- 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 Andy Kerr on 11 November 2002
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will reconsider its decision to give all the #95 million grants related to promoting healthy lifestyle choices amongst children and young people directly to local authorities and allocate some instead to national youth organisations for their national and local activities.
Answer
The total resources have been allocated directly to local authorities for local initiatives. It is open to authorities to pass funds on to voluntary and other organisations.
- 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 Andy Kerr on 11 November 2002
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-28604 by Mr Andy Kerr on 17 September 2002, whether all of the #18.4 million was allocated to local authorities and not directly to voluntary organisations.
Answer
I refer the member to the answer given to question S1W-31118 today. 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/search_wa.
- 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 Richard Simpson on 7 November 2002
To ask the Scottish Executive how it is tackling the fear of crime amongst elderly people.
Answer
Recent survey information suggests that Scotland is a safer place to live compared to the rest of the UK, not only for older people but also generally, and that the fear of crime amongst older people is also lower.We have set a target to reduce the fear of crime or seriousness of worry about crime in the justice section of the recently published Building a Better Scotland - Spending Proposals 2003-06. Whilst no specific target or date has been set for this to be achieved, we aim to reduce the fear of crime for all in our communities by successfully meeting other targets within the same proposals to reduce specific areas of serious crime. This should have a positive effect on how safe our communities feel. We shall use the Scottish Crime Survey 2004 results to measure progress.
- Asked by: Donald Gorrie, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Liberal Democrats
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Date lodged: Thursday, 10 October 2002
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Current Status:
Answered by Iain Gray on 4 November 2002
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will publish its response to the consultation by the Department of Trade and Industry on the General Agreement on Trade in Services proposals to open up higher education provision to greater competition.
Answer
The regulation of international trade is a reserved matter. However, the consultation document issued by the Department of Trade and Industry was prepared with input from the Executive. The Executive will continue to be in regular contact during the period of the consultation with DTI and other UK Departments on trade issues and how these may impact on the Executive's responsibilities including higher education. This will enable the Executive to have the opportunity to input to the proposed UK response which is due to be submitted by March 2003.
- Asked by: Donald Gorrie, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Liberal Democrats
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 23 October 2002
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Current Status:
Answered by Margaret Curran on 31 October 2002
To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions it has had with financial organisations regarding the impact of irresponsible lending practices on social justice issues.
Answer
As the member will be aware, the legislation governing irresponsible lending is reserved. However, we are in regular contact with a range of financial organisations such as the Committee of Scottish Clearing Bankers and the Scottish Credit Union movement, with whom we discuss a range of social and financial inclusion issues.
- Asked by: Donald Gorrie, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Liberal Democrats
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Date lodged: Thursday, 03 October 2002
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Current Status:
Answered by Margaret Curran on 17 October 2002
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will review the conditions attached to licences for money lenders in the light of its social justice agenda.
Answer
The Scottish Executive has no functions in relation to the licensing of money lenders.
- Asked by: Donald Gorrie, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Liberal Democrats
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Date lodged: Thursday, 03 October 2002
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Current Status:
Answered by Iain Gray on 17 October 2002
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will make representations to Jobcentre Plus in support of allowing people looking for paid employment to do voluntary work while awaiting the offer of a job from a job centre and ensuring that the job seekers agreement does not militate against an individual doing such work.
Answer
Responsibility for job search and support is reserved to the UK Government. However, I understand that Jobseeker's Allowance regulations currently permit jobseekers to undertake voluntary work. They must continue to actively seek employment and must be willing and able to start work or go for an interview within 48 hours. Voluntary work means work for an organisation whose activities are non-profit-making and where no payment is received by the jobseeker other than reasonable expenses. The Jobseeker's Agreement does not militate against an individual doing such work. It sets out a jobseeker's availability for work, the kind of work they are looking for and the actions they will take to look for work.
- Asked by: Donald Gorrie, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Liberal Democrats
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Date lodged: Thursday, 03 October 2002
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Current Status:
Answered by Iain Gray on 17 October 2002
To ask the Scottish Executive whether its support to Citi'ens Advice Bureaux (CAB) will take account of the number of volunteers whose training at a CAB enables them to take up paid employment based on their CAB experience.
Answer
Funding for Citizens Advice Bureaux (CAB) is a matter for local authorities who are best placed to decide on the allocation of resources according to the needs of their particular areas. We recognise and welcome the volunteering experience and training that is available through CAB which can lead to improved employment opportunities.
- Asked by: Donald Gorrie, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Liberal Democrats
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 01 October 2002
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Current Status:
Answered by Margaret Curran on 15 October 2002
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will define the term "independent" in the context of its funding to local authorities for the provision of independent money advice.
Answer
We have made available, through local authorities, a total of £3 million annually for the provision of additional local money advice. The guidelines for implementation, issued to local authorities on 22 April 2002 state that: "Local authorities will be able to use the additional resources to enhance their own provision as well as independent sector advice services. In making a decision on how to use the resources allocated to them local authorities should consider whether there currently is a choice for the client in providers of money advice, and whether there are independent money advice services available in the area."In this context "independent money advice services" refers to money advice services not directly run by the local authority.
- Asked by: Donald Gorrie, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Liberal Democrats
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 11 September 2002
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Current Status:
Answered by Margaret Curran on 11 October 2002
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1O-3541 by Mrs Margaret Curran on 6 June 2001, whose duty it is to monitor that transfers of Scottish Homes properties to social landlords comply with The Code of Practice for Tenant Participation in Stock Transfers.
Answer
Scottish Homes' Board ensures that Scottish Homes' stock transfer proposals comply with the principles set out in the Code of Practice.
