- Asked by: Christine Grahame, MSP for South of Scotland, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Friday, 12 January 2001
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Current Status:
Answered by Jackie Baillie on 26 January 2001
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1O-2707 by Jackie Baillie on 14 December 2000, how many credit unions were extant in 1997-98, 1998-99, 1999-2000 and in the current financial year; where those currently extant are located, and how many low cost insurance with rent schemes currently exist.
Answer
Figures on credit unions are available from the Registrar of Credit Unions now part of the Financial Services Authority. In 1997-98 the Registrar's annual report recorded that there were 124 credit unions in existence in Scotland. In 1998-99 this had risen to 135. The Registrar's report for 1999-2000 is not yet available but the FSA confirm that as of 16 January there were 138 credit unions registered in Scotland. The Registrar's report details the address of each credit union but aggregate figures are only provided for Scotland.
There are currently no details available on the number of low cost insurance schemes available but the Executive is in the process of establishing which local authorities provide such schemes. The Scottish Federation of Housing Associations operates a scheme on behalf of housing associations and approximately 80 housing associations participate.
- Asked by: Christine Grahame, MSP for South of Scotland, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Friday, 12 January 2001
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Current Status:
Answered by Wendy Alexander on 26 January 2001
To ask the Scottish Executive how often and on what dates the Scottish Textiles Forum has met since June 2000.
Answer
I refer Ms Grahame to the answer given to question S1W-12470.
- Asked by: Christine Grahame, MSP for South of Scotland, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Friday, 12 January 2001
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Current Status:
Answered by Malcolm Chisholm on 26 January 2001
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-11248 by Malcolm Chisholm on 29 November 2000, how it intends to monitor the allocation of the #10 million earmarked to support carers.
Answer
Under the Strategy for Carers in Scotland local authorities have been asked to spend £10 million a year from this year on supporting carers, double the funding previously earmarked. The strategy requires authorities to report to the Executive in detail on how they use their share of these resources. This is being done through local authorities' Community Care Plans and their annual updates. These plans and updates must be accompanied by a letter from local carers' organisations confirming that they have been consulted on the use of these resources and that they are satisfied with how the money is being spent.
- Asked by: Christine Grahame, MSP for South of Scotland, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Friday, 12 January 2001
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Current Status:
Answered by Jackie Baillie on 26 January 2001
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-11588 by Jackie Baillie on 29 November 2000, whether it will give a detailed breakdown of the allocation of the #10 million for refuge development; what criteria will be used in allocating funding, and whether there is any ceiling on the amount available for existing refuges.
Answer
£2 million will be made available in the years 2001-02 and 2002-03 and £6 million will be spent in 2003-04.Bidding guidance is currently being drawn up and will be issued shortly.
- Asked by: Christine Grahame, MSP for South of Scotland, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Friday, 12 January 2001
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Current Status:
Answered by Wendy Alexander on 26 January 2001
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-9641 by Henry McLeish on 19 September 2000, how many times the Scottish Textiles Forum has met to date; what decisions have been taken further to the forum's discussions, and what measures have consequently been implemented.
Answer
The Scottish Textile Forum met on 12 June and 12 September, and the next meeting will be on 31 January. Minutes of these meetings are available on the Scottish Executive's website (http://www.scotland.gov.uk/who/elld/tra_tex.asp). Subgroups of the forum have been working on producing an action plan document for the industry. Plans are also being developed for future support of the textile industry by the Enterprise Network. Further announcements on these developments will be made in the spring.
- Asked by: Christine Grahame, MSP for South of Scotland, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Friday, 12 January 2001
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Current Status:
Answered by Malcolm Chisholm on 26 January 2001
To ask the Scottish Executive Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-11248 by Malcolm Chisholm on 29 November 2000, whether it will give a breakdown by local authority of the distribution of the #10 million earmarked to support carers.
Answer
The £10 million allocated to local authorities in 2000-01 under the
Strategy for Carers in Scotland for services to support carers was distributed as follows:
Local Authority | (£000) |
| Aberdeen | 411 |
| Aberdeenshire | 378 |
| Angus | 233 |
| Argyll & Bute | 204 |
| Clackmannanshire | 97 |
| Dumfries & Galloway | 301 |
| Dundee City | 326 |
| East Ayrshire | 244 |
| East Dunbartonshire | 166 |
East Lothian | 177 |
| East Renfrewshire | 146 |
| Edinburgh, City of | 887 |
| Eilean Siar | 70 |
| Falkirk | 270 |
| Fife | 699 |
| Glasgow City | 1355 |
| Highland | 387 |
| Inverclyde | 181 |
| Midlothian | 134 |
| Moray | 155 |
| North Ayrshire | 283 |
| North Lanarkshire | 611 |
| Orkney Islands | 38 |
Perth & Kinross | 274 |
| Renfrewshire | 322 |
| Scottish Borders | 237 |
| Shetland Islands | 40 |
| South Ayrshire | 244 |
| South Lanarkshire | 546 |
| Stirling | 161 |
| West Dunbartonshire | 183 |
| West Lothian | 242 |
- Asked by: Christine Grahame, MSP for South of Scotland, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Friday, 12 January 2001
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Current Status:
Answered by Jackie Baillie on 26 January 2001
To ask the Scottish Executive what statistics are available on the level of personal debt and whether any are available (a) on a geographical basis, (b) broken down by household income and (c) showing the increases or decreases in levels of personal debt under (a) and (b) in each of the last three years.
Answer
Official statistics on the level of debt are limited. The Bank of England provides details on consumer credit by type of lender but not broken down either by geographical area or household type. The lack of such data is an issue being considered by the DTI Taskforce on Overindebtedness with which the Executive is involved.
- Asked by: Christine Grahame, MSP for South of Scotland, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Friday, 12 January 2001
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Current Status:
Answered by Malcolm Chisholm on 26 January 2001
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-11211 by Malcolm Chisholm on 29 November 2000, whether it will commission research into allegations regarding the surreptitious use of drugs in nursing and residential homes.
Answer
I have no such plans at present. The arrangements that are in place and those that are planned for the future are designed to ensure high quality care and protection for all care home residents. I will keep the need for research on this specific aspect under review.
- Asked by: Christine Grahame, MSP for South of Scotland, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Thursday, 11 January 2001
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Current Status:
Answered by Jim Wallace on 25 January 2001
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-11489 by Mr Jim Wallace on 12 December 2000, whether enhanced criminal record certificates will be available without charge to voluntary organisations working with other vulnerable people such as disabled and elderly people.
Answer
Enhanced criminal record certificates for those working with vulnerable people aged 18 or over would become available only after regulations are made under section 115(4) of the Police Act 1997. The question of charging volunteers working with vulnerable adults for the enhanced certificates will be considered before any such regulations are drafted.
- Asked by: Christine Grahame, MSP for South of Scotland, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Thursday, 11 January 2001
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Current Status:
Answered by Malcolm Chisholm on 25 January 2001
To ask the Scottish Executive what representations it has made to the Department of Social Security on any impact which the current level of Invalid Care Allowance has on its National Strategy for Carers and, in particular, on the living standards of carers.
Answer
The Strategy for Carers in Scotland is aimed at addressing the needs of carers for better information and more flexible health and social care support. Financial support to carers through the social security and benefits system remains the responsibility of the UK Government. We welcome the Government's recently announced packages of financial measures to help carers. The measures include substantial increases in the weekly Carer Premium, an increase in the earnings limit for Invalid Care Allowance (ICA) and extending eligibility for ICA to carers over the age of 65, all of which should help deliver improvements in the living standards of many Scottish carers.
