- Asked by: Kenneth Gibson, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 16 January 2001
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Current Status:
Answered by Jackie Baillie on 30 January 2001
To ask the Scottish Executive whether any conflict of interest exists where a local authority uses its own operatives to carry out repairs on owner-occupied property which it factors, rather than seek quotes on behalf of owners, given the factor's responsibility to act in the owner's best interest.
Answer
I refer the Member to the answer given to question S1W-12520.
- Asked by: Kenneth Gibson, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 16 January 2001
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Current Status:
Answered by Jackie Baillie on 30 January 2001
To ask the Scottish Executive which local authorities currently require tenants who are exercising their right to buy to take out a particular building insurance policy as a condition of buying their home and which of these authorities receive commissions from the insurance premiums generated.
Answer
Conditions attached to right to buy sales relating to insurance policies are a matter for local authorities and prospective purchasers to agree. Information on these matters is not held centrally.
- Asked by: Kenneth Gibson, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Thursday, 04 January 2001
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Current Status:
Answered by Nicol Stephen on 25 January 2001
To ask the Scottish Executive what steps it is taking to provide schoolchildren with greater opportunities to participate in creative activities outwith school hours.
Answer
The Scottish Executive supports and encourages such opportunities.
Scotland's National Cultural Strategy, published in August 2000, promotes creativity in the arts and other cultural activity, especially by children and young people. A key priority is to recognise and celebrate schools as centres of creativity.
The Executive is providing £27 million to 2002 under the Excellence Fund Core Programme for study support, some of which will have a creative element.The New Opportunities Fund has made available over £23 million for out of school hours learning activity and over £25 million for out of school care. The learning activity includes creative ventures in the arts to help raise the self-esteem and confidence of pupils. Many out of school clubs provide good opportunities for participation in creative activities.
- Asked by: Kenneth Gibson, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Thursday, 04 January 2001
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Current Status:
Answered by Wendy Alexander on 25 January 2001
To ask the Scottish Executive what it estimates the rate of inflation will be in 2003-04.
Answer
The Scottish Executive does not forecast inflation. For reference, the latest HM Treasury forecast for inflation, covering the period to 2003, was published in Building Long-Term Prosperity for All: Pre-Budget Report (November 2000).
- Asked by: Kenneth Gibson, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Thursday, 04 January 2001
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Current Status:
Answered by Jackie Baillie on 25 January 2001
To ask the Scottish Executive whether, in the event of any large-scale stock transfers, local authority housing rent arrears which exist at the time of the transfer will remain the responsibility of local authorities or transfer to the relevant housing association.
Answer
The arrangements for dealing with rent arrears will be a matter for negotiation between the relevant council and acquiring landlord, and will be set out in the contract of sale.
- Asked by: Kenneth Gibson, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Thursday, 04 January 2001
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Current Status:
Answered by Angus MacKay on 25 January 2001
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it intends to establish any new non-departmental public bodies in 2001 and, if so, to specify these.
Answer
As part of our drive to modernise government structures, the Executive is carrying out a radical review of all Scottish Public Bodies. We will consider what role public bodies should play in the devolved Scotland and how they should operate and be accountable to Ministers and Parliament. We will be considering the scope for reduction in the number of public bodies through abolition and merger, and the circumstances in which new ones should be created.I shall make a statement on the way ahead following the review around the end of May.
- Asked by: Kenneth Gibson, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Thursday, 09 November 2000
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Current Status:
Answered by Susan Deacon on 24 January 2001
To ask the Scottish Executive what steps it will take to require health boards to make each Drugs and Therapeutics Committee meeting open to the public, Primary Care Trusts and Acute Trusts.
Answer
I refer Mr Gibson to the answer I gave to question S1W-11138.
- Asked by: Kenneth Gibson, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Thursday, 09 November 2000
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Current Status:
Answered by Susan Deacon on 24 January 2001
To ask the Scottish Executive what steps it will take to require each health board, prior to each Drugs and Therapeutics Committee meeting, to make an agenda publicly available.
Answer
I refer Mr Gibson to the answer I gave to question S1W-11138.
- Asked by: Kenneth Gibson, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Thursday, 09 November 2000
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Current Status:
Answered by Susan Deacon on 24 January 2001
To ask the Scottish Executive what steps it will take to require health boards to make publicly available the minutes and attendance records from each Drugs and Therapeutics Committee meeting.
Answer
The Code of Practice on Openness for the NHS in Scotland makes a presumption of openness and accessibility of information to the public, subject to certain exceptions such as information on individuals and about internal discussions which would harm frank debate. Health boards are required to hold meetings in public wherever possible and to publish and provide information on services, proposals and decisions.
- Asked by: Kenneth Gibson, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 15 November 2000
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Current Status:
Answered by Susan Deacon on 24 January 2001
To ask the Scottish Executive what plans there are to ensure that the provision of Zyban on prescription is fully integrated into existing smoking cessation services.
Answer
The Scottish Executive recognises that Zyban has shown to be most effective if used in combination with motivational support and, as such, complements existing smoking cessation services. The Executive is looking at the availability of smoking cessation services. However, Zyban is not clinically suitable for all patients who wish to stop smoking and the decision whether or not to prescribe this treatment is a matter for the clinical judgement of the doctors concerned.