- Asked by: Michael Russell, MSP for South of Scotland, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Monday, 10 December 2001
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Current Status:
Answered by Nicol Stephen on 24 December 2001
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has any plans to improve the availability, funding and promotion of basic language fluency courses for people who are considering taking up Gaelic-medium teacher training courses.
Answer
We are considering in conjunction with the Scottish Qualifications Authority (SQA) the proposals contained in the SQA report on Gaelic Immersion Courses.
- Asked by: Michael Russell, MSP for South of Scotland, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Monday, 10 December 2001
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Current Status:
Answered by Nicol Stephen on 24 December 2001
To ask the Scottish Executive what vacant posts at the Scottish Qualifications Authority have been advertised internally only over the past three months and under what criteria it was decided to adopt such an approach to these posts.
Answer
This is a matter for the Scottish Qualifications Authority (SQA). However, SQA's Management Statement and Financial Memorandum requires the SQA to operate a recruitment system that is based on fair and open competition. I will arrange for the chairman to respond.
- Asked by: Michael Russell, MSP for South of Scotland, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Friday, 07 December 2001
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Current Status:
Answered by Wendy Alexander on 21 December 2001
To ask the Scottish Executive what access to further education is available to the children of asylum seekers or asylum seekers themselves.
Answer
In September, the Scottish Executive announced an additional, annual £0.5 million to assist colleges' provision of basic English courses for asylum seekers. At their discretion, colleges may also offer access to part-time vocational courses and support for the cost of books and travel.These arrangements also extend to the dependants of those seeking asylum.
- Asked by: Michael Russell, MSP for South of Scotland, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Thursday, 06 December 2001
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Current Status:
Answered by Cathy Jamieson on 20 December 2001
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has considered what minimum national qualification should be required for nursery nurses.
Answer
Nursery nurses are included in the childcare workforce that will be regulated by the new Scottish Social Services Council. No decision has yet been reached regarding national qualifications for this workforce.
- Asked by: Michael Russell, MSP for South of Scotland, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Thursday, 22 November 2001
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Current Status:
Answered by Malcolm Chisholm on 17 December 2001
To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to fund the rebuilding of the Stonehouse Hospital; whether it is actively considering a private finance model for this project, and when it expects the rebuilding work to commence.
Answer
The Health Department assessed the business case received from Lanarkshire Primary Care NHS Trust for the redevelopment of part of the Stonehouse Hospital site.The business case indicated that there was potential to procure this development through a Public/Private Partnership/Private Finance Initiative and, in approving the business case, the trust was asked to fully explore this option.It is a matter for Lanarkshire Primary Care NHS Trust to determine a suitable timetable for this project.
- Asked by: Michael Russell, MSP for South of Scotland, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 28 November 2001
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Current Status:
Answered by Colin Boyd on 12 December 2001
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will investigate the delay in replying to my letters concerning Mr John Doyle sent to the Procurator Fiscal's office in Kilmarnock.
Answer
There was no delay. The letter of 2 July 2001 was acknowledged on 3 July. It related to an on-going investigation. On 22 August 2001 a letter was sent to the constituency office address intimating the outcome of the investigation and the decision in relation to the case. Evidently it did not reach Michael Russell because he wrote again on 25 September 2001. The Procurator Fiscal replied to that letter on 4 October 2001, addressing that letter also to the constituency office. On 27 November 2001 a letter was received from Mr Doyle, from which it was clear that the information sent on 22 August and 4 October had not been passed on to him. The Procurator Fiscal replied to him and sent a copy to Michael Russell on 28 November 2001.
- Asked by: Michael Russell, MSP for South of Scotland, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 28 November 2001
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Current Status:
Answered by Colin Boyd on 12 December 2001
To ask the Scottish Executive what response time to letters from MSPs should be achieved by the Procurator Fiscal service and what arrangements it is making to ensure that MSPs get timeous replies.
Answer
The response time is 20 working days. Correspondence response times are monitored and the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service achieves exemplary performance. I refer the member to the answer given to question S1W-20492 for the response times achieved in correspondence with a particular Procurator Fiscal.
- Asked by: Michael Russell, MSP for South of Scotland, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Thursday, 15 November 2001
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Current Status:
Answered by Mike Watson on 11 December 2001
To ask the Scottish Executive what its powers and Historic Scotland's powers are in relation to the Protection of Wrecks Act 1973.
Answer
The powers of the Scottish ministers, in relation to the Protection of Wrecks Act 1973 are to designate by order the sites of historic wrecks in Scottish waters (sections 1(1) and 1(2)) and to grant licences to carry out diving and salvage operations on such sites (section 1(5)). Historic Scotland, an agency of the Scottish Executive, advises Scottish ministers and supports them in the exercise of these powers.
- Asked by: Michael Russell, MSP for South of Scotland, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Thursday, 15 November 2001
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Current Status:
Answered by Mike Watson on 11 December 2001
To ask the Scottish Executive what input it has into the Advisory Committee on Historic Wreck Sites.
Answer
Officials of Historic Scotland, which is an agency of the Scottish Executive, attend meetings of the Advisory Committee.
- Asked by: Michael Russell, MSP for South of Scotland, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Friday, 23 November 2001
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Current Status:
Answered by Andy Kerr on 7 December 2001
To ask the Scottish Executive what criteria it uses when considering the relocation of (a) its departments and (b) non-departmental government bodies to locations outside Edinburgh or Glasgow.
Answer
The criteria to be taken into account will vary according to the circumstances of the organisation under review. The policy states (question S1W-1558 refers) that the location of public sector jobs should promote efficiency and effectiveness and that, subject to that, the Executive will seek opportunities to locate jobs as close as possible to the communities they serve.A number of general criteria were set out in the letter sent to local authorities and Local Enterprise Companies in December last year, seeking information from them about potential location opportunities in their area. This made clear that ministers will take into account a range of financial and non-financial factors in reaching their decision, including economic factors relating to the areas concerned, such as unemployment levels and other indicators of deprivation, costs, transport links, disabled access, staff and personnel issues and environmental considerations. A range of specific issues which relate to the organisation under review, will also be taken into account.
