- Asked by: Christine Grahame, MSP for South of Scotland, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 22 February 2006
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Current Status:
Answered by Tavish Scott on 7 March 2006
To ask the Scottish Executive what analysis has been done of the availability of low rise buses, in light of 20% of the population having mobility difficulties.
Answer
We encourage bus operators toprovide a range of buses including low floor buses.
- Asked by: Christine Grahame, MSP for South of Scotland, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 14 February 2006
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Current Status:
Answered by Robert Brown on 7 March 2006
To ask the Scottish Executive how many foster carers there have been in each year since 1999, broken down by local authority area.
Answer
The information requested isnot held centrally.
However, the ScottishExecutive is currently collating information about the number of foster carersand any shortfall of foster carers in each local authority area in order toevaluate the impact of the extra £12 million in funding being provided toimprove local authority fostering services.
- Asked by: Christine Grahame, MSP for South of Scotland, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 14 February 2006
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Current Status:
Answered by Robert Brown on 7 March 2006
To ask the Scottish Executive what guidance it issues to local authorities in respect of transitional arrangements for vulnerable children moving from foster care to adult status.
Answer
Regulations and guidance onthe support and assistance for young people leaving care in Scotlandcame into force on 1 April 2004. In addition, the Scottish Executive commissionedmaterials to assist local authorities in carrying out this duty effectively.These were published under the title Pathways and disseminated to alllocal authorities.
- Asked by: Christine Grahame, MSP for South of Scotland, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Monday, 30 January 2006
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Current Status:
Answered by Cathy Jamieson on 6 March 2006
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it is aware of, or has been involved in, the carrying out of abductions in Scotland by foreign secret services.
Answer
No.
- Asked by: Christine Grahame, MSP for South of Scotland, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 21 February 2006
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Current Status:
Answered by Tavish Scott on 6 March 2006
To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions it is having with local authorities and transport providers to ensure equity of access for people with nationwide concessionary travel passes.
Answer
The Confederation of PassengerTransport (CPT) and local authority representatives were included on the seven taskgroups set up to advise on the development of the Scotland-wide Free Bus schemefor Older and Disabled people. These included task groups which considered aspectsof equity of access including which coach and bus services would be eligible inthe scheme and the eligibility criteria for individuals.
- Asked by: Christine Grahame, MSP for South of Scotland, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 22 February 2006
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Current Status:
Answered by Tavish Scott on 6 March 2006
To ask the Scottish Executive what research it has done into the numbers and location of people entitled to the national concessionary fare scheme who will be unable to access transport.
Answer
Research has been carried outas part of the Partnership Agreement commitment to assess improved concessions forpeople with disabilities. It aims to identifythe latent demand for transport and considers why people do not travel and whatwould encourage them to travel more. This includes issues around access to transport.
This research looking into ImprovingTransport for Disabled People is now nearing conclusion and we aim to publish inApril 2006.
- Asked by: Christine Grahame, MSP for South of Scotland, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 22 February 2006
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Current Status:
Answered by Tavish Scott on 6 March 2006
To ask the Scottish Executive why it did not extend the concessionary fare scheme to community transport services.
Answer
The introduction on 1 April 2006 of theScotland-wide Free Bus Scheme for Older and Disabled People 2006 meets the PartnershipAgreement commitment to a national free off-peak bus scheme for older people andpeople with disabilities.
The scheme includes bus and coachservices available to the general public including those community transport serviceswhich are also local registered services.
- Asked by: Christine Grahame, MSP for South of Scotland, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 22 February 2006
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Current Status:
Answered by Tavish Scott on 6 March 2006
To ask the Scottish Executivewhat research (a) has been and (b) will be undertaken into the operation of the national concessionary travel scheme in rural areas.
Answer
The procedures which we areputting in place will allow reports to be produced to monitor the usage ofcards in rural as in other areas once the national travel scheme is up andrunning.
- Asked by: Christine Grahame, MSP for South of Scotland, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 22 February 2006
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Current Status:
Answered by Tavish Scott on 6 March 2006
To ask the Scottish Executive what training is provided to personnel on buses regarding the operation of the national concessionary travel scheme.
Answer
The Executive is producing guidancefor drivers on the operation of the Scotland–wide Free Bus Scheme for Older andDisabled People. The guidance will make clear the drivers must look after the well-beingof people who travel under the scheme. Individual training is a matter for the operatorsto take forward.
- Asked by: Christine Grahame, MSP for South of Scotland, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 22 February 2006
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Current Status:
Answered by Tavish Scott on 6 March 2006
To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions it has had with local transport operators with regard to delivery and operation of the national concessionary travel scheme.
Answer
The Confederation ofPassenger Transport (CPT) and local authority representatives were included on theseven task groups set up to advise on the development and implementation of theScotland-wide Free Bus Scheme for Older and Disabled people.
