- Asked by: Donald Gorrie, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Liberal Democrats
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Date lodged: Monday, 19 February 2001
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Current Status:
Answered by Jack McConnell on 12 March 2001
To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to include an element of training on special educational needs as part of the core training requirements of new undergraduate teachers.
Answer
Components within the core of courses of initial teacher education already consist, where appropriate, of inter-related units in special educational needs. Guidelines for initial teacher education in Scotland require teacher education institutions to prepare teachers to be responsive to the needs of all pupils in respect of special educational needs.
- Asked by: Donald Gorrie, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Liberal Democrats
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 20 February 2001
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Current Status:
Answered by Peter Peacock on 12 March 2001
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will require local authorities to change local tax collecting arrangements so that council tenants pay their rent and council tax together.
Answer
We have no such plans at present. However, we will consider carefully any recommendations from the "It Pays to Pay" Working Group, which we have established to look at options for improving council tax collection. The group includes representatives from local authorities and consumer organisations and other relevant interests.
- Asked by: Donald Gorrie, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Liberal Democrats
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Date lodged: Monday, 26 February 2001
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Current Status:
Answered by Angus MacKay on 12 March 2001
To ask the Scottish Executive what asbestos-related guidelines were in place in 1990 when the Scottish Office evacuated New St Andrews' House on the grounds of the presence of asbestos.
Answer
The guidelines on asbestos current in 1990 were contained in the Department of the Environment Booklet (Asbestos Materials in Buildings) issued in Scotland under Scottish Development Department Circular No 32 in 1986.The asbestos present in New St Andrew's House was stable at the time staff moved to Victoria Quay in 1995. The projected cost of the removal of asbestos from New St Andrew's House was a factor in the decision to give up three central Edinburgh buildings (New St Andrew's House, Brandon Street/Perth Street and Jeffrey Street) with staff moving to a new building at Victoria Quay.
- Asked by: Donald Gorrie, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Liberal Democrats
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Date lodged: Monday, 26 February 2001
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Current Status:
Answered by Jim Wallace on 12 March 2001
To ask the Scottish Executive how many warrant sales have been carried out on individuals in domestic residences by each local authority in each of the last five years.
Answer
Warrant sales are normally conducted in auction houses. They can only be carried out in domestic premises where the occupier thereof and, if he is not the occupier, the debtor gives consent in writing. No records are kept centrally of the number of occasions such consent is given.
- Asked by: Donald Gorrie, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Liberal Democrats
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Date lodged: Monday, 19 February 2001
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Current Status:
Answered by Wendy Alexander on 9 March 2001
To ask the Scottish Executive when it will undertake an assessment of the effectiveness of the gateway element of the New Deal.
Answer
Employment policy is reserved to the UK Government which takes the lead on funding and delivery of the New Deal. In Scotland it does this in partnership with the Scottish Executive and contributing organisations.Statistics are monitored monthly with a view to improve or develop performance. However, I understand there are no plans to undertake a formal evaluation of the Gateway.
- Asked by: Donald Gorrie, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Liberal Democrats
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Date lodged: Monday, 19 February 2001
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Current Status:
Answered by Wendy Alexander on 9 March 2001
To ask the Scottish Executive how it will extend the choice of courses available to clients on the full-time education and training element of the New Deal.
Answer
Employment policy is reserved to the UK Government which takes the lead on funding and delivery of the New Deal. In Scotland it does this in partnership with the Scottish Executive and contributing organisations.The New Deal is very much about designing flexible, local provision to meet the needs of unemployed young people and prevailing labour market conditions. Each year local partnerships review closely the provision on offer and adjust this to suit local needs.
- Asked by: Donald Gorrie, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Liberal Democrats
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Date lodged: Monday, 19 February 2001
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Current Status:
Answered by Wendy Alexander on 9 March 2001
To ask the Scottish Executive what specific steps it is taking to reduce the number of early leavers from the full-time education and training element of the New Deal.
Answer
Employment policy is reserved to the UK Government which takes the lead on funding and delivery of the New Deal. In Scotland it does this in partnership with the Scottish Executive and contributing organisations.Improvements are being considered to the New Deal options including the full-time education and training option. In addition through the Innovation Fund there is funding for specific projects addressing the issue of early leavers.
- Asked by: Donald Gorrie, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Liberal Democrats
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Date lodged: Friday, 02 February 2001
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Current Status:
Answered by Angus MacKay on 8 March 2001
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will encourage local authorities and all other public bodies to put Remploy and Blind Workshops on their list if suppliers to compete for contracts under the Best Value regime.
Answer
In pursuing Best Value local authorities should consider all routes to service improvement. They are expected not to discriminate between potential means of service delivery on any grounds other than those prescribed by statute or directive.
The Scottish Executive's approach to Best Value in local government is not prescriptive about tender exercises to any great degree, but where sheltered employers such as Remploy and Blind Workshops are eligible to compete for contracts and meet the basic criteria set by the invitation to tender, we would certainly encourage local authorities and other public bodies to allow them to do so.The Scottish Executive's own procurement guidance encourages buyers to include sheltered employers on tender lists wherever possible.
- Asked by: Donald Gorrie, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Liberal Democrats
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Date lodged: Friday, 10 November 2000
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Current Status:
Answered by Jack McConnell on 5 March 2001
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will ensure that future PFI or PPP schemes involving schools include provision to ensure that the schools and the local authority have guaranteed priority use of facilities after school hours, at weekends and in the holidays.
Answer
The details of the contracts for such schemes are matters between the education authority and the contractors concerned. The parties to such a contract would take a number of factors into account where out of hours use of facilities is an issue, including the needs of the schools and the wider community.However, I support the principle that school premises and facilities generally should be accessible for community use. I propose to raise this with CoSLA to discuss ways in which access can be improved and encouraged.
- Asked by: Donald Gorrie, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Liberal Democrats
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Date lodged: Friday, 22 December 2000
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Current Status:
Answered by Angus MacKay on 19 February 2001
To ask the Scottish Executive which recruitment agencies it uses.
Answer
Scottish Executive recruitment is conducted by officials with support, where appropriate from the following external agencies:
Thomson Partners
Pertemps
Kelly Services
Capita RAS
