- Asked by: Kenneth Gibson, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Friday, 06 August 1999
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Current Status:
Answered by Jim Wallace on 11 October 1999
To ask the Scottish Executive what its view is on the extent to which the increase in violent crime of 17.5% in attempted murders, 9.25% in serious assaults, and 12.7% in robberies across Strathclyde last year can be attributed to cuts in funding which leave Strathclyde Police 350 officers below the establishment deemed appropriate to provide adequate policing.
Answer
Grant aided expenditure to forces last year was increased by 2.4%. Most forces reported an increase in recorded crime but some did not. There was therefore no question of funding being cut nor any apparent relationship between trends in funding and trends in recorded crime. In the case of Strathclyde the Chief Constable's Annual Report for 1998-99 records the positive measures taken to deal with increased recorded crime, with encouraging results, which are a testimony to the success of the Chief Constable and his force in tackling crime in Strathclyde. These included a new force corporate strategy and planning framework and the launch of a major initiative in October 1998 targeted on housebreaking and drugs related crime. The force achieved an increase in detection rates, to 43.2%, for the year which was the highest in the history of the force and there was also a significant slow down in the increase in crime. Information recently released by the force shows a further increase in detection rates during the period April to June 1999, with a 44.4% detection rate and a reduction in recorded crime of 6% on the equivalent period last year.
- Asked by: Kenneth Gibson, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Monday, 27 September 1999
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Current Status:
Answered by Donald Dewar on 11 October 1999
To ask the Scottish Executive what action it is taking to ensure that all written questions are answered within 14 days.
Answer
The Executive makes every effort to give a substantive reply to all written questions within fourteen days. This may not be possible in some circumstances, for example where the necessary data takes some time to gather, in which case a holding reply is issued.
- Asked by: Kenneth Gibson, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Monday, 27 September 1999
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Current Status:
Answered by Donald Dewar on 11 October 1999
To ask the Scottish Executive how many written questions submitted between 6 May and 6 September received a reply, other than a holding answer, within (a) seven days, (b) fourteen days, (c) twenty one days, (d) twenty eight days, and (e) twenty eight days or more, and whether it considers that it is reasonable for MSPs to wait for periods substantially in excess of 14 days for answers to written questions.
Answer
This information is not readily available but could be provided by the Scottish Parliament Information Centre (SPICe). All efforts are made to ensure Members receive a response to Written Questions within fourteen days.
- Asked by: Kenneth Gibson, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 15 September 1999
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Current Status:
Answered by Jack McConnell on 8 October 1999
To ask the Scottish Executive which Scottish local authorities have implemented a formal housing and council tax anti-fraud policy and which have adopted the Department of Social Security verification framework.
Answer
This information is not held by the Scottish Executive. The implementation of a formal housing and council tax anti-fraud policy or the adoption of the Department of Social Security (DSS) verification framework is a matter for individual councils to pursue.
- Asked by: Kenneth Gibson, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 14 September 1999
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Current Status:
Answered by Jack McConnell on 7 October 1999
To ask the Scottish Executive which Scottish local authorities have yet to comply with the Code of Practice on Following the Public Pound.
Answer
The Scottish Executive does not hold this information because monitoring compliance with the Code of Guidance on Funding External Bodies and Following the Public Pound is the responsibility of councils' external auditors appointed by the Accounts Commission for Scotland.
- Asked by: Kenneth Gibson, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 22 September 1999
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Current Status:
Answered by Jack McConnell on 7 October 1999
To ask the Scottish Executive whether there is any assistance that it can give to Inverclyde Council to enable it to resolve the benefit issues identified by both external audit and the Benefit Fraud Inspectorate.
Answer
No. The Scottish Executive has not been approached by Inverclyde Council to give it any special assistance over this matter, nor do I think this would be appropriate.
- Asked by: Kenneth Gibson, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 20 July 1999
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Current Status:
Answered by Jack McConnell on 7 October 1999
To ask the Scottish Executive to specify the total amount of money owed by local authorities in Scotland, in the current financial year, in respect of bills from contractors and suppliers after the date due for payment.
Answer
This information is not held centrally.
- Asked by: Kenneth Gibson, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Thursday, 30 September 1999
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Current Status:
Answered by Jim Wallace on 7 October 1999
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has any plans to reform the system of payment for returning officers in local government, Scottish Parliament and general elections.
Answer
Local Authorities are responsible for returning officers' payments at local elections and we have no plans to change this.Matters relating to Parliamentary elections, including those to this Parliament, are reserved.
- Asked by: Kenneth Gibson, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 29 September 1999
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Current Status:
Answered by Jim Wallace on 7 October 1999
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has any plans to reform the system of payment for returning officers in local government, Scottish Parliament and general elections.
Answer
Local Authorities are responsible for returning officers' payments at local elections and we have no plans to change this. Matters relating to Parliamentary elections, including those to this Parliament, are reserved.
- Asked by: Kenneth Gibson, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 14 September 1999
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Current Status:
Answered by Jack McConnell on 7 October 1999
To ask the Scottish Executive what action it will take to ensure that 1998-99 audits of local authorities are completed to an acceptable standard and submitted by the due date of 30 June 2000.
Answer
The 30 June is the statutory deadline for the submission of unaudited accounts for the financial year 1999-2000. There is no statutory deadline for the completion of audits. The standard and completion of audits of local authority accounts is a matter for the Controller of Audit and we support his efforts to improve performance in this area.
