- Asked by: Donald Gorrie, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Liberal Democrats
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 30 October 2002
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Current Status:
Answered by Margaret Curran on 11 December 2002
To ask the Scottish Executive whether targeting the #3 million grant to councils for specialist money/debt advice and specifically excluding other forms of advice and assistance represents best value in the light of the complexity of the problems facing people seeking advice on debt.
Answer
Our additional investment of £3 million to increase the number of money advisers in Scotland is being channelled through local authorities, because they are best placed to assess local provision and local needs. In many local authority areas the extra funding will be used to support voluntary sector and other advice agencies. Specialist money advisers have the skills and knowledge to take full account of the complexity of debtors' circumstances. This may include looking at income maximisation through tax and benefits systems, and looking at housing and employment issues. In particular specialist money advisers will be able to assist debtors to participate in the new statutory Debt Arrangement Scheme, which is proposed in the Debt Arrangement and Attachment (Scotland) Bill. Advisers refer clients to others for additional advice on others matters, where this is needed and is in the best interest of the client.
- Asked by: Donald Gorrie, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Liberal Democrats
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 13 November 2002
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Current Status:
Answered by Andy Kerr on 9 December 2002
To ask the Scottish Executive which members of the boards of non-departmental public bodies have been dismissed by ministers since 1997.
Answer
No non-executive board member of any non-departmental public body for which Scottish ministers have responsibility has been dismissed since 1997.
- Asked by: Donald Gorrie, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Liberal Democrats
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Date lodged: Thursday, 14 November 2002
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Current Status:
Answered by Margaret Curran on 28 November 2002
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will extend to other funding schemes the condition in the Changing Children's Services programme that consolidated proposals for funding should be approved by the relevant council or councils for voluntary service.
Answer
Grant conditions vary according to funding scheme but where there is a clear role for councils for voluntary service their views are sought.
- Asked by: Donald Gorrie, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Liberal Democrats
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Date lodged: Monday, 18 November 2002
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Current Status:
Answered by Margaret Curran on 27 November 2002
To ask the Scottish Executive what the composition is of the re-established Scottish Compact Review Group and what organisations the group's members represent.
Answer
The composition of the Scottish Compact Review Group is as follows:
| Jen Anderson | Scottish Environment Link |
| Stephanie Bow | Scottish Executive Development Department (Secretariat) |
| Joanne Crone | Scottish Executive Development Department |
| Shaun Eales | Scottish Executive Health Department |
| Lesley Greenaway | Volunteer Development Scotland |
| Douglas Greig | Scottish Executive Environment & Rural Affairs Department |
| Jon Harris | COSLA |
| Heather Koronka | Communities Scotland |
| Jim Lugton | Scottish Council for Voluntary Organisations (Secretariat) |
| Stephen Maxwell | Scottish Council for Voluntary Organisations |
| Rami Ousta | Black and Ethnic Minority Infrastructure in Scotland |
| Maureen O'Neill | Age Concern Scotland |
| Iain Rennick | Scottish Natural Heritage |
| Sarah Smith/Peter Willman | Scottish Executive Education Department |
| Frauke Sinclair | Scottish Executive Social Research |
| Margaret Totten | Voluntary Sector Representative |
| Jim White | Fife Council for Voluntary Service |
- Asked by: Donald Gorrie, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Liberal Democrats
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Date lodged: Monday, 18 November 2002
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Current Status:
Answered by Margaret Curran on 26 November 2002
To ask the Scottish Executive how many seminars on the working of the Scottish Compact have been conducted by the Voluntary Issues Unit since May 1999 and how many of its staff attended these.
Answer
The Voluntary Issues Unit, in liaison with the voluntary sector, is continuing to run a series of seminars on the Scottish Compact for Scottish Executive staff. Seminars have been held with the Departments for Development, Education, Health, Finance and Central Services, and with the Environment and Rural Affairs Department. Attendees at each seminar vary on average between 30 and 50 individuals. The next seminar in the series is planned for the Justice Department early in 2003.
- Asked by: Donald Gorrie, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Liberal Democrats
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Date lodged: Friday, 08 November 2002
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Current Status:
Answered by Richard Simpson on 26 November 2002
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will consult YouthLink Scotland in order to identify the administrative costs that national youth organisations claim to incur in the administration of Disclosure Scotland checks on voluntary youth workers.
Answer
The impact on voluntary organisations of the introduction of criminal record checks under Part V of the Police Act 1997 was examined by the Voluntary Issues Review Group set up by the Scottish Executive in 1999. YouthLink Scotland was represented on the Group.The group's principal recommendation was that volunteers working with children (up to the age of 18) in the voluntary sector should be able to get criminal record certificates without cost to them or to the voluntary organisations concerned. The group also recommended that a Central Registered Body should be established to process applications for free checks and to provide guidance and advice for the voluntary sector to help the sector make the best possible use of the Part V certificates. Ministers accepted both these recommendations and agreed to make available the necessary funding to cover the costs of implementing them.We are currently reviewing the operation of the Central Registered Body and its relationship with Disclosure Scotland. We will arrange for YouthLink Scotland to be consulted as part of the review process.
- Asked by: Donald Gorrie, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Liberal Democrats
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 12 November 2002
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Current Status:
Answered by Andy Kerr on 26 November 2002
To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to make abuse of public office an offence.
Answer
None. The Ethical Standards in Public Life Etc (Scotland) Act 2000 puts in place an ethical framework for members of devolved public bodies and councillors. The act established the Standards Commission for Scotland which is an independent body responsible for overseeing the introduction and operation of Codes of Conduct.Should the Standards Commission reveal any possible criminal allegations as part of an investigation, the case and evidence gathered will be passed to the appropriate authorities. The Codes of Conduct will come into effect in the new year.
- Asked by: Donald Gorrie, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Liberal Democrats
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 12 November 2002
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Current Status:
Answered by Margaret Curran on 25 November 2002
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will require local authorities, as part of match-funding schemes, to show how local voluntary organisations have been involved.
Answer
It is for local authorities to determine how they engage with the voluntary sector. However, the Executive would always encourage local authorities and other public bodies, wherever appropriate, to involve the sector in the development and delivery of their policies and programmes.
- Asked by: Donald Gorrie, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Liberal Democrats
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Date lodged: Friday, 08 November 2002
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Current Status:
Answered by Jim Wallace on 22 November 2002
To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to establish in other prisons centres based on the Throughcare Centre pilot at HM Prison Edinburgh.
Answer
I have asked Tony Cameron, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service (SPS) to respond. His response is as follows:Dr Jackie Tombs is conducting an evaluation research study for SPS into the Throughcare Centre in HM Prison Edinburgh. We will consider whether the approach might be extended to other prisons in the light of the study and of the budgetary position.
- Asked by: Donald Gorrie, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Liberal Democrats
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Date lodged: Friday, 08 November 2002
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Current Status:
Answered by Jim Wallace on 22 November 2002
To ask the Scottish Executive who is responsible for ensuring that people sent to prison are properly advised about their housing position and, in particular, about whether they should cancel their tenancy in order to avoid accumulating debts from unpaid rent.
Answer
I have asked Tony Cameron, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service (SPS) to respond. His response is as follows:Assessments are carried out by the SPS reception and induction staff in conjunction with social work staff and voluntary sector workers. Aspects of housing and accommodation are discussed at this stage.All SPS establishments which release prisoners into the community have the services of specialists who are funded through the Rough Sleepers Initiative (RSI). The aim of these RSI projects in prisons is to provide a housing casework service to all categories of offenders who will be homeless or threatened with homelessness on release and to ensure that support is in place prior to liberation. These projects are currently being evaluated by the Executive.
