Questions and answers

Question reference: S2W-16270

Asked by: Donald Gorrie, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Friday, 29 April 2005
Current Status: Answered by Rhona Brankin on 10 May 2005

To ask the Scottish Executive how it plans to extend the Choose Life strategy to include older people as a priority group for the prevention of suicides.

There are no immediate plans to change the current priority groups identified in Choose Life, the Scottish Executive’s NationalStrategy and Action Plan to Prevent Suicide. Choose Life implementation already targets the elderly for suicide prevention support, as older people are included within the following priority groups:

People with mental health problems (including depression);

People who attempt suicide;

People affected by the aftermath of suicide;

People recently bereaved;

People who have lost employment or been unemployed for a period of time;

People in isolated communities, and

People who are homeless.

Where there are particular issues about suicides in later life in local areas, local Choose Life action plans can prioritise local “at risk” groups. Existing examples include befriending schemes in Fife and West Dunbartonshire.

We have undertaken to keep Choose Life targets under review. Choose Life is currently being evaluated independently; this will help inform the setting of priorities for the next stage of implementation beyond 2006-07.

It is worth noting, however, that the suicide rate for older people (over 55) is below the average for the general population. It has been falling over the past 30 years, against the trend for other age groups.

Question reference: S2O-06318

Asked by: Donald Gorrie, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Wednesday, 13 April 2005
Current Status: Answered by Tavish Scott on 21 April 2005

To ask the Scottish Executive what steps it has taken to ensure that the procurement policies of local and national government bodies interpret best value to include taking account of the benefits to the community from developing local community enterprises.

This summer we will publish the “Commissioners’ Guide” which will highlight to the public sector the benefits of contracting with local community enterprises and how this can help the public sector meet its Best Value obligations. This guidance will support the Futurebuilders Scotland Programme, which aims to extend and strengthen the role of the social economy sector in delivering better public services.

In addition, the guidance Best Value: Making Choices advises local authorities of a number of steps they can take to support local small and medium-sized enterprises without compromising fairness in the award of a contract. These include paying invoices from small and medium-size businesses quickly, advertising all contract opportunities in regular newsletters supplied to all local businesses and providing training sessions on “how to bid for council contracts”.

Question reference: S2O-06054

Asked by: Donald Gorrie, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Wednesday, 06 April 2005
Current Status: Answered by Malcolm Chisholm on 14 April 2005

To ask the Scottish Executive what steps it is taking to assist communities to develop their own social enterprises, including very small businesses.

In December 2004, I announced the opening of the three funding streams for the £18 million Futurebuilders Scotland programme. To date these funds, which are administered by Communities Scotland, have committed some £1.6 million to 45 social economy organisations and a further £150,000 to 85 individual social entrepreneurs. Communities Scotland is also promoting local Social Economy Partnerships which will support community based social economy organisations.

Question reference: S2W-15172

Asked by: Donald Gorrie, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Thursday, 10 March 2005
Current Status: Answered by Cathy Jamieson on 21 March 2005

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S2W-14572 by Cathy Jamieson on 9 March 2005 on the report on the review of arrest warrants, what progress has been made in implementing the 20 recommendations in the report.

Progress is being made in implementing the recommendations of the Short-Term Working Group on Outstanding Warrants.

The Association of Chief Police Officers in Scotland (ACPOS) is setting up an implementation team to take forward the recommendations that relate to the ACPOS and the police. An initial meeting is scheduled for 24 March which should steer future developments in relation to the recommendations. The ACPOS recognises the need to progress the recommendations and to seek cross-force partnership working.

During 2005, Her Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary will be carrying out Primary Inspections of Northern and Fife Constabularies as well as review inspections of several other forces. The inspections will look at force procedures in relation to the execution of warrants. The results of these inspections will be published.

A working group involving the ACPOS, the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service, the Scottish Court Service and the Scottish Executive is being set up to develop the existing protocol on prioritisation of warrants.

The National Criminal Justice Board considered the recommendation that they should develop appropriate measures of organisational performance on warrants at its meeting on 8 March.

The Executive is examining the penalties associated with section 150 of the Criminal Procedure (Scotland) Act 1995 (failure of accused to appear). The Executive is also working with the Department for Constitutional Affairs to ensure that there is appropriate guidance on the opportunities to share information to secure the execution of warrants.

Question reference: S2W-14919

Asked by: Donald Gorrie, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Wednesday, 02 March 2005
Current Status: Answered by Malcolm Chisholm on 14 March 2005

To ask the Scottish Executive what its position is in respect of Communities Scotland's practice that, if a housing association secures a grant from an energy-saving organisation, it reduces the housing association grant for that development by an equivalent sum.

I have asked Angiolina Foster, Chief Executive of Communities Scotland, to respond. Her response is as follows:

The level of grant approved by Communities Scotland for housing association projects is based on a comprehensive and consistent assessment system designed to ensure that the public funding offered is the minimum necessary to enable each project to proceed while maintaining high standards of design, construction and sustainability. Where funding is secured from other partners, the level ofhousing association grant is therefore reduced and channelled into other projectsto produce additional affordable housing units.

Question reference: S2W-14918

Asked by: Donald Gorrie, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Wednesday, 02 March 2005
Current Status: Answered by Malcolm Chisholm on 10 March 2005

To ask the Scottish Executive what directions it has given to Communities Scotland regarding supporting sustainable housing.

I have asked Angiolina Foster,Chief Executive of Communities Scotland, to respond. Her response is as follows:

the Scottish Executive promotes sustainable developmentpractices for all housing development grant-fundedby Communities Scotland. This involves the measurement of the following indicatorsfor all projects:

energy efficiencyas measured by average performance SAP ratings

averageenergy (space + water heating) costs per annum (£)

averageCO₂ emissions per annum (tonnes)

number ofnew units built on ‘brownfield’ sites

existenceof a verifiable sustainable development policy (for RSLs engaged in housing development)

space standardsas per average resident capacity

the levelof housing for varying needs barrier free compliance

the levelof secured by design dwellings

In addition, all social landlordsare expected to prepare plans by 29 April 2005 showing how they aim to meet the Scottish Housing Quality Standard by 2015.The Quality Standard contains a range of measures, including ensuring houses meetminimum standards of energy efficiency.

Question reference: S2W-14572

Asked by: Donald Gorrie, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Friday, 18 February 2005
Current Status: Answered by Cathy Jamieson on 9 March 2005

To ask the Scottish Executive how many arrest warrants were not executed by the police in each of the last five years, broken down by police board area; in how many of these cases was the reason for the warrant not being executed due to a delay in its processing so that it overran its time limit; how many prosecutions were dropped, or sentences quashed, as a consequence, and in how many of these cases were the victims informed of the reason for the case being abandoned and apologised to for such a situation arising.

Information is onlyavailable centrally on some of the aspects requested. In 2004, a shortlife working group led by the Association of Chief Police Officers in Scotland (ACPOS)was commissioned by the Scottish Executive to carry out a review of the warrantssystem within Scotland’s criminal justice system. The group’s report, whichwas published in December 2004 and is available at http://www.scotland.gov.uk/library5/justice/stwgow-00.aspincludes statistics on the number of outstandingwarrants on 31 July 2004 and arrest warrants received and executed in July 2004.It also made a number of recommendations to improve the warrants system, including:

the formation of dedicated WarrantTeams and Warrant Liaison Officers;

HM Inspectorate of Constabularyto continue to examine force warrants procedures;

ACPOS to examine force proceduresand promulgating good practice;

a working group to improve theexisting protocol on prioritisation of warrants;

expansion of joint working;

increased penalties for failureto appear, and

the National Criminal JusticeBoard to consider the development of performance measures.

The report has an action planfor implementation and the Executive is keeping the warrants system under reviewto identify any improvements that can be made.

Question reference: S2W-14148

Asked by: Donald Gorrie, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Friday, 04 February 2005
Current Status: Answered by Tom McCabe on 4 March 2005

To ask the Scottish Executive what steps it has taken to introduce energy-saving measures in buildings that it has responsibility for and what steps it has taken to encourage other public bodies to put such measures in place.

The Scottish Executive’s organisational vision is to make the best use of resources in line with its Greening Government Policy. The Executive wishes to set the example on Energy Efficiency and Sustainability in both Public and Private sectors, and its formal strategy is kept under constant review, it is revised to reflect policy development. The fourth Environmental Performance Annual Report (2003-) was published by the Executive in December 04:[http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Topics/Government/18823/15134].

Measures taken internally to date include:

Victoria Quay maintaining its Environmental Management System (EMS) to ISO14001 standard;

The Greening Government Policy:

[http://www.scotland.gov.uk/about/CS/CS-ACC/00019627/contents.aspx].

Further EMS are being developed in 13 main Scottish Executive buildings;

Energy Efficiency benchmarking: the majority of Executive buildings achieved a “Good” Energy Efficiency rating, and all new Executive buildings now aim to have a “Very Good” BREEAM rating.

Staff energy awareness campaigns are delivered to highlight the benefits of energy efficiency at both the workplace and in the home.

upgraded lighting and heating controls have been installed, where suitable and evaluated as cost effective;

All new computer equipment supplied on the Executive estate is Energy Star compliant.

Measures taken to encourage the Public Sector:

In June 2004, the Executive launched the Public Sector Energy Efficiency Initiative. (CEEF)

The Executive also funds the Carbon Trust’s energy efficiency programme which aims to improve the energy efficiency of UK business and the public sector, thereby reducing CO₂ emissions and costs. This includes design advice to ensure energy efficiency is incorporated into the design of both new and existing buildings. Any public body can take advantage of this service.

In addition the Minister for Environment and Rural Development is leading the initiative to improve the environmental performance of Scottish Executive agencies and public bodies, they have been asked to:

ensure they have an environmental management system in place by the end of 2005.

report annually on their overall environmental management performance – which will include details of energy consumption, CO₂ emissions and any reduction targets.

The information collated from agencies and public bodies will be published on the Scottish Executive website.

Question reference: S2O-05608

Asked by: Donald Gorrie, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Wednesday, 23 February 2005
Current Status: Answered by Andy Kerr on 3 March 2005

To ask the Scottish Executive what support it will give to the British Heart Foundation's campaign to increase the number of specialist heart nurses in the NHS.

There are 65 specialist cardiac nurses in the NHS in Scotland. We are in fruitful dialogue with the British Heart Foundation and are aware of the good work they are undertaking in the area of heart failure nurses. They have supported two heart failure nurses in Dumfries and Galloway and we are awaiting the outcome of a national mapping exercise of heart failure services they are conducting.

We have a good story to tell in Scotland with our cardiac services. Our chronic heart disease (CHD) and stroke Strategy brought £40 million funding over three years. Some NHS boards – including Greater Glasgow and Ayrshire and Arran – have spent some of this money on heart failure services. Last week, we announced that Scottish patients have the shortest waiting times in the UK for diagnosis and treatment of coronary heart disease. The Executive is pressing ahead with plans to ban smoking in all enclosed public places – which the British Heart Foundation called: “a bold decision… showing how seriously they take the health of their country”. And above all else, we have cut the rate of premature death from CHD by 38% since 1995.

Question reference: S2O-05611

Asked by: Donald Gorrie, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Wednesday, 23 February 2005
Current Status: Answered by Cathy Jamieson on 3 March 2005

To ask the Scottish Executive when it plans to meet COSLA to discuss the practical implications of Sir John Orr's recent report, Review of Marches and Parades in Scotland.

Chamber and committees