- Asked by: Kenneth Gibson, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 13 June 2000
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Current Status:
Answered by Sarah Boyack on 27 June 2000
To ask the Scottish Executive what steps it is taking to ensure all new homes built in Scotland are fitted with smoke alarms.
Answer
The Technical Standards for compliance with the Building Standards (Scotland) Regulations 1990 (as amended) require that all new homes are fitted with smoke alarms.
- Asked by: Kenneth Gibson, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 13 June 2000
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Current Status:
Answered by Wendy Alexander on 27 June 2000
To ask the Scottish Executive what consideration has been given to the impact of the Glasgow Housing Stock Transfer on owner-occupiers who occupy buildings which are also partly tenanted.
Answer
The framework document, Better Homes Stronger Communities, which was published on 10 April, outlined a package of initiatives which could be developed to promote owner occupation and to assist existing owners. These will be considered further as a transfer proposal is developed.
- Asked by: Kenneth Gibson, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 13 June 2000
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Current Status:
Answered by Sam Galbraith on 27 June 2000
To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to examine teachers' pensions and exit strategies with a view to allowing teachers to leave the profession.
Answer
Following the publication of the McCrone Committee's Report, I announced that over the summer months a series of bilateral meetings are scheduled with the key parties leading to implementation discussions in the autumn. During this period a number of issues arising from the report will be considered, including the recommendations on early retirement.
- Asked by: Kenneth Gibson, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 13 June 2000
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Current Status:
Answered by Sam Galbraith on 27 June 2000
To ask the Scottish Executive whether local government will remain the custodian of the education service.
Answer
We have no plans to change the role of education authorities from that currently set out in the Education (Scotland) Act 1980 and the Standards in Scotland's Schools etc Bill.
- Asked by: Kenneth Gibson, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 13 June 2000
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Current Status:
Answered by Sam Galbraith on 27 June 2000
To ask the Scottish Executive what role it envisages for local government as employers in modernising the education service.
Answer
We know that local authorities share our vision of a modern, adaptive education service. We are pleased to be working in partnership with them to address the McCrone recommendations and on other issues. We do not envisage any change in the role education authorities play in working towards an education service fit for the 21st century.
- Asked by: Kenneth Gibson, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 13 June 2000
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Current Status:
Answered by Peter Peacock on 27 June 2000
To ask the Scottish Executive what the average cost is for a child to receive free school milk throughout the school year.
Answer
Information on the cost of providing free school milk in schools is not collected centrally.
- Asked by: Kenneth Gibson, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 13 June 2000
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Current Status:
Answered by Jack McConnell on 27 June 2000
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will make representations to Her Majesty's Government regarding devolving powers relating to council tax benefit to Scotland, given that local government levies the tax.
Answer
Social security benefits including housing and council tax benefit are reserved matters and are the responsibility of the DSS.
- Asked by: Kenneth Gibson, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 13 June 2000
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Current Status:
Answered by Peter Peacock on 27 June 2000
To ask the Scottish Executive what steps it is taking to encourage local authorities to provide free school milk to (a) all schoolchildren whose parents are in receipt of either income support or working families tax credit and (b) other schoolchildren.
Answer
Under the Education (Scotland) Act 1980, as amended, all local authorities must provide free milk, meals and other refreshments to children whose parents are in receipt of income support, income-based jobseeker's allowance or support provided under Part VI of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999. They have a discretionary power to provide milk, meals and other refreshments to other children but must charge for such provision.
Local authorities are aware of their responsibilities and the Scottish Executive has no plans to take specific steps in this area.
- Asked by: Kenneth Gibson, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 24 May 2000
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Current Status:
Answered by Wendy Alexander on 26 June 2000
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-5914 by Ms Wendy Alexander on 22 May 2000, why Glasgow City Council's share of capital investment in council housing fell from 21.7% of Scotland's total in 1996-97 to 15.1% in 1999-2000.
Answer
Capital investment in council housing is funded from borrowing consents allocated by the Executive, and usable receipts and revenue surpluses generated by councils themselves. Relative changes between Glasgow and other councils in the latter two elements are the main reason for the reduction in Glasgow's share of the overall expenditure over the period.
- Asked by: Kenneth Gibson, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 24 May 2000
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Current Status:
Answered by Susan Deacon on 26 June 2000
To ask the Scottish Executive how many neonatal intensive care units there are in each health board.
Answer
Information is collected centrally about neonatal facilities, not specifically about neonatal intensive care units; babies requiring intensive care are normally treated in such facilities. The following table shows the average number of staffed beds in neonatal facilities for each NHS Hospital in Scotland:
| Average available staffed beds |
Aberdeen Maternity Hospital | 40 |
Ayrshire Central & Maternity Hospital | 25 |
Bellshill Maternity Hospital | 34 |
Cresswell Maternity Hospital | 12 |
Dr Gray's Hospital | 4 |
Falkirk & District Royal Infirmary | 12 |
Forth Park Hospital | 20 |
Inverclyde Royal Hospital | 7 |
Law Hospital | 10 |
Ninewells Hospital | 24 |
Perth Royal Infirmary | 10 |
Queen Mother's Hospital | 29 |
Raigmore Hospital | 20 |
Royal Alexandra Hospital | 12 |
Royal Maternity Hospital, Glasgow | 33 |
Simpson Memorial Maternity Pavilion | 45 |
Southern General Hospital | 16 |
St John's Hospital at Howden | 14 |
Stirling Royal Infirmary | 5 |
Vale of Leven District General Hospital | 8 |
| Scotland | 380 |
Source: ISD Scotland [Form ISD(S)1].
Notes:
Figures are as at 31 March 2000 and are provisional.
Excludes NHS beds in joint-user and contractual hospitals.
