- Asked by: Shona Robison, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 23 February 2000
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Current Status:
Answered by Henry McLeish on 8 March 2000
To ask the Scottish Executive what effect a decision by Her Majesty's Government to remove benefit payments from post offices will have on its social inclusion policy.
Answer
Benefit payment and post office issues are all reserved matters but the UK Government has made clear that those benefit recipients who wish to collect their benefits in cash at a post office will continue to be able to do so.
- Asked by: Shona Robison, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 12 October 1999
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Current Status:
Answered by Iain Gray on 28 February 2000
To ask the Scottish Executive what representations it has made to Her Majesty's Government regarding amendments to the Social Work (Scotland) Act 1968, the Mental Health (Scotland) Act 1984 and the Children (Scotland) Act 1995 as specified under the terms of the Immigration and Asylum Bill.
Answer
I refer Ms Robison to my answer to her question number S1W-1981.
- Asked by: Shona Robison, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 12 October 1999
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Current Status:
Answered by Iain Gray on 28 February 2000
To ask the Scottish Executive what representations it has made to Her Majesty's Government regarding the terms of the Immigration and Asylum Bill, and whether the outcomes of such representations will be made public.
Answer
The Scottish Executive is constantly in touch with Her Majesty's Government on a range of matters.
- Asked by: Shona Robison, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Monday, 10 January 2000
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Current Status:
Answered by Henry McLeish on 22 February 2000
To ask the Scottish Executive how many scientists it estimates have left Scotland to work elsewhere in each year since 1990.
Answer
This information is not held centrally.
However, I can provide, in the hope that this might be helpful, estimates of the number of new science graduates from Scottish universities and colleges who obtained permanent employment overseas. The estimates set out in the table below has emerged from a survey of graduates.
Table: Total science graduates from Scottish universities and colleges, and the estimated number and percentage who obtained permanent employment overseas.
| | Total number of graduates in survey cohort | Estimated number obtaining employment overseas | % obtaining employment overseas |
| 1994-95 | 8,396 | 413 | 5% |
| 1995-96 | 9,707 | 566 | 6% |
| 1996-97 | 9,716 | 580 | 6% |
| 1997-98 | 9,711 | 526 | 5% |
Notes:
1. In this context "science" is defined as those subjects included in physical sciences, biological sciences, and engineering and technology.
2. The location of graduates who do not obtain permanent employment is not captured by this survey.3. The survey assumes that the employment and destination profile of graduates who responded to the survey questionnaire is representative of the survey cohort as a whole in order to produce the estimated number and percentage who obtained permanent employment overseas.
- Asked by: Shona Robison, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 09 February 2000
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Current Status:
Answered by Henry McLeish on 17 February 2000
To ask the Scottish Executive what it considers to be the reasons for the loss of 150 jobs at New South Mills Ltd, Dundee and, in particular, whether the recent rise in interest rates and the current strength of sterling were factors in the job losses as stated by Dundee Chamber of Commerce and Industry.
Answer
It is not appropriate for the Scottish Executive to speculate on the commercial decisions of companies. The UK carpet industry has faced very tough trading conditions in recent times.
- Asked by: Shona Robison, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Monday, 24 January 2000
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Current Status:
Answered by Iain Gray on 8 February 2000
To ask the Scottish Executive whether the Scottish Parliament will be asked to approve a Special Grant Order removing the legal hurdle which prevents the Home Office paying money to Scottish local authorities.
Answer
We expect to lay two Special Grant Reports before the Scottish Parliament shortly. They will reimburse local authorities in Scotland for the costs they have incurred during 1999-2000 in (a) supporting asylum seekers in Scotland and (b) receiving and housing refugees from Kosovo who arrived in May 1999 under the UN Humanitarian Evacuation Programme. The first report follows in a series of Local Government Finance Reports laid annually before the UK Parliament. The Second Report is in response to the exceptional needs of the Kosovan Humanitarian Evacuation Programme.
- Asked by: Shona Robison, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Monday, 10 January 2000
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Current Status:
Answered by Henry McLeish on 7 February 2000
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it plans to make a statement on the recent announcement by Professor David Nicholls of Dundee University that he and his team are to leave Scotland to continue his pioneering work into brain disorders in the United States.
Answer
The Scottish Executive has no plans to make a statement on this matter.
- Asked by: Shona Robison, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 26 January 2000
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Current Status:
Answered by Angus MacKay on 3 February 2000
To ask the Scottish Executive when it last met representatives of the Home Office and what matters were discussed.
Answer
The Scottish Executive is in regular contact with the Home Office on a wide range of issues.
- Asked by: Shona Robison, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 05 January 2000
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Current Status:
Answered by Susan Deacon on 26 January 2000
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it supports a policy of asking patients to pay for treatment deemed not essential, as outlined by Dr Maclean, medical director of Tayside University Hospitals NHS Trust.
Answer
The Scottish Executive is committed to providing a publicly funded National Health Service in Scotland free at the point of delivery. The NHSiS aims to provide patients with the highest and most modern standards of care. Record levels of resources have been made available to allow a wide range of treatments and services, including highly specialised and complex treatments, to be provided on an equitable basis to those who require them.
- Asked by: Shona Robison, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Thursday, 19 August 1999
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Current Status:
Answered by Susan Deacon on 20 January 2000
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will make a statement on the predicted #10 million overspend by Tayside University Hospitals NHS Trust.
Answer
In the current financial year the Scottish Executive has committed revenue funding for hospital and community health services of £395.5m to Tayside. My recent announcement of allocations for 2000-01 confirms that Tayside will receive a further 5% increase in its general allocation next year.
I expect Tayside University Hospitals NHS Trust, like other NHS trusts, to manage effectively the resources it receives from Tayside and other Health Boards to provide health services.My officials are working with senior management of the Trust and Tayside Health Board to ensure that financial balance is achieved as soon as possible, while continuing to provide high quality care.
