Questions and answers

Question reference: S3W-06091

Asked by: Johann Lamont, MSP for Glasgow Pollok, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Tuesday, 06 November 2007
Current Status: Answered by Stewart Maxwell on 14 November 2007

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the First Minister’s statement in respect of the future of sportscotland that “a full consultation is being carried out” (Official Report, c. 2984), whether it will outline the (a) timescale for the consultation, (b) external consultees who have been or will be consulted, (c) parliamentary committees that have been or will be consulted and (d) deadline for responses to the consultation.

The consultation processis being carried out through a combination of written correspondence and discussionswith key stakeholders. The Scottish Government will take account of feedback fromwritten responses, meetings and discussions before we announce our considered strategicdecision on the future of sportscotland. The Scottish Government is very conscious that the finaldecision on the future of sportscotland will have an enormous impact on the livesand future of the staff at sportscotland. We have therefore made a commitment toannouncing the outcome before the end of the year.

All consultees wereinvited in September to submit their views. Many responses have already been receivedand will be taken into account in our consideration of strategic options, the outcomeof which we will announce before the end of the year. Consultation with key stakeholdersis an on-going process that will extend beyond the planned announcement, as detailedproposals are prepared. Accordingly, all responses will be given the fullest considerationthat is possible at the time they are received.

The following bodieshave been formally invited to submit their views:

Sportscotland

Scottish Instituteof Sport

Scottish Cycling

Scottish Gymnastics

Scottish Swimming

Badminton Scotland

Judo Scotland

COSLA

VOCAL

Scottish Athletics

Scottish Sport Association

Scottish Instituteof Sport Foundation

Scottish Golf Union

Scottish Rugby Union

Scottish FootballAssociation

Scottish University of Sport

The Health and SportCommittee of the Scottish Parliament.

Question reference: S3W-06046

Asked by: Johann Lamont, MSP for Glasgow Pollok, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 05 November 2007
Current Status: Answered by Stewart Maxwell on 14 November 2007

To ask the Scottish Executive what plans there are for the Housing Supply Task Force to meet representatives from disability organisations.

Question reference: S3W-06045

Asked by: Johann Lamont, MSP for Glasgow Pollok, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 05 November 2007
Current Status: Answered by Stewart Maxwell on 14 November 2007

To ask the Scottish Executive why the Housing Supply Task Force does not include representatives from disability organisations.

The purpose of the Housing Supply Task Force is to promote action that will make a practicaldifference to the increase of housing supply across all tenures in Scotland. Membership of the core group has deliberately beenrestricted to those in a position to bring about change to the delivery of morehousing. Through its activities, the Task Force will engage with a wider set ofinterests concerned with housing delivery.

The ScottishGovernment recognises the particular housing needs of people with disabilities.We are determined to drive forward the integration of equality into all ourpolicies and plans and, with this in mind, have specifically sought the viewsof disability organisations on the range of proposals set out in our recenthousing discussion document Firm Foundations.

Question reference: S3W-06047

Asked by: Johann Lamont, MSP for Glasgow Pollok, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 05 November 2007
Current Status: Answered by Stewart Maxwell on 14 November 2007

To ask the Scottish Executive what research is being undertaken by the Housing Supply Task Force on the housing concerns of disability organisations.

The purpose of the Housing Supply Task Force is to promote action and to make a practicaldifference to the delivery of housing across Scotland. The investigative work that the task force is undertaking is with thepurpose of challenging those with responsibility for delivery and pressing forchange where this is hampering housing supply.

While increasinghousing supply is vital, we recognise that the new homes need to be built tohigh standards of design and sustainability. Sustainability requires that homescan accommodate the needs of an ageing and diverse population, including theneeds of people with disabilities. The new Scottish building regulationsinclude requirements that will make homes more accessible and easier to adaptin future. We will also be stressing to local authorities the importance oftaking into account the needs of this important group within our communities inthe preparation of their next local housing strategies.

Question reference: S3W-05953

Asked by: Johann Lamont, MSP for Glasgow Pollok, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 01 November 2007
Current Status: Answered by Fergus Ewing on 14 November 2007

To ask the Scottish Executive what methods are being used to measure public satisfaction or dissatisfaction with the ways in which local authorities are using the provisions of the antisocial behaviour legislation.

Since 2005, publicsatisfaction or dissatisfaction with the ways in which local authorities are tacklingantisocial behaviour has been measured through a specific question in the ScottishHousehold Survey. In addition, many local authorities conduct their own public satisfactionsurveys and solicit customer feedback and reflect this information in the annualoutcome agreement reports they submit to the Scottish Government for assessment.

Furthermore, the reviewof the national antisocial behaviour strategy will consider the use and effectivenessof key measures in the Antisocial Behaviour etc. (Scotland) Act 2004 and we will be consulting with communities on this as part of the review.

Question reference: S3W-05954

Asked by: Johann Lamont, MSP for Glasgow Pollok, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 01 November 2007
Current Status: Answered by Fergus Ewing on 14 November 2007

To ask the Scottish Executive what methods are being used to measure public expectations of what local authorities should be doing to tackle antisocial behaviour.

Question reference: S3W-05952

Asked by: Johann Lamont, MSP for Glasgow Pollok, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 01 November 2007
Current Status: Answered by Fergus Ewing on 14 November 2007

To ask the Scottish Executive what methods are being used to measure public satisfaction or dissatisfaction with the ways in which local authorities are tackling antisocial behaviour.

Since 2005, publicsatisfaction or dissatisfaction with the ways in which local authorities are tacklingantisocial behaviour has been measured through a specific question in the ScottishHousehold Survey. In addition, many local authorities conduct their own public satisfactionsurveys and solicit customer feedback and reflect this information in the annualoutcome agreement reports they submit to the Scottish Government for assessment.

Question reference: S3W-05955

Asked by: Johann Lamont, MSP for Glasgow Pollok, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 01 November 2007
Current Status: Answered by Fergus Ewing on 14 November 2007

To ask the Scottish Executive whether research undertaken to prepare for its review of the antisocial behaviour strategy will be made public.

The following research,which will help to inform the review of the antisocial behaviour strategy, has alreadybeen published:

Use of AntisocialBehaviour Orders in Scotland (20 September 2007, Bib. number 43671);

A Review of DispersalPowers (25 October 2007, Bib. number 43909);

The Impact of LocalAntisocial Behaviour Strategies at the Neighbourhood Level (25 October 2007, Bib. number 44006), and

An Evaluation ofLocal Authority Noise Nuisance Services (25 October 2007, Bib. number 44007).

All other researchthat is undertaken to inform the review will be published.

Question reference: S3W-05951

Asked by: Johann Lamont, MSP for Glasgow Pollok, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 01 November 2007
Current Status: Answered by Fergus Ewing on 14 November 2007

To ask the Scottish Executive what research is being undertaken to prepare for its review of the antisocial behaviour strategy.

The following research,which will help to inform the review of the antisocial behaviour strategy, has alreadybeen published:

Use of AntisocialBehaviour Orders in Scotland (20 September 2007, Bib. number 43671);

A Review of DispersalPowers (25 October 2007, Bib. number 43909);

The Impact of LocalAntisocial Behaviour Strategies at the Neighbourhood Level (25 October 2007, Bib. number 44006), and

An Evaluation ofLocal Authority Noise Nuisance Services (25 October 2007, Bib. number 44007).

In addition, as partof the review we are conducting interviews with each police force in Scotland andwith most Scottish local authorities to develop our understanding of the use andeffectiveness of key powers in the Antisocial Behaviour etc. (Scotland) Act 2004. We are also conducting further research onthe breach rate for Antisocial Behaviour Orders (ASBOs) to supplement the researchon ASBOs referred to above.

We may instigate furtherresearch as necessary during the course of the review.

Question reference: S3W-06094

Asked by: Johann Lamont, MSP for Glasgow Pollok, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Tuesday, 06 November 2007
Current Status: Answered by Stewart Maxwell on 14 November 2007

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will release all correspondence relating to the full consultation on sportscotland’s future.

Chamber and committees