- Asked by: Christine Grahame, MSP for South of Scotland, Scottish National Party
-
Date lodged: Tuesday, 11 May 2004
-
Current Status:
Answered by Ross Finnie on 24 May 2004
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S2W-6845 by Allan Wilson on 29 April 2004, whether it will review the eligibility criteria for the exemption scheme in respect of circumstances where an applicant is debarred from the scheme unless the premises had relief from water charges as at 31 March 1999 and what the reasons are for its position on this matter.
Answer
The exemption scheme was createdto assist organisations that had been in receipt of discretionary relief on theirwater and sewerage charges and were likely to be most affected by the withdrawalof that relief. As the criteria for the scheme reflect this objective, there areno plans to review them.
- Asked by: Christine Grahame, MSP for South of Scotland, Scottish National Party
-
Date lodged: Tuesday, 11 May 2004
-
Current Status:
Answered by Margaret Curran on 24 May 2004
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S2W-1778 by Ms Margaret Curran on 19 August 2003, what Communities Scotland's investment in real terms will be in 2004-05 and what investment is projected for 2005-06.
Answer
I have asked Angiolina Foster,Chief Executive of Communities Scotland to respond. Her response is as follows:
The amount of planned investment by Communities Scotland in 2004-05 will be £264 million, with £182 million invested in urban housing, £65 million in rural housing and the remainder not attributed to a single distinct geographical area. In addition, a further £20 million has also been set aside to be available to respond to any immediate requirements emerging from the affordable housing review.
The investment programme for2005-06 will be agreed in late 2004/early 2005.
- Asked by: Christine Grahame, MSP for South of Scotland, Scottish National Party
-
Date lodged: Tuesday, 11 May 2004
-
Current Status:
Answered by Margaret Curran on 24 May 2004
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S2W-3112 by Ms Margaret Curran on 21 October 2003, how the #57 million for rural affordable housing was distributed, broken down by local authority area.
Answer
I have asked Angiolina Foster, Chief Executive of Communities Scotland to respond. Her response is as follows:
In 2003-04, the planned investment for rural affordable housing by local authority was broken down as follows:
| | £ Million |
| Aberdeenshire | 7.622 |
| Angus | 2.177 |
| Argyll and Bute | 4.138 |
| Dumfries and Galloway | 5.215 |
| East Ayrshire | 1.339 |
| Fife | 3.094 |
| Highland | 10.678 |
| Moray | 1.639 |
| North Ayrshire | 0.025 |
| Orkney | 1.746 |
| Perth and Kinross | 3.589 |
| Shetland | 0.900 |
| South Ayrshire | 3.933 |
| South Lanarkshire | 3.723 |
| Stirling | 2.238 |
| The Scottish Borders | 3.266 |
| Western Isles | 2.199 |
Note:
Planned expenditure figures are used in this table as year-end expenditure reconciliation is ongoing. Figures exclude social and environmental grants provided in rural areas.
- Asked by: Christine Grahame, MSP for South of Scotland, Scottish National Party
-
Date lodged: Wednesday, 05 May 2004
-
Current Status:
Answered by Margaret Curran on 19 May 2004
To ask the Scottish Executive what information it has regarding policies in other European nations with regard to local people purchasing or renting rural properties in their local area and how such information may be used to inform its policy-making processes.
Answer
Through the Land Reform (Scotland) Act2003 the Executive has promoted sustainable development throughout rural Scotland, diversityin land ownership and the involvement of local communities in decisions that affecttheir futures. The proposals in the act were informed by studies of current practicesin relation to land ownership in a number of European member states, and by responsesto consultation from outwith Scotland.
The Executive will continue tomonitor practices in other countries when developing its future land reform policies.It does not routinely collect information on European practice in relation to morespecific and detailed aspects of buying and renting land and property.
- Asked by: Christine Grahame, MSP for South of Scotland, Scottish National Party
-
Date lodged: Tuesday, 04 May 2004
-
Current Status:
Answered by Malcolm Chisholm on 18 May 2004
To ask the Scottish Executive how many of those infected with hepatitis C through contaminated blood products have died since the publication of the Health and Community Care Committee's 17th Report 2001 (Session 1) Report on Hepatitis C (SP Paper 398).
Answer
This information is not heldcentrally.
- Asked by: Christine Grahame, MSP for South of Scotland, Scottish National Party
-
Date lodged: Tuesday, 04 May 2004
-
Current Status:
Answered by Malcolm Chisholm on 18 May 2004
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S2F-849 by Mr Jack McConnell on 29 April 2004 (Official Report, c 7931-7932), how many meetings have been held to discuss the application forms; when and where such meetings took place; who chaired the meetings; who was invited to attend the meetings and who represented Scotland; whether there are any minutes of these meetings, and who was selected to draft the forms and why.
Answer
There have been a number of meetingsbetween officials of the four UK administrations since the announcement of the schemein August 2003 concerning fundamental aspects that have a bearing on the applicationforms. Draft application forms prepared by the Macfarlane Trust were discussed ata meeting on 26 March 2004 which was also attended by representatives of HaemophiliaSociety, the Scottish Haemophilia Groups Forum, the Hepatitis C Trust, the MacfarlaneTrust, the Primary Immunodeficiency Association, Capital C, and Haemophilia Wales.A representative from the Haemophilia Society of Northern Ireland was invited butwas unable to attend.
- Asked by: Christine Grahame, MSP for South of Scotland, Scottish National Party
-
Date lodged: Tuesday, 04 May 2004
-
Current Status:
Answered by Malcolm Chisholm on 18 May 2004
To ask the Scottish Executive what assistance will be given to claimants in completing the forms for application to the Skipton Trust.
Answer
Officials are working with patientgroup representatives to ensure that the applications forms are user friendly andfit for purpose. Comprehensive guidance will be provided with the application formand the Skipton Fund will operate a telephone helpline.
- Asked by: Christine Grahame, MSP for South of Scotland, Scottish National Party
-
Date lodged: Tuesday, 04 May 2004
-
Current Status:
Answered by Malcolm Chisholm on 18 May 2004
To ask the Scottish Executive what process will be established for representation at appeals when a claim is rejected by the Skipton Trust and whether assistance will be provided with such representation and, if so, what form this will take.
Answer
An appeals process will be establishedbut this is still under discussion.
- Asked by: Christine Grahame, MSP for South of Scotland, Scottish National Party
-
Date lodged: Tuesday, 04 May 2004
-
Current Status:
Answered by Malcolm Chisholm on 18 May 2004
To ask the Scottish Executive how the Skipton Trust will be configured and who will be appointed as its trustees and by what selection process.
Answer
The Skipton Fund was incorporatedas a company limited by guarantee on 25 March 2004.No substantive appointments have as yet been made.
- Asked by: Christine Grahame, MSP for South of Scotland, Scottish National Party
-
Date lodged: Tuesday, 04 May 2004
-
Current Status:
Answered by Malcolm Chisholm on 18 May 2004
To ask the Scottish Executive whether the General Medical Council was consulted with regard to the forms for application to the Skipton Trust.
Answer
The General Medical Council wasnot consulted.
