- Asked by: Phil Gallie, MSP for South of Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Monday, 25 November 2002
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Current Status:
Answered by Lewis Macdonald on 9 December 2002
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has received an offer from West Sound Radio that would provide free maintenance of roundabouts to a high standard on the A77.
Answer
Yes. The Scottish Executive did receive a proposal from West Sound Radio suggesting that it would pay for landscape works on the roundabouts in exchange for signs which, we understand, would carry information about the radio station and also road safety messages. However, the proposal lacked detail and officials have therefore written to West Sound Radio setting out the Scottish Executive's position on this and other road safety related issues.
- Asked by: Phil Gallie, MSP for South of Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Monday, 25 November 2002
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Current Status:
Answered by Jack McConnell on 28 November 2002
To ask the First Minister what assessment the Scottish Executive has made of the implications for the temporary jobs market of EU legislation to give temporary workers the same employment rights as permanent employees.
Answer
We are in regular contact with the DTI on a wide range of issues including the European Commission's proposals for a new Directive.
- Asked by: Phil Gallie, MSP for South of Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Monday, 11 November 2002
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Current Status:
Answered by Richard Simpson on 26 November 2002
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will expand its campaign that highlights the health risks associated with tobacco smoking to include any increased health risks arising from smoking cannabis.
Answer
The Executive has helped to fund the publication of an updated version the Fags & Hash leaflet, prepared in partnership by Action on Smoking and Health Scotland, the Scottish Drugs Forum, the Health Education Board for Scotland and the West Lothian Drugs and Alcohol Service.This leaflet sets out the health risks from tobacco and cannabis, and it highlights that cannabis contains higher levels of dangerous tars and gases than tobacco. The leaflet has been given wide distribution in Scotland.
- Asked by: Phil Gallie, MSP for South of Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Monday, 11 November 2002
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Current Status:
Answered by Richard Simpson on 26 November 2002
To ask the Scottish Executive what consideration it will give to the recent research by the British Lung Foundation stating that smoking cannabis carries a seven to one higher degree of risk than smoking ordinary tobacco cigarettes.
Answer
We were aware, prior to publication of the British Lung Foundation study, that cannabis carries potentially serious health risks, including risks posed by levels of carcinogenic tars, gases and chemicals which exceed those found in tobacco. As part of our Drugs Communications Strategy, we published, in July, a Know the Score booklet on cannabis. The booklet sets out the legal position in Scotland, and the risks to physical and mental health associated with this drug. The text already makes it clear that smoking cannabis may be more harmful than smoking tobacco, since cannabis has a higher concentration of certain chemicals which can cause cancer. We printed 45,000 leaflets, and it is now being reprinted to meet demand. We will also publish a shorter version, perhaps credit-card sized, aimed specifically at young people.The free and confidential Know the Score Informationline can also provide advice on cannabis, and information can be accessed on the Know the Score website.
- Asked by: Phil Gallie, MSP for South of Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Thursday, 24 October 2002
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Current Status:
Answered by Margaret Curran on 26 November 2002
To ask the Scottish Executive in which five years from 1992-93 to 2001-02 spending on new and improved social housing was lowest.
Answer
I have asked Mr Bob Millar, Chief Executive of Communities Scotland to respond. His response is as follows:Spending on new and improved social housing was lowest in the following five years - 1996-97, 1997-98, 1998-99, 1999-2000 and 2000-01.
- Asked by: Phil Gallie, MSP for South of Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Thursday, 24 October 2002
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Current Status:
Answered by Margaret Curran on 26 November 2002
To ask the Scottish Executive in which five years from 1992-93 to 2001-02 spending on new and improved social housing was highest and what the average spending level on new and improved housing was for these years.
Answer
I have asked Mr Bob Millar, Chief Executive of Communities Scotland to respond. His response is as follows:Spending on new and improved social housing was highest in the following five years - 1992-93, 1993-94, 1994-95, 1995-96 and 2001-02 with the average spending level being £239 million and the highest annual level of spending being £253 million in 2001-02.
- Asked by: Phil Gallie, MSP for South of Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 25 September 2002
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Current Status:
Answered by Frank McAveety on 3 October 2002
To ask the Scottish Executive whether its policy of free personal care for elderly people is being implemented nationally in line with its expectations.
Answer
The Scottish Executive believes that there has been a fair and consistent implementation across Scotland. Chair of the Implementation Steering Group, Alexis Jay, is receiving regular feedback from local authorities and the overall picture is very positive.
- Asked by: Phil Gallie, MSP for South of Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 11 September 2002
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Current Status:
Answered by Lewis Macdonald on 19 September 2002
To ask the Scottish Executive what increase on current traffic flows is built into the traffic flow design figures for the proposed Glasgow southern orbital junction with the M77.
Answer
The present and predicted hourly traffic volumes in the year 2020, taken as the design year for this scheme, were given in the answers to questions S1W-28403 and S1W-28404 on 10 September 2002. North of the proposed junction with the Glasgow Southern Orbital route the increases are approximately 1,000 vehicles and 700 vehicles respectively for the morning and evening peak hours. South of the junction traffic to and from the Glasgow Southern Orbital will add to this flow and the increases are 2,800 and 2,350 vehicles in the peak hours.
- Asked by: Phil Gallie, MSP for South of Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Thursday, 05 September 2002
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Current Status:
Answered by Iain Gray on 17 September 2002
To ask the Scottish Executive whether all legitimate invoices in respect of the individual learning accounts (ILA) scheme have now been cleared and, if they have not all been paid, how many ILA invoices have been (a) paid in full, (b) paid in part and (c) not received any payments.
Answer
The payments validation exercise undertaken by Scottish Enterprise and
Highland and Islands Enterprise has now been completed, with the vast majority of claims having been validated and cleared for payment. However, in some cases, the validation exercise has identified indications of irregular payments. In such cases work is progressing to conclude the payment process, taking due account of the problems identified.
- Asked by: Phil Gallie, MSP for South of Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Thursday, 05 September 2002
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Current Status:
Answered by Iain Gray on 17 September 2002
To ask the Scottish Executive how many learning providers or other organisations or individuals have been reported for fraudulent claims relating to individual learning accounts.
Answer
A number of learning providers are presently under police investigation. The Crown Office has advised that it would be inappropriate to comment further at this point.
