- Asked by: Kenneth Gibson, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish National Party
-
Date lodged: Tuesday, 28 November 2000
-
Current Status:
Answered by Peter Peacock on 12 December 2000
To ask the Scottish Executive when the Ministerial Working Group considering the implications of the Kerley Report was formed, on what dates it has met and on what dates meetings are scheduled.
Answer
The Deputy Minister for Local Government announced on 27 June that the findings of the Renewing Local Democracy Working Group would be taken forward initially by an ad hoc Ministerial Working Group chaired by the First Minister. The group has met on 22 August, 3 October and 13 November. Dates for future meetings have not yet been confirmed.
- Asked by: Kenneth Gibson, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish National Party
-
Date lodged: Tuesday, 28 November 2000
-
Current Status:
Answered by Jim Wallace on 12 December 2000
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it was consulted by Her Majesty's Government, prior to the recent international climate negotiations at The Hague, regarding the impact on Scotland of any proposed introduction across the United Kingdom of British Energy Saving Time.
Answer
The Executive has not been consulted on any such proposals.
- Asked by: Kenneth Gibson, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish National Party
-
Date lodged: Friday, 24 November 2000
-
Current Status:
Answered by Peter Peacock on 8 December 2000
To ask the Scottish Executive why it announced a delay in the 2002 local government elections through an answer to question S1W-11507, before the question had been published in the Business Bulletin and after decision time on the day of a by-election, rather than by a Ministerial statement or following a parliamentary debate.
Answer
Informing Parliament of the Executive's proposals by means of a parliamentary question is a recognised and accepted process. The issue of the term and timing of local government elections is one on which we have already consulted in the response to McIntosh. These proposals will require primary legislation to be brought forward and this will provide a further opportunity for discussion.
- Asked by: Kenneth Gibson, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish National Party
-
Date lodged: Friday, 24 November 2000
-
Current Status:
Answered by Wendy Alexander on 8 December 2000
To ask the Scottish Executive how the #22.5 million funding to improve adult literacy and numeracy announced on 25 September 2000 will be spent.
Answer
Decisions on the use of these resources will be informed by the report of the Adult Literacy 2000 Team, which is expected shortly.
- Asked by: Kenneth Gibson, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish National Party
-
Date lodged: Friday, 24 November 2000
-
Current Status:
Answered by Peter Peacock on 8 December 2000
To ask the Scottish Executive whether a system of proportional representation will be utilised in the next local governmental elections, given that these elections will now be postponed to 2003.
Answer
The Executive is committed to making progress on electoral reform and the issue is currently being considered by the Ministerial Working Group set up to look at the recommendation of the renewing Local Democracy Working Group.
- Asked by: Kenneth Gibson, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish National Party
-
Date lodged: Friday, 24 November 2000
-
Current Status:
Answered by Malcolm Chisholm on 8 December 2000
To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to ensure that the per capita resources dedicated to learning disability services, including community services, are raised to at least the level of expenditure in England and Wales.
Answer
I refer the member to the answer to S1W-11247 on 29 November 2000.
- Asked by: Kenneth Gibson, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish National Party
-
Date lodged: Friday, 24 November 2000
-
Current Status:
Answered by Jackie Baillie on 8 December 2000
To ask the Scottish Executive what it will do to ensure that the new Scottish Household Survey provides information about groups which are vulnerable to poverty including women, lone parents, people with disabilities and ethnic minorities.
Answer
Introduced in 1999, the Scottish Household Survey (SHS) is the largest sample survey ever undertaken in Scotland and currently collects information which can be disaggregated by sex, household type (including lone parents), ethnic origin and whether respondents report any long-standing illness, health problem or disability.The next results bulletin, which will be published in January, will focus on gender disaggregated results.
- Asked by: Kenneth Gibson, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish National Party
-
Date lodged: Wednesday, 15 November 2000
-
Current Status:
Answered by Susan Deacon on 5 December 2000
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-8264 by Susan Deacon on 25 July 2000, what plans it has to ban tobacco advertising following the European Court of Justice's recent annulment of the Directive 98/43/EC on tobacco advertising, and whether any new legislation in this area will address the issues of brand-stretching and point of sale advertising.
Answer
The Scottish Executive remains committed to introducing a ban on tobacco advertising. The decision by the European Court of Justice means that we can no longer proceed, as proposed, to effect a ban through the introduction of Scottish Regulations under the European Communities Act 1972. Sensibly we can take only limited action in this area in isolation from the rest of the UK. We are in discussion with other UK Health Departments over the best means to effect a ban.It is anticipated that any domestic legislation would substantially cover the measures contained in the Directive 98/43/EC, including brand-stretching and point of sale advertising.
- Asked by: Kenneth Gibson, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish National Party
-
Date lodged: Tuesday, 15 February 2000
-
Current Status:
Answered by Susan Deacon on 1 December 2000
To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to increase the number of neurosurgery beds, neurosurgery intensive care beds and specialist staff.
Answer
I have received the report of the short-life working group set up by the Chief Medical Officer and am considering its recommendations.
- Asked by: Kenneth Gibson, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish National Party
-
Date lodged: Thursday, 26 October 2000
-
Current Status:
Answered by Malcolm Chisholm on 1 December 2000
To ask the Scottish Executive what training social work staff receive in identifying and treating survivors of childhood sexual abuse.
Answer
All student social workers, on Diploma in Social Work courses, receive training on the range and impact of physical, social, sexual and emotional neglect and abuse. This should enable qualified social workers to identify sexual abuse in adult survivors. The treatment of survivors of sexual abuse is complex and social workers require training at post-qualifying level to deal with it.
