- Asked by: Michael Matheson, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 30 June 1999
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Current Status:
Answered by Henry McLeish on 14 July 1999
To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to provide home based tuition for people with disabilities receiving education.
Answer
The Scottish Executive has no plans to change the current situation whereby the provision of home-based tuition is a matter for individual educational institutions and authorities.
- Asked by: Michael Matheson, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 30 June 1999
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Current Status:
Answered by Jim Wallace on 14 July 1999
To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to tackle racism within the criminal justice system.
Answer
On 20 July I will be publishing an action plan to take forward in Scotland the recommendations of the Macpherson Report into the murder of Stephen Lawrence. I will also be setting up and chairing a Steering Group to ensure that progress is made on the recommendations. The Lord Advocate has already accepted some of the recommendations relevant to the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service, and has introduced initiatives to improve racial awareness training. In addition, the Scottish Executive is committed to mainstreaming equal opportunities and tackling racism through the public sector as a whole.
- Asked by: Michael Matheson, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 30 June 1999
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Current Status:
Answered by Iain Gray on 14 July 1999
To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to provide counselling services to people with a learning disability who have experienced abuse or harassment.
Answer
The need for services in any particular circumstances is best assessed by authorities at a local level. In making those assessments, I would expect authorities to take account of the information mentioned in my reply to question S1W-00330 today.
- Asked by: Michael Matheson, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 30 June 1999
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Current Status:
Answered by Iain Gray on 14 July 1999
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it intends that the present review of services for people with a learning disability will address bullying and harassment.
Answer
The review of services for people with a learning disability recognises the need to promote more positive public attitudes towards people with learning disabilities. It has already commissioned a study of how public attitudes might be changed for the better. Its findings will be taken into account in the review which is to report to Ministers at the end of the year.
- Asked by: Michael Matheson, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 30 June 1999
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Current Status:
Answered by Wendy Alexander on 14 July 1999
To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to address the housing needs of Scotland's black and ethnic minority communities.
Answer
Tackling social exclusion is a top priority of the Scottish Executive. We believe that black and ethnic minority communities should have the same opportunities as other households in Scotland to obtain good quality, affordable housing. We will seek to ensure that they benefit fully from relevant housing programmes and initiatives.
- Asked by: Michael Matheson, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Monday, 21 June 1999
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Current Status:
Answered by Andrew Hardie on 13 July 1999
To ask the Scottish Executive (a) to detail for each Sheriffdom the number of individuals reported over the last three years to the Procurator Fiscal's service regarding contraventions of the misuse of drugs legislation relating to the possession of cannabis or cannabis resin; (b) to specify the number dealt with by summary complaint, fixed penalty notice or warning letter over this period and (c) to specify the guidelines for selecting which of these courses of action is to be followed.
Answer
The information necessary to answer parts (a) and (b) of the question in relation to the particular drugs specified is not kept either centrally by Crown Office or by individual Procurator Fiscal's offices.In relation to part (c), I have issued guidance to Procurators Fiscal regarding the marking of cases generally as suitable for prosecution by summary complaint or alternatively as suitable for disposal by the making of a conditional offer of a fixed penalty (fiscal fine) or for disposal by means of a warning letter. The guidance issued includes specification of circumstances in which those means of disposal would be inappropriate. The guidance issued by me to Procurators Fiscal is confidential and it is not in the public interest to publish it.
- Asked by: Michael Matheson, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Friday, 25 June 1999
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Current Status:
Answered by Iain Gray on 2 July 1999
To ask the Scottish Executive what action it plans to take to improve services for people with a learning disability.
Answer
A major review of social and health care services for people with a learning disability is underway. It will report in December.
- Asked by: Michael Matheson, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Thursday, 24 June 1999
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Current Status:
Answered by Iain Gray on 2 July 1999
To ask the Scottish Executive what action it plans to take to improve services for people with a learning disability.
Answer
A major review of social and health care services for people with a learning disability is underway. It will report in December.
- Asked by: Michael Matheson, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 15 June 1999
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Current Status:
Answered by Iain Gray on 23 June 1999
To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to address the needs of people with mental incapacity, in relation to managing their own financial affairs.
Answer
Donald Dewar announced yesterday that our legislative programme for this session will include an Incapable Adults Bill, modernising the law in relation to decision making on behalf of people with mental incapacity. The Bill will include a range of new measures for managing their financial affairs and for supervising those who take decisions on their behalf.
- Asked by: Michael Matheson, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Thursday, 10 June 1999
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Current Status:
Answered by Iain Gray on 17 June 1999
To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to address the needs of people with mental incapacity, in relation to managing their own financial affairs.
Answer
Donald Dewar announced yesterday that our legislative programme for this session will include an Incapable Adults Bill, modernising the law in relation to decision making on behalf of people with mental incapacity. The Bill will include a range of new measures for managing their financial affairs and for supervising those who take decisions on their behalf.
