- Asked by: Irene McGugan, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Friday, 18 October 2002
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Current Status:
Answered by Jim Wallace on 29 October 2002
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-29174 by Mr Jim Wallace on 25 September 2002, what investigation the Deputy First Minister and Minister for Justice has made into the role and influence of the Speculative Society; when any such investigation took place, and what evidence was considered and from whom.
Answer
I made clear in the answer given to question S1W-29174 that I did not consider that membership of the Speculative Society was a matter requiring investigation by ministers.
- Asked by: Irene McGugan, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Friday, 18 October 2002
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Current Status:
Answered by Jim Wallace on 29 October 2002
To ask the Scottish Executive how it ensures that the judiciary conducts itself in a properly impartial manner.
Answer
It is a fundamental principle of our justice system that the judiciary are independent of ministers. There are, therefore, no standing arrangements for ministerial review of judicial conduct.Any specific complaints about judicial conduct addressed to ministers or my department are investigated. In any serious case of misbehaviour or neglect of duty the law provides for an investigation into fitness for office.
- Asked by: Irene McGugan, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 02 October 2002
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Current Status:
Answered by Jim Wallace on 24 October 2002
To ask the Scottish Executive whether the statutory requirements for chaplaincy support for prisoners are being met currently throughout Scotland and in particular at HM Prison Noranside.
Answer
I have asked Tony Cameron, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service (SPS) to respond. His response is as follows:Due to difficulties in sustaining provision of the appropriate level of chaplaincy services to all prisoners, the SPS is moving towards a contractual agreement for provision of chaplaincy from the Church of Scotland and the Roman Catholic Church in Scotland.In the interim, arrangements have been made for prisoners at Noranside to attend religious services in the community. In addition, where appropriate, a Minister or Priest will visit the individual in the prison.
- Asked by: Irene McGugan, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Monday, 26 August 2002
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Current Status:
Answered by Lewis Macdonald on 18 October 2002
To ask the Scottish Executive whether any confirmation that employment and accrued entitlements will be protected by the Transfer of Undertakings (Protection of Employment) Regulations 1981 on transfer of the Northern Isles ferry service to Northlink ferries will be given before the workforce is transferred.
Answer
While P&O Scottish Ferries have taken the view that the Transfer of Undertakings (Protection of Employment) Regulations 1981 (TUPE) applies, Northlink have taken the view that it does not. It is not possible to indicate conclusively before a transfer takes place whether or not the regulations will apply. TUPE is a matter of law and only the courts can determine whether TUPE does or does not apply.
- Asked by: Irene McGugan, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 11 September 2002
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Current Status:
Answered by Jim Wallace on 25 September 2002
To ask the Scottish Executive what consideration it gave, when appointing Lord Cameron of Lochbroom, Lord Coulsfield and Lord MacLean as High Court judges, to whether they were or had been members of the Speculative Society of Edinburgh and, if any were members, whether it is aware of whether they still are.
Answer
The judges referred to were appointed in 1989, 1987 and 1990 respectively. The Speculative Society was founded in 1764, and is a debating society for lawyers, advocates and other professionals. I did not consider it appropriate for ministers to take any interest in whether a particular judge may be a member of this society.
- Asked by: Irene McGugan, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 10 September 2002
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Current Status:
Answered by Cathy Jamieson on 24 September 2002
To ask the Scottish Executive when the proposals for implementation of the recommendations in the report by the Scottish Recruitment and Selection Consortium, Safer Recruitment and Selection for Staff Working in Child Care - A Tool Kit, will be made publicly available.
Answer
Proposals for implementation of the recommendations will be guided by the consultation responses. We anticipate the proposals will be made available early in the New Year.
- Asked by: Irene McGugan, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 10 September 2002
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Current Status:
Answered by Cathy Jamieson on 24 September 2002
To ask the Scottish Executive what progress has been made in considering the report by the Scottish Recruitment and Selection Consortium, Safer Recruitment and Selection for Staff Working in Child Care - A Tool Kit.
Answer
Extensive consultation on the report has taken place, including a number of consultation seminars. Analysis of the responses to the consultation will be completed in October.
- Asked by: Irene McGugan, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 10 September 2002
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Current Status:
Answered by Cathy Jamieson on 24 September 2002
To ask the Scottish Executive whether levels of funding for substance misuse projects for children and young people will be maintained at present levels, increased or decreased in the next three years.
Answer
I refer the member to the answer given to question S1W-29147. All answers to written PQs 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, 10 September 2002
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Current Status:
Answered by Cathy Jamieson on 24 September 2002
To ask the Scottish Executive how substance misuse projects established with support from the Children's Change Fund will be funded after 2004.
Answer
New resources, additional to those already in departmental baselines, amounting to £4.3 million in 2004-05, £17.8 million in 2005-06 and £19.3 million in 2006-07, will be available from the spending review to support integrated services for children. Most of this money will be routed through the Changing Childrens' Services Fund, which will continue to support substance misuse activities.Decisions are still to be taken, within the wider context of the spending review, on the future funding of generic substance misuse programmes across the Executive, which also incorporate services for children and young people.
- Asked by: Irene McGugan, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 10 September 2002
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Current Status:
Answered by Cathy Jamieson on 24 September 2002
To ask the Scottish Executive what plans are being made to ensure that the core services provided by substance misuse programmes for children and young people will continue to be provided when short-term project funding expires.
Answer
I refer the member to the answer given to question S1W-29147. All answers to written PQs are available on the Parliament's website, the search facility for which can be found at
http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/search_wa.
