- Asked by: Pauline McNeill, MSP for Glasgow Kelvin, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 03 February 2009
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Current Status:
Answered by Fiona Hyslop on 24 February 2009
To ask the Scottish Executive how it is monitoring the impact of the recent changes to Student Awards Agency for Scotland income assessed funding, related to the income of step-parents, introduced during the academic year 2008-09.
Answer
The Scottish Government has plans to undertake analysis which will look at the support received by those who have declared the income of a step-parent relative to what they would have received if such an income was not taken into consideration.
- Asked by: Pauline McNeill, MSP for Glasgow Kelvin, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Monday, 02 February 2009
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Current Status:
Answered by Fiona Hyslop on 24 February 2009
To ask the Scottish Executive how much has been spent on the city centre estate of the New Campus Glasgow project since 2000, also broken down into budget headings.
Answer
The funding of the New Campus Glasgow project is a matter for the Scottish Funding Council and the colleges concerned. I have asked the Chief Executive of the Scottish Funding Council to write to the Member.
- Asked by: Pauline McNeill, MSP for Glasgow Kelvin, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 28 January 2009
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Current Status:
Answered by Nicola Sturgeon on 5 February 2009
To ask the Scottish Executive what mechanisms are in place to enable NHS Scotland to accept medical evacuations from Gaza.
Answer
The skills of our medical specialists are world-renowned and we are prepared to offer their expertise if needed. Some of Scotland''s hospitals may be able to receive patients from Gaza who require specialist care and I welcome the willingness of NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde and NHS Lothian to respond positively to requests for assistance with medical casualties, if need be. However, the number of casualties and which facilities could be used would be dependent on the clinical priorities of the patients concerned.
Our general approach is to work through Scottish-based Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs) which are involved in humanitarian work in Gaza, and have a presence on the ground there. This is necessary to allow clinical assessments and evaluation to be carried out in determining whether patients are suitable for treatment in Scotland, and would benefit from coming here, as opposed to being treated in the region or in a neighbouring country.
- Asked by: Pauline McNeill, MSP for Glasgow Kelvin, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 28 January 2009
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Current Status:
Answered by Linda Fabiani on 4 February 2009
To ask the Scottish Executive what assistance it will make available to Scottish aid organisations that are not members of the Disasters Emergency Committee (DEC) and wish to assist in the humanitarian effort in Gaza.
Answer
We have invited funding bids from Scottish-based organisations to support their humanitarian work in Gaza. Any Scottish-based organisations can apply.
Applications will be assessed and final decisions will be subject to assurances that aid will reach those in greatest need.
- Asked by: Pauline McNeill, MSP for Glasgow Kelvin, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Thursday, 22 January 2009
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Current Status:
Answered by Alex Salmond on 22 January 2009
To ask the First Minister when the Scottish Government will finalise the transition costs of establishing Creative Scotland.
Answer
This PQ was answered in the Chamber. The answer can be viewed in the Official Report using the following link: http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/business/officialReports/meetingsParliament/or-09/sor0122-01.htm
- Asked by: Pauline McNeill, MSP for Glasgow Kelvin, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Thursday, 15 January 2009
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Current Status:
Answered by Stewart Maxwell on 15 January 2009
To ask the Scottish Executive what action it is taking to tackle overcrowding in social housing.
Answer
It is very regrettable when any household has to live in overcrowded conditions. 4.2% of social tenants live in overcrowded conditions and the legislation provides that they must be given reasonable preference for re-housing. Through their housing need and demand assessments local authorities should identify where there is a shortage of family accommodation, which should then be addressed in their Local Housing Strategies and Strategic Housing Investment Plans. In addition, we are providing £1.5 billion during the current spending review period to increase the supply of affordable housing.
- Asked by: Pauline McNeill, MSP for Glasgow Kelvin, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Thursday, 08 January 2009
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Current Status:
Answered by Alex Salmond on 8 January 2009
To ask the First Minister whether the Cabinet will discuss its International Development Policy in light of a humanitarian crisis in Gaza.
Answer
This PQ was answered in the Chamber. The answer can be viewed in the Official Report using the following link: http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/business/officialReports/meetingsParliament/or-09/sor0108-01.htm
- Asked by: Pauline McNeill, MSP for Glasgow Kelvin, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Thursday, 08 January 2009
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Current Status:
Answered by John Swinney on 8 January 2009
To ask the Scottish Executive what flexibility is permitted with council tax banding in areas of regeneration.
Answer
There is no flexibility. Council tax bands are as set out in the Local Government Finance Act 1992.
- Asked by: Pauline McNeill, MSP for Glasgow Kelvin, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Friday, 12 December 2008
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Current Status:
Answered by John Swinney on 6 January 2009
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-17664 by John Swinney on 18 November 2008, whether it considers it satisfactory that the Heritage Lottery Fund will no longer be part of the Awards for All scheme.
Answer
This is a matter within the operational responsibility of the Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF). The fund has advised that it remains committed to providing efficient and simple ways of funding small community projects throughout the UK. From April 2009 HLF will use its revised Young Roots and Your Heritage grant schemes to fund small community heritage grants up to the value of £19 million each year, rather than use the joint lottery distributors'' Awards for All scheme.
- Asked by: Pauline McNeill, MSP for Glasgow Kelvin, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Friday, 12 December 2008
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Current Status:
Answered by John Swinney on 6 January 2009
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-17664 by John Swinney on 18 November 2008, whether it considers the absence of the Heritage Lottery Fund from the Awards for All scheme to be in the best interests of applicants as the existing one-stop-shop will cease to exist.
Answer
This is a matter within the operational responsibility of the Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF). The fund has advised that the new arrangements will lead to a number of potential benefits for applicants applying to HLF for small community heritage grants. Under the new arrangements, HLF will be able to offer advice and help to applicants before they apply, there will be shorter and simpler forms and online applications to complete, and increased opportunities for mentors to help the delivery of projects. There will also be a rolling timetable with no deadlines and quicker decisions on applications.