- Asked by: Irene McGugan, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 21 January 2003
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Current Status:
Answered by Cathy Jamieson on 5 February 2003
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will produce a document, similar to the National Practice Guide to Investigations and Allegations of Abuse against Carers produced in Wales, to ensure a common standard for all agencies, as recommended in point 4 of the long-term actions section of the report by the Fostering Network, Modernising the Foster Care Service in Scotland: "Trying to Meet the Standards".
Answer
I refer the member to the answer given to question S1W-33306 today. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament's website, the search facility for which can be found at
http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/search_wa.
- Asked by: Irene McGugan, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 21 January 2003
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Current Status:
Answered by Cathy Jamieson on 5 February 2003
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will generate a review of payment structures across Scotland in order to clarify the situation in respect of allowances to foster carers and, dependent upon the needs of this review, ensure that such allowances are sufficient to meet the needs of foster children, as recommended in point 2 of the short-term actions section of the report by the Fostering Network, Modernising the Foster Care Service in Scotland: "Trying to Meet the Standards".
Answer
The Fostering of Children (Scotland) Regulations 1996 and the accompanying guidance make clear that it is for local authorities to decide their own types and scales of payments to foster carers, depending on local child care needs and circumstances. We have no plans at present to review these payment structures across Scotland.
- Asked by: Irene McGugan, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 21 January 2003
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Current Status:
Answered by Cathy Jamieson on 5 February 2003
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will support the call for home responsibilities protection to be extended to foster carers and make representations to Her Majesty's Government accordingly, as recommended in point 6 of the short-term actions section of the report by the Fostering Network, Modernising the Foster Care Service in Scotland: "Trying to Meet the Standards".
Answer
The Scottish Executive has no functions in relation to home responsibilities protection, which is a reserved matter.
- Asked by: Irene McGugan, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 21 January 2003
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Current Status:
Answered by Cathy Jamieson on 5 February 2003
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will commission research into the aetiology of abuse in foster care settings, as recommended in point 2 of the long-term actions section of the report by the Fostering Network, Modernising the Foster Care Service in Scotland: "Trying to Meet the Standards".
Answer
I refer the member to the answer given to question S1W-33306 today. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament's website, the search facility for which can be found at
http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/search_wa.
- Asked by: Irene McGugan, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Thursday, 16 January 2003
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Current Status:
Answered by Lewis Macdonald on 29 January 2003
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-27533 by Lewis Macdonald on 8 August 2002, in what year the Assignation Statement related to the Invergarry-Kyle of Lochalsh Trunk Road (A87) Extension (Skye Bridge Crossing) Toll Order 1992 in respect of the Skye Bridge was published; by whom it was made, and whether it was advertised in The Press and Journal and, if so, on what date.
Answer
The Assignation Statement was made available for public inspection along with a draft of the Toll Order in October 1991, as required under Paragraph 14A(3) of Schedule 1 to the Roads (Scotland) Act 1984. The statement was made by the then Secretary of State for Scotland and set out his intentions with regard to the assignation of his rights to charge and collect tolls. A notice, dated 23 October 1991, detailing the places and times at which copies of the statement could be examined, was published in a number of newspapers including The Press and Journal.
- Asked by: Irene McGugan, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Friday, 17 January 2003
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Current Status:
Answered by David Steel on 28 January 2003
To ask the Presiding Officer what arrangements are being made to facilitate new members in taking the Oath of Allegiance in Scots following the elections to the Scottish Parliament in May.
Answer
The oath of allegiance or solemn affirmation must be taken in English under the terms of the Promissory Oaths Act 1868 and the Oaths Act 1978. However, under Rule 1.2 of Standing Orders, after taking the oath or affirmation, a member may repeat it in a language other than English. In accordance with the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body language policy, written versions will be available to members in the languages covered in that policy, but that does not preclude any member from using Scots or any other language if they so choose.
- Asked by: Irene McGugan, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Thursday, 16 January 2003
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Current Status:
Answered by Iain Gray on 28 January 2003
To ask the Scottish Executive what action it is taking to encourage the provision of broadband in the north-east of Scotland.
Answer
Plans are being finalised to implement a step-change in broadband population coverage in Scotland, as well as to stimulate demand for services. In addition, we are already supporting trials of alternative technologies, such as powerline carrier and fixed wireless, which may have potential for commercial deployment in rural areas. Aberdeenshire is also shortly to benefit from the establishment of a broadband demonstration centre in Huntly and I would urge local companies to utilise this facility in order to increase the business case for more commercial broadband services in the area.
- Asked by: Irene McGugan, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Monday, 23 December 2002
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Current Status:
Answered by Cathy Jamieson on 17 January 2003
To ask the Scottish Executive what action it is taking in the light of the publication of the concluding observations on Her Majesty's Government's second report produced by the UN Committee on the Rights of the Child and what plans it has to seek a debate in the Parliament on this issue.
Answer
The Executive is fully committed to the principles of the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child and has taken note of the concluding observations of the UN Committee on the Rights of the Child. There are no current plans for a debate specifically on this issue. However, note has been taken of the concluding observations, and these informed wider debates and policy on children's services.
- Asked by: Irene McGugan, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Monday, 23 December 2002
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Current Status:
Answered by Cathy Jamieson on 16 January 2003
To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to address the issue of corporal punishment following the publication of the concluding observations on Her Majesty's Government's second report produced by the United Nations Committee on the Rights of the Child.
Answer
The Executive has taken note of the concluding observations of the UN Committee. In the Criminal Justice (Scotland) Bill it is already seeking to clarify and tighten the law on physical punishment. Alongside this legislative approach, we also wish Scottish parents to have information on the possible effects of physical punishment, and to have access to positive parenting approaches to discipline. An information strategy is currently being developed, which will be co-ordinated with the implementation of the bill, to provide information on positive parenting approaches both to parents and to the professionals and agencies who support and advise them.
- Asked by: Irene McGugan, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Monday, 23 December 2002
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Current Status:
Answered by Cathy Jamieson on 16 January 2003
To ask the Scottish Executive what responsibilities it has to take forward the United Nations recommendations following the publication of the concluding observations on Her Majesty's Government's second report produced by the UN Committee on the Rights of the Child.
Answer
The Executive is fully committed to the principles of the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child and has taken note of the concluding observations of the UN Committee on the Rights of the Child. Many of these relate to devolved matters and will be taken into account as policy is developed.
