- Asked by: Elaine Smith, MSP for Coatbridge and Chryston, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Thursday, 28 June 2001
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Current Status:
Answered by Jim Wallace on 3 July 2001
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it intends to set targets for the Scottish Drug Enforcement Agency in 2001-02 and whether these will be published.
Answer
The Scottish Drug Enforcement Forum which, under the chairmanship of the Deputy Minister for Justice, oversees the work of the Scottish Drug Enforcement Agency (SDEA), formally endorsed the SDEA's objectives, key activities, performance indicators and targets for 2001-02 at its meeting on 4 June. Copies of the agreed targets have been placed in the Parliament's Reference Centre.
- Asked by: Elaine Smith, MSP for Coatbridge and Chryston, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Friday, 15 June 2001
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Current Status:
Answered by Wendy Alexander on 29 June 2001
To ask the Scottish Executive how many incidents of industrial action by staff in the further education sector there have been since incorporation.
Answer
This information is not held centrally.
- Asked by: Elaine Smith, MSP for Coatbridge and Chryston, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Friday, 15 June 2001
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Current Status:
Answered by Wendy Alexander on 29 June 2001
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will consider ways in which the further education sector might move towards collective bargaining at a national level in order to rectify any disparities in pay and conditions that exist in colleges and minimise any possible disruption to students through industrial action by staff.
Answer
The Boards of Management of FE colleges are each legally responsible for matters relating to the contracts of employment of staff within their college, including pay and conditions. This offers boards the flexibility, as they see fit, to reflect local conditions and circumstances, to secure best value for money and efficiencies and to strengthen their college's future.I place great emphasis on the potential benefits to colleges from joint ventures and collaboration, including, where boards see this as appropriate, in the area of staff pay and conditions.
- Asked by: Elaine Smith, MSP for Coatbridge and Chryston, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 30 May 2001
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Current Status:
Answered by Jim Wallace on 13 June 2001
To ask the Scottish Executive when the victim awareness training for the judiciary referred to in its Scottish Strategy for Victims will start.
Answer
Judicial training in Scotland is a matter for the independent Judicial Studies Committee. The committee are aware of the terms of the Executive's policy and they are already planning to include victims' issues in a programme of refresher courses for sheriffs which will begin in the New Year.
- Asked by: Elaine Smith, MSP for Coatbridge and Chryston, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 30 May 2001
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Current Status:
Answered by David Steel on 13 June 2001
To ask the Presiding Officer what facilities there will be in the new Parliament building for MSPs, staff and visitors who are nursing mothers.
Answer
The plans for our new accommodation in Holyrood provide space for one "Rest Room/Nursing Mother Room" in an area accessible to the public and another in the MSP and staff area. Each room will have an en-suite WC/wash-hand basin compartment and a mobile changing trolley. There will also be a fridge in the MSP and staff room for storing milk.
- Asked by: Elaine Smith, MSP for Coatbridge and Chryston, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 30 May 2001
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Current Status:
Answered by Jackie Baillie on 13 June 2001
To ask the Scottish Executive what assessment has been made of the support needs of people eligible for temporary accommodation under section 3 of the Housing (Scotland) Bill and how these support needs would be met.
Answer
Section 3 of the Housing (Scotland) Bill is concerned with the provision of temporary accommodation and advice and assistance. It is for local authorities, in consultation with other organisations as necessary, to consider the support needs of applicants. Homelessness strategies will set out how such needs are to be assessed and met.
- Asked by: Elaine Smith, MSP for Coatbridge and Chryston, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 30 May 2001
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Current Status:
Answered by Jackie Baillie on 13 June 2001
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will detail (a) the number of temporary accommodation places and (b) the type of accommodation used for these places currently available to homeless households.
Answer
The provision of appropriate temporary accommodation is a matter for local authorities. Assessing the need for such accommodation will form part of the development of local authority homelessness strategies. The type of temporary accommodation provided will depend on the assessment of need, including consideration of what is already available.
- Asked by: Elaine Smith, MSP for Coatbridge and Chryston, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 30 May 2001
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Current Status:
Answered by Jackie Baillie on 13 June 2001
To ask the Scottish Executive what expenditure by local authorities would qualify for funding from the #27 million announced on 18 December 2000 by the Minister for Social Justice to help them meet their duties under the Housing (Scotland) Bill.
Answer
The Executive has made available £27 million over three years (£3 million/£12 million/12 million) to meet the additional costs of implementing the homelessness provisions of the Housing Bill. This will include costs associated with the development of strategies, advice and assistance and the provision of additional temporary accommodation.
- Asked by: Elaine Smith, MSP for Coatbridge and Chryston, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 30 May 2001
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Current Status:
Answered by David Steel on 13 June 2001
To ask the Presiding Officer what facilities are currently provided within the Parliamentary complex for members of the public and visitors who are breastfeeding.
Answer
There are no breastfeeding facilities provided in the interim accommodation for members of the public and visitors. They do have access to baby changing facilities in the Committee Chambers, PHQ and the Assembly Hall.
- Asked by: Elaine Smith, MSP for Coatbridge and Chryston, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 30 May 2001
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Current Status:
Answered by Jackie Baillie on 13 June 2001
To ask the Scottish Executive how many additional temporary accommodation places would be required following implementation of the Housing (Scotland) Bill and what type of accommodation this is likely to be.
Answer
This will be a matter for local assessment as part of the development of homelessness strategies.
