- Asked by: Elaine Smith, MSP for Coatbridge and Chryston, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Thursday, 28 June 2001
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Current Status:
Answered by Jim Wallace on 3 July 2001
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it intends to set targets for the Scottish Drug Enforcement Agency in 2001-02 and whether these will be published.
Answer
The Scottish Drug Enforcement Forum which, under the chairmanship of the Deputy Minister for Justice, oversees the work of the Scottish Drug Enforcement Agency (SDEA), formally endorsed the SDEA's objectives, key activities, performance indicators and targets for 2001-02 at its meeting on 4 June. Copies of the agreed targets have been placed in the Parliament's Reference Centre.
- Asked by: Elaine Smith, MSP for Coatbridge and Chryston, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Friday, 15 June 2001
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Current Status:
Answered by Wendy Alexander on 29 June 2001
To ask the Scottish Executive how many incidents of industrial action by staff in the further education sector there have been since incorporation.
Answer
This information is not held centrally.
- Asked by: Elaine Smith, MSP for Coatbridge and Chryston, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Friday, 15 June 2001
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Current Status:
Answered by Wendy Alexander on 29 June 2001
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will consider ways in which the further education sector might move towards collective bargaining at a national level in order to rectify any disparities in pay and conditions that exist in colleges and minimise any possible disruption to students through industrial action by staff.
Answer
The Boards of Management of FE colleges are each legally responsible for matters relating to the contracts of employment of staff within their college, including pay and conditions. This offers boards the flexibility, as they see fit, to reflect local conditions and circumstances, to secure best value for money and efficiencies and to strengthen their college's future.I place great emphasis on the potential benefits to colleges from joint ventures and collaboration, including, where boards see this as appropriate, in the area of staff pay and conditions.
- Asked by: Elaine Smith, MSP for Coatbridge and Chryston, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 30 May 2001
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Current Status:
Answered by David Steel on 13 June 2001
To ask the Presiding Officer what facilities there will be in the new Parliament building for MSPs, staff and visitors who are nursing mothers.
Answer
The plans for our new accommodation in Holyrood provide space for one "Rest Room/Nursing Mother Room" in an area accessible to the public and another in the MSP and staff area. Each room will have an en-suite WC/wash-hand basin compartment and a mobile changing trolley. There will also be a fridge in the MSP and staff room for storing milk.
- Asked by: Elaine Smith, MSP for Coatbridge and Chryston, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 30 May 2001
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Current Status:
Answered by David Steel on 13 June 2001
To ask the Presiding Officer what facilities are currently provided within the Parliamentary complex for members of the public and visitors who are breastfeeding.
Answer
There are no breastfeeding facilities provided in the interim accommodation for members of the public and visitors. They do have access to baby changing facilities in the Committee Chambers, PHQ and the Assembly Hall.
- Asked by: Elaine Smith, MSP for Coatbridge and Chryston, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 30 May 2001
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Current Status:
Answered by Jim Wallace on 13 June 2001
To ask the Scottish Executive when the victim awareness training for the judiciary referred to in its Scottish Strategy for Victims will start.
Answer
Judicial training in Scotland is a matter for the independent Judicial Studies Committee. The committee are aware of the terms of the Executive's policy and they are already planning to include victims' issues in a programme of refresher courses for sheriffs which will begin in the New Year.
- Asked by: Elaine Smith, MSP for Coatbridge and Chryston, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 30 May 2001
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Current Status:
Answered by David Steel on 13 June 2001
To ask the Presiding Officer what support and facilities are currently provided for Parliament staff returning to work who are still breastfeeding.
Answer
Staff returning to work are supported through our policy of flexible working hours. As far as is practicable, line managers are encouraged to adapt the pattern of working hours to suit the needs of the nursing mother. Staff also have access to a room in 375 High Street for the purpose of breastfeeding or expressing milk. There are also baby changing facilities in Committee Chambers, PHQ and the Assembly Hall.
- Asked by: Elaine Smith, MSP for Coatbridge and Chryston, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 30 May 2001
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Current Status:
Answered by Jackie Baillie on 13 June 2001
To ask the Scottish Executive what expenditure by local authorities would qualify for funding from the #27 million announced on 18 December 2000 by the Minister for Social Justice to help them meet their duties under the Housing (Scotland) Bill.
Answer
The Executive has made available £27 million over three years (£3 million/£12 million/12 million) to meet the additional costs of implementing the homelessness provisions of the Housing Bill. This will include costs associated with the development of strategies, advice and assistance and the provision of additional temporary accommodation.
- Asked by: Elaine Smith, MSP for Coatbridge and Chryston, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 30 May 2001
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Current Status:
Answered by Jackie Baillie on 13 June 2001
To ask the Scottish Executive how many additional temporary accommodation places would be required following implementation of the Housing (Scotland) Bill and what type of accommodation this is likely to be.
Answer
This will be a matter for local assessment as part of the development of homelessness strategies.
- Asked by: Elaine Smith, MSP for Coatbridge and Chryston, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 30 May 2001
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Current Status:
Answered by Angus MacKay on 13 June 2001
To ask the Scottish Executive what support and facilities it currently provides for its staff returning to work who are still breastfeeding.
Answer
The Scottish Executive provides dedicated accommodation for women wanting to breastfeed or to express milk in four offices in Edinburgh and two offices in Glasgow. The accommodation provided includes a nursing chair, fridge for storing milk and baby changing facilities.Facilities will be extended as office renovation is undertaken. Local arrangements are made to meet individual circumstances where no facility exists at present.
