- Asked by: Maureen Macmillan, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Thursday, 02 December 1999
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Current Status:
Answered by Jim Wallace on 16 December 1999
To ask the Scottish Executive how many women in the last year were offered civil legal aid and subsequently declined it; what the subject matter of these cases was, and how much money would have been involved if those women who turned down civil legal aid had been granted full civil legal aid without having to pay contributions.
Answer
In 1998-99, the Scottish Legal Aid Board received 23,988 applications for legal aid, of which 14,811 (62%) were submitted by women. The table below shows the breakdown in initial decisions made by the Board:
| All categories |
Female | Male |
| Abandoned | 8.0% | 9.3% |
| Grant with Contribution | 8.8% | 9.8% |
| Grant Without Contribution | 51.0% | 39.5% |
| Refused Means | 2.6% | 3.7% |
| Refused Merits | 21.9% | 31.8% |
| Refused After Offer | 7.8% | 6.0% |
Of the 1,704 offers of legal aid which were "refused after offer", 1,151 were refused by women and 553 by men. A breakdown of the subject matter of these cases and the estimated gross cost to the Legal Aid Fund had these cases proceeded with legal aid and no contribution is shown in the table below:
| | Female | £ | Male | £ |
| Divorce | 753 | 1,000,166.55 | 232 | 359,361.28 |
| Other Family | 224 | 380,973.52 | 213 | 337,342.62 |
| Interdict | 64 | 42,211.12 | 16 | 15,723.00 |
| Debt | 11 | 30,455.93 | 5 | 21,894.50 |
| Reparation | 47 | 225,082.31 | 48 | 234,039.98 |
| Miscellaneous | 52 | 73,753.86 | 37 | 66,160.82 |
| Judicial Review | 0 | 0 | 2 | 8,824.42 |
| Total | 1,151 | | 553 | |
- Asked by: Maureen Macmillan, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Thursday, 02 December 1999
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Current Status:
Answered by Henry McLeish on 14 December 1999
To ask the Scottish Executive how it proposes to help those workers and families affected by the recent announcement of job losses on the oil fabrication yards of Ardersier and Nigg.
Answer
A comprehensive set of response measures is being put in place following the recently announced reduction in the workforce employed by Barmac. An Oil Industry Response Team has been established comprising Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE), the local enterprise companies, the local authorities, the Employment Service, the Benefits Agency, the Citizens Advice Bureau, Inverness College and the Unions.
Key priorities for the Team are job placement and upgrading of skills. On-site information centres are also being opened at both Ardersier and Nigg, which will be manned by Employment Service, Highland Council and contract staff. The centres will provide easy access, first-stop advice on employment, skills development and other issues for employees. A comprehensive information pack will shortly be published giving advice, contact numbers etc. This will be given to on-site workers and will be sent to all those have already left employment.HIE have placed a contract to create a database (HIE-OPS) which holds personnel data of people affected by the rundown of the oil fabrication industry in the HIE area. The data will include a full description of individuals' professional, casual and hobby skills to assist with job placement, skills upgrading, or the development of new career structures. A total of 1584 people have been registered to date.HIE are also working with local labour placement specialists based in the Highlands and Islands and will assist them to identify jobs and place as many individuals from the list as is practicable. Although the main effort has still to commence over 200 persons have been placed to date in short-term posts where the contract duration is a minimum of six weeks.
- Asked by: Maureen Macmillan, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Thursday, 30 September 1999
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Current Status:
Answered by Sam Galbraith on 7 October 1999
To ask the Scottish Executive whether the Committee of Inquiry into the future of teachers' pay and conditions will consider teachers' workload subject by subject so that particular areas of severe overload can be addressed.
Answer
The Committee's terms of reference provide the opportunity to examine workload concerns. How this is addressed will be a matter for the Committee to determine.
- Asked by: Maureen Macmillan, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 29 September 1999
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Current Status:
Answered by Sam Galbraith on 7 October 1999
To ask the Scottish Executive whether the Committee of Inquiry into the future of teachers' pay and conditions will consider teachers' workload subject by subject so that particular areas of severe overload can be addressed.
Answer
The Committee's terms of reference provide the opportunity to examine workload concerns. How this is addressed will be a matter for the Committee to determine.
- Asked by: Maureen Macmillan, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Thursday, 19 August 1999
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Current Status:
Answered by Jackie Baillie on 2 September 1999
To ask the Scottish Executive when the Scottish Partnership on domestic violence will reconvene.
Answer
The Scottish Partnership on Domestic Violence will meet on 27 September 1999.
- Asked by: Maureen Macmillan, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Friday, 25 June 1999
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Current Status:
Answered by Peter Peacock on 2 July 1999
To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to support the continuing professional development of teachers in Scottish schools.
Answer
Ministers are committed to supporting teachers through a structured programme of continuing professional development. CPD is a key means of raising standards in schools. We shall announce our proposals shortly.
- Asked by: Maureen Macmillan, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Thursday, 24 June 1999
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Current Status:
Answered by Peter Peacock on 2 July 1999
To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to support the continuing professional development of teachers in Scottish schools.
Answer
Ministers are committed to supporting teachers through a structured programme of continuing professional development. CPD is a key means of raising standards in schools. We shall announce our proposals shortly.
- Asked by: Maureen Macmillan, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 22 June 1999
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Current Status:
Answered by Ross Finnie on 23 June 1999
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it plans a review of the Crofters Commission.
Answer
The five yearly review of the Crofters Commission falls due during 1999 and will start in July.The terms of reference for the first stage of the review will be:"To carry out a study of the Crofters Commission's status and of the relevance of its functions (Prior Options Study) in accordance with Cabinet Office guidance and having regard to the needs of crofting and rural communities in the Highlands and Islands and to any views on the future of NDPBs, and the various potential alternatives to these, which may be expressed by the new Scottish Executive."As an essential part of the review process, officials will be consulting widely with interested parties.
- Asked by: Maureen Macmillan, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 01 June 1999
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Current Status:
Answered by Sarah Boyack on 15 June 1999
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will arrange a meeting with the Fish Merchants Association (FMA) to discuss the treatment of effluent from the Scottish fish processing industry.
Answer
My Ministerial colleague with responsibility for rural affairs and I would welcome a meeting with representatives of the Scottish fish merchants to discuss the treatment of effluent from the Scottish fish processing industry, if they wish.
