Chamber and committees

Questions and answers

Parliamentary questions can be asked by any MSP to the Scottish Government or the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body. The questions provide a means for MSPs to get factual and statistical information.

Written questions must be answered within 10 working days (20 working days during recess)
Other questions such as Topical, Portfolio, General and First Minister's Question Times are taken in the Chamber

Urgent Questions aren't included in the Question and Answers search. There is a SPICe fact sheet listing Urgent and emergency questions.

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Question reference: S1W-15111

Asked by: Kenneth Gibson, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 17 April 2001
Current Status: Answered by Nicol Stephen on 21 May 2001

To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to initiate a national inquiry into the pay and conditions of nursery nurses with a view to producing a report and recommendations.

The Scottish Executive recognises the crucial role that well qualified, highly motivated staff play in delivering quality early education and childcare services. The Executive is working hard to support skills development in the sector and improve the overall image of childcare as an attractive career for both men and women. Nursery nurses are a key group in the childcare workforce; and we are working to expand their opportunities for professional development.Last year we published Working With Children - the first comprehensive guide to qualifications and careers in the childcare sector. We also launched our Action Plan for the Training and Development of Workers in Early Education, Childcare and Playwork; and are supporting this with close to £4 million of investment in skills. The Action Plan will support workforce expansion and contribute to our commitment in Programme for Government to train 5,000 new childcare workers by 2002.The establishment of the Scottish Commission for the Regulation of Care and the Scottish Social Services Council will also ensure that quality remains at the heart of our agenda for all care services.Last year we also set up the Early Education and Childcare Forum, through which selected professionals from across the early years sector provide an integrated source of advice on childcare and pre-school education to ministers. The forum, which I chair, is an important vehicle for highlighting key early years issues and contributing to future policy development.

Together, the Social Services Council and the Early Education & Childcare Forum will be taking forward issues of consistency and tackling the complex issues developing at a local level as a result of recent expansion.The pay and conditions of nursery nurses, though, remain a matter for their employers - the local authorities and organisations in both the private and voluntary sectors. The Executive has no role in the negotiations and no plans to initiate a national inquiry.

Question reference: S1W-15503

Asked by: Kenneth Gibson, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 01 May 2001
Current Status: Answered by Nicol Stephen on 18 May 2001

To ask the Scottish Executive how many refuges exist for sixteen-year-olds who run away from home, broken down by local authority.

This information is not held centrally, but the Social Work Information Review Group will consider collecting data on refuges as part of the current data standards review. The Children (Scotland) Act 1995 gives local authorities powers to provide short-term refuge for children who appear to be at risk of harm and who request refuge. Refuge may be provided in a local authority home, a home run by a voluntary or private agency or by a foster carer. In all cases the refuge must be designated as suitable by the local authority.

Question reference: S1W-15104

Asked by: Kenneth Gibson, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 17 April 2001
Current Status: Answered by Nicol Stephen on 18 May 2001

To ask the Scottish Executive what steps it is taking to ensure that the recommendations made in the Scottish Office Social Work Services Inspectorate's 1998 Report, Sense and Progress, are carried out.

In examining services for the Chief Social Work Inspector's Annual Report for 2002, officials will seek up to date information on local progress in implementing the recommendations of Sensing Progress.A working group consisting of representatives from various deaf/blind organisations and appropriate officials has been set up under the auspices of the Equality Unit. The aim is to look at a positive way forward in identifying the various cross-cutting issues facing people with sensory impairment.The working group on certification and registration in relation to people with visual impairment has produced its report, which is now being considered by ministers.

Question reference: S1W-15291

Asked by: Kenneth Gibson, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 24 April 2001
Current Status: Answered by Margaret Curran on 17 May 2001

To ask the Scottish Executive what VAT implications there will be for the cost of improving homes following the proposed Glasgow housing stock transfer.

Question reference: S1W-15307

Asked by: Kenneth Gibson, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 24 April 2001
Current Status: Answered by Margaret Curran on 17 May 2001

To ask the Scottish Executive what steps it is taking to ensure that information given to council tenants in Glasgow with regard to the stock transfer proposals is accurate.

Question reference: S1W-15306

Asked by: Kenneth Gibson, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 24 April 2001
Current Status: Answered by Margaret Curran on 17 May 2001

To ask the Scottish Executive how the #13 million earmarked for Glasgow City Council in connection with the development of its stock transfer proposal has been (a) allocated and (b) spent to date.

Question reference: S1W-15311

Asked by: Kenneth Gibson, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 24 April 2001
Current Status: Answered by Margaret Curran on 17 May 2001

To ask the Scottish Executive why no long-term detailed investment plans on Glasgow's housing stock transfer proposals will be available until January 2002, after the proposed date of the stock transfer ballot.

Question reference: S1W-15313

Asked by: Kenneth Gibson, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 24 April 2001
Current Status: Answered by Margaret Curran on 17 May 2001

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-13378 by Ms Margaret Curran on 28 February 2001, what guarantee it can provide that the costs of servicing any residual debt following Glasgow housing stock transfer will be met indefinitely by resources provided by the Scottish Executive indefinitely.

Question reference: S1W-15310

Asked by: Kenneth Gibson, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 24 April 2001
Current Status: Answered by Margaret Curran on 17 May 2001

To ask the Scottish Executive whether any residual debt resulting from housing stock transfer in Glasgow will (a) be removed from Glasgow City Council (GCC) and taken on by the Executive as outlined in Glasgow Housing Association's January newsletter which states "the Scottish Executive has agreed to remove the debt from GCC tenants and transfer it to tax payers across Scotland if tenants vote in favour of stock transfer" or (b) remain with GCC and be serviced by the Executive as outlined in the answer to question S1W-13378 by Ms Margaret Curran on 28 February 2001 which states "the cost of servicing the remaining (i.e. residual) debt would also be met by resources provided by the Scottish Executive" and what steps will it take to ensure that tenants are advised of the correct situation.

Question reference: S1W-15315

Asked by: Kenneth Gibson, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 24 April 2001
Current Status: Answered by Margaret Curran on 17 May 2001

To ask the Scottish Executive what the latest figure is for the cost of improving Glasgow City Council's housing stock following the proposed stock transfer.