- Asked by: Donald Gorrie, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Liberal Democrats
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Date lodged: Thursday, 18 May 2000
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Current Status:
Answered by Sam Galbraith on 7 June 2000
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will widen the remit of the administration of medicines working group to include consideration of the support available in schools for any pupils with health problems.
Answer
The School Health Service already provides support in schools for pupils with health care needs including the promotion of the physical, mental and social wellbeing of children within the school setting; the identification and provision of remedial action and support for children with health problems; and the assessment and provision of services for pupils with special educational needs.
- Asked by: Donald Gorrie, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Liberal Democrats
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 09 May 2000
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Current Status:
Answered by Sarah Boyack on 7 June 2000
To ask the Scottish Executive what information it has on the extent of the problem caused by the use of lead solder in water pipes in newly built houses, as regards the number of houses affected and the geographical areas affected.
Answer
The Executive does not hold the information requested. However, the Scottish Centre for Infection and Environmental Health (SCIEH) has been asked to carry out a study to determine the extent to which lead solder has been used in plumbing installations in new housing across Scotland. SCIEH are due to report later this year.
- Asked by: Donald Gorrie, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Liberal Democrats
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Date lodged: Friday, 19 May 2000
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Current Status:
Answered by David Steel on 2 June 2000
To ask the Presiding Officer what categories of expenditure are included in the #195 million cost limit approved by the Parliament for the new Parliament buildings at Holyrood.
Answer
The information is provided in the following table:
Category | £ million |
Site Acquisition, demolition and archaeology | 5.0 |
Construction estimate | 108.0 |
Contingencies on construction, fees, site organisation costs & VAT | 62.5 |
Total site and construction costs | 175.5 |
Fit Out (including VAT & Fees) | 19.5 |
Total | 195.0 |
- Asked by: Donald Gorrie, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Liberal Democrats
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Date lodged: Friday, 19 May 2000
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Current Status:
Answered by David Steel on 2 June 2000
To ask the Presiding Officer (a) which elements of expenditure relevant to the new parliamentary buildings at Holyrood are not included in the #195 million cost limit agreed by the Parliament; (b) what the current cost estimate for these elements is, and (c) which organisation is expected to pay for each of these costs.
Answer
The running costs of the Holyrood Project Team are just under £480,000 for 2000-01. The current cost estimate for the Project Team's "on site" accommodation, which is provided on a rental basis, is around £590,000 to the end of December 2002. The Holyrood Project also has a budget for 2000-01 of £240,000 to fund non-capital items related to the project such as newsletters, upgrading models etc. All of these items are met from the Parliaments annual "running cost" budget.
Consideration is also being given to various options available for the fit out of a public exhibition and the provision of a viewing gallery at the Holyrood site, although no firm estimates are yet available. The cost of landscaping external to the site is a matter for the Scottish Executive. None of the above costs are included in the £195 million.
- Asked by: Donald Gorrie, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Liberal Democrats
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Date lodged: Friday, 19 May 2000
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Current Status:
Answered by David Steel on 2 June 2000
To ask the Presiding Officer (a) when the plans for the Holyrood site were, or will be, signed off; (b) when and how these plans will be available for inspection by MSPs and the public; (c) when the Holyrood progress group will meet, and (d) whether the Holyrood progress group will consist of professionals in the construction field or of MSPs or both.
Answer
It is intended that the Stage "D" plans will be signed off this month. The plans are available for public inspection now at the City of Edinburgh Council Planning Department, 1 Cockburn Street, Edinburgh. The SPCB will make another report to members very shortly. The Progress Group is in the process of being appointed. The exact make-up in terms of political and professional representation has not yet been finalised though it will, of course, reflect the terms of the resolution passed by the Parliament on 5 April. The group will meet together with the SPCB next week.
- Asked by: Donald Gorrie, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Liberal Democrats
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Date lodged: Friday, 19 May 2000
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Current Status:
Answered by Jack McConnell on 2 June 2000
To ask the Scottish Executive how much was paid by each local authority to consultants in each year from 1995-96 to 1999-2000.
Answer
This information is not collected centrally.
- Asked by: Donald Gorrie, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Liberal Democrats
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Date lodged: Thursday, 18 May 2000
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Current Status:
Answered by Frank McAveety on 1 June 2000
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-6404 by Mr Frank McAveety on 10 May 2000, whether it will consider a contribution from public funds to the proposed memorial of the 15 Lanarkshire men who won the Victoria Cross, given that it is a memorial to famous Lanarkshire people rather than a war memorial.
Answer
Further to my answer to question S1W-6404, memorials, whether they are war memorials or memorials, are traditionally raised by public subscription and private donations, rather than from public funding. Although the Scottish Executive is unable to assist financially with the cost of funding this memorial we are willing to assist in whatever other way we can. If the campaign organisers have not already done so, I suggest they contact both North and South Lanarkshire Councils, in order to establish whether they can offer any form of support also.
- Asked by: Donald Gorrie, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Liberal Democrats
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Date lodged: Thursday, 18 May 2000
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Current Status:
Answered by Sarah Boyack on 1 June 2000
To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to increase the amount spent on structural and cyclical maintenance of roads to the level of #166 million per annum considered necessary by the Society of Chief Officers of Transportation in Scotland.
Answer
It is entirely a matter for councils as local roads authorities to determine expenditure on the structural and cyclical maintenance of local roads in their areas from within the block resources available to them for financing a wide range of services for which they are responsible. It is for local authorities to determine their spending priorities across these services.
- Asked by: Donald Gorrie, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Liberal Democrats
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Date lodged: Thursday, 18 May 2000
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Current Status:
Answered by Sarah Boyack on 1 June 2000
To ask the Scottish Executive what progress has been made towards introducing a national concessionary fare scheme for pensioners and people with sight or mobility problems.
Answer
The Scottish Executive proposes in the Integrated Transport (Scotland) Bill to take powers which will enable Ministers subsequently to set, common to all Scottish local authorities, a minimum level of concession for pensioners and disabled people travelling within Scotland. A research study is currently underway examining the costs of a variety of different options, with a view to reporting in August. Free travel on rail, bus, ferry and underground services throughout Scotland is already available to blind people following the introduction on 1 December 1999 of a national concessionary travel scheme. It was brought about through a voluntary partnership agreement between the Scottish Executive, Scottish local authorities, Strathclyde Passenger Transport and rail, bus and ferry companies.
- Asked by: Donald Gorrie, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Liberal Democrats
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 16 May 2000
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Current Status:
Answered by Henry McLeish on 30 May 2000
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has in place arrangements for a task force to be ready to respond immediately when factory closures such as Philips at Hamilton, Courtaulds at Wishaw or Jaeger at Kilmarnock are announced, in order to mitigate the effects of the redundancies and help the local economy.
Answer
I launched Partnership Action for Continuing Employment (PACE) in March of this year. PACE puts in place a strategic national framework which will enable an improved and consistent public sector partnership approach to companies in difficulty. I can confirm that arrangements complying with this approach have been put into effect to support those made redundant at Philips at Hamilton and that similar arrangements are being made for Courtaulds at Wishaw and Jaeger at Kilmarnock. For the record, Jaeger announced redundancies at Kilmarnock but not closure of the plant.
