- 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: Friday, 17 September 1999
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Current Status:
Answered by Iain Gray on 5 October 1999
To ask the Scottish Executive which local authorities have implemented direct payment schemes for community care service users with disabilities under the powers given to them by the Community Care (Direct Payments) Act 1996 and what is the level of take up of existing schemes.
Answer
Social work departments were consulted on their experience of direct payments after the first year of implementation of the Community Care (Direct Payments) Act 1996. The councils listed below indicated that they operated, or intended to operate, a direct payments scheme and that a total of 70 disabled people were receiving payments at December 1997.
Aberdeenshire
Aberdeen City
Argyll & Bute
City of Edinburgh
Dumfries & Galloway
East Lothian
Highland
Moray
North Lanarkshire
Orkney
Scottish Borders
Shetland Islands
South Ayrshire
We have recently commissioned research to update the 1998 survey and provide information on the experience of people with disabilities in making use of the arrangements. We are considering at present how to develop the direct payments scheme.
- Asked by: Kenneth Gibson, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 21 September 1999
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Current Status:
Answered by Jim Wallace on 5 October 1999
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to S1W-950 by Mr Jim Wallace on 14 September 1999, when was the last time it discussed with Her Majesty's Government assistance to former World War Two prisoners of war residing in Scotland and claiming compensation for suffering endured whilst captives of the Japanese.
Answer
These are matters reserved to the UK Government. They are included in the Scottish Government's continuing liaison with the UK Government on all relevant matters.
- Asked by: Kenneth Gibson, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 01 September 1999
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Current Status:
Answered by Sarah Boyack on 29 September 1999
To ask the Scottish Executive why it has not yet met with the Glasgow Chamber of Commerce in order to discuss their concerns about existing and future transport infrastructure development.
Answer
I am meeting a wide range of interested parties to discuss transport issues and will be arranging a discussion with Glasgow Chamber of Commerce.
- 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 29 September 1999
To ask the Scottish Executive what action it will take to assist Inverclyde Council in dealing with issues identified in the 1996-97 audit report which have not yet been successfully progressed, including the errors and differences in financial statements, the poor documentation to support accounts, the unreliability of fixed asset valuation and the unsatisfactory state of control arrangements in key areas, including banking reconciliations.
Answer
This is a matter for Inverclyde Council. We expect the council to address its difficulties and implement all recommendations that the external auditor made in the 1996-97 audit report. The external auditor will follow up these recommendations through the audit process.
- Asked by: Kenneth Gibson, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Monday, 09 August 1999
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Current Status:
Answered by Sarah Boyack on 28 September 1999
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it agrees with the view of Strathclyde Passenger Transport that football fans in Glasgow should not travel to matches by Underground.
Answer
The operation of the Glasgow Underground is a matter for the Strathclyde Passenger Transport Executive.
- Asked by: Kenneth Gibson, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Monday, 09 August 1999
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Current Status:
Answered by Sarah Boyack on 28 September 1999
To ask the Scottish Executive what it considers to be the impact on confidence in public transport in Glasgow as a result of the closing down of the Underground system for five hours on 31 July.
Answer
The operation of the Glasgow Underground is a matter for the Strathclyde Passenger Transport Executive.
- Asked by: Kenneth Gibson, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Monday, 13 September 1999
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Current Status:
Answered by Frank McAveety on 28 September 1999
To ask the Scottish Executive which Scottish local authorities have yet to put in place arrangements to ensure that corrective action is taken when poor financial performance is indicated from monitoring reports.
Answer
I refer Mr Gibson to my answer to question S1W-1523.
- Asked by: Kenneth Gibson, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Monday, 13 September 1999
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Current Status:
Answered by Frank McAveety on 28 September 1999
To ask the Scottish Executive which Scottish local authorities have yet to issue a statement on their strategic objectives in service delivery recognising the clear separation of client and contractor and demonstrating how they will ensure value for money.
Answer
This issue was raised by the Controller of Audit in his report 1998-99 Overview of DLOs and DSOs in Scotland. I have referred your questions to the Controller of Audit who will write to you to provide further explanation and information.
- Asked by: Kenneth Gibson, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Monday, 13 September 1999
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Current Status:
Answered by Frank McAveety on 28 September 1999
To ask the Scottish Executive which Scottish local authorities have still to review bonus schemes to ensure that the DLO/DSO bonus earning capacity of each scheme is consistent with contract prices and achievement of statutory financial objectives.
Answer
I refer Mr Gibson to my answer to question S1W-1523.