- Asked by: Kenneth Gibson, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Friday, 23 March 2001
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Current Status:
Answered by Susan Deacon on 6 April 2001
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-12259 by Susan Deacon on 6 March 2001, whether the #8,706,000 deficit incurred by North Glasgow University NHS Trust in 1999-2000 has impacted or will impact on patient care and staffing levels in the current and any future financial years and, if so, how.
Answer
During 1999-2000 North Glasgow University Hospitals NHS Trust agreed a recovery plan with Greater Glasgow Health Board. Plans were drawn up that protect patient services and restore financial balance where necessary. Details of the impact of the measures identified under the recovery plan are not held centrally. In 2001-02 Greater Glasgow Health Board received an increased allocation of 7.72%, an extra £60.6m, which should ensure standards of patient care continue to improve.
- Asked by: Kenneth Gibson, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Friday, 23 March 2001
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Current Status:
Answered by Angus MacKay on 6 April 2001
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-12051 by Angus MacKay on 8 February 2001, why the number of full-time staff it employs in North Lanarkshire fell from 660 in 1999 to 585 in 2000.
Answer
The change in staff numbers relates to the Scottish Prison Service. I have asked the Chief Executive to respond. His response is as follows:-"The decline in staff numbers is due to the closure of Longriggend"
- Asked by: Kenneth Gibson, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Friday, 23 March 2001
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Current Status:
Answered by Tom McCabe on 6 April 2001
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-8508 by Mr Tom McCabe on 30 August 2000, on how many occasions since 10 July 2000 it has asked back-bench MSPs to lodge parliamentary questions in order to enable it to make an announcement; whether it will provide a list of such questions, including the date on which they were lodged and the MSP who lodged them; and whether it can provide similar details of any inspired (a) oral and (b) First Minister's questions lodged since May 1999.
Answer
There are occasions when, for the convenience of members, the Executive brings a matter to the attention of the Parliament by means of a written Parliamentary question. The Procedures Committee has acknowledged this to be a useful and appropriate mechanism. The following 159 questions lodged between 10 July 2000 and 22 March 2001 inclusive were used by the Executive as a means of bringing matters to the Parliament's attention. Oral Parliamentary questions and First Minister's questions are not suited to this purpose because of the random selection process that applies to these questions and the time limits on when these questions can be answered.
| PQ ID S1W- | MSP | Date lodged* |
| 8646 | Rhoda Grant | 7 - 13/07/00 |
| 8666 | Rhoda Grant | 7 - 13/07/00 |
| 8655 | Karen Gillon | 7 - 13/07/00 |
| 8725 | Tavish Scott | 14 - 20/07/00 |
| 8796 | Dr Sylvia Jackson | 14 - 20/07/00 |
| 8835 | Karen Gillon | 21 - 27/07/00 |
| 8900 | Rhoda Grant | 21 - 27/07/00 |
| 8865 | Allan Wilson | 21 - 27/07/00 |
| 8923 | Karen Gillon | 21 - 27/07/00 |
8935 | Maureen MacMillan | 28/07/00 - 3/08/00 |
8954 | Rhoda Grant | 28/07/00 - 3/08/00 |
| 8978 | Scott Barrie | 28/07/00 - 3/08/00 |
| 9020 | Duncan McNeil | 28/07/00 - 3/08/00 |
| 9077 | Elaine Thomson | 4 - 10/08/00 |
| 9155 | Cathy Jamieson | 11 - 17/08/00 |
| 9212 | Scott Barrie | 11 - 17/08/00 |
| 9332 | Rhoda Grant | 18 - 24/08/00 |
| 9385 | Karen Gillon | 18 - 24/08/00 |
| 9311 | Karen Gillon | 18 - 24/08/00 |
| 9481 | Scott Barrie | 29 - 30/08/00 |
| 9489 | Rhoda Grant | 29 - 30/08/00 |
| 9824 | Rhoda Grant | 14/09/00 |
| 9834 | Scott Barrie | 13/09/00 |
| 9874 | Maureen MacMillan | 14/09/00 |
| 9921 | Dr Sylvia Jackson | 15/09/00 |
| 9967 | Duncan McNeil | 19/09/00 |
| 9968 | Duncan McNeil | 19/09/00 |
| 10051 | Scott Barrie | 21/09/00 |
| 10059 | Lewis Macdonald | 22/09/00 |
| 10166 | Scott Barrie | 2/10/00 |
| 10257 | Karen Whitefield | 4/10/00 |
| 10267 | Duncan McNeil | 4/10/00 |
| 10279 | Karen Whitefield | 5/10/00 |
| 10331 | Margaret Curran | 6/10/00 |
| 10347 | Scott Barrie | 9 - 11/10/00 |
| 10365 | Scott Barrie | 9 - 11/10/00 |
| 10413 | Duncan McNeil | 12 - 18/10/00 |
| 10414 | Dr Sylvia Jackson | 12 - 18/10/00 |
| 10557 | Mary Mulligan | 23/10/00 |
| 10563 | Scott Barrie | 23/10/00 |
| 10588 | Des McNulty | 24/10/00 |
| 10601 | Scott Barrie | 24/10/00 |
| 10623 | Pauline McNeill | 25/10/00 |
| 10624 | Hugh Henry | 25/10/00 |
| 10672 | Andy Kerr | 26/10/00 |
| 10779 | Scott Barrie | 31/10/00 |
| 10873 | Dr Elaine Murray | 2/11/00 |
| 10889 | Johann Lamont | 3/11/00 |
| 10890 | Rhoda Grant | 2/11/00 |
| 10912 | Michael McMahon | 3/11/00 |
| 10937 | Rhoda Grant | 6/11/00 |
| 10997 | Maureen MacMillan | 7/11/00 |
| 11084 | Maureen MacMillan | 8/11/00 |
| 11141 | Marilyn Livingstone | 9/11/00 |
| 11167 | Johann Lamont | 10/11/00 |
| 11177 | Rhoda Grant | 13/11/00 |
| 11229 | Mike Watson | 15/11/00 |
| 11307 | Andy Kerr | 16/11/00 |
| 11343 | Karen Whitefield | 16/11/00 |
| 11410 | John Home Robertson | 20/11/00 |
| 11436 | Kenneth MacIntosh | 21/11/00 |
| 11440 | Trish Godman | 22/11/00 |
| 11479 | Mike Rumbles | 22/11/00 |
| 11492 | Scott Barrie | 23/11/00 |
| 11507 | Trish Godman | 23/11/00 |
| 11516 | Helen Eadie | 23/11/00 |
| 11478 | Dr Sylvia Jackson | 22/11/00 |
| 11556 | Duncan McNeil | 27/11/00 |
| 11558 | Pauline McNeill | 27/11/00 |
| 11559 | John Home Robertson | 27/11/00 |
| 11585 | Kate MacLean | 28/11/00 |
| 11588 | Helen Eadie | 28/11/00 |
| 11596 | Andy Kerr | 28/11/00 |
| 11703 | Andy Kerr | 30/11/00 |
| 11704 | Cathy Peattie | 30/11/00 |
| 11776 | Duncan McNeil | 5/12/00 |
| 11777 | Dr Sylvia Jackson | 6/12/00 |
| 11799 | John Munro | 6/12/00 |
| 12063 | Karen Whitefield | 14/12/00 |
| 12073 | Jamie Stone | 18/12/00 |
| 12074 | Janis Hughes | 18/12/00 |
| 12075 | Dr Sylvia Jackson | 18/12/00 |
| 12090 | Elaine Thomson | 18/12/00 |
| 12091 | Karen Gillon | 19/12/00 |
| 12127 | Cathy Jamieson | 19/12/00 |
| 12160 | Irene Oldfather | 20/12/00 - 4/01/01 |
| 12161 | Maureen MacMillan | 20/12/00 - 4/01/01 |
| 12162 | Maureen MacMillan | 20/12/00 - 4/01/01 |
| 12163 | Des McNulty | 20/12/00 - 4/01/01 |
| 12270 | John Home Robertson | 20/12/00 - 4/01/01 |
| 12393 | Margaret Jamieson | 11/01/01 |
| 12476 | Paul Martin | 12/01/01 |
| 12478 | Scott Barrie | 15/01/01 |
| 12484 | Karen Gillon | 15/01/01 |
| 12491 | Karen Whitefield | 15/01/01 |
| 12539 | Dr Elaine Murray | 16/01/01 |
| 12447 | Dr Sylvia Jackson | 15/01/01 |
| 12632 | Maureen MacMillan | 19/01/01 |
| 12726 | Des McNulty | 23/01/01 |
| 12806 | Margaret Jamieson | 24/01/01 |
| 12824 | John McAllion | 25/01/01 |
| 12848 | Elaine Thomson | 26/01/01 |
| 12877 | Rhoda Grant | 29/01/01 |
| 12847 | Marilyn Livingstone | 25/01/01 |
| 12893 | Kate MacLean | 30/01/01 |
| 12902 | Mary Mulligan | 30/01/01 |
| 12934 | Karen Gillon | 31/01/01 |
| 12935 | Cathy Peattie | 31/01/01 |
| 12936 | Scott Barrie | 31/01/01 |
| 12937 | Cathy Jamieson | 31/01/01 |
| 12984 | Bristow Muldoon | 1/02/01 |
| 12938 | Mike Watson | 31/01/01 |
| 13043 | Karen Whitefield | 2/02/01 |
| 13044 | Mary Mulligan | 2/02/01 |
| 13067 | Rhoda Grant | 5/02/01 |
| 13100 | Karen Whitefield | 6/02/01 |
| 13192 | Andy Kerr | 7/02/01 |
| 13030 | John Home Robertson | 2/02/01 |
| 13167 | Dr Elaine Murray | 7/02/01 |
| 13198 | Paul Martin | 8/02/01 |
| 13220 | Maureen MacMillan | 8/02/01 |
| 13221 | Janis Hughes | 8/02/01 |
| 13296 | Michael McMahon | 13/02/01 |
| 13376 | Margaret Jamieson | 14/02/01 |
| 13413 | Bill Butler | 14/02/01 |
| 13377 | Cathy Jamieson | 14/02/01 |
| 13419 | Bristow Muldoon | 14/02/01 |
| 13477 | Johann Lamont | 15/02/01 |
| 13479 | Des McNulty | 15/02/01 |
| 13528 | Dr Elaine Murray | 16 - 23/02/01 |
| 13514 | Scott Barrie | 16 - 23/02/01 |
| 13515 | Cathy Jamieson | 16 - 23/02/01 |
| 13534 | Lewis Macdonald | 16 - 23/02/01 |
| 13592 | Cathie Craigie | 16 - 23/02/01 |
| 13732 | Kenneth MacIntosh | 28/02/01 |
| 13762 | Euan Robson | 28/02/01 |
| 13825 | Dr Elaine Murray | 1/03/01 |
| 13879 | Maureen MacMillan | 5/03/01 |
| 13911 | Scott Barrie | 6/03/01 |
| 13912 | John Home Robertson | 6/03/01 |
| 13980 | Marilyn Livingstone | 7/03/01 |
| 14021 | Dr Elaine Murray | 8/03/01 |
| 14026 | Cathy Jamieson | 8/03/01 |
| 14147 | Frank McAveety | 13/03/01 |
| 14154 | Rhoda Grant | 13/03/01 |
| 14162 | Tavish Scott | 14/03/01 |
| 14179 | Dr Elaine Murray | 14/03/01 |
| 14180 | Janis Hughes | 14/03/01 |
| 14181 | Irene Oldfather | 14/03/01 |
| 14182 | Dr Sylvia Jackson | 14/03/01 |
| 14235 | Dr Richard Simpson | 16/03/01 |
| 14238 | Des McNulty | 16/03/01 |
| 14299 | Margaret Jamieson | 20/03/01 |
| 14322 | Cathy Jamieson | 21/03/01 |
| 14323 | Bristow Muldoon | 21/03/01 |
| 14350 | Mary Mulligan | 21/03/01 |
| 14142 | Gordon Jackson | 13/03/01 |
| 14392 | Trish Godman | 22/03/01 |
| 14393 | Maureen MacMillan | 22/03/01 |
*These dates have been taken from the appropriate Business Bulletins.
- Asked by: Kenneth Gibson, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Friday, 23 March 2001
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Current Status:
Answered by Ross Finnie on 6 April 2001
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-13199 by Mr Sam Galbraith on 22 February 2001, what impact the reduction in grant to North of Scotland Water Authority from #24.4 million in 1996-97 to #1.2 million in 2001-02 will have on average domestic water and sewerage charges.
Answer
The grant payments relate mainly to specific schemes that have now ended. As the grants scored against the Authority's external finance limit, they effectively reduced the amount available to be borrowed. The effect on charges is therefore equivalent to the saving on interest charges.
- Asked by: Kenneth Gibson, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Thursday, 22 March 2001
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Current Status:
Answered by Peter Peacock on 5 April 2001
To ask the Scottish Executive why it did not seek to make a statement in the Parliament regarding the launch of the consultation on rates relief for small businesses.
Answer
Details of the consultation were announced on 14 February in reply to question S1W-13413.
- Asked by: Kenneth Gibson, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Thursday, 22 March 2001
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Current Status:
Answered by Wendy Alexander on 5 April 2001
To ask the Scottish Executive why Scottish economic growth rates have failed to match UK growth rates in recent years.
Answer
Latest data show that quarterly growth in Scotland is broadly in line with the UK, although year on year growth is slower. Independent forecasters (BSL and Cambridge Econometrics) suggest that growth in Scotland will be slightly below the UK this year. Short-term fluctuations aside, the central issue for policy is how Scotland's trend rate of growth can be increased. The critical element in stimulating sustainable economic growth is the enhancement of productivity throughout all Scottish enterprises. This is achieved through increasing both the quality and quantity of output per worker and through reducing costs. Improved productivity is the key source of international competitive advantage.This is recognised in the Executive's recent Framework for Economic Development in Scotland and the Enterprise Strategy - a Smart, Successful Scotland - which sets out the new international conditions for economic success - growing business, ensuring Scotland is globally connected, lifelong learning and skills development.
- Asked by: Kenneth Gibson, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Thursday, 22 March 2001
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Current Status:
Answered by Wendy Alexander on 5 April 2001
To ask the Scottish Executive what steps are being taken to encourage young people to study civil engineering.
Answer
In Scotland, the Scottish Education Unit of the Construction Industry Training Board (CITB), the National Training Organisation for the construction sector, is in the lead on promoting this study and career option. The Unit provides a single approach to promoting careers in the construction industry among school pupils in Scotland, with the emphasis on the 14-18 age group. The Unit undertakes two key strands of activity to promote civil engineering. It provides a range of activities, such as work shadowing and building competitions, to promote professional and management careers in the sector and, through the CITB Curriculum Centres Initiative, organises school-based projects, with links to FE colleges. At UK level, the Hawley Group Report, has recommended that the Engineering Council evolves into the Engineering and Technology Board, to meet the needs and aspirations of an increasingly diverse engineering community. Ownership of the process remains with the engineering community itself and the shape and remit of the new Board will be for them to decide.
- Asked by: Kenneth Gibson, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Thursday, 22 March 2001
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Current Status:
Answered by Wendy Alexander on 5 April 2001
To ask the Scottish Executive what percentage of Scotland's university graduates graduated in science, engineering or related subjects in each of the last five years for which figures are available.
Answer
The information requested is detailed in the following table:Graduates and diplomates from Higher Education Institutions in Scotland
| | 1995-96 | 1996-97 | 1997-98 | 1998-99 | 1999-00 |
| All Graduates | 37,412 | 37,525 | 40,881 | 38,783 | 42,286 |
| No. Science Related | 10,175 | 9,606 | 9,871 | 9,469 | 9,554 |
| % Science Related* | 27.2% | 25.6% | 24.1% | 24.4% | 22.6% |
Source: HESA (Higher Education Statistics Agency)* "Science Related" includes Engineering & Technology, Biological Sciences, Physical Sciences, Maths & Computing
- Asked by: Kenneth Gibson, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Thursday, 22 March 2001
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Current Status:
Answered by Sarah Boyack on 5 April 2001
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has set any target for returning derelict and vacant land to productive use.
Answer
The Executive is determined that vacant and derelict sites in Scotland should be brought back into use. Planning policy encourages the re-use of previously developed sites. We have not set a national target.We monitor and report annually on the extent of such land. The Scottish Vacant and Derelict Land Survey 2000 was published on 27 March 2001. It shows that the level of derelict and vacant land in Scotland fell in 2000 to an all-time low of 11,683 hectares.
- Asked by: Kenneth Gibson, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Thursday, 22 March 2001
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Current Status:
Answered by Jim Wallace on 5 April 2001
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-11275 by Mr Jim Wallace on 11 January 2001, why the number of excess winter deaths has increased from 2,610 in 1997-98 to 5,190 in 1999-2000.
Answer
Year to year fluctuations in the numbers of "excess winter deaths", however defined, show a close relationship with the occurrence of major influenza outbreaks. Whilst the numbers of deaths where the underlying cause is recorded as being influenza is normally relatively low, even during a relatively severe outbreak, there is invariably a sizeable increase in the numbers of deaths from related causes, notably pneumonia and other respiratory conditions. This was the case during the winter of 1999-2000, and also to a slightly lesser extent during that of 1998-99. Though complete data for the winter of 2000-01 is not yet available, provisional figures suggest that the number of "excess winter deaths" will be in line with that normally observed during a winter when influenza activity is limited, such as 1997-98.
