- Asked by: Michael Russell, MSP for South of Scotland, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Thursday, 13 March 2003
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Current Status:
Answered by Lewis Macdonald on 27 March 2003
To ask the Scottish Executive what its position is on the charges levied by some airports for the provision of wheelchairs for disabled or infirm passengers.
Answer
The Scottish Executive is not aware of any charges being levied by airports in Scotland for the provision of wheelchairs. The responsibility for handling all passengers, including those with special needs, rests with airlines or their appointed handling agents.
- Asked by: Michael Russell, MSP for South of Scotland, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Thursday, 13 March 2003
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Current Status:
Answered by Lewis Macdonald on 27 March 2003
To ask the Scottish Executive whether its subsidy to Highlands and Islands Airports Ltd makes any provision for free access to assistance for disabled or infirm passengers.
Answer
No. Highlands and Islands Airports Ltd makes no charge for the provision of assistance to passengers with special needs at its airports. The responsibility for handling all passengers, including those with special needs, rests with airlines or their appointed handling agents.
- Asked by: Michael Russell, MSP for South of Scotland, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Monday, 17 March 2003
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Current Status:
Answered by Cathy Jamieson on 26 March 2003
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will make available, in full, the responses to the consultation process on the draft Education (Additional Support for Learning) (Scotland) Bill to replace the present Record of Needs legislation.
Answer
All written responses to the consultation on the draft Education (Additional Support for Learning) (Scotland) Bill will be held in the Scottish Executive library. Unless individual respondees have indicated otherwise, responses will be available for public scrutiny.
- Asked by: Michael Russell, MSP for South of Scotland, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Monday, 17 March 2003
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Current Status:
Answered by Mike Watson on 26 March 2003
To ask the Scottish Executive what response it has given to the request from a range of academics, historians and others for support in order to commemorate the 200th anniversary of the first voyage of the Charlotte Dundas on the Forth and Clyde Canal.
Answer
A reply was sent to Professor Harvie, explaining that the Scottish Executive does not directly fund projects of this nature. His expectation that the event be commemorated by debate in the Parliament is precluded because of the imminent dissolution.
- Asked by: Michael Russell, MSP for South of Scotland, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Monday, 17 March 2003
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Current Status:
Answered by Nicol Stephen on 26 March 2003
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will investigate the provision of appropriate Scottish Qualification Authority courses in photography, particularly at Intermediate and Higher grades.
Answer
No. This is a matter for the Scottish Qualifications Authority itself.
- Asked by: Michael Russell, MSP for South of Scotland, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Monday, 17 March 2003
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Current Status:
Answered by Nicol Stephen on 26 March 2003
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will ensure that the Scottish Qualifications Agency consults with English-based exam boards about the provision of courses and examinations in photography that are appropriate to Scottish students particularly in S5 and S6.
Answer
No. This is a matter for the Scottish Qualifications Authority itself.
- Asked by: Michael Russell, MSP for South of Scotland, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Monday, 17 March 2003
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Current Status:
Answered by Margaret Curran on 26 March 2003
To ask the Scottish Executive where the highest and lowest rates of house price inflation are.
Answer
The Scottish Executive does not collect data on house price inflation, however, the following table gives information from the Lloyds-TSB
Scottish House Price Monitor on the year-on-year percentage increase in house prices, adjusted for the mix of properties sold, at 2002 Q4.
| Area | 2002 Q4 Year-on-Year Inflation (%) |
| Aberdeen | 20.7 |
| Dundee | 12.4 |
| Edinburgh | 32.9 |
| Glasgow | 24.5 |
| Central, Fife, Perth and Tayside (outside Dundee) | 15.4 |
| North (outside Aberdeen) | 8.0 |
| South East (outside Edinburgh) | 12.2 |
| South West (outside Glasgow) | 6.9 |
| Scotland | 13.0 |
There are a number of sources of information on trends in house prices in Scotland, including estimates for Scotland as a whole, compiled by the Council of Mortgage Lenders on behalf of the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister. The Lloyds-TSB analysis of its own lending for house purchase is the only source of information which currently provides estimates of price change for areas within Scotland adjusted for any changes from quarter to quarter in the mix of properties sold.
- Asked by: Michael Russell, MSP for South of Scotland, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Monday, 17 March 2003
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Current Status:
Answered by Nicol Stephen on 26 March 2003
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will ask the Scottish Qualifications Agency to review the Higher Still art examinations with the aim of introducing detailed moderation at the school of a portfolio of work from each student that is representative of achievement throughout the year.
Answer
No. This is a matter for the Scottish Qualifications Authority itself.
- Asked by: Michael Russell, MSP for South of Scotland, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Monday, 17 March 2003
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Current Status:
Answered by Hugh Henry on 26 March 2003
To ask the Scottish Executive what the rates of drug-related crime were in the North Ayrshire local authority area in (a)1996-97, (b) 1997-98, (c) 1998-99, (d) 1999-2000, (e) 2000-01 and (f) 2001-02, broken down by (i) reported offences, (ii) cases brought and (iii) convictions secured.
Answer
The information available is contained in the following tables. The statistics relate to offences involving the illegal importation, cultivation, supply or possession of drugs. Other offences may be drug related, such as those committed to fund a drug habit, but these cannot be separately identified within the statistics held centrally.The statistics dealing with recorded crime and court proceedings are not directly comparable as a person may be proceeded against for more than one crime involving more than one victim, and a crime may be recorded in one year and proceedings taken in a subsequent year. Charges recorded by the police may also be altered as a result of the judicial process.Drug Offences Recorded by the Police, North Ayrshire Council Area, 1996-2001
| Year | 1996 | 1997 | 1998 | 1999 | 2000 | 2001 |
| Number | 633 | 669 | 798 | 721 | 845 | 872 |
Number of Persons Proceeded Against Where a Drugs Offence Was the Main Offence, Selected Courts
1, 1996-2001
| Year | 1996 | 1997 | 1998 | 1999 | 2000 | 2001 |
| Number Proceeded Against |
| Kilmarnock Sheriff Court2 | 415 | 260 | 260 | 183 | 179 | 206 |
| North Ayrshire District Court | 10 | 59 | 90 | 60 | 36 | 56 |
| Number with a Charge Proved |
| Kilmarnock Sheriff Court2 | 362 | 218 | 217 | 150 | 149 | 172 |
| North Ayrshire District Court | 10 | 58 | 89 | 58 | 36 | 55 |
Notes:1. Persons proceeded against and convicted for drugs offences recorded in the North Ayrshire council area may also be dealt with in other courts, e.g. the High Court, but the number of such cases are not separately identifiable within the data held centrally.2. There is no sheriff court in North Ayrshire council area; however, the majority of persons proceeded against in the sheriff court for drug offences committed in North Ayrshire are believed to be dealt with by Kilmarnock Sheriff Court (which will also deal with offences committed in East Ayrshire).
- Asked by: Michael Russell, MSP for South of Scotland, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Monday, 17 March 2003
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Current Status:
Answered by Cathy Jamieson on 26 March 2003
To ask the Scottish Executive whether its proposals to replace the present Record of Needs legislation fully conforms with the European Convention on Human Rights and whether it will give information on that matter to parents that are concerned about the impact of the proposed legislation on their children.
Answer
The proposals do not raise any issues in relation to the European Convention on Human Rights. It is a requirement in terms of the Scotland Act 1998 that when a bill is introduced to Parliament, the minister and the Presiding Officer will each certify that the bill is within the legislative competence of the Parliament.
