Chamber and committees

Questions and answers

Parliamentary questions can be asked by any MSP to the Scottish Government or the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body. The questions provide a means for MSPs to get factual and statistical information.

Written questions must be answered within 10 working days (20 working days during recess)
Other questions such as Topical, Portfolio, General and First Minister's Question Times are taken in the Chamber

Urgent Questions aren't included in the Question and Answers search. There is a SPICe fact sheet listing Urgent and emergency questions.

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Question reference: S1W-07530

Asked by: Robert Brown, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Friday, 02 June 2000
Current Status: Answered by Wendy Alexander on 3 July 2000

To ask the Scottish Executive what the criteria are on which Scottish Homes approves appointments to the Tenant Adviser Panel.

In order to be included on Scottish Home's panel of independent advisors, prospective advisors have to undergo an application and selection process designed to establish that they have the appropriate knowledge, skills and expertise required of them to fulfil their responsibilities in respect of Scottish Homes' tenants considering transfer proposals.

Prospective advisers are required to submit information about their professional competence including details of relevant qualifications and experience. They are then invited to an interview where they must make a formal submission based on a real life case study. They are also required to prepare an example of the written communication they might distribute to tenants. Prospective advisers are also tested on their knowledge and understanding of housing management, the legal aspects of stock transfers, finance, communications, building surveying and maintenance. In addition, if prospective advisors intend to use sub-contractors for any aspect of their service, full details have to be supplied along with details of the sub-contractors they might use.

Information on panel members is updated annually when any requirement for reassessment is considered.

Question reference: S1W-07971

Asked by: Robert Brown, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Wednesday, 14 June 2000
Current Status: Answered by Peter Peacock on 3 July 2000

To ask the Scottish Executive how many Children's Hearings in Glasgow were continued because of (a) non-appearance by a parent or other relevant person, (b) non-appearance by a social worker and (c) non-availability of required reports, showing the figures as a percentage of the total number of social work hearings and for each year since 1996-97.

Question reference: S1W-07969

Asked by: Robert Brown, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Wednesday, 14 June 2000
Current Status: Answered by Peter Peacock on 3 July 2000

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has any plans to give increased powers to Children's Hearings to deal with related family matters affecting the welfare of children referred to them.

Question reference: S1W-07814

Asked by: Robert Brown, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Friday, 09 June 2000
Current Status: Answered by Henry McLeish on 3 July 2000

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will make representations to Her Majesty's Government to exempt, in the calculation of income support, sums paid under the Access Fund.

Question reference: S1W-07836

Asked by: Robert Brown, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Friday, 09 June 2000
Current Status: Answered by Sarah Boyack on 30 June 2000

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has any plans to review the definition of "material change of use" particularly as it relates to class 33 development by local authorities under the Town and Country Planning (General Permitted Development) (Scotland) Order 1992.

Question reference: S1W-07835

Asked by: Robert Brown, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Friday, 09 June 2000
Current Status: Answered by Sarah Boyack on 30 June 2000

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has any plans to extend the list of developments designated as "bad neighbour developments" for the purposes of schedule 2 of the Town and Country Planning (General Permitted Development) (Scotland) Order 1992 to include outdoor developments such as skateboard areas, BMX tracks and playparks.

Question reference: S1W-07811

Asked by: Robert Brown, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Friday, 09 June 2000
Current Status: Answered by Sarah Boyack on 30 June 2000

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has been involved in any discussions with Strathclyde Passenger Transport Authority to support the reintroduction of trams in Glasgow.

Question reference: S1W-07973

Asked by: Robert Brown, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Wednesday, 14 June 2000
Current Status: Answered by Iain Gray on 28 June 2000

To ask the Scottish Executive what the percentage is of qualified social workers who have been absent from work as a result of stress within each local authority for the most recent year for which figures are available.

Question reference: S1W-07972

Asked by: Robert Brown, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Wednesday, 14 June 2000
Current Status: Answered by Sam Galbraith on 28 June 2000

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has any plans to encourage local authorities to recruit family support teams including more homebuilders.

The Executive's Sure Start Scotland initiative, with funding of £42 million over three years, provides support for families with very young children. Local authorities also have statutory obligations in relation to children in need. Guidance on the implementation of The Children (Scotland) Act 1995, issued in 1997, notes the role of family support services which may include home helps or family aides. It is for local authorities to determine what services or support families in their area need.

Question reference: S1W-07970

Asked by: Robert Brown, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Wednesday, 14 June 2000
Current Status: Answered by Sam Galbraith on 28 June 2000

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has any plans to assess the effectiveness of how resources are spent by local authority social work departments.