- Asked by: Kenneth Gibson, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Thursday, 15 June 2000
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Current Status:
Answered by Henry McLeish on 29 June 2000
To ask the Scottish Executive what steps it will take to provide, for sectors of the economy where skill shortages are evident, a register of skilled and senior management talent who may be on career break, semi-retirement or in part-time employment to enable companies to access expertise on a short-term basis as necessary.
Answer
The Scottish Labour Market Intelligence Unit is being established to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of information which informs decisions and actions in the labour market. One of the roles of the new Unit will be to ensure that information and intelligence is available to employers to predict movement, trends and demands.
- Asked by: Kenneth Gibson, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Thursday, 15 June 2000
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Current Status:
Answered by Jack McConnell on 29 June 2000
To ask the Scottish Executive whether revenue support to Glasgow City Council in 2001-02 will be reduced; if so, whether it will provide an estimate of by how much and whether it has held or has any plans to hold discussions with or make representations to the council over their preparation for a 4% reduction in spending.
Answer
The level of grant Glasgow City Council will receive from the Scottish Executive for 2001-02 has yet to be determined. I expect to announce the provisional local government settlement for that year in December. The assumption used by the council in its forward-looking strategy can only be speculative at this stage.
- Asked by: Kenneth Gibson, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Thursday, 15 June 2000
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Current Status:
Answered by Susan Deacon on 29 June 2000
To ask the Scottish Executive which health boards have a register of diabetic patients and what steps it is taking to ensure that all health boards have such a register.
Answer
All health boards have or are developing a register of patients with diabetes. Work is continuing in all areas to ensure that all patients with diabetes are included. The Scottish Executive is supporting a range of initiatives in diabetes including work to support and encourage integrated care. A pilot project is underway to support the central collation of data about diabetes.
- Asked by: Kenneth Gibson, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Thursday, 15 June 2000
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Current Status:
Answered by Henry McLeish on 29 June 2000
To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions it has had with the financial sector on providing venture capital for long-term investment for new and expanding Scottish companies.
Answer
The Scottish Executive is keen to ensure that small and medium-size companies are able to access sufficient finance to develop their activities.
Scottish Development Finance, the investment arm of Scottish Enterprise, currently operates two specific schemes in partnership with the private sector - the Scottish Equity Partnership and the Scottish Technology Fund - aimed at providing venture capital support for new and expanding Scottish companies.
SDF maintains strong links with the financial sector and the Scottish Executive is currently working with SDF to consider ways in which additional venture capital support for SMEs might best be delivered. The establishment of Scottish Development Finance as an independent fund management business - due to take place in July - will allow SDF to attract additional investment into this important area.
- Asked by: Kenneth Gibson, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Thursday, 15 June 2000
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Current Status:
Answered by Iain Gray on 29 June 2000
To ask the Scottish Executive what steps it is taking to eliminate any discrimination against individuals with mental health problems.
Answer
The Framework for Mental Health Services in Scotland encourages all care agencies to promote mental health and engage actively in health promotion, including action to de-stigmatise mental illness.
- Asked by: Kenneth Gibson, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 21 June 2000
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Current Status:
Answered by Sam Galbraith on 29 June 2000
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-4663 by Mr Sam Galbraith on 31 May 2000, what mechanisms will be put in place to ensure a more even distribution of lottery funding.
Answer
We are monitoring the distribution of lottery funds and are addressing with distributors measures to encourage applications from areas of social and economic need.
- Asked by: Kenneth Gibson, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 14 June 2000
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Current Status:
Answered by Susan Deacon on 28 June 2000
To ask the Scottish Executive how many doctors within the NHSiS are currently suspended on full pay and what is the average length of suspension.
Answer
NHS Trusts are responsible for the operation of staff disciplinary procedures. The Scottish Executive has worked with Trusts and others to put in place a range of measures to improve and streamline the disciplinary process for medical staff. Trusts have been encouraged to consider alternatives to avoid unnecessary suspensions. Where suspension is considered necessary, the new measures will shorten the time that individuals spend on suspension and therefore reduce costs.
We are currently aware of two NHS hospital doctors suspended on full pay. The doctors have been suspended since April and May 2000 respectively. One other doctor, an honorary consultant employed by a University, has been suspended for three years. This suspension pre-dates the recent work to improve the disciplinary process. The circumstances surrounding this case would not have occurred under the revised arrangements but these arrangements cannot be applied retrospectively. We expect those concerned to bring the matter to a satisfactory conclusion.
- Asked by: Kenneth Gibson, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 14 June 2000
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Current Status:
Answered by David Steel on 28 June 2000
To ask the Presiding Officer whether the availability of nicotine replacement therapy within the Parliament will be publicised.
Answer
The SPCB's "Policy on Smoking in the Workplace" (Personnel Policy: No 1/1999) was issued by the Personnel Office on 19 November 1999. It was placed in the public folders and all members and staff were advised of this at the time. The policy is currently available in the Personnel pages of SPEIR.
The policy includes the provision of smoking cessation group sessions and nicotine patches at a cost. The Personnel Office will shortly issue a reminder drawing the availability of this service to the attention of those covered by the policy.
- Asked by: Kenneth Gibson, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 13 June 2000
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Current Status:
Answered by Jack McConnell on 27 June 2000
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will make representations to Her Majesty's Government regarding devolving powers relating to council tax benefit to Scotland, given that local government levies the tax.
Answer
Social security benefits including housing and council tax benefit are reserved matters and are the responsibility of the DSS.
- Asked by: Kenneth Gibson, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 13 June 2000
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Current Status:
Answered by Peter Peacock on 27 June 2000
To ask the Scottish Executive what steps it is taking to encourage local authorities to provide free school milk to (a) all schoolchildren whose parents are in receipt of either income support or working families tax credit and (b) other schoolchildren.
Answer
Under the Education (Scotland) Act 1980, as amended, all local authorities must provide free milk, meals and other refreshments to children whose parents are in receipt of income support, income-based jobseeker's allowance or support provided under Part VI of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999. They have a discretionary power to provide milk, meals and other refreshments to other children but must charge for such provision.
Local authorities are aware of their responsibilities and the Scottish Executive has no plans to take specific steps in this area.
