- Asked by: Christine Grahame, MSP for South of Scotland, Scottish National Party
-
Date lodged: Wednesday, 09 July 2003
-
Current Status:
Answered by Margaret Curran on 20 August 2003
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has any powers to provide resources to Scottish Borders Housing Association to assist with remedial action required to flood-damaged properties at the Bannerfield Estate, Selkirk.
Answer
I have asked Mr Bob Millar, Chief Executive of Communities Scotland to respond. His response is as follows:Through the Housing (Scotland) Act 2001, Communities Scotland has powers to provide resources through the Housing Association Grant (HAG) scheme to Registered Social Landlords to support them in the provision of new or improved housing for social rent and for low-cost home ownership. Registered Social Landlords are, however, responsible for the on-going maintenance and repair of their housing, including any remedial works.
- Asked by: Christine Grahame, MSP for South of Scotland, Scottish National Party
-
Date lodged: Friday, 20 June 2003
-
Current Status:
Answered by Lewis Macdonald on 20 August 2003
To ask the Scottish Executive what European structural funding has been allocated to (a) each local enterprise company, (b) local authority and (c) area tourist board in the south of Scotland in (i) 1999-2000, (ii) 2000-01, (iii) 2001-02, (iv) 2002-03 and (v) 2003-04 to date, expressed also as a percentage of the economic development budget of each body.
Answer
I have arranged for the information, in table form, to be placed in the Parliament's Reference Centre (Bib. number 28235). No structural funding was allocated under the current Objective 2 Programme in 1999-2000 as the programme was not agreed until March 2001. The table will show European allocated in 2000-01 and thereafter it is shown on a yearly basis. The economic development budget of each body is not readily available.
- Asked by: Christine Grahame, MSP for South of Scotland, Scottish National Party
-
Date lodged: Friday, 20 June 2003
-
Current Status:
Answered by Lewis Macdonald on 20 August 2003
To ask the Scottish Executive what European structural funding has been allocated in the south of Scotland and to which projects in (a) 1999-2000, (b) 2000-01, (c) 2001-02, (d) 2002-03 and (e) 2003-04 to date.
Answer
I have arranged for the information, in table form, to be placed in the Parliament's Reference Centre (Bib. number 28234). No structural funding was allocated under the current Objective 2 Programme in 1999-2000 as the programme was not agreed until March 2001. The table will show European funding allocated in 2000-01. Thereafter it is shown on a yearly basis.
- Asked by: Christine Grahame, MSP for South of Scotland, Scottish National Party
-
Date lodged: Friday, 20 June 2003
-
Current Status:
Answered by Lewis Macdonald on 18 August 2003
To ask the Scottish Executive what progress has been made regarding a regional policy, as referred to in A Framework for Economic Development in Scotland.
Answer
The Framework for Economic Development identifies the role of Government as ensuring that all regions of Scotland enjoy the same economic opportunities. The Executive is committed to this and has a range of policies and programmes in place which together work towards this goal. Our commitments to Scotland's transport and communications infrastructures will contribute significantly towards this, while Regional Selective Assistance and European Structural Funds direct resources to areas of greater need. Furthermore, narrowing the unemployment gap is a priority for the Enterprise Networks, which are able to address local needs and opportunities.
- Asked by: Christine Grahame, MSP for South of Scotland, Scottish National Party
-
Date lodged: Monday, 15 March 2004
-
Current Status:
Answered by Euan Robson on 18 August 2003
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S2W-455 by Euan Robson on 9 June 2003, when the report of the Chief Inspector of Social Work on the examination of the reports on the "Miss X" case will be available and whether it will publish this report.
Answer
The Chief Inspector's report on the Scottish Borders Council social work services for people affected by learning disabilities is expected in the autumn, and will be published.
- Asked by: Christine Grahame, MSP for South of Scotland, Scottish National Party
-
Date lodged: Wednesday, 25 June 2003
-
Current Status:
Answered by Malcolm Chisholm on 14 August 2003
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S2W-732 by Malcolm Chisholm on 23 June 2003, what steps will be taken to establish a mechanism for monitoring improvements in staffing levels following the agreement between NHS employers and trade unions to introduce the minimum pay rate.
Answer
The agreement to introduce the minimum pay rate is between NHS employers and trade unions and it is for those parties to determine what monitoring arrangements should be put in place.I have asked the Management Side Chair of the Negotiating Group responsible for the agreement to confirm to you the current position on this matter.
- Asked by: Christine Grahame, MSP for South of Scotland, Scottish National Party
-
Date lodged: Friday, 11 July 2003
-
Current Status:
Answered by Mary Mulligan on 13 August 2003
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answers to questions S2W-767 by Mr Jim Wallace on 23 June 2003 and S1W-33014 by Ms Margaret Curran on 20 January 2003, what information it has on the percentage of part-time or seasonal work force that is unable to receive jobseekers' allowance owing to the application of paragraph 20342 of the Department for Work and Pensions' Decision Makers' Guide and what representations it has made, or will make, to Her Majesty's Government about the impact on poverty of this matter.
Answer
Jobseekers Allowance is a reserved matter for the UK Government and the Department for Work and Pensions. The Executive does not hold any information on the data requested.
- Asked by: Christine Grahame, MSP for South of Scotland, Scottish National Party
-
Date lodged: Friday, 20 June 2003
-
Current Status:
Answered by Lewis Macdonald on 13 August 2003
To ask the Scottish Executive what representations it is making to Her Majesty's Government regarding a review of the unemployment key economic need indicator, which takes no account of the out-migration of young people from rural areas, such as the south of Scotland, and whether it will review its Scottish Indices of Deprivation 2003, which does not take account of indicators associated with population change and economic fragility.
Answer
The Scottish Executive is in regular contact with the UK Government on a wide range of issues.A comprehensive assessment of overall economic need would typically include consideration of a number of indicators, including indicators such as population density as well as unemployment rates.The Executive has commissioned research to underpin the development of a long-term strategy for measuring deprivation in Scotland. The interim report of this research was published for consultation in May and covered issues relating to population change and economic fragility. The Scottish Executive will make its decisions once the final report is released.
- Asked by: Christine Grahame, MSP for South of Scotland, Scottish National Party
-
Date lodged: Tuesday, 15 July 2003
-
Current Status:
Answered by Malcolm Chisholm on 8 August 2003
To ask the Scottish Executive what the cost has been of employing agency pharmacists in each year since 1999-2000, broken down by pharmacy grade and NHS board.
Answer
Information on the cost ofemploying agency pharmacists in each year is not available centrally.
- Asked by: Christine Grahame, MSP for South of Scotland, Scottish National Party
-
Date lodged: Tuesday, 15 July 2003
-
Current Status:
Answered by Malcolm Chisholm on 8 August 2003
To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to meet with the Association of Scottish Trust Chief Pharmacists.
Answer
Scottish Executive officials meet on a regular basis with representativesof the Association of Scottish Trust Chief Pharmacists.
