- Asked by: Fiona Hyslop, MSP for Lothians, Scottish National Party
-
Date lodged: Thursday, 25 July 2002
-
Current Status:
Answered by Andy Kerr on 22 August 2002
To ask the Scottish Executive how often information requested in parliamentary questions has been withheld at the request of Her Majesty's Government under paragraph 11 (a) of the Devolution Memorandum of Understanding and Supplementary Agreements between the United Kingdom Government, Scottish ministers, the Cabinet of the National Assembly for Wales and the Northern Ireland Executive Committee in each of the last seven months.
Answer
In answering parliamentary questions the Scottish Executive always respects the status of information held in confidence, and does not distinguish between that and whether or not such information has been subject to a formal request under these arrangements. So far as I am aware no formal request of this kind has been made.
- Asked by: Fiona Hyslop, MSP for Lothians, Scottish National Party
-
Date lodged: Thursday, 25 July 2002
-
Current Status:
Answered by Margaret Curran on 22 August 2002
To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to alter the capital receipt set-aside rules governing the use of monies received by local authorities that are obliged to sell houses under right-to-buy legislation.
Answer
The Scottish Executive has no plans to alter the housing capital receipts set-aside rules at present. It is important that we continue to reduce the debt burden on local authority tenants.
- Asked by: Fiona Hyslop, MSP for Lothians, Scottish National Party
-
Date lodged: Thursday, 25 July 2002
-
Current Status:
Answered by Margaret Curran on 22 August 2002
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-17706 by Jackie Baillie on 3 October 2001, which minister is responsible for all devolved aspects of asylum issues and has the relevant power to take action on such matters.
Answer
The Minister for Social Justice is responsible for co-ordinating the devolved aspects of asylum issues, working in partnership with other cabinet ministers.
- Asked by: Fiona Hyslop, MSP for Lothians, Scottish National Party
-
Date lodged: Thursday, 25 July 2002
-
Current Status:
Answered by Richard Simpson on 22 August 2002
To ask the Scottish Executive when the working group considering fire brigade pensions will report and whether the report will be published at the same time.
Answer
The work of the group is continuing. It is not possible at this stage to be definitive about when the report will be submitted to ministers or published.
- Asked by: Fiona Hyslop, MSP for Lothians, Scottish National Party
-
Date lodged: Thursday, 25 July 2002
-
Current Status:
Answered by Margaret Curran on 22 August 2002
To ask the Scottish Executive what research it is currently undertaking on the impact of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999 and when it expects the results of any such research to be available.
Answer
Earlier this year the Scottish Executive commissioned a research study to assess the impact of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999 in its first eighteen months of operation in Scotland. The study involves in-depth interviews with key stakeholders, service providers, asylum seekers and local community organisations. It also includes elements to identify and assess good practice and to monitor media content and coverage of asylum seeker issues. Fieldwork will conclude in summer 2002 and the report will be published in autumn 2002.
- Asked by: Fiona Hyslop, MSP for Lothians, Scottish National Party
-
Date lodged: Thursday, 25 July 2002
-
Current Status:
Answered by Malcolm Chisholm on 22 August 2002
To ask the Scottish Executive when it expects that West Lothian Healthcare NHS Trust will achieve full compliance with the limit of 56 hours of work per week set out in the New Deal for junior doctors.
Answer
The most recent monitoring data from West Lothian Healthcare NHS Trust indicate that 100% of Pre Registration House Officers are compliant with New Deal. Senior House Officers and Specialist Registrars are required to compliant by August 2003.
- Asked by: Fiona Hyslop, MSP for Lothians, Scottish National Party
-
Date lodged: Thursday, 25 July 2002
-
Current Status:
Answered by Andy Kerr on 22 August 2002
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-25676 by Mr Andy Kerr on 27 May 2002, whether the answer fully complies with the letter and spirit of its Guidance on Contacts with Members of the Scottish Parliament.
Answer
The Guidance on Contacts with Members of the Scottish Parliament is directed at Civil Servants.I am not aware of any such request to officials but would be happy to look into the matter if Ms Hyslop's concerns remain.
- Asked by: Fiona Hyslop, MSP for Lothians, Scottish National Party
-
Date lodged: Thursday, 25 July 2002
-
Current Status:
Answered by Andy Kerr on 22 August 2002
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-25676 by Mr Andy Kerr on 27 May 2002, whether the Deputy Minister for Finance and Public Services did not intend to state to the Parliament that money was "flowing north of the border from south of the border" (Official Report, 23 January 2002, c. 5646-47) and, if so, whether he will clarify the position in the chamber of the Parliament.
Answer
I do not think that any clarification is necessary, taking into account the Deputy Minister's comments as a whole, and not just the words selected for quotation in question S1W-25676.
- Asked by: Fiona Hyslop, MSP for Lothians, Scottish National Party
-
Date lodged: Thursday, 25 July 2002
-
Current Status:
Answered by Margaret Curran on 22 August 2002
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-17706 by Jackie Baillie on 3 October 2001, how many staff there are in the unit dedicated to dealing with asylum seekers and with refugee integration issues.
Answer
The Asylum Seeker and Refugee Integration team currently comprises three permanent members of staff and one temporary member of staff. This team works closely with a number of officials throughout the Executive on all devolved aspects of asylum and refugee integration.
- Asked by: Fiona Hyslop, MSP for Lothians, Scottish National Party
-
Date lodged: Thursday, 25 July 2002
-
Current Status:
Answered by Andy Kerr on 22 August 2002
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-25676 by Mr Andy Kerr on 27 May 2002, whether the answer fully complies with the letter and spirit of the Code of Practice on Access to Scottish Executive Information.
Answer
I believe that the letter and spirit of the Code of Practice on Access to Scottish Executive Information has been complied with.
