- Asked by: Kenneth Gibson, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 14 June 2000
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Current Status:
Answered by David Steel on 28 June 2000
To ask the Presiding Officer whether the availability of nicotine replacement therapy within the Parliament will be publicised.
Answer
The SPCB's "Policy on Smoking in the Workplace" (Personnel Policy: No 1/1999) was issued by the Personnel Office on 19 November 1999. It was placed in the public folders and all members and staff were advised of this at the time. The policy is currently available in the Personnel pages of SPEIR.
The policy includes the provision of smoking cessation group sessions and nicotine patches at a cost. The Personnel Office will shortly issue a reminder drawing the availability of this service to the attention of those covered by the policy.
- Asked by: Kenneth Gibson, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 13 June 2000
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Current Status:
Answered by Jack McConnell on 27 June 2000
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will make representations to Her Majesty's Government regarding devolving powers relating to council tax benefit to Scotland, given that local government levies the tax.
Answer
Social security benefits including housing and council tax benefit are reserved matters and are the responsibility of the DSS.
- Asked by: Kenneth Gibson, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 13 June 2000
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Current Status:
Answered by Peter Peacock on 27 June 2000
To ask the Scottish Executive what steps it is taking to encourage local authorities to provide free school milk to (a) all schoolchildren whose parents are in receipt of either income support or working families tax credit and (b) other schoolchildren.
Answer
Under the Education (Scotland) Act 1980, as amended, all local authorities must provide free milk, meals and other refreshments to children whose parents are in receipt of income support, income-based jobseeker's allowance or support provided under Part VI of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999. They have a discretionary power to provide milk, meals and other refreshments to other children but must charge for such provision.
Local authorities are aware of their responsibilities and the Scottish Executive has no plans to take specific steps in this area.
- Asked by: Kenneth Gibson, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 13 June 2000
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Current Status:
Answered by Wendy Alexander on 27 June 2000
To ask the Scottish Executive what consideration has been given to the impact of the Glasgow Housing Stock Transfer on owner-occupiers who occupy buildings which are also partly tenanted.
Answer
The framework document, Better Homes Stronger Communities, which was published on 10 April, outlined a package of initiatives which could be developed to promote owner occupation and to assist existing owners. These will be considered further as a transfer proposal is developed.
- Asked by: Kenneth Gibson, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 13 June 2000
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Current Status:
Answered by Henry McLeish on 27 June 2000
To ask the Scottish Executive what steps it is taking to attract manufacturing companies to Glasgow.
Answer
Locate in Scotland (LiS) is keen to market Glasgow as a location for inward investment projects in suitable cases. In the last financial year (1999-2000) LiS attracted 19 projects to Glasgow which, if fully developed, will provide 2,915 new jobs and safeguard a further 261 jobs. Of these, 190 new jobs will be in manufacturing and a further 113 manufacturing jobs will be safeguarded.
- Asked by: Kenneth Gibson, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 13 June 2000
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Current Status:
Answered by Sam Galbraith on 27 June 2000
To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to examine teachers' pensions and exit strategies with a view to allowing teachers to leave the profession.
Answer
Following the publication of the McCrone Committee's Report, I announced that over the summer months a series of bilateral meetings are scheduled with the key parties leading to implementation discussions in the autumn. During this period a number of issues arising from the report will be considered, including the recommendations on early retirement.
- Asked by: Kenneth Gibson, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 13 June 2000
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Current Status:
Answered by Peter Peacock on 27 June 2000
To ask the Scottish Executive what proportion of schoolchildren at (a) primary level and (b) secondary level received free school milk, broken down by local authority for the last year for which figures are available.
Answer
Information on the proportion of schoolchildren who receive free school milk in schools is not collected centrally.
- Asked by: Kenneth Gibson, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 13 June 2000
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Current Status:
Answered by Wendy Alexander on 27 June 2000
To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to ensure that a representative of Glasgow's owner-occupiers, who share buildings and factoring services with local authority properties, is appointed to the board of the Glasgow Housing Association.
Answer
The Interim Management Committee of the Glasgow Housing Association is being established taking account of the framework document,
Better Homes Stronger Communities, which was published on 10 April. The committee will be composed of tenants, councillors and independents. However, owner-occupiers will be consulted as a transfer proposal is developed. There will also be opportunities for owner occupiers to participate in Neighbourhood Forums and in Area Housing Partnerships.
- Asked by: Kenneth Gibson, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 13 June 2000
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Current Status:
Answered by Sarah Boyack on 27 June 2000
To ask the Scottish Executive what steps it is taking to ensure all new homes built in Scotland are fitted with smoke alarms.
Answer
The Technical Standards for compliance with the Building Standards (Scotland) Regulations 1990 (as amended) require that all new homes are fitted with smoke alarms.
- Asked by: Kenneth Gibson, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 13 June 2000
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Current Status:
Answered by Sam Galbraith on 27 June 2000
To ask the Scottish Executive whether local government will remain the custodian of the education service.
Answer
We have no plans to change the role of education authorities from that currently set out in the Education (Scotland) Act 1980 and the Standards in Scotland's Schools etc Bill.
