- Asked by: Pauline McNeill, MSP for Glasgow Kelvin, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 28 November 2001
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Current Status:
Answered by Wendy Alexander on 6 December 2001
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it is satisfied with the practices and performance of the Student Loans Company Ltd.
Answer
The company's performance against agreed targets as set out in its annual report gives no grounds for concern.
- Asked by: Pauline McNeill, MSP for Glasgow Kelvin, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Thursday, 22 November 2001
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Current Status:
Answered by Malcolm Chisholm on 6 December 2001
To ask the Scottish Executive, with regard to its news release SE4352/2001 of 15 November 2001, what proportion of the additional #758,480 allocated to the Greater Glasgow NHS Board for dental health will be spent on children's oral health.
Answer
Under the scheme announced on 15 November, it is for the Primary Care Trust to agree with the dental profession locally how best to target the available funding. One of the areas in which we have indicated we wish to see this funding used is to make practices more child-friendly.On 21 November, there was also an announcement about the introduction of a caries prevention scheme, including fissure sealing and preventative work, for six and seven-year-olds in Scotland.
- Asked by: Pauline McNeill, MSP for Glasgow Kelvin, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 06 November 2001
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Current Status:
Answered by Nicol Stephen on 5 December 2001
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1O-3939 by Mr Jack McConnell on 25 October 2001, whether the adoption policy review will make recommendations to Her Majesty's Government on new parental leave rights for new adoptive parents.
Answer
I expect the report of Adoption Policy Review Group to address issues relating to post-adoption services. However, changes to the existing regulations that govern parental leave, including those for adoptive parents, is a reserved employment matter being taken forward by the UK Government. I would therefore not expect the review group to make recommendations on this.
- Asked by: Pauline McNeill, MSP for Glasgow Kelvin, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 21 November 2001
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Current Status:
Answered by Wendy Alexander on 5 December 2001
To ask the Scottish Executive how the new contract for the BAE SYSTEMS Govan yard will affect the skills base and jobs at the Scotstoun shipyard.
Answer
The new Alternative Landing Ship Logistics contract was signed on 19 November by BAE SYSTEMS Marine for the Clyde yards. Whilst a substantial part of the work will be carried out at Govan, the increasingly integrated nature of the company's two Clyde yards and the increased flexibility and mobility of its workers will have positive benefit for workers at both Scotstoun and Govan. In addition, whilst all steel production will be carried out at Govan, all manufacturing work will be carried out at the manufacturing centre of Excellence at Scotstoun. In total, the contract will sustain up to 600 jobs on the Clyde and a further 200 among outside contractors when construction is at its peak. It will provide continuity in workload until construction of the Type 45 Destroyers gets under way. Taken together with the latter, it will provide a secure base of work for the Clydeside yards for some time to come.
- Asked by: Pauline McNeill, MSP for Glasgow Kelvin, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Thursday, 15 November 2001
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Current Status:
Answered by Wendy Alexander on 29 November 2001
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-18820 by Ms Wendy Alexander on November 2001, what activities are being undertaken by the Clyde Shipbuilding Task Force.
Answer
The activities of the Clyde Shipyards Task Force have already contributed to a substantial reduction in the original number of compulsory redundancies announced by BAE SYSTEMS, from 1,000 to nearer 500. The task force has also considered longer term issues relating to the company's strategy for the shipyards, the skills required to support this strategy, and the community regeneration and land use issues arising in the Scotstoun and Govan areas. The task force is currently preparing its draft report which will reflect these issues and its remit "to consider the immediate and longer term strategic issues facing the Clyde shipbuilding industry, particularly naval, and to identify the changes necessary to ensure a competitive industry to exploit future opportunities." The draft report and recommendations will be considered at the next meeting of the task force on 7 December.
- Asked by: Pauline McNeill, MSP for Glasgow Kelvin, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Thursday, 15 November 2001
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Current Status:
Answered by Wendy Alexander on 29 November 2001
To ask the Scottish Executive what progress has been made on the reorganisation of Glasgow's further education colleges.
Answer
A consultation exercise following the publication of the recent report by the consultants KPMG has now been completed. It will be for the Scottish Further Education Funding Council and the Glasgow colleges, who commissioned the report, to consider the responses to the consultation exercise and the case for subsequent action. The Boards of Management at two separate groups of Glasgow colleges are currently exploring the possibility of merger. These groups comprise (a) Glasgow College of Building and Printing, Central College of Commerce and Glasgow College of Food Technology, and (b) Stow College and North Glasgow College.
- Asked by: Pauline McNeill, MSP for Glasgow Kelvin, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Thursday, 15 November 2001
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Current Status:
Answered by Iain Gray on 29 November 2001
To ask the Scottish Executive what the procedure is for appealing against decisions taken by the Eaga Partnership (Scotland) in regard to assessing whether individual applications meet the requirements for inclusion in the central heating programme for pensioners.
Answer
An unsuccessful applicant can appeal to Eaga against the decision. The case will be reviewed by Eaga's Manager for Scotland who had no part in the original decision.
- Asked by: Pauline McNeill, MSP for Glasgow Kelvin, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Thursday, 15 November 2001
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Current Status:
Answered by Wendy Alexander on 29 November 2001
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answers to questions S1W-18839 and S1W-18840 by Ms Wendy Alexander on 1 November 2001, what action it is taking to assist the Scottish Further Education Funding Council to ensure that individual further education colleges in financial difficulty can secure long-term financial viability.
Answer
In October this year I made available an additional £7 million to the Scottish Further Education Funding Council, to be used to support colleges which have shown a determination to take the necessary action to secure their long-term financial viability. Allocation of the £7 million to individual further education colleges is a matter for the council.
- Asked by: Pauline McNeill, MSP for Glasgow Kelvin, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Thursday, 15 November 2001
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Current Status:
Answered by Iain Gray on 29 November 2001
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1O-3971 by Lewis MacDonald on 1 November 2001, what organisations and individuals will be consulted on the proposals aimed at securing more effective public involvement in planning.
Answer
A consultation paper is being widely distributed to a range of interests, including planning authorities, regular users of the planning system, community councils, the Citizen Advice Bureau and equality groups. The Executive is also actively promoting full public participation by placing an easy read consultation paper and questionnaire in planning offices and public libraries, and on the internet. It is also proposed to hold seminars for special groups; ensure contact with appropriate organisations through the Scottish Civic Forum, and appoint consultants to assist in generating feedback from members of the public.
- Asked by: Pauline McNeill, MSP for Glasgow Kelvin, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Thursday, 15 November 2001
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Current Status:
Answered by Iain Gray on 29 November 2001
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-18748 by Jackie Baillie on 30 October 2001, whether copies of the Eaga Partnership (Scotland) leaflets publicising the central heating installation programme for pensioners in private rented accommodation will be made available to MSPs.
Answer
They will be made available to MSPs.