- Asked by: Linda Fabiani, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 26 March 2002
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Current Status:
Answered by Malcolm Chisholm on 18 April 2002
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-21600 by Malcolm Chisholm on 30 January 2002, whether Lanarkshire Primary Care Trust has been informed that it is unacceptable to refuse to accept a referral and to close waiting lists and whether the trust has confirmed that this practice no longer exists.
Answer
Lanarkshire Primary Care NHS Trust has been informed that it is completely unacceptable to refuse to accept a referral and to close waiting lists.
- Asked by: Linda Fabiani, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Monday, 25 March 2002
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Current Status:
Answered by Andy Kerr on 17 April 2002
To ask the Scottish Executive whether any concern has been expressed to it by the Civil Service Commissioners in regard to any appointment made by it since May 1999.
Answer
The Civil Service Commissioners have not expressed concern in regard to any appointment made by the Scottish Executive since May 1999.
- Asked by: Linda Fabiani, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Monday, 25 March 2002
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Current Status:
Answered by Andy Kerr on 17 April 2002
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has requested the Civil Service Commissioners to routinely monitor the appointments it makes.
Answer
The Scottish Executive is subject to regular audit by the Civil Service Commissioners in relation to posts below Senior Civil Service level. The last such audit took place in March 1999. Approval of individual appointments by the Commissioners is required for appointments in the Senior Civil Service (apart from appointments of less than 12 months).
- Asked by: Linda Fabiani, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Monday, 25 March 2002
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Current Status:
Answered by Andy Kerr on 17 April 2002
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has received any complaints regarding its adherence to the Civil Service Commissioners' Recruitment Code.
Answer
I am not aware of any complaints regarding the Scottish Executive's adherence to the Civil Service Commissioners' Recruitment Code.
- Asked by: Linda Fabiani, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 26 March 2002
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Current Status:
Answered by Wendy Alexander on 17 April 2002
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-21675 by Ms Wendy Alexander on 24 January 2002, whether it intends to carry out any research in order to determine what percentage of student debt is a consequence of the introduction of the student loans system.
Answer
We will consider commissioning a survey of the income and expenditure of Scottish students once the new student support system has bedded in.
- Asked by: Linda Fabiani, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Thursday, 28 March 2002
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Current Status:
Answered by Margaret Curran on 17 April 2002
To ask the Scottish Executive what the current status is of the proposed Shetlands Islands Council housing stock transfer.
Answer
Shetland Islands Council is currently developing a transfer proposal in consultation with tenants and a prospective landlord organisation called Shetland Homes.
- Asked by: Linda Fabiani, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Thursday, 28 March 2002
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Current Status:
Answered by Margaret Curran on 17 April 2002
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-16823 by Jackie Baillie on 2 August 2001, what the current status is of the proposed transfers of Scottish Homes properties to other landlords
Answer
Scottish Homes has just over 3,000 houses still in ownership. Of these, some 1,200 have been successfully balloted and scheduled to transfer in April/May this year. Transfer proposals are being finalised for the remaining estates, with ballots scheduled later in the year. This is with the exception of Govan, which is subject of a management contract and Windlaw, Castlemilk, where tenants are pursuing transfer under the tenants choice scheme.
- Asked by: Linda Fabiani, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 26 March 2002
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Current Status:
Answered by Lewis Macdonald on 16 April 2002
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-15784 by Sarah Boyack on 11 June 2001, whether any evidence has come to light that the out-going trunk road operating companies neglected the clearing of litter from motorways during the final months of the old contracts and whether any additional payments have been requested by, or made to, the new operating companies.
Answer
The Scottish Executive and the Performance Audit Group have investigated the evidence provided by the new operating companies and reviewed the actions taken by the previous trunk road operators in regard to the clearing of litter from motorways. The Executive's position on the evidence presented is that there is no justification for meeting the claims for additional payments submitted by the operating companies.
- Asked by: Linda Fabiani, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Friday, 22 March 2002
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Current Status:
Answered by Iain Gray on 16 April 2002
To ask the Scottish Executive how many (a) people and (b) agencies have been engaged in a consultative capacity by and on behalf of Communities Scotland since its inception and at what cost.
Answer
I have asked Bob Millar, Chief Executive of Communities Scotland to respond. His response is as follows:A total of 27 consultancies have been employed by Communities Scotland since its inception, details of which are given in the following table. The total cost to Communities Scotland is £502,778.
| Consultancy | Project | Contract Value |
| Area Based Studies |
| EKOS Ltd. | Study into jobs and training opportunities from construction in Glasgow North | £8,187 |
| ODS | Evaluation of Care and Repair small repairs project in Glasgow | £5,000 |
| Glasgow University | Study to consider the feasibility of a housing market database drawing on Glasgow Solicitors Property Centre data | £8,000 |
| Eric Watterson | Technical consultancy services on various development projects | £8,739 |
| Dearle and Henderson | Cliffburn Masterplan - community consultation and preparation of regeneration masterplan for Cliffburn, Arbroath | £16,000 |
| EDAW | Regenerating Stobswell - Feasibility Report | £17,000 |
| NFO System 3 and DTZ Pied | Perth and Kinross and Angus Housing Needs Study | £30,000 |
| Ecological Design Group | Evaluation of 14 new low energy homes for rent at Kincardine O'Neil | £5,000 |
| ODS | Research into BTS Prioritisation in Inverclyde | £9,958 |
| ODS | Appointed a set of residents advisors for residents in the Moorpark area | £5,000 |
| Russell Rowbotham Associates | Appointed a set of residents advisors for residents in the Shortroods area | £5,000 |
| HCH Chapman Hendy Consultants | Research into RSL delivery in Edinburgh | £5,000 |
| Ernst & Young | Discussion Paper looking at low or nil subsidy provision of affordable housing | £10,000 |
| Research |
| Eddy Adams | Project to scope out Communities Scotland potential role in engaging in international networking activity. | £7,486 |
| Policy Development |
| Segal Quince Wicksteed | Review of Wider Role Policy | £33,346 |
| Eddy Adams | Consultancy services at workshops and meetings to develop a Digital Inclusion action plan for Communities Scotland | £3,916 |
| Training Support |
| Michael Bell Associates | Development of electronic training programme for housing advisors covering areas of housing law | £16,862 |
| Shelter Scotland | Delivery of training support for electronic training programme for housing advisors | £7,990 |
| Regulation and Inspection |
| Employers in Voluntary Housing | Placement of part-time Housing Manager in a poorly performing association | £884 |
| Edinburgh College of Art | Gypsy/Travellers Thematic Studies Literature Review to develop an assessment framework and identify examples of good practice | £4,995 |
| Masons Solicitors | Research to produce guidance of performance standards and procurement | £5,875 |
| Think - Em | Design costs to improve the quality of various annual performance and statistical returns | £2,843 |
| Publications |
| Laure Paterson | Editing, writing, proofreading HomePoint publications | £3,530 |
| Laure Paterson | Proofreading Communities Scotland draft Corporate Plan for consultation | £100 |
| Laure Paterson | Proofreading of chapters prior to the publication of Housing Economics. | £1,800 |
| University of Dundee | Production of Third Housing Digest Series- Issue 2 and 3 | £4,000 |
| Global language Services | Translation of basic housing information from English into Cantonese, Punjabi and Urdu for publication on Housing Options website. | £313 |
| Evaluation |
| Bob Widowson | Evaluation of Scottish National Standards for housing information services. | £7,256 |
| KPMG | Performance management - development of Key Performance Indicators for Communities Scotland | £3,623 |
| Performance Improvement |
| Thirdwave | Development of Housing Quality Assessment Programme for refurbishment (jointly with ECA). | £33,500 |
| Edinburgh College of Art | Development of Housing Quality Assessment Programme for refurbishment (jointly with Thirdwave) | £21,000 |
| PA Consulting | To develop an e-business strategy with supporting business cases to help Communities Scotland progress towards Modernising Government. | £200,000 |
| IME UK Ltd | Development of menu-based reports for the pilot of Scottish Statistics website | £10,575 |
- Asked by: Linda Fabiani, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 26 March 2002
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Current Status:
Answered by Cathy Jamieson on 15 April 2002
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-18396 by Mr Jack McConnell on 18 October 2001, which local authorities currently provide pre-school education for the children of asylum seekers and refugees.
Answer
The position of children of asylum seekers and refugees, as regards provision in pre-school education, is the same as for any other child of pre-school age resident in a local authority area. Prior to 1 April 2002, local authorities had the power to provide nursery education for all such children whose parents wish it and from that date are under a duty to do so. As the provision is not compulsory and claims are made on a numerical basis, information relating to asylum seekers provided with pre-school education is not available centrally. I can, however, confirm that asylum seekers are resident in the following authorities:Aberdeen CityAberdeenshireDumfries and GallowayDundee CityEast AyrshireEast DunbartonshireEast LothianEast RenfrewshireCity of Edinburgh, FalkirkFifeGlasgow CityInverclydeNorth AyrshireNorth LanarkshireRenfrewshireStirlingWest Lothian.
