- Asked by: Jackie Baillie, MSP for Dumbarton, Scottish Labour
-
Date lodged: Thursday, 28 February 2002
-
Current Status:
Answered by Wendy Alexander on 12 March 2002
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to the supplementary question to question S1O-4696 by Ms Wendy Alexander on 14 February 2002, when the tender for a feasibility study on establishing a national centre for women's enterprise will be awarded; what key issues the study will consider, and when the study's findings will be published.
Answer
The tender for a feasibility study on establishing a national centre for women's enterprise was awarded to the Paisley Enterprise Research Centre, University of Paisley, on 22 February. The study will provide an assessment of the need for a women's enterprise centre in Scotland and the role it could best perform. The study is expected to be concluded by end May 2002.
- Asked by: Jackie Baillie, MSP for Dumbarton, Scottish Labour
-
Date lodged: Thursday, 28 February 2002
-
Current Status:
Answered by Allan Wilson on 12 March 2002
To ask the Scottish Executive whether Scottish Water will continue to provide free metering and practical support and advice on water conservation to voluntary organisations.
Answer
Yes.
- Asked by: Jackie Baillie, MSP for Dumbarton, Scottish Labour
-
Date lodged: Thursday, 28 February 2002
-
Current Status:
Answered by Peter Peacock on 12 March 2002
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will consider repealing sections of Part II of the Local Government Act 1988 that prohibit non-commercial matters, such as employees' terms and conditions, from being taken into account by public authorities when entering into contracts for the delivery of goods and services and what the reasons are for its position on this matter.
Answer
The Scottish Executive plans to use the forthcoming Scottish Local Government Bill to amend those parts of the Local Government Act 1988 that are currently preventing Scottish local authorities from delivering fully on their commitment to fair employment and Best Value. This change is being made in response to a recommendation of the Best Value Task Force.
- Asked by: Jackie Baillie, MSP for Dumbarton, Scottish Labour
-
Date lodged: Thursday, 28 February 2002
-
Current Status:
Answered by Iain Gray on 12 March 2002
To ask the Scottish Executive what progress has been made in implementing the Race Relations (Amendment) Act 2000.
Answer
Many public sector bodies in Scotland have been under a general obligation under the Race Relations (Amendment) Act 2000 to promote race equality since April 2001.An order extending the list of bodies in Schedule 1A of the 1976 Act, including devolved bodies, to be made subject to the general duty to promote race equality was laid in Westminster in October 2001 and came into force on 3 December 2001.However, the act recognised that there would be a need to make provision for more specific duties to ensure the better performance by public bodies of the general duty.The Race Relations Act 1976 (Statutory Duties) (Scotland) Order 2002 was laid before the Scottish Parliament on 15 February 2002 and will come into force on 13 March 2002. Public bodies will require to comply with the duties by November 2002.The Commission for Racial Equality, Scotland will shortly be publishing for consultation a draft Statutory Code of Practice and associated guidance for devolved public bodies in Scotland. The code will provide practical guidance to bodies on how to fulfil both their general and specific duties and will be supported by examples of best practice.
- Asked by: Jackie Baillie, MSP for Dumbarton, Scottish Labour
-
Date lodged: Thursday, 28 February 2002
-
Current Status:
Answered by Iain Gray on 11 March 2002
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-21962 by Iain Gray on 30 January 2002, when it will publish its fuel poverty statement.
Answer
A consultative draft of the Scottish Fuel Poverty Statement has been published today, 11 March 2002. I am placing copies in the Parliament's Reference Centre (Bib. number 19805). We are seeking comments on the consultative draft by 31 May 2002, prior to issuing a final version of the Scottish Fuel Poverty Statement later this year.
- Asked by: Jackie Baillie, MSP for Dumbarton, Scottish Labour
-
Date lodged: Wednesday, 27 February 2002
-
Current Status:
Answered by Margaret Curran on 7 March 2002
To ask the Scottish Executive what action it is taking in order to tackle drug misuse in local communities.
Answer
Protecting our communities from drug-related anti-social and criminal behaviour is one of the four pillars of our drugs strategy, along with helping young people, treating those affected by drug misuse, and stifling the availability of drugs. Through Scotland Against Drugs' Challenge Fund and Community Fund, the Executive is supporting a wide range of diverse and innovative projects designed to address local drugs problems. Along with the Daily Record, we have recently launched the Scottish Communities Against Drugs initiative.Progress in delivering our strategy is set out in our Annual Report, which was published in November. Copies were sent to all MSPs, and the report is also available in the Parliament's Reference Centre.
- Asked by: Jackie Baillie, MSP for Dumbarton, Scottish Labour
-
Date lodged: Wednesday, 20 February 2002
-
Current Status:
Answered by Lewis Macdonald on 28 February 2002
To ask the Scottish Executive how it monitors the effectiveness of Route Accident Reduction Plans where such plans have been implemented.
Answer
The effectiveness of Route Accident Reduction Plans is monitored by comparing the accident figures for the three years preceding the implementation of the plan with those for the three years following completion of the works.
- Asked by: Jackie Baillie, MSP for Dumbarton, Scottish Labour
-
Date lodged: Wednesday, 30 January 2002
-
Current Status:
Answered by Lewis Macdonald on 7 February 2002
To ask the Scottish Executive how much money has been allocated for improvements to trunk roads during this parliamentary session.
Answer
The allocation for the trunk roads network, including investment in new construction, improvements and routine maintenance, is £774 million between 1999 and 2003. This does not include capital charges and other adjustments made as a result of the introduction of resource accounting and budgeting from April 2001. A more detailed breakdown is shown in the Executive's Annual Expenditure Reports, copies of which are held by the Parliament's Reference Centre.
- Asked by: Jackie Baillie, MSP for Dumbarton, Scottish Labour
-
Date lodged: Wednesday, 23 January 2002
-
Current Status:
Answered by Cathy Jamieson on 31 January 2002
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-17052 by Nicol Stephen on 14 August 2001, when it will report on the first phase of the national evaluation of Sure Start Scotland.
Answer
Sure Start Scotland seeks to give a positive start to the lives of very young children by providing broad-based support to children and families from deprived areas. The first phase of the evaluation of Sure Start Scotland focused on mapping the provision of services. We will disseminate the findings shortly.
- Asked by: Jackie Baillie, MSP for Dumbarton, Scottish Labour
-
Date lodged: Wednesday, 16 January 2002
-
Current Status:
Answered by Iain Gray on 30 January 2002
To ask the Scottish Executive what issues have been identified for consideration in the next phase of the voluntary sector funding review.
Answer
The review of the Scottish Executive's direct funding of the voluntary sector invited consultation respondents to suggest topics for a wider strategic review. The responses received supported the issues identified in the consultation paper, namely:any gaps in coverage of Scottish Executive support for the voluntary sector, for example at the intermediate level; indirect funding, especially how it is prioritised, allocated and accounted for;the development of systems to provide/promote loans, trading, earned income and asset transfer as a supplement to providing grant aid; issues arising out of relationships between Scottish, UK and international voluntary organisations and the Executive; and the assistance the sector might need in developing manageable "exit strategies" for when funding is coming to an end. No further issues were identified.