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-09789

Asked by: Bill Aitken, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Monday, 11 September 2000
Current Status: Answered by Wendy Alexander on 4 October 2000

To ask the Scottish Executive when the definition of "tolerable standard" for homes was last reviewed and whether it has any plans to review the definition.

Question reference: S1W-09952

Asked by: Bill Aitken, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Monday, 18 September 2000
Current Status: Answered by Frank McAveety on 2 October 2000

To ask the Scottish Executive whether the grants to be made available under its initiative on central heating announced on 18 September 2000 will be means tested and, if so, what the eligibility criteria will be.

Question reference: S1W-09951

Asked by: Bill Aitken, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Monday, 18 September 2000
Current Status: Answered by Frank McAveety on 2 October 2000

To ask the Scottish Executive what procedures it intends to put in place regarding the recovery of the costs of central heating installed as a result of the initiative announced on 18 September 2000 in cases where an elderly person who is an owner occupier or private tenant dies or leaves the accommodation in respect of which the grant was awarded.

Question reference: S1W-09953

Asked by: Bill Aitken, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Monday, 18 September 2000
Current Status: Answered by Frank McAveety on 2 October 2000

To ask the Scottish Executive whether elderly people who have central heating installed as a result of the initiative announced on 18 September 2000 and who are owner occupiers or private tenants will be eligible for a further grant if they move to a new home that does not have central heating.

Question reference: S1W-09954

Asked by: Bill Aitken, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Monday, 18 September 2000
Current Status: Answered by Frank McAveety on 2 October 2000

To ask the Scottish Executive which groups will receive priority in its initiative on central heating announced on 18 September 2000 and how priority need will be assessed.

Question reference: S1W-09790

Asked by: Bill Aitken, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Monday, 11 September 2000
Current Status: Answered by Wendy Alexander on 25 September 2000

To ask the Scottish Executive how many homes are below the current definition of "tolerable standard".

The latest local authority estimates of the number of houses below the Tolerable Standard (BTS), as at 31 March 1999, were published in the housing series statistical bulletin HSG/2000/1, copies of which are available from SPICe. Notes to the table explain that the 1996 Scottish House Condition Survey gave a national BTS estimate which was significantly lower than the amalgamation of local authority estimates for 1996. A research study commissioned by the Scottish Executive to identify the reasons for the divergence will shortly be published and will be helpful in allowing more accurate numbers to be compiled in the future.

Question reference: S1O-02250

Asked by: Bill Aitken, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 12 September 2000
Current Status: Answered by Sarah Boyack on 20 September 2000

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has any plans to reconsider its position regarding funding of the M74 extension in the light of recent representations.

Question reference: S1W-09410

Asked by: Bill Aitken, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Friday, 25 August 2000
Current Status: Answered by Colin Boyd on 15 September 2000

To ask the Scottish Executive whether, in the light of recent court decisions allowing bail for persons charged with murder, it intends to ensure that trials in these cases proceed within 110 days as would be the case were the accused person remanded in custody.

The statutory time limit for commencement of the trial in such cases will be that applying in all other bail cases, namely 12 months from the date of the accused's first appearance at court. It is intended that greater priority will be given to such cases, than to other bail cases, in both their investigation by precognition and their allocation to High Court sittings. The date on which the trial proceeds will require to take several factors into account, particularly the state of preparedness of the defence and whether the High Court sitting features other cases with more pressing time-bars.

Question reference: S1W-09319

Asked by: Bill Aitken, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 22 August 2000
Current Status: Answered by Sarah Boyack on 12 September 2000

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it intends to introduce similar concessionary fare proposals as have been introduced in England.

Most Scottish local authorities already have discounts which are as good or better than the average half-fare proposed for England. A research study is currently underway examining the costs of a variety of different options in Scotland and is due to report soon. In the light of that report and the resources available the Scottish Executive will consider enhancing the benefits already available in Scotland.

Question reference: S1W-07670

Asked by: Bill Aitken, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 06 June 2000
Current Status: Answered by Wendy Alexander on 26 June 2000

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will detail the steps to be taken in the consultation process regarding the proposal to transfer Glasgow's council housing stock.