Chamber and committees

A Green Goddess and the Breathing Apparatus Rescue Team were actioned in response to an emergency call. A police traffic patrol unit was in the vicinity at the time and responded immediately when this call came through. In line with operational orders they assessed the situation and found no visible flames, and no cries for help/assistance. They sought advice on entry to the building from the Senior Fire Officer present at the Joint Operational Control Centre. They were instructed not to force entry as a Green Goddess and Breathing Apparatus Rescue Team were en route to the incident. The involvement of the traffic patrol unit did not affect the time of response to the emergency call.

The level of emergency fire cover available in Glasgow on 21 January, both in terms of numbers and in geographical spread, was the same as that on previous strike days.

It took 21 minutes, not 27 minutes, from time of call for the Green Goddesses to arrive at the fire. The Resource Allocation System is set up to identify the nearest Temporary Service Fire Station which was Jardine Street in this instance. The Breathing Apparatus Rescue Team arrived from Birkmyre Street 22 minutes after the call. The journey time from mobilisation to arrival was 14 and 15 minutes respectively.

The term "registered addict" is no longer used. Research commissioned by the Executive concluded that there were around 56,000 people in Scotland misusing opiates and benzodiazepines in 2000. A similar study will be undertaken this year.Information on drug seizures, drug-related offences, convictions for drug-related offences, and drug-related deaths can be obtained from the Drug Misuse Statistics Scotland 2002 which were published electronically by the Information and Statistics Division on 31 January. The statistics can be accessed at www.drugmisuse.isdscotland.org. Criminal statistics cover recorded crimes, rather than the numbers of people arrested, and breakdowns by drug type are not available for every category requested.There is no comprehensive information on the costs of drug-related crime in Scotland which, for example, includes estimates of social and economic costs beyond the public sector. However, a Scottish Executive Policy Unit review in 2000 provided a broad estimate that aggregate expenditure by public sector organisations in Scotland (including enforcement activities, court proceedings, health and social care, support for families and children) is over £330 million per annum.

I refer the member to the answer given to question S1W-32804 today. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament's website, the search facility for which can be found at: http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/search_wa.

Information on appeals prior to the appraisal year 2001-02 is not held centrally. However, information collated by personnel teams, which may not be complete, shows that in the 2000-01 appraisal year five appeals were received and heard. Of these, two were upheld or partially upheld, two were not upheld and one has yet to be determined.In the 2001-02 appraisal year nine appeals were received and heard. Of these three were upheld, five were not upheld and one has yet to be determined.Appellants were in Bands A to C.Given the small number of appeals and the need to maintain confidentiality in relation to individuals it is not possible to give a more detailed breakdown of each case.The performance management system applies to all staff in Bands A to C. All arbiters are experienced managers at Head of Division level (Senior Civil Service) or the level immediately below (Band C). All staff receive training in performance appraisal and written guidance on the conduct of appeals is provided for arbiters and appellants. Also, personnel teams and heads of profession are available on request to provide advice.

I refer the member to the answer given to question S1W-32804 today. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament's website, the search facility for which can be found at: http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/search_wa.

The specific duties under the amended Race Relations Act to promote race equality, imposed on key public bodies by Scottish ministers earlier this year, will ensure that our public services are fair, accessible and sensitive to the needs of all our communities. The European Convention on Human Rights does not add to or detract from these responsibilities.

The specific duties under the amended Race Relations Act to promote race equality imposed on key public bodies by Scottish ministers earlier last year will ensure that our public services are fair, accessible and sensitive to the needs of all our communities. The UN International Convention on the Elimination of all forms of Racial Discrimination does not add to or detract from these responsibilities.

The cost of any such compensation would depend on the parameters agreed for support and the circumstances of the individuals concerned. EC provisions are in place relating to such matters, including in Article 12 of Council Regulation (EC) 2792/1999.