- Asked by: Pauline McNeill, MSP for Glasgow Kelvin, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Monday, 21 January 2002
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Current Status:
Answered by Jim Wallace on 4 February 2002
To ask the Scottish Executive what action it is taking to improve police practice in dealing with both minority ethnic and white young people as a result of the evidence of poor practice highlighted in the research made available to the Stephen Lawrence Steering Group.
Answer
This is primarily a matter for Chief Constables to consider. However, under the direction of the Association of Chief Police Officers in Scotland, the Scottish Police Service is considering the research findings and what improvements it could make to improve its practice, particularly in regard to young people.
- Asked by: Pauline McNeill, MSP for Glasgow Kelvin, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Monday, 21 January 2002
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Current Status:
Answered by Jim Wallace on 4 February 2002
To ask the Scottish Executive what action it is taking to improve relations between the police and young people as a result of the research evidence made available to the Stephen Lawrence Steering Group showing that both minority ethnic and white youths appear alienated from the police.
Answer
The Scottish Executive regards the report on the use of police stop and search powers as an important contribution to the understanding of police practice in this area. While the findings provide reassurance that the powers are being used appropriately, they also identified areas of concern including anecdotal evidence that minority ethnic and white youths appeared to be alienated from the police. We are, therefore, together with the Scottish Police Service, carefully considering the findings and recommendations in order to determine what action is necessary.
- Asked by: Pauline McNeill, MSP for Glasgow Kelvin, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Thursday, 06 December 2001
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Current Status:
Answered by Malcolm Chisholm on 4 February 2002
To ask the Scottish Executive what impact the resignation of the four consultant staff at the Beatson Oncology Centre has had or will have on the waiting list for referral to a cancer specialist.
Answer
NHS local management has advised that:all clinics currently serviced by consultants based at the Beatson have been reviewed. Over the next six months, prior to substantive appointments being made, interim arrangements will be put in place so that new patients will be a priority to be seen at outreach clinics taking place within their local NHS board area;there is no formal waiting list for medical oncology and it is not envisaged there will be an impact on this, andradiotherapy waiting times are currently reducing as the new machines funded by the Scottish Executive come on stream. I am pleased to confirm that the radiotherapy equipment modernisation programme continues and it is hoped this downward trend will continue. Two new, additional, linear accelerators are expected to be commissioned during the course of 2002.
- Asked by: Pauline McNeill, MSP for Glasgow Kelvin, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Thursday, 06 December 2001
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Current Status:
Answered by Malcolm Chisholm on 1 February 2002
To ask the Scottish Executive what action it plans to take following the visit by the Minister for Health and Community Care to the Beatson Oncology Centre on 5 December 2001.
Answer
I announced on 6 December 2001 that Dr Adam Bryson, would take over as Medical Director of the Beatson Oncology Centre to provide greater impetus and focus to implementing the agreed Action Plan. Dr Bryson is reporting directly to Mr Tom Divers, Chief Executive of NHS Greater Glasgow, but the Executive is keeping in close touch and monitoring the situation.
- Asked by: Pauline McNeill, MSP for Glasgow Kelvin, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Thursday, 17 January 2002
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Current Status:
Answered by Jim Wallace on 31 January 2002
To ask the Scottish Executive what areas have been identified as being in need of further examination following the report by Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Constabulary for Scotland, Second Year Review of Scottish Criminal Record Office Primary Inspection of 2000.
Answer
This report highlighted the commitment demonstrated by Scottish Criminal Record Office (SCRO) to continuous improvement. The primary report made 17 recommendations as well as five suggestions for improvement in a variety of areas. Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Constabulary for Scotland (HMIC) found that six of the recommendations and three of the suggestions had been fully discharged. HMIC will, however, look for evidence of further development and improvement at the 3rd year review in the following areas: the arrangements for the annual performance review of senior staff; the consideration of the Director of SCRO's scheme of delegation as part of the repositioning of SCRO within a new common police services agreement; the development of outcome performance measures for each of the bureaux within SCRO; the development of an absence management policy, and the establishment of a service level agreement between SCRO and Strathclyde Joint Police Board detailing services and costs.There are also five recommendations related to finance and the financial procedures within SCRO which are being taken forward in conjunction with the Scottish Executive.
- Asked by: Pauline McNeill, MSP for Glasgow Kelvin, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Thursday, 17 January 2002
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Current Status:
Answered by Jim Wallace on 31 January 2002
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-20313 on 17 December 2001 by Mr Jim Wallace, when it will announce the date of publication of the Scottish Prison Service Estates Review.
Answer
Publication will coincide with the start of the consultation process, likely to commence within the next couple of months.
- Asked by: Pauline McNeill, MSP for Glasgow Kelvin, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 16 January 2002
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Current Status:
Answered by Elaine Murray on 30 January 2002
To ask the Presiding Officer what financial support it has given in the current financial year to both the Piping Centre and the College of Piping in Glasgow.
Answer
A grant of £300,000 has been given to the Piping Centre. No grant has been made to the College of Piping.
- Asked by: Pauline McNeill, MSP for Glasgow Kelvin, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Thursday, 10 January 2002
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Current Status:
Answered by Wendy Alexander on 24 January 2002
To ask the Scottish Executive what contingency plans have been made to provide on-going support to lifelong learners who have not yet activated their Individual Learning Accounts (ILA) following the closure of the ILA scheme.
Answer
Learners who enrolled in learning before the scheme's closure will be able to proceed, if their learning starts before the end of this month. Letters have gone to all account holders explaining the reasons for the closure and providing them with details of a dedicated freephone helpline, 0808 100 1090, should they require further advice.
- Asked by: Pauline McNeill, MSP for Glasgow Kelvin, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Thursday, 10 January 2002
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Current Status:
Answered by Wendy Alexander on 24 January 2002
To ask the Scottish Executive how many lifelong learners have been affected by the closure of the Individual Learning Accounts scheme.
Answer
At 7 January 2002, 253,952 people held Individual Learning Accounts. 116,465 of these have engaged in ILA-assisted learning.
- Asked by: Pauline McNeill, MSP for Glasgow Kelvin, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Thursday, 10 January 2002
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Current Status:
Answered by Wendy Alexander on 24 January 2002
To ask the Scottish Executive when it will relaunch the Individual Learning Accounts scheme following its closure and what advice is being given to lifelong learners in the interim.
Answer
We remain committed to encouraging the widest possible participation in lifelong learning. We are actively considering what future arrangements might be put in place to support individual learning. I expect to be able to say more about this later in the spring.In the meantime, learndirect scotland continue to provide advice for learners on freephone 0808 100 9000. Individual Learning Account (ILA) holders with ILA-related enquiries may contact a dedicated freephone helpline on 0800 100 1090.