- 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 whether it will provide additional resources to local authorities over the next three years if inflation exceeds 2.5% in any year.
Answer
The increases in grant support announced recently significantly exceed the predicted rate of inflation. It is for local authorities to manage their finances to take account of inflation and other factors just as other public bodies, and the Scottish Executive itself, has to do.
- 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 Sam Galbraith on 22 December 2000
To ask the Scottish Executive what the current average cost is per hectare of (a) restoring a plot of derelict land and (b) bringing a plot of vacant land to productive industrial use.
Answer
This information is not held centrally.
- 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 Sam Galbraith on 22 December 2000
To ask the Scottish Executive what financial assistance it will give to Glasgow City and South Lanarkshire Councils to reduce the flood threat from the River Cart.
Answer
Under the Flood Prevention (Scotland) Act 1961 grants, at a rate of 50%, are available to all councils for the construction of confirmed flood prevention schemes which meet specified cost-benefit criteria. It is a matter for the councils concerned whether to take forward flood prevention schemes for the White Cart.
- 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 Sam Galbraith on 22 December 2000
To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions it has had with the Clyde Port Authority regarding the recommencement of dredging of the River Clyde to minimise the potential for flooding.
Answer
Dredging of the River Clyde is not a matter for the Executive and no discussions have taken place with Clydeport Plc - formerly the Clyde Port Authority. The company has powers to dredge part of the River Clyde for the purposes of navigation whilst maintenance of rivers for other purposes is a matter for the riparian owners.
Additionally, under the Flood Prevention (Scotland) Act 1961 local authorities have a duty to maintain watercourses if this would substantially reduce the likelihood of flooding of non-agricultural land in their areas.
- 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 why the local authority grant increases announced by the Minister for Finance and Local Government on 7 December 2000, are higher in 2001-02 than in 2002-03 and higher in 2002-03 than in 2003-04.
Answer
The grant allocations arise out of the spending plans announced on 20 September, and represent a 10.5% increase in real terms over the three-year period.
- 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 whether it has any plans to impose any new statutory duties or responsibilities on local authorities over the next 12 months and, if so, whether it will fully fund any such duties or responsibilities in this period and in future years.
Answer
We will consider any new statutory duties and responsibilities, and whether they impose any additional financial burden on local government, as they arise.
- 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 whether any of the additional resources for Glasgow City Council announced by the Minister for Finance and Local Government on 7 December 2000 will be allocated to the council's Public/Private Partnership to fund school buildings and, if so, how much.
Answer
The allocations to Glasgow City Council announced on the 7 December include provision for Level Playing Field Support for Schools of over £44 million. Glasgow City Council's single capital allocation will rise to almost £40 million (a 38% increase) over the next three years. The Single Allocation covers roads and transport, education, social work, private housing and general services (including coast protection and flood prevention). It is for Glasgow City Council to decide how its single allocation is spent.
- 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 Iain Gray on 22 December 2000
To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to introduce a community legal service delivered by a range of providers including independent agencies, law centres and solicitors in private practice.
Answer
The Deputy First Minister has set up a working group to make recommendations about how a "Community Legal Service" might be established in Scotland. The group is broadly based and will report to him in October 2001.
- Asked by: Kenneth Gibson, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 06 December 2000
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Current Status:
Answered by Susan Deacon on 20 December 2000
To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to extend the standard general practitioner training to four years with a minimum of two years in general practice by 2005.
Answer
The length and content of vocational training for general practitioners is a matter for the Joint Committee on Postgraduate Training for General Practice (JCPTGP), which is a reserved body with a UK wide remit.
- Asked by: Kenneth Gibson, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 05 December 2000
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Current Status:
Answered by Sam Galbraith on 19 December 2000
To ask the Scottish Executive what its response is to the estimate by the Scottish Housebuilders Association that reducing housebuilding activity in the area covered by the Glasgow and Clyde Valley Joint Structure Plan 2000 by 14% will cause a loss of almost 3,000 construction jobs in the area.
Answer
The SHBA's objections and representations will be taken fully into account in reaching a decision on the Glasgow and Clyde Valley Structure Plan.
