- Asked by: Tommy Sheridan, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Socialist Party
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Date lodged: Monday, 21 February 2000
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Current Status:
Answered by Susan Deacon on 6 March 2000
To ask the Scottish Executive what was the spending in actual and real terms on the NHS dental budget in 1997-98, 1998-99 and to date in 1999-2000.
Answer
The figures requested are listed in the table below:
GROSS EXPENDITURE ON NHS GENERAL DENTAL SERVICES (£,000) |
YEAR | CASH | REAL TERMS (at 1997-98 prices) |
1997-98 | 161,022 (outturn) | 161,022 (outturn) |
1998-99 | 168,168 (outturn) | 162,854 (outturn) |
1999-2000 | 178,603 (planned expenditure) | 169,153 (planned expenditure) |
- Asked by: Tommy Sheridan, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Socialist Party
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Date lodged: Monday, 21 February 2000
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Current Status:
Answered by Wendy Alexander on 6 March 2000
To ask the Scottish Executive why the Ombudsman for Housing Associations has retired, what plans have been made for a replacement and what arrangements have been made for public scrutiny of the appointment.
Answer
The Ombudsman took a personal decision to retire on the grounds that he was beyond normal retirement age. Scottish Homes, which at the moment is responsible for this service, is currently in the process of recruiting a new Ombudsman.As part of a general consideration of public sector Ombudsmen in Scotland, the Scottish Executive will shortly consult about options for the future of the Housing Association Ombudsman.
- Asked by: Tommy Sheridan, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Socialist Party
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Date lodged: Monday, 21 February 2000
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Current Status:
Answered by Susan Deacon on 6 March 2000
To ask the Scottish Executive what proportion of the NHS dental budget was raised by dental charges in 1997-98, 1998-99 and to date in 1999-2000.
Answer
The percentage of the gross NHS general dental services budget collected from patient charges in 1997-98 and 1998-99 respectively was 29.36 and 29.16. Patient charges constitute 28.23% of planned gross general dental services expenditure for 1999-2000.
- Asked by: Tommy Sheridan, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Socialist Party
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Date lodged: Thursday, 17 February 2000
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Current Status:
Answered by Jim Wallace on 2 March 2000
To ask the Scottish Executive what services are available to men across Scotland who are the victims of sexual offences, whether as children or as adults, and whether it is satisfied that this service provision is adequate.
Answer
The Scottish Executive funds Victim Support Scotland to provide practical and emotional support to all victims of crime. Specially trained volunteers provide specific help to victims of rape and sexual assault, irrespective of gender. All victims of violent crime are eligible to apply for Criminal Injuries Compensation.The Executive has given a firm commitment to support the victims of crime and is continuing to develop and improve the services for them.
- Asked by: Tommy Sheridan, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Socialist Party
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Date lodged: Monday, 14 February 2000
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Current Status:
Answered by Henry McLeish on 28 February 2000
To ask the Scottish Executive why there has been a delay in the publication of the literacy and numeracy survey of adult learners; whether it will provide a summary of the main results of this survey, and what policy implications the survey has for the adult literacy programme.
Answer
The Scottish Executive is currently funding a national development project on adult literacies that will produce good practice guidelines for practitioners. As part of that project, a survey was carried out last year of the pattern and nature of provision by education authorities to meet adults' literacy and numeracy learning needs. The survey report will be issued to the education authorities - as agreed at the time of the survey - as soon as it is printed, sometime next month.The project is scheduled to complete its work this summer with a report to the Scottish Executive.
- Asked by: Tommy Sheridan, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Socialist Party
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Date lodged: Monday, 14 February 2000
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Current Status:
Answered by Wendy Alexander on 28 February 2000
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it is aware of the recently expressed concerns of Aberdeen Federation of Tenants' and Residents' Associations, South Lanarkshire Trades Council and Hamilton Federation of Tenants, calling for a moratorium on council housing stock transfers.
Answer
I am aware of these calls for a moratorium on housing transfers. The Scottish Executive is committed to promoting community empowerment, control and ownership. Transfer will only take place if a majority of tenants in a ballot vote for it.
- Asked by: Tommy Sheridan, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Socialist Party
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Date lodged: Monday, 14 February 2000
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Current Status:
Answered by Jack McConnell on 28 February 2000
To ask the Scottish Executive whether, in the light of the recent Accounts Commission report Benefits, Finance and Housing, it will urgently bring forward proposals to write off local authority poll tax debts.
Answer
Current legislation already provides councils with the power to write off debts, with the agreement of their auditors, and where there is no prospect of recovery of the debt.
- Asked by: Tommy Sheridan, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Socialist Party
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 09 February 2000
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Current Status:
Answered by Wendy Alexander on 17 February 2000
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it is satisfied with the level of information made available to Glasgow's tenants about the Executive Steering Group's housing stock transfer proposals and whether the ballot to determine Glasgow's tenants' position on the stock transfer proposal is still due to be held in November.
Answer
The Glasgow Housing Partnership Steering Group is preparing a framework within which tenants can be fully involved in shaping any proposal for community ownership. Full consultation with tenants will begin as soon as the Group has completed its work and the date set for the ballot will take account of tenants' views.
- Asked by: Tommy Sheridan, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Socialist Party
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 01 February 2000
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Current Status:
Answered by Jack McConnell on 15 February 2000
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will provide specific figures on or an estimate of how many council tax payers are currently in debt to local authorities for their water and sewerage charges and not for their council tax.
Answer
This information is not held centrally.
- Asked by: Tommy Sheridan, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Socialist Party
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 23 November 1999
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Current Status:
Answered by Jack McConnell on 9 February 2000
To ask the Scottish Executive whether, if East Dunbartonshire Council limits the increase in its council tax rates for 2000-01 to the level recommended by the Executive, it will be allowed to set a budget above the Executive's expenditure guidelines.
Answer
I made it clear in the reply I gave to a question from Mr Watson on 15 October that I will expect East Dunbartonshire to return to their guideline figure and I would expect to see them making clear progress towards that next year.
