- Asked by: Irene McGugan, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Thursday, 20 December 2001
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Current Status:
Answered by Malcolm Chisholm on 17 January 2002
To ask the Scottish Executive, with reference to the speech by the then Deputy Minister for Health and Community Care on mental health law on 14 November 2001 (Official Report, Col.3821), what efforts are being made to provide a definition of "collective advocacy" and how collective advocacy will "develop through local negotiation and discussion".
Answer
The Scottish Executive is committed to the provision of advocacy services for those suffering from mental disorder. Discussions continue with advocacy groups in the Mental Health Legislation Reference Group and in other ways to develop legislation which best meets the needs of service users, while recognising that statutory definition of collective advocacy might restrict growth and innovation in service provision and that the nature of local services should properly reflect local needs.
- Asked by: Irene McGugan, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Thursday, 20 December 2001
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Current Status:
Answered by Nicol Stephen on 17 January 2002
To ask the Scottish Executive when a strategic implementation plan will be in place to take forward the recommendations of the report of the Action Group on Languages, Citi'ens of a Multilingual World, in order to secure the place of languages in the school curriculum.
Answer
I refer the member to the answer given to question S1W-21322.
- Asked by: Irene McGugan, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Thursday, 20 December 2001
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Current Status:
Answered by Nicol Stephen on 17 January 2002
To ask the Scottish Executive, with reference to its response to the report of the Action Group on Languages, Citi'ens of a Multilingual World, what extra resources will be allocated to assist with the implementation, including further teacher training, of the 5-14 guidelines on modern languages.
Answer
I refer the member to the answer given to question S1W-21322.
- Asked by: Irene McGugan, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Thursday, 20 December 2001
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Current Status:
Answered by Nicol Stephen on 17 January 2002
To ask the Scottish Executive when the revised 5-14 curriculum guidelines on modern languages as referred to in its response to the report of the Action Group on Languages, Citi'ens of a Multilingual World, were made available to schools, teachers and parents.
Answer
The distribution of 5-14 guidelines for modern languages began on 18 October 2001 and was completed by Learning and Teaching Scotland on 15 November 2001.
- Asked by: Irene McGugan, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Thursday, 20 December 2001
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Current Status:
Answered by Nicol Stephen on 17 January 2002
To ask the Scottish Executive, with reference to its response to the report of the Action Group on Languages, Citi'ens of a Multilingual World, what its definition is of an "entitlement" to learn a foreign language and whether it will ensure that this definition is publicised among all stakeholders.
Answer
I will announce arrangements for the funding and support of foreign language education, including guidance on pupil's entitlement to language learning, in the near future.
- Asked by: Irene McGugan, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 19 December 2001
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Current Status:
Answered by Allan Wilson on 16 January 2002
To ask the Scottish Executive what action it has taken, or plans to take, to maintain and develop the innovative plant breeding research programmes at the Scottish Crop Research Institute.
Answer
The Scottish Executive continues to fund the maintenance and genetical characterisation of potato and soft fruit germplasm collections at the Scottish Crop Research Institute, and continues to support the development and application of innovative, molecular plant breeding research at the Institute, including the expansion of genomics research in support of that.
- Asked by: Irene McGugan, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Thursday, 20 December 2001
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Current Status:
Answered by David Steel on 16 January 2002
To ask the Presiding Officer when Scots language translations of the Parliament's information leaflets will be available.
Answer
The Parliament's Factfiles are available in Gaelic, and a Welcome Guide is available in French, German, Italian and Spanish. We are currently developing our policy on translations of public information material into other languages, and a decision will be taken by the SPCB in due course.
- Asked by: Irene McGugan, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 19 December 2001
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Current Status:
Answered by Ross Finnie on 16 January 2002
To ask the Scottish Executive what contacts it has with the Department for International Development in respect of plant breeding programmes.
Answer
We have had no contact with the Department for International Development on the matter of plant breeding programmes.
- Asked by: Irene McGugan, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Monday, 19 November 2001
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Current Status:
Answered by Lewis Macdonald on 15 January 2002
To ask the Scottish Executive what provision of cycling activities and qualified cycle personnel currently exists in schools.
Answer
In September the Scottish Executive published A Review of the Take-up of Cycle Training in Scotland. This publication provides information on training activities in each local authority area. I have arranged for a copy to be placed in the Parliament's Reference Centre.
- Asked by: Irene McGugan, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Monday, 19 November 2001
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Current Status:
Answered by Lewis Macdonald on 14 January 2002
To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to make on-road cycle training available to all school children.
Answer
The Scottish Cycle Training Scheme, overseen by the Scottish Road Safety Campaign, recommends that on-road training should be provided where possible. The safety of children being trained is paramount. Police and local authority Road Safety Units are responsible for carrying out risk assessment on any roads to be used for on-road training and for decisions on whether it is appropriate to conduct on-road training in any particular case. The scheme will continue to be promoted in schools throughout Scotland.
