- Asked by: David Mundell, MSP for South of Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 16 August 2000
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Current Status:
Answered by Sam Galbraith on 6 September 2000
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has been notified by the Scottish Qualifications Authority or any other associated government or public body of any legal action that has been initiated by any interested parties as a result of current problems resulting from the publication of late or inaccurate examination results.
Answer
The Scottish Executive has not been notified of any legal action resulting from the publication of examination results.
- Asked by: David Mundell, MSP for South of Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 16 August 2000
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Current Status:
Answered by Iain Gray on 6 September 2000
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has any formal definition of elder abuse.
Answer
The Scottish Executive has no formal definition of elder abuse. We know that some organisations subscribe to the definition that elder abuse is a single or repeated act or lack of appropriate action occurring within any relationship where there is an expectation of trust, which causes harm or distress to an older person. This definition would appear to reflect the general understanding of what is meant by elder abuse.
- Asked by: David Mundell, MSP for South of Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 16 August 2000
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Current Status:
Answered by Iain Gray on 6 September 2000
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it issues guidance to local authorities on the appropriateness of seeking payment from relatives in respect of the provision of care by social services departments to an individual.
Answer
I refer the member to the answer given to question S1W-9224.
- Asked by: David Mundell, MSP for South of Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 16 August 2000
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Current Status:
Answered by Iain Gray on 6 September 2000
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it issues guidance on the appropriateness of taking into account the income of a spouse or partner when assessing an individual's ability to pay for the provision of care by social services departments.
Answer
I refer the member to the answer given to question S1W-9224.
- Asked by: David Mundell, MSP for South of Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 16 August 2000
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Current Status:
Answered by Sam Galbraith on 6 September 2000
To ask the Scottish Executive on what date (a) the Scottish Qualifications Authority, (b) the Scottish Executive and (c) the Minister for Children and Education became aware that problems could arise in the publication of this year's school examination results.
Answer
The administration of the examinations is a matter for the Scottish Qualifications Authority (SQA). On (a), I have asked the Chairman to reply to you and a copy of his reply will be placed in SPICe.
The Scottish Executive first became aware of potential problems with the SQA's Award Processing System in March. These were discussed with the SQA on several occasions and the Executive received reassurances about remedial action being taken.
Further administrative problems were reported to the Scottish Executive by the SQA in June. After a meeting to discuss these problems with SQA, officials in the Scottish Executive were in continual contact with SQA, and continued to receive reassurances.
My officials keep me informed of all major issues on a regular basis.
- Asked by: David Mundell, MSP for South of Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 16 August 2000
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Current Status:
Answered by Sarah Boyack on 6 September 2000
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will consider designating the B7076 as an alternative tourist route to the M74.
Answer
The B7076 is a local road and its designation as an alternative tourist route is a matter for the Scottish Tourist Board in conjunction with the local roads authorities to address.
The Scottish Executive will consider any application for signing of an officially designated tourist route or trail which interfaces with a trunk road.
- Asked by: David Mundell, MSP for South of Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 16 August 2000
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Current Status:
Answered by Jack McConnell on 6 September 2000
To ask the Scottish Executive what action it took in response to the findings of the Public Accounts Select Committee's report on the problems faced by the UK Passport Agency during the summer of 1999 in relation to the implementation of new computer systems in public bodies in Scotland.
Answer
The Scottish Executive contributed to the preparation of the McCartney Report which drew out the lessons from a wide range of major IT implementations in the public and private sectors in the UK and overseas. The report, Successful IT - Modernising Government in Action, was published in May and the Executive supports its recommendations. As the next step in our actions to promote best practice, a section of the new 21st Century Government website, within the overall Scottish Executive website, which will be launched in the first week of September will be dedicated to sharing lessons from IT projects.
- Asked by: David Mundell, MSP for South of Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Monday, 07 August 2000
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Current Status:
Answered by John Home Robertson on 5 September 2000
To ask the Scottish Executive whether the Deputy Minister for Rural Affairs is aware that Dumfries and Galloway council has refused planning permission for the landfill/landraising facility at Dry Rig, Ae Forest, Dumfriesshire and what discussions the Minister has had or intends to have with the Forestry Commission about Forest Enterprise's continued involvement in this application.
Answer
Yes, I know that the council has refused planning permission for this development. The Forestry Commission has taken account of the representations made by the local community, as well as the council's decision, and has decided that it will not allow anyone to establish a landfill site at Dry Rig in Ae Forest. In view of this, I have no plans to discuss the matter with the Forestry Commission.
- Asked by: David Mundell, MSP for South of Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Monday, 07 August 2000
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Current Status:
Answered by Sarah Boyack on 29 August 2000
To ask the Scottish Executive what target it has set for disabled access to be available on all platforms at railway stations.
Answer
Disability discrimination is a reserved matter. This applies to disabled access at railway stations. The outstanding provisions of the Disability Discrimination Act 1995, concerning access to goods, services and facilities, are being implemented by the UK Government between now and 2004.
- Asked by: David Mundell, MSP for South of Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Monday, 07 August 2000
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Current Status:
Answered by Sarah Boyack on 29 August 2000
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will refer the issue of disabled access at Lockerbie station to the Transport Advisory Group announced in March, to advise it on the transport needs of people with disabilities.
Answer
I refer Mr Mundell to my answers to Questions S1W-9062 and S1W-9063.
