Chamber and committees

Questions and answers

Parliamentary questions can be asked by any MSP to the Scottish Government or the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body. The questions provide a means for MSPs to get factual and statistical information.

Written questions must be answered within 10 working days (20 working days during recess)
Other questions such as Topical, Portfolio, General and First Minister's Question Times are taken in the Chamber

Urgent Questions aren't included in the Question and Answers search. There is a SPICe fact sheet listing Urgent and emergency questions.

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Question reference: S1W-11964

Asked by: Des McNulty, MSP for Clydebank and Milngavie, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 13 December 2000
Current Status: Answered by Susan Deacon on 3 January 2001

To ask the Scottish Executive how many environmental health certificates have been issued to raw meat and butchery outlets and what percentage this figure represents of the total number of outlets (a) across Scotland and (b) within the area covered by the former Strathclyde Regional Council.

Question reference: S1W-11968

Asked by: Des McNulty, MSP for Clydebank and Milngavie, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 13 December 2000
Current Status: Answered by Susan Deacon on 3 January 2001

To ask the Scottish Executive how many raw meat and butchery outlets have failed to either apply for a butcher licence or to satisfy the new butcher licensing scheme criteria (a) across Scotland and (b) within the area covered by the former Strathclyde Regional Council.

Question reference: S1W-11969

Asked by: Des McNulty, MSP for Clydebank and Milngavie, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 13 December 2000
Current Status: Answered by Susan Deacon on 3 January 2001

To ask the Scottish Executive what the cost is so far to local authorities of implementing the new butcher licensing scheme and how much revenue has been raised from the licensing fees, broken down by local authority.

I have been advised by the Food Standards Agency that the £100 fee is intended to cover the full cost of administrating each licence application including the collection of the fee itself, which accounts for a small proportion of the cost.

The licensing scheme will build on the existing local food safety control systems where council officials currently inspect businesses to ensure compliance with the Food Safety (General Food Hygiene) Regulations 1995.

Question reference: S1W-11965

Asked by: Des McNulty, MSP for Clydebank and Milngavie, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 13 December 2000
Current Status: Answered by Susan Deacon on 3 January 2001

To ask the Scottish Executive what information is available to butcher licensing authorities on the number of raw meat and butchery outlets which are subject to the new licensing scheme.

I have been advised by the Food Standards Agency that local authorities are responsible for issuing licenses to premises that qualify under the Regulations.

Food Businesses require to be licensed under the Food Premises (Registration) Regulations 1991; therefore all local authorities are fully aware of the number of outlets which require to be licensed within their area. Council officials currently inspect businesses to ensure compliance with the Food Safety (General Food Hygiene) Regulations 1995.

Question reference: S1W-11966

Asked by: Des McNulty, MSP for Clydebank and Milngavie, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 13 December 2000
Current Status: Answered by Susan Deacon on 3 January 2001

To ask the Scottish Executive whether halal or kosher meat outlets are subject to the same licensing requirements as other raw meat and butchery outlets and whether they are included in the total number of raw meat and butchery outlets subject to the new business licensing scheme.

Question reference: S1W-12163

Asked by: Des McNulty, MSP for Clydebank and Milngavie, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 21 December 2000
Current Status: Answered by Tom McCabe on 22 December 2000

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will detail its performance in replying to correspondence from MPs or MSPs.

In the quarter April to June 2000, 3,618 letters were received for ministerial reply, of which 41% received a reply within the target 17 working days. In the quarter July to September 2000 (which included the holiday period), 3,395 letters were received of which 31% were answered within 17 working days. So far in the current quarter (1 October - 17 November) 2,364 letters have been received and 37% of replies have been issued on time.

A new electronic system for handling correspondence within the Executive is now operational across the core Departments. A range of other measures are being taken to improve correspondence handling, including new guidance for staff, a quality circle project in one Department and steps to ensure that incoming correspondence reaches the correct Action Officer more quickly. I expect these to produce a marked improvement in response times in 2001, and the Executive's targets for answering ministerial correspondence in the last quarter of 2001 will be:

80% of correspondence to receive a reply within 17 working days; and

100% of correspondence to receive a reply within 25 working days.

I shall report quarterly on progress towards these targets.

Question reference: S1O-02618

Asked by: Des McNulty, MSP for Clydebank and Milngavie, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 22 November 2000
Current Status: Answered by Jackie Baillie on 30 November 2000

To ask the Scottish Executive what action it is taking to help promote social inclusion and partnership in Clydebank.

Question reference: S1W-07247

Asked by: Des McNulty, MSP for Clydebank and Milngavie, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 25 May 2000
Current Status: Answered by Angus MacKay on 29 November 2000

To ask the Scottish Executive what detoxification facilities are currently available for drug dependent young mothers in the Greater Glasgow area, and what measures are being taken to make additional facilities available to assist drug dependent young mothers and their children.

There are several specific detoxification services available to drug dependant young mothers in Glasgow.

There are two residential units in Glasgow with specific services for young mothers, and the Women's Reproductive Health Service in Glasgow provides support and midwifery services to pregnant drug misusers. The Glasgow Royal Maternity Hospital is a national centre of excellence for the care and treatment of women who are drug dependent, and there are several other residential detoxification establishments and specialist health service addiction services.

The Glasgow Drug Action Team reported that, in 1998-99, 120 pregnant drug misusers were provided with support from council addiction services. Pregnant drug misusers are seen by all 13 social work addiction services in the Glasgow area. There are also several services available to female drug misusers, some of whom will have children.

The Drug Action Team Strategy for 1999-2003 contains plans to review the needs of pregnant drug misusers on methadone, and to develop targeted services for babies and children affected by drug misuse. With the social work realignment of services there are seven new family support posts to work with families and pregnant drug misusers.

Question reference: S1W-07243

Asked by: Des McNulty, MSP for Clydebank and Milngavie, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 25 May 2000
Current Status: Answered by Angus MacKay on 29 November 2000

To ask the Scottish Executive what detoxification facilities are currently available for those aged under 16 who are drug dependent in the greater Glasgow area and what measures are being taken to make additional facilities available to assist drug dependent children.

This information is not held centrally. There are no specific detoxification services available for those aged under 16 who are drug dependent.

There are three social work projects at present in Glasgow city, which work with young people aged 12 and up, and approximately 120 under 16s are in contact with social work addiction services at any one time. Young people may be accepted for detoxification in an adult ward on a case-by-case basis.

With social work realignment of services, there will be nine realigned addiction services expected by April 2001, which will address drug and alcohol misuse of those between the age of 12-16. The Glasgow Drug Action Team recognises the need to ensure that targeted services are available to this age group. Its strategy for 1999-2003 contains plans to develop services specifically targeted at young people.

Question reference: S1W-06099

Asked by: Des McNulty, MSP for Clydebank and Milngavie, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Friday, 07 April 2000
Current Status: Answered by Angus MacKay on 23 November 2000

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will detail all improvement and prohibition notices issued in respect of friable asbestos in local authority properties.