- Asked by: Kenneth Gibson, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Thursday, 29 March 2001
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Current Status:
Answered by Jack McConnell on 24 May 2001
To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions it will have with Scotland House in Brussels on improving its physical and public profile.
Answer
I refer the member to the answer given to question S1W-14399.
- Asked by: Kenneth Gibson, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 24 April 2001
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Current Status:
Answered by Jackie Baillie on 23 May 2001
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-12264 how much Aberdeenshire, Argyll and Bute, Eilean Siar, Highland and West Lothian Councils spent in each year from 1996-97 to 2000-01 in utilising their discretionary powers to enable tenants to purchase a home on the open market.
Answer
The information requested is not held centrally.
- Asked by: Kenneth Gibson, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 24 April 2001
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Current Status:
Answered by Margaret Curran on 23 May 2001
To ask the Scottish Executive what its definition of community ownership is.
Answer
The Housing Green Paper
Investing In Modernisation published in February 1999 (Cm 4272) stated that community ownership would normally result from the transfer of existing public sector rented housing to alternative community landlords at a price which reflects the value of the stock and under arrangements which ensure that:
- the housing is owned by a non-profit making body on which there is tenant, local authority and community representation;
- there is effective tenant involvement in key decisions;
- housing is available, and continues to be available, to be let at affordable rents to those in housing need, including the homeless and other vulnerable groups, and
there are guarantees for transferring tenants regarding rent increases, tenancy rights and repairs and improvements to housing stock.
- Asked by: Kenneth Gibson, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 17 April 2001
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Current Status:
Answered by Nicol Stephen on 21 May 2001
To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to initiate a national inquiry into the pay and conditions of nursery nurses with a view to producing a report and recommendations.
Answer
The Scottish Executive recognises the crucial role that well qualified,
highly motivated staff play in delivering quality early education and childcare services. The Executive is working hard to support skills development in the sector and improve the overall image of childcare as an attractive career for both men and women. Nursery nurses are a key group in the childcare workforce; and we are working to expand their opportunities for professional development.Last year we published Working With Children - the first comprehensive guide to qualifications and careers in the childcare sector. We also launched our Action Plan for the Training and Development of Workers in Early Education, Childcare and Playwork; and are supporting this with close to £4 million of investment in skills. The Action Plan will support workforce expansion and contribute to our commitment in Programme for Government to train 5,000 new childcare workers by 2002.The establishment of the Scottish Commission for the Regulation of Care and the Scottish Social Services Council will also ensure that quality remains at the heart of our agenda for all care services.Last year we also set up the Early Education and Childcare Forum, through which selected professionals from across the early years sector provide an integrated source of advice on childcare and pre-school education to ministers. The forum, which I chair, is an important vehicle for highlighting key early years issues and contributing to future policy development.Together, the Social Services Council and the Early Education & Childcare Forum will be taking forward issues of consistency and tackling the complex issues developing at a local level as a result of recent expansion.The pay and conditions of nursery nurses, though, remain a matter for their employers - the local authorities and organisations in both the private and voluntary sectors. The Executive has no role in the negotiations and no plans to initiate a national inquiry.
- Asked by: Kenneth Gibson, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 01 May 2001
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Current Status:
Answered by Nicol Stephen on 18 May 2001
To ask the Scottish Executive how many refuges exist for sixteen-year-olds who run away from home, broken down by local authority.
Answer
This information is not held centrally, but the Social Work Information Review Group will consider collecting data on refuges as part of the current data standards review. The Children (Scotland) Act 1995 gives local authorities powers to provide short-term refuge for children who appear to be at risk of harm and who request refuge. Refuge may be provided in a local authority home, a home run by a voluntary or private agency or by a foster carer. In all cases the refuge must be designated as suitable by the local authority.
- Asked by: Kenneth Gibson, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 17 April 2001
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Current Status:
Answered by Nicol Stephen on 18 May 2001
To ask the Scottish Executive what steps it is taking to ensure that the recommendations made in the Scottish Office Social Work Services Inspectorate's 1998 Report, Sense and Progress, are carried out.
Answer
In examining services for the Chief Social Work Inspector's Annual Report for 2002, officials will seek up to date information on local progress in implementing the recommendations of Sensing Progress.A working group consisting of representatives from various deaf/blind organisations and appropriate officials has been set up under the auspices of the Equality Unit. The aim is to look at a positive way forward in identifying the various cross-cutting issues facing people with sensory impairment.The working group on certification and registration in relation to people with visual impairment has produced its report, which is now being considered by ministers.
- Asked by: Kenneth Gibson, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Thursday, 04 January 2001
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Current Status:
Answered by Jack McConnell on 17 May 2001
To ask the Scottish Executive when it will finalise the distribution of any Excellence Fund Core Programme and Special Programme monies for 2000-2001 that have not yet been allocated.
Answer
£13.45 million remained unallocated in the Excellence Fund for financial year 2000-01, the majority of which was originally planned for initiatives linked to the new system of pay and conditions for teachers. All of this money will now be used to help with the introduction of that new system over the next three years.
- Asked by: Kenneth Gibson, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 24 April 2001
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Current Status:
Answered by Margaret Curran on 17 May 2001
To ask the Scottish Executive what the latest figure is for the cost of improving Glasgow City Council's housing stock following the proposed stock transfer.
Answer
I refer the member to the answer given to question S1W-15312 on 9 May 2001.
- Asked by: Kenneth Gibson, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 24 April 2001
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Current Status:
Answered by Margaret Curran on 17 May 2001
To ask the Scottish Executive why no long-term detailed investment plans on Glasgow's housing stock transfer proposals will be available until January 2002, after the proposed date of the stock transfer ballot.
Answer
The Executive's Guidance for Local Authorities on Housing Transfer to Community Ownership makes it clear what information should be made available to tenants during the statutory consultation process leading up to any ballot on a transfer proposal.
- Asked by: Kenneth Gibson, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 24 April 2001
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Current Status:
Answered by Margaret Curran on 17 May 2001
To ask the Scottish Executive whether any residual debt resulting from housing stock transfer in Glasgow will (a) be removed from Glasgow City Council (GCC) and taken on by the Executive as outlined in Glasgow Housing Association's January newsletter which states "the Scottish Executive has agreed to remove the debt from GCC tenants and transfer it to tax payers across Scotland if tenants vote in favour of stock transfer" or (b) remain with GCC and be serviced by the Executive as outlined in the answer to question S1W-13378 by Ms Margaret Curran on 28 February 2001 which states "the cost of servicing the remaining (i.e. residual) debt would also be met by resources provided by the Scottish Executive" and what steps will it take to ensure that tenants are advised of the correct situation.
Answer
The arrangements are as set out in my answer to question S1W-13378. It is for Glasgow City Council in undertaking statutory consultation with tenants prior to any transfer to consider what further information in relation to this issue should be provided.
