- Asked by: Pauline McNeill, MSP for Glasgow Kelvin, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Thursday, 01 June 2000
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Current Status:
Answered by Susan Deacon on 15 June 2000
To ask the Scottish Executive what consultation the Greater Glasgow Health Board is undertaking with the local Yorkhill community council, school, and housing association, as well as with Glasgow parents' organisations, in the review of Yorkhill NHS Trust as part of the Acute Services Review.
Answer
I refer to the answer I gave to written question S1W-7507.
- Asked by: Pauline McNeill, MSP for Glasgow Kelvin, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 31 May 2000
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Current Status:
Answered by Henry McLeish on 14 June 2000
To ask the Scottish Executive whether there is a shortfall of university applications in the field of engineering and, if so, what the shortfall is.
Answer
Figures are not held centrally on any targets set by individual higher education institution for the number of applications to engineering courses.
As at 16 May 2000, there had been 11,669 applications for engineering and technology courses to Scottish institutions for entry in 2000. However, the Universities and Colleges Admissions Service (UCAS) process still has some way to go and final figures will not be available until autumn 2000.
The last year for which final figures are available, in 1999-2000, there were 13,370 applications, resulting in 2,658 acceptances in engineering and technology.
- Asked by: Pauline McNeill, MSP for Glasgow Kelvin, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 30 May 2000
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Current Status:
Answered by Henry McLeish on 13 June 2000
To ask the Scottish Executive what measures are being taken to discourage any graduate leakage from engineering into other careers.
Answer
There may be a number of reasons why students choose not to pursue a career in their choice of subject following graduation. According to latest figures available, 75% of engineering graduates who obtain full-time permanent employment, either in the UK or abroad, do so in an engineering-related career.
We recognise that it is important that we continue to attract skilled graduates into engineering. The Manufacturing Image Group which I launched recently will look at new and innovative ways of improving the image and development of manufacturing in Scotland. The group will draw up a campaign to show that manufacturing is exciting, challenging and has a strong role to play in our future. It will also outline ways of driving forward the future development of manufacturing throughout Scotland.
- Asked by: Pauline McNeill, MSP for Glasgow Kelvin, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 30 May 2000
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Current Status:
Answered by Susan Deacon on 13 June 2000
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it plans to use expertise available within the Yorkhill NHS Trust to develop a strategic plan for child services in Scotland.
Answer
The Scottish Executive is committed to improving child health and children's health services across Scotland. In order to achieve this the best use will be made of expertise from all areas of the health service in Scotland.
- Asked by: Pauline McNeill, MSP for Glasgow Kelvin, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 30 May 2000
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Current Status:
Answered by Henry McLeish on 13 June 2000
To ask the Scottish Executive what initiatives are being taken to attract young people into engineering.
Answer
Scottish Ministers are determined to break down the old barriers to participation in careers in engineering. A number of Career Service companies are now tackling stereotype images through project work with children from primary 6 and 7. These projects introduce young people to a range of jobs through employer visits to schools and project work and are designed to broaden perceptions of the range of careers available.
Young people can also pursue careers in engineering through the Modern Apprenticeship programme. Scottish Engineering produces an annual newspaper advertising Modern Apprenticeships, Scottish Engineering Connections, which is distributed to schools and FE colleges across Scotland. There are currently almost 3,300 Modern Apprentices training in engineering in Scotland.
The Scottish Executive's recent publication Created in Scotland: the Way Forward for Scottish Manufacturing in the 21st Century outlines the problems in attracting young people into manufacturing industry and, in particular, engineering. I have established a Manufacturing Image Group which met for the first time on 2 June to form a campaign to raise the image of manufacturing industries.
- Asked by: Pauline McNeill, MSP for Glasgow Kelvin, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Thursday, 25 May 2000
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Current Status:
Answered by Susan Deacon on 8 June 2000
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-5502 by Susan Deacon on 5 April 2000, whether it will consider all possible factors, not just the psychological ones, affecting the condition Chronic Fatigue Syndrome/Myalgic Encephalomyelitis before adapting or adopting the findings of the Chief Medical Officer's working group.
Answer
I would expect that the Chief Medical Officer's Working Group itself will have considered all possible factors affecting the condition. The help of the ME Alliance was sought to ensure that the group reflects a broad range of both patient and professional opinions. There are representatives of the disciplines of neurology, microbiology, and immunology as well as psychiatry on the Reference Sub-Group, which also includes patients and carers.
- Asked by: Pauline McNeill, MSP for Glasgow Kelvin, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Thursday, 25 May 2000
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Current Status:
Answered by Susan Deacon on 8 June 2000
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-5503 by Susan Deacon on 5 April 2000, whether it will consider Scottish medical opinion on all possible models of the condition Chronic Fatigue Syndrome/Myalgic Encephalomyelitis before adapting or adopting the findings of the Chief Medical Officer's working group.
Answer
I would expect the Chief Medical Officer's Working Group itself to have considered all possible models of CFS/ME before making its report. We will certainly be seeking the views of our own medical advisers on the report, and if they think it would be advisable to consult NHS colleagues then this will be done.
- Asked by: Pauline McNeill, MSP for Glasgow Kelvin, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Monday, 05 June 2000
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Current Status:
Answered by Jim Wallace on 8 June 2000
To ask the First Minister whether he will make a statement about the cross-examination of victims in rape trials.
Answer
Scottish Ministers have instructed that proposals are developed to prevent an accused person charged with a sex offence from cross-examining a victim personally and to strengthen provisions restricting cross-examination on sexual history. Work has already begun on considering how this can be done while ensuring that the accused receives a fair trial.
- Asked by: Pauline McNeill, MSP for Glasgow Kelvin, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Monday, 22 May 2000
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Current Status:
Answered by Angus MacKay on 5 June 2000
To ask the Scottish Executive what are the policing implications and estimated costs of the Mike Tyson fight taking place at Hampden Park.
Answer
Strathclyde Police will arrange appropriate policing to ensure public safety and minimise disruption in the area surrounding the venue, as they would for any major sporting event. No estimate of costs is available at present.
- Asked by: Pauline McNeill, MSP for Glasgow Kelvin, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Monday, 22 May 2000
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Current Status:
Answered by Wendy Alexander on 2 June 2000
To ask the Scottish Executive whether, under the proposals for housing stock transfer, the right to buy and the current discount will be retained.
Answer
Current arrangements allow for tenants to transfer with a preserved right to buy. Detailed proposals for a modernised right to buy will be announced in early summer as part of the forthcoming Housing Bill.
