Questions and answers

Question reference: S2O-04728

Asked by: Donald Gorrie, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Wednesday, 15 December 2004
Current Status: Answered by Cathy Jamieson on 23 December 2004

To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions it has had with the Home Office regarding a trespass law applying to Holyrood House and Balmoral Castle estates.

Question reference: S2W-12588

Asked by: Donald Gorrie, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Thursday, 25 November 2004
Current Status: Answered by Margaret Curran on 10 December 2004

To ask the Scottish Executive on which occasions it considered lodging a Sewel motion but decided not to.

Question reference: S2W-11276

Asked by: Donald Gorrie, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Wednesday, 06 October 2004
Current Status: Answered by Malcolm Chisholm on 10 December 2004

To ask the Scottish Executive whether the recent funding allocation in respect of the Supporting People initiative takes account of the National Joint Council pay settlement of 2.95% from 1 April 2004.

Question reference: S2O-04470

Asked by: Donald Gorrie, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Wednesday, 01 December 2004
Current Status: Answered by Ross Finnie on 9 December 2004

To ask the Scottish Executive what assistance it provides for farmers seeking to identify new markets for their products.

Question reference: S2W-10704

Asked by: Donald Gorrie, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Thursday, 16 September 2004
Current Status: Answered by Duncan McNeil on 8 December 2004

To ask the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body how many people with a registered disability it has employed in each year since 1999, broken down by grade and expressed also as a percentage of total staff numbers.

The SPCB introduced a new grading system for parliamentary staff in 2002. Information prior to this date in the detail requested is not available. “Registered disability” is no longer a recognised definition; instead we ask individuals to indicate whether they consider that they have a disability under the terms of the Disability Discrimination Act 1995. Details of staff employed who have indicated a disability under this definition, in each year since 2002, broken down by grade and expressed also in percentage terms, are set out in the tables below. This data is sourced from information provided by staff as part of their original application and/or through an annual data confirmation exercise. We also collected monitoring data about the composition of the SPCB's workforce in the equal opportunities staff audit which we carried out in 2003. The report from this audit is published on the Parliament's website:

www.scottish.parliament.uk/corporate/equality/spcb-eo03-03.htm#an.

Grade	2002 (as at 31 December)
Grade	Total Staff in Post	No Disability Indicated (%)	Disability Indicated (%)
8	5	5 (100%)	-
7	13	13 (100%)	-
6	47	46 (97.9%)	1 (2.1%)
5	59	58 (98.3%)	1 (1.7%)
4	105	104 (99%)	1 (1%)
3	62	61 (98.4%)	1 (1.6%)
2	113	110 (97.3%)	3 (2.7%)
1	64	61 (95.3%)	3 (4.7%)
Total	468	458 (97.9%)	10 (2.1%)

Grade	2003 (as at 31 December)
Grade	Total Staff in Post	No Disability Indicated (%)	Disability Indicated (%)
8	5	5 (100%)	-
7	12	12 (100%)	-
6	50	49 (98%)	1 (2%)
5	61	60 (98.4%)	1 (1.6%)
4	98	97 (99%)	1 (1%)
3	67	66 (98.5%)	1 (1.5%)
2	108	105 (97.2%)	3 (2.8%)
1	57	54 (94.7%)	3 (5.3%)
Total	458	448 (97.8%)	10 (2.2%)

Grade	2004 (as at 31 August)
Grade	Total Staff in Post	No Disability Indicated (%)	Disability Indicated (%)
Chief Executive	1	1 (100%)	-
8	4	4 (100%)	-
7	13	13 (100%)	-
6	47	46 (97.9%)	1 (2.1%)
5	72	71 (98.6%)	1 (1.4%)
4	114	112 (98.2%)	2 (1.8%)
3	71	70 (98.6%)	1 (1.4%)
2	154	150 (97.4%)	4 (2.6%)
1	21	18 (85.7%)	3 (14.3%)
Total	496	484 (97.6%)	12 (2.4%)

Note: Secondees have been included at the equivalent Scottish Parliament grade. Staff on temporary promotion are shown at the grade they occupied at the points in time shown. Where a grade equates to a single post, information has not been included for data protection reasons.

Question reference: S2W-10706

Asked by: Donald Gorrie, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Thursday, 16 September 2004
Current Status: Answered by Duncan McNeil on 8 December 2004

To ask the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body how many people with a registered disability have applied for vacancies in the Parliament in each year since 1999, broken down by grade and expressed also as a percentage of the total number of applicants.

The SPCB introduced a new grading system for parliamentary staff in 2002. Information prior to this date in the detail requested is not available. “Registered disability” is no longer a recognised definition; instead we ask applicants to indicate whether they consider that they have a disability under the terms of the Disability Discrimination Act 1995. Details of applicants to vacancies in the Parliament who have indicated a disability under this definition, in each year since 2002, broken down by grade and expressed also in percentage terms, are set out in the tables below. This data is sourced from information provided by applicants as part of their application. We also collected monitoring data about the composition of the SPCB's workforce in the equal opportunities staff audit which we carried out in 2003. The report from this audit is published on the Parliament's website:

www.scottish.parliament.uk/corporate/equality/spcb-eo03-03.htm#an.

Grade	2002 (1 January to 31 December)
Grade	Total Applications	No Disability Indicated (%)	Disability Indicated (%)
8	-	-	-
7	-	-	-
6	98	98 (100%)	-
5	82	80 (97.6%)	2 (1.2%)
4	916	907 (99%)	9 (1%)
3	148	146 (98.6%)	2 (1.4%)
2	1,318	1,294 (98.2%)	24 (1.8%)
1	80	76 (95%)	4 (5%)
Total	2,642	2,601 (98.4%)	41 (1.6%)

Grade	2003 (1 January to 31 December)
Grade	Total Applications	No Disability Indicated (%)	Disability Indicated (%)
8	46	46 (100%)	-
7	87	87 (100%)	-
6	54	54 (100%)	-
5	245	240 (98%)	5 (2%)
4	239	237 (99.2%)	2 (0.8%)
3	6	6 (100%)	-
2	789	778 (98.6%)	11 (1.4%)
1	209	205 (98.1%)	4 (1.9%)
Total	1675	1653 (98.7%)	22 (1.3%)

Grade	2004 (1 January to 31 August)
Grade	Total Applications	No Disability Indicated (%)	Disability Indicated (%)
8	26	26 (100%)	-
7	52	52 (100%)	-
6	-	-	-
5	208	205 (98.6%)	3 (1.4%)
4	367	356 (97%)	11 (3%)
3	66	64 (96.9%)	2 (3.1%)
2	241	234 (97.1%)	7 (2.9%)
1	39	39 (100%)	-
Total	999	976 (97.7%)	23 (2.3%)

Question reference: S2W-10700

Asked by: Donald Gorrie, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Thursday, 16 September 2004
Current Status: Answered by Duncan McNeil on 8 December 2004

To ask the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body what the ethnic mix of the Parliament’s staff has been in each year since 1999, broken down by staff grade and expressed also in percentage terms.

The SPCB introduced a new grading system for parliamentary staff in 2002. Information prior to this date in the detail requested is not available. Details of the ethnic origin of the Parliament’s staff in each year since 2002, broken down by staff grade and expressed also in percentage terms, are set out in the tables below. This data is sourced from information provided by staff as part of their original application and/or through an annual data confirmation exercise. We also collected monitoring data about the composition of the SPCB's workforce in the equal opportunities staff audit which we carried out in 2003. The report from this audit is published on the Parliament's website:

www.scottish.parliament.uk/corporate/equality/spcb-eo03-03.htm#an.

2002 (as at 31 December)

Grade¹	Total Staff in Post	Ethnic Group²
Grade¹	Total Staff in Post	White (%)	Asian³ (%)	Black⁴ (%)	Other⁵ (%)	Not Indicated (%)
8	5	5 (100%)	-	-	-	-
7	13	11 (84.6%)	-	-	-	2 (15.4%)
6	47	41 (87.2%)	-	-	1 (2.1%)	5 (10.6%)
5	59	49 (83.1%)	-	-	-	10 (16.9%)
4	105	89 (84.8%)	-	-	1 (0.9%)	15 (14.3%)
3	62	59 (95.2%)	-	-	-	3 (4.8%)
2	113	103 (91.1%)	1 (0.9%)	-	1 (0.9%)	8 (7.1%)
1	64	54 (84.3%)	1 (1.6%)	-	1 (1.6%)	8 (12.5%)
Total	468	411 (87.8%)	2 (0.4%)	-	4 (0.9%)	51 (10.9%)

2003 (as at 31 December)

Grade¹	Total Staff in Post	Ethnic Group²
Grade¹	Total Staff in Post	White (%)	Asian³ (%)	Black⁴ (%)	Other⁵ (%)	Not Indicated (%)
8	5	5 (100%)	-	-	-	-
7	12	12 (100%)	-	-	-	-
6	50	44 (88%)	-	-	1 (2%)	5 (10%)
5	61	53 (86.9%)	-	-	-	8 (13.1%)
4	98	83 (84.7%)	-	-	1 (1%)	14 (14.3%)
3	67	62 (92.5%)	1 (1.5%)	-	-	4 (6%)
2	108	100 (92.6%)	-	-	-	8 (7.4%)
1	57	47 (82.4%)	1 (1.8%)	-	1 (1.8%)	8 (14%)
Total	458	406 (88.6%)	2 (0.4%)	-	3 (0.7%)	47 (10.2%)

2004 (as at 31 August)

Grade¹	Total Staff in Post	Ethnic Group²
Grade¹	Total Staff in Post	White (%)	Asian³ (%)	Black⁴ (%)	Other⁵ (%)	Not Indicated (%)
8	4	4 (100%)	-	-	-	-
7	13	10 (76.9%)	-	-	-	3 (23.1%)
6	47	42 (89.4%)	-	-	1 (2.1%)	4 (8.5%)
5	72	61 (84.7%)	-	-	-	11 (15.4%)
4	114	101 (88.6%)	-	-	1 (0.9%)	12 (10.5%)
3	71	65 (91.5%)	-	-	-	6 (8.5%)
2	154	137 (89%)	1 (0.6%)	-	1 (0.6%)	15 (9.7%)
1	21	17 (81%)	-	-	-	4 (19%)
Total	496	437 (88.1%)	1 (0.2%)	-	3 (0.6%)	55 (11.1%)

Notes:

1. Secondees have been included at the equivalent Scottish Parliament grade. Staff on temporary promotion are shown at the grade they occupied at the points in time shown. Where a grade equates to a single post, information has not been included for data protection reasons.

2. As defined in the Census (Scotland) Amendment Regulations 2000

3. Refers to Asian Indian, Asian Pakistani, Asian Bangladeshi, Asian Chinese or other Asian background.

4. Refers to Black Caribbean, Black African or other black background

5. Where a candidate has indicated either an unspecified ethnic origin or unspecified mixed origin.

Question reference: S2W-10702

Asked by: Donald Gorrie, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Thursday, 16 September 2004
Current Status: Answered by Duncan McNeil on 8 December 2004

To ask the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body what the ethnic mix of applicants for vacancies in the Parliament has been in each year since 1999, broken down by grade and expressed also in percentage terms.

The SPCB introduced a new grading system for parliamentary staff in 2002. Information prior to this date in the detail requested is not available. Details of the ethnic origin of applicants to vacancies in the Parliament in each year since 2002, broken down by grade and expressed also in percentage terms, are set out in the tables below. This data is sourced from information provided by applicants as part of their application. We also collected monitoring data about the composition of the SPCB's workforce in the equal opportunities staff audit which we carried out in 2003. The report from this audit is published on the Parliament's website www.scottish.parliament.uk/corporate/equality/spcb-eo03-03.htm#an.

2002 (1 January to 31 December)

Grade	Total Applications	Ethnic Group¹
Grade	Total Applications	White (%)	Asian² (%)	Black³ (%)	Other⁴ (%)	Not Indicated (%)
8	-	-	-	-	-	-
7	-	-	-	-	-	-
6	98	96 (98%)	1 (1%)	1 (1%)	-	-
5	82	77 (93.9%)	1 (1.2%)	-	1 (1.2%)	3 (3.7%)
4	916	883 (96.4%)	9 (1%)	3 (0.3%)	9 (1%)	12 (1.3%)
3	148	137 (92.5%)	2 (1.4%)	1 (0.7%)	2 (1.4%)	6 (4%)
2	1318	1263 (95.8%)	16 (1.2%)	1 (0.1%)	13 (1%)	25 (1.9%)
1	80	76 (95%)	2 (2.5%)	-	-	2 (2.5%)
Total	2642	2532 (95.8%)	31 (1.2%)	6 (0.2%)	25 (0.9%)	48 (1.8%)

2003 (1 January to 31 December)

Grade	Total Applications	Ethnic Group¹
Grade	Total Applications	White (%)	Asian² (%)	Black³ (%)	Other⁴ (%)	Not Indicated (%)
8	46	45 (97.8%)	-	-	1 (2.2%)	-
7	87	86 (98.8%)	-	-	1 (1.2%)	-
6	54	50 (92.6%)	2 (3.7%)	-	-	2 (3.7%)
5	245	239 (97.6%)	-	1 (0.4%)	2 (0.8%)	3 (1.2%)
4	239	233 (97.5%)	1 (0.4%)	1 (0.4%)	2 (0.8%)	2 (0.8%)
3	6	5 (83.3%)	-	-	-	1 (16.7%)
2	789	753 (95.4%)	15 (1.9%)	3 (0.4%)	6 (0.8%)	12 (1.5%)
1	209	199 (95.2%)	3 (1.4%)	3 (1.4%)	2 (1%)	2 (1%)
Total	1675	1610 (96.1%)	21 (1.3)	8 (0.5%)	14 (0.8%)	22 (1.3%)

2004 (1 January to 31 August)

Grade	Total Applications	Ethnic Group¹
Grade	Total Applications	White (%)	Asian² (%)	Black³ (%)	Other⁴ (%)	Not Indicated (%)
8	26	26 (100%)	-	-	-	-
7	52	52 (100%)	-	-	-	-
6	-	-	-	-	-	-
5	208	200 (96.2%)	3 (1.4%)	-	2 (1%)	3 (1.4%)
4	367	345 (94%)	3 (0.8%)	1 (0.3%)	3 (0.8%)	15 (4.1%)
3	66	62 (94%)	-	1 (1.5%)	3 (4.5%)	-
2	241	223 (92.5)	10 (4.1%)	-	3 (1.2%)	5 (2.1%)
1	39	36 ( 92.3%)	-	1 (2.6%)	-	2 (5.1%)
Total	999	944 (94.5%)	16 (1.6%)	3 (0.3%)	11 (1.1%)	25 (2.5%)

Notes:

1. As defined in the Census(Scotland) Amendment Regulations 2000.

2. Refers to Asian Indian,Asian Pakistani, Asian Bangladeshi, Asian Chinese or other Asian background.

3. Refers to BlackCaribbean, Black African or other black background.

4. Where a candidate hasindicated either an unspecified ethnic origin or unspecified mixed origin.

Question reference: S2W-11928

Asked by: Donald Gorrie, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Wednesday, 03 November 2004
Current Status: Answered by Cathy Jamieson on 8 December 2004

To ask the Scottish Executive what the most up-to-date figures are for the average time between a volunteer applying for a police check and receiving clearance, taking account of the time spent by the central registered body and Disclosure Scotland in dealing with the application.

It is not possible to provide a precise figure for end‑to‑end turnaround times.

At week ending 28 November, Disclosure Scotland processed 100% of basic, standard and enhanced applications in an average of three days. The figure is for those applications that were correctly completed, had proper payment and which did not require referral to police forces. For that same week, the average time taken from the date the applicant signed the application form to its receipt at Disclosure Scotland was 29 days. That average includes registered body time. The sum of these figures gives an average handling time of 32 days from applicant signature to the issue of the certificate.

Disclosure Scotland is reminding registered bodies of the need for them to process applications as quickly as possible as delays at that stage will affect end‑to‑end turnaround times.

Question reference: S2W-12332

Asked by: Donald Gorrie, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Thursday, 18 November 2004
Current Status: Answered by Malcolm Chisholm on 2 December 2004

To ask the Scottish Executive how many social housing units which were the responsibility of registered social landlords have been bought under right to buy in each of the last five years.

The information requested is in the following table. The increase in right to buy sales between 2002-03 and 2003-04 in part reflects the transfer of Glasgow, Dumfries and Galloway and Borders housing stock to housing associations at the end of 2003.

Sales of Housing Association Dwellings

Period	Right to Buy/Rent to Mortgage
1999-2000	962
2000-01	982
2001-02	970
2002-03	1,508
2003-04	3,188

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