- Asked by: Sarah Boyack, MSP for Edinburgh Central, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 18 January 2005
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Current Status:
Answered by Duncan McNeil on 26 January 2005
To ask the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body whether it has any plans to review its position on the Parliament's smoking room.
Answer
Yes. We keep all of our policies under review as a matter of course. Since the whole issue of smoking is to be the subject of parliamentary debate, we decided to review our position on the provision of a smoking room when the Smoking, Health and Social Care (Scotland) Bill reaches Stage 1.
- Asked by: Sarah Boyack, MSP for Edinburgh Central, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 08 December 2004
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Current Status:
Answered by Nicol Stephen on 16 December 2004
To ask the Scottish Executive what progress is being made in making public transport fully accessible to disabled people.
Answer
The Executive is committed to fully accessible public transport. People with disabilities should enjoy the same opportunities to travel in Scotland as other members of society. To achieve this, we are working with public transport providers and others to improve access to services and facilities across Scotland.
A number of projects funded through the Integrated Transport Fund, the Public Transport Fund and the Rural Transport Fund have allowed for greater accessibility. In addition, the Executive sponsors the Mobility and Access Committee for Scotland (MACS). MACS was established to advise Scottishministers on the transport needs of disabled people and how to improve accessibility.
- Asked by: Sarah Boyack, MSP for Edinburgh Central, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Friday, 10 December 2004
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Current Status:
Answered by Ross Finnie on 16 December 2004
To ask the Scottish Executive when it expects to consult with key stakeholders in Scotland on the procedures for action on plant pests and the disclosure of site information following a pest outbreak.
Answer
The Executive issued a consultation document today. This is being sent to agricultural, horticultural, environmental and consumer groups; to those growers who are authorised to issue plant passports, and to those with current or recent outbreaks of quarantine pests. Copies of the documents pertaining to the consultation, which will run for 12 weeks, will also be placed on the Scottish Executive website. I have also made arrangements for a copy of the consultation to be placed in the Parliament’s Reference Centre (Bib. number 34640).
- Asked by: Sarah Boyack, MSP for Edinburgh Central, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 01 December 2004
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Current Status:
Answered by Ross Finnie on 9 December 2004
To ask the Scottish Executive what action local authorities can take to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
Answer
It is for local authorities to determine what action they take to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. The Executive provides support for a range of schemes which can contribute to the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions, including measures such as the public sector energy efficiency scheme.
- Asked by: Sarah Boyack, MSP for Edinburgh Central, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 01 December 2004
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Current Status:
Answered by Jim Wallace on 9 December 2004
To ask the Scottish Executive what progress is being made in ensuring that railway stations are accessible.
Answer
The primary statutory responsibility for access for disabled people rests with the UK Government and is currently being delivered by the Strategic Rail Authority (SRA). However, the Executive has been working closely with the SRA to provide a more accessible rail transport network in Scotland.
For example, the new ScotRail franchise includes a £40 million rolling programme of investment throughout the life of the franchise, which includes £20 million scheduled for station upgrades. In planning and delivering these investments, account will be taken of the particular needs of disabled people.
- Asked by: Sarah Boyack, MSP for Edinburgh Central, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Monday, 29 November 2004
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Current Status:
Answered by Jim Wallace on 30 November 2004
To ask the Scottish Executive what action it proposes to take in light of the recent Policy and Financial Management Review (PFMR) of the Scottish Industrial Development Advisory Board (SIDAB).
Answer
The review concluded that SIDAB makes a valuable contribution to the consideration of large Regional Selective Assistance cases and should continue as an non-departmental public body. However, some minor changes to operating practices were recommended and these are currently being implemented.
Copies of the SIDAB PFMR have been placed in the Parliament’s Reference Centre (Bib. number 34419).
- Asked by: Sarah Boyack, MSP for Edinburgh Central, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Friday, 19 November 2004
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Current Status:
Answered by Ross Finnie on 26 November 2004
To ask the Scottish Executive when the Seeds (National List of Varieties) (Amendment) Regulations 2004 will be made.
Answer
These UK regulations were laid before both Houses of the UK Parliament on 11 November 2004. A copy of the instrument has been placed in the Parliament’s Reference Centre (Bib. number 34509).
- Asked by: Sarah Boyack, MSP for Edinburgh Central, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 10 November 2004
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Current Status:
Answered by Malcolm Chisholm on 23 November 2004
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it is aware that the proposed reduction in Supporting People funding for the City of Edinburgh Council may jeopardise the council’s ability to maintain its rough sleeper initiative and therefore the Executive’s commitment that no one should need to sleep rough.
Answer
We are very conscious that the City of Edinburgh Council and providers have concerns about the allocations announced. I have met with COSLA on several occasions to discuss their concerns and have offered to slow down the rate of redistribution with the aim of ensuring that the pace of change and redistribution is manageable locally.
A new announcement on Supporting People allocations is expected shortly.
- Asked by: Sarah Boyack, MSP for Edinburgh Central, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 10 November 2004
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Current Status:
Answered by Malcolm Chisholm on 23 November 2004
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it is aware that the proposed reduction in Supporting People funding to the City of Edinburgh Council may have jeopardised a project that was designed to relieve delayed discharge.
Answer
We are very conscious that the City of Edinburgh Council and providers have concerns about the allocations announced. I have met with COSLA on several occasions to discuss their concerns and have offered to slow down the rate of redistribution with the aim of ensuring that the pace of change and redistribution is manageable locally.
A new announcement on Supporting People allocations is expected shortly.
- Asked by: Sarah Boyack, MSP for Edinburgh Central, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 10 November 2004
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Current Status:
Answered by Malcolm Chisholm on 23 November 2004
To ask the Scottish Executive what representations have been received from the City of Edinburgh Council regarding its allocation of funding under the Supporting People initiative and the impact that the allocation will have on its ability to deliver core support services to vulnerable members of its community.
Answer
We have received representations from COSLA, local authorities including Edinburgh, providers, stakeholders and a range of other organisations and individuals.
I have met with COSLA on several occasions and listened to their concerns about the allocations announced on 1 October. I have offered to slow down the rate of redistribution to provide greater protection for those councils most affected. I hope to make a new announcement shortly.
