- Asked by: Cathy Jamieson, MSP for Carrick, Cumnock and Doon Valley, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Thursday, 05 August 1999
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Current Status:
Answered by Sam Galbraith on 16 August 1999
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it proposes to issue guidance to local authorities regarding charging policies for the provision of non-residential respite services for children with special needs.
Answer
Local authorities have powers under the Social Work (Scotland) Act 1968 enabling them to charge for services provided under or by virtue of the Children (Scotland) Act 1995. Authorities have not found it necessary to have central guidance on this provision and we have no plans at present to issue such guidance. We understand, however, that the Convention of Scottish Local Authorities has set up a working group to examine charging policies for social care. While this group will focus on services for adults, it may provide pointers in relation to children's services.
- Asked by: Cathy Jamieson, MSP for Carrick, Cumnock and Doon Valley, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Thursday, 05 August 1999
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Current Status:
Answered by David Steel on 16 August 1999
To ask the Presiding Officer whether the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body will act to ensure that "Fair Trade" goods are available in the Parliament's catering outlets.
Answer
The Scottish Parliament Corporate Body is currently considering how Fair Trade goods might be made available within the Parliament's existing and pre-determined catering outlets, in conjunction with the catering contractor. Members will be kept informed of the outcome. I believe it would be the wish of Members to ensure that any new catering contract includes such a provision.
- Asked by: Cathy Jamieson, MSP for Carrick, Cumnock and Doon Valley, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Thursday, 05 August 1999
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Current Status:
Answered by David Steel on 16 August 1999
To ask the Presiding Officer whether the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body will investigate the possibility of establishing a credit union for members and staff of the Scottish Parliament.
Answer
The SPCB has no plans to establish a credit union for members and staff of the Scottish Parliament.
There are no plans to establish a credit union using the members and staffs own money and we are not aware of any approaches, either from members or staff, for us to do so.Apart from advances to assist with season ticket purchase, it would be an inappropriate use of public funds to extend short term, or long term, loans to staff or members, at an advantageous rate. This is against generally accepted rules of government accounting.
- Asked by: Cathy Jamieson, MSP for Carrick, Cumnock and Doon Valley, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 09 June 1999
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Current Status:
Answered by David Steel on 2 July 1999
To ask the Presiding Officer what measures it proposes to ensure that the interests and views of children and young people are taken into account in the work of the Parliament's Committees.
Answer
The Education, Culture and Sport Committee has included in its remit "To consider and report on ... such ... matters as fall within the responsibility of the Minister for Children and Education". It is a matter for that committee to decide from which bodies and interest groups it will seek information and evidence in connection with matters within that remit. Other committees also, if dealing with matters affecting the interests of children and young people, can obtain information and hear evidence from such sources as the Committee considers appropriate.
