- Asked by: Kenneth Gibson, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Thursday, 12 April 2001
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Current Status:
Answered by Wendy Alexander on 3 May 2001
To ask the Scottish Executive what steps it will take to meet the targets set out in the action plan in the Action for Inclusion report by University Scotland.
Answer
We welcome the publication by Universities Scotland of the Access to Achievement and the Action for Inclusion reports. We agree that partnership between higher education institutions, further education colleges, local authorities, schools and other providers of learning is necessary in order to widen participation in higher education by those from currently under-represented groups. While most of the points in the action plan are primarily for the sector, we will continue to play our part to help achieve this aim.
- Asked by: Kenneth Gibson, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Thursday, 29 March 2001
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Current Status:
Answered by Nicol Stephen on 2 May 2001
To ask the Scottish Executive how many vacancies for social workers there currently are, broken down by local authority, and what steps it has taken or plans to take to address any shortages.
Answer
I refer the member to the answer given to question S1W-14568.
- Asked by: Kenneth Gibson, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Thursday, 22 March 2001
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Current Status:
Answered by Jack McConnell on 2 May 2001
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-12169 by Mr Jack McConnell on 6 March 2001, why current expenditure per pupil fell in Glasgow by #72 between 1996-97 and 1998-99 in real terms.
Answer
The Scottish Executive does not plan local authority expenditure in detail. The authorities make their own spending decisions, including the allocation of resources to the various services for which they are responsible.
- Asked by: Kenneth Gibson, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Friday, 30 March 2001
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Current Status:
Answered by Malcolm Chisholm on 2 May 2001
To ask the Scottish Executive what its position is in relation to the introduction of a UK tobacco regulatory authority with responsibility for all aspects of tobacco regulation, including monitoring tobacco advertising regulations, controlling the manufacture, sale and content of tobacco and nicotine products and advising government on the health risks of passive smoking.
Answer
The introduction of a UK tobacco regulatory authority would be a matter for the UK Government. The regulation of tobacco advertising is, however, for the Scottish Parliament to determine.
- Asked by: Kenneth Gibson, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Friday, 30 March 2001
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Current Status:
Answered by Peter Peacock on 2 May 2001
To ask the Scottish Executive what lessons it has learned from the last round of discussions on EU structural funds, taking into account the success of the Republic of Ireland in retaining Objective One status for much of the country.
Answer
The Scottish Executive believes that the outcome of the last round of discussions on EU Structural Funds represents a good deal for Scotland and the UK as well as the EU as a whole. We are now seeking to build on that experience to make sure that Scottish interests are fully accounted for in the wider debate now beginning concerning regional policy and enlargement.
- Asked by: Kenneth Gibson, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Thursday, 29 March 2001
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Current Status:
Answered by Peter Peacock on 2 May 2001
To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions it will have with Her Majesty's Government and the European Union to ensure that EU structural funding for Scotland from 2006 is maximised.
Answer
As I announced at the debate on Structural Funds on 5 April, we are already in close contact with the UK Government and the European Union on the future of Structural Funds following the enlargement of the European Union. Our aim is to make sure that Scottish interests are fully accounted for in the wider debate concerning Structural Funds and related enlargement issues.
- Asked by: Kenneth Gibson, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Friday, 23 March 2001
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Current Status:
Answered by Angus MacKay on 2 May 2001
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-12051 by Angus MacKay on 8 February 2001, why it has no full-time staff based in East Renfrewshire, Midlothian and North Ayrshire and whether it has any plans to disperse jobs to these areas.
Answer
The location of staff is determined by a range of factors. Staff of the Rural Affairs Department, for instance, provide a range of services to the agricultural community from offices around Scotland. The location of these offices relates to the efficiency and effectiveness of the service provided rather than to local authority boundaries.Last December I announced to Parliament that detailed reviews of the Edinburgh operations of six public bodies would be undertaken to individual timetables based on lease breaks and other operational factors. The reviews will determine the most efficient and effective locations for the work concerned. No specific areas of Scotland will be targeted and equally no areas will be ruled out.I also announced at that time that the Scottish Commission for the Regulation of Care and the Scottish Social Services Council would not be located in Edinburgh. Malcolm Chisholm announced on 6 March that the national offices of these two new bodies will - if the Parliament passes the necessary legislation to enable them to be established - be located in Dundee. In addition there will be 5 further regional offices for the Commission. The locations being considered are the Inverness area, the Aberdeen area, the Paisley area, the Hamilton/East Kilbride area and East Lothian. Decisions on regional offices for the Commission will be announced shortly.
- Asked by: Kenneth Gibson, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Thursday, 04 January 2001
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Current Status:
Answer expected on 25 January 2001
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it intends to merge any non-departmental public bodies in 2001 and, if so, which ones.
Answer
Answer expected on 25 January 2001
- Asked by: Kenneth Gibson, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Thursday, 04 January 2001
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Current Status:
Answer expected on 25 January 2001
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it intends to abolish any non-departmental public bodies in 2001 and, if so, which ones.
Answer
Answer expected on 25 January 2001
- Asked by: Kenneth Gibson, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 04 April 2001
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Current Status:
Answered by Malcolm Chisholm on 26 April 2001
To ask the Scottish Executive whether the IT project for people with learning disabilities implemented by Knowsley Metropolitan Borough Council at its Westfield Resource Centre can be implemented by Scottish local authorities.
Answer
The West Vale Resource Centre for people with learning disabilities, run by Knowsley Council Social Services, has developed an IT project for around 60 service users who attend the centre. The project has demonstrated significant benefits for people with learning disabilities, including increased self-esteem, improved communication and IT skills and improved employment opportunities. IT training takes place at the resource centre.The review of services for people with learning disabilities, The same as you?, recommends that local authorities and health boards should develop more modern, flexible and responsive day care services which support people in the community through lifelong learning and employment.Many people with learning disabilities already take part in educational activities within day centres and in further education. There are examples already in Scotland of IT skills projects for people with learning disabilities, based in further education colleges.
