- Asked by: Donald Gorrie, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Liberal Democrats
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Date lodged: Thursday, 15 September 2005
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Current Status:
Answered by Patricia Ferguson on 30 September 2005
To ask the Scottish Executive, whether it is satisfied, as a partner in the Management Plan of Edinburgh World Heritage, that the plan is delivering the objective "to maintain archives and collections relating to the World Heritage in the best possible condition", one of the objectives "of primary importance" referred to in chapter 6.
Answer
The Management Plan for the Old and New Towns of Edinburgh World Heritage Site was launched in July. It was prepared by Edinburgh World Heritage, which is charged with taking forward the implementation of the Management Plan with the support of key partners, including Scottish ministers and the City of Edinburgh Council. Archives and data collections are important tools in recording, managing and understanding any historic site and their maintenance has been recognised as an important objective in promoting an understanding of the Site in the Management Plan. For the Edinburgh World Heritage Site, these are held by a number of bodies including the City of Edinburgh Council, Historic Scotland, RCAHMS and the Edinburgh World Heritage Trust. Edinburgh World Heritage is currently preparing the first action plan, which will identify how the objectives set out in the management plan are to be addressed. Scottish ministers, through Historic Scotland, will be consulted on the action plan.
- Asked by: Donald Gorrie, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Liberal Democrats
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Date lodged: Thursday, 01 September 2005
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Current Status:
Answered by Peter Peacock on 28 September 2005
To ask the Scottish Executive how many probationer teachers did not obtain a full-time, permanent post at the end of their probationary period in each of the last three years, broken down by subject.
Answer
This information is not held centrally. However, research carried out by the General Teaching Council for Scotland with the 2002-03 and 2003-04 probationers who successfully completed their probationary year has shown that 96% of respondents are currently teaching in Scotland. The data is not subject specific.
- Asked by: Donald Gorrie, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Liberal Democrats
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 21 September 2005
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Current Status:
Answered by Rhona Brankin on 27 September 2005
To ask the Scottish Executive how many grants, allocated under the Scottish Rural Partnership Fund have not been taken up by the applicants and what the total sum was of such grants.
Answer
The total number of approvedgrant applications across all three strands of the 2005-06 application round of the Scottish Rural Partnership Fund (SRPF) which were not taken up amounted tonine. The value of those grants was £377,697.
- Asked by: Donald Gorrie, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Liberal Democrats
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 21 September 2005
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Current Status:
Answered by Rhona Brankin on 27 September 2005
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will consider widening the definition of "community" in assessing eligibility for Scottish Rural Partnership Fund grants.
Answer
In 2004, a review and full consultationexercise was carried out on the Scottish Rural Partnership Fund (SRPF). We are consideringthe outcome of that review and the fit of the SRPF in the context of our wider ruralpolicy and range of support mechanisms. An announcement about future arrangementsand programme structures will be made in due course.
- Asked by: Donald Gorrie, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Liberal Democrats
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 21 September 2005
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Current Status:
Answered by Rhona Brankin on 27 September 2005
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it takes account of the likelihood of the proposed recipient of a grant under the Scottish Rural Partnership Fund being able to make good use of the grant and to continue to be viable.
Answer
Projects approved under thethree programme strands of the Scottish Rural Partnership Fund (SRPF) were assessedby an advisory group to ensure that proposals presented were achievable and sustainable.
- Asked by: Donald Gorrie, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Liberal Democrats
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Date lodged: Friday, 09 September 2005
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Current Status:
Answered by Malcolm Chisholm on 22 September 2005
To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has in its housing budget to allocate additional funds per house to enable new social housing to include sustainable energy-conserving features which will repay the initial capital costs.
Answer
I have asked Angiolina Foster, Chief Executive of Communities Scotland, to respond. Her response is as follows:
There are no current plans to provide additional ring fenced resources to cover the costs incurred by sustainable energy-conserving features in new social housing. Social housing projects which include sustainable energy-conserving features will be assessed on their merits with such measures being financially supported subject to value for money criteria. Communities Scotland will continue to encourage RSLs to consider the whole life cost of their design proposals and is considering ways of incentivising greater energy efficiency.
The Scottish Executive promotes sustainable development practices for all housing development grant-funded by Communities Scotland. This involves the measurement of the following indicators for all projects:
energy efficiency as measured by average performance SAP ratings
average energy (space + water heating) costs per annum (£)
average CO2 emissions per annum (tonnes)
number of new units built on “brownfield” sites
existence of a verifiable sustainable development policy (for RSLs engaged in housing development)
space standards as per average resident capacity
the level of housing for varying needs barrier free compliance
the level of secured by design dwellings.
- Asked by: Donald Gorrie, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Liberal Democrats
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Date lodged: Friday, 09 September 2005
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Current Status:
Answered by Malcolm Chisholm on 22 September 2005
To ask the Scottish Executive how it ensures that cost benchmarks for new social housing reflect the true costs of house building in areas where there is high demand on the building industry.
Answer
I have asked Angiolina Foster, Chief Executive of Communities Scotland, to respond. Her response is as follows:
Communities Scotland ensures that cost benchmarks for new social housing reflect the true costs of house building in all areas, irrespective of whether there is high demand on the building industry or not, by using data on projects approved in the previous financial year alongside adjustment factors to allow for variances in tender prices in the current year.
- Asked by: Donald Gorrie, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Liberal Democrats
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Date lodged: Thursday, 01 September 2005
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Current Status:
Answered by Margaret Curran on 22 September 2005
To ask the Scottish Executive what guidance it has in respect of the involvement by ministers or it in cross-party groups, particularly in relation to conflict of interest.
Answer
The Ministerial Code indicates that ministers should not take up membership of cross party groups and that on taking up office they should resign membership of any such group to avoid any conflict of interest.
- Asked by: Donald Gorrie, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Liberal Democrats
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Date lodged: Thursday, 11 August 2005
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Current Status:
Answered by Tavish Scott on 5 September 2005
To ask the Scottish Executive, in light of recent media reports, what information and figures it has in relation to any increased costs relating to the current works to upgrade the Auchinkilns interchange on the A80 and who will be liable for any such increases.
Answer
I refer the member to the answer to question S2W-18253 on 18 August 2005. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament's website, the search facility for which can be found at
http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/wa.search.
- Asked by: Donald Gorrie, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Liberal Democrats
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Date lodged: Thursday, 11 August 2005
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Current Status:
Answered by Lewis Macdonald on 5 September 2005
To ask the Scottish Executive when it expects to start work on compiling a set of diagnostic guidelines for adults in relation to autism, as recommended by the Scottish Intercollegiate Guidelines Network.
Answer
The Scottish Intercollegiate Guidelines Network (SIGN) Council, which is independent of the Scottish Executive, supports and co-ordinates the development of clinical guidelines for NHS Scotland. A SIGN guideline is currently being developed for children and young people up to the age of 18 years with autism spectrum disorders. The guideline will address assessment, diagnosis and clinical interventions. Any decision on the development of a guideline for adults with autism spectrum disorders will be a matter for the SIGN Council.
