wide Advisory Committee on Historic Wreck Sites and officials have secured,with their heritage agency partners, a new UK-wide contract for archaeological servicesto inform designation and licensing decisions from 2008-11. ","AnswerDate":"2008-02-05T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-02-06T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Linda Fabiani","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":215479,"EventID":"S3W-08818","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2108,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":68,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-24T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-24T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether the national human papilloma virus (HPV) vaccination programme is on schedule for the 2008-09 school year.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether the national human papilloma virus (HPV) vaccination programme is on schedule for the 2008-09 school year.","AnswerText":"Yes, implementation of thehuman papilloma virus (HPV) immunisation programme is on schedule for delivery inthe 2008-09 school year.","AnswerDate":"2008-02-07T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-02-07T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Shona Robison","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":215480,"EventID":"S3W-08819","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2108,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":68,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-24T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-24T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what steps it is taking to ensure maximum uptake of the human papilloma virus (HPV) vaccine.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what steps it is taking to ensure maximum uptake of the human papilloma virus (HPV) vaccine.","AnswerText":"The immunisation programme isbeing delivered as a schools based programme.Health Protection Scotland undertookan appraisal of delivery modes which concluded delivery through schools would achievehigher vaccine uptake levels. Engagement will be made throughschools by health professionals giving information on the mass immunisation campaignfor cervical cancer prevention. In addition there will be a public media campaignwhich will include TV, radio and press advertisements. Health Protection Scotland willalso be considering action needed to ensure girls in harder to reach groups areincluded in the programme. ","AnswerDate":"2008-02-07T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-02-07T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Shona Robison","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":215481,"EventID":"S3W-08820","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2108,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":68,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-24T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-24T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will make either the human papilloma virus (HPV) vaccine or cervical screening available to all women aged between 18 and 26 who request them.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will make either the human papilloma virus (HPV) vaccine or cervical screening available to all women aged between 18 and 26 who request them.","AnswerText":"The national HPV immunisationprogramme includes girls aged around 12-13 years and a catch up campaign for girlsaged 13 to under 18 years at September 2008. This is based on advice from the JointCommittee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI), which advises the UK Government,Scottish Government and other devolved administrations. Women aged 18 and over areoutwith the national HPV immunisation programme.The Scottish Cervical ScreeningProgramme invites women from age 20. However, any woman under 20 who is concernedshould seek advice from their GP who will be able to advise on any further actionrequired. ","AnswerDate":"2008-02-07T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-02-07T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Shona Robison","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":215482,"EventID":"S3W-08821","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2108,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":68,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-24T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-24T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what action it is taking to increase the number of women aged between 20 and 26 taking up smear tests, in light of the number of women eligible for a test who do not curr","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what action it is taking to increase the number of women aged between 20 and 26 taking up smear tests, in light of the number of women eligible for a test who do not currently take up the offer.","AnswerText":"The Scottish Government is consideringhow to improve uptake in all age groups for cervical screening and has asked foradvice from the National Advisory Group on Breast and Cervical Screening on thissubject. At the same time the teams working on Cervical Cancer Screening and HPVimmunisation are working closely together to coordinate future communications onboth subjects.","AnswerDate":"2008-02-07T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-02-07T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Shona Robison","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":215483,"EventID":"S3W-08822","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2108,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":68,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-24T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-24T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what action it is taking to inform mothers and daughters about the importance of cervical screening through a new national information and awareness campaign timed to coi","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what action it is taking to inform mothers and daughters about the importance of cervical screening through a new national information and awareness campaign timed to coincide with the roll-out of the human papilloma virus (HPV) vaccination programme.","AnswerText":"The Scottish Cervical ScreeningProgramme are working closely with Health Service colleagues delivering the HPVvaccination programme to ensure women are informed of the importance of screening.Existing publications on cervical screening are being revised to include informationon HPV.","AnswerDate":"2008-02-07T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-02-07T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Shona Robison","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":215484,"EventID":"S3W-08823","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2167,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":3,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-24T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-24T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-7971 by Michael Russell on 18 January 2008, whether it believes that there is any relationship between national funding policy for ","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-7971 by Michael Russell on 18 January 2008, whether it believes that there is any relationship between national funding policy for flood and coast protection and the flood risk that businesses and householders across Scotland experience locally.","AnswerText":"Funding takes accountof the level of flood risk to homes and businesses in each council area and themeasures underway better to manage that risk.","AnswerDate":"2008-02-01T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-02-07T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Michael Russell","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":215485,"EventID":"S3W-08824","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1926,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":48,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-24T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-24T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive how many premature babies were born (a) in total and (b) per 1,000 live births in each of the last 10 years, broken down by NHS board.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive how many premature babies were born (a) in total and (b) per 1,000 live births in each of the last 10 years, broken down by NHS board.","AnswerText":"The latest available informationis shown in the table.PrematureSingleton Live Births1,2 by Gestation, Health Board of Residence3;Year Ending 31 March | | Number of Premature Births (<37 Weeks Gestation) | | 1996 | 1997 | 1998 | 1999 | 2000 | 2001 | 2002 | 2003 | 2004 | 2005 | | Scotland 4 | 3,175 | 3,277 | 3,216 | 3,223 | 3,181 | 3,061 | 2,878 | 3,016 | 3,240 | 3,161 | | Ayrshire and Arran | 220 | 248 | 217 | 217 | 233 | 235 | 209 | 249 | 237 | 255 | | Borders | 76 | 63 | 58 | 49 | 53 | 58 | 44 | 50 | 56 | 42 | | Dumfries and Galloway | 72 | 70 | 77 | 66 | 86 | 82 | 83 | ","AnswerDate":"2008-02-07T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-02-07T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Shona Robison","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":215486,"EventID":"S3W-08825","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1926,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":48,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-24T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-24T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive how many still births were delivered in each of the last 10 years, broken down by NHS board.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive how many still births were delivered in each of the last 10 years, broken down by NHS board.","AnswerText":"The information requested isshown in the table.Number1 of Still Birthsby NHS Board of Residence and Year of Registration | | 1996 | 1997 | 1998 | 1999 | 2000 | 2001 | 2002 | 2003 | 2004 | 2005 | 2006 | | Scotland2 | 381 | 319 | 351 | 286 | 298 | 301 | 278 | 296 | 317 | 292 | 296 | | Ayrshire and Arran | 28 | 32 | 14 | 20 | 16 | 25 | 19 | 16 | 21 | 18 | 21 | | Borders | ** | ** | 8 | ** | 11 | * | * | ** | * | ** | * | | Dumfries and Galloway | 13 | 19 | 8 | * | ** | 8 | The CSO is currentlyfunding seven research projects on issues concerning premature births at a costof £1,155,233. These projects are due to complete within the next two years. TheCSO would welcome further research proposals in this area which would be subjectto the usual peer and committee review. The Department OfHealth in England, funds the National Perinatal EpidemiologyUnit at Oxford University which has an on-going research programme on preterm births. Further detailscan be obtained from the unit’s website at www.npeu.ox.ac.ukIn addition, the National Research Register (NRR), a UK-wide database from 1997-2007of research projects funded by, or of relevance to, the NHS records at least 10on going projects on premature births. Details of these projects are available fromthe NRR archive at https://portal.nihr.ac.uk/Pages/NRRArchiveSearch.aspx. ","AnswerDate":"2008-02-05T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-02-07T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Shona Robison","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":215488,"EventID":"S3W-08827","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1926,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":48,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-24T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-24T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what steps it is taking to reduce the number of premature births and other poor birth outcomes.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what steps it is taking to reduce the number of premature births and other poor birth outcomes.","AnswerText":"The Scottish Governmentis committed to constantly improving care provision. The Framework for MaternityServices in Scotland and the report of the Expert Group on Acute MaternityServices (EGAMS), set out a number of principles, guidelines and localactions, to ensure that women are cared for using clinically effective, evidence-basedmodels of care, before during and after childbirth.NHS QIS has producedmaternity care standards against which all NHS maternity services in Scotland are audited. The most recent audit published in January2007 suggested high-quality maternity care across Scotland. ","AnswerDate":"2008-02-05T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-02-07T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Shona Robison","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":215489,"EventID":"S3W-08828","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2123,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":32,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-24T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-24T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether it intends to instruct the Scottish Arts Council to change the criteria for the award of grants to artists.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether it intends to instruct the Scottish Arts Council to change the criteria for the award of grants to artists.","AnswerText":"No. The criteria for the awardof grants by the Scottish Arts Council are a matter for them, subject to the objectsdescribed in its Royal Charter.","AnswerDate":"2008-02-07T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-02-07T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Linda Fabiani","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":215490,"EventID":"S3W-08829","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2123,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":32,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-24T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-24T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether it plans to emphasise financial return when making awards to artists, as suggested by a Scottish Government official in Scotland on Sunday on 20 January 2008.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether it plans to emphasise financial return when making awards to artists, as suggested by a Scottish Government official in Scotland on Sunday on 20 January 2008.","AnswerText":"I refer the member to answerto question S3W-8828 on 7 February 2008. In addition, at present awards to artists are made principallyby the Scottish Arts Council. The government plans for this function to be inheritedby a new cultural development body, Creative Scotland. It is planned for CreativeScotland to make awards in pursuit of the functions established for it in legislation.When it does so, it will do so independently from government.All answers to written parliamentaryquestions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for whichcan be found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/wa.search. ","AnswerDate":"2008-02-07T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-02-07T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Linda Fabiani","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":215491,"EventID":"S3W-08830","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2866,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":63,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-24T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-24T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether students domiciled in Scotland will require ID cards to apply for student loans or bank accounts.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether students domiciled in Scotland will require ID cards to apply for student loans or bank accounts.","AnswerText":"There are no plansfor students domicled in Scotland to require ID cards to apply for student loans.Personal details requiredto allow students to open bank accounts are a matter for each individual bank. ","AnswerDate":"2008-02-01T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-02-07T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Fiona Hyslop","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":215492,"EventID":"S3W-08831","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2866,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":63,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-24T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-24T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what representations it has made to the UK Government on the operation of the UK ID card scheme in relation to students applying for student loans and bank accounts.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what representations it has made to the UK Government on the operation of the UK ID card scheme in relation to students applying for student loans and bank accounts.","AnswerText":"The Scottish Governmenthas made no representations to the UK Government on the operation of the UK ID cardscheme in relation to students applying for student loans. There are no plans forstudents domiciled in Scotland to require ID cards to apply for student loans.Personal details requiredto allow students to open bank accounts are a matter for each individual bank. ","AnswerDate":"2008-02-04T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-02-07T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Fiona Hyslop","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":215493,"EventID":"S3W-08832","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2866,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":63,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-24T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-24T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what representations the Student Awards Agency for Scotland has made to the UK Government on the operation of the UK ID card scheme in relation to students applying for s","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what representations the Student Awards Agency for Scotland has made to the UK Government on the operation of the UK ID card scheme in relation to students applying for student loans and bank accounts.","AnswerText":"The Student AwardsAgency for Scotland has made no representations to the UK Governmenton the operation of the UK ID card scheme in relation to students applying forstudent loans.Personal details requiredto allow students to open bank accounts are a matter for each individual bank. ","AnswerDate":"2008-02-01T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-02-07T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Fiona Hyslop","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":215494,"EventID":"S3W-08833","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2866,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":63,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-24T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-24T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will maintain the position of the previous administration that ID cards will not be required to access devolved services.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will maintain the position of the previous administration that ID cards will not be required to access devolved services.","AnswerText":"Scottish interests in relationto devolved services are protected by section 43 of the Identity Cards Act 2006which specifies that the National Identity Register or an identity card issued underthe act can only be used in relation to matters which are reserved to Westminster,or in accordance with an act of the Scottish Parliament.The Scottish Government willmaintain the position of the previous administration that the UK ID card will notbe required to access devolved services. ","AnswerDate":"2008-02-08T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-02-07T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"John Swinney","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":215495,"EventID":"S3W-08834","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":3907,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":10,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-24T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-24T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive how many schools have their own websites in (a) Scotland and (b) the Kilmarnock and Loudoun parliamentary constituency, broken down into (i) primary and (ii) secondary sc","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive how many schools have their own websites in (a) Scotland and (b) the Kilmarnock and Loudoun parliamentary constituency, broken down into (i) primary and (ii) secondary schools and giving the number of websites being updated.","AnswerText":"Information held centrally isnot accurate for the whole of Scotland. In the Kilmarnock and Loudoun parliamentary constituency we understandthat eight of the 34 primary schools and all seven secondary schools have websites.Information is not gathered on which websites are being updated.","AnswerDate":"2008-02-07T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-02-07T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Maureen Watt","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":215496,"EventID":"S3W-08835","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":3907,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":10,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-24T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-24T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive how much it has spent on the establishment of websites by schools since 2002.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive how much it has spent on the establishment of websites by schools since 2002.","AnswerText":"Setting up and operating schoolwebsites is a matter for local authorities and schools. From 2004 to 2006 Learningand Teaching Scotland ran the “Scottish Schools Get Online” project to support schoolsacross Scotland in developing high quality websites which offer appropriate informationfor parents and others. In future it is likely that some schools will take advantageof the facilities offered by Glow to maintain a public web presence.","AnswerDate":"2008-02-07T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-02-07T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Maureen Watt","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":215497,"EventID":"S3W-08836","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":3907,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":10,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-24T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-24T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what the proportion of households with access to broadband was in (a) Scotland and (b) the Kilmarnock and Loudoun parliamentary constituency in each of the last four year","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what the proportion of households with access to broadband was in (a) Scotland and (b) the Kilmarnock and Loudoun parliamentary constituency in each of the last four years, broken down by (i) social class of household and (ii) level of deprivation of the area in which the household was located.","AnswerText":"The data provided in this responseare taken from the Scottish Household Survey (SHS) datasets for 2003-04 and 2005-06;data for individual years 2003, 2004, 2005 and 2006 would not be statistically representativeat a local authority level and have not been provided. However, while the 2003-04and 2005-06 data are also not representative for Kilmarnock and Loudoun, they arereasonably.1. Two pieces of information may berelevant to the response on access to broadband: the first covers all householdsand the second covers all households with internet access. 2. The proportion of all householdswith access to broadband in 2005-06 compared to 2003-04: | Scotland: | 2005-06: 34% | | 2003-04: 11% | | Kilmarnock and Loudoun | 2005-06: 29% | | 2003-04: 8% | 3. The proportion of households whereadults use the internet with access to broadband in 2005-06 compared to 2003-04: | Scotland: | 2005-06: 65% | | 2003-04: 24% | | Kilmarnock and Loudon: | 2005-06: 63% | | 2003-04: 22% | 4. In terms of the break down, due tothe small sample size, it is not possible to provide statistically reliable resultsfor Kilmarnock and Loudoun broken down by socio-economic classification or ScottishIndex of Multiple Deprivation (SIMD). However, the Scotland data can be broken down.These are presented in the tables in the background note. 5. Please note we no longer use the social class scale basedon occupation. This has been replaced by the National Statistics Socio-economicClassification (NS-SEC). Data are therefore provided below for socio-economic classificationinstead of social class. Level of deprivation are also provided. ","AnswerDate":"2008-02-08T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-02-07T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Jim Mather","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":215498,"EventID":"S3W-08837","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":3907,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":10,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-24T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-24T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive how many people have been diagnosed with autism-related conditions in each year since 1980.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive how many people have been diagnosed with autism-related conditions in each year since 1980.","AnswerText":"People withautism spectrum disorder are most likely to be diagnosed in an outpatientclinic and managed in the community or general practice. Diagnostic informationfor patients attending outpatient clinics is not available centrally.","AnswerDate":"2008-02-05T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-02-07T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Shona Robison","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":215499,"EventID":"S3W-08838","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":3907,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":10,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-24T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-24T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive how many people have been registered on a methadone programme in (a) Scotland and (b) the Kilmarnock and Loudoun parliamentary constituency in each year since 2002.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive how many people have been registered on a methadone programme in (a) Scotland and (b) the Kilmarnock and Loudoun parliamentary constituency in each year since 2002.","AnswerText":"There is nonational information that reports on the number of people registered on amethadone programme in Scotland who are receiving methadone hydrochloridemixture for opiate dependence. However, the links below provide estimates of the number of people receiving methadone as part of their treatment for illicitdrug misuse. This information is available by Scotland and by NHS boards only.1. In July 2005,National Services Scotland published estimates of the number of peoplereceiving methadone as part of their treatment for illicit drug misuse inJune-July 2002, 2003 and 2004, copies of which are available in the Scottish ParliamentInformation Centre (Bib. number 44592): http://www.drugmisuse.isdscotland.org/publications/local/isd_methadone.pdf. 2. In 2006, the ScottishGovernment conducted a review of the place of methadone in drug treatment. Aspart of this review, information was collected from NHS boards and others onthe number of people receiving methadone treatment for drug misuse. Thefindings were published by the Scottish Government in July 2007, copies ofwhich are available in the Scottish Parliament Information Centre (Bib. number43242) http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Publications/2007/06/22094632. ","AnswerDate":"2008-02-05T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-02-07T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Fergus Ewing","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":215500,"EventID":"S3W-08839","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":3907,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":10,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-24T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-24T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive how many manufacturing jobs have been lost in (a) Scotland and (b) the Kilmarnock and Loudoun parliamentary constituency in each of the last eight years.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive how many manufacturing jobs have been lost in (a) Scotland and (b) the Kilmarnock and Loudoun parliamentary constituency in each of the last eight years.","AnswerText":"There is no informationheld centrally on the number of jobs lost or created in Scotland. However, information on the number of jobs by industryis collected each year from the Annual Business Inquiry (ABI). Table 1 shows thenumber of manufacturing jobs in Scotland and the Kilmarnock and Loudon parliamentaryconstituency from 1999 to 2006. Please note the Kilmarnock and Loudon parliamentaryconstituency is based on the 1995 definition to allow a complete time series from1999.The reference datefor the ABI in the most recent year was changed from December to September so datafor 2006 is not directly comparable with data from previous years. Table 1: EmployeeJobs in Manufacturing, Scotland and the Kilmarnock and Loudon ParliamentaryConstituency | | Scotland | Kilmarnock and Loudon | | 1999 | 315,000 | 5,900 | | 2000 | 302,000 | 5,500 | | 2001 | 285,000 | 5,200 | | 2002 | 263,400 | 4,800 | | 2003 | 243,300 | 4,700 | | 2004 | 235,900 | 3,700 | | 2005 | 229,700 | 3,500 | | 2006 | 224,000 | 3,700 | Source: Annual BusinessInquiry. Notes: 1. Data for 2006 isnot consistent with previous years. 2. Kilmarnock andLoudon is defined using the 1995 parliamentary constituency revisions. 3. The data are roundedto the nearest hundred. 4. ABI data are workplacebased. ","AnswerDate":"2008-02-04T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-02-07T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Jim Mather","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":215501,"EventID":"S3W-08840","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":3907,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":10,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-24T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-24T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive how much compensation has been paid to patients by the NHS in each of the last 10 years, broken down by (a) NHS board and (b) basis of the claim.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive how much compensation has been paid to patients by the NHS in each of the last 10 years, broken down by (a) NHS board and (b) basis of the claim.","AnswerText":"No records are held centrally on compensation payments made to patients by NHSScotland other than inthe case of clinical negligence. The following sums were paid from 1997-98 to 2006-07in respect of clinical negligence claims made against health boards and specialhealth boards. | Health Board | 1997-98 (£) | 1998-99 (£) | 1999-2000 (£) | 2000-01 (£) | | Argyll and Clyde | 681,945 | 777,997 | 92,628 | 91,550 | | Ayrshire and Arran | 25,000 | 191,630 | 40,000 | 158,263 | | Borders | 0 | 45,000 | 69,500 | 12,500 | | Dumfries and Galloway | 63,000 | 103,622 | 133,614 | 407,500 | | Fife | 106,313 | 71,588 | 45,900 | 280,647 | | Forth Valley | 204,750 | 27,300 | 27,865 | 434,007 | | Grampian | 67,400 | 59,281 | 405,383 | 186,061 | | Greater Glasgow | 1,272,360 | 327,700 | 498,733 | 981,944 | | Highland | 415,200 | 55,500 | 269,745 | 40,600 | | Lanarkshire | 78,650 | 84,300 | 99,698 | 746,336 | | Lothian | 337,109 | In regard tofuture funding and prospect of further development of RSAMD it is for the Scottish Funding Council to determine the detail of funding allocations toindividual higher education institutions. ","AnswerDate":"2008-02-04T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-02-07T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Fiona Hyslop","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":215503,"EventID":"S3W-08842","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2123,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":32,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-24T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-24T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what its policy is on returning cultural artefacts held in Scottish museums to their nation of origin.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what its policy is on returning cultural artefacts held in Scottish museums to their nation of origin.","AnswerText":"Decisions on the repatriationof cultural objects held by Scottish museums are for the Board of Trustees of eachmuseum to take.The Trustees of National MuseumsScotland recently agreed to requests to return a Tasmanian skull to Australia andother human remains to New Zealand. Under the National Heritage (Scotland) Act1985, Scottish ministers approved the Australian Government and The National Museumof New Zealand as bodies to which National Museums Scotland could transfer objectsfrom their collection. ","AnswerDate":"2008-02-07T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-02-07T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Linda Fabiani","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":215504,"EventID":"S3W-08843","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2123,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":32,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-24T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-24T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what communications it has had with the British Museum about the Lewis Chessmen.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what communications it has had with the British Museum about the Lewis Chessmen.","AnswerText":"During my visit to the British Museum at theend of last month, I met with Dr Andrew Burnett, Deputy Director of the British Museum, to discussthe repatriation of the Lewis Chessmen. We agreed thatconstructive dialogue about the chessmen should continue and I hope to meet the Director of the British Museum, NeilMacGregor, in due course.","AnswerDate":"2008-02-07T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-02-07T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Linda Fabiani","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":215505,"EventID":"S3W-08844","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2364,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":11,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-24T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-24T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether it provides specific sectarianism awareness training to its staff.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether it provides specific sectarianism awareness training to its staff.","AnswerText":"The Scottish Governmentprovides Diversity Awareness training to its staff, which covers a range of issuesincluding religious intolerance. The Scottish Government also covers a range ofequality and diversity issues in its management and policy skills training. In addition,we have run events during the Scottish Government’s Policy Week which were specificallydevoted to raising awareness of sectarianism among staff. However, we do not offerawareness training devoted exclusively to sectarianism.","AnswerDate":"2008-02-06T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-02-07T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"John Swinney","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":215506,"EventID":"S3W-08845","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2364,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":11,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-24T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-24T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether it plans to host a third summit on sectarianism during 2008.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether it plans to host a third summit on sectarianism during 2008.","AnswerText":"The Scottish Governmentis taking a holistic approach to tackling all forms of religious intolerance andthe development of interfaith dialogue. Our priorities are to focus on communityand grassroots initiatives, as well as high-profile national events such as Footballfor All’s Kick-Out Bigotry campaign which was launched on 20 November 2007 at Hampden Park by the First Minister, and we do not have any plans to convene a third Summit on Sectarianism.","AnswerDate":"2008-02-05T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-02-07T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Fergus Ewing","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":215507,"EventID":"S3W-08846","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2364,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":11,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-24T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-24T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether it plans to publish a national strategy on tackling sectarianism during 2008.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether it plans to publish a national strategy on tackling sectarianism during 2008.","AnswerText":"The Scottish Governmentis determined to eradicate all forms of religious bigotry, and tackling sectarianismis an important element of this. Our work in this area also includes the promotionof interfaith dialogue and we do not believe that a further strategy specificallyon tackling sectarianism is needed at this time.","AnswerDate":"2008-02-05T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-02-07T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Fergus Ewing","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":215508,"EventID":"S3W-08847","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2364,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":11,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-24T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-24T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-3019 by Fergus Ewing on 23 August 2008, what recommendations officials have made in respect of further academic research into relig","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-3019 by Fergus Ewing on 23 August 2008, what recommendations officials have made in respect of further academic research into religious intolerance.","AnswerText":"As noted in the answerto question S3W-3016 on 5 September 2007, the Scottish Government does not directlysupport academic research. Officials are currently engaging with stakeholdersto identify what useful research could be taken forward to support work totackle religious intolerance and develop interfaith dialogue in Scotland and will report their findings to me.","AnswerDate":"2008-02-04T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-02-07T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Fergus Ewing","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":215509,"EventID":"S3W-08848","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2364,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":11,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-24T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-24T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-3014 by Maureen Watt on 16 August 2008, what progress has been made in distributing the £100,000 fund to support anti-sectarian pro","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-3014 by Maureen Watt on 16 August 2008, what progress has been made in distributing the £100,000 fund to support anti-sectarian project work in schools.","AnswerText":"Thirty-three schoolprojects, across 21 local authority areas, are currently underway.","AnswerDate":"2008-02-01T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-02-07T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Maureen Watt","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":215510,"EventID":"S3W-08849","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2364,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":11,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-24T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-24T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-3014 by Maureen Watt on 16 August 2008, how it plans to monitor effective delivery of and outcomes from work carried out in schools","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-3014 by Maureen Watt on 16 August 2008, how it plans to monitor effective delivery of and outcomes from work carried out in schools as a result of awards from the anti-sectarian project fund.","AnswerText":"Projects supportedby the fund incorporate self-evaluation outcomes and impact, locally. Good practiceexamples are shared through the anti-sectarian website “Don’t Give It, Don’t TakeIt” at http://www.ltscotland.org.uk/antisectarian/,","AnswerDate":"2008-02-01T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-02-07T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Maureen Watt","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":215511,"EventID":"S3W-08850","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2364,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":11,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-24T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-24T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executivehow it plans to challenge and monitor sectarian attitudes in and around Scotland’s higher education institutions during 2008.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executivehow it plans to challenge and monitor sectarian attitudes in and around Scotland’s higher education institutions during 2008.","AnswerText":"Higher education institutionsare responsible for challenging and monitoring all unacceptable behaviours amongstaff and students. They have legal responsibilities to ensure that their studentsand staff are protected from discrimination. The government will lend its supportto any specific activities that individual institutions choose to pursue on theissue of sectarianism.","AnswerDate":"2008-01-31T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-02-07T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Fiona Hyslop","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":215512,"EventID":"S3W-08851","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2364,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":11,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-24T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-24T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what measures are being taken to address the 20% reduction in the number of convictions for religious-aggravated offences between 2005-06 and 2006-07.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what measures are being taken to address the 20% reduction in the number of convictions for religious-aggravated offences between 2005-06 and 2006-07.","AnswerText":"We understand that this questionmay relate to figures provided in answer to question S3W-3013 on 31 August 2007.As the data provided in thatanswer makes clear, the numbers of convictions where the charge includes a religiousaggravation in terms of section 74 of the Criminal Justice (Scotland) Act 2003 fluctuateyear-by-year. The information was extracted from the Crown Office and ProcuratorFiscal Service case management system. This is a live, operational database whichrecords information on the basis of charges. The comparison of 2005-06 and 2006-07data and the assumption of a 20% reduction in convictions is unlikely to be valid.More up-to-date figures are available from the system and I will provide themember with that information in writing. All answers to written parliamentaryquestions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for whichcan be found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/wa.search. ","AnswerDate":"2008-02-07T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-02-07T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Kenny MacAskill","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":215513,"EventID":"S3W-08852","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2364,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":11,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-24T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-24T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what is being done to increase the success rate of applications for football banning orders.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what is being done to increase the success rate of applications for football banning orders.","AnswerText":"It is a matter for the policeto determine which cases are suitable for a football banning order and to make thatrecommendation in the report to the Procurator Fiscal. Procurators fiscal will drawsuch a recommendation to the attention of the court, following a plea or conviction.It is for the court to decide whether or not to impose a football banning orderin an individual case.We are working with all interestedparties including the police, Crown Office and Scottish Court Service to monitorthe effectiveness of the football banning order provisions of the Police, PublicOrder and Criminal Justice (Scotland) Act 2006. This will be measured, not by the number offootball banning orders imposed, but by their effectiveness in tackling football-relatedviolence and disorder. ","AnswerDate":"2008-02-07T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-02-07T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Kenny MacAskill","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":215514,"EventID":"S3W-08853","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2364,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":11,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-24T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-24T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what measures it has taken to promote human rights and community relations by publicising the implications of criminal and employment legislation in relation to discrimin","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what measures it has taken to promote human rights and community relations by publicising the implications of criminal and employment legislation in relation to discrimination on the grounds of religion.","AnswerText":"The Scottish Governmentwill work with the Equality and Human Rights Commission in Scotland, the recently established new single equality commission,to identify positive measures which will help to foster good community relationsand safeguard the rights of Scotland’s diverse religious communities.","AnswerDate":"2008-02-05T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-02-07T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Fergus Ewing","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":215515,"EventID":"S3W-08854","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2364,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":11,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-24T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-24T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions it has held since 16 May 2007 with the representatives of each of the organisations involved in signing the statement on tackling abusive behaviour at ma","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions it has held since 16 May 2007 with the representatives of each of the organisations involved in signing the statement on tackling abusive behaviour at marches and parades.","AnswerText":"We have on-going discussionswith all interested parties and have developed a constructive dialogue about manyaspects of marches and parades.We will be consultingon the implementation of the new procedures for marches and parades introduced inthe Police, Public Order and Criminal Justice (Scotland) Act 2006 and all those organisations involved in signing the statementon tackling abusive behaviour will be invited to contribute to this work. ","AnswerDate":"2008-02-01T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-02-07T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Kenny MacAskill","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":215516,"EventID":"S3W-08855","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2364,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":11,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-24T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-24T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive how it monitors the effectiveness of legislation to address sectarian behaviour and other public disorder offences during public parades.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive how it monitors the effectiveness of legislation to address sectarian behaviour and other public disorder offences during public parades.","AnswerText":"We work closely withthe Association of Chief Police Officers in Scotland to monitor the effectivenessof the new procedures for marches and parades introduced in the Police, Public Orderand Criminal Justice (Scotland) Act 2006, and will be consulting all interestedparties on the implementation of these provisions in the coming months.","AnswerDate":"2008-02-04T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-02-07T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Kenny MacAskill","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":215517,"EventID":"S3W-08856","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2364,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":11,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-24T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-24T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive how many ministerial engagements have been held in the Glasgow Anniesland parliamentary constituency since 16 May 2007, broken down by (a) ministerial portfolio, (b) date","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive how many ministerial engagements have been held in the Glasgow Anniesland parliamentary constituency since 16 May 2007, broken down by (a) ministerial portfolio, (b) date and (c) location.","AnswerText":"The information requested is listed in the following table. | Cabinet Secretary/Minister | Date | Location | | Cabinet Secretary for Health and Wellbeing | 29 May 2007 | New Beatson Oncology Centre, Gartnavel General Hospital | | Minister for Community Safety | 26 June 2007 | Drumchapel Community Centre, Glasgow | | Lord Advocate | 10 August 2007 | University of Strathclyde, Jordanhill Campus | | Cabinet Secretary for Health and Wellbeing | 11 September 2007 | New Beatson Oncology Centre, Gartnavel General Hospital | | Cabinet Secretary for Education and Lifelong Learning | 23 January 2008 | University of Strathclyde, Jordanhill Campus | | First Minister | 1 February 2008 | New Beatson Oncology Centre, Gartnavel General Hospital | ","AnswerDate":"2008-02-18T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-02-07T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"John Swinney","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":215518,"EventID":"S3W-08857","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2364,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":11,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-24T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-24T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions it has had with the credit union movement in respect of the Curriculum for Excellence programme.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions it has had with the credit union movement in respect of the Curriculum for Excellence programme.","AnswerText":"The Curriculum forExcellence comprises a series of learning outcomes and experiences; many of whichsupport financial capability. It is for local authorities to determine how to deliverCurriculum for Excellence and to seek contributions to that from local organisationsincluding credit unions. Although the credit union movement has not been consulteddirectly about the Curriculum for Excellence, a number of credit unions successfullyrun a junior savers programme aimed at not only providing a saving function forchildren but also to provide a level of financial education to both the childrenand their parents both within and outwith a school setting.","AnswerDate":"2008-02-06T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-02-07T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Maureen Watt","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":215519,"EventID":"S3W-08858","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2364,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":11,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-24T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-24T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what involvement credit unions will have in the promotion of money management and savings.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what involvement credit unions will have in the promotion of money management and savings.","AnswerText":"Promoting savingsis the core business of credit unions. They are not-for-profit organisations andexist to provide a safe, convenient place for members to save money and to get loansand other financial products and services at a reasonable rate for those who maynot be able to access mainstream financial services and products. There are currently115 credit unions in Scotland and many of them allow members to save through payrolldeductions as well as paying in cash and benefits direct. Additionally, a numberof them promote financial capability by facilitating budgeting skills workshopsfor members.","AnswerDate":"2008-02-01T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-02-07T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Stewart Maxwell","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":215520,"EventID":"S3W-08859","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1768,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":60,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-24T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-24T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive how funding, previously allocated for addressing antisocial behaviour, will be allocated in 2008-09, broken down by local authority and also expressed as a percentage of ","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive how funding, previously allocated for addressing antisocial behaviour, will be allocated in 2008-09, broken down by local authority and also expressed as a percentage of total funding for this purpose.","AnswerText":"The governmentis not providing a separate funding allocation for this service for 2008-09.Instead, councils will receive an overall allocation and it will be for eachcouncil to determine how this is distributed locally across services to meetits statutory duties and also its commitments under the concordat.","AnswerDate":"2008-02-04T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-02-07T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"John Swinney","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":215521,"EventID":"S3W-08860","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1768,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":60,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-24T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-24T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive how funding, previously allocated for community safety partnerships, will be allocated in 2008-09, broken down by local authority and also expressed as a percentage of to","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive how funding, previously allocated for community safety partnerships, will be allocated in 2008-09, broken down by local authority and also expressed as a percentage of total funding for this purpose.","AnswerText":"I refer themember to the answer to question S3W-8859 on 4 February 2008. All answers to written parliamentary questions areavailable on the Parliament's website, the search facility for which can befound at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/wa.search.","AnswerDate":"2008-02-04T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-02-07T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"John Swinney","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":215522,"EventID":"S3W-08861","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1768,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":60,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-24T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-24T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive how funding, previously allocated under the Police Capital Grant, will be allocated in 2008-09, broken down by local authority and also expressed as a percentage of total","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive how funding, previously allocated under the Police Capital Grant, will be allocated in 2008-09, broken down by local authority and also expressed as a percentage of total funding for this purpose.","AnswerText":"I refer themember to the answer to question S3W-8859 on 4 February 2008. All answers to written parliamentary questions areavailable on the Parliament's website, the search facility for which can befound at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/wa.search.","AnswerDate":"2008-02-04T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-02-07T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"John Swinney","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":215523,"EventID":"S3W-08862","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1768,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":60,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-24T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-24T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive how funding, previously allocated for mental health services, will be allocated in 2008-09, broken down by local authority and also expressed as a percentage of total fun","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive how funding, previously allocated for mental health services, will be allocated in 2008-09, broken down by local authority and also expressed as a percentage of total funding for this purpose.","AnswerText":"I refer themember to the answer to question S3W-8859 on 4 February 2008. All answers to written parliamentary questions areavailable on the Parliament's website, the search facility for which can befound at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/wa.search.","AnswerDate":"2008-02-04T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-02-07T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"John Swinney","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":215524,"EventID":"S3W-08863","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1768,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":60,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-24T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-24T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive how funding, previously allocated under the Children’s Services Women’s Aid Fund, will be allocated in 2008-09, broken down by local authority and also expressed as a per","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive how funding, previously allocated under the Children’s Services Women’s Aid Fund, will be allocated in 2008-09, broken down by local authority and also expressed as a percentage of total funding for this purpose.","AnswerText":"I refer the memberto the answer to question S3W-8859 on 4 February 2008. All answers to written parliamentary questions are availableon the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/wa.search.","AnswerDate":"2008-02-04T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-02-07T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"John Swinney","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":215525,"EventID":"S3W-08864","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1768,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":60,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-24T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-24T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive how funding, previously allocated for private landlord registration, will be allocated in 2008-09, broken down by local authority and also expressed as a percentage of to","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive how funding, previously allocated for private landlord registration, will be allocated in 2008-09, broken down by local authority and also expressed as a percentage of total funding for this purpose.","AnswerText":"I refer the memberto the answer to question S3W-8859 on 4 February 2008. All answers to written parliamentary questions are availableon the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/wa.search.","AnswerDate":"2008-02-04T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-02-07T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"John Swinney","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":215526,"EventID":"S3W-08865","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1768,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":60,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-24T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-24T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive how funding, previously allocated under the Supporting People Grant, will be allocated in 2008-09, broken down by local authority and also expressed as a percentage of to","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive how funding, previously allocated under the Supporting People Grant, will be allocated in 2008-09, broken down by local authority and also expressed as a percentage of total funding for this purpose.","AnswerText":"I refer the memberto the answer to question S3W-8859 on 4 February 2008. All answers to written parliamentary questions are availableon the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/wa.search.","AnswerDate":"2008-02-04T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-02-07T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"John Swinney","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":215527,"EventID":"S3W-08866","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1768,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":60,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-24T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-24T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive how funding, previously allocated under the Violence Against Women Fund, will be allocated in 2008-09, broken down by local authority and also expressed as a percentage o","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive how funding, previously allocated under the Violence Against Women Fund, will be allocated in 2008-09, broken down by local authority and also expressed as a percentage of total funding for this purpose.","AnswerText":"I refer the memberto the answer to question S3W-8859 on 4 February 2008. All answers to written parliamentary questions are availableon the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/wa.search.","AnswerDate":"2008-02-04T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-02-07T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"John Swinney","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":215528,"EventID":"S3W-08867","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1768,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":60,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-24T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-24T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive how funding, previously allocated for addressing delayed discharges, will be allocated in 2008-09, broken down by local authority and also expressed as a percentage of to","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive how funding, previously allocated for addressing delayed discharges, will be allocated in 2008-09, broken down by local authority and also expressed as a percentage of total funding for this purpose.","AnswerText":"I refer the memberto the answer to question S3W-8859 on 4 February 2008. All answers to written parliamentary questions are availableon the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/wa.search.","AnswerDate":"2008-02-04T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-02-07T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"John Swinney","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":215529,"EventID":"S3W-08868","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1768,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":60,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-24T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-24T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive how funding, previously allocated under the National Accommodation Strategy for Sex Offenders, will be allocated in 2008-09, broken down by local authority and also expre","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive how funding, previously allocated under the National Accommodation Strategy for Sex Offenders, will be allocated in 2008-09, broken down by local authority and also expressed as a percentage of total funding for this purpose.","AnswerText":"I refer themember to the answer to question S3W-8859 on 4 February 2008. All answers to written parliamentary questions areavailable on the Parliament's website, the search facility for which can befound at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/wa.search.","AnswerDate":"2008-02-04T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-02-07T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"John Swinney","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":215530,"EventID":"S3W-08869","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1768,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":60,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-24T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-24T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive how funding, previously allocated under the National Priorities Action Fund, will be allocated in 2008-09, broken down by local authority and also expressed as a percenta","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive how funding, previously allocated under the National Priorities Action Fund, will be allocated in 2008-09, broken down by local authority and also expressed as a percentage of total funding for this purpose.","AnswerText":"I refer themember to the answer to question S3W-8859 on 4 February 2008. All answers to written parliamentary questions areavailable on the Parliament's website, the search facility for which can befound at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/wa.search.","AnswerDate":"2008-02-04T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-02-07T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"John Swinney","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":215531,"EventID":"S3W-08870","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1768,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":60,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-24T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-24T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive how funding, previously allocated for social work training, will be allocated in 2008-09, broken down by local authority and also expressed as a percentage of total fundi","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive how funding, previously allocated for social work training, will be allocated in 2008-09, broken down by local authority and also expressed as a percentage of total funding for this purpose.","AnswerText":"I refer themember to the answer to question S3W-8859 on 4 February 2008. All answers to written parliamentary questions areavailable on the Parliament's website, the search facility for which can befound at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/wa.search.","AnswerDate":"2008-02-04T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-02-07T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"John Swinney","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":215532,"EventID":"S3W-08871","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1768,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":60,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-24T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-24T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive how funding, previously allocated under the European Languages Grant, will be allocated in 2008-09, broken down by local authority and also expressed as a percentage of t","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive how funding, previously allocated under the European Languages Grant, will be allocated in 2008-09, broken down by local authority and also expressed as a percentage of total funding for this purpose.","AnswerText":"I refer themember to the answer to question S3W-8859 on 4 February 2008. All answers to written parliamentary questions are availableon the Parliament's website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/wa.search.","AnswerDate":"2008-02-04T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-02-07T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"John Swinney","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":215533,"EventID":"S3W-08872","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1768,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":60,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-24T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-24T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive how funding, previously allocated for education for looked after children, will be allocated in 2008-09, broken down by local authority and also expressed as a percentage","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive how funding, previously allocated for education for looked after children, will be allocated in 2008-09, broken down by local authority and also expressed as a percentage of total funding for this purpose.","AnswerText":"I refer the memberto the answer to question S3W-8859 on 4 February 2008. All answers to written parliamentaryquestions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for whichcan be found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/wa.search.","AnswerDate":"2008-02-04T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-02-07T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"John Swinney","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":215534,"EventID":"S3W-08873","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1768,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":60,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-24T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-24T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive how funding, previously allocated under the Changing Children’s Services Fund, will be allocated in 2008-09, broken down by local authority and also expressed as a percen","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive how funding, previously allocated under the Changing Children’s Services Fund, will be allocated in 2008-09, broken down by local authority and also expressed as a percentage of total funding for this purpose.","AnswerText":"I refer the memberto the answer to question S3W-8859 on 4 February 2008. All answers to written parliamentary questions are availableon the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/wa.search.","AnswerDate":"2008-02-04T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-02-07T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"John Swinney","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":215535,"EventID":"S3W-08874","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1768,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":60,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-24T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-24T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive how funding, previously allocated under the Teacher Induction Scheme, will be allocated in 2008-09, broken down by local authority and also expressed as a percentage of t","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive how funding, previously allocated under the Teacher Induction Scheme, will be allocated in 2008-09, broken down by local authority and also expressed as a percentage of total funding for this purpose.","AnswerText":"I refer the memberto the answer to question S3W-8859 on 4 February 2008. All answers to written parliamentary questions are availableon the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/wa.search.","AnswerDate":"2008-02-04T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-02-07T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"John Swinney","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":215536,"EventID":"S3W-08875","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1768,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":60,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-24T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-24T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive how funding, previously allocated under the Specialist Provision Programme - Centres of Excellence fund, will be allocated in 2008-09, broken down by local authority and ","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive how funding, previously allocated under the Specialist Provision Programme - Centres of Excellence fund, will be allocated in 2008-09, broken down by local authority and also expressed as a percentage of total funding for this purpose.","AnswerText":"I refer themember to the answer to question S3W-8859 on 4 February 2008. All answers to written parliamentary questions areavailable on the Parliament's website, the search facility for which can befound at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/wa.search.","AnswerDate":"2008-02-04T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-02-07T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"John Swinney","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":215537,"EventID":"S3W-08876","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1768,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":60,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-24T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-24T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive how funding, previously allocated under the Children’s Legal Representation Grant Scheme, will be allocated in 2008-09, broken down by local authority and also expressed ","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive how funding, previously allocated under the Children’s Legal Representation Grant Scheme, will be allocated in 2008-09, broken down by local authority and also expressed as a percentage of total funding for this purpose.","AnswerText":"I refer themember to the answer to question S3W-8859 on 4 February 2008. All answers to written parliamentary questions areavailable on the Parliament's website, the search facility for which can befound at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/wa.search.","AnswerDate":"2008-02-04T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-02-07T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"John Swinney","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":215538,"EventID":"S3W-08877","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1768,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":60,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-24T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-24T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive how funding, previously allocated as school estate/PPP funding, will be allocated in 2008-09, broken down by local authority and also expressed as a percentage of total f","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive how funding, previously allocated as school estate/PPP funding, will be allocated in 2008-09, broken down by local authority and also expressed as a percentage of total funding for this purpose.","AnswerText":"I refer themember to the answer to question S3W-8859 on 4 February 2008. All answers to written parliamentary questions areavailable on the Parliament's website, the search facility for which can befound at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/wa.search.","AnswerDate":"2008-02-04T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-02-07T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"John Swinney","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":215539,"EventID":"S3W-08878","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1768,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":60,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-24T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-24T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive how funding, previously allocated under the Early Years and Childcare Workforce Development Fund, will be allocated in 2008-09, broken down by local authority and also ex","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive how funding, previously allocated under the Early Years and Childcare Workforce Development Fund, will be allocated in 2008-09, broken down by local authority and also expressed as a percentage of total funding for this purpose.","AnswerText":"I refer themember to the answer to question S3W-8859 on 4 February 2008. All answers to written parliamentary questions areavailable on the Parliament's website, the search facility for which can befound at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/wa.search.","AnswerDate":"2008-02-04T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-02-07T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"John Swinney","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":215540,"EventID":"S3W-08879","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1768,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":60,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-24T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-24T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive how funding, previously allocated for improving fostering services, will be allocated in 2008-09, broken down by local authority and also expressed as a percentage of tot","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive how funding, previously allocated for improving fostering services, will be allocated in 2008-09, broken down by local authority and also expressed as a percentage of total funding for this purpose.","AnswerText":"I refer themember to the answer to question S3W-8859 on 4 February 2008. All answers to written parliamentary questions areavailable on the Parliament's website, the search facility for which can befound at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/wa.search.","AnswerDate":"2008-02-04T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-02-07T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"John Swinney","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":215541,"EventID":"S3W-08880","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1768,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":60,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-24T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-24T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive how funding, previously allocated for adoption services, will be allocated in 2008-09, broken down by local authority and also expressed as a percentage of total funding ","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive how funding, previously allocated for adoption services, will be allocated in 2008-09, broken down by local authority and also expressed as a percentage of total funding for this purpose.","AnswerText":"I refer themember to the answer to question S3W-8859 on 4 February 2008. All answers to written parliamentary questions areavailable on the Parliament's website, the search facility for which can befound at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/wa.search.","AnswerDate":"2008-02-04T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-02-07T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"John Swinney","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":215542,"EventID":"S3W-08881","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1768,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":60,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-24T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-24T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive how funding, previously allocated under the Youthwork for Local Delivery fund, will be allocated in 2008-09, broken down by local authority and also expressed as a percen","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive how funding, previously allocated under the Youthwork for Local Delivery fund, will be allocated in 2008-09, broken down by local authority and also expressed as a percentage of total funding for this purpose.","AnswerText":"I refer the memberto the answer to question S3W-8859 on 4 February 2008. All answers to written parliamentary questions are availableon the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/wa.search.","AnswerDate":"2008-02-04T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-02-07T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"John Swinney","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":215543,"EventID":"S3W-08882","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1768,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":60,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-24T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-24T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive how funding, previously allocated under the Schools Fund, will be allocated in 2008-09, broken down by local authority and also expressed as a percentage of total funding","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive how funding, previously allocated under the Schools Fund, will be allocated in 2008-09, broken down by local authority and also expressed as a percentage of total funding for this purpose.","AnswerText":"I refer the memberto the answer to question S3W-8859 on 4 February 2008. All answers to written parliamentary questions are availableon the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/wa.search.","AnswerDate":"2008-02-04T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-02-07T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"John Swinney","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":215544,"EventID":"S3W-08883","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1768,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":60,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-24T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-24T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive how funding, previously allocated under the Demand Responsive Transport Grant, will be allocated in 2008-09, broken down by local authority and also expressed as a percen","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive how funding, previously allocated under the Demand Responsive Transport Grant, will be allocated in 2008-09, broken down by local authority and also expressed as a percentage of total funding for this purpose.","AnswerText":"I refer the memberto the answer to question S3W-8859 on 4 February 2008. All answers to written parliamentary questions are availableon the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/wa.search.","AnswerDate":"2008-02-04T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-02-07T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"John Swinney","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":215545,"EventID":"S3W-08884","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1768,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":60,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-24T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-24T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive how funding, previously allocated under the Rural Public Passenger Grant, will be allocated in 2008-09, broken down by local authority and also expressed as a percentage ","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive how funding, previously allocated under the Rural Public Passenger Grant, will be allocated in 2008-09, broken down by local authority and also expressed as a percentage of total funding for this purpose.","AnswerText":"I refer the memberto the answer to question S3W-8859 on 4 February 2008. All answers to written parliamentary questions are availableon the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/wa.search.","AnswerDate":"2008-02-04T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-02-07T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"John Swinney","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":215546,"EventID":"S3W-08885","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1768,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":60,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-24T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-24T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive how funding, previously allocated under the Bus Route Development Grant, will be allocated in 2008-09, broken down by local authority and also expressed as a percentage o","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive how funding, previously allocated under the Bus Route Development Grant, will be allocated in 2008-09, broken down by local authority and also expressed as a percentage of total funding for this purpose.","AnswerText":"I refer the memberto the answer to question S3W-8859 on 4 February 2008. All answers to written parliamentary questions are availableon the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/wa.search.","AnswerDate":"2008-02-04T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-02-07T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"John Swinney","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":215547,"EventID":"S3W-08886","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1768,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":60,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-24T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-24T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive how funding, previously allocated for school travel co-ordinators, will be allocated in 2008-09, broken down by local authority and also expressed as a percentage of tota","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive how funding, previously allocated for school travel co-ordinators, will be allocated in 2008-09, broken down by local authority and also expressed as a percentage of total funding for this purpose.","AnswerText":"I refer the memberto the answer to question S3W-8859 on 4 February 2008. All answers to written parliamentary questions are availableon the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/wa.search.","AnswerDate":"2008-02-04T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-02-07T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"John Swinney","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":215548,"EventID":"S3W-08887","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1768,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":60,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-24T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-24T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive how funding, previously allocated under the Efficiency and Reform Fund, will be allocated in 2008-09, broken down by local authority and also expressed as a percentage of","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive how funding, previously allocated under the Efficiency and Reform Fund, will be allocated in 2008-09, broken down by local authority and also expressed as a percentage of total funding for this purpose.","AnswerText":"I refer the memberto the answer to question S3W-8859 on 4 February 2008. All answers to written parliamentary questions are availableon the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/wa.search.","AnswerDate":"2008-02-04T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-02-07T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"John Swinney","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":215549,"EventID":"S3W-08888","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1768,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":60,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-24T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-24T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive how funding, previously allocated under the Cities Growth Fund, will be allocated in 2008-09, broken down by local authority and also expressed as a percentage of total f","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive how funding, previously allocated under the Cities Growth Fund, will be allocated in 2008-09, broken down by local authority and also expressed as a percentage of total funding for this purpose.","AnswerText":"I refer the memberto the answer to question S3W-8859 on 4 February 2008. All answers to written parliamentary questions are availableon the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/wa.search.","AnswerDate":"2008-02-04T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-02-07T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"John Swinney","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":215550,"EventID":"S3W-08889","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1768,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":60,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-24T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-24T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive how funding, previously allocated under the Supported Borrowing fund, will be allocated in 2008-09, broken down by local authority and also expressed as a percentage of t","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive how funding, previously allocated under the Supported Borrowing fund, will be allocated in 2008-09, broken down by local authority and also expressed as a percentage of total funding for this purpose.","AnswerText":"I refer the memberto the answer to question S3W-8859 on 4 February 2008. All answers to written parliamentary questions are availableon the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/wa.search.","AnswerDate":"2008-02-04T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-02-07T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"John Swinney","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":215551,"EventID":"S3W-08890","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1768,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":60,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-24T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-24T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive how funding, previously allocated under the Piers and Harbours Grant, will be allocated in 2008-09, broken down by local authority and also expressed as a percentage of t","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive how funding, previously allocated under the Piers and Harbours Grant, will be allocated in 2008-09, broken down by local authority and also expressed as a percentage of total funding for this purpose.","AnswerText":"I refer the memberto the answer to question S3W-8859 on 4 February 2008. All answers to written parliamentary questions are availableon the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/wa.search.","AnswerDate":"2008-02-04T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-02-07T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"John Swinney","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":215552,"EventID":"S3W-08891","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1768,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":60,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-24T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-24T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive how funding, previously allocated under Public Transport Fund and Integrated Transport Fund, will be allocated in 2008-09, broken down by local authority and also express","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive how funding, previously allocated under Public Transport Fund and Integrated Transport Fund, will be allocated in 2008-09, broken down by local authority and also expressed as a percentage of total funding for this purpose.","AnswerText":"I refer the memberto the answer to question S3W-8859 on 4 February 2008. All answers to written parliamentary questions are availableon the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/wa.search.","AnswerDate":"2008-02-04T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-02-07T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"John Swinney","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":215553,"EventID":"S3W-08892","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1768,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":60,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-24T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-24T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive how funding, previously allocated under the Strategic Waste Fund, will be allocated in 2008-09, broken down by local authority and also expressed as a percentage of total","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive how funding, previously allocated under the Strategic Waste Fund, will be allocated in 2008-09, broken down by local authority and also expressed as a percentage of total funding for this purpose.","AnswerText":"I refer the memberto the answer to question S3W-8859 on 4 February 2008. All answers to written parliamentary questions are availableon the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/wa.search.","AnswerDate":"2008-02-04T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-02-07T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"John Swinney","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":215554,"EventID":"S3W-08893","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1768,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":60,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-24T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-24T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive how funding, previously allocated under the Antisocial Behaviour Noise Grant Scheme, will be allocated in 2008-09, broken down by local authority and also expressed as a ","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive how funding, previously allocated under the Antisocial Behaviour Noise Grant Scheme, will be allocated in 2008-09, broken down by local authority and also expressed as a percentage of total funding for this purpose.","AnswerText":"I refer the memberto the answer to question S3W-8859 on 4 February 2008. All answers to written parliamentary questions are availableon the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/wa.search.","AnswerDate":"2008-02-04T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-02-07T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"John Swinney","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":215555,"EventID":"S3W-08894","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1768,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":60,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-24T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-24T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive how funding, previously allocated for air quality monitoring, will be allocated in 2008-09, broken down by local authority and also expressed as a percentage of total fun","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive how funding, previously allocated for air quality monitoring, will be allocated in 2008-09, broken down by local authority and also expressed as a percentage of total funding for this purpose.","AnswerText":"I refer the memberto the answer to question S3W-8859 on 4 February 2008. All answers to written parliamentary questions are availableon the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/wa.search.","AnswerDate":"2008-02-04T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-02-07T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"John Swinney","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":215556,"EventID":"S3W-08895","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1768,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":60,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-24T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-24T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive how funding, previously allocated under the Flood Prevention and Coast Protection Grant, will be allocated in 2008-09, broken down by local authority and also expressed a","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive how funding, previously allocated under the Flood Prevention and Coast Protection Grant, will be allocated in 2008-09, broken down by local authority and also expressed as a percentage of total funding for this purpose.","AnswerText":"I refer the memberto the answer to question S3W-8859 on 4 February 2008. All answers to written parliamentary questions are availableon the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/wa.search.","AnswerDate":"2008-02-04T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-02-07T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"John Swinney","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":215557,"EventID":"S3W-08896","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1768,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":60,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-24T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-24T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive how funding, previously allocated under the Contaminated Land Grant, will be allocated in 2008-09, broken down by local authority and also expressed as a percentage of to","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive how funding, previously allocated under the Contaminated Land Grant, will be allocated in 2008-09, broken down by local authority and also expressed as a percentage of total funding for this purpose.","AnswerText":"I refer the memberto the answer to question S3W-08859 on 4 February 2008. All answers to written parliamentary questions are availableon the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/wa.search.","AnswerDate":"2008-02-04T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-02-07T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"John Swinney","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":215558,"EventID":"S3W-08897","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2234,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":2,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-24T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-24T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive how many accused persons (a) were made subject to bail supervision and (b) offended while on bail over the last three years.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive how many accused persons (a) were made subject to bail supervision and (b) offended while on bail over the last three years.","AnswerText":"Statistics on thenumber of individuals made subject to bail supervision are given in table 12.1 of the Criminal Justice Social Work Statistics 2006-07 bulletin, available at:http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Publications/2008/01/11134527/0. The available statisticson the number of offences with a charge proved in Scottish courts with a bail aggravatorrecorded (indicating that the offence was committed while the offender was on bail)are given in table 18 of the Criminal Proceedings in Scottish Courts 2005-06 statisticalbulletin, available at: http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Publications/2007/03/21083652/0. However, these statisticscannot identify whether the bail aggravator was specifically related to a bail supervisionorder. ","AnswerDate":"2008-02-04T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-02-07T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Kenny MacAskill","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":215559,"EventID":"S3W-08898","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1783,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":67,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-24T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-24T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will encourage West Dunbartonshire Council to revise its plans for school regeneration and provide Dumbarton Academy with a brand new school.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will encourage West Dunbartonshire Council to revise its plans for school regeneration and provide Dumbarton Academy with a brand new school.","AnswerText":"The Scottish Governmentrecognises that school estate management planning for its area is a matter for WestDunbartonshire Council and has noted the council’s intention to consider its strategicplans for the regeneration of the school estate, including Dumbarton Academy.","AnswerDate":"2008-02-01T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-02-07T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Maureen Watt","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":215560,"EventID":"S3W-08899","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1783,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":67,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-24T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-24T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether the condition of Dumbarton Academy is a cause for concern.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether the condition of Dumbarton Academy is a cause for concern.","AnswerText":"West Dunbartonshire Council has the statutory responsibility forthe provision and maintenance of school buildings in its area. Questions regardingthe condition of individual schools and investment priorities within the schoolestate are matters for the council.","AnswerDate":"2008-02-01T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-02-07T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Maureen Watt","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":215561,"EventID":"S3W-08900","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1783,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":67,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-24T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-24T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what legislative obligations are placed on (a) local authorities and (b) the Scottish Government for the provision of education.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what legislative obligations are placed on (a) local authorities and (b) the Scottish Government for the provision of education.","AnswerText":"The provision of educationin Scotland, from nursery education through to highereducation, is the subject of a wide range of primary and secondary legislation.","AnswerDate":"2008-02-01T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-02-07T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Fiona Hyslop","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":215562,"EventID":"S3W-08901","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2394,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":5,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-24T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-24T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether it is satisfied with the number and scale of applications for onshore wind farms in Argyll and Bute.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether it is satisfied with the number and scale of applications for onshore wind farms in Argyll and Bute.","AnswerText":"There are no localtargets for onshore wind farm developments. Scottish Planning Policy (SPP) 6, RenewableEnergy confirms that the target for the percentage of Scotland’s electricity tobe generated from renewable sources should not be regarded as a cap.Development plan policiesfor wind farms should be based on the principle that wind farms should be accommodatedwhere the technology can operate efficiently and environmental and cumulative impactscan be addressed satisfactorily. ","AnswerDate":"2008-02-06T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-02-07T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Stewart Stevenson","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":215563,"EventID":"S3W-08902","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2394,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":5,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-24T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-24T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what impact it considers the number and scale of applications for onshore wind farms in Argyll and Bute would have on the landscape, quality of life and tourism in the ar","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what impact it considers the number and scale of applications for onshore wind farms in Argyll and Bute would have on the landscape, quality of life and tourism in the area if implemented.","AnswerText":"Each application fora wind farm is determined on its own merits. Scottish Planning Policy 6 RenewableEnergy provides that consideration should include a wide range of factors includingimpacts on landscape, communities and tourism, and cumulative impacts of other proposalswhich have been built, given permission or are the subject of a valid application.","AnswerDate":"2008-02-06T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-02-07T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Stewart Stevenson","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":215564,"EventID":"S3W-08903","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2394,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":5,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-24T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-24T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive how it intends to reduce the number of speculative planning applications for onshore wind farms.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive how it intends to reduce the number of speculative planning applications for onshore wind farms.","AnswerText":"Under planning legislationthere are no powers to prevent planning applications being made. However, the preparationof up-to-date policies by planning authorities which reflect Scottish Planning Policy6 Renewable Energy should provide greater certainty for developers and local communities.","AnswerDate":"2008-02-06T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-02-07T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Stewart Stevenson","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":215565,"EventID":"S3W-08904","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2394,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":5,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-24T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-24T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether it intends to review the existing national planning guidance on renewable energy developments.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether it intends to review the existing national planning guidance on renewable energy developments.","AnswerText":"The Scottish Government believesthat Scottish Planning Policy (SPP) 6 Renewable Energy provides a sound nationalpolicy context for addressing onshore wind development and there are no plans toreview it.Since the publication of SPP6and to facilitate its implementation, ministers have confirmed that additional supportand guidance will be made available to planning authorities. A team of consultantswere appointed by the Scottish Government at the beginning of 2008 for a periodto 12 months to provide expert advice and support on the preparation of supplementaryplanning guidance for wind farms, including spatial frameworks. To further assistthe authorities, national guidance on the preparation of the authorities’ supplementaryplanning guidance will be issued in the near future. ","AnswerDate":"2008-02-07T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-02-07T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Stewart Stevenson","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":215566,"EventID":"S3W-08905","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2394,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":5,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-24T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-24T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether it supports national or local locational guidance for siting onshore wind farm developments.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether it supports national or local locational guidance for siting onshore wind farm developments.","AnswerText":"The Scottish Government believes that Scottish Planning Policy (SPP6) Renewable Energy provides a sound national policy context for addressing onshore wind development. We want to see the SPP''s provisions taken forward urgently, with local authorities engaging with communities and other parties in the preparation of locational strategies in the form of supplementary planning guidance. These local frameworks should provide greater certainty for developers and local communities and speed up the decision process. We see this approach as striking the right balance between national and local responsibilities. ","AnswerDate":"2008-02-06T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-02-07T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Stewart Stevenson","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":215567,"EventID":"S3W-08906","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2103,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":38,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-24T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-24T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether it considers that the divorce laws of Poland provide a positive example for the Scottish legal system.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether it considers that the divorce laws of Poland provide a positive example for the Scottish legal system.","AnswerText":"We have not examinedthe divorce laws of Poland in any detail. We research and study the legalsystems of other countries where we feel that their systems and practices can informand develop policy here, mindful that care is needed in importing features of othersystems which may not be directly applicable to Scotland.","AnswerDate":"2008-02-04T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-02-07T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Fergus Ewing","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":215568,"EventID":"S3W-08907","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2103,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":38,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-24T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-24T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive how many divorces in Scotland over the last five years have involved Polish nationals.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive how many divorces in Scotland over the last five years have involved Polish nationals.","AnswerText":"The information requestedis not held centrally.","AnswerDate":"2008-01-31T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-02-07T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Fergus Ewing","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":215569,"EventID":"S3W-08908","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2103,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":38,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-24T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-24T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive how many divorces in Scotland in the last five years have involved Polish nationals where legal aid funding has been awarded to (a) the female partner exclusively, (b) th","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive how many divorces in Scotland in the last five years have involved Polish nationals where legal aid funding has been awarded to (a) the female partner exclusively, (b) the male partner exclusively and (c) both partners.","AnswerText":"Information relatingto legal aid awards is collected centrally by the Scottish Legal Aid Board. It doesnot, however, hold definitive information on the nationality of individuals whoare awarded legal aid. The board has advised that a search of its database produceda total of 16 applications relating to divorce action where the applicant’s placeof birth is listed as “Poland”. This cannot be taken as definitive sincethe applicant may have specified a town or city rather than the country in the application.","AnswerDate":"2008-02-04T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-02-07T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Fergus Ewing","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":215570,"EventID":"S3W-08909","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2603,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":6,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-24T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-24T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive how much (a) heroin, (b) cocaine and (c) cannabis has been seized in each year since 2002, expressed in pounds (i) weight and (ii) sterling, also broken down by community","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive how much (a) heroin, (b) cocaine and (c) cannabis has been seized in each year since 2002, expressed in pounds (i) weight and (ii) sterling, also broken down by community justice authority area.","AnswerText":"The information requestedon quantities seized of various illegal drugs from 1995-96 to 2005-06, is givenin tables 5, 7, 15 and 17 of “Drug Seizures by Scottish Police Forces, 2004-005and 2005-2006” published by the Scottish Government in January 2007, copies of whichare available in the Scottish Parliament Information Centre (Bib. number 42386).http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Publications/2007/02/09094216/0. Please note that theinformation on quantities of drugs seized is presented in kg and not in pounds,and that figures can only be broken down geographically to police force area level. Data on the valueof seizures is not held centrally. ","AnswerDate":"2008-02-05T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-02-07T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Fergus Ewing","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":215571,"EventID":"S3W-08910","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2603,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":6,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-24T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-24T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive how many criminals involved in drug dealing were caught, convicted and sentenced during (a) 2002, (b) 2003, (c) 2004, (d) 2005, (e) 2006 and (f) 2007, broken down by poli","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive how many criminals involved in drug dealing were caught, convicted and sentenced during (a) 2002, (b) 2003, (c) 2004, (d) 2005, (e) 2006 and (f) 2007, broken down by police authority.","AnswerText":"The available informationis given in the tables for the years for which data is available. The statisticsdealing with recorded crime and court proceedings are not directly comparable fora number of reasons. A singlecrime or offence recorded by the police may have more than one perpetrator, or alternatively,an individual may be convicted of several cases of the same crime. There is the possibility that the crime oroffence recorded by the police may be altered in the course of judicial proceedings,while a crime or offence may be recorded by the police in one year and court proceedingsnot concluded until a later year. Crimes and offences alleged to have been committedby children under 16 years old are also generally dealt with through the children’shearings system rather than through the courts.Offences Recordedby Police for Supply or Possession with Intent to Supply Drugs by Police ForceArea, 2002-03 to 2006-07 | Police Force Area | 2002-03 | 2003-04 | 2004-05 | 2005-06 | 2006-07 | | Central | 508 | 543 | 551 | 585 | 629 | | Dumfries and Galloway | 345 | 426 | 332 | 274 | 305 | | Fife | 657 | 544 | 680 | 555 | 619 | | Grampian | 889 | 594 | 695 | 731 | 730 | | Lothian and Borders | 1,948 | 1,677 | 1,896 | 1,884 | 2,532 | | Northern | 294 | 435 | 287 | 388 | 492 | | Strathclyde | 4,623 | 4,293 | 3,820 | 4,124 | 4,357 | | Tayside | ","AnswerDate":"2008-02-04T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-02-07T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Stewart Maxwell","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":215573,"EventID":"S3W-08912","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2603,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":6,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-24T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-24T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive how many first-time buyers who purchased property in (a) Aberdeen City, (b) Aberdeenshire and (c) Angus during (i) 2002-03, (ii) 2003-04, (iii) 2004-05, (iv) 2005-06, (v)","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive how many first-time buyers who purchased property in (a) Aberdeen City, (b) Aberdeenshire and (c) Angus during (i) 2002-03, (ii) 2003-04, (iii) 2004-05, (iv) 2005-06, (v) 2006-07 and (vi) the first six months of financial year 2007-08 were in age groups (A) 18 to 25, (B) 26 to 30, (C) 31 to 55 and (D) 56 and over.","AnswerText":"This data is not heldcentrally.","AnswerDate":"2008-02-04T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-02-07T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Stewart Maxwell","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":215574,"EventID":"S3W-08913","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2603,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":6,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-24T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-24T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive how many young people were found to have carried an offensive weapon in Grampian in the last five years.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive how many young people were found to have carried an offensive weapon in Grampian in the last five years.","AnswerText":"This information isnot held centrally. The police recorded crime statistics collected centrally arebased on an aggregate return, and do not distinguish the circumstances of the crime,such as the age of the offender.","AnswerDate":"2008-02-04T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-02-07T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Fergus Ewing","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":215575,"EventID":"S3W-08914","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2603,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":6,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-24T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-24T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive how many young people were found to have carried a knife in Grampian in the last five years.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive how many young people were found to have carried a knife in Grampian in the last five years.","AnswerText":"This information isnot held centrally. The police recorded crime statistics collected centrally arebased on an aggregate return, and do not distinguish the circumstances of the crime,such as the age of the offender.","AnswerDate":"2008-02-04T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-02-07T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Fergus Ewing","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":215576,"EventID":"S3W-08915","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2603,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":6,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-24T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-24T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive how many pupils at (a) primary and (b) secondary schools in each local authority were suspended or expelled for bringing a class A, B or C drug into a school building in ","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive how many pupils at (a) primary and (b) secondary schools in each local authority were suspended or expelled for bringing a class A, B or C drug into a school building in (i) 2002-03, (ii) 2003-04, (iii) 2004-05, (iv) 2005-06 and (v) 2006-07.","AnswerText":"This information isnot held centrally. Information on the number and type of incidentswhich led to school exclusion in each year requested is available from: 2002-03: http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Publications/2004/02/18912/33196. 2003-04: http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Publications/2005/02/20735/53114. 2004-05: http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Publications/2006/01/30144545/0. 2005-06: http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Publications/2007/01/30100624/0. 2006-07:http://www.scotland.gov.uk/stats/bulletins/00623. ","AnswerDate":"2008-02-01T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-02-07T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Maureen Watt","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":215577,"EventID":"S3W-08916","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2603,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":6,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-24T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-24T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive how many incidents were recorded at (a) primary and (b) secondary schools in each local authority where pupils were caught taking a class A, B or C drug during (i) 2002-0","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive how many incidents were recorded at (a) primary and (b) secondary schools in each local authority where pupils were caught taking a class A, B or C drug during (i) 2002-03, (ii) 2003-04, (iii) 2004-05, (iv) 2005-06 and (v) 2006-07.","AnswerText":"The information requestedis not held centrally.","AnswerDate":"2008-02-06T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-02-07T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Maureen Watt","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":215578,"EventID":"S3W-08917","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1756,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":7,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-24T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-24T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what the legal status is of the protocol between the Association of Chief Police Officers in Scotland and the Crown Office with regard to complaints made related to breac","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what the legal status is of the protocol between the Association of Chief Police Officers in Scotland and the Crown Office with regard to complaints made related to breaches of the Political Parties, Elections and Referendums Act 2000.","AnswerText":"I refer the member to the answerto question S3W-8921 on 7 February 2008.All answers to written parliamentaryquestions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for whichcan be found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/wa.search. ","AnswerDate":"2008-02-07T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-02-07T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Frank Mulholland","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":215579,"EventID":"S3W-08918","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1756,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":7,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-24T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-24T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will clarify the role of police forces, under their statutory duties set out in the Police (Scotland) Act 1967, in the investigation of allegations of criminal","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will clarify the role of police forces, under their statutory duties set out in the Police (Scotland) Act 1967, in the investigation of allegations of criminality related to breaches of the Political Parties, Elections and Referendums Act 2000.","AnswerText":"Police forces havea duty, under section 17(1)(b) of the Police (Scotland) Act 1967, where an offence has been committed to take all such lawful measures,and make such reports to the appropriate prosecutor, as may be necessary for thepurpose of bringing the offender to justice. Such action is taken under appropriateguidance from the Lord Advocate.","AnswerDate":"2008-02-04T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-02-07T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Kenny MacAskill","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":215580,"EventID":"S3W-08919","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1756,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":7,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-24T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-24T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to review the protocol agreed between the Association of Chief Police Officers in Scotland and the Crown Office concerning complaints in relation to bre","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to review the protocol agreed between the Association of Chief Police Officers in Scotland and the Crown Office concerning complaints in relation to breaches of the Political Parties, Elections and Referendums Act 2000.","AnswerText":"I refer the member to the answerto question S3W-8921 on 7 February 2008.All answers to written parliamentaryquestions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for whichcan be found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/wa.search. ","AnswerDate":"2008-02-07T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-02-07T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Frank Mulholland","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":215581,"EventID":"S3W-08920","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1756,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":7,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-24T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-24T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will list all existing protocols between the Association of Chief Police Officers in Scotland and the Crown Office which determine and set out when police inve","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will list all existing protocols between the Association of Chief Police Officers in Scotland and the Crown Office which determine and set out when police investigations should be undertaken.","AnswerText":"The current formal protocols between ACPOS and the Crown Office Procurator Fiscal Service (COPFS) which determine and set out when police investigations should be undertaken are as follows: Joint Protocol between ACPOS and COPFS on Domestic Abuse. Work Related Deaths - A Protocol for Liaison among COPFS, ACPOS, the Health and Safety Executive and British Transport Police. These protocols deal with specific types of investigation. ","AnswerDate":"2008-02-20T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-02-07T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Frank Mulholland","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":215582,"EventID":"S3W-08921","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1756,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":7,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-24T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-24T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will publish the details of the protocol between the Association of Chief Police Officers in Scotland and the Crown Office concerning complaints made to police","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will publish the details of the protocol between the Association of Chief Police Officers in Scotland and the Crown Office concerning complaints made to police forces in relation to breaches of the Political Parties, Elections and Referendums Act 2000.","AnswerText":"There is no protocol betweenthe Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service and ACPOS in relation to allegationsof contraventions of the Political Parties, Elections and Referendums Act 2000.There is, however, a protocol of this nature between ACPOS and the Electoral Commission.","AnswerDate":"2008-02-07T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-02-07T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Frank Mulholland","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":215583,"EventID":"S3W-08922","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1756,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":7,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-24T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-24T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive on what date the protocol between the Association of Chief Police Officers in Scotland and the Crown Office concerning complaints made to police forces in relation to bre","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive on what date the protocol between the Association of Chief Police Officers in Scotland and the Crown Office concerning complaints made to police forces in relation to breaches of the Political Parties, Elections and Referendums Act 2000 was agreed.","AnswerText":"I refer the member to the answerto question S3W-8921 on 7 February 2008.All answers to written parliamentaryquestions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for whichcan be found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/wa.search. ","AnswerDate":"2008-02-07T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-02-07T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Frank Mulholland","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":215584,"EventID":"S3W-08923","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2234,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":2,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-25T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-25T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will carry out an interim study of the security at HM Prison Castle Huntly and the selection process for prisoners who go there, pending receipt of the fuller ","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will carry out an interim study of the security at HM Prison Castle Huntly and the selection process for prisoners who go there, pending receipt of the fuller report of the Scottish Prison Service’s internal review.","AnswerText":"I have asked MikeEwart, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service to respond.His response is asfollows: The review commissionedby the Cabinet Secretary will be completed and published by the end of February. ","AnswerDate":"2008-02-04T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-02-08T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Kenny MacAskill","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":215585,"EventID":"S3W-08924","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2364,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":11,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-25T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-25T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what steps the Minister for Transport, Infrastructure and Climate Change has taken to ensure that rail passengers and the economy do not experience a recurrence of the re","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what steps the Minister for Transport, Infrastructure and Climate Change has taken to ensure that rail passengers and the economy do not experience a recurrence of the recent issues involving Network Rail and the over-running of engineering projects.","AnswerText":"Maintenanceof the railway is an operational matter for Network Rail, who are funded by Scottishministers under the terms of the Railways Act 2005. Transport Scotland has contributedin strong terms to the Office of Rail Regulation investigation into Network Rail’smanagement of engineering projects and I shall be very interested in the findingsto see what lessons may be learnt to avoid a similar situation arising in the future.","AnswerDate":"2008-02-06T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-02-08T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Stewart Stevenson","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":215586,"EventID":"S3W-08925","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2364,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":11,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-25T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-25T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions have taken place between the Minister for Transport, Infrastructure and Climate Change and Network Rail to ensure that rail passengers and the economy do","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions have taken place between the Minister for Transport, Infrastructure and Climate Change and Network Rail to ensure that rail passengers and the economy do not experience a recurrence of the recent issues caused by the over-running of engineering projects.","AnswerText":"The Minister for Transport,Infrastructure and Climate Change spoke with the Chairman of Network Rail duringthe disruption.","AnswerDate":"2008-02-06T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-02-08T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Stewart Stevenson","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":215587,"EventID":"S3W-08926","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2364,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":11,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-25T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-25T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what steps it is taking to ensure that all rail projects, including the Glasgow Airport Rail Link and the reopening of the Airdrie to Bathgate line, are delivered on time","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what steps it is taking to ensure that all rail projects, including the Glasgow Airport Rail Link and the reopening of the Airdrie to Bathgate line, are delivered on time and within budget.","AnswerText":"The Scottish Government,through its transport agency, Transport Scotland, takes active steps to control the cost and delivery timescale of both theGlasgow Airport Rail Link, and the Airdrie to Bathgate project. Transport Scotlanduses normal project management disciplines, including governance, reporting andreview processes.A cost review exerciseof the Airdrie to Bathgate project has recently been completed, and a similar exerciseis now under way for GARL. The results of these exercises will be included in thedetermination by the Office of Rail Regulation of funding required by Network Railin the next regulatory control period. ","AnswerDate":"2008-02-06T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-02-08T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Stewart Stevenson","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":215588,"EventID":"S3W-08927","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2364,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":11,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-25T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-25T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive when the Minister for Transport, Infrastructure and Climate Change last met representatives of Network Rail to discuss progress on the construction of the Glasgow Airport","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive when the Minister for Transport, Infrastructure and Climate Change last met representatives of Network Rail to discuss progress on the construction of the Glasgow Airport Rail Link.","AnswerText":"I meet regularly withNetwork Rail to discuss progress on the portfolio of rail projects.","AnswerDate":"2008-02-06T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-02-08T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Stewart Stevenson","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":215589,"EventID":"S3W-08928","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2364,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":11,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-25T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-25T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive when the Minister for Transport, Infrastructure and Climate Change last met representatives of Network Rail to discuss progress on the reopening of the Airdrie to Bathgat","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive when the Minister for Transport, Infrastructure and Climate Change last met representatives of Network Rail to discuss progress on the reopening of the Airdrie to Bathgate line.","AnswerText":"I refer the memberto the answer to question S3W-8927 on 6 February 2008. Allanswers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website,the search facility for which can be found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/wa.search.","AnswerDate":"2008-02-06T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-02-08T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Stewart Stevenson","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":215590,"EventID":"S3W-08929","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2364,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":11,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-25T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-25T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether it believes that the proposed Glasgow Crossrail project could be delivered in time for the Glasgow Commonwealth Games in 2014.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether it believes that the proposed Glasgow Crossrail project could be delivered in time for the Glasgow Commonwealth Games in 2014.","AnswerText":"The Strategic Transport ProjectsReview (STPR), due to deliver its findings to the Scottish ministers in the summerof 2008, will profile when projects to betaken forward are expected to be delivered.It is, therefore, too early to comment, but Glasgow Crossrail does not form oneof the commitments which supported the successful Commonwealth Games bid.","AnswerDate":"2008-02-07T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-02-08T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Stewart Stevenson","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":215591,"EventID":"S3W-08930","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2364,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":11,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-25T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-25T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether it recognises the benefits of the proposed Glasgow Crossrail project to the entire Scottish rail network.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether it recognises the benefits of the proposed Glasgow Crossrail project to the entire Scottish rail network.","AnswerText":"We will assess the impacts, bothbenefits and disbenefits, of the various elements of Crossrail by considering itthrough the Strategic Transport Projects Review (STPR), which is due to deliverits findings to the Scottish ministers in the summer of 2008.","AnswerDate":"2008-02-07T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-02-08T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Stewart Stevenson","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":215592,"EventID":"S3W-08931","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2364,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":11,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-25T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-25T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether it recognises the value for money of the proposed Glasgow Crossrail.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether it recognises the value for money of the proposed Glasgow Crossrail.","AnswerText":"We will assess the value formoney and affordability of the various incremental elements of Crossrail by consideringit through the Strategic Transport Projects Review (STPR) and assessing it alongsideall other priorities.","AnswerDate":"2008-02-07T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-02-08T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Stewart Stevenson","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":215593,"EventID":"S3W-08932","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2364,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":11,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-25T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-25T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether the proposed Glasgow Crossrail project will be considered as part of the Strategic Transport Projects Review.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether the proposed Glasgow Crossrail project will be considered as part of the Strategic Transport Projects Review.","AnswerText":"Yes.","AnswerDate":"2008-02-07T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-02-08T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Stewart Stevenson","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":215594,"EventID":"S3W-08933","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2364,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":11,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-25T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-25T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether the proposed Glasgow Crossrail project will be approved as part of the Strategic Transport Projects Review.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether the proposed Glasgow Crossrail project will be approved as part of the Strategic Transport Projects Review.","AnswerText":"The StrategicTransport Project Review (STPR) will deliver its findings to the Scottishministers in the summer of 2008. It is, therefore, too early to comment on the conclusions of the review.","AnswerDate":"2008-02-07T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-02-08T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Stewart Stevenson","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":215595,"EventID":"S3W-08934","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":3901,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":53,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-25T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-25T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-3760 by John Swinney on 9 October 2008, how and when it plans to achieve the £2 million savings from efficiencies in the system of ","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-3760 by John Swinney on 9 October 2008, how and when it plans to achieve the £2 million savings from efficiencies in the system of designing, printing, publishing, and distributing government publications.","AnswerText":"The £2 million of savings I announcedin October 2007 will be achieved by a number of measures.The Scottish Government willreview how we produce and distribute our publications. Reducing the number of documentswe print, producing smaller print runs and encouraging greater use of web-only publicationswill help reduce cost and environmental impact. Initial distribution of publicationswill continue to be free of charge to our key stakeholders and other interestedparties. Additional requested copies will be subject to a nominal postage and packagingcharge from 1 April 2008. We already make all of our printedpublications available online. Our aim is to increase our web-only publicationsby up to 20 per cent (around 250) by the end of this financial year. This approachto more web-only publications will reduce the need for large amounts of printedcopies, and will help us become more environmentally-friendly. From June 2008, we will stopproducing large reprints of publications, except in exceptional circumstances. Accessto any publication can continue to be made free of charge via our website. Wheredemand is substantial and continuous, we will carry out a reprint but any reprintedcopies will carry a cover price to reflect the cost of the reprint. Additionally, we are introducinga print on demand service which will allow anyone to request a copy of an out ofprint publication. This will allow one or more copies to be printed, the cost ofwhich will depend on the size and the number requested. We will further review theseproposals to assess their impact over the next two years. At that time, we may alsoconsider the introduction of cover prices for some publications as long as thisit does not prevent people accessing important information. All documents will still be availableto download free of charge from the Scottish Government website. ","AnswerDate":"2008-01-28T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-02-08T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"John Swinney","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":215596,"EventID":"S3W-08935","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2033,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":61,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-25T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-25T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive when it will publish a response to the Howat report.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive when it will publish a response to the Howat report.","AnswerText":"On 24 May 2007, thisgovernment published the Budget Review report, written by an independent externalgroup, as promised in It’s time to lookforwards - the first 100 days of an SNP Government. By then, thereport was over one year old. The report was written in the context of the prioritiesof the previous administration. We did not promise and we do not intend to publisha response to the report. The Scottish Budget: Spending Review 2007 set outour detailed spending plans.","AnswerDate":"2008-02-08T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-02-08T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"John Swinney","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":215597,"EventID":"S3W-08936","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2033,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":61,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-25T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-25T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive which recommendations of the Howat report it has accepted.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive which recommendations of the Howat report it has accepted.","AnswerText":"I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-8935 on 8 February 2008. All answers to writtenparliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facilityfor which can be found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/wa.search.","AnswerDate":"2008-02-08T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-02-08T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"John Swinney","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":215598,"EventID":"S3W-08937","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2033,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":61,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-25T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-25T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive which recommendations of the Howat report it has rejected.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive which recommendations of the Howat report it has rejected.","AnswerText":"I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-8935 on 8 February 2008. All answers to written parliamentaryquestions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for whichcan be found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/wa.search.","AnswerDate":"2008-02-08T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-02-08T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"John Swinney","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":215599,"EventID":"S3W-08938","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2033,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":61,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-25T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-25T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive which recommendations of the Howat report it is still considering.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive which recommendations of the Howat report it is still considering.","AnswerText":"I refer the member to the questionS3W-08935 answered on 8 February 2008. All answers to written parliamentary questions are availableon the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/wa.search.","AnswerDate":"2008-02-08T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-02-08T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"John Swinney","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":215600,"EventID":"S3W-08939","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":4080,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":6,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-25T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-25T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether it is committed to the proposed new prison in the north east being built on the existing site at HM Prison Peterhead.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether it is committed to the proposed new prison in the north east being built on the existing site at HM Prison Peterhead.","AnswerText":"I have asked Mike Ewart,Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service to respond. His response is asfollows:The Cabinet Secretary forJustice announced on 24 August 2007 that a new public sector prison for the north-eastof Scotland would be built in the Peterhead area. The SpendingReview plans, published in November 2007, provide funding to meet thiscommitment. Work is underway to take forward the replacement of HM Prison Aberdeen andHM Prison Peterhead with a new prison, HM Prison Grampian. The site for thisdevelopment will be confirmed in due course. ","AnswerDate":"2008-02-07T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-02-08T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Kenny MacAskill","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":215601,"EventID":"S3W-08940","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":4080,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":6,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-25T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-25T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions it has had regarding the location of the proposed new prison in the north east.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions it has had regarding the location of the proposed new prison in the north east.","AnswerText":"I have asked Mike Ewart,Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service to respond. His response is asfollows:The Scottish Prison Servicehas held discussions with Aberdeen City and Aberdeenshire Councils regardingthe proposed HM Prison Grampian which will replace the existing HM Prison Aberdeenand HM Prison Peterhead. ","AnswerDate":"2008-02-07T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-02-08T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Kenny MacAskill","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":215602,"EventID":"S3W-08941","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":4080,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":6,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-25T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-25T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what the timescale is for the planning, construction and opening of the proposed new prison in the north east.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what the timescale is for the planning, construction and opening of the proposed new prison in the north east.","AnswerText":"I have asked Mike Ewart,Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service to respond.His response is as follows: Work is underway to takeforward HM Prison Grampian to replace HM Prison Aberdeen and HM Prison Peterhead.The timescale for planning, construction and opening of the new prison is partof that work. The programme will be confirmed in due course. ","AnswerDate":"2008-02-07T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-02-08T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Kenny MacAskill","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":215603,"EventID":"S3W-08942","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1826,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":35,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-25T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-25T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether the Scottish Prison Commission will examine the specific role of open prisons.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether the Scottish Prison Commission will examine the specific role of open prisons.","AnswerText":"The remit of the commission onthe use of prisons in Scotland includes examining the role and the use the open estateand the criteria for individuals transferringthere.","AnswerDate":"2008-02-08T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-02-08T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Kenny MacAskill","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":215604,"EventID":"S3W-08943","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1826,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":35,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-25T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-25T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether the Scottish Prison Commission will examine the criteria for individuals being sent to open prisons.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether the Scottish Prison Commission will examine the criteria for individuals being sent to open prisons.","AnswerText":"I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-8942 on 8 February 2008. All answers to writtenparliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facilityfor which can be found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/wa.search.","AnswerDate":"2008-02-08T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-02-08T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Kenny MacAskill","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":215605,"EventID":"S3W-08944","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1826,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":35,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-25T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-25T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive how many times the Scottish Prison Commission has met since its creation in September 2007 and on what dates and where the meetings have taken place.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive how many times the Scottish Prison Commission has met since its creation in September 2007 and on what dates and where the meetings have taken place.","AnswerText":"The commission on the use ofprisons in Scotland has met three times. It has taken evidence on two occasionsand visited three prisons. Details of the main meetings are shown below. | Date | Venue | | 24 October 2007 | The Scotsman Hotel, Edinburgh | | 6 December 2007 | Apex City Hotel, Dundee | | 28 January 2008 | Edinburgh Prison | ","AnswerDate":"2008-02-08T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-02-08T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Kenny MacAskill","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":215606,"EventID":"S3W-08945","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1826,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":35,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-25T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-25T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether all members of the Scottish Prison Commission have been in attendance at each of its meetings and, if not, which members did not attend which meetings.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether all members of the Scottish Prison Commission have been in attendance at each of its meetings and, if not, which members did not attend which meetings.","AnswerText":"Details of members not inattendance at meetings of the commission on the use of prisons in Scotland areshown below. | Date | Members Not in Attendance | | 24 October 2007 | Dr Dotter-Schiller Josephine McLean | | 6 December 2007 | Geraldine Gammell | | 28 January 2008 | Dr Dotter-Schiller Geraldine Gammell Josephine McLean | ","AnswerDate":"2008-02-08T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-02-08T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Kenny MacAskill","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":215607,"EventID":"S3W-08946","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1826,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":35,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-25T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-25T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will publish the minutes of the meetings of the Scottish Prison Commission and, if so, when it will do so.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will publish the minutes of the meetings of the Scottish Prison Commission and, if so, when it will do so.","AnswerText":"The minutes of meetings of the commission on the Use of Prisons in Scotland are published on its website www.scottishprisonscommission.info.","AnswerDate":"2008-02-08T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-02-08T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Kenny MacAskill","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":215608,"EventID":"S3W-08947","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1826,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":35,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-25T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-25T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive how much it has cost to establish the Scottish Prison Commission and what it expects the final cost of the commission to be.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive how much it has cost to establish the Scottish Prison Commission and what it expects the final cost of the commission to be.","AnswerText":"£0.25 million has been madeavailable from existing Scottish Government resources to cover the Commission’sremit. Given the fluid nature of the Commission’s work plan it is not possibleat this stage to accurately forecast all likely costs. However, a breakdown ofcosts is being maintained and will be published.","AnswerDate":"2008-02-08T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-02-08T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Kenny MacAskill","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":215609,"EventID":"S3W-08948","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1826,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":35,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-25T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-25T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will provide a breakdown of Scottish Prison Commission costs, including (a) staffing, (b) office and administration, (c) travel expenses for members, (d) other","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will provide a breakdown of Scottish Prison Commission costs, including (a) staffing, (b) office and administration, (c) travel expenses for members, (d) other expenses for members, (e) consultation and advertising and (f) commissioning of research.","AnswerText":"I refer the member to the answerto question S3W-8947 on 8 February 2008. All answers to written parliamentary questions areavailable on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can befound at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/wa.search.","AnswerDate":"2008-02-08T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-02-08T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Kenny MacAskill","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":215610,"EventID":"S3W-08949","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1826,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":35,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-25T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-25T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether the Scottish Prison Commission has taken evidence from individuals or organisations, other than the members of the commission, and, if so, from whom.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether the Scottish Prison Commission has taken evidence from individuals or organisations, other than the members of the commission, and, if so, from whom.","AnswerText":"The commission has so fartaken evidence from Jason McDonald, COSLA, Chris Hawkes, Lothian and BordersCommunity Justice Authority, Susan Matheson, SACRO, Alexander Cameron, Parole Boardfor Scotland, Mike Ewart, Scottish Prison Service, David McKenna, VictimSupport Scotland and the Prison Officers Association. Further evidence sessionsare planned and details of these will be published on the Commission’s website:www.scottishprisonscommission.info. ","AnswerDate":"2008-02-08T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-02-08T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Kenny MacAskill","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":215611,"EventID":"S3W-08950","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1826,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":35,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-25T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-25T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether the Scottish Prison Commission has commissioned any external research and, if so, on what issues and from whom.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether the Scottish Prison Commission has commissioned any external research and, if so, on what issues and from whom.","AnswerText":"The commission hascommissioned no external research to date.","AnswerDate":"2008-02-08T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-02-08T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Kenny MacAskill","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":215612,"EventID":"S3W-08951","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1826,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":35,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-25T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-25T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether the Scottish Prison Commission intends to launch a public consultation on the purpose and impact of imprisonment in contemporary Scotland.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether the Scottish Prison Commission intends to launch a public consultation on the purpose and impact of imprisonment in contemporary Scotland.","AnswerText":"One of the commission’s objectivesis to raise public awareness of the useof prisons in contemporary Scotland by providing better information to allow a deeperunderstanding of the options, outcomes and costs. As part of its work plan, the commission intends to have public eventsand details will be included on the website. There is also an opportunity forthe public to send in comments on the website www.scottishprisonscommission.info.","AnswerDate":"2008-02-08T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-02-08T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Kenny MacAskill","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":215613,"EventID":"S3W-08952","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1826,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":35,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-25T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-25T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether it still expects to receive the report of the Scottish Prison Commission by the end of June 2008 and, if so, whether the report will be published by the end of Ju","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether it still expects to receive the report of the Scottish Prison Commission by the end of June 2008 and, if so, whether the report will be published by the end of June 2008.","AnswerText":"The commission on the use ofprisons is expected to report to the Cabinet Secretary for Justice by the end ofJune 2008 and the report will be published shortly thereafter.","AnswerDate":"2008-02-08T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-02-08T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Kenny MacAskill","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":215614,"EventID":"S3W-08953","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1826,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":35,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-25T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-25T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive who decided the membership of the Scottish Prison Commission.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive who decided the membership of the Scottish Prison Commission.","AnswerText":"The Cabinet Secretary for Justice appointed the members of the commission on the use of prisons in October 2007.","AnswerDate":"2008-02-08T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-02-08T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Kenny MacAskill","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":215615,"EventID":"S3W-08954","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1768,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":60,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-25T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-25T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what obligations rest with retailers selling compact fluorescent light bulbs with regard to their disposal.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what obligations rest with retailers selling compact fluorescent light bulbs with regard to their disposal.","AnswerText":"The Waste Electrical andElectronic Equipment (WEEE) Regulations 2006 provide that distributors(including retailers) shall be responsible for providing an in-store take backservice for customers in relation to specified WEEE or subscribe to adistributor take back scheme which arranges for collection from a designatedcollection facility, for example, a local authority recycling centre, and toadvise customers of these arrangements. The regulations also impose arecord-keeping obligation on distributors in respect of the volumes of WEEEreturned.","AnswerDate":"2008-02-07T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-02-08T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Richard Lochhead","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":215616,"EventID":"S3W-08955","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1768,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":60,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-25T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-25T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive how many designated collection facilities exist where compact fluorescent light bulbs may be disposed of for treatment and recycling.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive how many designated collection facilities exist where compact fluorescent light bulbs may be disposed of for treatment and recycling.","AnswerText":"The Scottish Government doesnot maintain the register of designated collection facilities. A full UK listingof these facilities and information on the types of waste electrical and electronicequipment, including lighting, is collected, is available from the website of the operator of the Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment Distributor TakeBack Scheme, at:www.valpak.co.uk/dts. ","AnswerDate":"2008-02-07T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-02-08T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Richard Lochhead","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":215617,"EventID":"S3W-08956","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1768,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":60,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-25T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-25T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether every local authority offers at least one designated collection facility where compact fluorescent light bulbs may be disposed of for treatment and recycling.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether every local authority offers at least one designated collection facility where compact fluorescent light bulbs may be disposed of for treatment and recycling.","AnswerText":"That information is not heldby the Scottish Government. A full UK listing of designated collectionfacilities, and information on what types of waste electrical and electronicequipment each collects, including lighting, is available from the website of the operator of the Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment Distributor TakeBack Scheme, at www.valpak.co.uk/dts.","AnswerDate":"2008-02-07T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-02-08T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Richard Lochhead","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":215618,"EventID":"S3W-08957","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1768,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":60,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-25T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-25T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive how the appropriate methods of disposal of compact fluorescent light bulbs are brought to the attention of the public.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive how the appropriate methods of disposal of compact fluorescent light bulbs are brought to the attention of the public.","AnswerText":"Distributors of household electricaland electronic equipment, including compact fluorescent light bulbs, mustprovide their customers with information on a number of aspects relating to theresponsible disposal of waste electrical and electronic equipment (WEEE),including:the environmental impacts ofhazardous substances in electrical and electronic equipment ; the benefits of separatecollection and environmentally sound recovery and the reasons why they shouldnot dispose of WEEE with other forms of waste they produce; the meaning of the “crossedout wheeled bin” product marking symbol; how they can contributetowards re-use, recycling and other forms of recovery of WEEE, and the arrangements throughwhich customers can dispose of WEEE free of charge. The government expectsdistributors selling household electrical and electronic equipment to play anactive part in promoting the benefits of free take-back of household WEEE. Theymust provide this information to customers on their retail premises, if theyhave one, or by some other means connected to their sales, eg, on their companywebsite. ","AnswerDate":"2008-02-07T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-02-08T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Richard Lochhead","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":215619,"EventID":"S3W-08958","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1857,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":15,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-25T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-25T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive in how many cases accused persons were in custody pending trial for more than 140 days in (a) 2004, (b) 2005, (c) 2006 and (d) 2007.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive in how many cases accused persons were in custody pending trial for more than 140 days in (a) 2004, (b) 2005, (c) 2006 and (d) 2007.","AnswerText":"I have asked MikeEwart, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service to respond.His response is asfollows: The information yourequested is not available, because we do not hold information on the start dateof the trial. ","AnswerDate":"2008-02-04T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-02-08T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Kenny MacAskill","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":215620,"EventID":"S3W-08959","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1857,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":15,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-25T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-25T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive, in cases where the 140 days custody limit was exceeded, by what average number of days it was exceeded in (a) 2004, (b) 2005, (c) 2006 and (d) 2007.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive, in cases where the 140 days custody limit was exceeded, by what average number of days it was exceeded in (a) 2004, (b) 2005, (c) 2006 and (d) 2007.","AnswerText":"I have asked Mike Ewart, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service to respond. His response is as follows: The information you requested is not available, because we do not hold information on the start date of the trial. ","AnswerDate":"2008-02-04T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-02-08T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Kenny MacAskill","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":215621,"EventID":"S3W-08960","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1857,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":15,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-25T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-25T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether it is delaying the implementation of ending unconditional automatic early release until the Scottish Prison Commission has reported.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether it is delaying the implementation of ending unconditional automatic early release until the Scottish Prison Commission has reported.","AnswerText":"We remain committed to thedelivery of our offender management strategy but we must ensure that any changedoes not compound current problems of unrelenting pressure on high prisonnumbers and put intolerable pressures on prisons, courts and community justiceservices. We will be informed by the Commissions findings and recommendations.The previous administrationmay have passed the Custodial Sentences and Weapons Act 2007 in the final daysof the last Parliament. However, because of the impact on resources, it hasalways been clear that implementation would unlikely to be before 2009-10. ","AnswerDate":"2008-02-07T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-02-08T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Kenny MacAskill","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":215622,"EventID":"S3W-08961","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1857,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":15,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-25T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-25T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive when it will make a ministerial statement on the open prison system and on HM Prison Castle Huntly in particular.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive when it will make a ministerial statement on the open prison system and on HM Prison Castle Huntly in particular.","AnswerText":"I will consider the requirementfor a ministerial statement when I have seen the review currently being undertakenby the Scottish Prison Service.","AnswerDate":"2008-02-12T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-02-08T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Kenny MacAskill","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":215623,"EventID":"S3W-08962","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1857,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":15,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-25T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-25T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive how the review of HM Prison Castle Huntly will be conducted and who will be involved in it. ","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive how the review of HM Prison Castle Huntly will be conducted and who will be involved in it. ","AnswerText":"I have asked Mike Ewart, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service (SPS) to respond. His response is as follows:The review undertaken by the Scottish Prison Service will be in two parts. It will consider the individual circumstancesof the decision to transfer Robert Foye to the SPS Open Estate and allow his accessto the community, and it will review the operation of the open prison estate, itsrole and the process of transferring prisoners there from closed prisons. The review will be carried outby members of staff from the Partnerships and Commissioning Directorate of the ScottishPrison Service and not those who are already involved in the management of the openestate or the transfer of prisoners to it. ","AnswerDate":"2008-02-12T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-02-08T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Kenny MacAskill","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":215624,"EventID":"S3W-08963","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1857,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":15,"ApprovedDate":"2008-02-08T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-02-08T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what percentage of cases have transferred from the high court to the sheriff court in each year since the Criminal Procedure Amendment (Scotland) Act 2004 came into force","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what percentage of cases have transferred from the high court to the sheriff court in each year since the Criminal Procedure Amendment (Scotland) Act 2004 came into force. ","AnswerText":"Section 3 of the Criminal Procedure (Scotland) Act 1995 was amended by the Crime and Punishment (Scotland) Act 1997 on 1 May 2004 and increased the maximum sentencing powers of the sheriff, sitting with a jury from three to five years imprisonment, meaning that some cases which would previously have been indicted in the High Court are now indicted in the sheriff court. Individual cases are not, however, recorded as being indicted in the sheriff court on that basis. The main provisions of the Criminal Procedure Amendment (Scotland) Act 2004 came into force on 1 February 2005. The following table shows the total number of cases disposed of in the High Court and the total number disposed of in sheriff and jury courts in each year since 2003-04. Court Disposals - Solemn Cases | Year | High Court Cases | Percentage Change from Previous Year | Sheriff and Jury Cases | Percentage Change from Previous Year | | 2003-04 | 1,170 | +3.3% | 3,352 | +1.5% | | 2004-05 | 864 | -26.2% | 3,611 | +7.7% | | 2005-06 | 836 | -3.2% | 3,905 | +8.1% | | 2006-07 | 839 | +0.4% | 4,224 | +8.2% | ","AnswerDate":"2008-02-14T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-02-08T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Elish Angiolini","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":215625,"EventID":"S3W-08964","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1839,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":3,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-25T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-25T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what action will be taken to ensure that teeth-whitening treatment offered outside traditional dental practices is safe for all patients.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what action will be taken to ensure that teeth-whitening treatment offered outside traditional dental practices is safe for all patients.","AnswerText":"Treatment of teethwhitening is the practice of dentistry and therefore should not be carried out byunqualified people.We would not thereforebe expecting any tooth whitening to be supported outside traditional dental practices. ","AnswerDate":"2008-02-05T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-02-08T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Shona Robison","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":215626,"EventID":"S3W-08965","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1839,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":3,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-25T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-25T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-8255 by Shona Robison on 21 January 2008, how many patients have been screened using estimated Glomerular Filtration Rate for the d","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-8255 by Shona Robison on 21 January 2008, how many patients have been screened using estimated Glomerular Filtration Rate for the detection of chronic kidney disease in each of the last three years.","AnswerText":"Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD) was included in the Quality and Outcomes Framework in April 2006, so data are available only for the year to March 2007.The QOF indicators for CKD call upon GPs to set up a practice register of people aged 18 or over with stages three to five of the disease, based on a test of their estimated Glomerular Filtration Rate (eGFR). The number of patients on the CKD registers of participating GMS practices in the year April 2006 to March 2007 was 88,807. ","AnswerDate":"2008-02-07T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-02-08T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Shona Robison","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":215627,"EventID":"S3W-08966","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1839,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":3,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-25T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-25T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-7801 by Nicola Sturgeon on 18 January 2008, what the timescale is for implementing the National Screening Committee’s recommendatio","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-7801 by Nicola Sturgeon on 18 January 2008, what the timescale is for implementing the National Screening Committee’s recommendation to screen groups who are at high risk of type 2 diabetes.","AnswerText":"While awaiting furtherrecommendations from the National Screening Committee on screening mechanisms, cliniciansare already implementing clinical guidelines and contractual requirements regardingthe screening of high-risk groups for diabetes.","AnswerDate":"2008-02-06T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-02-08T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Nicola Sturgeon","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":215628,"EventID":"S3W-08967","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1839,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":3,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-25T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-25T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what action will be taken in response to the 29% increase in HIV diagnosis in 2007.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what action will be taken in response to the 29% increase in HIV diagnosis in 2007.","AnswerText":"Respect and Responsibility, our sexual health and relationships strategy,aims through a number of actions, to reduce the rising number of sexually transmittedinfections in Scotland, including HIV.Recent discussions have taken place with Scottish Governmentofficials, Health Protection Scotland and HIV Scotland to consider how we can increaseour efforts and those of health boards across Scotland to reduce the rates of HIV transmission in Scotland. We have begun preparationsfor a public awareness campaign and increased public information as part of ouraims to improve attitudes to relationships and sexual health, this will includeinformation on HIV and sexually transmitted infections. ","AnswerDate":"2008-02-05T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-02-08T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Shona Robison","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":215629,"EventID":"S3W-08968","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1839,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":3,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-25T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-25T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive how it ensures that people with mental health problems are able to exercise their statutory right to access independent advocacy services.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive how it ensures that people with mental health problems are able to exercise their statutory right to access independent advocacy services.","AnswerText":"The Mental Health (Care and Treatment)(Scotland) Act 2003 places a duty on health boards and local authorities to securethe provision of appropriate independent advocacy services for all people with mentalhealth problems and to take appropriate steps to ensure that such people have theopportunity to make use of those services.","AnswerDate":"2008-02-07T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-02-08T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Shona Robison","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":215630,"EventID":"S3W-08969","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1839,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":3,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-25T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-25T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive how many people have received nutrition by artificial means without their consent in the last 12 months, as authorised under section 240 of the Mental Health (Care and Tr","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive how many people have received nutrition by artificial means without their consent in the last 12 months, as authorised under section 240 of the Mental Health (Care and Treatment) (Scotland) Act 2003, broken down by NHS board area.","AnswerText":"Figures supplied by the MentalWelfare Commission for Scotland indicate that over the 12 month period 1 January 2007 to 31 December 2007 a totalof 28 individuals have been treated under section 240 of the act. Due to the smallnumber of individuals it is not possible to provide a breakdown by individual NHSboard, however, the majority of these individuals were treated at specialist unitsin Glasgow and Edinburgh.","AnswerDate":"2008-02-07T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-02-08T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Shona Robison","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":215631,"EventID":"S3W-08970","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1839,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":3,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-25T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-25T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what services are available to people with a dual diagnosis of mental health problems and substance and alcohol misuse in each NHS board area.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what services are available to people with a dual diagnosis of mental health problems and substance and alcohol misuse in each NHS board area.","AnswerText":"The information requestedis not held centrally. Information on servicesprovided through Alcohol and Drug Action Teams is provided in their published Corporate Action Plans. While this information is not wholly comprehensive the plansprovide a significant indication of the range of activity which includes for example a focus on prevention, support and protection.Fuller detail is available from http://www.drugmisuse.isdscotland.org/dat/cap/dat.htmThe recently publishedguidance Mind the Gaps - Making a Difference (Bib. number 44565) will furthersupport the development of closer links between all services agencies and teamsin helping prevent need, provide care and supported recovery. ","AnswerDate":"2008-02-05T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-02-08T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Shona Robison","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":215632,"EventID":"S3W-08971","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1839,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":3,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-25T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-25T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive how it intends to improve the availability of services to people with a dual diagnosis of mental health problems and substance and alcohol misuse.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive how it intends to improve the availability of services to people with a dual diagnosis of mental health problems and substance and alcohol misuse.","AnswerText":"Our 2007 report Mindthe Gaps - Making a Difference (Bib. number 44565) makes five specific recommendationsfor service change and improvement in the way all agency partners combine to anticipateand respond to the needs of those affected.We are working withthe partner agencies on approaches to illness prevention, treatment, rehabilitation,recovery and to ensuring that each approach complements the other. Progress will be monitored. ","AnswerDate":"2008-02-05T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-02-08T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Shona Robison","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":215633,"EventID":"S3W-08972","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":3896,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":25,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-25T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-25T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive when it intends to publish its energy strategy.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive when it intends to publish its energy strategy.","AnswerText":"The preparation ofan overview of the Scottish Government’s energy policy is on-going and we intendto place such an overview on our website shortly.","AnswerDate":"2008-02-04T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-02-08T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Jim Mather","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":215634,"EventID":"S3W-08973","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":3896,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":25,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-25T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-25T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-5432 by Jim Mather on 1 November 2007, whether it is able to give more specific dates for the completion of planned upgrades to the","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-5432 by Jim Mather on 1 November 2007, whether it is able to give more specific dates for the completion of planned upgrades to the telephone exchanges on (a) Eday and (b) Stronsay, due to take place during the first quarter of 2008.","AnswerText":"We are working withBT to deliver the upgrades to Eday and Stronsay exchanges in March 2008. Any updatesto dates for our upgrade programme of Exchange Activate exchanges will be announcedon our website at www.broadbandforscotland.co.uk.","AnswerDate":"2008-02-05T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-02-08T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Jim Mather","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":215635,"EventID":"S3W-08974","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2223,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":26,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-25T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-25T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-8475 by Michael Russell on 24 January 2008, what its policy is on the role of Scottish Natural Heritage in the planning process and","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-8475 by Michael Russell on 24 January 2008, what its policy is on the role of Scottish Natural Heritage in the planning process and, in particular, on the size and nature of planning applications against which it should consider submitting official objections.","AnswerText":"SNH plays an important role inthe planning system.SNH is a statutory consulteeon several categories of planning applications and has a duty to respond to allsuch consultations. The decision to object to any particular planning applicationwill be a matter for SNH to consider, based on the details of the proposal and itslikely impacts on natural heritage. The First Minister on 30 January announced the Scottish Government’s commitment to simplifying Scotland’s public services to delivermore effective government. Part of this approach involves streamline decision makingand increasing transparency. I look forward to discussing with SNH the implicationsof the Heriot Watt report and how it can help towards achievement of that objective. ","AnswerDate":"2008-02-08T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-02-08T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Michael Russell","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":215636,"EventID":"S3W-08975","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1857,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":15,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-25T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-25T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether the extension of bail supervision schemes restricts the freedom of sheriffs to determine who is suitable for bail supervision.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether the extension of bail supervision schemes restricts the freedom of sheriffs to determine who is suitable for bail supervision.","AnswerText":"No. The updated guidelinesfor supervised bail identify certain priority groups for this measure but subjectto considerations of public safety and capacity issues do not preclude other accusedfrom being granted supervised bail. The decision on whether an accused person shouldbe bailed or remanded is for the court to make.","AnswerDate":"2008-02-04T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-02-08T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Kenny MacAskill","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":215637,"EventID":"S3W-08976","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1857,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":15,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-25T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-25T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether the extension of bail supervision schemes is restricted to certain categories of accused persons.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether the extension of bail supervision schemes is restricted to certain categories of accused persons.","AnswerText":"The £500,000 investmentin bail supervision recently announced and the updated guidelines issued extendslightly the categories of accused identified as priorities for this measure. Theguidelines suggest priority for those with mental health problems, women accused,single parents, drugs misusers and young people aged between 16 and 21. Where capacityexists and subject to safeguards in respect of public safety, other accused outwiththe priority groups can also be granted supervised bail.","AnswerDate":"2008-02-04T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-02-08T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Kenny MacAskill","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":215638,"EventID":"S3W-08977","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1831,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":6,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-25T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-25T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive how many people are employed at the (a) Scottish Social Services Council, (b) Scottish Commission for the Regulation of Care and (c) NHS Education Scotland offices in Dun","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive how many people are employed at the (a) Scottish Social Services Council, (b) Scottish Commission for the Regulation of Care and (c) NHS Education Scotland offices in Dundee.","AnswerText":"Human resources, includingthe level and structure of staffing, is an operational matter for the organisationsconcerned. Contact details for the organisations are:Ms Jacquie Roberts Chief Executive Scottish Commissionfor the Regulation of Care Compass House 11 Riverside Drive DUNDEE DD1 4NY Phone 01382 207102 Fax 01382 207289 email jacquie.roberts@carecommission.com. Carole Wilkinson Chief Executive Scottish Social Services Council Compass House 11 Riverside Drive DUNDEE DD1 4NY email Carole.wilkinson@sssc.uk.com. Malcolm Wright Chief Executive NHS Education for Scotland Thistle House 91 Haymarket Terrace Edinburgh EH12 5HE Phone 0131 313 8030 Fax 0131 313 8001 email malcolm.wright@nes.scot.nhs.uk. ","AnswerDate":"2008-01-31T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-02-08T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Nicola Sturgeon","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":215639,"EventID":"S3W-08978","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":3750,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":4,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-25T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-25T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive how it will approach the relocation of public bodies and asset management.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive how it will approach the relocation of public bodies and asset management.","AnswerText":"I am pleased to announce todaythe publication of the Report on the Review of Property Asset Management and ourapproach to the relocation of public bodies.The main findings of the AssetManagement Review are: The Scottish Government occupies709 buildings totalling, 723,054m2 and there is a wide variety of managementarrangements of these assets; Two-thirds of organisations surveyeddo not have an asset management plan or strategy in place, and There is no single IT asset datasystem that holds key data about the whole estate. Based on these findings, themain recommendations are to: Ensure, by end April 2008, thatall parts of Scottish Government have in place an Asset Management Plan. Ensure that, in future, we willmaintain a single comprehensive database of property information. Put in place a central team thatwill maintain a strategic overview of the whole estate, perform a challenge functionand identify the best opportunities for the future use property assets. As a result of the publicationof this report, I am also announcing the Scottish Government’s approach to the locationof public service delivery organisations. The relocation policy will be taken forwardwithin the context of the government’s purpose and the five strategic objectives.It will seek to deliver better use of the government estate and ensure that opportunitiesto disperse public bodies are taken where a clear business case can be demonstrated.The policy will ensure that due account is given to the relevant environmental considerationsof the Greener Scotland programme. The key principles of the relocationpolicy are: Achieving efficiency and bestpractice asset management. There will be a presumption in favour of the choice representingbest value for money for the Scottish Government as a whole, providing that thismeets the requirements of the organisation, unless clear reasons for an alternativeare agreed and articulated by ministers. In pursuing value for money onaccommodation decisions we will continue to pursue our policy of no compulsory redundancies. Major estate management decisionsand all proposed changes of location will be overseen by Scottish ministers. The Cabinet Secretary for Financeand Sustainable Growth will approve all new commitments, confirm location decisions,and arbitrate in any disputes relating to the existing estate. Location and asset managementdecisions will be transparent (with the exception of commercially sensitive data)and made public, and staff and unions will continue to be consulted. The full Report on the Reviewof Property Asset Management and our approach to the relocation of public bodiesare released today on the Scottish Government’s website. ","AnswerDate":"2008-01-28T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-02-08T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"John Swinney","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":215640,"EventID":"S3W-08979","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2202,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":8,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-25T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-25T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive, in light of the record number of newly identified cases of HIV reported to Health Protection Scotland in 2007, whether it plans to review the sexual health strategy or t","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive, in light of the record number of newly identified cases of HIV reported to Health Protection Scotland in 2007, whether it plans to review the sexual health strategy or the way it is implemented. ","AnswerText":"We are currently undertakinga stock taking review of Respect and Responsibility, our sexual health strategy,which is due to report in spring 2008. The review will identify any gaps in theimplementation of the Strategy and recommendations will be made on how it shouldbe best progressed.Recent discussionshave also taken place between Scottish Government officials, Health Protection Scotlandand HIV Scotland to consider how we can increase our efforts and those ofhealth boards across Scotland to reduce the rates of HIV transmission. ","AnswerDate":"2008-02-05T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-02-08T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Shona Robison","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":215641,"EventID":"S3W-08980","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2202,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":8,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-25T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-25T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what specific measures will be taken to improve education, information and advice in relation to sexual health, given that improvement in these areas is an aspiration in ","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what specific measures will be taken to improve education, information and advice in relation to sexual health, given that improvement in these areas is an aspiration in Better Health, Better Care: Action Plan.","AnswerText":"Sex and RelationshipsEducation in schools includes specific teaching around HIV and how it is transmitted.Information on sexual health and HIV is also availablethrough a wide range of sexual health services who make condoms available free ofcharge. The use of condoms is essential to reduce the levels of sexually transmittedinfections in Scotland. In addition, we havebegun preparations for a public awareness campaign and increased public informationas part of our aims to improve attitudes to relationships and sexual health, thiswill include information on HIV and sexually transmitted infections. ","AnswerDate":"2008-02-05T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-02-08T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Shona Robison","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":215642,"EventID":"S3W-08981","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2603,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":6,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-25T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-25T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive how many people in the NHS Grampian area were diagnosed with bowel cancer in (a) 2002, (b) 2003, (c) 2004, (d) 2005, (e) 2006 and (f) 2007.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive how many people in the NHS Grampian area were diagnosed with bowel cancer in (a) 2002, (b) 2003, (c) 2004, (d) 2005, (e) 2006 and (f) 2007.","AnswerText":"Data on thenumber of people diagnosed with bowel (colorectal) cancer are available by NHS boardand year (1980-2004) on the Information Services Division website at:http://www.isdscotland.org/isd/files/cancer_colorectal_inc.xls. The latest yearfor which cancer registration data are complete is 2004. ","AnswerDate":"2008-02-04T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-02-08T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Nicola Sturgeon","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":215643,"EventID":"S3W-08982","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2603,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":6,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-25T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-25T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what percentage of people in the NHS Grampian area diagnosed with bowel cancer from 2002 to 2007 were under the age of 50.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what percentage of people in the NHS Grampian area diagnosed with bowel cancer from 2002 to 2007 were under the age of 50.","AnswerText":"Information onthe percentage of people in the NHS Grampian area diagnosed with bowel cancerfrom 2002 to 2007 under the age of 50 is shown in the following table:Table 1: ThePercentage and Number of Cases of People Under the Age of 50 Diagnosed withBowel (Colorectal) Cancer | Year | % under 50 | Total number of incident cases | | 2002 | 4.9 | 20 | | 2003 | 6.0 | 24 | | 2004 | 5.7 | 20 | The latest yearfor which cancer registration data are complete is 2004. ","AnswerDate":"2008-02-04T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-02-08T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Nicola Sturgeon","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":215644,"EventID":"S3W-08983","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2603,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":6,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-25T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-25T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive how many people in the NHS Grampian area died from bowel cancer in (a) 2002, (b) 2003, (c) 2004, (d) 2005, (e) 2006 and (f) 2007.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive how many people in the NHS Grampian area died from bowel cancer in (a) 2002, (b) 2003, (c) 2004, (d) 2005, (e) 2006 and (f) 2007.","AnswerText":"Data on the numberof deaths from bowel (colorectal) cancers are available by NHS board and year (1980-2006)on the Information Services Division website at: http://www.isdscotland.org/isd/files/cancer_colorectal_mort_m.xls. The latest year forwhich mortality data are available is 2006. ","AnswerDate":"2008-02-05T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-02-08T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Nicola Sturgeon","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":215645,"EventID":"S3W-08984","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2603,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":6,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-25T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-25T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive how many people in the NHS Grampian area were screened for bowel cancer in (a) 2002, (b) 2003, (c) 2004, (d) 2005, (e) 2006 and (f) 2007.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive how many people in the NHS Grampian area were screened for bowel cancer in (a) 2002, (b) 2003, (c) 2004, (d) 2005, (e) 2006 and (f) 2007.","AnswerText":"Informationregarding the national bowel screening programme is available at:http://www.isdscotland.org/isd/cancer. Implementation of the national bowel screeningprogramme commenced in May 2007 and will be rolled out across all NHS boards by2009-10. Data is not yet available for the national programme. Up until April 2007, NHS Grampian was one of thepilot sites for bowel screening and was one of the first to join the programmein May 2007. Information regarding how many patients were invited for screeningis available for NHS Grampian, table 1. The uptake of screening in the Grampianarea for the pilot was approximately 55%. Table 1: Numbers of People Invited for Bowel CancerScreening in Grampian 2002-06 | Year | Numbers Invited to Screen | | 2002 | 50,918 | | 2003 | 67,779 | | 2004 | 58,166 | | 2005 | 40,924 | | 2006 | 63,498 | ","AnswerDate":"2008-02-04T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-02-08T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Nicola Sturgeon","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":215646,"EventID":"S3W-08985","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2167,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":3,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-25T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-25T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether Highland and Moray councils will have access to government funding to extend the kerbside collection of dry recyclables.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether Highland and Moray councils will have access to government funding to extend the kerbside collection of dry recyclables.","AnswerText":"In line with the newconcordat between the Scottish Government and local authorities government fundingfor recycling services will no longer be provided via the ring-fenced StrategicWaste Fund (SWF) from 1 April 2008, but will instead be transferred to the local governmentsettlement. This means that Highland and Moray councils should be able to allocatefinancial resources according to identified local needs and priorities.In addition the Spending Reviewestablished a Zero Waste Fund of £154 million, which should add value to and notdisplace funding transferred to the local government settlement. In his parliamentarystatement of 24 January the Cabinet Secretary indicated that a short-life workinggroup will shortly be set up with COSLA to establish how these resources shouldbe allocated. Further details will be available in the spring. ","AnswerDate":"2008-02-07T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-02-08T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Richard Lochhead","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":215647,"EventID":"S3W-08986","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1751,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":3,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-25T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-25T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what the remit is of the review of HM Prison Castle Huntly following the abscondment of Robert Foye announced on 24 January 2008.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what the remit is of the review of HM Prison Castle Huntly following the abscondment of Robert Foye announced on 24 January 2008.","AnswerText":"I have asked Mike Ewart, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service to respond. His response is as follows:The review undertaken by the Scottish Prison Service will be in two parts. It will consider the individual circumstancesof the decision to transfer Robert Foye to the SPS Open Estate and allow his accessto the community, and it will review the operation of the open prison estate, itsrole and the process of transferring prisoners there from closed prisons. ","AnswerDate":"2008-02-12T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-02-08T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Kenny MacAskill","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":215648,"EventID":"S3W-08987","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1751,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":3,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-25T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-25T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what security arrangements are made for prisoners in open prisons to attend events outside prison.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what security arrangements are made for prisoners in open prisons to attend events outside prison.","AnswerText":"I have asked MikeEwart, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service to respond.His response isas follows: All prisoners whoare transferred to the open estate have their suitability for attending eventscarefully considered. If access is allowed, then on all occasions a license isissued to the prisoner; this stipulates conditions which must be adhered to.Breach of any of those conditions will result in their being returned to closedprison conditions. ","AnswerDate":"2008-02-04T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-02-08T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Kenny MacAskill","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":215649,"EventID":"S3W-08988","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1751,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":3,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-25T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-25T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will impose a moratorium on prisoners leaving HM Prison Castle Huntly without an escort while the review is undertaken.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will impose a moratorium on prisoners leaving HM Prison Castle Huntly without an escort while the review is undertaken.","AnswerText":"I have asked MikeEwart, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service to respond.His response is asfollows: No. Such a moratoriumwould completely negate the purpose of open prison. ","AnswerDate":"2008-02-05T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-02-08T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Kenny MacAskill","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":215650,"EventID":"S3W-08989","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1751,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":3,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-25T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-25T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether any extra security measures are in place at open prisons for prisoners who have previously absconded.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether any extra security measures are in place at open prisons for prisoners who have previously absconded.","AnswerText":"I have asked MikeEwart, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service (SPS) to respond.His response is asfollows: Those prisoners whoabscond from open prison and are readmitted to custody are automatically bannedfrom returning to such conditions for a minimum period of 12 months. The SPS prisonerdatabase flags such prisoners and they are subject to additional scrutiny priorto any further transfer to the open estate. ","AnswerDate":"2008-02-05T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-02-08T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Kenny MacAskill","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":215651,"EventID":"S3W-08990","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1751,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":3,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-25T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-25T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive when the Scottish Prison Service advised police forces in Scotland that Robert Foye had absconded.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive when the Scottish Prison Service advised police forces in Scotland that Robert Foye had absconded.","AnswerText":"I have asked MikeEwart, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service to respond.His response is asfollows: The Scottish PrisonService was advised at 17.15 on 18 August 2007 that MrFoye had absconded. Tayside Police were contacted at 17.35. ","AnswerDate":"2008-02-05T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-02-08T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Kenny MacAskill","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":215652,"EventID":"S3W-08991","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1751,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":3,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-25T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-25T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive which police forces were advised by the Scottish Prison Service of Robert Foye’s abscondment.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive which police forces were advised by the Scottish Prison Service of Robert Foye’s abscondment.","AnswerText":"I have asked MikeEwart, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service to respond.His response is asfollows: The report of anyabscond from or failure to return to the open estate is advised in the first instanceto Tayside Police. I understand they then use police communication networks to alertall Scottish forces as appropriate. ","AnswerDate":"2008-02-05T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-02-08T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Kenny MacAskill","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":215653,"EventID":"S3W-08992","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1751,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":3,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-25T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-25T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive when the Scottish Prison Service advised ministers that Robert Foye had absconded.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive when the Scottish Prison Service advised ministers that Robert Foye had absconded.","AnswerText":"I have asked Mike Ewart, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service to respond.His response is as follows: Scottish ministers are not routinelyadvised of absconds. ","AnswerDate":"2008-02-08T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-02-08T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Kenny MacAskill","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":215654,"EventID":"S3W-08993","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1751,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":3,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-25T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-25T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive which ministers were advised by the Scottish Prison Service of Robert Foye’s abscondment.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive which ministers were advised by the Scottish Prison Service of Robert Foye’s abscondment.","AnswerText":"I have asked Mike Ewart, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service to respond. His response is as follows:I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-8992 on 8 February 2008. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’swebsite, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/wa.search. ","AnswerDate":"2008-02-08T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-02-08T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Kenny MacAskill","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":215655,"EventID":"S3W-08994","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1751,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":3,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-25T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-25T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what action can be taken by the police in apprehending absconded prisoners.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what action can be taken by the police in apprehending absconded prisoners.","AnswerText":"Section 40 of the Prisons (Scotland)Act 1989 provides that a constable or prison officer may arrest without warrantany person who, having been sentenced to imprisonment, is unlawfully at largeand take him or her to the place where he or she is required by law to bedetained. Such a person may also be arrested under a warrant granted by ajustice under section 40A of the 1989 act and brought before a sheriff, who mayorder that he or she be returned to the place where he or she is liable to bedetained.","AnswerDate":"2008-02-07T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-02-08T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Kenny MacAskill","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":215656,"EventID":"S3W-08995","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1751,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":3,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-25T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-25T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what action was taken by the police in attempting to apprehend Robert Foye and take him back into custody.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what action was taken by the police in attempting to apprehend Robert Foye and take him back into custody.","AnswerText":"Tayside Police is notifiedby the Scottish Prison Service when a prisoner absconds.When a prisoner doesabscond, Tayside Police will actively conduct enquiries in conjunction withother police forces until such time that the absconder has been traced andreturned to custody. As part of these enquiries,consideration is given to releasing information to the public followingconsultation between the police and the Scottish Prison Service, with agreementfrom the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service. ","AnswerDate":"2008-02-07T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-02-08T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Kenny MacAskill","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":215657,"EventID":"S3W-08996","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1751,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":3,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-25T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-25T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether victims of crime and their families are notified when the prisoner who perpetrated the crime absconds.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether victims of crime and their families are notified when the prisoner who perpetrated the crime absconds.","AnswerText":"I have asked MikeEwart, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service to respond.His response is asfollows: Sections 16 and 17of the Criminal Justice (Scotland) Act 2003 give eligible victims of crimes(or in certain circumstances the relatives of those victims) the right to receivecertain information about the offender, through the Victim Notification Scheme.Victims who have opted into the scheme are entitled, among other things, to be toldif the offender has escaped or absconded from custody. In such circumstancesthe SPS alerts the police immediately and if the offender is considered to presenta threat to the victim the police take steps to ensure that they are notified assoon as possible. The SPS will also send a letter to the victim as soon as possible.The Victim Notification Scheme member will also be notified when the offender isreturned to custody. ","AnswerDate":"2008-02-05T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-02-08T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Kenny MacAskill","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":215658,"EventID":"S3W-08997","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1751,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":3,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-25T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-25T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether victims of crime and their families are notified when the prisoner who perpetrated the crime is moved to an open prison.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether victims of crime and their families are notified when the prisoner who perpetrated the crime is moved to an open prison.","AnswerText":"I have asked MikeEwart, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service to respond.His response is asfollows: Section 16 and 17of the Criminal Justice (Scotland) Act 2003 entitles victims who have opted intothe Victim Notification Scheme to be told when a prisoner first meets the criteriaduring their sentence which makes him or her eligible to be accorded temporary release(which may include transfer to an open prison). The transfer date, which is later,is not subsequently notified. ","AnswerDate":"2008-02-05T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-02-08T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Kenny MacAskill","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":215659,"EventID":"S3W-08998","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2651,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":41,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-25T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-25T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive which local authorities will introduce free access for children at council swimming pools.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive which local authorities will introduce free access for children at council swimming pools.","AnswerText":"As a result of the historic agreementbetween the Scottish Government and local authorities, we are working together toaddress the national outcomes of ensuring that our children have the best startin life, are ready to succeed and live longer, healthier lives.","AnswerDate":"2008-02-07T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-02-08T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Stewart Maxwell","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":215660,"EventID":"S3W-08999","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2651,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":41,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-25T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-25T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has held discussions with any local authorities regarding free access for children at council swimming pools and, if so, with which local authorities.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has held discussions with any local authorities regarding free access for children at council swimming pools and, if so, with which local authorities.","AnswerText":"I refer the memberto the answer to question S3W-6557 on 3 December 2007. All answers to written parliamentary questions are availableon the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/wa.search.","AnswerDate":"2008-02-01T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-02-08T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Stewart Maxwell","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":215661,"EventID":"S3W-09000","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2223,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":26,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-25T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-25T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-8284 by Richard Lochhead on 18 January 2008, whether the delay to the opening for applications to the European Fisheries Fund will ","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-8284 by Richard Lochhead on 18 January 2008, whether the delay to the opening for applications to the European Fisheries Fund will lead to any loss of funding to Scotland from that originally offered by the European Commission and, if so, what the extent of any such loss is expected to be.","AnswerText":"In the course of theapproval process for the UK Operational Programme for the European FisheriesFund, the Commission will make proposals as to the allocation of funds for theprogramme. The Scottish Government is working closely with the other UK fisheriesadministrations to ensure that the programme can be launched as soon as isfeasible and that the delay does not financially disadvantage Scotland.","AnswerDate":"2008-02-07T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-02-08T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Richard Lochhead","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":215662,"EventID":"S3W-09001","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2223,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":26,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-25T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-25T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-8284 by Richard Lochhead on 18 January 2008, whether there are any proposals to provide interim alternative grant support for the f","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-8284 by Richard Lochhead on 18 January 2008, whether there are any proposals to provide interim alternative grant support for the fisheries industry using funding from Her Majesty’s Government or the Scottish Government ahead of the opening for applications to the European Fisheries Fund.","AnswerText":"We will consult shortly onproposals for delivering the European Fisheries Fund Programme in Scotlandincluding arrangements for managing the transition from the predecessorprogramme alongside the forthcoming consultation on the UK operational programme.","AnswerDate":"2008-02-07T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-02-08T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Richard Lochhead","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":215663,"EventID":"S3W-09002","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1783,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":67,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-28T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-28T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive when it will answer the freedom of information requests submitted by me on 9 December 2007.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive when it will answer the freedom of information requests submitted by me on 9 December 2007.","AnswerText":"I refer the memberto the answer to question S3W-8096 on 22 January 2008. All answers to written parliamentary questions are availableon the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/wa.search.","AnswerDate":"2008-02-01T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-02-25T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"John Swinney","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":215664,"EventID":"S3W-09003","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1783,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":67,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-28T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-28T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive when it will answer the freedom of information requests submitted by me on 11 December 2007.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive when it will answer the freedom of information requests submitted by me on 11 December 2007.","AnswerText":"I refer the memberto the answer to question S3W-8096 on 22 January 2008. All answers to written parliamentary questions are availableon the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/wa.search.","AnswerDate":"2008-02-01T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-02-25T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"John Swinney","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":215665,"EventID":"S3W-09004","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1783,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":67,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-28T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-28T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive when it will answer the freedom of information requests submitted by me on 19 December 2007.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive when it will answer the freedom of information requests submitted by me on 19 December 2007.","AnswerText":"I refer the memberto the answer to question S3W-8096 on 22 January 2008. All answers to written parliamentary questions are availableon the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/wa.search.","AnswerDate":"2008-02-01T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-02-25T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"John Swinney","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":215666,"EventID":"S3W-09005","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1783,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":67,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-28T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-28T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive when it will answer the freedom of information requests submitted by me on 20 December 2007.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive when it will answer the freedom of information requests submitted by me on 20 December 2007.","AnswerText":"I refer the memberto the answer to question S3W-8096 on 22 January 2008. All answers to written parliamentary questions are availableon the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/wa.search.","AnswerDate":"2008-02-01T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-02-25T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"John Swinney","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":215667,"EventID":"S3W-09006","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1783,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":67,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-28T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-28T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what the reasons are for the delay in answering the freedom of information requests submitted by me on (a) 9, (b) 11, (c) 19 and (d) 20 December 2007.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what the reasons are for the delay in answering the freedom of information requests submitted by me on (a) 9, (b) 11, (c) 19 and (d) 20 December 2007.","AnswerText":"I refer the memberto the answer to question S3W-8096 on 22 January 2008. All answers to written parliamentary questions are onthe Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/wa.search.","AnswerDate":"2008-02-01T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-02-25T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"John Swinney","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":215668,"EventID":"S3W-09007","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1831,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":6,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-28T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-28T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive how many attendances there were at the accident and emergency department of Dundee Dental Hospital in the last year for which figures are available.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive how many attendances there were at the accident and emergency department of Dundee Dental Hospital in the last year for which figures are available.","AnswerText":"The information requested has been provided by NHS Tayside and is shown in the following table. The information relates to walk in patients, the majority of whom are not registered with a general dental practitioner. Accident and Emergency Attendances at Dundee Dental Hospital: January to December 2007 | January | 887 | | February | 729 | | March | 838 | | April | 819 | | May | 907 | | June | 784 | | July | 791 | | August | 846 | | September | 685 | | October | 750 | | November | 723 | | December | 636 | | Total | 9395 | Source: Medical Records at Dundee Dental Hospital. ","AnswerDate":"2008-02-19T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-02-25T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Shona Robison","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":215669,"EventID":"S3W-09008","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1831,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":6,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-28T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-28T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what information it has on the number of attendances at the accident and emergency department of Dundee Dental Hospital since April 2007.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what information it has on the number of attendances at the accident and emergency department of Dundee Dental Hospital since April 2007.","AnswerText":"I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-9007 on 19 February 2008. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament''s website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/wa.search.","AnswerDate":"2008-02-19T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-02-25T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Shona Robison","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":215670,"EventID":"S3W-09009","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1831,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":6,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-28T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-28T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive how many vacant posts there are for dentists in hospital and community dental services in NHS Tayside and, of these, how many have been vacant for six months or more.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive how many vacant posts there are for dentists in hospital and community dental services in NHS Tayside and, of these, how many have been vacant for six months or more.","AnswerText":"The details of vacant consultant posts are published on the Scottish Health Statistics website under Workforce Statistics, at www.isdscotland.org/workforce. The consultant vacancies table in the medical and dental section gives the number of consultant vacancies in hospital and community dental specialties by NHS board area and year. Information is not available at local health board area level. The table also gives the number of posts which have been vacant for six months or more. Latest available data is at 30 September 2007.","AnswerDate":"2008-02-21T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-02-25T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Shona Robison","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":215671,"EventID":"S3W-09010","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1831,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":6,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-28T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-28T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive in which year financial support was initially provided to NHS Tayside to administer the Counterweight Programme.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive in which year financial support was initially provided to NHS Tayside to administer the Counterweight Programme.","AnswerText":"Funding for delivery of Counterweight in NHS Tayside is for two years from April 2006. The programme is designed to be self-sustaining after two years as a key element is training of staff that allows the Counterweight team to withdraw direct involvement in delivery.","AnswerDate":"2008-02-22T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-02-25T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Shona Robison","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":215672,"EventID":"S3W-09011","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1831,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":6,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-28T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-28T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive how much money has been awarded to NHS Tayside to administer the Counterweight Programme in each year since commencement.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive how much money has been awarded to NHS Tayside to administer the Counterweight Programme in each year since commencement.","AnswerText":"The cost of delivering Counterweight in NHS Tayside between April 2006 and March 2008 will be £308,000. Of that, £268,000 goes to Robert Gordon University who lead the development of Counterweight in Scotland and £40,000 to NHS Tayside. The programme is designed to be self-sustaining after two years as a key element is training of staff that allows the Counterweight team to withdraw direct involvement in delivery.","AnswerDate":"2008-02-22T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-02-25T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Shona Robison","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":215673,"EventID":"S3W-09012","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1831,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":6,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-28T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-28T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will make available the statistical evidence that demonstrates that the Counterweight Programme has produced positive results in the NHS Tayside area.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will make available the statistical evidence that demonstrates that the Counterweight Programme has produced positive results in the NHS Tayside area.","AnswerText":"We are monitoring progress of the Counterweight programme on a regular basis. In addition Robert Gordon University are, as part of the roll-out, evaluating its performance. We expect to make available analysis on the delivery of Counterweight across all health boards at an appropriate point in the future.","AnswerDate":"2008-02-22T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-02-25T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Shona Robison","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":215674,"EventID":"S3W-09013","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1826,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":35,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-28T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-28T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether, following recent discussions with the UK Government, it is persuaded of the need for fatal accident inquiries for investigating the deaths of Scottish military p","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether, following recent discussions with the UK Government, it is persuaded of the need for fatal accident inquiries for investigating the deaths of Scottish military personnel killed overseas.","AnswerText":"Discussions are still continuing with the Ministry of Justice, Ministry of Defence and the Scotland Office on how the investigations into the deaths of Scottish-based service personnel can be dealt with closer to home and in a way which minimises the distress for bereaved families. There are, however, difficult legal issues which have to be addressed before a solution can be found. There is a shared desire with the UK Government to reduce the additional stress for bereaved families caused by them having to travel to England to attend a coroners inquest. We are well aware of the sensitivities around this and are determined to find a solution to this important issue as soon as possible. ","AnswerDate":"2008-02-18T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-02-25T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Kenny MacAskill","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":215675,"EventID":"S3W-09014","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1826,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":35,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-28T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-28T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive how many fatal accident inquiries have taken place in each year since 1999.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive how many fatal accident inquiries have taken place in each year since 1999.","AnswerText":"The number of fatal accident inquiries (FAIs) recorded as completed in the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service''s case management database in each sheriffdom for each of the last five financial years is shown in the following table. Fatal Accident Inquiries Completed: 2002-07 | Sheriffdom | 2002-03 | 2003-04 | 2004-05 | 2005-06 | 2006-07 | | Glasgow and Strathkelvin | 16 | 11 | 7 | 8 | 5 | | Grampian Highland and Islands | 12 | 12 | 17 | 22 | 12 | | Lothian and Borders | 3 | 7 | 12 | 7 | 2 | | North Strathclyde | 6 | 3 | 11 | 3 | 1 | | South Strathclyde, Dumfries and Galloway | 10 | 9 | 11 | 15 | 6 | | Tayside, Central and Fife | 11 | 13 | 15 | 16 | 9 | Note: The Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service completed an upgrade of its electronic case management system in April 2002. Only case records created after that date contain complete data which is capable of electronic analysis. ","AnswerDate":"2008-02-25T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-02-25T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Kenny MacAskill","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":215676,"EventID":"S3W-09015","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1826,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":35,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-28T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-28T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what the average cost is of fatal accident inquiries.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what the average cost is of fatal accident inquiries.","AnswerText":"Average costs for fatal accident inquiries are not kept. The average cost per sitting day for civil business in the sheriff courts is £2,048.","AnswerDate":"2008-02-25T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-02-25T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Kenny MacAskill","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":215677,"EventID":"S3W-09016","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1826,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":35,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-28T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-28T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what the minimum length of a fatal accident inquiry has been since 1999.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what the minimum length of a fatal accident inquiry has been since 1999.","AnswerText":"Statistics are not collected on the length of time of fatal accident inquiries.","AnswerDate":"2008-02-25T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-02-25T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Kenny MacAskill","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":215678,"EventID":"S3W-09017","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1826,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":35,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-28T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-28T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what the maximum length of a fatal accident inquiry has been since 1999.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what the maximum length of a fatal accident inquiry has been since 1999.","AnswerText":"Statistics are not collected on the length of time of fatal accident inquiries.","AnswerDate":"2008-02-25T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-02-25T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Kenny MacAskill","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":215679,"EventID":"S3W-09018","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1826,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":35,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-28T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-28T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive how many prisoners were held in police cells in 2006-07.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive how many prisoners were held in police cells in 2006-07.","AnswerText":"This information is not held centrally.","AnswerDate":"2008-02-18T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-02-25T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Kenny MacAskill","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":215680,"EventID":"S3W-09019","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1826,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":35,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-28T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-28T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what the maximum time was for a prisoner to be held in a police cell in 2006-07.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what the maximum time was for a prisoner to be held in a police cell in 2006-07.","AnswerText":"This information is not held centrally.","AnswerDate":"2008-02-18T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-02-25T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Kenny MacAskill","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":215681,"EventID":"S3W-09020","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1826,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":35,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-28T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-28T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what the minimum time was for a prisoner to be held in a police cell in 2006-07.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what the minimum time was for a prisoner to be held in a police cell in 2006-07.","AnswerText":"This information is not held centrally.","AnswerDate":"2008-02-21T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-02-25T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Kenny MacAskill","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":215682,"EventID":"S3W-09021","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1826,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":35,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-28T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-28T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what the average cost is per night of holding a prisoner in prison.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what the average cost is per night of holding a prisoner in prison.","AnswerText":"I have asked Mike Ewart, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service to respond. His response is as follows: The average cost of a prisoner place per night is £111, based on the most recent estimate of the average cost of a prisoner place in the SPS Annual Report and Accounts for 2006-07, copies of which are available in the Scottish Parliament Information Centre (Bib. number 43128), or via the Scottish Prison Service website http://www.sps.gov.uk/. ","AnswerDate":"2008-02-20T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-02-25T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Kenny MacAskill","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":215683,"EventID":"S3W-09022","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1826,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":35,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-28T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-28T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what the average cost is per night of holding a prisoner in a police cell.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what the average cost is per night of holding a prisoner in a police cell.","AnswerText":"This information is not held centrally.","AnswerDate":"2008-02-18T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-02-25T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Kenny MacAskill","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":215684,"EventID":"S3W-09023","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1826,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":35,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-28T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-28T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether any prisoners were held in non-legalised police cells in 2006-07 and, if so, how many and for what length of time each was held.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether any prisoners were held in non-legalised police cells in 2006-07 and, if so, how many and for what length of time each was held.","AnswerText":"The information relating to non-legalised police cells is not held centrally. Section 14 of the Prisons (Scotland) Act 1989 provides that Scottish ministers may, at the request of a police authority, declare a police cell to be a legal prison for the detention of prisoners, before, during or after trial for any period not exceeding 30 days. These are known as legalised police cells (LPCs). There were 231 receptions on remand to LPCs in 2006-07. Statistical information on the maximum number of prisoners or young offenders held in legalised police cells at any time is not available.","AnswerDate":"2008-02-18T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-02-25T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Kenny MacAskill","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":215685,"EventID":"S3W-09024","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":4080,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":6,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-28T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-28T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will reconsider the decision not to increase the Bus Service Operators Grant in line with the support given by the UK Government to bus operators in England an","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will reconsider the decision not to increase the Bus Service Operators Grant in line with the support given by the UK Government to bus operators in England and Wales.","AnswerText":"The Scottish Government currently provides substantial funds to the bus industry of around £260 million a year. Each increase in fuel duty and its effect on the rate of Bus Service Operators Grant (BSOG) has to be looked at on an individual basis. Within the constraints of the current spending round the government has been able to increase BSOG beyond the plans proposed in the draft budget.","AnswerDate":"2008-02-25T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-02-25T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Stewart Stevenson","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":215686,"EventID":"S3W-09025","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":4080,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":6,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-28T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-28T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will ensure that Scotland’s share arising from any further fuel duty support from the UK Government for bus operators in England and Wales is allocated directl","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will ensure that Scotland’s share arising from any further fuel duty support from the UK Government for bus operators in England and Wales is allocated directly to bus service operators in Scotland.","AnswerText":"Scottish ministers,subject to the approval of the Scottish Parliament, are free to allocate the availablebudget in whatever way they see fit. Ministers, from the present and previous administrations,have therefore made their decisions on the basis of what is best for Scotland, irrespective of the way in which budgets have been allocatedin England and Wales.If the Departmentfor Transport were to make changes (increases or decreases) in the level of fuelduty support, that would affect the budget available to Scotland, as calculated through the Barnett formula. It wouldbe for ministers, taking account of the net change in the total Scottish budget,to decide which Scottish budget lines should be amended, and to ask Parliament toapprove the relevant budget amendments. ","AnswerDate":"2008-02-06T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-02-25T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"John Swinney","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":215687,"EventID":"S3W-09026","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":4080,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":6,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-28T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-28T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what assessment it has made of the impact of current fuel prices on the competitive position of the bus industry.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what assessment it has made of the impact of current fuel prices on the competitive position of the bus industry.","AnswerText":"The cost of fuel is one of a number of factors which affect the competitive position of the bus industry. Scottish Government''s support for bus services is considerable amounting to some £260 million per annum. This covers Bus Service Operators Grant (BSOG), concessionary fares, local authority supported services and Bus Route Development Grant.","AnswerDate":"2008-02-25T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-02-25T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Stewart Stevenson","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":215688,"EventID":"S3W-09027","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":4080,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":6,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-28T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-28T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what assessment it has made of the impact of the current level of fuel prices on (a) public transport, (b) the haulage industry and (c) rural areas.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what assessment it has made of the impact of the current level of fuel prices on (a) public transport, (b) the haulage industry and (c) rural areas.","AnswerText":"The cost of fuel is one of a number of factors which impact on the provision of public transport. Scottish Government''s support for bus services is considerable amounting to some £260 million per annum. In the Budget Debate, the Cabinet Secretary for Finance and Sustainable Growth announced that an additional £4 million would be allocated to Bus Service Operators Grant in 2008-09. We are fully aware of the impact of fuel prices on the road freight sector and in rural areas and Scottish ministers are in correspondence with the Chancellor of the Exchequer about the possibility of minimising the impact on the road freight sector and reducing the level of fuel duty in certain rural areas of Scotland. ","AnswerDate":"2008-02-21T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-02-25T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Stewart Stevenson","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":215689,"EventID":"S3W-09028","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":4080,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":6,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-28T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-28T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what assessment it has made of the impact of increased fuel prices on local authorities providing lifeline bus services.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what assessment it has made of the impact of increased fuel prices on local authorities providing lifeline bus services.","AnswerText":"We will continue to work in partnership with local government partners to drive forward our transport priorities. For future years, funding for supported bus services will be included within the overall local government finance settlement. It will be the responsibility of each local authority, in conjunction with their Community Planning Partners, to allocate the funding on the basis of their local needs and priorities “ taking into account their statutory obligations and the jointly agreed set of national and local priorities, including the Scottish Government's key strategic objectives and manifesto commitments. Further details on these new arrangements can be found in the Scottish Budget Report and related concordat with local government. Copies of both documents are available in the Scottish Parliament Information Centre (Bib. numbers 44076 and 44077 respectively).","AnswerDate":"2008-02-18T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-02-25T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Stewart Stevenson","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":215690,"EventID":"S3W-09029","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":4080,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":6,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-28T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-28T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive how it will support bus service operators facing increased fuel prices.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive how it will support bus service operators facing increased fuel prices.","AnswerText":"The cost of fuel is one of a number of factors which impact on the provision of bus services. The Scottish Government currently provides substantial funds to the bus industry of around £260 million a year. This covers Bus Service Operators Grant (BSOG), concessionary fares, local authority supported services and Bus Route Development Grant. Following the budget statement by the Cabinet Secretary for Finance and Sustainable Growth on 6 February, I can confirm that it is our intention to increase the budget line for BSOG to around £61 million in 2008-09.","AnswerDate":"2008-02-18T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-02-25T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Stewart Stevenson","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":215691,"EventID":"S3W-09030","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":4080,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":6,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-28T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-28T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive how it will ensure that bus service operators do not have to increase fares or reduce services following the Scottish Government’s decision not to increase the Bus Servic","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive how it will ensure that bus service operators do not have to increase fares or reduce services following the Scottish Government’s decision not to increase the Bus Service Operators Grant.","AnswerText":"Ultimately, the level of fares and the provision of bus services is a matter for individual bus operators who use their own commercial judgement in these matters. The Scottish Government currently provides substantial funds to the bus industry of around £260 million a year. This covers Bus Service Operators Grant (BSOG), concessionary fares, local authority supported services and Bus Route Development Grant. Following the budget statement by the Cabinet Secretary for Finance and Sustainable Growth on 6 February, I can confirm that it is our intention that the budget for BSOG will be around £61 million in 2008-09.","AnswerDate":"2008-02-18T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-02-25T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Stewart Stevenson","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":215692,"EventID":"S3W-09031","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1783,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":67,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-28T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-28T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether the Chief Planner involved himself or any of his staff in discussions on, or raised issues with any of the statutory agencies involved in, the planning applicatio","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether the Chief Planner involved himself or any of his staff in discussions on, or raised issues with any of the statutory agencies involved in, the planning application in Aviemore in which Mr Donald Macdonald had an interest, prior to the First Minister receiving any representations on the issues and, if so, on how many occasions.","AnswerText":"No.","AnswerDate":"2008-02-25T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-02-25T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Michael Russell","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":215693,"EventID":"S3W-09032","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1783,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":67,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-28T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-28T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether the Chief Planner considered calling in the planning application in Aviemore in which Mr Donald Macdonald had an interest.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether the Chief Planner considered calling in the planning application in Aviemore in which Mr Donald Macdonald had an interest.","AnswerText":"The Chief Planner considered that a call in would not have been appropriate.","AnswerDate":"2008-02-25T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-02-25T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Michael Russell","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":215694,"EventID":"S3W-09033","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1783,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":67,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-28T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-28T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether the advice from the Scottish Environment Protection Agency to the Cairngorm National Park Authority changed shortly before the National Park Planning Committee wa","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether the advice from the Scottish Environment Protection Agency to the Cairngorm National Park Authority changed shortly before the National Park Planning Committee was due to consider a planning application in Aviemore in which Mr Donald Macdonald had an interest and, if so, on what date the advice was changed and how close that date was to the date that the planning committee was due to meet.","AnswerText":"The Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA) withdrew its objection to the planning application for the development of the Horse Field site at Aviemore on 12 December 2007. SEPA was able to withdraw its objection after it had completed its review of the Flood Risk Assessment, received from the developer on 10 December, and satisfied itself about the potential impact of the development on adjacent properties. The National Park Planning Committee met on 14 December 2007.","AnswerDate":"2008-02-25T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-02-25T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Michael Russell","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":215695,"EventID":"S3W-09034","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1783,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":67,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-28T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-28T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether any of the work of the Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA) relating to aspects of the planning application in Aviemore in which Mr Donald Macdonald had ","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether any of the work of the Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA) relating to aspects of the planning application in Aviemore in which Mr Donald Macdonald had an interest could be said to have been completed more quickly than could normally be expected for similar tasks, following the receipt of information required by SEPA from the applicants and, if so, in respect of what issues.","AnswerText":"The Scottish Environment Protection Agency prioritises responses to planning consultations primarily according to environmental risk, but also takes into account sustainable development considerations. To meet planning authorities'' deadlines, SEPA will also deal with some consultations more rapidly than others. SEPA gives high-priority to flood risk assessments for developments of a scale and nature such as that proposed at Aviemore in an area already prone to flooding. In the case of the Aviemore planning applications, SEPA also took account of the Cairngorms National Park Authority''s deadlines and the need to provide for the sustainable development of the region, including the particular financial and employment imperatives involved, as part of SEPA''s overall consideration of the applications. ","AnswerDate":"2008-02-25T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-02-25T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Michael Russell","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":215696,"EventID":"S3W-09035","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1783,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":67,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-28T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-28T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether in discussing with the Chief Planner any issue relating to the planning application in Aviemore in which Mr Donald Macdonald had an interest, the First Minister m","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether in discussing with the Chief Planner any issue relating to the planning application in Aviemore in which Mr Donald Macdonald had an interest, the First Minister made it clear in what capacity he was acting.","AnswerText":"In requesting information from the Chief Planner, the First Minister was acting in his ministerial capacity.","AnswerDate":"2008-02-25T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-02-25T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Michael Russell","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":215697,"EventID":"S3W-09036","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1783,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":67,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-28T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-28T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether the First Minister met any objectors to the planning application in Aviemore in which Mr Donald Macdonald had an interest and, if so, on what dates.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether the First Minister met any objectors to the planning application in Aviemore in which Mr Donald Macdonald had an interest and, if so, on what dates.","AnswerText":"No.","AnswerDate":"2008-02-25T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-02-25T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Michael Russell","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":215698,"EventID":"S3W-09037","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1783,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":67,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-28T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-28T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive which (a) MSPs and (b) MPs made representations on the planning application in Aviemore in which Mr Donald Macdonald had an interest; in what form such representations we","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive which (a) MSPs and (b) MPs made representations on the planning application in Aviemore in which Mr Donald Macdonald had an interest; in what form such representations were made; on what dates each written representation was made; on what dates and at what times they arrived in the First Minister’s Office, and when the contents of the representations were notified or given to ministers.","AnswerText":"Representations concerning the Aviemore planning applications were received in the First Minister''s Office from: - Mary Scanlon MSP in a letter dated 6 December 2007, delivered by hand and received electronically on 6 December, and notified to the First Minister immediately, and - Rhoda Grant MSP in a letter dated 6 December 2007, received electronically on 6 December, and notified to the First Minister immediately. The First Minister discussed these letters on 6 December with the constituency member, Fergus Ewing MSP, who also made representations. In addition Danny Alexander MP wrote to the First Minister in a letter dated 11 December, received by fax on 12 December, and notified to the First Minister on the same day. Each of the above also made representations direct to other ministers and to others. On 6 December 2007 Mary Scanlon MSP made written and verbal representations to the Cabinet Secretary for Rural Affairs and the Environment and to the Minister for Environment, as did Rhoda Grant MSP. On 6 December John Farquhar Munro MSP made verbal representations to these ministers. Mary Scanlon, Rhoda Grant and Danny Alexander wrote to other individuals and agencies including SEPA whose then chairman, Sir Ken Collins, was contacted by mail in letters dated 6 December 2007. Rhoda Grant drew attention in her letter to Sir Ken Collins to the fact that she had also written to the Cabinet Secretary for Rural Affairs and the Environment, and to the Chief Executive of SEPA, Campbell Gemmell. Mary Scanlon MSP and Danny Alexander MP were also in direct contact with Tom Inglis, SEPA''s Head of Environmental Protection and Improvement (North) concerning the Aviemore development and SEPA''s processing of the flood risk assessments. As the constituency MSP Fergus Ewing MSP wrote to Richard Lochhead, Cabinet Secretary for Rural Affairs and the Environment on 29 November and 6 December and was in touch with the various agencies involved. ","AnswerDate":"2008-02-25T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-02-25T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Michael Russell","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":215699,"EventID":"S3W-09038","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1783,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":67,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-28T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-28T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive on what day and at approximately what time of day the First Minister spoke to the Minister for Environment regarding the planning application in Aviemore in which Mr Don","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive on what day and at approximately what time of day the First Minister spoke to the Minister for Environment regarding the planning application in Aviemore in which Mr Donald Macdonald had an interest; whether any others were present during that conversation and, if so, which individuals, and what the First Minister invited the minister to do as a result of the conversation. ","AnswerText":"The First Minister discussed the Aviemore planning applications with me on 7 December 2007, at approximately 12.40 hours. The Principal Private Secretary to the First Minister was present during this conversation. The discussion centred on the representations submitted by cross-party Parliamentarians expressing concern over the Aviemore applications which suggested that Scottish Government agencies might be responsible for delaying matters. I told the First Minister that, as minister responsible for the Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA), and in the light of representations made to me on the previous evening by Rhoda Grant MSP, Mary Scanlon MSP, John Farquhar Munro MSP and Fergus Ewing MSP, I had already checked with SEPA that morning in order to ascertain if there were any misunderstandings or matters of process that were unnecessarily holding up the Agency''s proper consideration of the applications and that I was awaiting an update on those issues from the Chief Executive of SEPA. When he provided that at approximately 13.30 that day I then spoke to the First Minister again to inform him of my conclusions.","AnswerDate":"2008-02-25T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-02-25T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Michael Russell","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":215700,"EventID":"S3W-09039","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1783,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":67,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-28T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-28T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what matters were discussed by the Minister for Environment with the Scottish Environment Protection Agency regarding the planning application in Aviemore in which Mr Don","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what matters were discussed by the Minister for Environment with the Scottish Environment Protection Agency regarding the planning application in Aviemore in which Mr Donald Macdonald had an interest and what action the minister requested.","AnswerText":"I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-9048 on 25 February 2008. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament''s website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/wa.search.","AnswerDate":"2008-02-25T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-02-25T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Michael Russell","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":215701,"EventID":"S3W-09040","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1783,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":67,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-28T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-28T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive on what dates the First Minister has met or had conversations with Mr Donald Macdonald since becoming First Minister and what the location was of any such meetings.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive on what dates the First Minister has met or had conversations with Mr Donald Macdonald since becoming First Minister and what the location was of any such meetings.","AnswerText":"I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-9043 on 25 February 2008. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament''s website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/wa.search.","AnswerDate":"2008-02-25T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-02-25T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Michael Russell","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":215702,"EventID":"S3W-09041","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1783,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":67,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-28T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-28T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether, during any discussions the First Minister has had with Mr Donald Macdonald, the issue of the planning application in Aviemore in which Mr Macdonald had an intere","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether, during any discussions the First Minister has had with Mr Donald Macdonald, the issue of the planning application in Aviemore in which Mr Macdonald had an interest was ever raised and formed any part of such discussions.","AnswerText":"The First Minister has had no discussions with Mr Donald Macdonald about the Aviemore planning applications.","AnswerDate":"2008-02-25T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-02-25T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Michael Russell","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":215703,"EventID":"S3W-09042","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1783,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":67,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-28T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-28T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executivewhether, during any discussions the First Minister has had with Mr Donald Macdonald, Mr Macdonald raised any concerns about the Scottish Environment Protection Agency with","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executivewhether, during any discussions the First Minister has had with Mr Donald Macdonald, Mr Macdonald raised any concerns about the Scottish Environment Protection Agency with regard to the planning application in Aviemore in which he had an interest.","AnswerText":"I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-9041 on 25 February 2008. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament''s website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/wa.search.","AnswerDate":"2008-02-25T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-02-25T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Michael Russell","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":215704,"EventID":"S3W-09043","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1783,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":67,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-28T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-28T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether any ministers have met or had conversations with Mr Donald Macdonald since May 2007 and on what dates and at what locations. ","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether any ministers have met or had conversations with Mr Donald Macdonald since May 2007 and on what dates and at what locations. ","AnswerText":"The First Minister met Mr Donald Macdonald in Aviemore on 26 October 2007. Mr Macdonald welcomed Mr Salmond to the SNP Conference at the entrance to the conference. The meeting lasted a few seconds, was fully within public view and was filmed for television. The Cabinet Secretary for Health and Wellbeing met Mr Macdonald in St Andrew''s House in Edinburgh on 7 August 2007 to discuss Health Service related issues. The Cabinet Secretary for Finance and Sustainable Growth had a brief informal conversation with Mr Macdonald during the SNP National Conference in Aviemore on 26 October 2007 during which Mr Macdonald mentioned that he had been involved in a meeting, earlier that day, with the local MSP and others in relation to the development proposals for the Aviemore resort. The Minister for Enterprise, Energy and Tourism met Mr Macdonald in Edinburgh on 30 August 2007 to discuss the Government''s economic strategy and the tourism goal for 2015, and along, with the constituency MSP, at the SNP National Conference in Aviemore on 26 October 2007 to get an update on the Aviemore development from Macdonald Hotels, the local Chamber of Commerce, Highlands and Islands Enterprise, Highland Council and the Cairngorms National Park Authority. The Minister for Europe, External Affairs and Culture met Mr Macdonald, in his capacity as Chair of the Scottish Chamber Orchestra, at Victoria Quay, Edinburgh on 26 July 2007; in central Edinburgh on 2 September 2007, and at the City Halls, Glasgow on 5 October 2007. The Minister for Community Safety, acting in his capacity as constituency MSP, met or had conversations with Mr Macdonald on a number of occasions since May 2007. ","AnswerDate":"2008-02-25T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-02-25T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Michael Russell","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":215705,"EventID":"S3W-09044","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1783,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":67,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-28T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-28T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether any special advisers have met or had any conversations with Mr Donald Macdonald or his representatives concerning, or during which reference was made to, a planni","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether any special advisers have met or had any conversations with Mr Donald Macdonald or his representatives concerning, or during which reference was made to, a planning application in Aviemore in which Mr Macdonald had an interest.","AnswerText":"Special advisers contacted the communications officer for Mr Macdonald''s company on 27 January 2008 as a courtesy to make him aware of a statement made in response to newspaper articles.","AnswerDate":"2008-02-25T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-02-25T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Michael Russell","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":215706,"EventID":"S3W-09045","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1783,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":67,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-28T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-28T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether any ministers have met representatives of Mr Donald Macdonald where reference has been made to the planning application in Aviemore in which Mr Macdonald had an i","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether any ministers have met representatives of Mr Donald Macdonald where reference has been made to the planning application in Aviemore in which Mr Macdonald had an interest.","AnswerText":"The Minister for Community Safety, acting in his capacity as constituency MSP, met with representatives of Mr Donald Macdonald on a number of occasions. Th Minister for Enterprise, Energy and Tourism met respresentatives of Mr Macdonald in Aviemore on 26 October 2007. ","AnswerDate":"2008-02-25T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-02-25T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Michael Russell","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":215707,"EventID":"S3W-09046","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1783,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":67,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-28T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-28T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions the First Minister has had with other ministers following and concerning any issues raised by Mr Donald Macdonald or his representatives or others on his","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions the First Minister has had with other ministers following and concerning any issues raised by Mr Donald Macdonald or his representatives or others on his behalf in respect of a planning application in Aviemore in which Mr Macdonald had an interest.","AnswerText":"On 6 December 2007, the First Minister discussed with the Minister for Community Safety the letters received from cross-party parliamentarians about the Aviemore planning applications and sought information on the background to the issue from Mr Ewing as constituency MSP. On 7 December 2007, the First Minister discussed with me the representations submitted by cross-party parliamentarians about the Aviemore applications which suggested that Scottish Government agencies might be responsible for delaying matters. ","AnswerDate":"2008-02-25T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-02-25T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Michael Russell","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":215708,"EventID":"S3W-09047","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1783,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":67,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-28T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-28T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether the First Minister has had any discussions with special advisers following and concerning any issues raised by Mr Donald Macdonald or his representatives or other","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether the First Minister has had any discussions with special advisers following and concerning any issues raised by Mr Donald Macdonald or his representatives or others on his behalf; with which special advisers such discussions took place, and on what dates.","AnswerText":"The First Minister has had discussions on a number of occasions with special adviser Kevin Pringle on various dates since 25 January 2008 in relation to media enquiries concerning the Aviemore planning applications.","AnswerDate":"2008-02-25T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-02-25T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Michael Russell","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":215709,"EventID":"S3W-09048","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1783,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":67,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-28T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-28T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether any minister raised issues with the Scottish Environment Protection Agency about the planning application in Aviemore in which Mr Donald Macdonald had an interest","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether any minister raised issues with the Scottish Environment Protection Agency about the planning application in Aviemore in which Mr Donald Macdonald had an interest; if so, on what dates, whether any Scottish Government officials or special advisers were present at these discussions and what was said in the conversations.","AnswerText":"I contacted the Chief Executive of the Scottish Environment Protection Agency on 7 December 2007 to ascertain if there were any misunderstandings or matters of process within SEPA that were unnecessarily holding up proper consideration of the planning applications. No officials or special advisers were present during these discussions or during SEPA''s Chief Executive''s return phone call to me on the same day during which he updated me in the light of his own inquiries into the matter.","AnswerDate":"2008-02-25T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-02-25T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Michael Russell","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":215710,"EventID":"S3W-09049","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1783,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":67,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-28T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-28T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether any minister raised issues with any public agency which had a locus in the planning application in Aviemore in which Mr Donald Macdonald had an interest, followin","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether any minister raised issues with any public agency which had a locus in the planning application in Aviemore in which Mr Donald Macdonald had an interest, following representations received from Mr Macdonald, his representatives or others to the First Minister and, if so, which agencies these were.","AnswerText":"I met the Convenor and the Chief Executive of the Cairngorms National Park Authority on 5 December 2007 to discuss their plans for taking forward the business of the authority over the coming year. In the course of this meeting the convenor referred to the significant media and local interest, including local MSP interest, in the Aviemore planning applications and informed me how the matter was being handled by the authority. On 7 December I discussed with the Chief Executive of the Scottish Environment Protection Agency the process and timescales for SEPA''s work assessment with the Aviemore planning applications. The Minister for Community Safety, acting in his capacity as constituency MSP, has raised issues with different public agencies concerning the Aviemore planning applications on a number of occasions. The Cabinet Secretary for Rural Affairs and the Environment raised issues with his officials in the light of correspondence from the constituency MSP on 29 November 2007. Officials were subsequently in touch with SEPA. ","AnswerDate":"2008-02-25T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-02-25T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Michael Russell","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":215711,"EventID":"S3W-09050","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1783,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":67,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-28T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-28T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether the First Minister or any other minister raised issues with the Chief Planner or any other Scottish Government official in relation to the planning application in","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether the First Minister or any other minister raised issues with the Chief Planner or any other Scottish Government official in relation to the planning application in Aviemore in which Mr Donald Macdonald had an interest; if so, what issues were raised and when.","AnswerText":"Between 29 November and 14 December 2007, the First Minister, the Cabinet Secretary for Rural Affairs and I raised various issues with officials including the Chief Planner in the Scottish Government about the facts surrounding letters received from parliamentarians from four different parties concerning the Aviemore planning applications and the need to check with the Scottish Environment Protection Agency whether there were any misunderstandings or matters of process that were unnecessarily delaying proper consideration of these applications>.","AnswerDate":"2008-02-25T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-02-25T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Michael Russell","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":215712,"EventID":"S3W-09051","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1783,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":67,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-28T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-28T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether the Chief Planner or any other Scottish Government official had any contact with Mr Donald Macdonald or his representatives during which discussion took place on ","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether the Chief Planner or any other Scottish Government official had any contact with Mr Donald Macdonald or his representatives during which discussion took place on the planning application in Aviemore in which Mr Macdonald had an interest; if so, on what dates and what issues were discussed.","AnswerText":"Neither the Chief Planner nor any Scottish Government official has met Mr Donald Macdonald or his representatives to discuss the proposed development in Aviemore.","AnswerDate":"2008-02-25T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-02-25T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Michael Russell","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":215713,"EventID":"S3W-09052","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1783,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":67,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-28T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-28T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether the Chief Planner had any contact with Cairngorm National Park Authority planning officials concerning the planning application in Aviemore in which Mr Donald Mac","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether the Chief Planner had any contact with Cairngorm National Park Authority planning officials concerning the planning application in Aviemore in which Mr Donald Macdonald had an interest; if so, when such discussions took place and what issues were discussed.","AnswerText":"The Chief Planner was copied into, and acknowledged, an e-mail from the Head of Planning at Cairngorms National Park Authority to the Head of the Landscapes and Habitats Division (in his role as sponsor for the national park authority) on 7 December 2007. This e-mail re-iterated the verbal information provided to me by the convenor of the park authority on 5 December regarding the process which the park authority was following in handling the planning applications for the proposed development.","AnswerDate":"2008-02-25T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-02-25T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Michael Russell","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":215714,"EventID":"S3W-09053","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1783,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":67,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-28T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-28T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what protects the Scottish Environment Protection Agency’s operational independence in the conduct of its statutory duties.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what protects the Scottish Environment Protection Agency’s operational independence in the conduct of its statutory duties.","AnswerText":"The Environment Act 1995 and the Management Statement for the Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA) set out the relationship under which SEPA operates.","AnswerDate":"2008-02-25T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-02-25T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Michael Russell","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":215715,"EventID":"S3W-09054","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1783,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":67,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-28T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-28T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether the Scottish Environment Protection Agency is intended to operate independently of ministers in its day-to-day operational role and in relation to individuals and","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether the Scottish Environment Protection Agency is intended to operate independently of ministers in its day-to-day operational role and in relation to individuals and casework, albeit within a framework of policies and priorities agreed by ministers.","AnswerText":"All non-departmental public bodies are required to work to, and be aware of, the Scottish Government''s strategic priorities and objectives. They operate with a degree of independence and flexibility in areas of work where direct hands on control would be inappropriate.","AnswerDate":"2008-02-25T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-02-25T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Michael Russell","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":215716,"EventID":"S3W-09055","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1783,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":67,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-28T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-28T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether the Scottish Environment Protection Agency has specific statutory responsibilities that it carries out in relation to planning matters and, if so, what these resp","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether the Scottish Environment Protection Agency has specific statutory responsibilities that it carries out in relation to planning matters and, if so, what these responsibilities are.","AnswerText":"The Scottish Environment Protection Agency is a statutory consultee for developments identified under the Town and Country Planning (General Development Procedure) (Scotland) Order 1992, as amended, and for planning applications requiring environmental impact assessments under the Environmental Impact Assessment (Scotland) Regulations 1999. SEPA also provides advice to planning authorities on environmental aspects which are material planning considerations. In addition, SEPA has a statutory duty under the Environment Act 1995, if requested by a planning authority, to provide advice on the risk of flooding in any part of the authority''s area.","AnswerDate":"2008-02-25T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-02-25T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Michael Russell","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":215717,"EventID":"S3W-09056","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1783,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":67,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-28T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-28T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether the Chief Executive of the Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA) is accountable on a day-to-day basis to the board of SEPA for the operational decisions t","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether the Chief Executive of the Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA) is accountable on a day-to-day basis to the board of SEPA for the operational decisions taken by staff of SEPA, or to ministers.","AnswerText":"The Chief Executive of the Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA) is accountable to SEPA''s board. SEPA''s board, like other non-departmental public bodies'' boards, is appointed by ministers and accountable to Scottish ministers. The precise nature of the relationship is set out in the Environment Act 1995 and SEPA''s management statement.","AnswerDate":"2008-02-25T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-02-25T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Michael Russell","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":215718,"EventID":"S3W-09057","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1783,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":67,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-28T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-28T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether it is the Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA) or ministers that are responsible for advice to planning authorities on individual planning applications w","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether it is the Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA) or ministers that are responsible for advice to planning authorities on individual planning applications when SEPA is acting in its independent statutory role.","AnswerText":"As a statutory consultee in the planning process, the Scottish Environment Protection Agency has responsibility for providing advice directly to planning authorities.","AnswerDate":"2008-02-25T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-02-25T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Michael Russell","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":215719,"EventID":"S3W-09058","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1783,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":67,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-28T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-28T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what the accountability mechanisms are from the Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA) to ministers and what documents set out the relationship between ministers a","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what the accountability mechanisms are from the Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA) to ministers and what documents set out the relationship between ministers and SEPA.","AnswerText":"I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-9056 on 25 February 2008. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament''s website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/wa.search.","AnswerDate":"2008-02-25T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-02-25T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Michael Russell","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":215720,"EventID":"S3W-09059","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1783,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":67,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-28T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-28T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive on how many occasions since May 2007 the Minister for Environment has raised with the Scottish Environment Protection Agency operational matters in relation to its indepe","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive on how many occasions since May 2007 the Minister for Environment has raised with the Scottish Environment Protection Agency operational matters in relation to its independent statutory role in individual planning applications and in relation to which applications.","AnswerText":"I have never raised operational matters with the Scottish Environment Protection Agency in relation to SEPA''s statutory role and advice on individual planning applications. I have, on occasion, discussed matters of process, procedure and timescales with SEPA.","AnswerDate":"2008-02-25T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-02-25T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Michael Russell","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":215721,"EventID":"S3W-09060","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1783,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":67,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-28T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-28T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether ministers have powers of direction over the Scottish Environment Protection Agency and, if so, whether these powers have ever been used and, in particular, in any","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether ministers have powers of direction over the Scottish Environment Protection Agency and, if so, whether these powers have ever been used and, in particular, in any planning matters.","AnswerText":"The Scottish ministers have powers under various pieces of legislation to issue directions to the Scottish Environment Protection Agency in relation to the exercise of its functions. These powers are used regularly and cover a range of matters falling within SEPA''s remit. No direction has been issued concerning the exercise of SEPA''s functions relating specifically to planning matters.","AnswerDate":"2008-02-25T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-02-25T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Michael Russell","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":215722,"EventID":"S3W-09061","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1783,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":67,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-28T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-28T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what procedures ministers would normally be expected to follow before considering any direction to an independent non-departmental public body or other agency.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what procedures ministers would normally be expected to follow before considering any direction to an independent non-departmental public body or other agency.","AnswerText":"The procedures to be followed prior to ministers issuing any direction to a non-departmental public body or other public agency, including any requirement to consult affected parties or publish the direction, are normally set out in the relevant legislation. Different procedures apply depending on the statutory powers under which the direction is being made.","AnswerDate":"2008-02-25T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-02-25T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Michael Russell","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":215723,"EventID":"S3W-09062","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1783,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":67,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-28T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-28T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether it would be appropriate or normal for a minister to seek to instruct an independent non-departmental public body or other agency on the basis of a telephone call ","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether it would be appropriate or normal for a minister to seek to instruct an independent non-departmental public body or other agency on the basis of a telephone call where the minister had neither sought nor received formal advice prior to making that call.","AnswerText":"Within the scope of relevant legislation and in appropriate circumstances, Scottish ministers have the ability to require a body to take a particular action or pursue a particular area of work. This ability is part of the long established framework of governance and accountability to which non-departmental public bodies operate.","AnswerDate":"2008-02-25T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-02-25T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Michael Russell","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":215724,"EventID":"S3W-09063","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1783,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":67,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-28T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-28T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether ministers considered using powers of direction over the Scottish Environment Protection Agency when considering the planning application in Aviemore in which Mr D","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether ministers considered using powers of direction over the Scottish Environment Protection Agency when considering the planning application in Aviemore in which Mr Donald Macdonald had an interest.","AnswerText":"Scottish ministers did not consider using powers of direction over the Scottish Environment Protection Agency in relation to SEPA''s role as statutory consultee for the planning applications submitted by Aviemore Highland Resort Ltd.","AnswerDate":"2008-02-25T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-02-25T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Michael Russell","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":215725,"EventID":"S3W-09064","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1783,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":67,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-28T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-28T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether the conversation between the Minister for Environment and the Scottish Environment Protection Agency in relation to the planning application in Aviemore in which ","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether the conversation between the Minister for Environment and the Scottish Environment Protection Agency in relation to the planning application in Aviemore in which Mr Donald Macdonald had an interest was minuted and, if so, whether it will release the minute.","AnswerText":"No minute was taken of my conversations with the Scottish Environment Protection Agency on 7 December 2007 in relation to the Aviemore planning applications.","AnswerDate":"2008-02-25T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-02-25T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Michael Russell","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":215726,"EventID":"S3W-09065","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1783,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":67,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-28T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-28T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether the conversation between the Minister for Environment and the Scottish Environment Protection Agency in relation to the planning application in Aviemore in which ","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether the conversation between the Minister for Environment and the Scottish Environment Protection Agency in relation to the planning application in Aviemore in which Mr Donald Macdonald had an interest was a formal conversation by the minister in the conduct of his duties and who was present at or listening to that conversation.","AnswerText":"My discussions with the Chief Executive of the Scottish Environment Protection Agency on 7 December 2007 in relation to the Aviemore planning applications were undertaken in the normal conduct of my duties. Nobody was present or listened in to these conversations.","AnswerDate":"2008-02-25T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-02-25T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Michael Russell","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":215727,"EventID":"S3W-09066","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1783,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":67,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-28T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-28T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive why the Minister for Environment did not ask his private secretary or officials to have a conversation with the Scottish Environment Protection Agency with regard to the ","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive why the Minister for Environment did not ask his private secretary or officials to have a conversation with the Scottish Environment Protection Agency with regard to the planning application in Aviemore in which Mr Donald Macdonald had an interest and which had been the subject of representations to ministers.","AnswerText":"I had obtained advice from officials on the general position in relation to the Scottish Environment Protection Agency''s responses to the Aviemore planning applications. However, having received urgent representations from parliamentarians from four different parties expressing concern over these applications, I decided to contact the agency to check there were no misunderstandings or matters of process for SEPA that were unnecessarily holding up proper consideration of the applications. Such actions are wholly consistent with the desire of this administration to improve the process of government and to give a better service to the people of Scotland. I believe I would have been in dereliction of my duties as a minister had I not done so.","AnswerDate":"2008-02-25T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-02-25T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Michael Russell","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":215728,"EventID":"S3W-09067","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1783,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":67,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-28T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-28T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether the conversation between the Scottish Environment Protection Agency and the Minister for Environment regarding the planning application in Aviemore in which Mr Do","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether the conversation between the Scottish Environment Protection Agency and the Minister for Environment regarding the planning application in Aviemore in which Mr Donald Macdonald had an interest was arranged by the minister’s private secretary.","AnswerText":"My initial discussions with the Chief Executive of the Scottish Environment Protection Agency concerning the Aviemore planning applications were arranged by my Private Secretary.","AnswerDate":"2008-02-25T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-02-25T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Michael Russell","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":215729,"EventID":"S3W-09068","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1783,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":67,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-28T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-28T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether the Minister for Environment took any advice from officials in his department or the Office of the Permanent Secretary on the appropriateness and advisability of ","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether the Minister for Environment took any advice from officials in his department or the Office of the Permanent Secretary on the appropriateness and advisability of speaking to the Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA) about a then live planning application in Aviemore in which SEPA had statutory responsibilities and in which a donor to the minister’s political party had an interest.","AnswerText":"No. ministers are always aware of the need to conduct business in line with the ministerial code and to behave in an appropriate manner. In relation to the Aviemore planning applications, in the light of the representations received from parliamentarians from four different parties. I decided it was entirely appropriate, and indeed essential, to speak to the Chief Executive of the Scottish Environment Protection Agency to check there were no misunderstandings or matters of process for SEPA that were unnecessarily holding up proper consideration of the applications.","AnswerDate":"2008-02-25T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-02-25T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Michael Russell","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":215730,"EventID":"S3W-09069","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1783,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":67,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-28T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-28T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive at what time and on what day the Minister for Environment spoke to the Scottish Environment Protection Agency regarding the planning application in Aviemore in which Mr D","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive at what time and on what day the Minister for Environment spoke to the Scottish Environment Protection Agency regarding the planning application in Aviemore in which Mr Donald Macdonald had an interest.","AnswerText":"I first spoke to the Chief Executive of the Scottish Environment Protection Agency during the morning of Friday 7 December 2007. I spoke to the Agency again, in the person of its Chief Executive, some hours later when he updated me on the issues in questions.","AnswerDate":"2008-02-25T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-02-25T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Michael Russell","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":215731,"EventID":"S3W-09070","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2675,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":3,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-28T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-28T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what peer-reviewed information it has gathered on the Crown Estate Commissioners’ recent report on proposals to create an undersea connector from Shetland to Norfolk in r","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what peer-reviewed information it has gathered on the Crown Estate Commissioners’ recent report on proposals to create an undersea connector from Shetland to Norfolk in respect of costs, routes and markets.","AnswerText":"The East Coast Transmission Network: Technical Feasibility Study was commissioned by the Crown Estate. The Scottish Government has not gathered any additional information on the report but welcomes the contribution it makes towards exploring ways of harnessing and exporting Scotland''s vast renewable energy resource","AnswerDate":"2008-02-19T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-02-25T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Jim Mather","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":215732,"EventID":"S3W-09071","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2675,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":3,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-28T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-28T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what action it is taking to lobby the UK Government to reduce or remove VAT on house repairs and improvements.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what action it is taking to lobby the UK Government to reduce or remove VAT on house repairs and improvements.","AnswerText":"The setting of rates of VAT is a reserved matter, but the government is aware of concerns around these particular VAT rules and will consider bringing them to the attention of the UK Government. The government's national conversation on Scotland's constitutional future also provides an opportunity to consider whether decisions on these matters would be better taken in Scotland.","AnswerDate":"2008-02-18T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-02-25T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Stewart Maxwell","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":215733,"EventID":"S3W-09072","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2603,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":6,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-28T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-28T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive when it will make a decision on the suitability of funding the Aberdeen Western Peripheral Route through the Scottish Futures Trust.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive when it will make a decision on the suitability of funding the Aberdeen Western Peripheral Route through the Scottish Futures Trust.","AnswerText":"I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-8469 on 22 January 2008. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament's website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/wa.search.","AnswerDate":"2008-02-19T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-02-25T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"John Swinney","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":215734,"EventID":"S3W-09073","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2603,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":6,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-28T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-28T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive how many cases of MRSA were recorded in NHS Grampian hospitals in (a) 2002, (b) 2003, (c) 2004, (d) 2005, (e) 2006 and (f) 2007.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive how many cases of MRSA were recorded in NHS Grampian hospitals in (a) 2002, (b) 2003, (c) 2004, (d) 2005, (e) 2006 and (f) 2007.","AnswerText":"Health Protection Scotland (HPS) produces quarterly reports of bacteraemia (blood infection) data for MRSA and Meticillin Sensitive Staph aureus (MSSA) by clinical specialty and by size of hospital. HPS published the latest quarterly MRSA/MSSA monitoring figures for the period July to September 2007 on Tuesday, 15 January 2008. The report can be found at: http://www.documents.hps.scot.nhs.uk/hai/sshaip/publications/mrsa-quarterly-reports/jan-2003-to-sept-2007.pdf. The following table shows the total annual number of MRSA bacteraemias reported from NHS Grampian from 2002 to 2007: | Year | Number of MRSA Bacteraemias Reported to HPS | | 2002 | 56 | | 2003 | 46 | | 2004 | 62 | | 2005 | 64 | | 2006 | 81 | | 2007 (for the period 1 January 2007 to 30 September 2007) | 55 | The data should be treated with some caution as it is possible for one patient to have more than one episode of MRSA bacteraemia within one admission. The above table records these as separate episodes. Although the number of MRSA bacteraemias reported to HPS have been reported from hospital laboratories the figures in the table will include infections which may have been contracted in the community or in other institutions. ","AnswerDate":"2008-02-25T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-02-25T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Nicola Sturgeon","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":215735,"EventID":"S3W-09074","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2603,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":6,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-28T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-28T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive how many people died from lung cancer in NHS Grampian hospitals in (a) 2002, (b) 2003, (c) 2004, (d) 2005, (e) 2006 and (f) 2007.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive how many people died from lung cancer in NHS Grampian hospitals in (a) 2002, (b) 2003, (c) 2004, (d) 2005, (e) 2006 and (f) 2007.","AnswerText":"The number of people who diedfrom lung cancer in NHS Grampian hospitals registered during the period 2002-06are in the following table. Data for 2007 is not yet available. | Year | Count | | 2002 | 224 | | 2003 | 214 | | 2004 | 217 | | 2005 | 228 | | 2006 | 175 | Source: General Register forScotland. ","AnswerDate":"2008-02-11T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-02-25T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Nicola Sturgeon","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":215736,"EventID":"S3W-09075","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2603,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":6,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-28T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-28T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive how many people died from heart disease in NHS Grampian hospitals in (a) 2002, (b) 2003, (c) 2004, (d) 2005, (e) 2006 and (f) 2007.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive how many people died from heart disease in NHS Grampian hospitals in (a) 2002, (b) 2003, (c) 2004, (d) 2005, (e) 2006 and (f) 2007.","AnswerText":"The information requested isshown in the following table. Figures for 2007 will not be available until August2008.Deaths from Heart Disease1in NHS Grampian Hospitals, Deaths Registered 2002-06 | | 2002 | 2003 | 2004 | 2005 | 2006 | | Heart Disease1 | 699 | 683 | 638 | 602 | 560 | | Chronic rheumatic heart diseases2 | 8 | 8 | 10 | 7 | 8 | | Ischaemic heart diseases3 | 545 | 542 | 508 | 456 | 413 | | Pulmonary heart diseases and diseases of pulmonary circulation4 | 18 | 25 | 18 | 23 | 21 | | Other forms of heart disease5 | 128 | 108 | 102 | 116 | 118 | Source: General RegisterOffice for Scotland. Notes: 1. ICD10 codes I05-I52excluding I10-I15. 2. ICD10 codes I05-I09. 3. ICD10 codes I20-I25. 4. ICD10 codes I26-I28. 5. ICD10 codes I30-I52. ","AnswerDate":"2008-02-11T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-02-25T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Nicola Sturgeon","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":215737,"EventID":"S3W-09076","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2633,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":5,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-28T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-28T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive, under the terms of its concordat with COSLA, when it expects to agree the single outcome agreements with local authorities and when such agreements will be published.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive, under the terms of its concordat with COSLA, when it expects to agree the single outcome agreements with local authorities and when such agreements will be published.","AnswerText":"We are working to prepare single outcome agreements by 1 April 2008 and expect to have them in place with all councils by early summer 2008. We expect them to be made publicly available shortly thereafter.","AnswerDate":"2008-02-20T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-02-25T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"John Swinney","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":215738,"EventID":"S3W-09077","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2633,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":5,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-28T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-28T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive, under the terms of its concordat with COSLA, when it expects to agree a single outcome agreement with Fife Council and when the agreement will be published.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive, under the terms of its concordat with COSLA, when it expects to agree a single outcome agreement with Fife Council and when the agreement will be published.","AnswerText":"We are working to prepare single outcome agreements by 1 April 2008 and expect to have them in place with all councils by early summer 2008. We expect them to be made publicly available shortly thereafter.","AnswerDate":"2008-02-20T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-02-25T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"John Swinney","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":215739,"EventID":"S3W-09078","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2633,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":5,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-28T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-28T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive when it will outline its proposals for drug courts beyond Fife and Glasgow.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive when it will outline its proposals for drug courts beyond Fife and Glasgow.","AnswerText":"The position of the existing drug courts in Fife and Glasgow is due to be reviewed in spring 2009 against the progress made with the summary justice reforms. Meantime, there are no plans for further drug courts.","AnswerDate":"2008-02-19T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-02-25T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Fergus Ewing","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":215740,"EventID":"S3W-09079","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2633,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":5,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-28T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-28T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive when it will confirm the future of the drug courts in Fife and Glasgow beyond their current funding terms.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive when it will confirm the future of the drug courts in Fife and Glasgow beyond their current funding terms.","AnswerText":"Funding provision for the existing drug courts in Fife and Glasgow has recently been included in the 2008-09 grant allocations for the relevant Community Justice Authorities. Future funding will be reviewed in spring 2009 against the progress made with the summary justice reforms.","AnswerDate":"2008-02-19T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-02-25T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Fergus Ewing","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":215741,"EventID":"S3W-09080","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1831,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":6,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-28T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-28T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether the commitment in Principles and Priorities: The Government's Programme for Scotland to “increase the number of school nurses” is the equivalent of the commitment","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether the commitment in Principles and Priorities: The Government's Programme for Scotland to “increase the number of school nurses” is the equivalent of the commitment on page 10 of the SNP manifesto to “a doubling of the number of school nurses”.","AnswerText":"Our plans are to increase the range of nursing and other health care support available to school aged children and young people. A health care model targeted at deprived and other areas with high numbers of disadvantaged children will be developed in 2008. School nurses will have an important part to play in this.","AnswerDate":"2008-02-21T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-02-25T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Shona Robison","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":215742,"EventID":"S3W-09081","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1831,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":6,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-28T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-28T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive how many whole-time equivalent qualified school nurses there are in the (a) Dundee City, (b) Angus and (c) Aberdeenshire local authority areas and in total.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive how many whole-time equivalent qualified school nurses there are in the (a) Dundee City, (b) Angus and (c) Aberdeenshire local authority areas and in total.","AnswerText":"The staff in post table in thenursing and midwifery section of the Workforce Statistics website at www.isdscotland.org/workforce givesthe whole-time equivalent (WTE) and head count of school nurses employed in NHSScotland by NHS board and region and by agenda for change band. Information is notavailable at local authority area level. WTE adjusts headcount to take account ofpart time working. Latest available data is at 30 September 2007.(Our intention is that those school aged children and youngpeople in areas of greatest need will in the future have improved access to a widerrange of nursing and other health care support. A health care model targeted atdeprived and other areas with high numbers of disadvantaged children will be developedin 2008.) ","AnswerDate":"2008-02-12T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-02-25T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Nicola Sturgeon","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":215743,"EventID":"S3W-09082","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1831,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":6,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-28T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-28T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what estimate it has made of the number of whole-time equivalent qualified school nurses that it will make provision for by 2011 in the (a) Dundee City, (b) Angus and (c)","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what estimate it has made of the number of whole-time equivalent qualified school nurses that it will make provision for by 2011 in the (a) Dundee City, (b) Angus and (c) Aberdeenshire local authority areas and in total.","AnswerText":"The exact number of school nurses employed by 2011 in the local authority areas in question is a matter for the relevant health boards and will depend on a number of factors yet to be determined. Our intention is that those school aged children and young people in areas of greatest need will in the future have easier access to a wider range of nursing and other health care support. A health care model targeted at deprived and other areas with high numbers of disadvantaged children will be developed in 2008.","AnswerDate":"2008-02-21T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-02-25T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Shona Robison","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":215744,"EventID":"S3W-09083","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1831,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":6,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-28T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-28T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what the projected number of primary school pupils is in school session 2010-11 in the (a) Dundee City, (b) Angus and (c) Aberdeenshire local authority areas and in total","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what the projected number of primary school pupils is in school session 2010-11 in the (a) Dundee City, (b) Angus and (c) Aberdeenshire local authority areas and in total. ","AnswerText":"The information requested is published on the government website, at the following address http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Topics/Statistics/Browse/School-Education/PupilProjections2006.","AnswerDate":"2008-02-19T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-02-25T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Maureen Watt","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":215745,"EventID":"S3W-09084","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1831,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":6,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-28T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-28T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what the projected number of secondary school pupils is in school session 2010-11 in the (a) Dundee City, (b) Angus and (c) Aberdeenshire local authority areas and in tot","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what the projected number of secondary school pupils is in school session 2010-11 in the (a) Dundee City, (b) Angus and (c) Aberdeenshire local authority areas and in total. ","AnswerText":"The information requested is published on the government website, at the following address http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Topics/Statistics/Browse/School-Education/PupilProjections2006.","AnswerDate":"2008-02-19T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-02-25T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Maureen Watt","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":215746,"EventID":"S3W-09085","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1831,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":6,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-28T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-28T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what the projected number of primary school pupils is in school session 2008-09 in the (a) Dundee City, (b) Angus and (c) Aberdeenshire local authority areas and in total","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what the projected number of primary school pupils is in school session 2008-09 in the (a) Dundee City, (b) Angus and (c) Aberdeenshire local authority areas and in total.","AnswerText":"The information requested is published on the government website, at the following address http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Topics/Statistics/Browse/School-Education/PupilProjections2006.","AnswerDate":"2008-02-19T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-02-25T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Maureen Watt","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":215747,"EventID":"S3W-09086","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1831,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":6,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-28T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-28T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what the projected number of secondary school pupils is in school session 2008-09 in the (a) Dundee City, (b) Angus and (c) Aberdeenshire local authority areas and in tot","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what the projected number of secondary school pupils is in school session 2008-09 in the (a) Dundee City, (b) Angus and (c) Aberdeenshire local authority areas and in total.","AnswerText":"The information requested is published on the government website, at the following address http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Topics/Statistics/Browse/School-Education/PupilProjections2006.","AnswerDate":"2008-02-19T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-02-25T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Maureen Watt","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":215748,"EventID":"S3W-09087","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1756,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":7,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-28T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-28T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive how many prisoners were assaulted in Scottish prisons while (a) on remand and (b) serving their sentence in each year since 1999, broken down by gender and category of as","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive how many prisoners were assaulted in Scottish prisons while (a) on remand and (b) serving their sentence in each year since 1999, broken down by gender and category of assault.","AnswerText":"I have asked Mike Ewart, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service to respond. His response is as follows: The following table illustrates the total number of assaults broken down by establishment and gender. Reliable data is not available prior to 2001, neither is it possible to distinguish between remand and convicted. | Establishment | Prisoner Gender | 2001 | 2002 | 2003 | 2004 | 2005 | 2006 | 2007 | 2008 | Grand Total | | Aberdeen | F | 1 | 4 | | | 1 | | | | 6 | | | M | 19 | 30 | 21 | 12 | 30 | 32 | 20 | 2 | 166 | | Barlinnie | M | 55 | 77 | 47 | 34 | 51 | 62 | 60 | 8 | 394 | | Castle Huntly | M | 1 | ","AnswerDate":"2008-02-20T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-02-25T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Kenny MacAskill","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":215749,"EventID":"S3W-09088","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1756,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":7,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-28T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-28T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive how many prison officers were assaulted in Scottish prisons in each year since 1999, broken down by gender and category of assault.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive how many prison officers were assaulted in Scottish prisons in each year since 1999, broken down by gender and category of assault.","AnswerText":"I have asked Mike Ewart, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service to respond. His response is as follows: The following table illustrates the number of incidents recorded as Assault by Prisoner or Visitor on Staff in each year from 2001. | Year | Assault Prisoner On Staff | Assault Visitor On Staff | Grand Total | | 2001 | 113 | | 113 | | 2002 | 184 | | 184 | | 2003 | 203 | | 203 | | 2004 | 156 | 1 | 157 | | 2005 | 166 | 3 | 169 | | 2006 | 139 | 5 | 144 | | 2007 | 122 | 3 | 125 | | 2008 | 10 | | 10 | | Grand Total | 1,093 | 12 | 1,105 | ","AnswerDate":"2008-02-28T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-02-25T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Kenny MacAskill","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":215750,"EventID":"S3W-09089","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1756,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":7,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-28T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-28T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive how many prisoners were held in segregated protective custody whilst serving sentences in Scottish prisons in each year since 1999.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive how many prisoners were held in segregated protective custody whilst serving sentences in Scottish prisons in each year since 1999.","AnswerText":"I have asked Mike Ewart, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service (SPS) to respond. His response is as follows: The SPS does not have a category of prisoners who are held in segregated protective custody. The following table displays the number of prisoners who have been held on protection conditions within SPS establishments. | Incident Establishment Name | 2001 | 2002 | 2003 | 2004 | 2005 | 2006 | 2007 | Grand Total | | Aberdeen | | 1 | | | 2 | 2 | | 5 | | Barlinnie | | | 1 | 2 | 1 | | | 4 | | Cornton Vale | 1 | | | | 1 | | 2 | 4 | | Edinburgh | 1 | 2 | | 1 | 1 | 1 | | 6 | | Glenochil Prison | 1 | | | 1 | | | | 2 | | Kilmarnock | I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-9092 on 18 February 2008. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament's website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/wa.search. ","AnswerDate":"2008-02-18T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-02-25T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Kenny MacAskill","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":215752,"EventID":"S3W-09091","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1756,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":7,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-28T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-28T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive how many suicide attempts have been made by prisoners serving sentences in Scottish prisons in each year since 1999, broken down by gender.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive how many suicide attempts have been made by prisoners serving sentences in Scottish prisons in each year since 1999, broken down by gender.","AnswerText":"I have asked Mike Ewart, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service to respond. His response is as follows: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-9092 on 18 February 2008. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament's website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/wa.search. ","AnswerDate":"2008-02-18T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-02-25T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Kenny MacAskill","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":215753,"EventID":"S3W-09092","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1756,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":7,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-28T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-28T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive how many suicides have taken place in Scottish prisons in each year since 1999, broken down by gender.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive how many suicides have taken place in Scottish prisons in each year since 1999, broken down by gender.","AnswerText":"I have asked Mike Ewart, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service to respond. His response is as follows: I refer the member to the answers to questions S2W-14693 on 9 March 2005, and S2W-15577 on 14 April 2005, for the years 1999-2000 to 2003-04. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament's website, the search facility for which can be found at: http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/wa.search. The following table sets out self-inflicted and apparent self-inflicted deaths in prison custody for the years 2004-05 to 2006-07, by prison. There were only two female deaths over this period, both occurring at HM Prison and Institution, Cornton Vale. Information relating to statistics of self-harm or attempted suicide is not available for these years. | Establishment | Year | | 2004-05 | 2005-06 | 2006-07 | | Aberdeen | 2 | 0 | 1 | | Barlinnie | 1 | 5 | 4 | | Cornton Vale | 1 | 1 | 0 | | Dumfries | 0 | 0 | 0 | | Edinburgh | 0 | 0 | 1 | | Glenochil | 0 | 0 | 0 | | Greenock | 0 | 0 | 0 | | Inverness | 1 | 0 | 2 | | Kilmarnock | 0 | 0 | 0 | | ~Low Moss | 0 | 0 | 0 | | Open Estate | 1 | 0 | 0 | | Perth | 2 | 2 <","AnswerDate":"2008-02-18T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-02-25T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Kenny MacAskill","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":215754,"EventID":"S3W-09093","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1756,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":7,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-28T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-28T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive how many attempted prisoner escapes have been identified and prevented by prison authorities in each year since 1999, broken down by prison.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive how many attempted prisoner escapes have been identified and prevented by prison authorities in each year since 1999, broken down by prison.","AnswerText":"I have asked Mike Ewart, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service to respond. His response is as follows: The following table illustrates the number of instances of attempted escape. Reliable data is not available prior to 2001. | Incident Establishment Name | 2001 | 2002 | 2003 | 2004 | 2005 | 2006 | 2007 | Grand Total | | Aberdeen | | 1 | | | 2 | 2 | | 5 | | Barlinnie | | | 1 | 2 | 1 | | | 4 | | Cornton Vale | 1 | | | | 1 | | 2 | 4 | | Edinburgh | 1 | 2 | | 1 | 1 | 1 | | 6 | | Glenochil Prison | 1 | | | 1 | | | | The following table displays the total number of weapons recovered in each SPS establishment. Reliable data is not available prior to 2001. Records do not distinguish between finds in accommodation and on persons. | Establishment | 2001 | 2002 | 2003 | 2004 | 2005 | 2006 | 2007 | 2008 | | Aberdeen | | | 2 | 2 | 10 | 7 | 5 | 2 | | Barlinnie | | 12 | 13 | 11 | 31 | 60 | 64 | 5 | | Castle Huntly | 1 | | 1 | | 1 | 2 | | | | Cornton Vale | | | | 7 | 16 | 10 | 13 | | | Dumfries | | | | 1 | 13 | 1 | 16 | 4 | | Edinburgh | 46 | 111 The SPS does not record where weapons are specifically recovered from visitors. Any such recovery is included in the overall weapon find count. I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-9094 on 20 February 2008. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament''s website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/wa.search. ","AnswerDate":"2008-02-20T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-02-25T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Kenny MacAskill","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":215757,"EventID":"S3W-09096","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1756,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":7,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-28T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-28T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive how many incidents there have been involving the recovery of illegal drugs by prison officers carrying out searches of prisoner accommodation and prisoners in each year s","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive how many incidents there have been involving the recovery of illegal drugs by prison officers carrying out searches of prisoner accommodation and prisoners in each year since 1999, broken down by category of drug recovered and prison.","AnswerText":" | Incident Establishment Name | 2001 | 2002 | 2003 | 2004 | 2005 | 2006 | 2007 | 2008 | Grand Total | | Aberdeen | 13 | 68 | 52 | 35 | 41 | 20 | 29 | 4 | 262 | | Barlinnie | 128 | 146 | 168 | 200 | 265 | 307 | 378 | 40 | 1,632 | | Castle Huntly | 2 | 5 | 13 | 17 | 37 | 79 | 19 | | 172 | | Cornton Vale | 46 | 79 | 52 | 58 | 94 | 83 | 106 | 4 | 522 | | Dumfries | The following table illustrates the number incidents where drugs have been recovered from visitors attending Scottish Prisons. Reliable data is not available prior to 2001 and category of drug is not recorded. | Incident Establishment Name | 2001 | 2002 | 2003 | 2004 | 2005 | 2006 | 2007 | 2008 | Grand Total | | Aberdeen | | | | 3 | 6 | 32 | 24 | 4 | 69 | | Barlinnie | | | 2 | 25 | 58 | 39 | 21 | 4 | 149 | | Cornton Vale | | 1 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 6 | 5 | | 18 | | Dumfries | | | | 2 | 1 | 2 | This information is not available. ","AnswerDate":"2008-02-18T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-02-25T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Kenny MacAskill","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":215760,"EventID":"S3W-09099","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1756,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":7,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-28T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-28T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive how many prisoners, eligible for parole and serving sentences in Scottish prisons, were refused parole in each year since 1999, broken down by prison.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive how many prisoners, eligible for parole and serving sentences in Scottish prisons, were refused parole in each year since 1999, broken down by prison.","AnswerText":"The information sought is as follows: | Year | Number of Eligible Prisoners Refused Parole | Number of Prisoners not Recommended for Release on Life Licence | | 1999 | 304 | Not available | | 2000 | 279 | 110 | | 2001 | 301 | 85 | | 2002 | 272 | 89 | | 2003 | 354 | 117 | | 2004 | 380 | 124 | | 2005 | 395 | 136 | | 2006 | 463 | 117 | It is not possible to provide the information by prison. The figures also include those who were transferred to England to serve their sentences and those transferred to serve their sentences in psychiatric hospitals. ","AnswerDate":"2008-02-18T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-02-25T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Kenny MacAskill","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":215761,"EventID":"S3W-09100","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1756,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":7,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-28T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-28T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive how many offenders released on licence have been recalled to prison to serve the remainder of their sentence in each year since 1999, broken down by prison.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive how many offenders released on licence have been recalled to prison to serve the remainder of their sentence in each year since 1999, broken down by prison.","AnswerText":"I have asked Mike Ewart, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service to respond. His response is as follows: The following table illustrates those offenders who have been recalled having been released on licence. | Establishment | 1999 | 2000 | 2001 | 2002 | 2003 | 2004 | 2005 | 2006 | 2007 | 2008 | Grand Total | | Aberdeen | 16 | 22 | 16 | 21 | 20 | 22 | 16 | 23 | 19 | 2 | 177 | | Barlinnie | 156 | 133 | 132 | 163 | 147 | 117 | 137 | 156 | 137 | 24 | 1,302 | | Castle Huntly | 2 | 4 | 4 | 12 | 9 | 5 | 1 | 1 | | | 38 | | Cornton Vale Scottish Government Funding to ACPOS, 1998-99 to 2007-08 | Year | Amount (£000) | | 1998-99 | 152 | | 1999-2000 | 146 | | 2000-01 | 142 | | 2001-02 | 145 | | 2002-03 | 185 | | 2003-04 | 155 | | 2004-05 | 267 | | 2005-06 | 231 | | 2006-07 | 224 | | 2007-08 | 314 | ","AnswerDate":"2008-02-20T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-02-25T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Kenny MacAskill","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":215763,"EventID":"S3W-09102","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1756,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":7,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-28T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-28T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what plans there are to ensure public accountability of professional associations, such as the Association of Chief Police Officers in Scotland, which are wholly or parti","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what plans there are to ensure public accountability of professional associations, such as the Association of Chief Police Officers in Scotland, which are wholly or partially funded from the public purse.","AnswerText":"Any organisation in receipt of Scottish Government funding will be subject to conditions of grant attached to that funding. A copy of the Memorandum of Understanding between ACPOS and the Scottish Government agreed in October 2007 setting out the provisions governing the payment of grant-in-aid to ACPOS is available in the Scottish Parliament Information Centre (Bib. number 44794). On 1 April 2007, ACPOS became an incorporated company limited by guarantee. This means that it has responsibilities under the Companies Acts 1985 and 1989 to register its memorandum and articles and to produce annual accounts. ","AnswerDate":"2008-02-20T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-02-25T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Kenny MacAskill","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":215764,"EventID":"S3W-09103","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1756,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":7,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-28T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-28T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive how many official protocols have been agreed between the Association of Chief Police Officers in Scotland and government agencies and departments responsible for administ","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive how many official protocols have been agreed between the Association of Chief Police Officers in Scotland and government agencies and departments responsible for administering justice in Scotland in each year since 1999 and what the protocols are.","AnswerText":"Eleven formal protocols have been agreed between the Association of Chief Police Officers in Scotland (ACPOS) and the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Services (COPFS). These protocols are: ACPOS/COPFS Protocol on Disclosure of Evidential Material in Criminal Prosecutions, February 2007; COPFS/ACPOS/Scottish Executive/Scottish Prison Service/Scottish Court Service (SCS)/District Courts Association Protocol on the Prioritisation of Warrants in the Scottish Criminal Justice System, April 2007; Work Related Death Protocol “ COPFS/ACPOS/Health and Safety Executive/British Transport Police, January 2006; COPFS and ACPOS Protocol in relation to Search Warrants, December 2005; COPFS National Forensic Science Protocol, February 2004; ACPOS and COPFS Joint Protocol on Police Reports, 2004; COPFS and Police Protocol for witness citation targets, May 2004; Joint Protocol between ACPOS and COPFS on Domestic Abuse, November 2004; COPFS and ACPOS Family Liaison Protocol April 2003; Protocol between COPFS/SCS/ACPOS for Instruction of interpreters for criminal court diets, February 2002, and ACPOS/Crown Office Major Intelligence led Crime Investigations protocol, November 2001. ","AnswerDate":"2008-02-20T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-02-25T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Frank Mulholland","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":215765,"EventID":"S3W-09104","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1756,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":7,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-28T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-28T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what consideration it has given to bringing Scotland’s eight police forces together under one structure.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what consideration it has given to bringing Scotland’s eight police forces together under one structure.","AnswerText":"The government currently has no plans to reduce the number of police forces in Scotland. We are, however, committed to delivering change and improvements that make sense for Scotland. We will consider carefully the recommendations contained in the Justice Committee's report into the effective use of police resources.","AnswerDate":"2008-02-18T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-02-25T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Kenny MacAskill","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":215766,"EventID":"S3W-09105","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2066,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":3,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-28T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-28T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will provide a breakdown of the funding and projects, including the LIFE project, to protect capercaillie in each year since 1999.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will provide a breakdown of the funding and projects, including the LIFE project, to protect capercaillie in each year since 1999.","AnswerText":"The table below provides information for projects on which we have data: | Project | 1999-2000 (£) | 2000-01 (£) | 2001-02 (£) | 2002-03 (£) | 2003-04 (£) | | UK Biodiversity Species Action Plan | 55,696 | 400 | 25,362 | 98,179 | 30,000 | | Capercaillie Woodland Challenge Fund | | | 680,753 | | | | EC LIFE Project Urgent Conservation Management for Scottish Capercaillie | | | 1,643,443 | 721,917 | 565,671 | | Species Action Framework | | | | | | | Project | 2004-05 (£) | 2005-06 (£) | 2006-07 (£) | 2007-08 (£) | | UK Biodiversity Species Action Plan | 43,355 | 40,600 | 118,071 | 45,595 | | Capercaillie Woodland Challenge Fund | | | | | | EC LIFE Project Urgent Conservation Management for Scottish Capercaillie | 574,365 | 557,093 | 252,132 | The national survey data does not provide a reliable basis for estimating regional populations. However, numbers of lekking capercaillie are counted every year and the results by area are provided in the table below. It should be noted that prior to 2002, effort was targeted at locating leks rather than doing repeat surveys of known leks. | Year | Black Isle and East Ross | Moray, Speyside and Inverness | Kincardine and Upper Deeside | | Leks | Males | Leks | Males | Leks | Males | | 1999 | 9 | 21 | 23 | 77 | 0 | 0 | | 2000 | 9 | 14 | 24 | 71 | 8 | 22 | | 2001 | 8 | 17 | 14 | 44 | 0 | 0 | | 2002 | 11 | 23 | 36 | 106 | 19 | 39 | | 2003 | 11 | 22 | 33 | 123 | 19 | 32 | | 2004 | 11 | 29 | 39 | 151 | 19 | 35 | | 2005 | 11 | ","AnswerDate":"2008-02-22T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-02-25T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Michael Russell","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":215768,"EventID":"S3W-09107","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2167,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":3,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-28T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-28T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what the costs have been of establishing Caledonian Maritime Assets Ltd.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what the costs have been of establishing Caledonian Maritime Assets Ltd.","AnswerText":"I refer the member to the answer to question S2W-31530 on 6 March 2007. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament''s website the search facility for which can be found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/wa.search. ","AnswerDate":"2008-02-21T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-02-25T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Stewart Stevenson","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":215769,"EventID":"S3W-09108","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2167,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":3,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-28T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-28T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what the annual running costs of the administration of Caledonian Maritime Assets Ltd are estimated to be in terms of staff salaries and other costs.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what the annual running costs of the administration of Caledonian Maritime Assets Ltd are estimated to be in terms of staff salaries and other costs.","AnswerText":"The annual running costs of the administration of Caledonian Maritime Assets Ltd is estimated to be £1 million.","AnswerDate":"2008-02-21T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-02-25T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Stewart Stevenson","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":215770,"EventID":"S3W-09109","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2167,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":3,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-28T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-28T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will publish the staffing structure of Caledonian Maritime Assets Ltd.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will publish the staffing structure of Caledonian Maritime Assets Ltd.","AnswerText":"The staffing structure of Caledonian Maritime Assets Ltd is published on their website at www.cmassets.co.uk/organisationalinformation.htm.","AnswerDate":"2008-02-21T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-02-25T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Stewart Stevenson","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":215771,"EventID":"S3W-09110","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2167,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":3,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-28T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-28T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive who owns Lochboisdale harbour.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive who owns Lochboisdale harbour.","AnswerText":"Caledonian Maritime Assets Ltd (CMAL) owns Lochboisdale pier and owns the linkspan which occupies land leased from the Crown Estate Commissioners. CMAL also has title to the buildings including the waiting room/ticket office and store room, vehicle marshalling area and the car parking area.","AnswerDate":"2008-02-21T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-02-25T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Stewart Stevenson","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":215772,"EventID":"S3W-09111","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2167,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":3,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-28T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-28T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive who owns Caledonian Maritime Assets Ltd.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive who owns Caledonian Maritime Assets Ltd.","AnswerText":"Caledonian MacBrayne Limited was restructured into an asset owning and leasing company, Caledonian Maritime Assets Limited and a ferry operating company, David MacBrayne Ltd in October 2006 by the previous administration, in preparation for the tendering of the Clyde and Hebrides ferry services. Caledonian Maritime Assets Limited is wholly owned by Scottish ministers. ","AnswerDate":"2008-02-21T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-02-25T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Stewart Stevenson","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":215773,"EventID":"S3W-09112","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2167,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":3,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-28T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-28T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether Scottish ministers have discretion to offer assets under their control directly or at arms length through an agency or company owned by the government to other pa","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether Scottish ministers have discretion to offer assets under their control directly or at arms length through an agency or company owned by the government to other parties and, if so, what constraints or requirements Scottish ministers are under in disposing of such assets.","AnswerText":"The Scottish ministers and arms length bodies may dispose of or lease assets subject to the relevant guidance in the Scottish Public Finance Manual. In any potential transfer of assets consideration would have to be given to the impact on business continuity and service delivery. ","AnswerDate":"2008-02-21T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-02-25T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Stewart Stevenson","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":215774,"EventID":"S3W-09113","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2167,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":3,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-29T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-29T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what the value is of Caledonian Maritime Assets Ltd’s fixed assets in terms of harbour facilities, broken down by facility.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what the value is of Caledonian Maritime Assets Ltd’s fixed assets in terms of harbour facilities, broken down by facility.","AnswerText":"The value of Caledonian Maritime Assets Ltd''s fixed assets is £23.7 million as contained in Caledonian Maritime Assets Ltd''s Annual Report and Consolidated Financial Statements for 2006-07 laid before Parliament on 29 November 2007. The report was published by the Scottish Government on the same day “ (Bib. number SE/2007/245). A breakdown of these written down values is shown on the table below. Written Down Value of Assets Per Facility “ as at 31 March 2007 | Location | £000 | Location | £000 | | Armadale | 2,088 | Kyleakin | 1 | | Brodick | 1,297 | Largs | 195 | | Castlebay | 1,721 | Lochaline | 199 | | Claonaig | 0 | Lochboisdale | 596 | | Colintraive | 515 | Lochranza | 552 | | Coll | 1,566 | Mallaig | 1,496 | | Colonsay | 884 | Oban | 4,142 | | Craignure | 0 | Port Ellen | 145 | | Cumbrae | 34 | Rhubodach | 45 | | Dunoon | 0 | Rothesay | 564 | | Fionnphort | 138 | Stornoway | 0 | | Fishnish | 154 | Tarbert Harris | 1,659 | | ","AnswerDate":"2008-02-21T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-02-26T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Stewart Stevenson","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":215776,"EventID":"S3W-09115","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2167,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":3,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-29T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-29T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what powers Caledonian Maritime Assets Ltd has to borrow cash for investment in its harbours and vessels.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what powers Caledonian Maritime Assets Ltd has to borrow cash for investment in its harbours and vessels.","AnswerText":"Caledonian Maritime Assets Ltd (CMAL) already has, and uses, the power to borrow money from central government. Public corporations, such as CMAL, are only allowed to borrow commercially in certain strictly defined circumstances. Any proposal by CMAL to borrow cash commercially would be considered on its merits and would be judged against the applicable rules. If CMAL was to borrow commercially, such borrowings would count against the Scottish Government''s capital budget. ","AnswerDate":"2008-02-21T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-02-26T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Stewart Stevenson","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":215777,"EventID":"S3W-09116","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2167,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":3,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-29T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-29T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what investment plans Caledonian Maritime Assets Ltd has for each of the harbours that it owns.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what investment plans Caledonian Maritime Assets Ltd has for each of the harbours that it owns.","AnswerText":"I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-9114 on 21 February 2008. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament''s website the search facility for which can be found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/wa.search.","AnswerDate":"2008-02-21T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-02-26T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Stewart Stevenson","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":215778,"EventID":"S3W-09117","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2167,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":3,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-29T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-29T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what rental or other payments it makes to the Crown Estate annually and in respect of what functions.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what rental or other payments it makes to the Crown Estate annually and in respect of what functions.","AnswerText":"The Scottish Government and its agencies use a number of diverse payment systems. Comprehensive information of the type sought is not available centrally. The Scottish Government itself does not rent any of the property it occupies from the Crown Estate.","AnswerDate":"2008-02-22T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-02-26T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Michael Russell","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":215779,"EventID":"S3W-09118","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2167,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":3,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-29T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-29T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether Caledonian Maritime Assets Ltd can enter joint ventures to invest in or operate any of its harbours.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether Caledonian Maritime Assets Ltd can enter joint ventures to invest in or operate any of its harbours.","AnswerText":"Caledonian Maritime Assets Limited (CMAL) can enter into joint ventures like any other public body. However, before committing to any such arrangement CMAL would be required to produce evidence that this is the most efficient, economic and effective means of achieving the agreed objectives. CMAL would also have to demonstrate that its share of any joint venture is affordable.","AnswerDate":"2008-02-21T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-02-26T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Stewart Stevenson","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":215780,"EventID":"S3W-09119","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2167,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":3,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-29T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-29T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive when the quinquennial review of the Cairngorms National Park will commence; how the review will be conducted, and by whom.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive when the quinquennial review of the Cairngorms National Park will commence; how the review will be conducted, and by whom.","AnswerText":"I intend to make an announcement to Parliament next week about a strategic review of the national parks and about matters relating to their boundaries.","AnswerDate":"2008-03-06T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-02-26T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Michael Russell","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":215781,"EventID":"S3W-09120","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2167,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":3,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-29T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-29T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether the quinquennial review of the Cairngorms National Park will include a review of its boundaries.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether the quinquennial review of the Cairngorms National Park will include a review of its boundaries.","AnswerText":"I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-9119 on 6 March 2008. All answers to written parliamentary question's are available on the Parliament's website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/wa.search.","AnswerDate":"2008-03-06T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-02-26T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Michael Russell","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":215782,"EventID":"S3W-09121","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2167,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":3,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-29T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-29T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether any review of the Cairngorms National Park boundaries, which may form part of its quinquennial review, will seek the views of interested parties as part of the re","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether any review of the Cairngorms National Park boundaries, which may form part of its quinquennial review, will seek the views of interested parties as part of the review process; if so, who will be consulted and whether any consultation will be limited to particular areas.","AnswerText":"I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-9119 on 6 March 2008. All answers to written parliamentary question's are available on the Parliament's website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/wa.search.","AnswerDate":"2008-03-06T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-02-26T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Michael Russell","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":215783,"EventID":"S3W-09122","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2167,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":3,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-29T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-29T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether any review of the Cairngorms National Park boundaries will include consideration of changes to the boundary around Dava Moor.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether any review of the Cairngorms National Park boundaries will include consideration of changes to the boundary around Dava Moor.","AnswerText":"I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-9119 on 6 March 2008. All answers to written parliamentary question's are available on the Parliament's website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/wa.search.","AnswerDate":"2008-03-06T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-02-26T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Michael Russell","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":215784,"EventID":"S3W-09123","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1866,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":30,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-29T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-29T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive which organisations are providing advice to the Scottish Government on the development of the carbon assessment tool referred to by the Cabinet Secretary for Finance and ","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive which organisations are providing advice to the Scottish Government on the development of the carbon assessment tool referred to by the Cabinet Secretary for Finance and Sustainable Growth on 23 January 2008 (Official Report, c. 5290).","AnswerText":"Work on the development of a carbon impact assessment tool is at an early stage. We are in discussion with the Sustainable Development Commission and considering what other organisations can assist us in this work.","AnswerDate":"2008-02-21T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-02-26T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Stewart Stevenson","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":215785,"EventID":"S3W-09124","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1866,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":30,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-29T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-29T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will seek to develop a carbon assessment tool that will be capable of operation across central and local government in the United Kingdom or whether it will us","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will seek to develop a carbon assessment tool that will be capable of operation across central and local government in the United Kingdom or whether it will use a separate methodology for Scotland.","AnswerText":"The Scottish Government is developing a tool to assess the carbon impact of all government spending in Scotland. This tool will be based on the guidance recently issued by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) on how to value greenhouse gas emissions in government appraisals using the Shadow Price of Carbon. Further information on the Defra guidance is available at: www.defra.gov.uk/environment/climatechange/research/carboncost/index. ","AnswerDate":"2008-02-21T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-02-26T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Stewart Stevenson","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":215786,"EventID":"S3W-09125","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1866,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":30,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-29T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-29T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive why, following the recommendations of the Sustainable Development Commission, it has not extended its waste strategy to include commercial waste.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive why, following the recommendations of the Sustainable Development Commission, it has not extended its waste strategy to include commercial waste.","AnswerText":"The Parliamentary Statement on waste policy on 24 January announced the government''s intention to review the National Waste Plan. The review will consider commercial and industrial waste and, as indicated in the statement, the government will consult on new targets to reduce the amount of commercial waste that goes to landfill. Landfill Tax, a key policy lever in relation to commercial and industrial waste, is a reserved matter. However, the Scottish Government is carrying out or supporting a wide range of work on commercial waste including producer responsibility, the report by the Wood Fuel Task Force and Envirowise, which provides advice to business on waste prevention: http://www.usewoodfuel.co.uk/Docs/WFTF%20final%20report%20for%20web.pdf, http://www.envirowise.gov.uk/scotland. ","AnswerDate":"2008-02-20T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-02-26T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Richard Lochhead","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":215787,"EventID":"S3W-09126","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1866,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":30,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-29T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-29T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive why its new waste targets only include waste collected by local authorities.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive why its new waste targets only include waste collected by local authorities.","AnswerText":"The parliamentary statement on waste policy in January announced the Scottish Government's intention to review the National Waste Plan. The statement also indicated that as part of this review the government would consult on new targets to reduce the amount of commercial waste that goes to landfill.","AnswerDate":"2008-02-21T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-02-26T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Richard Lochhead","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":215788,"EventID":"S3W-09127","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1866,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":30,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-29T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-29T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to set targets for the recycling and reduction of (a) commercial and industrial, (b) construction and demolition and (c) agricultural waste.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to set targets for the recycling and reduction of (a) commercial and industrial, (b) construction and demolition and (c) agricultural waste.","AnswerText":"The Scottish Government intends to consider setting targets for waste in these sectors as part of the review of the National Waste Plan.","AnswerDate":"2008-02-20T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-02-26T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Richard Lochhead","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":215789,"EventID":"S3W-09128","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1866,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":30,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-29T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-29T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether, in respect of its new targets on waste, it will pay the fines of local authorities that have submitted plans to it which the Cabinet Secretary for Rural Affairs ","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether, in respect of its new targets on waste, it will pay the fines of local authorities that have submitted plans to it which the Cabinet Secretary for Rural Affairs and the Environment has not approved.","AnswerText":"I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-9129 on 20 February 2008. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament''s website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/wa.search.","AnswerDate":"2008-02-20T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-02-26T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Richard Lochhead","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":215790,"EventID":"S3W-09129","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1866,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":30,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-29T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-29T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether, in respect of its targets on waste, it will pay the fines of local authorities that now have to change their plans for dealing with waste, following the minister","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether, in respect of its targets on waste, it will pay the fines of local authorities that now have to change their plans for dealing with waste, following the ministerial statement on 24 January 2008. ","AnswerText":"No. The Landfill Allowance Scheme (Scotland) Regulations 2005 set maximum amounts of biodegradable municipal waste that can be disposed of by local authorities to landfill each year and any penalty liabilities that are notified by the Scottish ministers under the regulations fall to the local authorities themselves. In any event, the distribution of year-on-year allowances has only been set up until 2010 and none of the local authority plans envisaged delivery of infrastructure before this time.","AnswerDate":"2008-02-20T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-02-26T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Richard Lochhead","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":215791,"EventID":"S3W-09130","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1866,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":30,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-29T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-29T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive, in light of Audit Scotland’s analysis of the greater cost of delivering higher waste recycling targets, what additional resources will be available to meet the higher ta","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive, in light of Audit Scotland’s analysis of the greater cost of delivering higher waste recycling targets, what additional resources will be available to meet the higher targets in the Scottish Government’s new waste strategy (a) across Scotland and (b) in each local authority area in each of the next three years.","AnswerText":"The Scottish Government will provide local authorities with record levels of funding over the period covered by the spending review 2008-11. The vast majority of the funding, including the former ring-fenced Strategic Waste Fund, will be provided by means of a block grant. It will therefore be the responsibility of each local authority to allocate financial resources to meet its obligations, needs and priorities. In addition to this, Scottish Government''s spending plans for the period 2008-11 included an allocation of £154 million to the Zero Waste Fund. The proposed expenditure across Scotland is £41.1 million in 2008-09; £54.4 million in 2009-10, and £58.7 million in 2010-11. Around £50 million of the total will be spent on support of delivery bodies but the remaining £100 million is intended to be spent on putting the necessary infrastructure in place to meet our longer term waste targets post 2010-11. A short-life working group will shortly be established between Scottish Government and COSLA to determine how this financial resource should be best deployed. ","AnswerDate":"2008-02-20T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-02-26T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Richard Lochhead","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":215792,"EventID":"S3W-09131","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1866,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":30,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-29T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-29T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether the 60% efficiency targets for waste-to-energy plants, referred to in the ministerial statement on 24 January 2008, will be enforced from day one of the operation","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether the 60% efficiency targets for waste-to-energy plants, referred to in the ministerial statement on 24 January 2008, will be enforced from day one of the operation of the plants or whether the targets relate to the theoretical ability of such plants to achieve high efficiency levels.","AnswerText":"The government''s intention is that energy from waste plants should have efficiency levels of at least 60%. However, the government recognises that in some cases developments such as planned housing or factories to take the heat generated by the energy from waste plants may not be in place when any plants start to operate. In these cases, the government would expect the operators of the plants to have clear plans in place to use the heat once other developments are in place. The operators would, of course, be expected to develop facilities capable of utilising waste heat at the outset.","AnswerDate":"2008-02-20T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-02-26T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Richard Lochhead","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":215793,"EventID":"S3W-09132","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1866,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":30,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-29T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-29T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what its interpretation is of the proximity principle.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what its interpretation is of the proximity principle.","AnswerText":"Paragraph 2.1.2 of the current National Waste Plan says: The proximity and self-sufficiency principles require waste to be dealt with as close as possible to where it is produced. It is European Union policy that individual Member States should deal with their own waste, avoiding export to other countries. Scotland aims to follow this principle. However, it is acknowledged that dealing with all waste within Scotland may not be possible and may not always be the best solution. Scotland also aims to follow the proximity principle as far as possible at area waste planning level, although there may clear benefits from joint infrastructure solutions between areas. (http://www.sepa.org.uk/pdf/nws/guidance/national_plan_2003.pdf)","AnswerDate":"2008-02-20T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-02-26T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Richard Lochhead","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":215794,"EventID":"S3W-09133","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1866,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":30,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-29T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-29T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether the proximity principle will be a material issue for determining planning applications for new waste facilities.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether the proximity principle will be a material issue for determining planning applications for new waste facilities.","AnswerText":"Although priority must initially be given to the development plan in determining a planning application, other relevant issues may also be considered depending on the facts and circumstances of each case. The proximity principle may therefore be a material consideration in determining planning applications for new waste facilities.","AnswerDate":"2008-02-20T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-02-26T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Richard Lochhead","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":215795,"EventID":"S3W-09134","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1866,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":30,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-29T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-29T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether it plans to update planning guidance on waste in order to reflect the new waste targets and, if so, when.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether it plans to update planning guidance on waste in order to reflect the new waste targets and, if so, when.","AnswerText":"As the Government indicated in the Parliamentary statement on waste on 24 January 2008, we will ensure that the new National Planning Framework reflects the government''s key objectives on waste.","AnswerDate":"2008-02-20T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-02-26T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Richard Lochhead","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":215796,"EventID":"S3W-09135","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1866,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":30,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-29T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-29T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether it intends to set detailed specifications in order to guide local authorities about the safety and capability of new waste management and treatment technologies, ","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether it intends to set detailed specifications in order to guide local authorities about the safety and capability of new waste management and treatment technologies, as refered to by the Cabinet Secretary for Rural Affairs and the Environment on 24 January 2008 (Official Report c. 4596).","AnswerText":"As indicated in the parliamentary statement on waste policy on 24 January, the government will include material in the National Planning Framework to reflect the government''s priorities on waste. In addition, the Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA) are producing revised guidelines on energy from waste plants, to reflect the need for high efficiency plants. SEPA are also responsible for the licensing of waste management plants. Guidance on waste technologies can be found on the Waste Technology Data Centre website, which has been supported by SEPA. http://www.environment-agency.gov.uk/wtd/.","AnswerDate":"2008-02-20T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-02-26T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Richard Lochhead","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":215797,"EventID":"S3W-09136","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1866,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":30,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-29T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-29T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether the Scottish Environment Protection Agency will be expected to give local authorities specific advice in achieving the proximity principle, whereby there is a pre","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether the Scottish Environment Protection Agency will be expected to give local authorities specific advice in achieving the proximity principle, whereby there is a presumption that all schemes will be located close to the source of the waste and will be of an appropriate scale.","AnswerText":"It is not for the Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA) to advise local authorities on the proximity principle. Instead, it is for the land-use planning system to determine the location of plants. SEPA is a statutory consultee on planning applications relating to waste management facilities.","AnswerDate":"2008-02-20T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-02-26T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Richard Lochhead","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":215798,"EventID":"S3W-09137","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1866,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":30,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-29T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-29T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the ministerial statement on 24 January 2008, whether it will clarify what exactly will be counted as recycling in respect of meeting waste targets.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the ministerial statement on 24 January 2008, whether it will clarify what exactly will be counted as recycling in respect of meeting waste targets.","AnswerText":"The previous administration, in Technical Notes relating to spending reviews, used a definition of recycling, including organic waste which is composted, contained in the Producer Responsibility Obligations (Packaging Waste) Regulations 1997. This definition is that recycling means the reprocessing in a production process of the waste materials for the original purpose or for other purposes including organic recycling but excluding energy recovery.","AnswerDate":"2008-02-20T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-02-26T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Richard Lochhead","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":215799,"EventID":"S3W-09138","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1866,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":30,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-29T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-29T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the ministerial statement on 24 January 2008, whether it intends to set specific levels for composting.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the ministerial statement on 24 January 2008, whether it intends to set specific levels for composting.","AnswerText":"The targets announced in my statement on 24 January 2008 were combined targets for both recycling and composting of municipal waste. The review of the National Waste Plan will consider the case for separate composting targets.","AnswerDate":"2008-02-20T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-02-26T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Richard Lochhead","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":215800,"EventID":"S3W-09139","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1756,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":7,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-29T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-29T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive how many proposed large-scale poultry developments that lie in the migratory path of birds known to carry the avian flu virus have been notified to Scottish ministers.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive how many proposed large-scale poultry developments that lie in the migratory path of birds known to carry the avian flu virus have been notified to Scottish ministers.","AnswerText":"Large-scale poultry developments are dealt with through the local authority planning consents process, and there are no additional requirements for these to be notified to Scottish ministers. All poultry keepers with 50 or more birds are legally required to supply their contact details to the Great Britain Poultry register. Keepers of less than 50 birds are encouraged to register on a voluntary basis. On 9 January 2008, the register held details of 2,231 Scottish premises. Bird migration takes place across very wide fronts, and it is appropriate to assume that the whole of Great Britain lies under migratory flyways. ","AnswerDate":"2008-02-20T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-02-26T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Richard Lochhead","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":215802,"EventID":"S3W-09141","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1756,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":7,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-29T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-29T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what preparations are being considered to deal with any major outbreak of avian flu originating from large-scale poultry developments.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what preparations are being considered to deal with any major outbreak of avian flu originating from large-scale poultry developments.","AnswerText":"Preparations are already in place to deal with any outbreak of avian influenza. These preparations include on-going surveillance of wild birds and domestic poultry, a contingency plan to be activated in the event of an outbreak, and supporting infrastructure such as the animal health agency. Exercises are held regularly to test preparedness and communications between organisations.","AnswerDate":"2008-02-20T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-02-26T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Richard Lochhead","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":215803,"EventID":"S3W-09142","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1756,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":7,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-29T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-29T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive how many people are employed in the poultry industry, broken down by local authority area.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive how many people are employed in the poultry industry, broken down by local authority area.","AnswerText":"Information on the total number of people employed throughout all parts of the poultry industry is not available in the Scottish Government. Information is available from the June Agricultural Census on the number of people working on specialist poultry holdings1. The following table shows the number of people working full-time and part-time on 1 June 2007 by local authority area, and includes occupiers, spouses, family members, employees as well as casual and seasonal workers. | Local Authority | Holdings | Workers | | Aberdeen City | * | * | | Aberdeenshire | 231 | 254 | | Angus | 28 | 49 | | Argyll and Bute | 64 | 76 | | Clackmannanshire | 9 | 30 | | Dumfries and Galloway | 129 | 212 | | Dundee City | 0 | 0 | | East Ayrshire | 29 | 48 | | East Dunbartonshire | 7 | 17 | | East Lothian | 14 | 50 | | East Renfrewshire | * | * | | Edinburgh (City of) | * | * | | Eilean Siar | 73 | 52 | | Falkirk | 18 | 33 | | Fife | 69 | 228 ","AnswerDate":"2008-02-20T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-02-26T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Richard Lochhead","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":215804,"EventID":"S3W-09143","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1756,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":7,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-29T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-29T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what scientific advice it has sought regarding the proposed major development of a large poultry farm in the Scottish Borders which will be situated below the flight path","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what scientific advice it has sought regarding the proposed major development of a large poultry farm in the Scottish Borders which will be situated below the flight path of a number of species of migratory birds.","AnswerText":"This planning application has been notified to Scottish ministers who are currently considering whether or not it should be called in for their own determination or cleared back to the council. No scientific advice has been sought.","AnswerDate":"2008-02-21T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-02-26T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Stewart Stevenson","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":215805,"EventID":"S3W-09144","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1862,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":37,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-29T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-29T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will list the Barnett consequentials that it has received from the UK Government in this financial year.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will list the Barnett consequentials that it has received from the UK Government in this financial year.","AnswerText":"Since 2004, the Scottish Governmenthave received the following additional Barnett consequentials for the 2007-08 financialyear: | | £ Million | | Pre Budget Report-2004 | 2007-08 | | Employer Training Pilots | 13.385 | | Child Care | 13.182 | | Financial Inclusion Fund | 3.066 | | Bookstart and early Education | 1.938 | | Total | 31,571 | | Budget 2005 | | | Free Bus Travel for Pensioners | 37.485 | | DfES Increases | 31.926 | | Arts Council | 0.663 | | Russell Commission | 6.836 | | DTI Enterprise Measures | 10.608 | | Total | 87.518 | | Pre Budget Report 2005 | | | Holocaust Education Trust | 0.200 | | Education Exports | 0.300 | | Youth Services Provision | 2.700 | | Carbon Trust Loans | 2.000 | | Heating for Pensioners | 10.600 | | Employer Training Pilots | 3.800 | | Children’s Measures | 2.700 | | Total | 22.300 | | Budget 2006 | | | Education | 37.011 | | Further Education | 4.766 | | Education and Science | 0.913 | | Grass roots sport | 0.101 | | Women in Work Commission | 2.028 | | Smart Metering (Capital Grants) | 0.101 | | Football Foundation | 0.101 | | Education and Exports | 0.203 | | Education and Youth media | 0.304 | | Workplace nurseries | ","AnswerDate":"2008-02-06T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-02-26T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Adam Ingram","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":215807,"EventID":"S3W-09146","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1862,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":37,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-29T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-29T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what funds from the health budget have been targeted at children and young people in each year from 2003-04 to 2007-08.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what funds from the health budget have been targeted at children and young people in each year from 2003-04 to 2007-08.","AnswerText":"All NHS boards receive an annual allocation of funds. It is for each NHS board to decide how best to utilise these funds to meet the health care needs of its resident population taking account of national and local priorities. Data is not held centrally on expenditure on specific age groups.","AnswerDate":"2008-02-21T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-02-26T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Nicola Sturgeon","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":215808,"EventID":"S3W-09147","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1862,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":37,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-29T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-29T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what pilot projects funded from the (a) Schools and (b) Children, Young People and Social Care budget lines (i) ended in March 2007 and (ii) will end in March 2008.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what pilot projects funded from the (a) Schools and (b) Children, Young People and Social Care budget lines (i) ended in March 2007 and (ii) will end in March 2008.","AnswerText":"The following tables show pilot projects funded from the (a) Schools and (b) Children, Young People and Social Care budget lines (i) ended in the year to March 2007 and (ii) ending (or already ended) in the year to March 2008. Under the terms of the concordat between the Scottish Government and local government decisions on the future funding of these pilot projects rightly rests with local authorities who are best able to prioritise on the basis of local need. Table (a) “ Schools | Project | Year to March 2007 | Year to March 2008 | | SELF/Motivated School Pilot Project - Glasgow | X | | | Barnado''s Inclusive Education Project | X | | | Design For Learning “ North Lanarkshire, Aberdeen, Clackmannanshire, East Ayrshire, Moray, Argyll and Bute and Scottish Borders | X | | | Arts and Minds - Glasgow City | X | | | Confident to Learn “ East Renfrewshire | X | | | Arts and the Heart - East Renfrewshire | X | | | Instrumental Music Lessons through VC “ Dumfries and Galloway | X | | | East Ayrshire Gaelic Project “ East Ayrshire | X | | | Inspiring Enquiring Minds -Jordanhill School | X | | | Coaching and Mentoring projects “ all authorities with exception of Moray and Highland | X | | | Leadership project - Moray | | X | | Leadership project - Highland | | X | | Nurturing initiative - Stirling & West Dunbartonshire A Curriculum for Excellence identifies literacy skills as a key theme across the curriculum with all teachers having a role in promoting literacy development.> The draft experiences and outcomes for English and literacy, released for engagement on 21 February, explore the role of learning about language under three main lines of development: listening and talking, reading and writing. The draft outcomes offer opportunities for schools to develop literacy skills through debate, presentation and speech. National Qualifications in English offer opportunities for pupils to develop skills in speech and debate. Pupils participate in group discussions and individual talk and there is the option of assessable spoken work at most levels. There are also several free-standing national units which schools may offer, including units specifically on individual presentation and debating. ","AnswerDate":"2008-02-21T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-02-26T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Maureen Watt","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":215810,"EventID":"S3W-09149","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2651,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":41,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-29T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-29T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive how many affordable homes for rent it will build from 2008 to 2011.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive how many affordable homes for rent it will build from 2008 to 2011.","AnswerText":"On the basis of the reforms proposed in our discussion document, Firm Foundations: the Future of Housing in Scotland, the Scottish Government expects that the increased budget for affordable housing of £1.5 billion in 2008-11 will deliver more new affordable homes “ including social rented houses and houses for low cost home ownership “ than planned for 2005-08. Responses to the discussion document are currently being analysed.","AnswerDate":"2008-03-04T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-02-26T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Stewart Maxwell","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":215811,"EventID":"S3W-09150","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2651,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":41,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-29T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-29T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether it considers the Bramley model to be an accurate account of housing need.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether it considers the Bramley model to be an accurate account of housing need.","AnswerText":"Professor Glen Bramley''s Local Housing Need and Affordability model for Scotland was commissioned by the previous administration. The most recent update of the model was published in November 2006 and offered assessments of housing need and affordability at local authority and housing market area levels based on data from 2005, with forward projections to 2021. In many cases, Bramley''s estimates differ from the housing needs assessments undertaken for individual local authorities. This is due to the fact that local authority housing needs assessments vary in terms of coverage, time series and methodology. While it is not possible to model affordable housing need with complete precision, the Bramley model has produced a consistent set of estimates as the basis for national policy making.","AnswerDate":"2008-02-20T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-02-26T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Stewart Maxwell","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":215812,"EventID":"S3W-09151","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2651,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":41,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-29T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-29T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has any plans to update the Bramley model to estimate affordable housing need.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has any plans to update the Bramley model to estimate affordable housing need.","AnswerText":"The Scottish Government has no immediate plans to update Bramley''s model of affordable housing need. We have recently commissioned a Scottish model of housing supply and affordability which will allow us to strengthen our future forecasts. This new model will allow scenario analysis at the national and sub-Scotland level of the relationship between house building and affordability. This will not replace the Bramley model, but act as another tool to aid policy-making.","AnswerDate":"2008-02-20T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-02-26T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Stewart Maxwell","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":215813,"EventID":"S3W-09152","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2633,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":5,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-29T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-29T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will provide an update on proposals for ship-to-ship oil transfers in the Firth of Forth.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will provide an update on proposals for ship-to-ship oil transfers in the Firth of Forth.","AnswerText":"On February 1 Forth Ports plc announced it would not be proceeding with its proposals for ship to ship oil transfers in the Forth of Forth. Forth Ports news release can be found at: http://www.forthports.co.uk/ports/uploads/press/PressRelease-ShiptoShipTransfers-1Feb08.pdf. The Scottish Government news release can be found at: http://www.scotland.gov.uk/News/Releases/2008/02/01095507. ","AnswerDate":"2008-02-20T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-02-26T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Richard Lochhead","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":215814,"EventID":"S3W-09153","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2633,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":5,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-29T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-29T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive when it plans to have completed the work with Forth Ports plc on its assessment of proposals for ship-to-ship oil transfers in the Firth of Forth.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive when it plans to have completed the work with Forth Ports plc on its assessment of proposals for ship-to-ship oil transfers in the Firth of Forth.","AnswerText":"Forth Ports'' assessments of the proposals for ship-to-ship oil transfers in the Firth of Forth can be accessed on http://www.forthports.co.uk/ports/marine/shiptoship/. SNH have provided comments on earlier drafts of the environmental report. In these circumstances, where Forth Ports plc have decided not to proceed with the proposal, the Scottish Government does not intend to continue working with Forth Ports on the assessment, or to provide further comment on the reports. ","AnswerDate":"2008-02-21T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-02-26T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Richard Lochhead","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":215815,"EventID":"S3W-09154","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2633,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":5,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-29T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-29T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive when it last met representatives of Forth Ports plc.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive when it last met representatives of Forth Ports plc.","AnswerText":"Officials of the Scottish Government last met representatives of Forth Ports on 30 January.","AnswerDate":"2008-02-20T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-02-26T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Richard Lochhead","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":215816,"EventID":"S3W-09155","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2085,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":27,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-29T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-29T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what action it is taking to improve the safety of pedestrians crossing the Tore roundabout on the A9.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what action it is taking to improve the safety of pedestrians crossing the Tore roundabout on the A9.","AnswerText":"A range of safety enhancements for pedestrians are included in the A835 Tore to Maryburgh Cycle Track contract which is expected to be awarded at the end of February 2008.","AnswerDate":"2008-03-03T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-02-26T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Stewart Stevenson","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":215817,"EventID":"S3W-09156","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1803,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":58,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-29T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-29T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive how it will increase the uptake of self-directed support for people with learning disabilities.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive how it will increase the uptake of self-directed support for people with learning disabilities.","AnswerText":"The Scottish Government is fully committed to increasing the uptake of self-directed support for all those eligible for it, including people with learning disabilities, and is currently undertaking research to identify best practice for supporting local authorities to do so.","AnswerDate":"2008-02-25T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-02-26T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Shona Robison","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":215818,"EventID":"S3W-09157","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1768,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":60,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-29T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-29T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether mammals bred and reared in enclosures are considered to be farmed animals and are subject to the same legal protection in respect of their welfare as agricultural","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether mammals bred and reared in enclosures are considered to be farmed animals and are subject to the same legal protection in respect of their welfare as agricultural animals.","AnswerText":"Mammals bred and reared in enclosures would have the same protection as domestic animals under Part 2 of the Animal Heath and Welfare (Scotland) Act 2006, if the enclosure was of a size that the animals could not be considered to be living in the wild. This act states that an animal is a protected animal if it is of a kind which is commonly domesticated in the British Isles, under the control of man, or not living in a wide state.","AnswerDate":"2008-02-20T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-02-26T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Richard Lochhead","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":215819,"EventID":"S3W-09158","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1768,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":60,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-29T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-29T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether it is legal to hunt farmed mammals with dogs.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether it is legal to hunt farmed mammals with dogs.","AnswerText":"The Protection of WildMammals (Scotland) Act 2002 makes it an offence to hunt wild mammalswith dogs. Wild mammals include wild mammals which have escaped, or beenreleased, from captivity and any mammal which is living in the wild. Therefore,it would not be an offence under this legislation to hunt farmed animals withdogs unless they were living in the wild.However, farmed animals areprotected under the Animal Health and Welfare (Scotland) Act 2006, which makesit an offence to cause them unnecessary suffering. ","AnswerDate":"2008-02-07T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-02-26T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Richard Lochhead","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":215820,"EventID":"S3W-09159","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2596,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":7,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-29T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-29T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what percentage of (a) children and (b) adults in each NHS board area would have been classed as registered with an NHS dentist, based on the most recent figures availabl","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what percentage of (a) children and (b) adults in each NHS board area would have been classed as registered with an NHS dentist, based on the most recent figures available, if the registration period had not been extended in 2006.","AnswerText":"Centrally held information does not currently allow for the specific identification of everyone who would have been classed as registered with a dentist under NHS arrangements, based on the most recent figures available, if the registration period had not been extended in 2006. However, information on lapsed registrations is available and is published at: http://www.isdscotland.org/isd/5137.html. ","AnswerDate":"2008-02-21T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-02-26T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Shona Robison","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":215821,"EventID":"S3W-09160","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2596,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":7,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-29T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-29T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what percentage of (a) children and (b) adults in each NHS board area who are registered with an NHS dentist have attended for assessment or treatment within the last 15 ","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what percentage of (a) children and (b) adults in each NHS board area who are registered with an NHS dentist have attended for assessment or treatment within the last 15 months, based on the most recent figures available.","AnswerText":"Centrally held information does not currently allow for the specific identification of everyone registered with a dentist under NHS arrangements who have attended for assessment or treatment within the last 15 months, based on the most recent figures available. However, information on registrations with the NHS general dental service is available and is published at: http://www.isdscotland.org/isd/4680.html. ","AnswerDate":"2008-02-21T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-02-26T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Shona Robison","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":215822,"EventID":"S3W-09161","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2603,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":6,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-29T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-29T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what action it is taking to provide extra carriages for peak time train travel across Scotland.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what action it is taking to provide extra carriages for peak time train travel across Scotland.","AnswerText":"A rolling stock programme identifying and responding to rolling stock needs to deliver Transport Scotland''s priorities for rail is being developed.","AnswerDate":"2008-02-21T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-02-26T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Stewart Stevenson","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":215823,"EventID":"S3W-09162","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2603,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":6,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-29T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-29T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to tackle commuter congestion on peak time trains in the north east and across Scotland.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to tackle commuter congestion on peak time trains in the north east and across Scotland.","AnswerText":"In addition to improving journey times, through infrastructure enhancements and timetable changes, we are investing in new services and we are enhancing rolling stock to provide increased capacity for passengers. I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-9161 on 21 February 2008. A rolling stock programme identifying and responding to rolling stock needs to deliver Transport Scotland''s priorities for rail is being developed. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament''s website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/wa.search. ","AnswerDate":"2008-02-21T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-02-26T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Stewart Stevenson","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":215824,"EventID":"S3W-09163","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2603,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":6,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-29T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-29T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to increase spending on tackling organised crime in the north east.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to increase spending on tackling organised crime in the north east.","AnswerText":"We have established the serious organised crime taskforce to provide political support and momentum across Scotland to enforcement efforts to tackle the global problem of serious organised crime. However, operational decisions about tackling specific crimes, including the allocation of resources, are for chief constables and other law enforcement agencies. Scottish ministers will continue to support the police with record levels of funding and through the delivery of an additional 1,000 officers to strengthen operational policing in our communities.","AnswerDate":"2008-02-21T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-02-26T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Kenny MacAskill","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":215825,"EventID":"S3W-09164","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2603,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":6,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-29T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-29T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has for increasing the number of apprenticeships available for young people who leave school early in the north east.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has for increasing the number of apprenticeships available for young people who leave school early in the north east.","AnswerText":"The Scottish Government has committed to the provision of at least 50,000 appropriate training opportunities over the next three years. This will include an increase in the total number of modern apprenticeships. From April this year, the allocation of funding for the modern apprenticeships programme by geographical area will be an operational matter for Skills Development Scotland. It will be for Skills Development Scotland, who will assume responsibility for all our national training programmes, to determine all the delivery arrangements from next financial year. ","AnswerDate":"2008-02-21T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-02-26T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Maureen Watt","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":215826,"EventID":"S3W-09165","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1839,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":3,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-29T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-29T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether any harmful effects result from botox injection treatments.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether any harmful effects result from botox injection treatments.","AnswerText":"The safety of medicines is reserved and is the responsibility of the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA). Product information for botox, available to patients and prescribers, lists potential side-effects that may be associated with its use. The safety of botox is continuously monitored by the MHRA through the Yellow Card Scheme. Health professionals and patients are asked to report any suspected adverse reactions to any therapeutic agents. Further information on the Yellow Card Scheme can be found at: www.yellowcard.gov.uk. ","AnswerDate":"2008-02-26T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-02-26T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Shona Robison","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":215827,"EventID":"S3W-09166","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1839,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":3,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-29T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-29T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what advice should be given to people who undertake botox injection treatments for cosmetic purposes.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what advice should be given to people who undertake botox injection treatments for cosmetic purposes.","AnswerText":"Like all medicines, botox does have side-effects and these are listed in the Patient Information Leaflet and the Summary of Product Characteristics. Botox is not licensed for cosmetic use. Any such use outside the licensed indication(s) is entirely the responsibility of the prescribing physician. Ultimately, the decision whether or not to prescribe a medicine rests with the prescriber concerned, in discussion with the patient and bearing in mind the risks and benefits of its use. ","AnswerDate":"2008-02-26T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-02-26T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Shona Robison","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":215828,"EventID":"S3W-09167","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1839,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":3,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-29T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-29T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether the use of dermal fillers for cosmetic purposes is a safe form of treatment.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether the use of dermal fillers for cosmetic purposes is a safe form of treatment.","AnswerText":"The safety of medical devices such as dermal fillers is reserved and is the responsibility of the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA). Dermal fillers are made from a variety of materials. Any fillers placed on the market as medical devices must meet the requirements of the Medical Devices Directive. If the fillers are being placed on the market as devices they must be CE-marked, which indicates that the manufacturer has verified that the product will not compromise the clinical condition or the safety of patients when used under the conditions and for the purposes intended and that the risks are outweighed by the benefits expected from its use for the medical purpose intended by the manufacturer. The MHRA continuously monitor the safety of medicines and devices on the UK market. Information about the work of the MHRA can be found at www.mhra.gov.uk. ","AnswerDate":"2008-02-26T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-02-26T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Shona Robison","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":215829,"EventID":"S3W-09168","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1839,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":3,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-29T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-29T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what the impact on an individual's health is of long-term use of (a) botox treatment and (b) dermal fillers. ","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what the impact on an individual's health is of long-term use of (a) botox treatment and (b) dermal fillers. ","AnswerText":"The safety of medicines is reserved and is the responsibility of the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA). Information about the medicinal use of botox, including potential side-effects, is contained in the Summary of Product Characteristics (SPC). In order to minimise the risk of serious reactions due to the spread or effect of toxin, it is essential that the posology, warnings and precautions are strictly followed as stipulated in the SPC. Most dermal fillers used in the United Kingdom are regulated as medical devices under the Medical Devices Regulations 2002, as amended. CE-marking of a product under the Medical Devices Directive denotes that the risks are outweighed by the benefits expected from its use for the medical purpose intended by the manufacturer. The MHRA continuously monitor the safety of medicines and devices on the UK market. Information about the work of the MHRA can be found at www.mhra.gov.uk. ","AnswerDate":"2008-02-26T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-02-26T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Shona Robison","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":215830,"EventID":"S3W-09169","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1839,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":3,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-29T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-29T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what training, experience and qualifications are required for the purpose of injecting botox treatments.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what training, experience and qualifications are required for the purpose of injecting botox treatments.","AnswerText":"Botox can be self-administered, administered by an appropriate practitioner (for example, doctor, dentist, nurse or pharmacist independent prescriber) or administered by anyone acting in accordance with the directions of an appropriate practitioner. The prescriber should be satisfied that the person who will administer the treatment is competent to do so.","AnswerDate":"2008-02-26T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-02-26T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Shona Robison","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":215831,"EventID":"S3W-09170","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1839,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":3,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-29T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-29T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive, under what circumstances botox injections would be prescribed for cosmetic purposes. ","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive, under what circumstances botox injections would be prescribed for cosmetic purposes. ","AnswerText":"Botox is not licensed for cosmetic purposes. However, Vistabel (botulinum toxin type A) is licensed for the temporary improvement in the appearance of moderate to severe vertical lines between the eyebrows seen at frown in adults aged less than 65 years, when the severity of these lines has an important psychological impact for the patient. Medicines legislation allows for the use of medicines outwith their licensed indication if it is considered to be an appropriate treatment for an individual patient. In these circumstances the prescriber bears a greater degree of responsibility for the use of the medicine. ","AnswerDate":"2008-02-26T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-02-26T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Shona Robison","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":215832,"EventID":"S3W-09171","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1839,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":3,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-29T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-29T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will list the conditions for which botox would be prescribed.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will list the conditions for which botox would be prescribed.","AnswerText":"The licensing of medicines is reserved and is the responsibility of the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency. Botox is indicated for the symptomatic relief of blepharospasm, hemifacial spasm and idiopathic cervical dystonia (spasmodic torticollis). It is indicated for the management of severe hyperhidrosis of the axillae, which does not respond to topical treatment with antiperspirants or antihidrotics. Botox is also indicated for focal spasticity, including the treatment of dynamic equinus foot deformity due to spasticity in ambulant paediatric cerebral palsy patients, two years of age or older and wrist and hand disability due to upper limb spasticity associated with stroke in adults. Medicines legislation allows for the use of medicines outwith their licensed indication if it is considered to be an appropriate treatment for an individual patient. In these circumstances the prescriber bears a greater degree of responsibility for the use of the medicine. ","AnswerDate":"2008-02-26T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-02-26T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Shona Robison ","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":215833,"EventID":"S3W-09172","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1805,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":1,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-29T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-29T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive how many applications there were under the central heating programme during September 2007 and, of these, how many have been assessed, how many applicants have been judge","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive how many applications there were under the central heating programme during September 2007 and, of these, how many have been assessed, how many applicants have been judged as eligible, how many had central heating installed in each calendar month since then and, for those remaining eligible applicants, in which calendar month they have been advised to anticipate installation.","AnswerText":"The managing agent (Scottish Gas) has indicated that 1,910 applications were received in September 2007. Of those, 1,352 applicants have been deemed eligible and 44 remained to be fully assessed at the end of January 2008. From the total number of applicants in September, one received a heating system in October, seven in November, eight in December and 32 received their heating system in January. From the applications still in progress it was expected that 319 will be installed in March, 704 in May and 70 in June. For 2007-08 the average time a householder has waited between applications and the month in which their system was installed has been six months, around the same as it has been since 2004-05 and lower than the eight month average waiting time in 2002-03. ","AnswerDate":"2008-02-26T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-02-26T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Stewart Maxwell","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":215834,"EventID":"S3W-09173","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1805,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":1,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-29T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-29T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive how many applications there were under the central heating programme during October 2007 and, of these, how many have been assessed, how many applicants have been judged ","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive how many applications there were under the central heating programme during October 2007 and, of these, how many have been assessed, how many applicants have been judged as eligible, how many had central heating installed in each calendar month since then and, for those remaining eligible applicants, in which calendar month they have been advised to anticipate installation.","AnswerText":"The managing agent (Scottish Gas) has indicated that 2,584 applications were received in October 2007. Of those 1,832 applicants have been deemed eligible and 68 remained to be fully assessed at the end of January 2008. From the total number of applications in October, one applicant received a heating system in November, eight in December and 15 received their heating system in January. From the applications still in progress it was expected that 230 would be installed in March, 1,214 in June and 83 in July. For 2007-08, the average time a householder has waited between applications and the month in which their system was installed has been six months, around the same as it has been since 2004-05 and lower than the eight month average waiting time in 2002-03. ","AnswerDate":"2008-02-26T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-02-26T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Stewart Maxwell","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":215835,"EventID":"S3W-09174","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1805,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":1,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-29T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-29T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive how many applications there were under the central heating programme during November 2007 and, of these, how many have been assessed, how many applicants have been judged","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive how many applications there were under the central heating programme during November 2007 and, of these, how many have been assessed, how many applicants have been judged as eligible, how many had central heating installed in each calendar month since then and, for those remaining eligible applicants, in which calendar month they have been advised to anticipate installation.","AnswerText":"The managing agent (Scottish Gas) has indicated that 2,554 applications were received in November 2007. Of those 1,619 applicants have been deemed eligible and 123 remain to be fully assessed at the end of January 2008. From the total number of applicants in November, two received a heating system in December and 20 received their heating system in January. From the applications still in progress it was expected that 151 would be installed in March, 1,134 in July and 86 in August. For 2007-08 the average time a householder has waited between applications and the month in which their system was installed has been six months, around the same as it has been since 2004-05 and lower than the eight month average waiting time in 2002-03. ","AnswerDate":"2008-02-26T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-02-26T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Stewart Maxwell","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":215836,"EventID":"S3W-09175","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1805,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":1,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-29T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-29T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive how many applications there were under the central heating programme during December 2007 and, of these, how many have been assessed, how many applicants have been judged","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive how many applications there were under the central heating programme during December 2007 and, of these, how many have been assessed, how many applicants have been judged as eligible, how many had central heating installed in each calendar month since then and, for those remaining eligible applicants, in which calendar month they have been advised to anticipate installation.","AnswerText":"The managing agent (Scottish Gas) has indicated that 1,340 applications were received in December 2007. Of those 775 applicants have been deemed eligible and 164 remain to be fully assessed at the end of January 2008. From the total number of applicants in December, at the end of January none have received a heating system. From the applications still in progress it is expected that 43 would be installed in July 635 in August and 37 in September. For 2007-08 the average time a householder has waited between applications and the month in which their system was installed has been six months, around the same as it has been since 2004-05 and lower than the eight month average waiting time in 2002-03. ","AnswerDate":"2008-02-26T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-02-26T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Stewart Maxwell","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":215837,"EventID":"S3W-09176","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":3775,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":7,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-29T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-29T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive how many multi-use games areas have been installed in (a) primary and (b) secondary schools in each year since 1999, broken down by local authority area.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive how many multi-use games areas have been installed in (a) primary and (b) secondary schools in each year since 1999, broken down by local authority area.","AnswerText":"The information requested is not held centrally.","AnswerDate":"2008-02-21T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-02-26T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Maureen Watt","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":215838,"EventID":"S3W-09177","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":3775,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":7,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-29T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-29T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive how many grass playing fields have been (a) developed, (b) expanded and (c) removed in (i) primary and (ii) secondary schools in each year since 1999, broken down by loca","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive how many grass playing fields have been (a) developed, (b) expanded and (c) removed in (i) primary and (ii) secondary schools in each year since 1999, broken down by local authority area. ","AnswerText":"The information requested is not held centrally.","AnswerDate":"2008-02-21T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-02-26T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Maureen Watt","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":215839,"EventID":"S3W-09178","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2029,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":71,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-29T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-29T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether being under the influence of alcohol is an excuse in law.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether being under the influence of alcohol is an excuse in law.","AnswerText":"I refer the memberto the answer to question S3W-6897 on 12 December 2007. All answers to written parliamentary questions areavailable on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can befound at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/wa.search.","AnswerDate":"2008-02-04T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-02-26T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Kenny MacAskill","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":215840,"EventID":"S3W-09179","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2029,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":71,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-29T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-29T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what legislation is being examined for change to prevent there being an excuse in law of being under the influence of alcohol","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what legislation is being examined for change to prevent there being an excuse in law of being under the influence of alcohol","AnswerText":"My officials are examining the current provisions on sentencing and aggravations and decisions will be made in due course.","AnswerDate":"2008-02-20T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-02-26T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Kenny MacAskill","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":215841,"EventID":"S3W-09180","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2029,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":71,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-29T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-29T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what progress it has made on the Cabinet Secretary for Justice’s commitment to consider legislative change to prevent there being an excuse in law of being under the infl","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what progress it has made on the Cabinet Secretary for Justice’s commitment to consider legislative change to prevent there being an excuse in law of being under the influence of alcohol.","AnswerText":"We are considering how we may use a future Criminal Justice Bill to make a clear statement in law that being under the influence of alcohol during the commission of an offence will not be regarded as a mitigating factor.","AnswerDate":"2008-02-20T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-02-26T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Kenny MacAskill","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":215842,"EventID":"S3W-09181","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2029,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":71,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-29T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-29T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what evidence exists to show that sheriffs allow the excuse in law of being under the influence of alcohol.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what evidence exists to show that sheriffs allow the excuse in law of being under the influence of alcohol.","AnswerText":"To our knowledge, there is no empirical evidence about the approach taken to sentencing in Scotland in relation to offences committed under the influence of alcohol. However there is ample anecdotal evidence that alcohol is used as an excuse by many for their behaviour, whether in the courts or out. Scotland does have a cultural problem with alcohol and the misuse of it harms our society. Alcohol and drunkenness are at the root of a high proportion of offences committed, especially violent crimes. We are developing a long-term strategic approach to shifting attitudes and changing behaviour towards alcohol. This includes making it explicit that being intoxicated at the time of the commission of an offence should not be regarded as a mitigating factor. ","AnswerDate":"2008-02-28T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-02-26T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Kenny MacAskill","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":215843,"EventID":"S3W-09182","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2038,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":44,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-29T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-29T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive, following the Abolition of Bridge Tolls (Scotland) Act 2008 receiving Royal Assent on 24 January 2008, on what date tolls will be abolished on the Tay Road Bridge.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive, following the Abolition of Bridge Tolls (Scotland) Act 2008 receiving Royal Assent on 24 January 2008, on what date tolls will be abolished on the Tay Road Bridge.","AnswerText":"Tolls were abolished on the Tay Road Bridge on Monday 11 February 2008.","AnswerDate":"2008-02-18T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-02-26T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Stewart Stevenson","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":215844,"EventID":"S3W-09183","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2038,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":44,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-29T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-29T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive, following the Abolition of Bridge Tolls (Scotland) Act 2008 receiving Royal Assent on 24 January 2008, on what date tolls will be abolished on the Forth Road Bridge.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive, following the Abolition of Bridge Tolls (Scotland) Act 2008 receiving Royal Assent on 24 January 2008, on what date tolls will be abolished on the Forth Road Bridge.","AnswerText":"Tolls were abolished on the Forth Road Bridge on Monday 11 February 2008.","AnswerDate":"2008-02-18T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-02-26T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Stewart Stevenson","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":215845,"EventID":"S3W-09184","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2595,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":4,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-29T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-29T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what public expenditure is as a percentage of gross domestic product.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what public expenditure is as a percentage of gross domestic product.","AnswerText":"The most recent published estimate is 51.0% of GDP, based on statistics produced in 2004-05 and published in December 2006. Updated figures will be available in June 2008.","AnswerDate":"2008-02-19T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-02-26T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"John Swinney","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":215846,"EventID":"S3W-09185","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2595,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":4,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-29T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-29T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive why it has stopped publishing figures for public expenditure as a percentage of gross domestic product in the Office of the Chief Economic Adviser’s Economic Pocket Datab","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive why it has stopped publishing figures for public expenditure as a percentage of gross domestic product in the Office of the Chief Economic Adviser’s Economic Pocket Databank.","AnswerText":"The Economic Pocket Databank is produced by the Office of the Chief Economic Adviser and its aim is to provide an update of the most recent available statistics for the Scottish economy. As a result, the content of this databank is reviewed on an on-going basis by Scottish Government officials with subsequent changes/revision to the publication. The figures relating to public expenditure as a percentage of gross domestic product will not be updated for Scotland until June 2008 and earlier figures are available in previous versions of the Economic Pocket Databank and other Scottish Government publications. For previous versions of the Economic Pocket Databank please see the following Scottish Government website: http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Topics/Economy/Factfile/PocketDatabank. ","AnswerDate":"2008-02-19T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-02-26T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"John Swinney","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":215847,"EventID":"S3W-09186","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2595,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":4,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-29T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-29T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what its target is for public expenditure as a percentage of gross domestic product.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what its target is for public expenditure as a percentage of gross domestic product.","AnswerText":"The Scottish Government does not have a target for the level of public expenditure as a percentage of gross domestic product. Our purpose is to focus the government and public services on creating a more successful country, with opportunities for all of Scotland to flourish, through increasing sustainable economic growth. This government''s purpose (and related targets) are set out in the Government Economic Strategy.","AnswerDate":"2008-02-19T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-02-26T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"John Swinney","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":215848,"EventID":"S3W-09187","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2610,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":1,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-29T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-29T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-8352 by Kenny MacAskill on 21 January 2008, when each of the secondments from the Scottish Prison Service started and how long they","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-8352 by Kenny MacAskill on 21 January 2008, when each of the secondments from the Scottish Prison Service started and how long they are expected to last.","AnswerText":"I have asked Mike Ewart, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service to respond. His response is as follows: | Organisation | From | Timescale | | Inspectorate of Prisons | 02/10/06 | 2 years 2 months | | Inspectorate of Prisons | 01/10/07 | 2 years | | The Wise Group | 04/09/06 | 2 years | | The Wise Group | 01/10/06 | 1 year 6 months | | International Corrections and Prisons association | 03/09/07 | 1 year | | SACRO | 11/09/06 | 1 year 6 months | | Scottish Crime and Drug Enforcement Agency | 12/11/07 | 1 year | ","AnswerDate":"2008-02-18T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-02-26T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Kenny MacAskill","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":215849,"EventID":"S3W-09188","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2610,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":1,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-29T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-29T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-8352 by Kenny MacAskill on 21 January 2008, whether the secondments from the Scottish Prison Service will be subject to review and,","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-8352 by Kenny MacAskill on 21 January 2008, whether the secondments from the Scottish Prison Service will be subject to review and, if so, when.","AnswerText":"I have asked Mike Ewart, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service to respond. His response is as follows: Current information is that the following will be subject to review as indicated: HM Inspectorate of Prisons - One (from October 2006) will end in December 2008 and the more recent appointment (from October 2007) will be subject to review six months before the end date (in April 2009) with a possibility of a one year extension. International Corrections and Prisons Association “ to be reviewed July 2008. Scottish Crime and Drug Enforcement Agency “ to be reviewed September 2008 The WISE Group secondees will be reviewed in March 2008 The SACRO secondment is expected to end as planned in March 2009. ","AnswerDate":"2008-02-18T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-02-26T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Kenny MacAskill","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":215850,"EventID":"S3W-09189","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2610,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":1,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-29T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-29T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-8352 by Kenny MacAskill on 21 January 2008, what length of time the secondees from the Scottish Prison Service have served on secon","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-8352 by Kenny MacAskill on 21 January 2008, what length of time the secondees from the Scottish Prison Service have served on secondment.","AnswerText":"I have asked Mike Ewart, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service to respond. His response is as follows: | Organisation | From | Length Of Time | | Inspectorate of Prisons | 2 October 2006 | 1 year 2 months | | Inspectorate of Prisons | 1 October 2007 | 4 months | | The Wise Group | 4 September 2006 | 1 year 5 months | | The Wise Group | 1 October 2006 | 1 year 4 months | | International Corrections and Prisons association | 3 September 2007 | 5 months | | SACRO | 11 September 2006 | 1 year 5 months | | Scottish Crime and Drug Enforcement Agency | 12 November 2007 | 3 months | ","AnswerDate":"2008-02-18T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-02-26T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Kenny MacAskill","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":215851,"EventID":"S3W-09190","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2610,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":1,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-29T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-29T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-8352 by Kenny MacAskill on 21 January 2008, how many other employees of national and international organisations are seconded to wo","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-8352 by Kenny MacAskill on 21 January 2008, how many other employees of national and international organisations are seconded to work at the International Corrections and Prisons Association.","AnswerText":"I have asked Mike Ewart, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service to respond. His response is as follows: This information is not available from the Scottish Prison Service. ","AnswerDate":"2008-02-18T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-02-26T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Kenny MacAskill","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":215852,"EventID":"S3W-09191","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1866,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":30,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-29T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-29T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the ministerial statement on 24 January 2008, whether it intends to agree specific targets on waste with each local authority.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the ministerial statement on 24 January 2008, whether it intends to agree specific targets on waste with each local authority.","AnswerText":"Yes the Scottish Government does intend to agree specific targets on waste with each local authority, principally to ensure that each local authority diverts sufficient biodegradable municipal waste from landfill in order for Scotland to meet its EU Landfill Directive obligation in 2010 and also to ensure that each local authority contributes to National Indicators 39 (amount of waste going to landfill) and 32 (ecological footprint) within the Scottish Government''s National Performance Framework. Scottish Government will seek to ensure that local authorities contribute towards the National Performance Framework by agreeing local outcomes to be included in their single outcome agreements (SOAs). ","AnswerDate":"2008-02-20T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-02-26T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Richard Lochhead","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":215853,"EventID":"S3W-09192","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2140,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":55,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-29T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-29T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive why the animal health and welfare scheme was dropped from the Scottish Rural Development Programme.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive why the animal health and welfare scheme was dropped from the Scottish Rural Development Programme.","AnswerText":"The Animal Health and Welfare measure was dropped from the Scotland Rural Development Programme (SRDP) following concern from the European Commission that it would not produce a significantly better outcome than that achieved through current statutory animal health and welfare requirements. We regret this. Our intention is to seek to reintroduce an Animal Health and Welfare measure that is acceptable to the Commission through our first modification of the SRDP.","AnswerDate":"2008-02-20T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-02-26T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Richard Lochhead","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":215854,"EventID":"S3W-09193","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2140,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":55,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-29T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-29T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive why the farm assurance membership schemes were dropped from the Scottish Rural Development Programme.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive why the farm assurance membership schemes were dropped from the Scottish Rural Development Programme.","AnswerText":"A number of farm assurance membership schemes were dropped from the Scotland Rural Development Programme (SRDP) following concern from the European Commission that the standards of these schemes did not go significantly beyond commercial commodity standards. Our intention is to seek to reintroduce schemes that are acceptable to the Commission through our first modification of the SRDP.","AnswerDate":"2008-02-20T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-02-26T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Richard Lochhead","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":215855,"EventID":"S3W-09194","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2140,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":55,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-29T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-29T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive why the farm visits programme was dropped from the Scottish Rural Development Programme.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive why the farm visits programme was dropped from the Scottish Rural Development Programme.","AnswerText":"I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-8795 on 01 February 2008. The farm and forest visits and talks measure was dropped from the programme because the Commission judged that it was outside the scope of Rural Development Regulation 1698/2005. This was mainly because the payments to be made through the measure were for operating costs which could not be supported through the regulation. We will continue to pursue this matter with the Commission to see if we can find a way to reinstate the measure in its existing or a modified form. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament''s website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/wa.search. ","AnswerDate":"2008-02-20T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-02-26T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Richard Lochhead","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":215856,"EventID":"S3W-09195","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2140,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":55,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-29T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-29T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what reasons were given by the European Commission for its decision not to approve the animal health and welfare scheme, the farm assurance membership schemes and the far","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what reasons were given by the European Commission for its decision not to approve the animal health and welfare scheme, the farm assurance membership schemes and the farm visits programme in the Scottish Rural Development Programme.","AnswerText":"I refer the member to the answers to questions S3W-9192, S3W-9193 and S3W-9194 on 20 February 2008. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament''s website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/wa.search.","AnswerDate":"2008-02-20T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-02-26T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Richard Lochhead","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":215857,"EventID":"S3W-09196","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1854,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":72,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-29T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-29T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive how many (a) UK-registered fishing vessels operating from Scottish ports, (b) UK-registered fishing vessels from outwith Scotland and (c) fishing vessels from other EU me","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive how many (a) UK-registered fishing vessels operating from Scottish ports, (b) UK-registered fishing vessels from outwith Scotland and (c) fishing vessels from other EU member states were detained by Scottish Fisheries Protection Agency vessels in each of the last five years and what (i) range of and (ii) average financial penalties were imposed on the skippers of such vessels upon conviction in Scottish courts.","AnswerText":"The power to escort fishing vessels to port and detain them there pending further investigation or court proceedings, is exercised by the Scottish Fisheries Protection Agency (SFPA) in only a few of all cases referred by them to the Procurator Fiscal each year. The procedure is only invoked when investigations cannot be concluded at sea, or to secure evidence when foreign nationals are suspected of having committed offences. Use of the power to detain a vessel in port does not automatically result in a report being sent to the Procurator Fiscal for possible prosecution. Conversely, most reports to the Procurator Fiscal do not emanate from a detention situation. The number of vessels detained by the agency in each of the last five years broken down by Scottish, other UK, and other EU member states vessels is set out in table 1. The range of fines imposed, and the associated average in each year is also shown. Table 2 contains comparative figures based on all cases referred by the SFPA to the Procurator Fiscal in each of the last five years. The figures for 2007-08 were compiled as at 13 February 2008. Table 1 | Year | Scottish | Other UK | Other EU | Range of Fines | Average Fine | | 2007-08 | 0 | 1 | 1 | - | - | | 2006-07 | 0 | 0 | 8 | £100 - £17,000 | £17,000 | | 2005-06 | 0 | 1 | 6 | £600 - £17,500 | £5,100 | | 2004-05 | 0 | 5 | 5 | £500 - £6,000 | £3,944 | | 2003-04 | 0 | 0 | 2 | £20,000 “ 25,000 | £22,500 | Table 2 | Year | Scottish | Other UK ","AnswerDate":"2008-02-25T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-02-26T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Richard Lochhead","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":215859,"EventID":"S3W-09198","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1854,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":72,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-29T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-29T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive which organisations or companies have responsibility for the recruitment, selection, training, employment and determination of terms and conditions of employment of the o","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive which organisations or companies have responsibility for the recruitment, selection, training, employment and determination of terms and conditions of employment of the officers and crew-members of (a) Scottish Fisheries Protection Agency vessels and (b) Scottish fisheries research vessels. ","AnswerText":"The Scottish Fisheries Protection Agency (SFPA) is responsible for the recruitment, selection, training, employment and the determination of terms and conditions of employment of the officers and crew-members on the vessels operated by the SFPA. In respect of Fisheries Research Service vessels, Marr Vessel Management Ltd (vessel management contractors) is currently responsible for the employment, recruitment, selection, training and determination of the conditions of employment of the marine officers and crew members. ","AnswerDate":"2008-02-20T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-02-26T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Richard Lochhead","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":215860,"EventID":"S3W-09199","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1854,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":72,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-29T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-29T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether European Union citizens from outwith the United Kingdom have to undergo an English language test before being employed on Scottish Fisheries Protection Agency ves","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether European Union citizens from outwith the United Kingdom have to undergo an English language test before being employed on Scottish Fisheries Protection Agency vessels and Scottish fisheries research vessels and whether there are health and safety regulations which require a basic grasp of English. ","AnswerText":"There are numerous regulations that relate to the use of the English language on British vessels, and the Scottish Fisheries Protection Agency (SFPA) complies with these regulations. The Maritime and Coastguard Agency Code of Safe Working Practice for Seamen (amended 2007) also stresses the importance of commonality of language in training or instruction. All permanent staff serving on SFPA vessels are interviewed prior to appointment and the interview process ascertains that candidates have the requisite communication skills. In addition, the command language onboard SFPA vessels is English and it is a requirement of the SFPA Safety Management System for Commanding Officers to ensure that any seafarers joining their vessels have sufficient oral and written skills in that language to carry out their duties. For personnel employed on the research vessels owned by the Fisheries Research Services, all potential officers and crew are interviewed by Marr Vessel Management Ltd (the vessel management contractors) during the recruitment process to check that they have an appropriate working level of English and this is an essential requirement for selection. ","AnswerDate":"2008-02-20T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-02-26T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Richard Lochhead","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":215861,"EventID":"S3W-09200","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2085,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":27,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-30T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-30T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what the total expenditure on road de-icing by Scotland TranServ using liquid-salt solution has been in each year for which figures are available, also expressed in cost ","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what the total expenditure on road de-icing by Scotland TranServ using liquid-salt solution has been in each year for which figures are available, also expressed in cost per mile. ","AnswerText":"The trunk road maintenance contracts are tendered on the basis of a single lump sum payment for the delivery of all operations, including management, salting and monitoring associated with the winter service. Consequently, it is not possible to identify the expenditure on any specific element, such as road de-icing.","AnswerDate":"2008-02-21T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-02-27T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Stewart Stevenson","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":215862,"EventID":"S3W-09201","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2085,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":27,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-30T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-30T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what the total cost of road gritting was to it in each of the two years prior to the introduction of road de-icing using liquid-salt solution, also expressed in cost per ","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what the total cost of road gritting was to it in each of the two years prior to the introduction of road de-icing using liquid-salt solution, also expressed in cost per mile.","AnswerText":"The trunk road maintenance contracts are tendered on the basis of a single lump sum payment for the delivery of all operations, including management, salting and monitoring associated with the winter service. Consequently, it is not possible to identify the expenditure on any specific element, such as road gritting (salting). The total cost of the winter maintenance service in 2004-05 and 2005-06 was £5.5 million and £6 million respectively. The four trunk road maintenance contracts cover approximately 2,000 miles of trunk roads, ranging from motorway to single carriageway. The average cost per mile of the winter maintenance service in 2004-05 and 2005-06 was £2,750 and £3,000 respectively per mile.","AnswerDate":"2008-02-21T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-02-27T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Stewart Stevenson","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":215863,"EventID":"S3W-09202","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2085,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":27,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-30T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-30T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive how many accidents have been recorded on gritted roads since the introduction of liquid-salt solution to de-ice roads and how this figure compares with the previous two y","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive how many accidents have been recorded on gritted roads since the introduction of liquid-salt solution to de-ice roads and how this figure compares with the previous two years on the same roads.","AnswerText":"It is not possible to link road accidents directly to whether the road had been gritted, as this information is not recorded on the police accident report. However, the total number of reported injury accidents on the entire trunk road and motorway network between October and May (when the winter service is required to operate) was 1,460 in 2004-05 and 1,304 in 2005-06 (the two years before liquid salt was used on any trunk roads). This compares to 1,455 in 2006-07. During 2006-07, liquid salt was used only on trunk roads in the North West and South West Units.","AnswerDate":"2008-02-21T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-02-27T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Stewart Stevenson","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":215864,"EventID":"S3W-09203","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2085,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":27,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-30T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-30T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what studies have been carried out into the use of brine to de-ice roads.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what studies have been carried out into the use of brine to de-ice roads.","AnswerText":"Transport Scotland is represented on the National Salt Spreading Research Group, which commissioned a three-year research study on this subject in 2001. The final report of this study in 2005 included results of other trials undertaken for local authorities.","AnswerDate":"2008-02-21T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-02-27T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Stewart Stevenson","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":215865,"EventID":"S3W-09204","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":3806,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":3,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-30T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-30T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will meet the Gothenberg target to halt biodiversity loss by 2010.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will meet the Gothenberg target to halt biodiversity loss by 2010.","AnswerText":"The Scottish Government intends to make a full contribution to the European Union Gothenburg target to halt biodiversity loss by 2010 through its work with partner bodies to implement the Scottish Biodiversity Strategy, and in co-operation with other UK administrations in the UK Biodiversity Partnership. The Scottish Government published Scotland's Biodiversity It's In Your Hands Progress Report 2005-07 in December 2007, which reports on the range of activities which have taken place in the first three years of the life of the Scottish Biodiversity Strategy. The strategy aims to conserve biodiversity for the health, enjoyment and well being of the people of Scotland now and in the future. The report includes the first suite of biodiversity indicators for Scotland which will assist in measuring progress in implementing the strategy over time. ","AnswerDate":"2008-02-22T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-02-27T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Michael Russell","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":215866,"EventID":"S3W-09205","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":3806,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":3,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-30T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-30T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether all sites of special scientific interest will be brought into a favourable condition under the terms of the Nature Conservation (Scotland) Act 2004.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether all sites of special scientific interest will be brought into a favourable condition under the terms of the Nature Conservation (Scotland) Act 2004.","AnswerText":"The National Performance Framework published in the Scottish Government''s 2007 Spending Review included a target for increasing the proportion of protected nature sites in favourable condition. This is available via the following web link: http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Publications/2007/11/13092240/36. ","AnswerDate":"2008-02-22T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-02-27T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Michael Russell","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":215867,"EventID":"S3W-09206","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":3806,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":3,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-30T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-30T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what future it envisages for key agri-environment schemes under the Scottish Rural Development Programme.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what future it envisages for key agri-environment schemes under the Scottish Rural Development Programme.","AnswerText":"Future support for environmentally-friendly farming will be delivered as part of the new Scotland Rural Development Programme (SRDP) through Land Managers Options (formerly the Land Management Contract Menu Scheme) and Rural Development Contracts Regional Priorities (formerly Tier III of Land Management Contracts). There is funding of £1.6 billion under the new SRDP which covers the period 2007-13. This includes around £400 million for agri-environment measures. Of this amount, around £170 million will cover the cost of fully funding all on-going agri-environment commitments. The balance of £230 million will be available to cover the cost of new commitments. This represents a substantial increase compared with the sum of £110 million which was allocated for new agri-environment commitments under the previous SRDP. The 2007-13 SRDP is based on delivering outcomes for rural Scotland and five key outcomes have been identified. These are to improve business viability, enhance biodiversity and landscape, improve water quality, tackle climate change and support thriving local communities. The options available under Rural Development Contracts were drawn up following an extensive public consultation and by working closely with Scottish Natural Heritage, Forestry Commission Scotland and a wide range of key stakeholders such as RSPB, NFUS and FWAG to ensure the options will deliver for the environment, for land managers and for the rural economy. The new SRDP has been designed to deliver outcomes that are tailored to the needs and aspirations of local communities and regional priorities will be set to ensure resources are directed to areas of greatest need. This approach is intended to recognise that support is carefully targeted to maximise its effectiveness. ","AnswerDate":"2008-02-25T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-02-27T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Richard Lochhead","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":215868,"EventID":"S3W-09207","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":3806,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":3,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-30T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-30T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive how it will encourage new entrants to schemes that deliver biodiversity priorities and public benefits.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive how it will encourage new entrants to schemes that deliver biodiversity priorities and public benefits.","AnswerText":"Land management activity for the benefit of biodiversity will in the future be delivered through the Scotland Rural Development Programme 2007-13, Rural Development Contracts. As part of an on-going communications strategy for the SRDP, the Scottish Government has engaged with over 400 agents directly and is holding a series of 21 public meetings throughout Scotland, the first five of which have been attended by over 1,100 people. Moreover, over 26,000 potential participants in the SRDP have been sent an information pack with detailed information on all aspects of the SRDP. This information pack is also available from Scotland Rural Development Programme Inspections Directorate Area Offices. In addition, Scottish Natural Heritage (SNH) will continue to provide grants through its ˜Supporting Biodiversity'' and Involving People grant schemes. This will help ensure that biodiversity projects which are not within the current scope of SRDP assistance continue to have access to a source of funding. SNH will also continue to promote the EU''s financial instrument for the environment, LIFE+. SNH are leading the promotion and co-ordination of the Nature and Biodiversity component within the 2007-13 programme. The biodiversity strand affords applicants the opportunity to demonstrate innovative approaches aimed at implementing the objectives of the Commission Communication Halting the loss of biodiversity by 2010 “ and beyond. SNH will advise potential applicants on their development and what other support it is able to provide. ","AnswerDate":"2008-02-22T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-02-27T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Michael Russell","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":215869,"EventID":"S3W-09208","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":3806,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":3,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-30T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-30T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether it considers that the duty of public bodies to promote biodiversity extends to procurement.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether it considers that the duty of public bodies to promote biodiversity extends to procurement.","AnswerText":"The duty on all public bodies to further the conservation of biodiversity in the course of their duties, which is contained in the Nature Conservation (Scotland) Act 2004, applies to all their policies and responsibilities.","AnswerDate":"2008-02-22T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-02-27T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Michael Russell","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":215870,"EventID":"S3W-09209","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":3806,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":3,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-30T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-30T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what action will be taken to raise awareness of biodiversity in schools.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what action will be taken to raise awareness of biodiversity in schools.","AnswerText":"The emerging learning outcomes of Curriculum for Excellence will ensure that sustainable development is integrated into all areas of the curriculum. This will help support young people''s learning about the natural world and the need for sustainable lifestyles. A biodiversity module was added to the Eco Schools Scotland programme in 2005. Eco Schools Scotland, in conjunction with Scottish Natural Heritage, is currently undertaking research into schools'' uptake of the module. ","AnswerDate":"2008-02-21T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-02-27T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Maureen Watt","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":215871,"EventID":"S3W-09210","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":3806,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":3,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-30T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-30T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive how much can be spent on agri-environment schemes and biodiversity projects under the Scottish Rural Development Programme.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive how much can be spent on agri-environment schemes and biodiversity projects under the Scottish Rural Development Programme.","AnswerText":"The Scotland Rural Development Programme includes around £400 million for agri‘environment measures, including biodiversity. Actual expenditure will depend on submission by land managers of proposals which will deliver the Scottish Government''s priority outcomes. For agri-environment measures, the priority objectives are to enhance biodiversity and landscape, improve water quality and tackle climate change. In addition, it will also be open to local action groups to decide to fund biodiversity projects using LEADER funding. ","AnswerDate":"2008-02-25T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-02-27T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Richard Lochhead","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":215872,"EventID":"S3W-09211","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":3806,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":3,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-30T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-30T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether there will be any changes in available funding after the planned common agricultural policy “health check”.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether there will be any changes in available funding after the planned common agricultural policy “health check”.","AnswerText":"The Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) health check should not affect the overall funding allocated to CAP as this has been agreed as part of the EU Budget for 2007-13. It may, however, have implications for the distribution of funding. The Scottish Government will be seeking to achieve a good outcome for Scotland from the health check negotiations.","AnswerDate":"2008-02-20T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-02-27T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Richard Lochhead","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":215873,"EventID":"S3W-09212","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":3806,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":3,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-30T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-30T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether it anticipates any future changes in the rate of voluntary modulation to help stimulate agri-environment schemes.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether it anticipates any future changes in the rate of voluntary modulation to help stimulate agri-environment schemes.","AnswerText":"One of my first decisions when I became Cabinet Secretary for Rural Affairs and the Environment was to announce that the level of Voluntary Modulation for the new Scotland Rural Development Programme 2007-13 would be 5% in 2007, 8% in 2008, 8.5% in 2009 and 9% in each year from 2010-12 inclusive. These are the Voluntary Modulation rates which I believe will deliver a full programme, balancing social, economic and environmental benefits. The relevant EC Regulations provide that once rates have been formally notified, they must be fixed for the full programming period and cannot be changed. It is, however, possible that these Regulations may change following the Health Check of the Common Agricultural Policy, in which case we may review the situation in the light of the then current circumstances. ","AnswerDate":"2008-02-20T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-02-27T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Richard Lochhead","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":215874,"EventID":"S3W-09213","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":3806,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":3,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-30T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-30T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive when the schemes in the Scottish Rural Development Programme will be implemented.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive when the schemes in the Scottish Rural Development Programme will be implemented.","AnswerText":"The various elements of the new Scotland Rural Development Programme, including Rural Development Contracts “ Rural Priorities, will be rolled out over the coming weeks. The precise timetable for implementation depends upon the receipt of formal, written approval of the Programme from the European Commission, which will enable us to lay the required secondary legislation before the Scottish Parliament. The implementation of the different aspects of the programme will follow, in a staged way, once the secondary legislation comes into force. ","AnswerDate":"2008-02-25T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-02-27T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Richard Lochhead","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":215875,"EventID":"S3W-09214","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":3806,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":3,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-30T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-30T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive how it will encourage more secondary schools to become eco-schools.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive how it will encourage more secondary schools to become eco-schools.","AnswerText":"Eco Schools Scotland have a secondary schools development officer who is looking at ways in which the Eco Schools programme could be better tailored to staff and pupils in the secondary sector. A module on international issues, comprising themes of particular interest to secondary school pupils, is also being developed for inclusion in the programme.","AnswerDate":"2008-02-21T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-02-27T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Maureen Watt","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":215876,"EventID":"S3W-09215","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1865,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":2,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-30T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-30T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to tackle poverty, inequality and deprivation in Scotland.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to tackle poverty, inequality and deprivation in Scotland.","AnswerText":"I am today launchingthe development of a framework for delivering on the aspects of the Government EconomicStrategy to do with tackling poverty, inequality and deprivation. To support thisprocess I am issuing a discussion paper designed to initiate discussion and debateamong stakeholders across Scotland and generate a dialogue to inform the way forward.This framework will replace the Closing the Opportunity Gap approach, on which weare today making available an evaluation report.Copies of both documentsare available in the Scottish Parliament Information Centre (Bib numbers 44579 and44581). ","AnswerDate":"2008-01-31T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-02-27T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Nicola Sturgeon","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":215877,"EventID":"S3W-09216","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2866,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":63,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-30T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-30T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether the Small Unit Relocation policy will continue.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether the Small Unit Relocation policy will continue.","AnswerText":"The Scottish Government’s relocationpolicy was launched on 28 January in conjunction with the report on the review ofasset management. The relocation policy can be accessed at http://www.scotland.gov.uk/About/govt-locations/location-policy/asset-management.The Small Unit Relocation policy will continue.","AnswerDate":"2008-02-13T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-02-27T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"John Swinney","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":215878,"EventID":"S3W-09217","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2866,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":63,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-30T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-30T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether the Scottish borders will continue to benefit from the relocation policy.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether the Scottish borders will continue to benefit from the relocation policy.","AnswerText":"The Scottish Government’s relocationpolicy was launched on 28 January in conjunction with the report on the review ofasset management. The relocation policy can be accessed at http://www.scotland.gov.uk/About/govt-locations/location-policy/asset-management.Achieving efficiency and bestpractice asset management are the key drivers of the new policy and within thatcontext there are undoubtedly opportunities to be realised to recognise the benefitsthat relocating can bring to different parts of the country. ","AnswerDate":"2008-02-13T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-02-27T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"John Swinney","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":215879,"EventID":"S3W-09218","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2029,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":71,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-30T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-30T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive how many police hours on the beat could be provided between 9am and 5pm on Monday to Friday by a constable with five years’ experience.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive how many police hours on the beat could be provided between 9am and 5pm on Monday to Friday by a constable with five years’ experience.","AnswerText":"The day-to-day deployment of police officers is a matter for individual chief constables, but we support their efforts to cut bureaucracy, exploit new technology and free up officer time for redeployment to operational and front line duties. The amount of time an officer would be available for deployment within the community within any given period would be dependent on a range of factors such as responding to emergency calls, statutory refreshment periods, court attendance and other competing operational priorities. ","AnswerDate":"2008-02-18T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-02-27T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Kenny MacAskill","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":215880,"EventID":"S3W-09219","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2029,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":71,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-30T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-30T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive how many police hours on the beat could be provided between 7pm and midnight on a Saturday by a constable with five years’ experience.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive how many police hours on the beat could be provided between 7pm and midnight on a Saturday by a constable with five years’ experience.","AnswerText":"I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-9218 on 18 February 2008. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament's website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/wa.search.","AnswerDate":"2008-02-18T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-02-27T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Kenny MacAskill","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":215881,"EventID":"S3W-09220","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2029,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":71,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-30T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-30T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive how many police officers were in post on 3 May 2007.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive how many police officers were in post on 3 May 2007.","AnswerText":"Figures on police strength are collected on a whole-time equivalent basis for the Quarterly Strength Return. This is updated on a quarterly basis to reflect returns for 31 March, 30 June, 30 September and 31 December. Copies are available in the Scottish Parliament Information Centre (Bib. numbers 40257 (for 2006-07) and 43307 (for 2007-08)).","AnswerDate":"2008-02-20T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-02-27T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Kenny MacAskill","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":215882,"EventID":"S3W-09221","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2603,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":6,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-30T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-30T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive how much funding (a) Aberdeen City and (b) Aberdeenshire councils received from the Community Regeneration Fund and other programmes in (i) 2002-03, (ii) 2003-04, (iii) 2","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive how much funding (a) Aberdeen City and (b) Aberdeenshire councils received from the Community Regeneration Fund and other programmes in (i) 2002-03, (ii) 2003-04, (iii) 2004-05, (iv) 2005-06, (v) 2006-07 and (vi) 2007-08.","AnswerText":"I have asked James Hynd, acting Chief Executive of Communities Scotland to respond. His response is as follows: The table provides details of the original allocations to both local authorities from the Community Regeneration Fund (CRF) between 2005-08. Prior to 2005-06 the CRF was not in operation. Both local authorities will have received awards from a wide range of other funds up to and including the current year. Without identification of these funds individually, it is not possible to attribute levels of award to the local authorities in question. | Council | 2005-06 (£ Million) | 2006-07 (£ Million) | 2007-08 (£ Million) | | Aberdeen | 1.218 | 1.226 | 1.282 | | Aberdeenshire | 0.135 | 0.136 | 0.142 | ","AnswerDate":"2008-02-27T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-02-27T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Stewart Maxwell","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":215883,"EventID":"S3W-09222","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2603,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":6,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-30T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-30T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to raise awareness in Grampian of the symptoms and causes of strokes.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to raise awareness in Grampian of the symptoms and causes of strokes.","AnswerText":"The Stroke Managed Clinical Network (MCN) in NHS Grampian works with public health teams, service users and their carers to provide information on stroke at public events. It also promotes awareness of the risk factors which lead to strokes, and continues to work closely with Chest Heart and Stroke Scotland (CHSS) to promote the Face, Arm, Speech Test (FAST) campaign, which has been developed to identify very quickly whether someone has had a stroke.","AnswerDate":"2008-02-18T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-02-27T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Nicola Sturgeon","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":215884,"EventID":"S3W-09223","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2603,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":6,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-30T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-30T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive how many people admitted to NHS hospitals died from complications related to strokes in (a) 2002, (b) 2003, (c) 2004, (d) 2005, (e) 2006 and (f) 2007.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive how many people admitted to NHS hospitals died from complications related to strokes in (a) 2002, (b) 2003, (c) 2004, (d) 2005, (e) 2006 and (f) 2007.","AnswerText":"Information on deaths from complications related to stroke is not available because it is not possible to establish, from centrally held data, the causal relationship between the original stroke and any subsequent, potential complication. The numbers of deaths which occurred in NHS hospitals where stroke was recorded as the underlying cause of death were as follows: | Year | Stroke Deaths | | 2002 | 2,640 | | 2003 | 2,441 | | 2004 | 2,415 | | 2005 | 2,164 | | 2006 | 2,157 | Source: ISD analysis of General Register Office Scotland mortality data. ","AnswerDate":"2008-02-18T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-02-27T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Nicola Sturgeon","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":215885,"EventID":"S3W-09224","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":4080,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":6,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-30T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-30T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what the timescale is for the creation of a bus priority lane on the approach to the Forth Road Bridge.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what the timescale is for the creation of a bus priority lane on the approach to the Forth Road Bridge.","AnswerText":"Bus priority measures, as part of the toll plaza remodelling and associated works, are a matter for the Forth Estuary Transport Authority (FETA) and the City of Edinburgh Council, in conjunction with SESTRAN. These measures are currently being taken forward as part of the works following the abolition of bridge tolls on the Forth Road Bridge. ","AnswerDate":"2008-02-27T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-02-27T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Stewart Stevenson","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":215886,"EventID":"S3W-09225","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":3806,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":3,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-30T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-30T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what mechanism is planned to collect water and sewerage charges under a local income tax.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what mechanism is planned to collect water and sewerage charges under a local income tax.","AnswerText":"The government intends to consult later this year on proposals for future domestic water charging arrangements.","AnswerDate":"2008-02-21T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-02-27T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Stewart Stevenson","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":215887,"EventID":"S3W-09226","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":3806,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":3,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-30T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-30T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what Scottish Water’s average leakage rates were in (a) 2003-04, (b) 2004-05, (c) 2005-06, (d) 2006-07 and (e) 2008 to date, expressed in units per day.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what Scottish Water’s average leakage rates were in (a) 2003-04, (b) 2004-05, (c) 2005-06, (d) 2006-07 and (e) 2008 to date, expressed in units per day.","AnswerText":"The average leakage rates were as follows: | | | 2002-03 | 2003-04 | 2004-05 | 2005-06 | 2006-07 | | Scottish Water leakage - distribution losses (inc trunk mains and service reservoirs) | Ml/day | 986.127 | 982.445 | 979.313 | 952.640 | 855.312 | | Customers'' leakage - supply pipe losses | Ml/day | 145.943 | 163.085 | 159.987 | 151.412 | 148.509 | | Total leakage - total losses | Ml/day | 1,132.070 | 1,145.530 | 1,139.299 | 1,104.052 | 1,003.820 | Source: Scottish Water. 2007-08 information is not available in a comparable form but will be reported to the Water Industry Commission when complete and consistent reports are available for the full reporting year 2007-08. ","AnswerDate":"2008-02-26T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-02-27T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Stewart Stevenson","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":215888,"EventID":"S3W-09227","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":3806,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":3,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-30T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-30T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what proportion of Scottish Water’s leakage rates were of all the water that it treated in (a) 2003-04, (b) 2004-05, (c) 2005-06, (d) 2006-07 and (e) 2007-08 to date.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what proportion of Scottish Water’s leakage rates were of all the water that it treated in (a) 2003-04, (b) 2004-05, (c) 2005-06, (d) 2006-07 and (e) 2007-08 to date.","AnswerText":"The information is as follows: Distribution Input (Treated Water Supplied to Scottish Water''s Networks) | | | 2002-03 | 2003-04 | 2004-05 | 2005-06 | 2006-07 | | Ml/day | 2,377.97 | 2,386.51 | 2,377.92 | 2,332.25 | 2,295.93 | | % Scottish Water leakage | % | 41.5% | 41.2% | 41.2% | 40.8% | 37.3% | | % Customers'' leakage | % | 6.1% | 6.8% | 6.7% | 6.5% | 6.5% | | % Total leakage | % | 47.6% | 48.0% | 47.9% | 47.3% | 43.7% | Source: Scottish Water. Note: 2007-08 information is not available in a comparable form but will be reported to the Water Industry Commission when complete and consistent reports are available for the full reporting year 2007-08. ","AnswerDate":"2008-02-21T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-02-27T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Stewart Stevenson","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":215889,"EventID":"S3W-09228","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":3806,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":3,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-30T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-30T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what sanctions are available to the Water Industry Commissioner for Scotland in the event of poor performance by Scottish Water.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what sanctions are available to the Water Industry Commissioner for Scotland in the event of poor performance by Scottish Water.","AnswerText":"Under section 3 of the Water Industry (Scotland) Act 2002, the Water Industry Commission for Scotland has a function to advise ministers on the standard of service provided by Scottish Water. Any such advice would then allow Scottish ministers to take appropriate action. Furthermore, under section 29F of the Water Industry (Scotland) Act 2002, the Water Industry Commission for Scotland may revise the maximum amount of charges that Scottish Water can levy to such extent as it thinks fit.","AnswerDate":"2008-02-21T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-02-27T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Stewart Stevenson","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":215890,"EventID":"S3W-09229","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":3806,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":3,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-30T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-30T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to increase the powers of the Water Industry Commissioner for Scotland.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to increase the powers of the Water Industry Commissioner for Scotland.","AnswerText":"None.","AnswerDate":"2008-02-21T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-02-27T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Stewart Stevenson","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":215891,"EventID":"S3W-09230","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":3806,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":3,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-30T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-30T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive by what date heavy goods vehicles will no longer be able to use the existing Forth Road Bridge.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive by what date heavy goods vehicles will no longer be able to use the existing Forth Road Bridge.","AnswerText":"Following inspection work carried out by the Forth Estuary Transport Authority (FETA) in 2004 and 2005, a significant level of corrosion was found in the main cables of the Forth Road Bridge. It was determined that the loss of strength lay between 8 to 10%. Work indicated that the safety factor would drop below two (the commonly accepted minimum figure) in around 2013/2014 if corrosion continued at the current assessed rate. This would require some intervention in the form of a ban on heavy goods vehicles using the bridge. However, until FETA have concluded their work to arrest the corrosion, we will not know if the restriction is definitely required. ","AnswerDate":"2008-02-27T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-02-27T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Stewart Stevenson","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":215892,"EventID":"S3W-09231","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":3806,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":3,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-30T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-30T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions it has had with Her Majesty’s Government on future funding of the new Forth crossing.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions it has had with Her Majesty’s Government on future funding of the new Forth crossing.","AnswerText":"Preliminary discussions have been held with officials regarding funding options including Trans-European Network (TEN-T) funding.","AnswerDate":"2008-02-21T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-02-27T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Stewart Stevenson","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":215893,"EventID":"S3W-09232","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2188,"Party":"Scottish Green Party","RegionID":4,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-30T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-30T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what the cost was of contracts awarded by NHS Scotland to voluntary sector organisations in each year since 2003. ","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what the cost was of contracts awarded by NHS Scotland to voluntary sector organisations in each year since 2003. ","AnswerText":"NHS Scotland does not specifically collect details on what contracts it awards to voluntary sector organisations, however the amount paid by NHS Scotland to voluntary bodies for providing health care services since 2003 has been: | Year | £000 | | 2003-04 | 6,634 | | 2004-05 | 8,023 | | 2005-06 | 7,637 | | 2006-07 | 8,832 | ","AnswerDate":"2008-02-19T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-02-27T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Nicola Sturgeon","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":215894,"EventID":"S3W-09233","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2188,"Party":"Scottish Green Party","RegionID":4,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-30T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-30T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what the cost was of contracts awarded by NHS Scotland to voluntary and community sector (VCS) organisations in each year since 2003, broken down by (a) NHS board, (b) VC","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what the cost was of contracts awarded by NHS Scotland to voluntary and community sector (VCS) organisations in each year since 2003, broken down by (a) NHS board, (b) VCS organisation and (c) contract type. ","AnswerText":"While NHS Scotland does not specifically collect details on what contracts it awards to voluntary sector organisations, NHS boards do provide information on how much they pay to voluntary bodies for providing health care services; however they do not provide details as to the split between voluntary and community sector organisations or expenditure by contract type. The amount paid to voluntary bodies broken down by NHS board since 2003 is: | Board | 2003-04 | 2004-05 | 2005-06 | 2006-07 | | £000 | £000 | £000 | £000 | | Argyll and Clyde | 129 | 154 | 145 | n/a | | Ayrshire and Arran | 30 | 28 | 30 | 31 | | Borders | 13 | 34 | 36 | 191 | | Dumfries and Galloway | 121 | 122 | 134 | 209 | | Fife | 826 | 914 | 1,123 | 1,236 | | Forth Valley | 429 | 571 | 646 | 1,228 | | Grampian | 696 | 791 | 743 | ","AnswerDate":"2008-02-19T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-02-27T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Nicola Sturgeon","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":215896,"EventID":"S3W-09235","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2188,"Party":"Scottish Green Party","RegionID":4,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-30T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-30T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what the cost of contracts awarded by NHS Scotland to voluntary sector organisations would have been in each year since 2003 if these contracts were awarded on the basis ","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what the cost of contracts awarded by NHS Scotland to voluntary sector organisations would have been in each year since 2003 if these contracts were awarded on the basis of full cost recovery.","AnswerText":"This information is not held centrally by the Scottish Government.","AnswerDate":"2008-02-19T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-02-27T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Nicola Sturgeon","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":215897,"EventID":"S3W-09236","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2188,"Party":"Scottish Green Party","RegionID":4,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-30T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-30T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what the value is of services provided by voluntary and community sector organisations to NHS Scotland.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what the value is of services provided by voluntary and community sector organisations to NHS Scotland.","AnswerText":"This information is not held centrally by the Scottish Government.","AnswerDate":"2008-02-19T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-02-27T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Nicola Sturgeon","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":215898,"EventID":"S3W-09237","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2188,"Party":"Scottish Green Party","RegionID":4,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-30T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-30T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what the cost to NHS Scotland would be if it needed to run the services currently being run by voluntary and community sector organisations. ","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what the cost to NHS Scotland would be if it needed to run the services currently being run by voluntary and community sector organisations. ","AnswerText":"This information is not held centrally by Scottish Government.","AnswerDate":"2008-02-19T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-02-27T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Nicola Sturgeon","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":215899,"EventID":"S3W-09238","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1826,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":35,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-30T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-30T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has any plans to support the introduction of bicycle rental schemes in Scotland's major cities, similar to the Vélib’ schemes in Lyon and Paris. ","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has any plans to support the introduction of bicycle rental schemes in Scotland's major cities, similar to the Vélib’ schemes in Lyon and Paris. ","AnswerText":"The Scottish Government will support in principle any local authority which plans to introduce a bicycle rental scheme into its town or city, similar to that run by both Paris and Lyon City Councils. In 2008-09, Scottish local authorities will receive grant funding of £9 million for cycling, walking and safer streets projects and each local authority is able to add to this total should they wish to do so. However, it is up to each individual local authority to decide whether this type of scheme or any other active travel proposal would be appropriate to its local area. ","AnswerDate":"2008-02-21T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-02-27T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Stewart Stevenson","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":215900,"EventID":"S3W-09239","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1826,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":35,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-30T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-30T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will provide a list of all schools that have been (a) built and (b) refurbished since 1999, detailing when the work was (i) started and (ii) completed and brok","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will provide a list of all schools that have been (a) built and (b) refurbished since 1999, detailing when the work was (i) started and (ii) completed and broken down by funding stream.","AnswerText":"The following tables list the new build and refurbished schools completed which were counted as falling within the school building commitments of the former Scottish Executive administrations. Comprehensive information is not yet available for the period since March 2007 and was not collected on the dates that work started or on funding streams other than Public Private Partnerships (PPP). Period: 1999-2002 | Local Authority | School | | Work Type | Year | | Aberdeen City | Charleston Primary School | | New Build | 1999 | | | Tullos Primary School | | Refurbishment | 2000 | | Aberdeenshire | Pitmedden Primary School | | Refurbishment | 2000 | | | Meldrum Academy | PPP | New Build | 2002 | | | Strathburn Primary School | | New Build | 2002 | | | Banff Primary School | PPP | Refurbishment | 2002 | | | Meldrum Primary School | PPP | Refurbishment | 2002 | | Angus | Rosemount Primary School | | New Build | 2000 | | | Southmuir Primary School | | New Bu","AnswerDate":"2008-02-29T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-02-27T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Maureen Watt","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":215901,"EventID":"S3W-09240","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2675,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":3,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-30T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-30T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what (a) criteria require to be met and (b) assessment is made to achieve candidate status for UNESCO World Heritage Site status.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what (a) criteria require to be met and (b) assessment is made to achieve candidate status for UNESCO World Heritage Site status.","AnswerText":"To be nominated for World Heritage Site status a site must be on the UK''s Tentative List. The current List was published in 1999 and it is due to be reviewed as part of a wider review of World Heritage in the UK. The Department of Culture, Media and Sport and the Devolved Administrations will shortly be consulting on the issues raised and on the need for a new Tentative List and the process and criteria for inclusion on it. Under the Operational Guidelines for the implementation of the World Heritage Convention issued by the UNESCO World Heritage Committee a World Heritage Site must be of outstanding universal value. This is assessed against 10 criteria: (i) represent a masterpiece of human creative genius; (ii) exhibit an important interchange of human values, over a span of time or within a cultural area of the world, on developments in architecture or technology, monumental arts, town planning or landscape design; (iii) bear a unique or at least exceptional testimony to a cultural tradition or to a civilization which is living or which has disappeared; (iv) be an outstanding example of a type of building, architectural or technological ensemble or landscape which illustrates (a) significant stage(s) in human history; (v) be an outstanding example of traditional human settlement, land-use, or sea-use which is representative of a culture (or cultures), or human interaction with the environment especially when it has become vulnerable under the impact of irreversible change; (vi) be directly or tangibly associated with events or living traditions, with ideas, or with beliefs, with artistic and literary works of outstanding universal significance. (The Committee considers that this criterion should preferably be used in conjunction with other criteria); (vii) contain superlative natural phenomena or areas of exceptional natural beauty and aesthetic importance; (viii) be outstanding examples representing major stages of earth''s history, including the record of life, significant on-going geological processes in the development of landforms, or significant geomorphic or physiographic features; (ix) be outstanding examples representing significant on-going ecological and biological processes in the evolution and development of terrestrial, freshwater, coastal and marine ecosystems and communities of plants and animals, and (x) contain the most important and significant natural habitats for in-situ conservation of biological diversity, including those containing threatened species of outstanding universal value from the point of view of science or conservation. All sites must meet at least one of these criteria. Cultural Sites must also show authenticity and all sites must demonstrate integrity. The authenticity of a site should be assessed against the Nara document adopted by the World Heritage Committee in 1994. The Operational Guidelines state that Integrity is a measure of the wholeness and intactness of the natural and/or cultural heritage and its attributes. A nominated property is assessed on the extent to which it: (a) includes all elements necessary to express its outstanding universal value; (b) is of adequate size to ensure the complete representation of the features and processes which convey the property''s significance, and (c) suffers from adverse effects of development and/or neglect. ","AnswerDate":"2008-02-26T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-02-27T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Linda Fabiani","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":215902,"EventID":"S3W-09241","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2675,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":3,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-30T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-30T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what its role is in the process of supporting a Scottish candidate for UNESCO World Heritage Site status.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what its role is in the process of supporting a Scottish candidate for UNESCO World Heritage Site status.","AnswerText":"To be nominated for World Heritage Site status a site must first be on the UK''s Tentative List. Scottish ministers are responsible for nominating Scottish sites for inclusion on the Tentative List. The Department for Culture Media and Sport and the devolved Administrations are preparing to consult on World Heritage in the UK and the need for a new Tentative List. Until the results of the consultation have been considered and all sites seeking inclusion on any new list have had the opportunity to state their case it is not appropriate for ministers to support an individual bid for inclusion. ","AnswerDate":"2008-02-26T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-02-27T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Linda Fabiani","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":215903,"EventID":"S3W-09242","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2675,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":3,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-30T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-30T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive how long the process to achieve candidate status for UNESCO World Heritage Site status takes to be agreed.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive how long the process to achieve candidate status for UNESCO World Heritage Site status takes to be agreed.","AnswerText":"The process for achieving World Heritage Site status is a long one. The UK nominations until 2010 have already been announced. In order to be nominated for World Heritage status a site must be on the UK Tentative List. Preparation of a nomination usually takes at least three years. The current Tentative List was agreed in 1999 and is due for review. A consultation on this by the Department for Culture Media and Sport and the devolved Administrations is due shortly. Depending on the results of the consultation we would expect that sites seeking inclusion on the Tentative List will be asked to apply in the autumn, with a new list finalised by the end of 2009. ","AnswerDate":"2008-02-26T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-02-27T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Linda Fabiani","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":215904,"EventID":"S3W-09243","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1768,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":60,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-30T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-30T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the statement by the First Minister on 30 January 2008, when the Historic Environment Advisory Council for Scotland will cease to operate.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the statement by the First Minister on 30 January 2008, when the Historic Environment Advisory Council for Scotland will cease to operate.","AnswerText":"The Historic Environment Advisory Council for Scotland will cease to operate at the end of its current term in mid 2009. Legislation will be required to abolish the body.","AnswerDate":"2008-02-26T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-02-27T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Linda Fabiani","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":215905,"EventID":"S3W-09244","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1768,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":60,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-30T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-30T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the statement by the First Minister on 30 January 2008, when the Building Standards Advisory Committee will cease to operate.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the statement by the First Minister on 30 January 2008, when the Building Standards Advisory Committee will cease to operate.","AnswerText":"I have asked Dr Paul Stollard, Chief Executive of the Scottish Building Standards Agency (SBSA), to answer. His response is as follows: The Building Standards Advisory Committee will cease to operate as an advisory non-departmental public body as soon as the necessary legislative action can be taken to remove its statutory basis ","AnswerDate":"2008-02-18T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-02-27T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Stewart Stevenson","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":215906,"EventID":"S3W-09245","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1768,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":60,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-30T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-30T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the statement by the First Minister on 30 January 2008, when the Scottish Records Advisory Council will cease to operate.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the statement by the First Minister on 30 January 2008, when the Scottish Records Advisory Council will cease to operate.","AnswerText":"The Scottish Records Advisory Council will cease to operate when the terms of office of the remaining two members expire in September 2008. The final meeting of the Council will take place on 27 February 2008.","AnswerDate":"2008-02-27T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-02-27T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Linda Fabiani","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":215907,"EventID":"S3W-09246","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1768,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":60,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-30T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-30T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the statement by the First Minister on 30 January 2008, when the Scottish Industrial Development Advisory Board will cease to operate.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the statement by the First Minister on 30 January 2008, when the Scottish Industrial Development Advisory Board will cease to operate.","AnswerText":"Legislation is required to abolish the Scottish Industrial Development Advisory Board and at the moment there is no firm date for when it will cease to operate.","AnswerDate":"2008-02-21T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-02-27T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Jim Mather","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":215908,"EventID":"S3W-09247","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1768,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":60,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-30T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-30T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what revenue and capital costs were incurred by the Historic Environment Advisory Council for Scotland in (a) 2005-06 and (b) 2006-07.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what revenue and capital costs were incurred by the Historic Environment Advisory Council for Scotland in (a) 2005-06 and (b) 2006-07.","AnswerText":"Historic Environment Advisory Council for Scotland (HEACS''s) revenue expenditure for these years, including salary costs, was: (a) £101,735 in 2005-06 and (b) £117,871 in 2006-07. HEACS had no separately identifiable capital expenditure in these years. Historic Scotland provides accommodation for the secretariat. ","AnswerDate":"2008-02-26T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-02-27T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Linda Fabiani","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":215909,"EventID":"S3W-09248","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1768,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":60,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-30T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-30T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what revenue and capital costs were incurred by the Building Standards Advisory Committee in (a) 2005-06 and (b) 2006-07.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what revenue and capital costs were incurred by the Building Standards Advisory Committee in (a) 2005-06 and (b) 2006-07.","AnswerText":"I have asked Dr Paul Stollard, Chief Executive of the Scottish Building Standards Agency (SBSA), to answer. His response is as follows: Running costs for the Building Standards Advisory Committee (BSAC) in 2005-06 were £6,713.33 and £1,294.98 in 2006-07. BSAC did not incur any other revenue or capital costs. ","AnswerDate":"2008-02-18T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-02-27T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Stewart Stevenson","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":215910,"EventID":"S3W-09249","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1768,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":60,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-30T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-30T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what revenue and capital costs were incurred by the Scottish Records Advisory Council in (a) 2005-06 and (b) 2006-07.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what revenue and capital costs were incurred by the Scottish Records Advisory Council in (a) 2005-06 and (b) 2006-07.","AnswerText":"The Scottish Records Advisory Council capital costs were £0 for 2005-2006 and 2006-2007. The revenue costs were (a) 2005-2006 £484.48 and (b) 2006-2007 £270.70.","AnswerDate":"2008-02-27T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-02-27T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Linda Fabiani","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":215911,"EventID":"S3W-09250","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1768,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":60,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-30T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-30T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what revenue and capital costs were incurred by the Scottish Industrial Development Advisory Board in (a) 2005-06 and (b) 2006-07.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what revenue and capital costs were incurred by the Scottish Industrial Development Advisory Board in (a) 2005-06 and (b) 2006-07.","AnswerText":"Members of the Scottish Industrial Development Advisory Board (SIDAB) are unpaid, the only direct revenue costs incurred by the board being for members expenses and some hospitality. In 2005-06 and 2006-07 these totalled £470 and £480 respectively. SIDAB does not incur any capital costs. There are also administration costs in supporting SIDAB including the costs involved in appointing new board members, government staff time and stationery costs. However, there is no separate record maintained of these costs. ","AnswerDate":"2008-02-21T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-02-27T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Jim Mather","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":215912,"EventID":"S3W-09251","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1768,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":60,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-30T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-30T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive who will provide independent strategic advice to Scottish ministers on issues affecting the historic environment after the abolition of the Historic Environment Advisory ","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive who will provide independent strategic advice to Scottish ministers on issues affecting the historic environment after the abolition of the Historic Environment Advisory Council for Scotland.","AnswerText":"We value the input of individuals with strong experience and understanding of the historic environment and would wish to retain access to such advice in the future. Historic Scotland is responsible for advising ministers on the historic environment and will ensure expert advice is provided. Historic Scotland will continue to ensure that external expertise is brought to bear on particular issues as appropriate and to consult with the public and stakeholders groups, as and when the need arises.","AnswerDate":"2008-02-26T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-02-27T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Linda Fabiani","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":215913,"EventID":"S3W-09252","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1768,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":60,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-30T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-30T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive which body will be responsible for providing advice to Scottish ministers on matters relating to the keeping of public records in Scotland and on issues of importance to ","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive which body will be responsible for providing advice to Scottish ministers on matters relating to the keeping of public records in Scotland and on issues of importance to the archive community after the abolition of the Scottish Records Advisory Council.","AnswerText":"The Keeper of the Records of Scotland will provide Scottish ministers with co-ordinated advice on matters relating to archives and records. Archive sector interests are also represented by the Scottish Council on Archives, the Archivists of Scottish Local Authorities Working Group and the Scottish Records Association.","AnswerDate":"2008-02-27T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-02-27T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Linda Fabiani","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":215914,"EventID":"S3W-09253","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1768,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":60,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-30T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-30T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive which body will be responsible for providing advice on Regional Selective Assistance grants of over £250,000 after the abolition of the Scottish Industrial Development Ad","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive which body will be responsible for providing advice on Regional Selective Assistance grants of over £250,000 after the abolition of the Scottish Industrial Development Advisory Board.","AnswerText":"We value the input of individuals with strong business experience when considering large grants in support of company growth and investment and would wish to retain access to such advice in the future. What will follow the Scottish Industrial Development Advisory Board has still to be determined but the provision of appropriate business related advice will be in place prior to the abolition of the non-departmental public body.","AnswerDate":"2008-02-21T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-02-27T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Jim Mather","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":215915,"EventID":"S3W-09254","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1768,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":60,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-30T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-30T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive which body will be responsible for providing it with advice on the development of building regulations after the abolition of the Buildings Standards Advisory Committee.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive which body will be responsible for providing it with advice on the development of building regulations after the abolition of the Buildings Standards Advisory Committee.","AnswerText":"I have asked Dr Paul Stollard, Chief Executive of the Scottish Building Standards Agency (SBSA), to answer. His response is as follows: This will be discussed with the Building Standards Advisory Committee and other key stakeholders to ensure that robust and effective arrangements are in place. ","AnswerDate":"2008-02-18T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-02-27T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Stewart Stevenson","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":215916,"EventID":"S3W-09255","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2678,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":8,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-31T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-31T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what steps it has taken to ensure that diabetic patients on rosiglitazone who suffer from ischemic heart disease or peripheral arterial disease are no longer prescribed t","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what steps it has taken to ensure that diabetic patients on rosiglitazone who suffer from ischemic heart disease or peripheral arterial disease are no longer prescribed this medicine in line with the advice of the European Medicines Agency.","AnswerText":"The safety of medicines is reserved and is the responsibility of the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA). The MHRA has advised that the European Committee for Medicinal Products for Human Use has recommended new restrictions and warnings for rosiglitazone, including advice that it is not recommended for use in patients with ischaemic heart disease or peripheral arterial disease, because of concerns about an increased risk of myocardial infarction in these patients. Health care professionals were informed about this new advice in the February 2008 edition of the MHRA Drug Safety Update bulletin. The product information for all rosiglitazone containing products is also being updated to incorporate the new advice. ","AnswerDate":"2008-02-19T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-02-28T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Shona Robison","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":215917,"EventID":"S3W-09256","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1826,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":35,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-31T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-31T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive how many individuals have been charged with false or non-declaration of assets in relation to legal aid claims since 1999.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive how many individuals have been charged with false or non-declaration of assets in relation to legal aid claims since 1999.","AnswerText":"I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-9257 on 22 February 2008. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament''s website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/wa.search. ","AnswerDate":"2008-02-22T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-02-28T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Kenny MacAskill","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":215918,"EventID":"S3W-09257","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1826,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":35,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-31T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-31T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive how many individuals have been prosecuted for false or non-declaration of assets in relation to legal aid claims since 1999.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive how many individuals have been prosecuted for false or non-declaration of assets in relation to legal aid claims since 1999.","AnswerText":"The following table provides information on the number of cases referred to the procurator fiscal by the Scottish Legal Aid Board since 1999 because a legal aid recipient has made an untrue statement about his income and/or capital assets. Only the most serious cases are referred to the procurator fiscal. In other instances legal aid may be withdrawn and recovery action taken. In less serious cases the applicant''s financial eligibility will be re-assessed and they may be required to pay a higher contribution towards their legal costs. | Year | Charged | Outcome | | 1999-2000 | 1 | 1 x fine of £250 | | 2000-01 | 0 | 0 | | 2001-02 | 4 | 1 x 30 days imprisonment 1 x fine of £750 1 not guilty 1 x deserted simpliciter | | 2002-03 | 1 | 1 x fine of £500 | | 2003-04 | 3 | 1 x fine of £1,000 1 x fine of £400 1 x outstanding warrant for arrest | | 2004-05 | 1 | 1 x fine of £500 | | 2005-06 | 7 | 1 x 240 hours Community Service Order 1 x 180 hrs Com Service & £1,256 Compensation Order 1 x fine of £400 1 x fine of £200 3 x cases on-going | | 2006-07 | 3 | 1 x 250 hours Community Service Order 2 x outstanding warrant for arrest | | 2007-08 | 0 | 0 | ","AnswerDate":"2008-02-22T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-02-28T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Kenny MacAskill","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":215919,"EventID":"S3W-09258","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1768,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":60,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-31T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-31T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive who is legally responsible for clearing up litter dropped or blown on to private land.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive who is legally responsible for clearing up litter dropped or blown on to private land.","AnswerText":"It is the responsibility of the landowner or land management to deal with litter on their property. In some cases, the local authority may take action in relation to litter on private land. Appendix 2 of Part II of the Code of Practice on Litter and Refuse provides guidance on the Powers to Tackle Litter and Refuse on Non-relevant and Private Land http://www.littercode.co.uk/docs/0043662.pdf.","AnswerDate":"2008-02-26T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-02-28T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Richard Lochhead","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":215920,"EventID":"S3W-09259","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1735,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":29,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-31T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-31T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive how many training grade doctors there were in each speciality in NHS Lothian in each year since 1999.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive how many training grade doctors there were in each speciality in NHS Lothian in each year since 1999.","AnswerText":"The following table (table 1) shows information on medical training grades in the Hospital, Community and Public Health Services of NHS Lothian. The information is shown by specialty as at 30 September in each of the last nine years. Head Count as at September Each Year | | 1999 | 2000 | 2001 | 2002 | 2003 | 2004 | 2005 | 2006 | 2007 | | All specialties | 804 | 823 | 855 | 888 | 945 | 969 | 966 | 1,011 | 1,217 | | All medical specialties | 787 | 808 | 837 | 874 | 928 | 957 | 949 | 991 | 1,193 | | Hospital medical specialties | 779 | 801 | 831 | 864 | 919 | 948 | 941 | 977 | 1,118 | | Emergency medicine | 32 | 35 | 31 | 31 | 49 | 44 | 54","AnswerDate":"2008-02-21T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-02-28T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Nicola Sturgeon","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":215921,"EventID":"S3W-09260","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1735,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":29,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-31T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-31T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive how many training grade doctors there will be in each speciality in NHS Lothian in August 2009.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive how many training grade doctors there will be in each speciality in NHS Lothian in August 2009.","AnswerText":"The number of training grade doctors is set by the Scottish Executive (with input from NES and medical speciality boards) on a yearly basis. The numbers of training places for 2009 will not be set until November 2008. The Scottish Executive sets training numbers on a global basis for the whole of Scotland not by NHS board level. It is up to NHS National Education Scotland (NES) to set training places for the regions around Scotland. ","AnswerDate":"2008-02-19T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-02-28T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Nicola Sturgeon","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":215922,"EventID":"S3W-09261","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1782,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":59,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-31T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-31T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive how it intends to ensure that the national care standards adequately protect people with dementia.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive how it intends to ensure that the national care standards adequately protect people with dementia.","AnswerText":"The National Care Standards are based on a set of principles which reflect the recognised rights that the people using care services have as citizens. These principles are dignity, privacy, choice, realising potential, equality and diversity and safety. There are requirements in the National Care Standards to ensure that everyone using care services is protected. These include a requirement on providers to: ensure that services are free from bullying, harassment and any other form of abuse; ensure that in 24 hour services such as care homes visitors may only enter with permission; have in place safe recruitment practices which include Disclosure Scotland checks, and have policies and procedures for managing risk and carry out risk assessments for each person using the service to ensure that there is a balance between the risks the service user wants to take and what is safe. People using care services should also be encouraged and supported to use an independent and confidential advocacy service to act for them. The Care Commission ensures that care services meet the requirements in the National Care Standards. ","AnswerDate":"2008-02-19T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-02-28T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Shona Robison","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":215923,"EventID":"S3W-09262","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1782,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":59,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-31T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-31T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-8140 by Shona Robison on 28 January 2008, on how many occasions the Care Commission has taken action in respect of care homes not m","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-8140 by Shona Robison on 28 January 2008, on how many occasions the Care Commission has taken action in respect of care homes not meeting the national care standards relating to food and nutrition.","AnswerText":"Action taken where a care home has not met the National Care Standards, including those relating to food and nutrition, is an operational matter for the Care Commission. You can contact the Chief Executive of the Commission at the following address: Ms Jacquie Roberts Chief Executive Scottish Commission for the Regulation of Care Compass House 11 Riverside Drive Dundee DD14NY E: Jacquie.roberts@carecommission.com. ","AnswerDate":"2008-02-26T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-02-28T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Shona Robison","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":215924,"EventID":"S3W-09263","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1782,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":59,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-31T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-31T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-8144 by Shona Robison on 28 January 2008, what timescale it intends to set for the proposed national programme board working on pre","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-8144 by Shona Robison on 28 January 2008, what timescale it intends to set for the proposed national programme board working on pressured ulcers and skin care. ","AnswerText":"The National Programme Board will meet for the first time in March and has been asked to complete its preparatory work by the autumn, in time for practice recommendations to be developed and rolled out from January 2009. ","AnswerDate":"2008-02-21T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-02-28T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Shona Robison","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":215925,"EventID":"S3W-09264","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1826,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":35,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-31T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-31T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive how much has been recovered by the Scottish Legal Aid Board for false or non-declaration of assets in relation to legal aid claims since 1999.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive how much has been recovered by the Scottish Legal Aid Board for false or non-declaration of assets in relation to legal aid claims since 1999.","AnswerText":"The following table provides information on the potential recoveries or savings made by the Scottish Legal Aid Board since 1999 where legal aid applicants have made an untrue statement as to their income and/or capital assets or have failed to disclose a material fact concerning their resources or have failed to inform the board of a material change to their financial circumstances. | Financial Year | Potential Savings and Recoveries | | 1999-2000 | £481,316 | | 2000-01 | £1,203,185 | | 2001-02 | £985,491 | | 2002-03 | £963,797 | | 2003-04 | £662,167 | | 2004-05 | £845,278 | | 2005-06 | £544,349 | | 2006-07 | £841,301 | | 2007-08 (as at 31/12/07) | £834,356 | ","AnswerDate":"2008-02-22T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-02-28T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Kenny MacAskill","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":215926,"EventID":"S3W-09265","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2633,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":5,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-31T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-31T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what average class sizes are in the Fife Council area, broken down by year group.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what average class sizes are in the Fife Council area, broken down by year group.","AnswerText":"The latest available information on average class sizes by year group and local authority is set out in table 6.4 of the Statistical Bulletin Pupils in Scotland, 2006 which can be accessed using the following hyperlink: http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Publications/2007/02/27083941/76. ","AnswerDate":"2008-02-21T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-02-28T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Maureen Watt","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":215927,"EventID":"S3W-09266","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1996,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":19,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-31T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-31T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what progress has been made on the M74 extension.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what progress has been made on the M74 extension.","AnswerText":"The contract for the M74 extension has now been awarded. We expect construction to start in May 2008 with the road opening in 2011.","AnswerDate":"2008-02-21T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-02-28T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Stewart Stevenson","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":215928,"EventID":"S3W-09267","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1996,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":19,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-31T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-31T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive when construction of the M74 extension will commence.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive when construction of the M74 extension will commence.","AnswerText":"We expect construction of the M74 extension to commence in May 2008.","AnswerDate":"2008-02-21T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-02-28T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Stewart Stevenson","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":215929,"EventID":"S3W-09268","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1996,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":19,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-31T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-31T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what resources have been set aside to meet the cost of completion of the M74 extension.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what resources have been set aside to meet the cost of completion of the M74 extension.","AnswerText":"The cost of the contract for the M74 completion is £445 million with an additional allowance of £12 million for the possible treatment of mine workings.","AnswerDate":"2008-02-21T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-02-28T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Stewart Stevenson","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":215930,"EventID":"S3W-09269","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2633,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":5,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-31T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-31T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what percentage of primary 1 to primary 3 pupils in Fife Council primary schools were in class sizes of (a) 18 and under, (b) 19 to 25, (c) 26 to 30 and (d) over 30 in ea","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what percentage of primary 1 to primary 3 pupils in Fife Council primary schools were in class sizes of (a) 18 and under, (b) 19 to 25, (c) 26 to 30 and (d) over 30 in each school year from 2003-04 to 2007-08.","AnswerText":"Information for the 2007 census is due to be published on 26 February 2008. Data for the previous years are shown in the following table: Percentage of P1-P3 Pupils in Fife Council Primary Schools, by Size of Class | | 0-18 | 19-25 | 26-30 | >30 | | 2003 | 8 | 56 | 35 | 1 | | 2004 | 8 | 54 | 38 | 0 | | 2005 | 10 | 55 | 35 | 1 | | 2006 | 10 | 50 | 40 | 1 | Notes: *All percentages are rounded separately and breakdowns may consequently not sum up to 100 per cent. ","AnswerDate":"2008-02-21T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-02-28T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Maureen Watt","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":215931,"EventID":"S3W-09270","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2394,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":5,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-31T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-31T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive how much has been spent on policing in each of the last 10 years, broken down by (a) local authority and (b) police force area.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive how much has been spent on policing in each of the last 10 years, broken down by (a) local authority and (b) police force area.","AnswerText":"Information on expenditure by local authorities on the police is not held centrally. The Police Granted Aided Expenditure figures (£000) for the last 10 years are as follows: | | 1998-99 | 1999-2000 | 2000-01 | 2001-02 | 2002-03 | | Central | 31,559 | 32,913 | 33,468 | 35,560 | 36,874 | | Dumfries and Galloway | 19,353 | 20,812 | 21,318 | 22,650 | 23,194 | | Fife | 37,631 | 38,958 | 41,652 | 44,010 | 44,370 | | Grampian | 59,171 | 61,089 | 62,935 | 68,470 | 72,406 | | Lothian and Borders | 124,833 | 129,483 | 133,752 | 140,893 | 149,136 | | Northern | 36,465 | 37,190 | 39,014 | 42,550 | 43,518 | | Strathclyde | 328,336 | 339,260 | 352,183 | 370,940 | 389,140 | | Tayside | 53,652 | 55,015 | 57,598 | 61,450 | 63,484 | | Total | 691,000 | 714,720 | 741,920 | 786,523 | 822,122 | | &","AnswerDate":"2008-02-25T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-02-28T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Kenny MacAskill","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":215932,"EventID":"S3W-09271","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2394,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":5,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-31T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-31T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive how many police officers there have been in each of the last 10 years, broken down by (a) local authority and (b) police force area.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive how many police officers there have been in each of the last 10 years, broken down by (a) local authority and (b) police force area.","AnswerText":"The information held centrally cannot provide a breakdown of the number of police officers by local authority. With regard to the number of whole-time equivalent police officers by police force area, I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-4664 on 17 October 2007 for the years from 1998 to 2006. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament''s website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/wa.search. The relevant figures for 2007 are given in the Police Quarterly Strength Return, copies of which are held in the Scottish Parliament Information Centre (Bib. number 43307). Total Number of Crimes Recorded by the Police, 1997-98 to 2006-07, by Local Authority Area | | 1997-98 | 1998-99 | 1999-2000 | 2000-01 | 2001-02 | 2002-03 | 2003-04 | 2004-051 | 2005-06 | 2006-07 | | Aberdeen City | 28,793 | 30,937 | 32,475 | 29,944 | 28,632 | 26,704 | 24,679 | 24,585 | 24,602 | 23,322 | | Aberdeenshire | 10,515 | 10,332 | 10,801 | 11,000 | 9,844 | 8,870 | 9,646 | 11,001 | 11,345 | 10,527 | | Angus | 6,829 | 6,440 | 6,578 | 5,785 | 6,230 | 6,184 | 5,775 | 5,842 | 5,901 | 6,099 | | Argyll and Bute | 4,149 | 4,341 | 4,129 | 4,151 | 4,226 | 4,261 | 4,536 | ","AnswerDate":"2008-02-26T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-02-28T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Jim Mather","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":215935,"EventID":"S3W-09274","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1866,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":30,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-31T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-31T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what progress has been made on the investigation into barriers to the take-up of home energy efficiency and consideration of options to help householders improve the ener","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what progress has been made on the investigation into barriers to the take-up of home energy efficiency and consideration of options to help householders improve the energy efficiency of their homes, as referred to in paragraph 6.13 of Energy Efficiency and Microgeneration: Achieving a Low Carbon Future: A Strategy for Scotland - draft for consultation, March 2007.","AnswerText":"I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-9279 on 25 February 2008. A recently completed independent review of Energy Efficiency and Microgeneration Support has provided evidence into some of the barriers impeding the take-up of actions to improve home energy efficiency. These range from a lack of information, advice and finance to more complex matters such as existing housing that is hard to treat. In line with findings we are taking additional action to help householders improve the energy efficiency of their homes, including: A one stop shop advice network helping householders to take action on energy efficiency, microgeneration and transport. The new network, which goes live from April 2008, will have more challenging targets “ aiming to reach double the number of householders and producing four times more carbon savings as a result. New steps to leverage in our fair share of funding through the UK Government''s Carbon Emissions Reduction Target (CERT). We are currently considering what further action we need to take including the role for standards for existing non-domestic buildings and housing stock and we will shortly be issuing a consultation paper on new policy proposals. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament''s website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/wa.search. ","AnswerDate":"2008-02-26T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-02-28T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Jim Mather","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":215936,"EventID":"S3W-09275","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1866,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":30,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-31T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-31T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether the Cabinet Secretary for Finance and Sustainable Growth will make a statement about progress with regard to the effectiveness of the Central Energy Efficiency Fu","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether the Cabinet Secretary for Finance and Sustainable Growth will make a statement about progress with regard to the effectiveness of the Central Energy Efficiency Fund, in particular its extension to the further and higher education sector, as referred to in paragraph 7.7 of Energy Efficiency and Microgeneration: Achieving a Low Carbon Future: A Strategy for Scotland - draft for consultation, March 2007.","AnswerText":"The Central Energy Efficiency Fund continues to be an effective way of delivering financial savings and carbon emission reductions across the public sector. Over 900 discrete projects have been implemented to date by Scottish local authorities, the NHS and Scottish Water, a 50% increase in the last 18 months. Officials are currently finalising arrangements with stakeholders to set up the £4 million energy efficiency fund for Scotland''s universities and colleges which will be operational before the end of the current financial year. ","AnswerDate":"2008-02-25T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-02-28T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"John Swinney","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":215937,"EventID":"S3W-09276","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1866,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":30,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-31T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-31T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what progress has been made on the commitment to invest in microgeneration and investigate which of the buildings on its own estate are most suitable, as referred to in p","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what progress has been made on the commitment to invest in microgeneration and investigate which of the buildings on its own estate are most suitable, as referred to in paragraph 7.9 of Energy Efficiency and Microgeneration: Achieving a Low Carbon Future: A Strategy for Scotland - draft for consultation, March 2007.","AnswerText":"During 2007, the Scottish Government carried out work, in partnership with the Carbon Trust, to establish the feasibility of installing microgeneration at selected buildings on the core estate. Initial surveys have been completed for Saughton House in Edinburgh, Cameron House in Oban and Strathearn House in Perth which have highlighted a number of opportunities to be investigated further. Further surveys were also undertaken at Victoria Quay in Edinburgh, Longman House in Inverness and Meridian Court in Glasgow to explore opportunities for incorporating microgeneration as part of ongoing maintenance projects. In 2008 the Scottish Government will participate in the Carbon Management Programme through which the Carbon Trust provides technical and management support and guidance to formalise an action plan aimed at delivering carbon emission reductions. The plan will focus on the built environment including where microgeneration can be introduced to reduce the carbon emissions relative to our building operations. ","AnswerDate":"2008-02-25T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-02-28T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Jim Mather","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":215938,"EventID":"S3W-09277","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1866,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":30,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-31T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-31T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what progress has been made on taking forward the findings of the joint Ofgem and Department of Trade and Industry review of distributed generation, as referred to in par","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what progress has been made on taking forward the findings of the joint Ofgem and Department of Trade and Industry review of distributed generation, as referred to in paragraph 1.23 of Energy Efficiency and Microgeneration: Achieving a Low Carbon Future: A Strategy for Scotland - draft for consultation, March 2007.","AnswerText":"The Energy White Paper and the Review of Distributed Generation published alongside it, contained a number of proposals and measures to assist more widespread deployment of electricity and heat generation in the UK. One of the key barriers identified was the costs and complexities associated with the technical and regulatory aspects of the electricity system. Ofgem and the Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform (BERR) have since issued a joint consultation paper outlining a range of options for reducing these burdens. The Scottish Government is also considering what action it can take to encourage greater distributed generation, particularly in relation to heat. In doing so we are taking account of the findings of the FREDS Renewable Heat sub-group (referred to in the answer to question S3W-9278 on 25 February 2008). All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament''s website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/wa.search. ","AnswerDate":"2008-02-26T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-02-28T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Jim Mather","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":215939,"EventID":"S3W-09278","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1866,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":30,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-31T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-31T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what progress has been made in developing a renewable heat strategy, as referred to in paragraph 1.31 of Energy Efficiency and Microgeneration: Achieving a Low Carbon Fut","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what progress has been made in developing a renewable heat strategy, as referred to in paragraph 1.31 of Energy Efficiency and Microgeneration: Achieving a Low Carbon Future: A Strategy for Scotland - draft for consultation, March 2007.","AnswerText":"The Scottish Government welcomed a report, published on 5 February, from the Renewable Heat Group of the Forum for Renewable Energy Development in Scotland. Ministers will consider its recommendations carefully in developing an action plan for renewable heat, which we expect to issue later this year.","AnswerDate":"2008-02-25T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-02-28T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Jim Mather","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":215940,"EventID":"S3W-09279","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1866,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":30,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-31T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-31T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what progress has been made on the review of energy efficiency and microgeneration support, as referred to in paragraph 3.18 of Energy Efficiency and Microgeneration: Ach","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what progress has been made on the review of energy efficiency and microgeneration support, as referred to in paragraph 3.18 of Energy Efficiency and Microgeneration: Achieving a Low Carbon Future: A Strategy for Scotland - draft for consultation, March 2007.","AnswerText":"The independent Review of Energy Efficiency and Microgeneration Support was commissioned in April 2007 and completed in December. We are aiming to publish the report before the end of March 2008. We are already considering the results and recommendations of the review and these have helped and are helping to inform action for improving, simplifying and streamlining delivery whilst ensuring that support is effectively targeted. ","AnswerDate":"2008-02-25T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-02-28T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Jim Mather","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":215941,"EventID":"S3W-09280","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1866,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":30,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-31T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-31T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what targets it intends to set for domestic energy efficiency improvements, as referred to in paragraph 6.4 of Energy Efficiency and Microgeneration: Achieving a Low Carb","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what targets it intends to set for domestic energy efficiency improvements, as referred to in paragraph 6.4 of Energy Efficiency and Microgeneration: Achieving a Low Carbon Future: A Strategy for Scotland - draft for consultation, March 2007.","AnswerText":"We are already proposing a challenging target of 80% emissions reductions by 2050. The Scottish Climate Change Bill consultation seeks views on sectoral targets, including in relation to energy demand. The government is also considering the role for standards for existing non-domestic buildings and housing stock and it is the intention to consult separately on new policy proposals. We will therefore consider the possible benefits of setting further targets for domestic energy efficiency improvements in this context and against the need for targets to have an impact on actual take-up. ","AnswerDate":"2008-02-28T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-02-28T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Jim Mather","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":215942,"EventID":"S3W-09281","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1866,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":30,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-31T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-31T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what progress has been made on the Scottish Sustainable Procurement Action Plan, as referred to in paragraph 7.25 of Energy Efficiency and Microgeneration: Achieving a Lo","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what progress has been made on the Scottish Sustainable Procurement Action Plan, as referred to in paragraph 7.25 of Energy Efficiency and Microgeneration: Achieving a Low Carbon Future: A Strategy for Scotland - draft for consultation, March 2007.","AnswerText":"The proposed content of the Scottish Sustainable Procurement Action Plan is with the cross-sectoral Public Procurement Policy Forum for comments. Their views are being considered at present.","AnswerDate":"2008-02-20T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-02-28T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"John Swinney","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":215943,"EventID":"S3W-09282","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":3806,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":3,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-31T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-31T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what preparations are being made for future structural fund planning, in light of the recent Fourth European Cohesion Forum report.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what preparations are being made for future structural fund planning, in light of the recent Fourth European Cohesion Forum report.","AnswerText":"The current Structural Funds programming period lasts from 2007-13. It is too early to make any assumptions about the level and nature of Structural Funds that Scotland might receive post-2013. The focus of the Scottish Government remains on maximising the value to Scotland of the Structural Funds allocation for 2000-06. Following the Fourth Cohesion Forum, the European Commission launched a consultation on the future of Cohesion Policy after 2013. The Scottish Government submitted a response to the consultation which is available at www.scotland.gov.uk/structuralfunds. ","AnswerDate":"2008-02-28T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-02-28T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Jim Mather","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":215944,"EventID":"S3W-09283","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2080,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":17,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-31T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-31T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what meetings are planned with organisations representing people with disabilities to discuss the proposal to merge the Mobility Access Committee with the Public Transpor","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what meetings are planned with organisations representing people with disabilities to discuss the proposal to merge the Mobility Access Committee with the Public Transport Users Committee.","AnswerText":"The government will support MACS and PTUC through the amalgamation process and officials have met with MACS on several occasions recently. We have also started a dialogue with key MACS stakeholders. This amalgamation will help deliver our vision to reshape the public sector by improving its efficiency, effectiveness and outcome focus for the businesses and people of Scotland. ","AnswerDate":"2008-02-21T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-02-28T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Stewart Stevenson","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":215945,"EventID":"S3W-09284","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1996,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":19,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-31T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-31T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what its response has been to complaints that ministers breached EU directives in relation to the main contract for the M74 extension.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what its response has been to complaints that ministers breached EU directives in relation to the main contract for the M74 extension.","AnswerText":"We have undertaken an internal review and we are confident that the procurement processes and procedures are robust and have been properly conducted in accordance with EU rules.","AnswerDate":"2008-02-21T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-02-28T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Stewart Stevenson","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":215946,"EventID":"S3W-09285","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1996,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":19,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-31T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-31T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what investigation is being undertaken to determine whether ministers breached EU directives in relation to the main contract for the M74 extension.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what investigation is being undertaken to determine whether ministers breached EU directives in relation to the main contract for the M74 extension.","AnswerText":"An internal review of the procurement process has been carried out. It concluded that the procedures were properly conducted in accordance with EU rules.","AnswerDate":"2008-02-28T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-02-28T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Stewart Stevenson","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":215947,"EventID":"S3W-09286","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1996,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":19,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-31T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-31T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether construction of the M74 extension will be delayed due to the investigation by the European Commission of the procurement process.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether construction of the M74 extension will be delayed due to the investigation by the European Commission of the procurement process.","AnswerText":"I refer the member to the answer to question S3O-2320 on 21 February 2008. All answers to oral parliamentary questions are available on the Business Bulletin in the Parliament''s website http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/business/pqa/wa-08/wa0221.htm.","AnswerDate":"2008-02-28T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-02-28T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Stewart Stevenson","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":215948,"EventID":"S3W-09287","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":4074,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":73,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-31T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-31T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what each NHS board’s policy is on the provision of a 20-week scan for expectant mothers.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what each NHS board’s policy is on the provision of a 20-week scan for expectant mothers.","AnswerText":"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 around 57% of units routinely provide an 18 to 22 week scan for the detection of foetal anomaly. Every pregnant woman undergoes a risk assessment on their first visit to the midwife which is used to develop an individualised care plan. This assessment is continuously reviewed and the care plan altered if required. Women are referred to an obstetrician if there are clinical indications for this and in those areas where the anomaly scan is not routinely carried out, patients are selected for the investigation on the basis of clinical need. Local policies will establish the criteria by which these decisions are made.","AnswerDate":"2008-02-26T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-02-28T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Shona Robison","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":215949,"EventID":"S3W-09288","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1866,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":30,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-31T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-31T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive when it intends to publish its renewable heat strategy.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive when it intends to publish its renewable heat strategy.","AnswerText":"A report by the Renewable Heat Group of the Forum for Renewable Energy Development in Scotland (FREDS) was presented to Scottish Government and made available on our website on 5 February 2008. The report makes a number of recommendations on how to develop a renewable heat market in Scotland. We will consider its recommendations carefully in developing an action plan for renewable heat, which we expect to issue later this year.","AnswerDate":"2008-02-26T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-02-28T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Jim Mather","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":215950,"EventID":"S3W-09289","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":3811,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":4,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-31T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-31T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive when it expects to publish its conclusions on the West Edinburgh Planning Framework.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive when it expects to publish its conclusions on the West Edinburgh Planning Framework.","AnswerText":"Conclusions on the West Edinburgh Planning Framework are anticipated to be released before the end of the year.","AnswerDate":"2008-02-21T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-02-28T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Stewart Stevenson","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":215951,"EventID":"S3W-09290","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":3811,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":4,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-31T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-31T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what representations it has made to the consultation by the Department of Transport on proposals to develop Heathrow Airport, in light of the impact of the development on","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what representations it has made to the consultation by the Department of Transport on proposals to develop Heathrow Airport, in light of the impact of the development on the Scottish economy.","AnswerText":"We will make the Department for Transport aware of our views in due course.","AnswerDate":"2008-02-21T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-02-28T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Stewart Stevenson","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":215952,"EventID":"S3W-09291","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":3811,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":4,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-31T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-31T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what meetings have taken place between ministers and members of the Electoral Commission and what matters were discussed.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what meetings have taken place between ministers and members of the Electoral Commission and what matters were discussed.","AnswerText":"While there are regular meetings between officials of the Scottish Government and the Electoral Commission, there have been no meetings between Scottish ministers and the Electoral Commission since the May 2007 elections.","AnswerDate":"2008-02-28T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-02-28T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"John Swinney","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":215953,"EventID":"S3W-09292","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":3811,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":4,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-31T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-31T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive which signatories of the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty have replied to the letter from the First Minister and what the response has been in each case.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive which signatories of the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty have replied to the letter from the First Minister and what the response has been in each case.","AnswerText":"We have received responses from the following states: Austria Belarus Cameroon Cuba Egypt Germany Grenada Guyana Indonesia Ireland Lesotho Mexico Norway Philippines Romania Senegal Slovak Republic Sweden United Arab Emirates The Vatican Ukraine Venezuela. In the spirit of open government we have written to these states informing them that we intend to publish their responses and asking whether they have any objections. ","AnswerDate":"2008-03-20T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-02-28T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Bruce Crawford","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":215954,"EventID":"S3W-09293","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":3811,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":4,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-31T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-31T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what representations it has received from the Strathclyde Partnership for Transport Executive on the Glasgow Crossrail project and what its response will be.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what representations it has received from the Strathclyde Partnership for Transport Executive on the Glasgow Crossrail project and what its response will be.","AnswerText":"Transport Scotland has received a copy of the final STAG report from Strathclyde Partnership for Transport (SPT), and this will be fed into the Strategic Transport Projects Review (STPR).","AnswerDate":"2008-02-21T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-02-28T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Stewart Stevenson","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":215955,"EventID":"S3W-09294","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":3811,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":4,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-31T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-31T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive how many new houses have been built by each local authority since May 2007.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive how many new houses have been built by each local authority since May 2007.","AnswerText":"The information requested is published on the Scottish Government website at: http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Topics/Statistics/Browse/Housing-Regeneration/HSfS/NewBuild. These tables show quarterly figures up to the end of September 2007. ","AnswerDate":"2008-02-28T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-02-28T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Stewart Maxwell","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":215956,"EventID":"S3W-09295","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":3811,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":4,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-31T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-31T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive how many business start-ups there have been in each Scottish parliamentary constituency since May 2007 and what the comparative figures were for each of the previous five","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive how many business start-ups there have been in each Scottish parliamentary constituency since May 2007 and what the comparative figures were for each of the previous five years.","AnswerText":"Data on the number of VAT registrationsare released annually by the Department forBusiness Enterprise and Regulatory Reform (BERR). These figures are used to monitorthe number of business start-ups. The latest available data refers to all VAT registrationstaking place in Scotland in 2006. There is no breakdown available by Scottish parliamentaryconstituency.The table below shows the numberof VAT registrations by local authority area in Scotland from 2001 to 2006: | Local Authority | 2001 | 2002 | 2003 | 2004 | 2005 | 2006 | | Aberdeen City | 525 | 610 | 545 | 520 | 565 | 600 | | Aberdeenshire | 590 | 600 | 740 | 670 | 720 | 785 | | Angus | 195 | 175 | 205 | 215 | 235 | 240 | | Argyll and Bute | 225 | 230 | 230 | 275 | 210 | 205 | | Clackmannanshire | 80 | 80 | 100 | 90 | 80 | 90 | | Dumfries and Galloway | 300 | 320 | 350 | 345 | 335 | 325 | | Dundee City | 250 | 240 | 245 | 265 | 255 | 225 | | East Ayrshire | 215 | 215 | 205 | 210 | 225 | 190 | | East Dunbartonshire | 205 | ","AnswerDate":"2008-02-07T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-02-28T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Jim Mather","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":215957,"EventID":"S3W-09296","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":3811,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":4,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-31T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-31T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive how many reports have been received by ministers from the Council of Economic Advisers since May 2007; on what subjects, and what action has been taken as a result.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive how many reports have been received by ministers from the Council of Economic Advisers since May 2007; on what subjects, and what action has been taken as a result.","AnswerText":"The Council of Economic Advisers have met twice. The council will publish their annual report in due course, although no decisions have been made regarding release date or indeed content. ","AnswerDate":"2008-02-18T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-02-28T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"John Swinney","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":215958,"EventID":"S3W-09297","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":3811,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":4,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-31T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-31T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive how many reports it has received from the Scottish Broadcasting Council since May 2007; on what subjects, and what action has been taken as a result.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive how many reports it has received from the Scottish Broadcasting Council since May 2007; on what subjects, and what action has been taken as a result.","AnswerText":"The Scottish Broadcasting Commission has published one report, in January 2008, in line with the work programme it published shortly after its first meeting on 26 October last year. This was an interim report about the economic phase of its work. The commission plans two further such interim reports, about the democratic and cultural aspects of its remit. It then plans to publish a full report later in the 2008. The interim report published in January contained no specific recommendations for action by the Scottish Government. The commission plans to make recommendations in its final report and the government will consider whether it should take action as a consequence of these recommendations. ","AnswerDate":"2008-02-28T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-02-28T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Linda Fabiani","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":215959,"EventID":"S3W-09298","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":3811,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":4,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-31T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-31T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive how many telephone interceptions have been authorised by Scottish ministers since May 2007 and how this compares with the number for the equivalent period in the previous","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive how many telephone interceptions have been authorised by Scottish ministers since May 2007 and how this compares with the number for the equivalent period in the previous year.","AnswerText":"Details of the number of interceptionwarrants issued by the Scottish ministers are contained in the Interception of CommunicationsCommissioner’s annual reports, which are laid before this Parliament. The most recentannual report (for 2006) was laid before Parliament on 28 January 2008 andis available from the Scottish Parliament Information Centre (Bib. number 44564)","AnswerDate":"2008-02-12T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-02-28T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Kenny MacAskill","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":215960,"EventID":"S3W-09299","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":3811,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":4,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-31T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-31T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what the full-time-equivalent (a) authorised complement and (b) actual number of police officers in each force was on 31 December (i) 2006 and (ii) 2007.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what the full-time-equivalent (a) authorised complement and (b) actual number of police officers in each force was on 31 December (i) 2006 and (ii) 2007.","AnswerText":"The operational deployment of resources is a matter for chief constables, and no information on planned establishment levels is held centrally. Figures on the number of police officers are collected on a whole-time equivalent basis for the Quarterly Strength Return. This is updated on a quarterly basis to reflect returns for 31 March, 30 June, 30 September and 31 December. Copies are available in the Scottish Parliament Information Centre (Bib. numbers 40257 (for 2006-07) and 43307 (for 2007-08)). ","AnswerDate":"2008-02-22T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-02-28T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Kenny MacAskill","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":215961,"EventID":"S3W-09300","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":3811,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":4,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-31T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-31T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive how many cars are in the fleet of cars owned by it for use by Scottish ministers and others and which makes and models they are.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive how many cars are in the fleet of cars owned by it for use by Scottish ministers and others and which makes and models they are.","AnswerText":"The Government Car Service (GCS) supports ministers and some senior officials in their official duties across Scotland. The number of cars in GCS'' fleet and the makes and models are shown in the following table: | Number of Cars | Make and Model | Engine | | 9 | Volvo S80 - saloon | Dual Fuel (Petrol/LPG) | | 11 | Volvo S80 - saloon | Diesel | | 1 | Peugeot 407 - estate | Diesel | | 1 | Lexus GS 450h SE - saloon | Hybrid (Petrol/Electric) | | 1 | Toyota Prius - saloon | Hybrid (Petrol/Electric) | | 2 | Honda Civic IMA “ saloon | Hybrid (Petrol/Electric) | | Total 25 | | | ","AnswerDate":"2008-02-20T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-02-28T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"John Swinney","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":215962,"EventID":"S3W-09301","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":3811,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":4,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-31T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-31T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive how much use ministers have made of (a) ministerial cars, (b) private hire cars and (c) taxis for official travel since May 2007.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive how much use ministers have made of (a) ministerial cars, (b) private hire cars and (c) taxis for official travel since May 2007.","AnswerText":"The number of official journeys taken by ministers since their appointment in May 2007, in ministerial cars, private hire cars, and taxis is shown in the following table: | Ministerial Car | Private Hire Car | Taxi | Total | | 6,095 | 527 | 115 | 6,737 | Notes: i. The table covers the period 16 May 2007 to 31 January 2008. ii. Ministerial car journeys are undertaken by Government Car Service (GCS) who provided Scottish Cabinet Secretary/ministers with a car and driver, and where necessary separate transportation of their official documents/boxes, which is included in these figures. iii. Private hire cars are only used when it is operationally impossible for GCS to provide a car. iv. Taxis are used for short journeys whenever it is practically possible. v. Each leg of a car journey is enumerated separately in the table. So a straightforward return is shown as two journeys. This compares with a total of 6,607 journeys by ministerial car and 518 by private hire car during the comparable period in the previous year. A record of journeys by taxi in previous years is not held centrally. ","AnswerDate":"2008-02-26T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-02-28T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"John Swinney","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":215963,"EventID":"S3W-09302","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":3811,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":4,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-31T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-31T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what representations it has received and from whom on the future of the Royal Hospital for Sick Children in Edinburgh since May 2007.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what representations it has received and from whom on the future of the Royal Hospital for Sick Children in Edinburgh since May 2007.","AnswerText":"Representations have been received from individuals and politicians. Direct representations to me from politicians include those from Dr Ian McKee MSP, Shirley-Anne Somerville MSP, Nigel Griffiths MP, Mike Pringle MSP, Mike Rumbles MSP and Margaret Smith MSP. On Wednesday 20 February, I received a petition from the Evening News in response to their campaign calling for services to be retained at the Royal Hospital for Sick Children in Edinburgh. ","AnswerDate":"2008-02-28T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-02-28T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Nicola Sturgeon","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":215964,"EventID":"S3W-09303","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":3811,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":4,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-31T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-31T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive which NHS boards have specialist staff dealing with the treatment of epilepsy and what experience staff have in each case.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive which NHS boards have specialist staff dealing with the treatment of epilepsy and what experience staff have in each case.","AnswerText":"The table details whole-time equivalent (WTE) specialist epilepsy staff in post within NHSScotland at October 2007. | NHS Board | Epilepsy Specialist Nurses | Consultant Neurologist Epilepsy Specialist | | Adult | Paediatric | Learning Disability | | Ayrshire and Arran | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | | Fife | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | | Forth Valley | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | | Greater Glasgow and Clyde | 2.5 | 2 | 2 | 3 | | Grampian | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | | Highland | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | | Lanarkshire | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | | Lothian | 2 | 1 | 2 | 2 | | Tayside | 1 | 1 | 0 | 2 | Source: Epilepsy Scotland. Arrangements are in place for people living in a board with no epilepsy specialist staff to be referred to an appropriate board which employs such specialist staff. ","AnswerDate":"2008-02-21T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-02-28T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Shona Robison","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":215965,"EventID":"S3W-09304","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":3811,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":4,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-31T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-31T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what help it is giving to keep rural post offices open.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what help it is giving to keep rural post offices open.","AnswerText":"The Scottish Government recognises the valuable social role of post offices, particularly in deprived and remote areas of Scotland. However, postal services are a matter reserved to the UK Government. Scottish Government is monitoring Post Office Limited's restructuring proposals. I have encouraged all MSPs and local authorities to look very carefully at what is proposed to ensure that the interests of the public, particularly vulnerable groups, have been properly taken into account. I have also been in active discussion with Post Office Limited to ensure it has an awareness of potential business opportunities under the Scottish Government's agenda to streamline and improve public services and key stakeholders, and to ensure that the restructuring programme promotes transparency and open discussion of the issues. ","AnswerDate":"2008-02-19T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-02-28T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"John Swinney","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":215966,"EventID":"S3W-09305","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":3811,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":4,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-31T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-31T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive how many contracts for the building of new schools have been signed in each local authority since May 2007.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive how many contracts for the building of new schools have been signed in each local authority since May 2007.","AnswerText":"Local authorities procure new schools through more than one procurement route. Seven local authorities have signed school PPP contracts since May 2007, allowing building work to progress on 45 schools, almost all new builds. Those authorities, with their shares of 45 schools, are Aberdeen City (10), Dumfries and Galloway (10), East Dunbartonshire (6), Falkirk (4), Perth and Kinross (9), West Dunbartonshire (4) and West Lothian (2). With the exception of Public Private Partnerships (PPP), the Scottish Government does not hold comprehensive information about local authorities'' school building contracts.","AnswerDate":"2008-02-29T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-02-28T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Maureen Watt","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":215967,"EventID":"S3W-09306","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":3811,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":4,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-31T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-31T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive which local authorities have submitted funding proposals for their school building programmes since May 2007 and which of these were successful.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive which local authorities have submitted funding proposals for their school building programmes since May 2007 and which of these were successful.","AnswerText":"Funding resources provided by government are allocated to local authorities for them to deploy according to their own priorities. The funding arrangements for investment in school buildings do not operate on the basis of authorities applying for and being allocated resources by the government on the basis of their individual proposals.","AnswerDate":"2008-02-21T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-02-28T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Maureen Watt","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":215968,"EventID":"S3W-09307","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":3811,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":4,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-31T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-31T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether any consideration has been given since May 2007 to making use of the power to raise income tax by up to 3p in the pound.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether any consideration has been given since May 2007 to making use of the power to raise income tax by up to 3p in the pound.","AnswerText":"In accordance with the agreementbetween the Scottish government and the Parliament’s Finance Committee the statementon Page 78 of Scottish Budget: Spending Review 2007 confirms that the ScottishGovernment will not use the existing tax raising powers in 2008-09.","AnswerDate":"2008-02-08T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-02-28T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"John Swinney","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":215969,"EventID":"S3W-09308","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1826,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":35,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-31T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-31T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive, in light of a recent Blood Pressure Association report which found that 39% of adults in Scotland have high blood pressure, what action it intends to take to tackle the ","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive, in light of a recent Blood Pressure Association report which found that 39% of adults in Scotland have high blood pressure, what action it intends to take to tackle the issue and whether it will consider introducing a more extensive screening programme as promised in Better Health, Better Care. ","AnswerText":"SIGN Guideline 97 on risk estimation and the prevention of cardiovascular disease (February 2007) highlights blood pressure as one of the key clinical measurements in assessing cardiovascular risk. This will form part of the evidence base for the clinical standards on coronary heart disease and cardiovascular disease which NHS Quality Improvement Scotland is expected to develop. In primary care, a range of checks carried out by GPs involve measurement of blood pressure, and hypertension is one of the clinical domains of the Quality and Outcomes Framework of the new GMS contract. ","AnswerDate":"2008-02-28T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-02-28T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Shona Robison","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":215970,"EventID":"S3W-09309","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1826,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":35,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-31T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-31T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive which stakeholders are being consulted on the design of health checks.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive which stakeholders are being consulted on the design of health checks.","AnswerText":"Proposals on health checks under the Life Begins programme, have been the subject of initial consultation through the Better Health, Better Care consultation document. This was an open consultation document which was made available to all members of the public. A number of members of the medical profession responded in relation to health checks, and we are considering their views at present, along with a range of published evidence, including clinical information. As we continue to develop the Life Begins programme we will consider which groups we may need to discuss further detail with. The Keep Well programme, which complements the wider commitment to anticipatory care and involves health checks for people at risk from chronic disease in deprived communities, will be fully evaluated by 2010. This will also inform the future shape of anticipatory care. ","AnswerDate":"2008-02-26T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-02-28T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Shona Robison","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":215971,"EventID":"S3W-09310","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1826,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":35,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-31T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-31T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what the timescale is for examining the design of health checks.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what the timescale is for examining the design of health checks.","AnswerText":"The Scottish Government remains committed to the application of anticipatory care, including appropriate screening and health checks, across Scotland. We are currently exploring a range of options for health checks through the Life Begins programme. The timetable for further development will depend on the precise option chosen. The Keep Well initiative also complements our commitment to screening and health checks, focusing on the health needs of the most deprived communities. This programme continues to be funded until 2010, when a full evaluation will be published. ","AnswerDate":"2008-02-26T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-02-28T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Shona Robison","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":215972,"EventID":"S3W-09311","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2133,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":6,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-31T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-31T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will consider introducing a development management scheme in line with that proposed during the passage of the Title Conditions (Scotland) Act 2003.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will consider introducing a development management scheme in line with that proposed during the passage of the Title Conditions (Scotland) Act 2003.","AnswerText":"Officials are currently working on a section 104 Order under the Scotland Act 1998 to make provision in consequence of the Title Conditions (Scotland) Act 2003 for the development management scheme. The development management scheme will create a new form of corporate body to form the owners'' association which will run a development in accordance with the terms of the scheme. The creation and regulation of such a corporate body is in terms of the Scotland Act 1998 reserved to the Westminster Parliament. The scheme is intended for use in larger, more complex developments. The Tenement Management Scheme in the Tenements (Scotland) Act 2004 already applies to all tenement property in Scotland. This ensures that all tenements in Scotland benefit from default rules which allow for management and maintenance to be carried out by a majority of owners where this is not provided for in the title deeds. ","AnswerDate":"2008-02-19T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-02-28T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Fergus Ewing","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":215973,"EventID":"S3W-09312","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2133,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":6,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-31T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-31T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions it has had with the UK Government regarding the introduction of a development management scheme under the Title Conditions (Scotland) Act 2003.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions it has had with the UK Government regarding the introduction of a development management scheme under the Title Conditions (Scotland) Act 2003.","AnswerText":"Officials are in discussion with their counterparts at the Scotland Office, the Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform and the Office of the Solicitor to the Advocate General on the terms of the section 104 Order to implement the development management provisions in the Title Conditions (Scotland) Act 2003. I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-9311 on 19 February 2008. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament's website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/wa.search. ","AnswerDate":"2008-02-19T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-02-28T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Fergus Ewing","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":215974,"EventID":"S3W-09313","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2133,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":6,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-31T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-31T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether the UK Government has given a timescale for the introduction of a development management scheme under the Title Conditions (Scotland) Act 2003.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether the UK Government has given a timescale for the introduction of a development management scheme under the Title Conditions (Scotland) Act 2003.","AnswerText":"My officials are in consultation with the Scotland Office and the intention is to ask UK Ministers to lay the s104 Order in the spring. I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-9311 on 19 February 2008. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament''s website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/wa.search. ","AnswerDate":"2008-02-19T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-02-28T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Fergus Ewing","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":215975,"EventID":"S3W-09314","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2133,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":6,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-31T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-31T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what benefits it believes would be gained through the introduction of a development management scheme under the Title Conditions (Scotland) Act 2003.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what benefits it believes would be gained through the introduction of a development management scheme under the Title Conditions (Scotland) Act 2003.","AnswerText":"The development management scheme will be a useful model for developers which they can either adopt or adapt. The scheme will make it clear where obligations and liabilities lie, for example for maintenance, in relation to shared facilities and thereby reduce the scope for conflict. A further benefit of the development management scheme is that it will create a new form of corporate body to form the owners' association which will run a development in accordance with the terms of the scheme. The scheme is intended for use in larger, more complex developments. The Tenement Management Scheme in the Tenements (Scotland) Act 2004 already applies to all tenement property in Scotland. This ensures that all tenements in Scotland benefit from default rules which allow for management and maintenance to be carried out by a majority of owners where this is not provided for in the title deeds. ","AnswerDate":"2008-02-19T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-02-28T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Fergus Ewing","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":215976,"EventID":"S3W-09315","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2202,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":8,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-31T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-31T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive how many patients on waiting lists are unavailable for treatment and therefore have had their waiting time clocks stopped.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive how many patients on waiting lists are unavailable for treatment and therefore have had their waiting time clocks stopped.","AnswerText":"New ways of defining and measuring waiting times came into effect for patients on or added to waiting lists from 1 January 2008. Patients will have their waiting time clock stopped when they are unavailable for social or medical reasons. Such cases will be reviewed regularly by hospitals. It is intended that information on the number of patients with periods of unavailability will be published by ISD Scotland. Information for the first three months of 2008 will be available publicly at the end of May 2008. Information about periods of unavailability has not been published before.","AnswerDate":"2008-02-25T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-02-28T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Nicola Sturgeon","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":215977,"EventID":"S3W-09316","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2202,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":8,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-31T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-31T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive how many patients have been removed from waiting lists with one NHS board and referred to a new NHS board since September 2007.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive how many patients have been removed from waiting lists with one NHS board and referred to a new NHS board since September 2007.","AnswerText":"Under the system of reporting of waiting times up to 31 December 2007, information on the transfer of patients from a waiting list in one NHS board to another board''s list was not collected centrally. However, under the new system of defining and measuring waiting times which came into effect for patients on or added to waiting lists on 1 January 2008, information will be available on the number of patients transferred between waiting lists in different board areas. We expect NHS boards to ensure that all patients are seen and treated within current waiting time standards. If boards encounter temporary difficulties in doing so, they may arrange treatment in another board area to ensure patients continue to receive swift access to care. We would expect patients to participate in any decision to arrange treatment in another board area. ","AnswerDate":"2008-02-25T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-02-28T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Nicola Sturgeon","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":215978,"EventID":"S3W-09317","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2202,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":8,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-31T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-31T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive how many patients held an availability status code on 1 December 2007.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive how many patients held an availability status code on 1 December 2007.","AnswerText":"The information requested is not held centrally. Prior to 1 January 2008 waiting list information was collected by a census undertaken on the last day of each month and published quarterly by ISD Scotland. The latest available information published on 26 February 2008 showed that 8,493 inpatient/day case patients held an availability status code on 31 December 2007. As ASC''s were abolished on 31 December 2007, national waiting time targets now apply to all of these patients. Those that are available for treatment will require to be treated within 18 weeks. ","AnswerDate":"2008-02-27T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-02-28T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Nicola Sturgeon","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":215979,"EventID":"S3W-09318","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2202,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":8,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-31T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-31T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive how many patients have had their availability status codes removed without having received any treatment since the introduction of the 18-week target for patient treatmen","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive how many patients have had their availability status codes removed without having received any treatment since the introduction of the 18-week target for patient treatment, broken down by NHS board.","AnswerText":"The 18 weeks maximum waiting time guarantee for inpatient and day case treatment applies from 31 December 2007. Information published by ISD Scotland on 26 February 2008 shows that NHSScotland delivered the guarantee. In preparation for the introduction of new ways of defining and measuring waiting times on I January 2008, NHS boards were required to review the cases of all patients holding an availability status code and to take action specified in published guidance. Patients with an availability status code who were available for treatment on 31 December 2007 will receive that treatment within 18 weeks, i.e. by 5 May 2008. Patients who were not available for treatment at the end of 2007 have either been transferred to the new waiting lists with their record noted as unavailable, in which case they will be reviewed regularly; or where clinically appropriate have been returned to the care of their GP “ again as provided in published guidance. As of 1 January 2008, no patient was still subject to an availability status code. ","AnswerDate":"2008-02-27T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-02-28T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Nicola Sturgeon","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":215980,"EventID":"S3W-09319","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2202,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":8,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-31T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-31T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether patients who are unavailable for treatment remain on hospital waiting lists.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether patients who are unavailable for treatment remain on hospital waiting lists.","AnswerText":"Yes, subject to published guidance on management of waiting lists. This can be viewed at http://www.isdscotland.org/isd/files/New-Ways-Applying-Guidance-V3.pdf. The new approach to managing waiting lists provides that patients who are not available for either medical or social reasons for treatment, at the point when need for treatment is agreed should not be added to the waiting list until their period of unavailability ends. However, it is open to clinical staff nevertheless to add such patients to the list “ for example, if the period of unavailability is clearly temporary. Their records will by flagged as unavailable. Where a patient is added to the list and subsequently becomes unavailable for any reason the patient will be retained on the waiting list with their record noted as unavailable. These patients will be kept under review at least every 13 weeks. Alternatively, if clinically appropriate, patients who become unavailable after they have been added to the waiting list may be returned to the care of their GP. The guidance makes clear that a patient who is unavailable should be kept on the waiting list where, for example, the period of unavailability is of known duration. ","AnswerDate":"2008-02-25T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-02-28T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Nicola Sturgeon","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":215981,"EventID":"S3W-09320","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2202,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":8,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-31T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-31T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive how many patients have been informed that their waiting time clocks have been stopped since September 2007, also broken down by NHS board.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive how many patients have been informed that their waiting time clocks have been stopped since September 2007, also broken down by NHS board.","AnswerText":"I refer the member to answer to question S3W-9315 on 25 February 2008. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament''s website, the search facility for which can be found at: http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/wa.search.","AnswerDate":"2008-02-25T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-02-28T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Nicola Sturgeon","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":215982,"EventID":"S3W-09321","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2202,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":8,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-31T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-31T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive how it defines “regular reviews” for patients who have had their waiting time clocks stopped.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive how it defines “regular reviews” for patients who have had their waiting time clocks stopped.","AnswerText":"The guidance issued to NHSScotland on new ways of defining and measuring waiting times states that for those patients who experience a period of unavailability for social or medical reasons and no end date has been indicated, their case should be reviewed at least every 13 weeks. The waiting time clock is stopped during periods of unavailability.","AnswerDate":"2008-02-25T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-02-28T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Nicola Sturgeon","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":215983,"EventID":"S3W-09322","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2202,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":8,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-31T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-31T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what guidance it has provided to hospitals and GPs on how to review the position of patients who have had their waiting time clocks stopped.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what guidance it has provided to hospitals and GPs on how to review the position of patients who have had their waiting time clocks stopped.","AnswerText":"The latest available guidance on new ways of defining and measuring waiting was issued to NHSScotland in December 2007. This can be accessed at: http://www.isdscotland.org/isd/files/New-Ways-Applying-Guidance-V3.pdf. ","AnswerDate":"2008-02-25T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-02-28T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Nicola Sturgeon","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":215984,"EventID":"S3W-09323","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2202,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":8,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-31T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-31T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive how many patients have been removed from hospital waiting lists and referred back to the care of their GPs since September 2007.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive how many patients have been removed from hospital waiting lists and referred back to the care of their GPs since September 2007.","AnswerText":"Information is not available centrally. New ways of defining and measuring waiting times came into effect on 1 January 2008. I have made clear that this system will be open and transparent and much more information will be published. It is planned to publish the number of patients referred back to the care of their GP, along with other information not previously available. Information under New Ways will be published for the first time at the end of May 2008 covering the three months to 31 March 2008. ","AnswerDate":"2008-02-25T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-02-28T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Nicola Sturgeon","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":215985,"EventID":"S3W-09324","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2202,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":8,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-31T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-31T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive how long on average patients removed from hospital waiting lists and referred back to the care of their GPs have to wait before receiving treatment.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive how long on average patients removed from hospital waiting lists and referred back to the care of their GPs have to wait before receiving treatment.","AnswerText":"I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-9323 on 25 February 2008. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament''s website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/wa.search. Where a patient from a hospital waiting list is returned to the care of the GP, published guidance must be followed. If a patient is returned to their GP''s care, it is a matter for the GP and the patient to decide whether a re-referral is necessary and appropriate, and if so when it should be made. If a GP decides to re-refer, the patient would be seen and if necessary treated within national maximum waiting times targets, subject to any periods of unavailability. ","AnswerDate":"2008-02-25T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-02-28T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Nicola Sturgeon","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":215986,"EventID":"S3W-09325","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2202,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":8,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-31T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-31T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what the median time spent waiting to receive treatment is for patients removed from hospital waiting lists and referred back to the care of their GPs.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what the median time spent waiting to receive treatment is for patients removed from hospital waiting lists and referred back to the care of their GPs.","AnswerText":"I refer the member to answer to question S3W-9324 on 25 February 2008. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament''s website, the search facility for which can be found at: http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/wa.search. ","AnswerDate":"2008-02-25T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-02-28T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Nicola Sturgeon","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":215987,"EventID":"S3W-09326","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2202,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":8,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-31T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-31T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive how many patients have been excluded from a waiting time guarantee since September 2007 because treatment is deemed to be a low clinical priority.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive how many patients have been excluded from a waiting time guarantee since September 2007 because treatment is deemed to be a low clinical priority.","AnswerText":"Waiting list information prior to 1 January 2008 was collected by a census undertaken on the last day of each month and published quarterly. The latest available information published on 26 February 2008, showed that the number of patients who had an availability status code indicating treatment of low clinical priority on 31 October 2007, 30 November 2007 and 31 December 2007 was 141, 112 and 34 respectively. From 1 January 2008 where a patient is placed on a waiting list the patient is treated within the national maximum waiting time target, subject to any periods of unavailability. There is no category of low clinical priority. ","AnswerDate":"2008-02-27T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-02-28T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Nicola Sturgeon","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":215988,"EventID":"S3W-09327","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2202,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":8,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-31T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-31T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive how many patients have been excluded from a waiting time guarantee since September 2007 because treatment is too highly specialised.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive how many patients have been excluded from a waiting time guarantee since September 2007 because treatment is too highly specialised.","AnswerText":"Waiting list information prior to 1 January 2008 was collected by a census undertaken on the last day of each month and published quarterly. The latest available information published on 26 February 2008, showed that the number of patients who had a highly specialised treatment availability status code on 31 October 2007, 30 November 2007, and 31 December 2007 was 472, 212, and 64 respectively. From 1 January 2008 where a patient is placed on a waiting list the patient is treated within the national maximum waiting time target, subject to any periods of unavailability. There is no category of highly specialised treatment. s","AnswerDate":"2008-02-27T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-02-28T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Nicola Sturgeon","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":215989,"EventID":"S3W-09328","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2202,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":8,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-31T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-31T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive how many patients have been removed from waiting lists for specialist services since the introduction of the 18-week target for treatment, broken down by NHS board.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive how many patients have been removed from waiting lists for specialist services since the introduction of the 18-week target for treatment, broken down by NHS board.","AnswerText":"The 18 weeks maximum waiting time guarantee for inpatient and day case treatment applies from 31 December 2007. Information published by ISD Scotland on 26 February 2008 shows that NHSScotland delivered the guarantee. Information is not available centrally. New ways of defining and measuring waiting times came into effect on 1 January 2008. I have made clear that this system will be open and transparent and much more information will be published. It is planned to publish the number of patients referred back to the care of their GP, along with other information not previously available. Information under new ways will be published for the first time at the end of May 2008 covering the three months to 31 March 2008. As I have made clear, hospitals must follow published guidance when deciding whether a patient should be removed from a waiting list, whether for specialist services or for any other treatment. ","AnswerDate":"2008-02-27T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-02-28T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Nicola Sturgeon","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":215990,"EventID":"S3W-09329","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2202,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":8,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-31T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-31T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive how many patients have been removed from waiting lists and denied treatment in order not to jeopardise the 18-week target for treatment since its introduction, broken dow","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive how many patients have been removed from waiting lists and denied treatment in order not to jeopardise the 18-week target for treatment since its introduction, broken down by NHS board.","AnswerText":"As the member knows, a situation was recently brought to my attention in NHS Tayside where a small number of patients had been removed from a hospital waiting list for reasons not provided for in the published guidance. However, this was not related to the 18-week target. I took action at once to ensure that the patients in question were reinstated on the waiting list and the patients were informed. All NHS boards have provided assurances that any removal of patients from the waiting list is being carried out in line with published guidance. I have re-emphasised the importance of boards adhering to the guidance at all times.","AnswerDate":"2008-02-25T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-02-28T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Nicola Sturgeon","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":215991,"EventID":"S3W-09330","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2202,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":8,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-31T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-31T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive how many patients have been removed from hospital waiting lists since September 2007.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive how many patients have been removed from hospital waiting lists since September 2007.","AnswerText":"I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-9328 on 27 February 2008. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament''s website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/wa.search.","AnswerDate":"2008-02-27T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-02-28T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Nicola Sturgeon","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":215992,"EventID":"S3W-09331","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2202,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":8,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-31T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-31T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive how many patients have been informed by consultants that they have been removed from waiting lists since September 2007, also broken down by NHS board area.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive how many patients have been informed by consultants that they have been removed from waiting lists since September 2007, also broken down by NHS board area.","AnswerText":"I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-9328 on 27 February 2008. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament''s website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/wa.search.","AnswerDate":"2008-02-27T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-02-28T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Nicola Sturgeon","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":215993,"EventID":"S3W-09332","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2202,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":8,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-31T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-31T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive how many patients have waited longer than 18 weeks for inpatient or day-case treatment since September 2007, also broken down by NHS board area.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive how many patients have waited longer than 18 weeks for inpatient or day-case treatment since September 2007, also broken down by NHS board area.","AnswerText":"There were no patients with a guarantee waiting longer than 18 weeks for in-patient or day case treatment on the census dates of 31 October 2007, 30 November 2007 and 31 December 2007. Unlike the previous system where patients who had an availability status code applied could have exceedingly long waits - in some cases of over 12 months - all patients are now covered by the maximum waiting time standard under the new ways of defining and measuring waiting times which came into effect on 1 January 2008. Patients who held an availability status code on 31 December 2007 will be treated in hospital within 18 weeks from 1 January 2008, provided they are available. If they are unavailable, their case will be reviewed regularly until they can be treated or until a decision is made to return them to the care of their GP. ","AnswerDate":"2008-02-27T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-02-28T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Nicola Sturgeon","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":215994,"EventID":"S3W-09333","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2202,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":8,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-31T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-31T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive how many patients have waited longer than 18 weeks for a first outpatient consultation after a referral since September 2007, also broken down by NHS board area.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive how many patients have waited longer than 18 weeks for a first outpatient consultation after a referral since September 2007, also broken down by NHS board area.","AnswerText":"Waiting list information prior to 1 January 2008 was collected by a census undertaken on the last day of each month and published quarterly. The information requested is provided in the following table. Unlike the previous system where patients who had an availability status code applied could have exceedingly long waits - in some cases of over 12 months - all patients will be covered by the maximum waiting time standard under the new ways of defining and measuring waiting times which came into effect on 1 January 2008. Patients who held an availability status code on 31 December 2007 will receive their first out-patient consultation within 18 weeks, from 1 January 2008, provided they are available. If they are unavailable their case will be reviewed regularly until they can be seen or until a decision is made to return them to the care of their GP. NHSscotland: Out-Patient Waiting Lists By Board of Treatment: Number of Patients* Waiting Over 18 Weeks | Board of Treatment | 31 October 2007 | 30 November 2007 | 31 December 2007 | | Ayrshire and Arran | 84 | 18 | 0 | | Borders | 0 | 0 | 0 | | Dumfries and Galloway | 4 | 8 | 0 | | Fife | 255 | 165 | 0 | | Forth Valley | 389 | 224 | 0 | | Grampian | 2,419 | 1,472 | 0 | | Greater Glasgow and Clyde | 781 | 392 | 0 | | Highland | 693 | 237 | 0 | | Lanarkshire | 981 | 526 | 0 | | Lothian | 1,680 | 468 | 0 | | Orkney | 31 | 7 | 0 | | Shet","AnswerDate":"2008-02-25T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-02-28T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Nicola Sturgeon","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":215995,"EventID":"S3W-09334","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2633,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":5,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-31T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-31T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether it is collecting statistics on class sizes from local authorities, in addition to the annual census of class sizes, as part of its funding for 300 additional teac","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether it is collecting statistics on class sizes from local authorities, in addition to the annual census of class sizes, as part of its funding for 300 additional teachers announced on 20 June 2007 (Official Report, c. 880) and, if so, when these statistics will be made available.","AnswerText":"No. The returns we will shortly be receiving from individual local authorities in respect of their share of the £6 million made available in 2007-08 through the National Priorities Action Fund for the employment of 300 additional teachers are designed to show the number of additional primary teachers employed and the numbers of schools benefiting from the funding. We expect this information to be available in March. The other £3 million was allocated for 2008-09 to complete the academic year. The total £9 million has been baselined as part of the local government finance settlement. ","AnswerDate":"2008-02-27T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-02-28T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Maureen Watt","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":215996,"EventID":"S3W-09335","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2633,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":5,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-31T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-31T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-6664 by John Swinney on 17 December 2007, how members of the public and others can hold local authorities to account for the provis","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-6664 by John Swinney on 17 December 2007, how members of the public and others can hold local authorities to account for the provision of services not directly linked to national outcomes yet still of vital importance to many people, such as social care services for adults.","AnswerText":"Under the Local Government in Scotland Act 2003, councils currently have, and will continue to have, a duty to make arrangements for reporting to the public on the performance of their functions. The national outcomes and indicators do not take the place of, or diminish the importance of, continued delivery of the statutory responsibilities placed on councils and their partners to care for all people in their communities. However, there is a general understanding that all council services will make some level of contribution to one or more of the national outcomes. Beyond this, we would expect that local authorities will wish to demonstrate their commitment to improving care services through the single outcome agreements. Each agreement will reflect the priorities of the local authority and agreed local outcomes will take account of these priorities. The Scottish Government would expect to have discussions with each local authority about their ambitions for key policy areas, including social care. ","AnswerDate":"2008-02-19T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-02-28T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"John Swinney","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":215997,"EventID":"S3W-09336","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2633,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":5,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-31T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-31T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive how it will ensure that local government continues to deliver “the full range of quality services that can be reasonably expected by our citizens”, as set out in Scottish","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive how it will ensure that local government continues to deliver “the full range of quality services that can be reasonably expected by our citizens”, as set out in Scottish Budget: Spending Review 2007, when these services, such as social care services for adults, do not directly relate to the outcomes and indicators set out in its concordat with COSLA.","AnswerText":"The Scottish Budget: Spending Review 2007 said that: there will be over-riding obligations [on local government] to deliver value for money across all activities and to deliver the full range of quality services that can reasonably be expected by our citizens. Those obligations include statutory obligations and on-going accountability to their electorates for the delivery of local services. The outcomes and indicators in the concordat with COSLA neither take the place of, nor diminish, the importance of continued delivery of the statutory responsibilities placed on councils and their partners to care for all people in their communities. Councils will also be able to demonstrate their commitment to improving care and support services through single outcome agreements (SOAs) with the Scottish Government. In the process of agreeing the SOAs, we would expect to have discussions with each council about their ambition for key policy areas including social care. The national outcome to live longer, healthier lives and the national indicator to increase the percentage of people aged 65 and over with high levels of care needs who are cared for at home are among those that will impact on social care services for adults. More generally, the President of COSLA has said, in relation to concerns raised about funding for vulnerable groups, that: it is inconceivable that their needs, their aspirations and their required services will not impinge on the decision-making of local councils. ","AnswerDate":"2008-02-21T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-02-28T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"John Swinney","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":215998,"EventID":"S3W-09337","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2633,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":5,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-31T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-31T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will monitor the progress of national strategies such as The Same As You? and Changing Lives, to which it has made an ongoing commitment but which are not dire","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will monitor the progress of national strategies such as The Same As You? and Changing Lives, to which it has made an ongoing commitment but which are not directly related to the outcomes and indicators set out in its concordat with COSLA.","AnswerText":"Improving outcomes for individuals and communities is at the core of The Same As You? and Changing Lives and is also central to the concordat with local government. Achievement of a significant number of the outcomes and indicators in the concordat will require substantial contribution from social work and social care services and adoption of the principles and aspirations of these reports. In addition, implementation of some of the key recommendations in The Same As You? will continue to be monitored through the collection of annual statistical returns. The Scottish Government is also working closely with the Convention of Scottish Local Authorities to promote a community care outcomes framework. This offers a carefully designed suite of 16 measures which community care partnerships can use to evidence the improvement of outcomes for people who use community care services and their carers. There is a close alignment between these measures and the intentions of The Same As You? and the community care elements of Changing Lives. ","AnswerDate":"2008-02-26T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-02-28T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Shona Robison","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":215999,"EventID":"S3W-09338","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2633,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":5,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-31T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-31T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether it or local authorities will be held accountable should the move to single outcome agreements and the removal of ring-fencing from the Supporting People programme","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether it or local authorities will be held accountable should the move to single outcome agreements and the removal of ring-fencing from the Supporting People programme result in a reduction in the quality or availability of social care services for adults.","AnswerText":"We look forward to working with COSLA, local authorities, providers and others to ensure that the interests of the most vulnerable in society are appropriately reflected in single outcome agreements. Local authorities will of course be responsible for meeting the commitments made in their outcome agreements. Both sides will monitor the new arrangements and discuss and agree issues relating to policy development.","AnswerDate":"2008-02-21T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-02-28T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Stewart Maxwell","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":216000,"EventID":"S3W-09339","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1865,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":2,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-31T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-31T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what the legal requirements are for the provision of toilet facilities on trains.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what the legal requirements are for the provision of toilet facilities on trains.","AnswerText":"There are no specific legal obligations on train operators to provide toilet facilities on board trains.","AnswerDate":"2008-02-28T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-02-28T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Stewart Stevenson","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":216001,"EventID":"S3W-09340","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1865,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":2,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-31T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-31T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether it plans to review the legal requirements for the provision of toilet facilities on trains.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether it plans to review the legal requirements for the provision of toilet facilities on trains.","AnswerText":"The standards and legal requirement for UK rolling stock design are currently a reserved matter and are therefore the responsibility of the Department for Transport (DfT). The Scottish Government has no plans to review legal requirements for the provision of toilets on trains. ","AnswerDate":"2008-02-28T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-02-28T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Stewart Stevenson","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":216002,"EventID":"S3W-09341","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1865,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":2,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-31T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-31T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive how it monitors compliance with the legal requirements for the provision of toilet facilities on trains. ","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive how it monitors compliance with the legal requirements for the provision of toilet facilities on trains. ","AnswerText":"There are no legal requirements for the provision of toilet facilities on trains. However, Transport Scotland uses the Service Quality Regime (SQUIRE) to enforce First ScotRail''s obligation to maintain on-train toilets where fitted, in good, clean working order. This obligation is placed on First ScotRail through the Franchise Contract. ","AnswerDate":"2008-02-28T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-02-28T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Stewart Stevenson","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":216003,"EventID":"S3W-09342","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1805,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":1,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-31T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-31T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive how many primary (a) 1, (b) 2 and (c) 3 classes in each local authority area now have 18 pupils or fewer.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive how many primary (a) 1, (b) 2 and (c) 3 classes in each local authority area now have 18 pupils or fewer.","AnswerText":"Information on individual class sizes is published on the internet. The latest information is from the 2006 census and can be found at: http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Topics/Statistics/16412/PrimClassSizesSep06. ","AnswerDate":"2008-02-22T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-02-28T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Maureen Watt","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":216004,"EventID":"S3W-09343","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1803,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":58,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-31T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-31T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what additional resources it will make available to NHS Lanarkshire following the NHSScotland Resource Allocation Committee’s recommendations and when such resources will","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what additional resources it will make available to NHS Lanarkshire following the NHSScotland Resource Allocation Committee’s recommendations and when such resources will be available.","AnswerText":"I announced on 22 February 2008 that I have accepted NHSScotland Resource Allocation Committee (NRAC)''s recommendations in relation to changes to the Arbuthnott Formula. This does not affect the 2008-09 allocation of funds which was announced on 8 February 2008. The first year that the NRAC formula will be implemented is 2009-10. I have previously stressed the need to avoid turbulence in NHS board funding and indicated that, under the NRAC proposals, no board will receive less funding than it does at present and any changes in funding will be phased in over a number of years as has been the practice under both the previous SHARE and Arbuthnott formulae. This means that each health board will receive a standard uplift each year to meet inflationary pressures whilst those boards whose actual funding remains below their target level, as indicated by the NRAC formula, would receive an additional parity uplift within the remaining resources available. Uplift levels, including parity uplifts, will be considered and announced each financial year in line with the parliamentary process and taking into account the funding earmarked for Scottish health priorities within the overall Scottish Government financial settlement. ","AnswerDate":"2008-02-25T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-02-28T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Nicola Sturgeon","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":216005,"EventID":"S3W-09344","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1803,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":58,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-31T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-31T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether it supports a shift in the balance of care from the acute to the primary care sector in the NHS.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether it supports a shift in the balance of care from the acute to the primary care sector in the NHS.","AnswerText":"The Scottish Government is committed to shifting the balance care towards the primary and community care sectors through the delivery of agreed pathways of care that will improve outcomes for patients and local communities. This is reinforced in the Better Health, Better Care Action Plan published last December, which places Community Health Partnerships at centre of this agenda of service change and improvement.","AnswerDate":"2008-02-25T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-02-28T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Nicola Sturgeon","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":216006,"EventID":"S3W-09345","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1803,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":58,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-31T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-31T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive how it will ensure that NHS Lanarkshire spreads its investments across its area from 2008 to 2011.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive how it will ensure that NHS Lanarkshire spreads its investments across its area from 2008 to 2011.","AnswerText":"It is a matter for NHS Lanarkshire to identify their service priorities, taking into account value for money, which will provide the greatest benefit to the people of Lanarkshire.","AnswerDate":"2008-02-19T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-02-28T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Nicola Sturgeon","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":216007,"EventID":"S3W-09346","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1803,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":58,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-31T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-31T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether it considers that cottage hospitals play a valuable role in the delivery of health services and, if so, how it will support the further development of such hospit","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether it considers that cottage hospitals play a valuable role in the delivery of health services and, if so, how it will support the further development of such hospitals.","AnswerText":"Scotland''s health care challenges require us to continue to shift the balance of care towards community based services. The Scottish Government is committed to the development of effective community hospitals which will have an important part to play in achieving this aim.","AnswerDate":"2008-02-25T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-02-28T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Nicola Sturgeon","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":216008,"EventID":"S3W-09347","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1803,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":58,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-31T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-31T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will provide additional resources to NHS Lanarkshire to enable a community hospital to be built in Clydesdale.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will provide additional resources to NHS Lanarkshire to enable a community hospital to be built in Clydesdale.","AnswerText":"When I made my statement to Parliament on 6 June 2007 announcing my decision to retain accident and emergency services at Monklands and Ayr Hospitals, I made it clear that I expected the boards to deliver as many of their original proposals as possible within the resources available to them. The board have recently been informed of their allocation following Parliament's support of the Budget Bill and I will announce shortly my decision on the work of the NHSScotland Resource Allocation Committee. ","AnswerDate":"2008-02-19T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-02-28T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Nicola Sturgeon","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":216009,"EventID":"S3W-09348","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1803,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":58,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-31T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-31T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will provide additional resources to NHS Lanarkshire to enable a new health centre to be built in Carluke.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will provide additional resources to NHS Lanarkshire to enable a new health centre to be built in Carluke.","AnswerText":"I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-9347 on 19 February 2008. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament's website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/wa.search.","AnswerDate":"2008-02-19T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-02-28T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Nicola Sturgeon","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":216010,"EventID":"S3W-09349","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1803,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":58,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-31T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-31T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will provide additional resources to NHS Lanarkshire to enable a minor injuries unit to be built in Lanark.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will provide additional resources to NHS Lanarkshire to enable a minor injuries unit to be built in Lanark.","AnswerText":"I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-9347 on 19 February 2008. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament's website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/wa.search.","AnswerDate":"2008-02-19T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-02-28T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Nicola Sturgeon","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":216011,"EventID":"S3W-09350","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2364,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":11,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-31T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-31T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what action it is taking to tackle human trafficking.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what action it is taking to tackle human trafficking.","AnswerText":"The Scottish Government is undertaking a wide-ranging programme of action to combat human trafficking. The UK Action Plan on Tackling Human Trafficking, published by the Home Office and the Scottish Executive in March 2007, outlines the work being undertaken to combat human trafficking in four broad areas: prevention of trafficking; investigation, law enforcement and prosecution; providing protection and assistance to adult victims of trafficking, and child victims of trafficking. Copies of the action plan are available from the Scottish Parliament Information Centre (Bib. number 42595) For further information on the detailed actions being taken to combat human trafficking, I refer the member to the answers to questions S3W-2320, S3W-2321, S3W-2322 on 13 August 2007, S3W-6087, S3W-6088 on 14 November 2007, S3W-7040, S3W-7041, S3W-7042, S3W-7043 on 5 December 2007 and S3W-7993 on 23 January 2008. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament's website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/wa.search. ","AnswerDate":"2008-02-18T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-02-28T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Kenny MacAskill","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":216012,"EventID":"S3W-09351","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2364,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":11,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-31T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-31T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what support it is giving to local authorities to combat human trafficking.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what support it is giving to local authorities to combat human trafficking.","AnswerText":"The primary responsibility for enforcement action to combat human trafficking lies with the police. However, local authorities also have an important role, especially in relation to the provision of care and support to victims of human trafficking. The Scottish Government provides funding to the Trafficking Awareness Raising Alliance (TARA), part of Glasgow Community and Safety Services. TARA provides specialist support to adult female victims of trafficking for sexual exploitation. The Scottish Government has recently provided TARA with additional funding of £70,950 to enable them to enhance support for adult female victims across Scotland. In December 2007, the Scottish Government issued a letter to all local authorities regarding provision of support to victims of human trafficking during Operation Pentameter 2. The Scottish Government has set aside provision that can be drawn down by local authorities on a case-by-case basis to cover the cost of providing support to adult victims of human trafficking (other than women supported through the TARA project) who would not otherwise have recourse to public funds. The Scottish Government is also in the process of producing guidance for use by local authorities and other agencies on the safeguarding of children who may have been trafficked. Local authorities have a statutory duty under the Children (Scotland) Act 1995 to provide support to children in need within their area. This would include victims of trafficking. A model protocol outlining how agencies should respond to cases of child trafficking discovered as part of Pentameter 2 was issued by the Scottish Government at the start of October. ","AnswerDate":"2008-02-18T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-02-28T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Kenny MacAskill","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":216013,"EventID":"S3W-09352","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2364,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":11,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-31T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-31T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive how many legal actions have been brought against human traffickers since March 2004, broken down by procurator fiscal district. ","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive how many legal actions have been brought against human traffickers since March 2004, broken down by procurator fiscal district. ","AnswerText":"Since the implementation of the Criminal Justice (Scotland) Act 2003, one case has been reported to the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service containing charges under section 22(1)(a)(i) of the act. The case in question was reported to the Procurator Fiscal in Glasgow and the accused was indicted to the High Court. Proceedings were subsequently discontinued following a review of the available evidence.","AnswerDate":"2008-02-27T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-02-28T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Elish Angiolini","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":216014,"EventID":"S3W-09353","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2364,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":11,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-31T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-31T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what steps it is taking to raise awareness of Barrett’s oesophagus among the general public.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what steps it is taking to raise awareness of Barrett’s oesophagus among the general public.","AnswerText":"No specific action is being taken to raise awareness of Barrett''s oesophagus as a condition. Action is, however, taking place to tackle known risk factors for the condition such as alcohol, diet, smoking and deprivation. The launch of the discussion document Better Cancer Care provides an opportunity to consider new ideas and approaches to improve the provision of information to patients and carers as part of our commitment to supporting self management and improving the patient''s experience. ","AnswerDate":"2008-02-19T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-02-28T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Nicola Sturgeon","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":216015,"EventID":"S3W-09354","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2364,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":11,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-31T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-31T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what provision it is making for further medical research into Barrett’s oesophagus.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what provision it is making for further medical research into Barrett’s oesophagus.","AnswerText":"The Chief Scientist Office (CSO) within the Scottish Government''s Health Directorates, has responsibility for encouraging and supporting research into health and health care needs in Scotland. The CSO supports research projects of a sufficiently high standard initiated by the research community in Scotland. This role is well known and advertised throughout the health care and academic community in Scotland. The CSO is currently funding one research project into Barrett''s oesophagus and would welcome further research projects in this area which would be subject to the usual peer and committee review. ","AnswerDate":"2008-02-19T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-02-28T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Nicola Sturgeon","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":216016,"EventID":"S3W-09355","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2364,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":11,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-31T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-31T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what steps it is taking to raise awareness of Barrett’s oesophagus among the health professionals and GPs.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what steps it is taking to raise awareness of Barrett’s oesophagus among the health professionals and GPs.","AnswerText":"Barrett''s oesophagus is a condition which is not in itself a cancerous condition but is recognised as having an association with the subsequent development of oesophageal cancer in some cases. In June 2006, the Scottish Intercollegiate Guidelines Network (SIGN) published a clinical guideline, Management of Oesophageal and Gastric Cancer, which provides comprehensive guidance to healthcare professionals on the recognition, management and follow up of patients with Barrett''s oesophagus (www.sign.ac.uk/pdf/sign87.pdf). The SIGN guidelines are also highlighted in the HDL(2007)09 Scottish Referral Guidelines for suspected Cancer (www.sehd.scot.nhs.uk/mels/HDL2007_09.pdf). These are readily accessible by all health care professionals across NHSScotland. All doctors are expected to undertake Continuing Professional Development (CPD). NHS boards and the GP Post Graduate Deaneries, through NHS Education for Scotland, facilitate on-going education and training, for which support is available both directly and online. ","AnswerDate":"2008-02-19T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-02-28T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Nicola Sturgeon","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":216017,"EventID":"S3W-09356","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2364,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":11,"ApprovedDate":"2008-01-31T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-01-31T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive how many people are diagnosed as suffering from Barrett’s oesophagus in each NHS board area.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive how many people are diagnosed as suffering from Barrett’s oesophagus in each NHS board area.","AnswerText":"Information on the number of people diagnosed with Barrett's oesophagus in Scotland is not available centrally. However, it is possible to estimate the number of patients seen for the condition in general practices across Scotland using Practice Team Information (PTI). During 2005-06, the most recent year for which PTI data are available, it is estimated that 900 people consulted a member of the practice team (GP, practice nurse, district nurse or health visitor). This derives data from a sample of Scottish general practices and can only be used for national estimates given that the practice sample is not representative at NHS board level. ","AnswerDate":"2008-02-19T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-02-28T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Nicola Sturgeon","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":216018,"EventID":"S3W-09357","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2182,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":5,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2008-02-01T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-02-01T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive how much the IT system to implement the New Ways waiting times system will cost.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive how much the IT system to implement the New Ways waiting times system will cost.","AnswerText":"Following the decision in 2005 to develop a data warehouse to help support New Ways, the development cost to Information Services Division (ISD) within NHS National Services Scotland was just over £440,000. The majority of these costs were incurred in 2005-06 and 2006-07. This new IT system is able to handle information relating to new ways of defining and measuring waiting times. In addition, the new system offers other advantages over previous systems including consistent validation processes for all data, and enabling NHS boards to carry our timely local analyses of consolidated data for all relevant sites at any time. Costs to NHS boards of amending their hospital patient administration systems to store, process and report new ways data are not recorded centrally. Boards worked together with ISD to prepare a single change specification and system changes were commissioned jointly to minimise costs. ","AnswerDate":"2008-02-25T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-02-29T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Nicola Sturgeon","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":216019,"EventID":"S3W-09358","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2182,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":5,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2008-02-01T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-02-01T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive when the NHS’s contract for IT consultancy work with Deloitte (a) commenced and (b) will end; what the total cost of the contract is; what Deloitte’s remit is under the c","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive when the NHS’s contract for IT consultancy work with Deloitte (a) commenced and (b) will end; what the total cost of the contract is; what Deloitte’s remit is under the contract, and how many consultants from Deloitte are engaged in IT work in the NHS in Scotland.","AnswerText":"A contract for support for the eHealth Programme was let to Deloitte following a competitively tendered OJEU procurement in May 2007. The contract was for an initial nine months with an option to extend to 36 months. NHS Scotland has now advertised through OJEU for a replacement framework contract which is intended to make support available from a wider range of companies who can help the NHS gain benefits from the eHealth Programme. The role of the existing contract is to provide interim management support for new approaches to IT governance. The Audit Scotland report Managing IT to deliver information in the NHS in Scotland of November 2006 highlighted the need to improve governance arrangements for eHealth and to improve its approach to delivering benefits from IT investment. Deloitte''s remit includes the: Provision of suitably qualified personnel to fill key posts on an interim basis, particularly Acting Heads of Programmes, Change/ Benefits and Communications and Design Authority; setting up and supporting improved programme governance structures; setting up a programme management office and defining appropriate programme management processes; setting up mechanisms to monitor eHealth spend across NHS Scotland, as called for by the Audit Scotland; establishing and supporting a design authority and developing appropriate technical standards; establishing a change, benefits and communications function and defining an appropriate benefits management strategy and approach, and developing a communications strategy and plan. Some of these roles are time limited other will be filled over the next few months by staff from the Scottish Government or from NHS Scotland. The number of contractors has varied between seven and 20 over the contract duration as resource demands have changed. Most of these are filling interim roles in the central management of the programme with smaller numbers supporting boards direct on different projects. The value of the Deloitte contract to date is circa £3 million including VAT. The total contract cost will depend on when the new framework becomes available and the replacement of interim roles with public sector staff. ","AnswerDate":"2008-02-19T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-02-29T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Nicola Sturgeon","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":216020,"EventID":"S3W-09359","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2182,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":5,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2008-02-01T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-02-01T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive how many NHS boards have agreed to use the central data warehouse in the New Ways waiting times system.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive how many NHS boards have agreed to use the central data warehouse in the New Ways waiting times system.","AnswerText":"All fourteen territorial NHS boards plus the Golden Jubilee National Hospital NHS Board will use the national data warehouse for New Ways of waiting. This means that all NHS boards responsible for the treatment of patients under New Ways will use the national data warehouse.","AnswerDate":"2008-02-26T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-02-29T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Nicola Sturgeon","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":216021,"EventID":"S3W-09360","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2182,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":5,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2008-02-01T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-02-01T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-7860 by Shona Robison on 17 January 2008, whether it will initiate discussions with COSLA, as part of its concordat, to ensure that","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-7860 by Shona Robison on 17 January 2008, whether it will initiate discussions with COSLA, as part of its concordat, to ensure that education authorities all take part in the Scottish Schools Adolescent Lifestyle and Substance Use Survey in 2008.","AnswerText":"on 17 January 2008, whether it will initiate discussions with COSLA, as part of its concordat, to ensure that education authorities all take part in the Scottish Schools Adolescent Lifestyle and Substance Use Survey in 2008. (S3W-09360)
Shona Robison We will continue to engage with COSLA in planning for the 2008 survey “ as we have done in previous surveys. ","AnswerDate":"2008-02-21T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-02-29T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Shona Robison","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":216022,"EventID":"S3W-09361","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2182,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":5,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2008-02-01T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-02-01T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive, having now achieved the target to reduce Availability Status Code waiting lists in the NHS to zero, how many patients have been (a) treated, (b) removed from waiting lis","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive, having now achieved the target to reduce Availability Status Code waiting lists in the NHS to zero, how many patients have been (a) treated, (b) removed from waiting lists and (c) transferred to the New Ways waiting times system since July 2007.","AnswerText":"There were 8,493 patients on the in-patient and day case waiting list with an availability status code on 31 December 2007. Patients who held an availability status code on 31 December 2007 will be treated within 18 weeks from 1 January 2008, that is by 5 May 2008, provided they are available. If they are unavailable their case will be reviewed regularly until they can be treated or until a decision is made to return them to the care of their GP. The new approach to defining and measuring waiting “ referred to as new ways “ came into effect on 1 January 2008. It is intended to publish as much information as possible about patients'''' experiencing periods of unavailability and numbers of patients removed from waiting lists. Information for the three months ending 31 March 2008 will be published at the end of May 2008. ","AnswerDate":"2008-02-27T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-02-29T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Nicola Sturgeon","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":216023,"EventID":"S3W-09362","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2182,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":5,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2008-02-01T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-02-01T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive how many junior doctors were on special extended contracts on 31 January 2008.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive how many junior doctors were on special extended contracts on 31 January 2008.","AnswerText":"The recruitment of junior doctors is a matter for NHS boards as employers. On 31 January 2008, 25 doctors were on special extended contracts.","AnswerDate":"2008-02-28T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-02-29T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Nicola Sturgeon","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":216024,"EventID":"S3W-09363","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1752,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":57,"ApprovedDate":"2008-02-01T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-02-01T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-8801 by Cathy Jamieson on 31 January 2008, which local authorities have given an early indication that they intend to allocate fund","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-8801 by Cathy Jamieson on 31 January 2008, which local authorities have given an early indication that they intend to allocate funding to Homecoming Scotland.","AnswerText":"EventScotland is aware that anumber of local authorities are considering providing funding in support of HomecomingScotland projects, but none have yet confirmed such funding. It is for local authoritiesto decide how they allocate their funding.","AnswerDate":"2008-02-08T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-02-29T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Jim Mather","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":216025,"EventID":"S3W-09364","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1768,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":60,"ApprovedDate":"2008-02-01T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-02-01T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive how much Dumfries and Galloway Council will receive for the provision of kinship care allowances in each year of the spending review period.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive how much Dumfries and Galloway Council will receive for the provision of kinship care allowances in each year of the spending review period.","AnswerText":"As set out in the Scottish Budget: Spending Review 2007, the payment of kinship care allowances has now been incorporated into the total local government settlement. As part of this settlement, local government has agreed to work with the Scottish government to contribute to the delivery of the national outcomes and on the specific commitments which are also outlined in that document.","AnswerDate":"2008-02-29T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-02-29T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Adam Ingram","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":216026,"EventID":"S3W-09365","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1768,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":60,"ApprovedDate":"2008-02-01T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-02-01T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive how much funding each local authority received to address antisocial behaviour in each year of the 2004 spending review.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive how much funding each local authority received to address antisocial behaviour in each year of the 2004 spending review.","AnswerText":"I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-4366 on 21 September 2007. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament''s website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/wa.search.","AnswerDate":"2008-02-22T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-02-29T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Fergus Ewing","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":216027,"EventID":"S3W-09366","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1768,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":60,"ApprovedDate":"2008-02-01T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-02-01T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive how much funding each local authority received for community safety partnerships in each year of the 2004 spending review.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive how much funding each local authority received for community safety partnerships in each year of the 2004 spending review.","AnswerText":"The following table provides a break down of funding to local authorities for community safety partnerships for each year of the 2004 spending review: | Partnership | Allocation 2005-06 | Allocation 2006-07 | Allocation 2007-08 | | Aberdeen City | 174,346.96 | 204,373.71 | 183,936.33 | | Aberdeenshire | 107,773.79 | 132,014.74 | 118,813.26 | | Angus | 74,353.66 | 132,014.74 | 88,650.43 | | Argyll and Bute | 62,002.27 | 83,441.54 | 75,097.39 | | Clackmannanshire | 61,109.45 | 83,531.11 | 75,177.99 | | Dumfries and Galloway | 85,353.57 | 103,916.88 | 93,525.19 | | Dundee | 130,646.00 | 153,639.29 | 138,275.36 | | East Ayrshire | 94,196.23 | 119,379.09 | 107,441.18 | | East Dunbartonshire | 71,240.80 | 97,415.99 | 87,674.39 | | East Lothian | 64,797.33 | 88,274.63 | 79,447.17 | | Police Capital Grant (£000) | | 2005-06 | 2006-07 | 2007-08 | | Central Scotland Police | 1,494 | 1,567 | 1,425 | | Dumfries and Galloway Constabulary | 899 | 921 | 765 | | Fife Constabulary | 1,905 | 2,024 | 1,781 | | Grampian Police | 2,234 | 3,123 | 2,705 | | Lothian and Borders Police | 4,711 | 4,519 | 4,622 | | Northern Constabulary | 2,772 | 1,787 | 1,485 | | Strathclyde Police | 14,824 | 15,202 | 16,267 | | Tayside Police | 2,576 | 2,272 | 1,995 | | Total | 31,415 | 31,415 | 31,045 | The amounts allocated to each force area in 2005-06 and 2006-07 were distributed according to the requirements for Airwave for each force with the remainder distributed by a formula agreed with the Association of Chief Police Officers in Scotland (ACPOS). In 2007-08, the allocations were calculated by using the agreed formula. In 2007-08 £370,000 was transferred from Police Capital Grant to the Scottish Police Services Authority (SPSA) as part of the transfer of the costs for Forensic Science Services, as agreed with ACPOS. ","AnswerDate":"2008-02-14T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-02-29T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Kenny MacAskill","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":216029,"EventID":"S3W-09368","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1768,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":60,"ApprovedDate":"2008-02-01T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-02-01T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive much funding each local authority received for mental health services in each year of the 2004 spending review.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive much funding each local authority received for mental health services in each year of the 2004 spending review.","AnswerText":"Other than the funding allocated in respect of the Mental Health Specific Grant (MHSG), local authorities were not provided with a separate budget specifically for mental health services over the period. The majority of spend on mental health services will have been drawn from the overall funds allocated to local authorities through their block grant. It is the responsibility of these agencies to work in partnership and to allocate funds from the total financial resources available to them on the basis of local needs, priorities and agreed targets. The MHSG allocations made by the Scottish Government in 2005-06 to 2007-08, to which local authorities also add their own resources, are shown in the following table. The record funding included within the draft Scottish Government Budget to 2010-11 will ensure continuity of approach and investment on mental health and other priorities by NHS boards, local authorities and other partners, and from April 2008, MHSG will be absorbed into the main local government settlement. The funding will continue to have an important role in continuing to provide local, community based services and support for people with a mental health problem, their carers and families. Allocations in Each Year from 2005-06 to 2007-08 | Council | (£) | | Aberdeen City | 708,400 | | Aberdeenshire | 578,200 | | Angus | 320,600 | | Argyll and Bute | 312,200 | | Clackmannan | 110,600 | | Dumfries and Galloway | 373,800 | | Dundee City | 341,600 | | East Ayrshire | 320,600 | | East Dunbartonshire | 163,800 | | East Lothian | 222,600 | | East Renfrewshire | 57,400 | | Edinburgh City | 1,345,400 | | Eilean Siar | 163,800 | | Falkirk | 366,800 | | Fife | 893,200 | | Glasgow City | 2,774,800 | | Highland | 597,800 | | Inverclyde | 193,200 | | Midlothian | 266,000 ","AnswerDate":"2008-02-28T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-02-29T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Shona Robison","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":216030,"EventID":"S3W-09369","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1768,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":60,"ApprovedDate":"2008-02-01T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-02-01T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive how much each local authority received from the Children’s Services - Womens Aid Fund in each year of the 2004 spending review.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive how much each local authority received from the Children’s Services - Womens Aid Fund in each year of the 2004 spending review.","AnswerText":"The Children''s Services “ Womens Aid Fund was introduced in 2006 in order to develop children''s services in local women''s aid groups. The majority of funding was allocated directly to local groups but in a small number of cases was allocated via the local authority. Details of the funding to local authorities in 2006-07 are set out in the table below. | | 2006-07 | | Aberdeen City | 0.042 | | Aberdeenshire | 0.074 | | Fife | 0.070 | | West Lothian | 0.033 | | Scotland | 0.219 million | ","AnswerDate":"2008-02-27T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-02-29T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Stewart Maxwell","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":216031,"EventID":"S3W-09370","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1768,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":60,"ApprovedDate":"2008-02-01T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-02-01T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive how much funding each local authority received for private landlord registration in each year of the 2004 spending review.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive how much funding each local authority received for private landlord registration in each year of the 2004 spending review.","AnswerText":"The breakdown of grant funding for landlord registration for each year of the 2004 spending review is shown in the following table. | Local Authority | Grant Distribution 2005-06 (£) | Grant Distribution 2006-07 (£) | Grant Distribution 2007-08 (£) | | Aberdeen City Council | 68,585 | 108,365 | 108,365 | | Aberdeenshire Council | 50,540 | 79,853 | 79,853 | | Angus Council | 33,896 | 53,556 | 53,556 | | Argyll and Bute Council | 35,701 | 56,407 | 56,407 | | City of Edinburgh Council | 182,337 | 288,093 | 288,093 | | Clackmannanshire Council | 12,516 | 19,775 | 19,775 | | Comhairle nan Eilean Siar | 12,646 | 19,980 | 19,980 | | Dumfries and Galloway Council | 51,825 | 81,884 | 81,884 | | Dundee City Council | 56,576 | 89,390 | 89,390 | | East Ayrshire Council | 18,954 | 29,948 | 29,948 | | The Pipeline funding referred to in the table was revenue funding for new capital projects originally scheduled for completion in 2003-04 where the completion date slipped so funding was rolled forward and added to the Supporting People grant allocations previously announced. The Scottish Government has allowed councils to carry forward any unspent Supporting People grant since 2003-04. Councils can also transfer any under spent Supporting People grant into 2008-09. | Local Authority | 2005-06 Original Allocations | Pipeline Carry Forward | 2005-06 Final Allocations | 2006-07 Final Allocations | 2007-08 Final Allocations | | £000 | £000 | £000 | £000 | £000 | | Aberdeen City | 12,306 | 45 | 12,351 | 11,881 | 11,882 | | Aberdeenshire | 9,375 | 415 | 9,790 | 9,440 | 9,707 | | Angus | 6,404 | 45 | 6449 | 6,460 | 6,688 | | Argyll and Bute | 13,782 | 0 | 13,782 | 13,261 | 12,222 | | Clackmannanshire | 3,093 | 0 | 3093 | 3,242 | 3,851 | | Dumfries and Galloway | 13,948 | 352 | 14,300 | 13,420 | 12,368 | | Dundee City | 11,672 | 43 | 11,715 | | | 2006-07 | 2007-08 | | £000 | £000 | | Aberdeenshire | 50,000 | 50,000 | | Dumfries and Galloway | 50,000 | 50,000 | | Dundee City | 50,000 | 50,000 | | East Dunbartonshire | 50,000 | 50,000 | | East Renfrewshire | 39,989 | 39,989 | | Edinburgh, City of | 149,377 | 149,377 | | Eilean Siar | 21,100 | 29,224 | | Falkirk | 31,649 | 28,256 | | Fife | 48,607 | 49,378 | | Glasgow City | 89,469 | 90,429 | | Inverclyde | 48,384 | 49,867 | | Moray | 10,329 | 12,060 | | North Ayrshire | 35,000 | 35,000 | | North Lanarkshire | 24,703 | 39,828 | | Renfrewshire | 76,453 | 94,954 | | Scottish Borders | 42,000 | 42,000 | | South Ayrshire | 31,250 | 31,250 | | South Lanarkshire | 45,971 | 49,471 | | Stirling | 99,000 | 100,000 | | West Dunbartonshire | 48,397 | 48,525 | | West Lothian | 49,908 | ","AnswerDate":"2008-03-11T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-02-29T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Stewart Maxwell","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":216034,"EventID":"S3W-09373","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1768,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":60,"ApprovedDate":"2008-02-01T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-02-01T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive how much funding each local authority received to prevent delayed discharge in each year of the 2004 spending review.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive how much funding each local authority received to prevent delayed discharge in each year of the 2004 spending review.","AnswerText":"Spending Review 2004 allocated funding for delayed discharge through NHS boards not individual local authorities. This money has been used on a partnership basis to fund local joint initiatives.","AnswerDate":"2008-02-19T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-02-29T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Shona Robison","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":216035,"EventID":"S3W-09374","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1768,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":60,"ApprovedDate":"2008-02-01T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-02-01T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive how much funding each local authority received under the National Accommodation Strategy for Sex Offenders in each year of the 2004 spending review.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive how much funding each local authority received under the National Accommodation Strategy for Sex Offenders in each year of the 2004 spending review.","AnswerText":"The National Accommodation Strategy for Sex Offenders came into force on 2 April 2007 and grant funding was provided to local authorities in 2007-08 as set out as follows. No funding was provided in 2005-06 or 2006-07. | Local Authority | Grant | | Aberdeen City | £61,715 | | Aberdeenshire | £63,570 | | Angus | £49,943 | | Argyll and Bute | £45,813 | | Clackmannanshire | £41,589 | | Dumfries and Galloway | £52,210 | | Dundee City | £57,620 | | East Ayrshire | £57,569 | | East Dunbartonshire | £48,322 | | East Lothian | £47,881 | | East Renfrewshire | £44,285 | | Edinburgh, City of | £117,446 | | Eilean Siar | £36,962 | | Falkirk | £58,393 | | Fife | £87,080 | | Glasgow City | £159,170 | | Highland | £70,316 | | Inverclyde | £44,363 | | Midlothian | £45,696 | | Moray | £48,640 | | North Ayrshire | £51,459 | | North Lanarkshire | £83,522 | | Orkney | £32,860 | | Perth and Kinross | £55,668 | | Renfrewshire | £62,704 ","AnswerDate":"2008-02-18T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-02-29T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Stewart Maxwell","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":216036,"EventID":"S3W-09375","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1768,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":60,"ApprovedDate":"2008-02-01T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-02-01T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive how much each local authority received from the National Priorities Action Fund in each year of the 2004 spending review.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive how much each local authority received from the National Priorities Action Fund in each year of the 2004 spending review.","AnswerText":"The information requested is contained in the following table: | Authority | 2005-06 | 2006-07 | 2007-08 | | Aberdeen City Council | £6,724,874 | £8,171,985 | £8,699,155 | | Aberdeenshire Council | £9,341,104 | £11,392,462 | £11,970,117 | | Angus Council | £4,143,496 | £5,089,020 | £5,416,123 | | Argyll and Bute Council | £3,464,941 | £4,364,095 | £4,544,063 | | Clackmannanshire Council | £1,872,114 | £2,338,655 | £2,550,679 | | Dumfries and Galloway Council | £5,743,712 | £7,032,691 | £7,391,548 | | Dundee City Council | £5,213,059 | £6,517,349 | £7,154,050 | | East Ayrshire Council | £4,602,093 | £5,865,079 | £6,360,808 | | East Dunbartonshire Council | £4,532,491 | £5,530,732 | £5,952,346 | | East Lothian Council | £3,363,034 | £4,149,291 | £4,425,429 | | East Renfrewshire Council | £3,888,425 | £4,819,270 | £5,231,590 | | City of Edinburgh Council | £12,691,895 | £15,664,462 | £16,819,879 | | Eilean Siar | £1,549,769 | £1,952,868 | £2,082,092 | | Falkirk Council | | | £000 | | Aberdeen City | 225 | | Aberdeenshire | 168 | | Angus | 116 | | Argyll and Bute | 116 | | Clackmannanshire | 61 | | Dumfries and Galloway | 116 | | Dundee City | 168 | | East Ayrshire | 116 | | East Dunbartonshire | 61 | | East Lothian | 116 | | East Renfrewshire | 61 | | Edinburgh, City of | 500 | | Comhairle Nan Eilean Siar | 61 | | Falkirk | 168 | | Fife | 332 | | Glasgow City | 940 | | Highland | 225 | | Inverclyde | 116 | | Midlothian | 61 | | Moray | 61 | | North Ayrshire | 168 | | North Lanarkshire | 332 | | Orkney | 61 | | Perth and Kinross | 116 | | Renfrewshire | Evidence on the issues of food preparation, waiting lists and eligibility criteria has been gathered from local authorities and will inform options and recommendations on the way forward, to be considered jointly by COSLA and Scottish ministers. We will also consider together the outcome of the independent review of funding for free personal and nursing care being led by Lord Sutherland, which is due to report at the end of March. Following this joint consideration, we will announce our conclusions on how to ensure the more effective delivery of this important policy. ","AnswerDate":"2008-02-22T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-02-29T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Shona Robison","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":216039,"EventID":"S3W-09378","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1768,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":60,"ApprovedDate":"2008-02-01T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-02-01T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive how much each local authority received from the European Languages Grant in each year of the 2004 spending review.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive how much each local authority received from the European Languages Grant in each year of the 2004 spending review.","AnswerText":"The individual allocations perlocal authority for 2005-06, 2006-07 and 2007-08 are detailed in the table below. | | 2005-06 | 2006-07 | 2007-08 | | Aberdeen City | £121,949 | £118,122 | £121,150 | | Aberdeenshire | £236,510 | £231,502 | £237,438 | | Angus | £96,693 | £94,924 | £97,358 | | Argyll and Bute | £86,779 | £84,275 | £86,436 | | Clackmannanshire | £38,245 | £36,593 | £37,532 | | Dumfries and Galloway | £142,454 | £138,459 | £142,010 | | Dundee City | £94,863 | £92,178 | £94,542 | | East Ayrshire | £100,303 | £97,019 | £99,507 | | East Dunbartonshire | £93,487 | £88,971 | £91,252 | | East Lothian | £75,317 | £74,085 | £75,985 | | East Renfrewshire | £83,279 | £82,386 | £84,499 | | Edinburgh, City of | £236,542 | £230,552 | £236,464 | | Eilean Siar | £31,053 | £30,507 | £31,289 | | Falkirk | ","AnswerDate":"2008-02-07T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-02-29T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Fiona Hyslop","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":216040,"EventID":"S3W-09379","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1768,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":60,"ApprovedDate":"2008-02-01T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-02-01T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive how much funding each local authority received under the Educational Attainment for Looked After Children scheme in each year of the 2004 spending review.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive how much funding each local authority received under the Educational Attainment for Looked After Children scheme in each year of the 2004 spending review.","AnswerText":"Funding allocations were based on the level of funding requested by the local authority in their pilot project proposal. Each of the proposals and the level of funding were approved by Scottish ministers. All local authorities who submitted pilot project proposals received funding. | Local Authority | 2005-06 | 2006-07 | Allocated funding 2007-08 | Total Allocation | | East Ayrshire | £180,000.00 | £180,000.00 | £0.00 | £360,000.00 | | Glasgow | £67,560.00 | £225,000.00 | £203,446.00 | £496,006.00 | | Highland | £110,000.00 | £240,000.00 | £50,000.00 | £400,000.00 | | Midlothian | £29,250.00 | £29,150.00 | £58,600.00 | £117,000.00 | | North Ayrshire | £62,750.00 | £113,272.00 | £74,978.00 | £251,000.00 | | South Lanarkshire | £130,984.00 | £224,432.00 | £99,070.00 | £454,486.00 | | Stirling | £65,000.00 | £85,800.00 | £22,300.00 | £173,100.00 | | Aberdeen City | £0.00 | £131,500.00 | £165,000.00 | £296,500.00 | | Dumfries and Galloway | £0.00 | £96,850.00 | £152,500.00 | ","AnswerDate":"2008-02-26T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-02-29T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Adam Ingram","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":216041,"EventID":"S3W-09380","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1768,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":60,"ApprovedDate":"2008-02-01T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-02-01T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive how much each local authority received from the Changing Children’s Services Fund in each year of the 2004 spending review.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive how much each local authority received from the Changing Children’s Services Fund in each year of the 2004 spending review.","AnswerText":"The information requested is provided in the following table. Allocations were made to local authorities to support activities agreed jointly with local partners in the statutory and voluntary sectors. For 2006-07 and 2007-08, the fund was split between specific grant and grant aided expenditure (GAE). The table provides both elements. Changing Children's Services Fund - Allocations To Local Authorities - 2005-08 | Year | 2005-06 | 2006-07 | 2006-07 | 2006-07 | 2007-08 | 2007-08 | 2007-08 | | Local Authority | Specific Grant Total (£) | Specific Grant (£) | GAE (£) | Total (£) | Specific Grant (£) | GAE (£) | Total (£) | | Aberdeen City | 2,038,000 | 1,550,000 | 482,000 | 2,032,000 | 936,000 | 1,125,000 | 2,061,000 | | Aberdeenshire | 2,758,000 | 2,183,000 | 706,000 | 2,889,000 | 1,318,000 | 1,648,000 | 2,966,000 | | Angus | 1,303,000 | 1,033,000 | 299,000 | 1,332,000 | 624,000 | 699,000 | 1,323,000 | | Argyll and Bute | 1,161,000 | 942,000 | 270,000 | 1,212,000 | 569,000 | 629,000 | 1,198,000 | | Clackmannanshire | | Local Authority | 2005-06 | 2006-07 | 2007-08 | | Aberdeen | £398,836 | £687,199 | £930,439 | | Aberdeenshire | £457,844 | £540,320 | £873,763 | | Angus | £464,384 | £547,152 | £627,606 | | Argyll and Bute | £46,016 | £149,696 | £389,295 | | Clackmannanshire | £54,998 | £361,425 | £595,069 | | Dumfries and Galloway | £112,174 | £145,910 | £288,028 | | Dundee | £57,450 | £604,497 | £893,587 | | East Ayrshire | £629,605 | £985,066 | £1,159,272 | | East Dunbartonshire | £516,230 | £408,849 | £788,585 | | East Lothian | £957,149 | £1,294,773 | £1,156,553 | | East Renfrewshire | £1,754,403 | £2,176,290 | £1,933,777 | | Edinburgh ","AnswerDate":"2008-02-28T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-02-29T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Maureen Watt","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":216043,"EventID":"S3W-09382","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1768,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":60,"ApprovedDate":"2008-02-01T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-02-01T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive how much funding each local authority received under the Specialist Provision Programme - Centres of Excellence in each year of the 2004 spending review.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive how much funding each local authority received under the Specialist Provision Programme - Centres of Excellence in each year of the 2004 spending review.","AnswerText":"Funding was allocated to seven local authorities under the Centres of Excellence programme as follows: | Authority | 2005-06 | 2006-07 | 2007-08 | | Aberdeen City | £753,000 | £771,500 | £792,300 | | East Ayrshire | £404,000 | £269,400 | £134,700 | | East Dunbartonshire | £715,000 | £732,600 | £752,400 | | City of Edinburgh | £646,000 | £661,900 | £679,800 | | Fife | £154,000 | £102,700 | £51,400 | | Glasgow City | £2,084,500 | £2,010,600 | £1,941,900 | | Highland | £389,500 | £399,100 | £409,900 | ","AnswerDate":"2008-02-19T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-02-29T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Maureen Watt","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":216044,"EventID":"S3W-09383","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1768,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":60,"ApprovedDate":"2008-02-01T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-02-01T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive how much funding each local authority received under the Children’s Legal Representation Grant Scheme in each year of the 2004 spending review.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive how much funding each local authority received under the Children’s Legal Representation Grant Scheme in each year of the 2004 spending review.","AnswerText":"The Children's Legal Representation Grant Scheme has operated since 2002. Its purpose is to reimburse local authorities the cost of legal representation of children at children's hearings. The scheme is budgeted for but is demand-led, i.e. payments are made in response to quarterly claims from local authorities. Claims from local authorities for the financial year 2007-08 are incomplete. Payments Made Under the Children's Legal Representation Grant Scheme | Local Authority | 2004-05 (£) | 2005-06 (£) | 2006-07 (£) | | Aberdeen | 8,278.22 | 11,845.40 | 10,701.39 | | Aberdeenshire | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.00 | | Angus | 550.80 | 879.33 | 2,204.96 | | Argyll and Bute | 2,526.14 | 1,169.50 | 1,847.02 | | Clackmannanshire | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.00 | | Dumfries and Galloway | 880.32 | 2,489.31 | 2,977.86 | | Dundee | 4,200.30 | 9,932.52 | 9,411.04 | | East Ayrshire | 5,767.95 | 4,305.24 | 2,617.39 | | East Dunbartonshire | 2,358.78 | 2,344.72 | 3,832.84 | | East Lothian | 1,784.74 | 4,405.92 | 3,055.74 | | East Renfrewshire | 1,007.75 | 384.95 | 693.60 | | Edinburgh | 22,219.86 | 27,393.88 | 12,026.28 | | Falkirk | ","AnswerDate":"2008-02-18T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-02-29T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Adam Ingram","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":216045,"EventID":"S3W-09384","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1768,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":60,"ApprovedDate":"2008-02-01T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-02-01T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive how much each local authority received from the schools estate - PPP funding package in each year of the 2004 spending review.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive how much each local authority received from the schools estate - PPP funding package in each year of the 2004 spending review.","AnswerText":"The amounts included in Revenue Support Grant in the years concerned for the 16 authorities to whom support for the current tranche of school PPP projects has so far become payable were as follows: | Local Authority | 2005-06 (£) | 2006-07 (£) | 2007-08 (£) | | Aberdeenshire | 1,700,000 | 3,400,000 | 3,400,000 | | Angus | - | - | 573,216 | | Argyll and Bute | - | 637,581 | 4,995,193 | | East Ayrshire | - | - | 448,633 | | East Lothian | 2,920,000 | 2,950,000 | 2,950,000 | | East Renfrewshire | 330,000 | 3,110,000 | 3,950,000 | | Edinburgh City | - | - | 251,556 | | Fife | - | 823,164 | 3,668,162 | | Highland | - | - | 1,143,470 | | Midlothian | - | - | 1,249,500 | | North Ayrshire | - | - | 2,656,213 | | North Lanarkshire | 70,000 | 3,494,511 | 7,541,458 | | Renfrewshire | - | 3,170,000 | 6,160,000 | | South Ayrshire | - | - | 130,824 | | South Lanarkshire | - | | Council | 2005-06 (£) | 2006-07 (£) | 2007-08 (£) | | Aberdeen City | 212,080 | 207,820 | 207,139 | | Aberdeenshire | 285,322 | 285,311 | 285,446 | | Angus | 130,829 | 133,153 | 132,757 | | Argyll and Bute | 112,122 | 108,996 | 108,045 | | Clackmannanshire | 71,859 | 74,254 | 74,102 | | Dumfries and Galloway | 172,775 | 165,194 | 163,536 | | Dundee City | 160,503 | 155,503 | 154,932 | | East Ayrshire | 150,951 | 147,807 | 147,030 | | East Dunbartonshire | 139,746 | 134,786 | 133,702 | | East Lothian | 122,650 | 128,567 | 128,780 | | East Renfrewshire | 124,272 | 128,100 | 128,634 | | Edinburgh, City of | 432,368 | 431,600 | 433,356 | | Eilean Siar | 43,051 | 44,572 | 44,269 | | Falkirk","AnswerDate":"2008-02-07T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-02-29T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Fiona Hyslop","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":216047,"EventID":"S3W-09386","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1768,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":60,"ApprovedDate":"2008-02-01T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-02-01T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive how much funding each local authority received for improving fostering services in each year of the 2004 spending review.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive how much funding each local authority received for improving fostering services in each year of the 2004 spending review.","AnswerText":"In November 2004 £12 million was made available to improve fostering services including the recruitment and retention of foster carers, across Scotland. | Local Authority | Financial Year 2005-06 | Financial Year 2006-07 | Financial Year 2007-08 | Total | | Aberdeen | £135,200.00 | £270,422.00 | £135,207.00 | £540,829.00 | | Aberdeenshire | £91,000.00 | £182,093.00 | £91,031.00 | £364,124.00 | | Angus | £57,100.00 | £114,251.00 | £57,117.00 | £228,468.00 | | Argyll and Bute | £43,700.00 | £87,490.00 | £43,730.00 | £174,920.00 | | Clackmannanshire | £25,900.00 | £51,744.00 | £25,881.00 | £103,525.00 | | Dumfries and Galloway | £94,600.00 | £189,203.00 | £94,600.00 | £378,403.00 | | Dundee | £123,320.00 | £246,258.00 | £123,159.00 | £492,737.00 | | East Ayrshire | £81,200.00 | £162,442.00 | £81,214.00 | £324,856.00 | | East Dunbartonshire | £22,800.00 | £45,432.00 | £22,758.00 | £90,990.00 | | East Lo","AnswerDate":"2008-02-29T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-02-29T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Adam Ingram","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":216048,"EventID":"S3W-09387","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1768,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":60,"ApprovedDate":"2008-02-01T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-02-01T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive how much funding each local authority received for adoption services in each year of the 2004 spending review.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive how much funding each local authority received for adoption services in each year of the 2004 spending review.","AnswerText":"Funding allocationswere not calculated with specific reference to adoption services within grantaided expenditure for these years. Whilst local government had flexibility to allocateother resources to this area, the specific amounts allocated to local governmentunder the more general heading of Casework and Related Administration – Children,which would include adoption services, were as follows: 2005-06: £71.5 million 2006-07: £73.4 million 2007-08: £73.9million. ","AnswerDate":"2008-02-06T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-02-29T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Fiona Hyslop","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":216049,"EventID":"S3W-09388","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1768,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":60,"ApprovedDate":"2008-02-01T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-02-01T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive how much funding each local authority received for youth work for local delivery in each year of the 2004 spending review.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive how much funding each local authority received for youth work for local delivery in each year of the 2004 spending review.","AnswerText":"Funding allocations were not calculated with specific reference to youth work services within Grant Aided Expenditure for these years. Whilst local government had flexibility to allocate other resources to this area, the specific amounts allocated to local government under the more general heading of Community Education, which would include youth work services, were as follows: 2005-06: £120.633 million 2006-07: £121.253 million 2007-08: £122.207 million. ","AnswerDate":"2008-02-18T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-02-29T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Adam Ingram","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":216050,"EventID":"S3W-09389","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1768,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":60,"ApprovedDate":"2008-02-01T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-02-01T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive how much each local authority received from the Schools Fund in each year of the 2004 spending review.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive how much each local authority received from the Schools Fund in each year of the 2004 spending review.","AnswerText":"Whilst local government had flexibility to allocate other resources for work on the school estate, the amounts allocated to authorities from the Schools Fund in the years concerned were as follows: | | 2005-06 (£ Million) | 2006-07 (£ Million) | 2007-08 (£ Million) | | Aberdeen City | 3.045 | 4.766 | 4.484 | | Aberdeenshire | 4.235 | 6.629 | 9.057 | | Angus | 2.076 | 3.249 | 3.811 | | Argyll and Bute | 1.943 | 3.041 | 3.316 | | Clackmannanshire | 0.962 | 1.506 | 1.617 | | Dumfries and Galloway | 2.809 | 4.396 | 7.281 | | Dundee City | 2.461 | 3.852 | 3.586 | | East Ayrshire | 2.366 | 3.703 | 3.610 | | East Dunbartonshire | 2.443 | 3.824 | 3.584 | | East Lothian | 1.751 | 2.740 | 3.174 | | East Renfrewshire | 1.942 | 3.039 | 3.266 | | Edinburgh City | | Local Authority | 2005-06 (£) | 2006-07 (£) | 2007-08 (£) | Total (£) | | Aberdeen City | 110,000 | 96,700 | 99,601 | 306,301 | | Aberdeenshire | 0 | 50,000 | 51,500 | 101,500 | | Argyll and Bute | 90,304 | 48,000 | 49,440 | 187,744 | | Dundee City | 100,000 | 100,000 | 103,000 | 303,000 | | City of Edinburgh | 145,000 | 145,000 | 149,350 | 439,350 | | Fife | 177,519 | 177,500 | 182,825 | 537,844 | | Glasgow City | 145,000 | 145,000 | 149,350 | 439,350 | | Highland | 56,200 | 36,300 | 37,389 | 129,889 | | Total | 824,023 | 798,500 | 822,455 | 2,444,978 | ","AnswerDate":"2008-02-18T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-02-29T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Stewart Stevenson","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":216052,"EventID":"S3W-09391","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1768,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":60,"ApprovedDate":"2008-02-01T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-02-01T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive how much each local authority received from the Rural Public Passenger Grant in each year of the 2004 spending review.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive how much each local authority received from the Rural Public Passenger Grant in each year of the 2004 spending review.","AnswerText":"The amounts allocated to local authorities under the Rural Public Passenger Transport Grant Scheme in each year of the 2004 spending review are set out in the following table. | Local Authority | 2005-06 (£000) | 2006-07 (£000) | 2007-08 (£000) | | Aberdeenshire | 572 | 594 | 726 | | Angus | 216 | 223 | 223 | | Argyll and Bute | 489 | 509 | 838 | | Clackmannanshire | 59 | 59 | 59 | | Dumfries and Galloway | 527 | 547 | 547 | | East Ayrshire | 81 | 83 | 84 | | East Dunbartonshire | 55 | 55 | 55 | | East Lothian | 91 | 92 | 92 | | East Renfrewshire | 54 | 54 | 54 | | Eilean Siar | 513 | 533 | 547 | | Falkirk | 80 | 82 | 82 | | Fife | 158 | 163 | 163 | | Highland | 1006 | 1047 | 1447 | | Inverclyde | 51 | 51 | 51 | | Midlothian | ","AnswerDate":"2008-02-18T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2008-02-29T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Stewart Stevenson","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":216053,"EventID":"S3W-09392","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1768,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":60,"ApprovedDate":"2008-02-01T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2008-02-01T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive how much each local authority received from the Bus Route Development Grant in each year of the 2004 spending review.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive how much each local authority received from the Bus Route Development Grant in each year of the 2004 spending review.","AnswerText":"The following table gives details of the Bus Route Development Grant funding allocations in the 2004 spending review period. The final funding allocations were made in March 2007. | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |