- Asked by: Kenneth Gibson, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 20 December 2000
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Current Status:
Answered by Peter Peacock on 3 January 2001
To ask the Scottish Executive what financial resources will be made available to carry out the recently announced review of Scotland's cities.
Answer
I refer the member to the answer given to question S1W-12144.
- Asked by: Kenneth Gibson, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 20 December 2000
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Current Status:
Answered by Peter Peacock on 3 January 2001
To ask the Scottish Executive what the role and remit of the Deputy Minister for Finance and Local Government is in relation to the recently announced review of Scotland's cities.
Answer
Details of the review will be announced in the New Year.
- Asked by: Kenneth Gibson, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 20 December 2000
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Current Status:
Answered by Wendy Alexander on 3 January 2001
To ask the Scottish Executive what steps it is taking to reduce long-term unemployment in males aged 50-64 and females aged 50-59.
Answer
I refer the member to the answer given to question S1O-2597 on 30 November 2000.
- Asked by: Kenneth Gibson, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Friday, 08 December 2000
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Current Status:
Answered by Peter Peacock on 22 December 2000
To ask the Scottish Executive how Glasgow City Council will receive #12 million more in cash terms over the next three years under the spending formula announced by the Minister for Finance and Local Government on 7 December 2000 than under the block and formula approach favoured by the council.
Answer
Comparisons of the population update and block and formula methods of grant distribution for 2002-03 and 2003-04 suggested that Glasgow City Council would gain around £3.9 million more over the three-year period 2001-04 from the block and formula method than the population update method. The incorporation of a "floor", or guaranteed minimum grant increase, gives the council an additional £16 million over the block and formula method. It is the difference between these two figures that constituted the additional £12 million that was referred to in the statement of 7 December 2000.
- Asked by: Kenneth Gibson, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Friday, 08 December 2000
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Current Status:
Answered by Peter Peacock on 22 December 2000
To ask the Scottish Executive what "hidden burdens" the Minister for Finance and Local Government was referring to when responding to the question from Alex Salmond during the ministerial statement on 7 December 2000 (Official Report, col. 707).
Answer
The Minister acknowledged the burdens and pressures on local government. But none of these burdens are hidden.
- Asked by: Kenneth Gibson, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Friday, 08 December 2000
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Current Status:
Answered by Peter Peacock on 22 December 2000
To ask the Scottish Executive how each local authority's aggregate external finance increase for 2001-02 to 2003-04 was arrived at.
Answer
Each authority's grant for 2001-02 was calculated using the existing client group based distribution formula adjusted to reflect a number of distribution reviews completed this year. A minimum grant increase (or "floor") of 5% was put in place. For 2002-03 and 2003-04, the formula was updated using projections of population changes in key client groups. Floors of 4% in 2002-03, and 3.4% in 2003-04, were applied.
- Asked by: Kenneth Gibson, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Friday, 08 December 2000
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Current Status:
Answered by Susan Deacon on 22 December 2000
To ask the Scottish Executive what impact "family friendly" policies would have in retaining trained and skilled staff within the NHSiS.
Answer
The introduction of family friendly policies is expected to improve morale and show that NHS Scotland cares about its staff. It sends the message that NHS Scotland is serious about recruiting new staff and retaining its staff by offering them the ability to work the hours they want to combine work with family commitments.
- Asked by: Kenneth Gibson, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Friday, 08 December 2000
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Current Status:
Answered by Peter Peacock on 22 December 2000
To ask the Scottish Executive what percentage of the #1.2 billion additional grant for local authorities over the next three years announced by the Minister for Finance and Local Government on 7 December 2000 will be absorbed by (a) inflation and (b) funding the recommendations of the McCrone Committee.
Answer
The total grant figures announced take account of a wide range of factors impacting on local government costs, including the predicted rate of inflation. There is an element included to fund additional expenditure on education, including the recommendations of the McCrone Committee, but this will be reviewed once the final McCrone package is agreed.
- Asked by: Kenneth Gibson, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Friday, 08 December 2000
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Current Status:
Answered by Susan Deacon on 22 December 2000
To ask the Scottish Executive what steps it is taking to encourage flexible working practices in the NHSiS which would allow doctors, nurses and ancillary staff to combine work with caring responsibilities.
Answer
Our National Health: A Plan for Action, a Plan for Change makes clear that all NHS employers will be required to meet or exceed best practice guidance on family-friendly policies as part of the new Staff Governance Standard. To help employers, guidance on family-friendly policies will issue in the New Year, and will address issues such as flexible working; childcare; breastfeeding and career breaks. The guidance will apply to all staff in NHS Scotland.
- Asked by: Kenneth Gibson, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Friday, 08 December 2000
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Current Status:
Answered by Wendy Alexander on 22 December 2000
To ask the Scottish Executive what steps it is taking to improve the poor perception of jobs in the service sector amongst males as highlighted in the Action Teams for Jobs Report 2000.
Answer
Action Teams for Jobs is a Department for Education and Employment initiative which targets the most disadvantaged areas to help workless people get a job and keep it. The Glasgow Action Team for Jobs believes from their work with clients that this perception is changing.
The Scottish New Deal Advisory Task Force and the Glasgow Employer Coalition are also taking initiatives which address this issue.
