- Asked by: Irene McGugan, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Thursday, 19 July 2001
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Current Status:
Answered by Nicol Stephen on 16 August 2001
To ask the Scottish Executive how it intends to monitor and evaluate implementation of the Sure Start guidelines by local authorities to ensure compliance with the aims and objectives of the programme..
Answer
I refer the member to the answer given in S1W-17052.
- Asked by: Irene McGugan, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Thursday, 19 July 2001
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Current Status:
Answered by Nicol Stephen on 16 August 2001
To ask the Scottish Executive when the evaluation of the Sure Start Scotland initiative will begin and when the first report of its findings is expected.
Answer
I refer the member to the answer given to question S1W-17052.
- Asked by: Irene McGugan, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Thursday, 19 July 2001
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Current Status:
Answered by Nicol Stephen on 16 August 2001
To ask the Scottish Executive how it intends to monitor the impact of the investment made through Sure Start Scotland.
Answer
I refer the member to the answer given to question S1W-17052.
- Asked by: Irene McGugan, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Monday, 09 July 2001
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Current Status:
Answered by Ross Finnie on 16 August 2001
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will advise remaining fruit growers to concentrate on production of high quality fruit rather than pulp following the liquidation of Scottish Soft Fruit Growers.
Answer
There are markets and supply routes for both fresh and pulp fruit. It is a matter for growers to decide which market they should pursue. The recently published Forward Strategy for Scottish Agriculture suggested that, in considering the options for the future, the Scottish raspberry industry may find some transferable ideas in some recent developments in the strawberry industry.
- Asked by: Irene McGugan, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 17 July 2001
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Current Status:
Answered by Malcolm Chisholm on 14 August 2001
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-14602 by Malcolm Chisholm on 20 April 2001, when the Partnership in Practice agreements due to be submitted in June 2001 will be made publicly available.
Answer
Partnership in Practice agreements form part of local authorities' Community Care Plans which are required to be publicly available in accordance with Section 5A(2) of the Social Work (Scotland) Act 1968. Individual plans are published once they have been formally agreed by the Council.
- Asked by: Irene McGugan, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 17 July 2001
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Current Status:
Answered by Nicol Stephen on 14 August 2001
To ask the Scottish Executive what level of funding has been allocated to each local authority to implement the Sure Start initiative and what measures it is taking to ensure that this funding has been used appropriately.
Answer
Sure Start Scotland seeks to give a positive start to very young children's lives by providing broad-based support to children and families from deprived areas. The Scottish Executive has allocated a total of £80m for this from 1999-2004. Information on individual local authority allocations is contained in the funding letters issued by the Scottish Executive, which are available in the Parliament's Reference Centre (SPICE) Bib numbers 15104 and 15106.
We have set out clear guidance on the aims and objectives, and the process for planning and delivering Sure Start Scotland. A Ministerial-level conference emphasised the importance we attach to these objectives. Local authorities have provided returns setting out their proposals, indicative outputs and levels of actual and planned expenditure. Officials hold regular discussions with local agencies and have requested interim reports on outputs and expenditure from those (few) local authorities who do not seem to be giving Sure Start Scotland sufficient priority.
The Executive is setting up a national evaluation of Sure Start Scotland. The first phase, which we expect to commence this month, will focus on mapping the provision of services throughout the country. The second phase will focus on impact and outcomes for children and families. The evaluation should inform good practice in delivering services. We plan to report on the first stage of this exercise by early next year.
- Asked by: Irene McGugan, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 27 June 2001
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Current Status:
Answered by Rhona Brankin on 8 August 2001
To ask the Scottish Executive whether funds exist to subsidise the purchase of hybrid electric-petrol cars.
Answer
Funds have recently been made available through the Powershift programme to assist purchase of hybrid electric-petrol vehicles in Scotland.
- Asked by: Irene McGugan, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 27 June 2001
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Current Status:
Answered by Rhona Brankin on 8 August 2001
To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to offer discounts via the Powershift programme to purchasers of hybrid electric-petrol cars.
Answer
Under the Powershift programme funding is now available in Scotland to assist purchase of hybrid electric-petrol vehicles.
- Asked by: Irene McGugan, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Monday, 21 May 2001
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Current Status:
Answered by Susan Deacon on 8 August 2001
To ask the Scottish Executive what the timescale is for the introduction of the NHS24 service.
Answer
An implementation plan is being developed to allow NHS 24 to roll-outbe introduced across Scotland in a phased managed way. Currently, this envisages the service going live in one areaa phased rollout of the service beginning in spring 2002.
- Asked by: Irene McGugan, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Monday, 09 July 2001
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Current Status:
Answered by Ross Finnie on 6 August 2001
To ask the Scottish Executive whether the liquidation of Scottish Soft Fruit Growers will affect plans to establish a pilot Scottish Berry Project in Tayside.
Answer
A revised proposal for a pilot project from the Scottish Berry Group was received by the Scottish Executive recently and this is currently under consideration. It is for the Group to consider the implications of the liquidation of Scottish Soft Fruit Growers for the project, and to make any adjustments it considers necessary.
