[{"UniqueID":134745,"EventID":"S3W-37458","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2678,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":8,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2010-11-11T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-11-11T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what the procedure is for advising nurses working on an open rota in NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde of their next rota; what feedback has been received on this procedure, ","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what the procedure is for advising nurses working on an open rota in NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde of their next rota; what feedback has been received on this procedure, and whether any feedback suggests the need for improvement.","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":"2010-11-11T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":null,"MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":134759,"EventID":"S3W-34085","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":8,"MSPID":1839,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":3,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2010-06-02T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-06-02T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body how many of its employees earn more than the First Minister’s combined salary.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body how many of its employees earn more than the First Minister’s combined salary.","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":"2010-06-02T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":null,"MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":134762,"EventID":"S3W-36344","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1839,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":3,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2010-09-16T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-09-16T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what progress has been made on the planned improvements to and upgrade of the A82 since April 2010.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what progress has been made on the planned improvements to and upgrade of the A82 since April 2010.","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":"2010-09-16T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":null,"MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":134766,"EventID":"S3W-35876","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2117,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":47,"ApprovedDate":"2010-08-25T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-08-25T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive how many businesses have appealed their business rates revaluation since 1 April 2010.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive how many businesses have appealed their business rates revaluation since 1 April 2010.","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":"2010-08-25T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":null,"MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":134789,"EventID":"S3W-35598","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":3811,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":4,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2010-08-03T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-08-03T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-34797 by John Swinney on 16 July 2010, whether it will list the (a) name and (b) job title of each member of its staff who used a (","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-34797 by John Swinney on 16 July 2010, whether it will list the (a) name and (b) job title of each member of its staff who used a (i) Government Procurement Card or (ii) Travel and Subsistence Charge Card in 2009-10, showing (A) the purpose for which it was used and (B) at what cost in each instance.","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":"2010-08-03T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":null,"MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":134790,"EventID":"S3W-36752","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":3811,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":4,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2010-10-07T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-10-07T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive how many events were hosted by the First Minister in (a) Bute House and (b) Edinburgh Castle in (i) 2007-08, (ii) 2008-09 and (iii) 2009-10.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive how many events were hosted by the First Minister in (a) Bute House and (b) Edinburgh Castle in (i) 2007-08, (ii) 2008-09 and (iii) 2009-10.","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":"2010-10-07T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":null,"MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":134791,"EventID":"S3W-36753","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":3811,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":4,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2010-10-07T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-10-07T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what the hospitality bill was for events held in (a) Bute House and (b) Edinburgh Castle in (i) 2007-08, (ii) 2008-09 and (iii) 2009-10.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what the hospitality bill was for events held in (a) Bute House and (b) Edinburgh Castle in (i) 2007-08, (ii) 2008-09 and (iii) 2009-10.","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":"2010-10-07T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":null,"MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":134792,"EventID":"S3W-36817","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":3811,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":4,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2010-10-07T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-10-07T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive when it will provide a substantive answer to question S3W-35598, which received a holding reply on 31 August 2010.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive when it will provide a substantive answer to question S3W-35598, which received a holding reply on 31 August 2010.","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":"2010-10-07T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":null,"MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":134793,"EventID":"S3W-37751","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":3811,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":4,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2010-11-22T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-11-22T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-37254 by John Swinney on 22 November 2010, whether it will provide a (a) job description and (b) salary for each of the posts liste","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-37254 by John Swinney on 22 November 2010, whether it will provide a (a) job description and (b) salary for each of the posts listed.","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":"2010-11-22T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":null,"MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":134800,"EventID":"S3W-34726","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":3811,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":4,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2010-06-22T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-06-22T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what purchases there have been in the last year for government hospitality at (a) Bute House, (b) Edinburgh Castle and (c) elsewhere.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what purchases there have been in the last year for government hospitality at (a) Bute House, (b) Edinburgh Castle and (c) elsewhere.","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":"2010-06-22T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":null,"MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":134804,"EventID":"S3W-33448","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":3806,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":3,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2010-04-29T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-04-29T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive when the proposed charitable legal vehicle, the Scottish Charitable Incorporated Organisation, will be available to third sector organisations.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive when the proposed charitable legal vehicle, the Scottish Charitable Incorporated Organisation, will be available to third sector organisations.","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":"2010-04-29T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":null,"MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":134808,"EventID":"S3W-36589","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1837,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":36,"ApprovedDate":"2010-09-27T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-09-27T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive how many of the 8,092 units completed under the Affordable Housing Investment Programme in 2009-10 were for sale.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive how many of the 8,092 units completed under the Affordable Housing Investment Programme in 2009-10 were for sale.","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":"2010-09-27T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":null,"MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":134809,"EventID":"S3W-36590","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1837,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":36,"ApprovedDate":"2010-09-27T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-09-27T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive how many tenants will face a reduction in Local Housing Allowance as a result of changes proposed by the UK Government.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive how many tenants will face a reduction in Local Housing Allowance as a result of changes proposed by the UK Government.","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":"2010-09-27T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":null,"MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":134817,"EventID":"S3W-34092","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2080,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":17,"ApprovedDate":"2010-06-03T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-06-03T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what steps it will take to ensure that schemes such as those referred to in Women’s Aid’s Analysis of Local Authority Gender Equality Schemes include specific proposals t","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what steps it will take to ensure that schemes such as those referred to in Women’s Aid’s Analysis of Local Authority Gender Equality Schemes include specific proposals to tackle violence against women.","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":"2010-06-03T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":null,"MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":134829,"EventID":"S3W-38281","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2108,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":68,"ApprovedDate":"2010-12-10T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-12-10T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what progress has been made in relation to reviewing the implementation of mainstreaming children with additional support needs.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what progress has been made in relation to reviewing the implementation of mainstreaming children with additional support needs.","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":"2010-12-10T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":null,"MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":134869,"EventID":"S3W-36140","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2140,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":55,"ApprovedDate":"2010-09-08T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-09-08T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive when it will provide substantive answers to questions S3W-30178, S3W-30179, S3W-30180, S3W-35364 and S3W-35365","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive when it will provide substantive answers to questions S3W-30178, S3W-30179, S3W-30180, S3W-35364 and S3W-35365","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":"2010-09-08T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":null,"MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":134875,"EventID":"S3W-35333","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2866,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":63,"ApprovedDate":"2010-07-15T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-07-15T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3M-33983 by Keith Brown on 2 June 2010, whether the role of the Scottish Futures Trust in the Scottish Government’s school building pr","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3M-33983 by Keith Brown on 2 June 2010, whether the role of the Scottish Futures Trust in the Scottish Government’s school building programme has involved more than informing local authorities of their funding allocations and, if so, what work it has carried out.","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":"2010-07-15T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":null,"MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":134924,"EventID":"S3W-33955","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2675,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":3,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2010-05-27T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-05-27T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what the new planting rates are in Scottish forests.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what the new planting rates are in Scottish forests.","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":"2010-05-27T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":null,"MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":134932,"EventID":"S3W-32185","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2641,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":28,"ApprovedDate":"2010-03-04T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-03-04T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what representations it will be making to the relevent agencies, including Scottish and Southern Energy, regarding repeated power failures at the Western Isles Hospital.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what representations it will be making to the relevent agencies, including Scottish and Southern Energy, regarding repeated power failures at the Western Isles Hospital.","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":"2010-03-04T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":null,"MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":134937,"EventID":"S3W-37539","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":3907,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":10,"ApprovedDate":"2010-11-15T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-11-15T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive how it measures whether there has been progress in increasing the number of schools offering two hours of physical education per week for each pupil","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive how it measures whether there has been progress in increasing the number of schools offering two hours of physical education per week for each pupil","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":"2010-11-15T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":null,"MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":134938,"EventID":"S3W-37540","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":3907,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":10,"ApprovedDate":"2010-11-15T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-11-15T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what progress it is making in providing pupils with access to two hours of physical education per week","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what progress it is making in providing pupils with access to two hours of physical education per week","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":"2010-11-15T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":null,"MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":134939,"EventID":"S3W-37541","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":3907,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":10,"ApprovedDate":"2010-11-15T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-11-15T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what activities undertaken by pupils outwith the school setting it classifies as contributing to the delivery of two hours of physical education per week","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what activities undertaken by pupils outwith the school setting it classifies as contributing to the delivery of two hours of physical education per week","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":"2010-11-15T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":null,"MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":134940,"EventID":"S3W-37542","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":3907,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":10,"ApprovedDate":"2010-11-15T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-11-15T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive how it supports schools to enable pupils to move on from physical exercise to participation in sport","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive how it supports schools to enable pupils to move on from physical exercise to participation in sport","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":"2010-11-15T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":null,"MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":134941,"EventID":"S3W-37543","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":3907,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":10,"ApprovedDate":"2010-11-15T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-11-15T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive how it measures whether there have been changes in the number of pupils participating in sport at (a) primary and (b) secondary schools","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive how it measures whether there have been changes in the number of pupils participating in sport at (a) primary and (b) secondary schools","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":"2010-11-15T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":null,"MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":134945,"EventID":"S3W-32980","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2133,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":6,"ApprovedDate":"2010-03-31T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-03-31T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive how many central heating systems were installed from (a) May 2007 to April 2008 and (b) May 2008 to April 2009 and have been installed from May 2009 to date, broken down ","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive how many central heating systems were installed from (a) May 2007 to April 2008 and (b) May 2008 to April 2009 and have been installed from May 2009 to date, broken down by (i) local authority area and (ii) parliamentary constituency. ","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":"2010-03-31T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":null,"MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":205382,"EventID":"S3F-02124","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":7,"MSPID":2068,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":22,"ApprovedDate":"2010-01-07T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-01-07T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the First Minister what action the Scottish Government is taking to reduce waiting lists for access to NHS dental care. ","ItemText":"To ask the First Minister what action the Scottish Government is taking to reduce waiting lists for access to NHS dental care. ","AnswerText":"We are investing significantly in NHS dental services in Scotland to increase access to NHS dental care.
We currently have the highest number of dentists working in general dental services since 2003 and spending on general dental services increased to £354.5 million in 2008-09, an increase of 9.58% from the previous year.
We have achieved our manifesto commitment to open a new dental school in Aberdeen and I will open, formally, the new state-of-the-art dental school building on 19 January 2010.
We have also re-introduced a preventive school based dental service which is currently being rolled out across Scotland and have delivered early the dental HEAT target that 80% of all three to five year old children should be registered with an NHS dentist by 2010-11.
","AnswerDate":"2010-01-07T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":null,"MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Alex Salmond","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":206466,"EventID":"S3O-09001","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":4,"MSPID":1752,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":57,"ApprovedDate":"2010-01-07T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-01-07T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions it has had with local authorities to establish what artworks of potential national significance are held in their archives but not currently on display.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions it has had with local authorities to establish what artworks of potential national significance are held in their archives but not currently on display.","AnswerText":"The Scottish Government has not had any such discussions directly with local authorities. This is a matter for local authorities themselves to determine. However, through the Recognition Fund, the Scottish Government does offer support for local authority and other non-national museums and galleries to increase access to their collections of national significance. ","AnswerDate":"2010-01-07T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":null,"MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Fiona Hyslop","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":206467,"EventID":"S3O-09075","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":4,"MSPID":3743,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":6,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2010-01-14T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-01-14T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive how many jobs are expected to be created and safeguarded by the Aberdeen Western Peripheral Route and whether it still expects the route to be completed by the end of 201","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive how many jobs are expected to be created and safeguarded by the Aberdeen Western Peripheral Route and whether it still expects the route to be completed by the end of 2012. ","AnswerText":"We expect several hundred people to be employed on its construction and once completed it is estimated that it will create around 14,000 jobs in the North East over 30 years.
The principal Orders require to be approved by Parliament and subject to that being given, we will need to review the remaining stages of the project before issuing a definitive timetable.
","AnswerDate":"2010-01-14T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":null,"MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Stewart Stevenson","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":206468,"EventID":"S3O-09086","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":4,"MSPID":3763,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":8,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2010-01-14T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-01-14T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive , further to the letter of 17 December 2009 signed by all 17 of Scotland’s public health chiefs in support of minimum pricing for alcohol, what other support exists for i","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive , further to the letter of 17 December 2009 signed by all 17 of Scotland’s public health chiefs in support of minimum pricing for alcohol, what other support exists for its Alcohol etc. (Scotland) Bill. ","AnswerText":"Our Alcohol Bill is receiving growing support, and minimum pricing is now backed by a broad coalition. As well as all 17 of Scotland''s public health directors in NHS Scotland, others supporting our policy on minimum pricing include the four UK Chief Medical Officers, the British Medical Association, the Royal Colleges, the Association of Chief Police Officers in Scotland, the Scottish Licensed Trade Association, and the Church of Scotland.
Last week, the House of Commons Health Select Committee published a detailed report on alcohol which included a clear recommendation for minimum pricing backed by Labour and Liberal Democrat members. The Chairman of the Committee, Kevin Barron MP, said I agree with the Chief Medical Officer that introducing unit pricing will reduce binge drinking and the committee dismissed as a myth the claim that responsible drinkers would be affected.
It is disappointing the some colleagues continue to put party politics before public health, or fail to appreciate the urgent need to put in place measures that would save lives.
","AnswerDate":"2010-01-14T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":null,"MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Nicola Sturgeon","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":206469,"EventID":"S3O-09103","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":4,"MSPID":1778,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":40,"ApprovedDate":"2010-01-14T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-01-14T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive when it last met the Chief Executive of Fife Council. ","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive when it last met the Chief Executive of Fife Council. ","AnswerText":"The Scottish Government is in regular contact with chief executives of all councils, including the chief executive of Fife Council. ","AnswerDate":"2010-01-14T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":null,"MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Stewart Stevenson","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":206470,"EventID":"S3O-09122","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":4,"MSPID":1986,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":69,"ApprovedDate":"2010-01-14T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-01-14T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what it is doing to ensure that newly qualified midwives find positions in the health service. ","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what it is doing to ensure that newly qualified midwives find positions in the health service. ","AnswerText":"We have in place a One Year Job Guarantee Scheme for midwives who, through no fault of their own, have difficulties finding employment. The Scheme is designed to ensure all newly qualified midwives have the opportunity to build on the clinical experience gained during their pre-registration programme. ","AnswerDate":"2010-01-14T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":null,"MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Nicola Sturgeon","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":206471,"EventID":"S3O-09133","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":4,"MSPID":3806,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":3,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2010-01-14T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-01-14T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive when it last met representatives of NHS Highland and what issues were discussed. ","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive when it last met representatives of NHS Highland and what issues were discussed. ","AnswerText":"I meet all national health service chairs regularly. The last meeting was on 23 November. My most recent meeting with NHS Highland representatives was on 7 December when I chaired the board''s annual review. We discussed the board''s performance against Scottish Government targets and local service priorities. ","AnswerDate":"2010-01-14T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":null,"MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Nicola Sturgeon","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":206472,"EventID":"S3O-09152","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":4,"MSPID":2188,"Party":"Scottish Green Party","RegionID":4,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2010-01-21T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-01-21T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive to what extent it plans to follow changes made to the system of legal aid in England to comply with the access to justice provisions in the Aarhus Convention. ","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive to what extent it plans to follow changes made to the system of legal aid in England to comply with the access to justice provisions in the Aarhus Convention. ","AnswerText":"The current legal aid system in Scotland is compliant with the Aarhus convention.
Civil legal aid, which provides for representation before a court, may be available provided that the three tests contained in the Legal Aid (Scotland) Act 1986 are met: applicants must qualify financially, must have a legal basis for their case and it must be reasonable in the particular circumstances of the case that legal aid is provided.
","AnswerDate":"2010-01-21T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":null,"MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Fergus Ewing","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":206473,"EventID":"S3O-09174","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":4,"MSPID":1752,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":57,"ApprovedDate":"2010-01-21T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-01-21T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what action it is taking to ensure that the co-operative business model is included in the Determined to Succeed programme. ","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what action it is taking to ensure that the co-operative business model is included in the Determined to Succeed programme. ","AnswerText":"The Scottish Government, through its Determined to Succeed (DtS) strategy, has provided £60,000 funding for Co-operative Education Trust Scotland (CETS) during its two-year pilot stage (July 2005-07) to support the work and future development of educational resources under its Co-operate to Succeed banner. ","AnswerDate":"2010-01-21T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":null,"MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Keith Brown","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":206474,"EventID":"S3O-09198","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":4,"MSPID":4074,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":73,"ApprovedDate":"2010-01-21T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-01-21T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what support it provided to assist farmers during the recent winter freeze. ","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what support it provided to assist farmers during the recent winter freeze. ","AnswerText":"Scottish Government was immediately in direct contact with the farming community and its representatives as soon as the bad weather started. This included phoning farmers in the worst affected areas every day.
I chaired a meeting on 11 January with rural stakeholders where the collapse of sheds was identified as the single biggest ongoing issue. We have now established a working group of stakeholders to look at this further.
We have provided guidance on spreading slurry on frozen ground; we suspended our inspection programme; we supported the relaxation on enforcement for drivers'' hours for groups supplying essential rural supplies; extended the deadline for applications for rural priorities, and offered the use of the 224 4x4 vehicles owned by rural public bodies.
The farming community coped well in difficult circumstances and often went the extra mile to help each other.
","AnswerDate":"2010-01-21T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":null,"MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Richard Lochhead","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":206475,"EventID":"S3O-09227","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":4,"MSPID":1735,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":29,"ApprovedDate":"2010-01-21T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-01-21T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what consideration it is giving to the needs of veterans in the criminal justice system. ","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what consideration it is giving to the needs of veterans in the criminal justice system. ","AnswerText":"The Scottish Government appreciates that it can be difficult for some former Service personnel to make the transition from military to civilian life. The Scottish Government continues to work with and provide funding to Scottish veterans'' organisations to provide support to ex-Service personnel to help tackle the difficulties and problems they can face to try to avoid coming into conflict with the criminal justice system in the first place.
The Scottish criminal justice system is able to take into account the individual circumstances of all those that it deals with. For example, access to legal advice and disposals and programmes aimed at offenders with specific needs such as treatment for drug addiction. Those who are sentenced to imprisonment are able to access a wide variety of support services.
","AnswerDate":"2010-01-21T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":null,"MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Kenny MacAskill","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":206476,"EventID":"S3O-09239","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":4,"MSPID":2133,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":6,"ApprovedDate":"2010-01-21T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-01-21T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what consideration is being given to increasing the number of buildings that require to have fire sprinkler systems installed. ","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what consideration is being given to increasing the number of buildings that require to have fire sprinkler systems installed. ","AnswerText":"An automatic fire suppression system such as a sprinkler system is required in new enclosed shopping centres and as a result of the Building Regulation changes which were introduced on 1 May 2005, in all new residential care buildings; sheltered housing complexes, and high rise domestic buildings. Over and above this level of provision, it is proposed to require all new school buildings in Scotland to have sprinkler systems installed from October 2010.
There are currently no proposals to make sprinklers compulsory in existing buildings.
","AnswerDate":"2010-01-21T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":null,"MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Fergus Ewing","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":206477,"EventID":"S3O-09249","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":4,"MSPID":1906,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":50,"ApprovedDate":"2010-01-21T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-01-21T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive how many projects supporting the environment and rural economy of Angus there have been since 2007; how much was invested in them, and what the employment benefit has bee","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive how many projects supporting the environment and rural economy of Angus there have been since 2007; how much was invested in them, and what the employment benefit has been. ","AnswerText":"Under the Scotland Rural Development Programme around 360 projects have been approved to date in the Tayside Region (which includes Angus) under the Rural Priorities and LEADER delivery mechanisms. It is not always possible to break this information down for specific areas such as Angus. This means that around £23 million of additional funding is entering the local economy. ","AnswerDate":"2010-01-21T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":null,"MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Richard Lochhead","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":206478,"EventID":"S3O-09285","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":4,"MSPID":1752,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":57,"ApprovedDate":"2010-01-28T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-01-28T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what recent discussions it has had with East Ayrshire Council with regard to the council’s capital spending programme. ","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what recent discussions it has had with East Ayrshire Council with regard to the council’s capital spending programme. ","AnswerText":"Discussions on local government finance are taken forward through COSLA, acting on behalf of all local authorities. The Scottish Government is in regular contact with COSLA to discuss a range of issues, including provision for capital spending. ","AnswerDate":"2010-01-28T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":null,"MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"John Swinney","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":206479,"EventID":"S3O-09307","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":4,"MSPID":3806,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":3,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2010-01-28T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-01-28T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what negotiations it has had with the European Union to extend the Public Services Obligation contract for air services to Barra. ","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what negotiations it has had with the European Union to extend the Public Services Obligation contract for air services to Barra. ","AnswerText":"Under the relevant European Regulation, Public Service Obligation contracts can be awarded for up to four years. The Glasgow to Barra contract was awarded from 1 April 2009 until 31 March 2013. ","AnswerDate":"2010-01-28T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":null,"MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Stewart Stevenson","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":206480,"EventID":"S3O-09311","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":4,"MSPID":2202,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":8,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2010-01-28T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-01-28T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive , in addition to the responses given to the Economy, Energy and Tourism Committee on 13 January 2010 and in light of a subsequent meeting between ministers and Scottish a","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive , in addition to the responses given to the Economy, Energy and Tourism Committee on 13 January 2010 and in light of a subsequent meeting between ministers and Scottish and Southern Energy, under what circumstances additional statutory consents will be required to allow the proposed Beauly to Denny power line development to proceed. ","AnswerText":"All works in connection with the Beauly to Denny overhead line must be undertaken in accordance with the original application and with the Environmental Statement (including its Addenda). I do not anticipate that, in seeking to construct the new 400kV line, dismantle the existing 132kV line or comply with the various conditions of consent, the developers will require additional planning consents. However, until the developers come forward with detailed plans which are approved by Scottish ministers, it is not possible to state definitively whether any consents will be required, and if so, their nature.
If other statutory consents are required by legislation then they will have to be obtained by the developers. This is a normal and common occurrence in the planning and energy consenting process.
","AnswerDate":"2010-01-28T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":null,"MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Jim Mather","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":206481,"EventID":"S3O-09321","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":4,"MSPID":1826,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":35,"ApprovedDate":"2010-01-28T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-01-28T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether secondary schools receiving funding under the school building programme are being replaced on a like-for-like basis, including space for sports and community cent","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether secondary schools receiving funding under the school building programme are being replaced on a like-for-like basis, including space for sports and community centres, and, if not, what the reasons are for its position on this matter. ","AnswerText":"The offer of Scottish Government funding has been made on a like for like basis of current facilities. Where possible, and within the parameters of the school building programme''s overall budget, I have asked that the Scottish Futures Trust are flexible to local circumstances.
Discussions between individual councils are ongoing with the Scottish Futures Trust and it would be inappropriate for me to comment on this process at this stage.
","AnswerDate":"2010-01-28T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":null,"MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Michael Russell","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":206482,"EventID":"S3O-09326","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":4,"MSPID":2892,"Party":"Scottish Green Party","RegionID":2,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2010-01-28T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-01-28T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether it plans to have discussions with the Welsh Assembly Government over the potential for direct rail services between Edinburgh and Cardiff. ","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether it plans to have discussions with the Welsh Assembly Government over the potential for direct rail services between Edinburgh and Cardiff. ","AnswerText":"We have no plans to discuss this issue with the Welsh Assembly Government.
The Department for Transport is responsible for awarding franchises for cross border services in the UK.
","AnswerDate":"2010-01-28T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":null,"MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Stewart Stevenson","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":206483,"EventID":"S3O-09367","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":4,"MSPID":1853,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":16,"ApprovedDate":"2010-02-04T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-02-04T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what action it is taking in respect of the regulation of the property management industry. ","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what action it is taking in respect of the regulation of the property management industry. ","AnswerText":"The Scottish Government is working with industry; consumer; local authority, and housing sector stakeholders to establish a national accreditation scheme for residential property managers. ","AnswerDate":"2010-02-04T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":null,"MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Alex Neil","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":206484,"EventID":"S3O-09372","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":4,"MSPID":1860,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":3,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2010-02-04T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-02-04T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive , of the 251 new schools referred to in the SNP press release of 25 January 2010, SNP build more schools than promised, how many were planned or under construction prior ","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive , of the 251 new schools referred to in the SNP press release of 25 January 2010, SNP build more schools than promised, how many were planned or under construction prior to May 2007. ","AnswerText":"Given normal lead-in times for major capital projects, it is not unexpected that planning and construction began on a number of the 251 schools prior to May 2007. This was the same situation faced by the first Scottish Executive administration. Of the school projects completed during the first administration''s term of office, over half were pre-devolution projects.
Responsibility for funding those projects fell largely upon the first Executive administration, just as responsibility for paying for most of the 260 projects has fallen on this government.
","AnswerDate":"2010-02-04T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":null,"MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Michael Russell","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":206485,"EventID":"S3O-09375","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":4,"MSPID":2059,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":18,"ApprovedDate":"2010-02-04T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-02-04T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what steps are being taken to tackle alcohol and drug misuse in schools. ","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what steps are being taken to tackle alcohol and drug misuse in schools. ","AnswerText":"","AnswerDate":"2010-02-04T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":null,"MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Michael Russell","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":206486,"EventID":"S3O-09380","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":4,"MSPID":1996,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":19,"ApprovedDate":"2010-02-04T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-02-04T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions it has held with Home Office ministers or officials regarding the impact of A8 nationals on services in local communities. ","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions it has held with Home Office ministers or officials regarding the impact of A8 nationals on services in local communities. ","AnswerText":"Scottish Government officials regularly attend COSLA Strategic Migration Partnership meetings which discuss the delivery of services to asylum seekers, refugees and migrant workers in Scotland. This group includes Home Office/UKBA officials and most recently met on 8 December 2009. ","AnswerDate":"2010-02-04T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":null,"MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Fiona Hyslop","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":206487,"EventID":"S3O-09383","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":4,"MSPID":2108,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":68,"ApprovedDate":"2010-02-04T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-02-04T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what action it is taking to support local newspapers and the cultural contribution that they make to Scotland’s communities. ","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what action it is taking to support local newspapers and the cultural contribution that they make to Scotland’s communities. ","AnswerText":"The Scottish Government values the contribution made by local newspapers to Scotland''s communities and is committed to helping them survive and prosper in a time of immense change for the industry.
We are paying close attention to the responses we have received to the consultation on the future of Public Information Notices and will pay particular attention to the views expressed by Parliament last week. The consultation closes on 12 February 2010.
On the same day, Jim Mather will host an event for local newspapers to explore some of the challenges and opportunities which currently confront the sector. In addition, we will, of course, take very serious account of the findings of the inquiry into local newspapers being carried out by the Education, Lifelong Learning and Culture Committee.
","AnswerDate":"2010-02-04T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":null,"MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Fiona Hyslop","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":206488,"EventID":"S3O-09385","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":4,"MSPID":1986,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":69,"ApprovedDate":"2010-02-04T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-02-04T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions have taken place with Sail Inverclyde regarding the Tall Ships Races’ 2011. ","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions have taken place with Sail Inverclyde regarding the Tall Ships Races’ 2011. ","AnswerText":"EventScotland, the national events agency, has met with representatives from Sail Inverclyde on three occasions to discuss ways in which the Tall Ships Races in 2011 could be supported when the event returns to Scotland, taking place between Greenock and Lerwick.
These discussions continue, although EventScotland has already committed to invest £25,000 in the Cruise in Company leg of the races. This is a non-competitive event with ships sailing from Greenock to Lerwick visiting ports along the Scottish coastline and within Scotland''s island communities.
","AnswerDate":"2010-02-04T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":null,"MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Fiona Hyslop","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":206489,"EventID":"S3O-09407","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":4,"MSPID":2596,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":7,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2010-02-04T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-02-04T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether it supports a greater role for the voluntary sector in delivering public services. ","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether it supports a greater role for the voluntary sector in delivering public services. ","AnswerText":"We are committed to providing high-quality public services and recognise the important role of the third sector in their delivery. We are working with partners in the public sector and the third sector to ensure that the way in which services are commissioned, including the application of community benefit clauses, leads to the best possible services for those that need them. ","AnswerDate":"2010-02-04T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":null,"MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"John Swinney","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":206490,"EventID":"S3O-09412","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":4,"MSPID":1735,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":29,"ApprovedDate":"2010-02-04T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-02-04T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what criteria the Scottish Funding Council uses in allocating funding for strategic growth to colleges. ","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what criteria the Scottish Funding Council uses in allocating funding for strategic growth to colleges. ","AnswerText":"The allocation of funding to individual colleges is a matter exclusively for the Scottish Funding Council and not ministers. In general terms we expect the funding council to take funding decisions in a way which supports its statutory duty to secure the coherent provision of high quality further and higher education. I will ask the chief executive of the funding council to write to the member setting out its policy on this matter. \r\n
While the Scottish Government does not have any immediate plans to create exemplar journeys in towns, cities and villages across Scotland, Traveline Scotland provides up to date details on any public transport journey within Scotland, including comprehensive information on the mobility and access aspects of the journey.
","AnswerDate":"2010-02-04T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":null,"MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Stewart Stevenson","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":206492,"EventID":"S3O-09437","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":4,"MSPID":1839,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":3,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2010-02-04T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-02-04T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what its position is on the cancellation by Highland Council of a visit to Craggan Outdoors by pupils at Crown Primary School because of the exclusion of a disabled child","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what its position is on the cancellation by Highland Council of a visit to Craggan Outdoors by pupils at Crown Primary School because of the exclusion of a disabled child. ","AnswerText":"Scottish ministers recognise the challenges for education authorities and schools in balancing the varying needs of all children, including those who are disabled. Ultimately, this is a matter for Highland Council who must comply with their legislative responsibilities including the Disability Discrimination Act 1995 (as amended by the Special Educational Needs and Disability Act 2001). ","AnswerDate":"2010-02-04T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":null,"MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Adam Ingram","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":206493,"EventID":"S3O-09461","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":4,"MSPID":2123,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":32,"ApprovedDate":"2010-02-11T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-02-11T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive , further to the answer to question S3W-29930 by Nicola Sturgeon on 11 January 2010, whether the rules regarding legal authority to access medical records without explici","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive , further to the answer to question S3W-29930 by Nicola Sturgeon on 11 January 2010, whether the rules regarding legal authority to access medical records without explicit consent apply equally to children and adults. ","AnswerText":"The rules regarding legal authority to access medical records without explicit consent apply equally to children and adults. ","AnswerDate":"2010-02-11T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":null,"MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Nicola Sturgeon","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":206494,"EventID":"S3O-09480","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":4,"MSPID":2117,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":47,"ApprovedDate":"2010-02-11T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-02-11T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive how many NHS Grampian patients have been treated by plastic surgeons following illness or injury in each of the last three years. ","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive how many NHS Grampian patients have been treated by plastic surgeons following illness or injury in each of the last three years. ","AnswerText":"The information is not held centrally in the form requested. However, figures provided by NHS Grampian from its Scottish Morbidity Record (SMR) data indicate that total inpatient and day case attendances for plastic surgery at all hospital sites in the NHS Grampian area were:
2006-07 “ 1,535
2007-08 “ 1,460
2008-09 “ 1,315.
Outpatient attendances at all sites, excluding patients who did not attend their appointments, were:
2006-07 “ 11,184
2007-08 “ 11,128
2008-09 “ 11,031.
Figures for 2009-10 are not yet available.
","AnswerDate":"2010-02-11T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":null,"MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Nicola Sturgeon","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":206495,"EventID":"S3O-09481","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":4,"MSPID":2108,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":68,"ApprovedDate":"2010-02-11T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-02-11T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what steps it is taking to encourage children to swim. ","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what steps it is taking to encourage children to swim. ","AnswerText":"This government firmly believes it is important that our young people have the opportunity to take part in swimming. We have increased investment into Scottish Swimming from £818,000 in 2007-08 to £1.3 million in 2010-11. The biggest ever single investment by sportscotland in a Scottish governing body of sport.
We have also provided Scottish Swimming with additional funding of £100,000 over two years to 2011 to support the appointment of two Healthy Living Managers to implement and deliver a healthy living strategy.
Since 2007 this government through sportscotland have invested over £8.4 million in swimming facilities. Our recent announcement of £5.5 million for the development of swimming pools and facilities in Fife and Tayside and our £5 million commitment towards a new 50m pool in Aberdeen, demonstrates this government''s commitment to increase participation in this sport.
","AnswerDate":"2010-02-11T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":null,"MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Shona Robison","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":206496,"EventID":"S3O-09486","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":4,"MSPID":1837,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":36,"ApprovedDate":"2010-02-11T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-02-11T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what progress there has been in relation to the Home Owners’ Support Fund. ","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what progress there has been in relation to the Home Owners’ Support Fund. ","AnswerText":"The Home Owners'' Support Fund has helped 243 households since 1 April 2009. This is an increase on last year when a total of 233 cases were settled. Over £30 million of the £35 million made available for the Fund over two years has been spent so far. The remainder of the budget is on track to be fully utilised by the end of the financial year. ","AnswerDate":"2010-02-11T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":null,"MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Alex Neil","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":206497,"EventID":"S3O-09487","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":4,"MSPID":1768,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":60,"ApprovedDate":"2010-02-11T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-02-11T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive how many homes with a band E energy performance rating have been accepted for the Energy Assistance Package since the eligibility criteria were changed in November 2009. ","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive how many homes with a band E energy performance rating have been accepted for the Energy Assistance Package since the eligibility criteria were changed in November 2009. ","AnswerText":"The change to eligibility criteria for Stage 4, announced in November, came into effect on 21 December 2009, following an amendment to the regulations.
By the end of January, 549 homes with a Band E energy performance rating had been accepted for measures under Stage 4 of the Energy Assistance Package.
","AnswerDate":"2010-02-11T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":null,"MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Alex Neil","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":206498,"EventID":"S3O-09512","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":4,"MSPID":1926,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":48,"ApprovedDate":"2010-02-11T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-02-11T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions it has had with the UK Government regarding GPs’ recommendations on the physical and mental wellbeing of patients in relation to the employment and suppo","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions it has had with the UK Government regarding GPs’ recommendations on the physical and mental wellbeing of patients in relation to the employment and support allowance. ","AnswerText":"There are regular discussions with the UK Government on a whole range of issues, including the impact of the Employment and Support allowance for Scottish claimants and the requirements placed on GPs.
The Department of Work and Pensions determines the nature of the medical reports it requires to support claims for benefits, which is a reserved matter.
","AnswerDate":"2010-02-11T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":null,"MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Shona Robison","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":206499,"EventID":"S3O-09517","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":4,"MSPID":3743,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":6,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2010-02-11T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-02-11T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what the estimated timescale is for consideration of the appeal in relation to the Damages (Asbestos-related Conditions) (Scotland) Act 2009 through the possible stages o","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what the estimated timescale is for consideration of the appeal in relation to the Damages (Asbestos-related Conditions) (Scotland) Act 2009 through the possible stages of the Inner House of the Court of Session, the Supreme Court, and the European Court of Justice. ","AnswerText":"May I say first that the Scottish Government welcomed Lord Emslie''s decision in January, which rejected all the petitioners'' substantive arguments. We regret that they are challenging it.
I understand that the Inner House has recognised the importance of this case and made special effort to expedite it, for which I am grateful. It will hear the appeal during July and issue a decision thereafter. Hopefully that is where it will end. However, the possibility of further appeal cannot be ignored. If an appeal were to reach the European Court of Human Rights, the timescale would be measured in years rather than months.
","AnswerDate":"2010-02-11T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":null,"MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Fergus Ewing","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":206500,"EventID":"S3O-09541","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":4,"MSPID":2185,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":2,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2010-02-11T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-02-11T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what action it is taking to increase the number of foster parents. ","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what action it is taking to increase the number of foster parents. ","AnswerText":"The Scottish Government values the role played by foster carers to improve the life chances for children and young people in the care system. It is for local authorities to consider whether there are sufficient foster carers in their area.
The Scottish Government is supporting local authorities by working closely with, and funding activities through, The Fostering Network which support the recruitment and retention of foster carers.
In particular we have, since October 2008, been funding a project which aims to build on the good practice already in place between fostering services. The project''s current phase of work is intended to develop joint working and sharing of resources between authorities, particularly in relation to the recruitment, assessment, training and support for foster carers.
","AnswerDate":"2010-02-11T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":null,"MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Adam Ingram","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":206501,"EventID":"S3O-09572","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":4,"MSPID":4016,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":64,"ApprovedDate":"2010-02-25T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-02-25T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive when details will be made available of the Post Office Diversification Fund announced in its 2010-11 budget. ","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive when details will be made available of the Post Office Diversification Fund announced in its 2010-11 budget. ","AnswerText":"A round of preliminary discussions with key stakeholders is now underway. This will inform further consultation with a view to prompt introduction and delivery of this fund. ","AnswerDate":"2010-02-25T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":null,"MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Jim Mather","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":206502,"EventID":"S3O-09588","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":4,"MSPID":3811,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":4,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2010-02-25T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-02-25T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive how much EU funding was paid to Scottish farmers for agricultural support in 2008-09.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive how much EU funding was paid to Scottish farmers for agricultural support in 2008-09.","AnswerText":"In financial year 2008-09, the European Commission contributed £486 million towards the cost of support paid to farmers. The schemes involved both measures fully funded by the EC and those co-funded in partnership with the Scottish Government but, for the avoidance of doubt, the figure quoted represents solely the amount of EC funding. ","AnswerDate":"2010-02-25T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":null,"MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Richard Lochhead","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":206503,"EventID":"S3O-09608","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":4,"MSPID":1837,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":36,"ApprovedDate":"2010-02-25T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-02-25T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive how it is supporting local authorities to achieve environmental targets.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive how it is supporting local authorities to achieve environmental targets.","AnswerText":"Under the current settlement Scotland''s councils are continuing to receive an increasing share of the total Scottish budget. It is for local authorities to determine how they allocate resources according to local priorities and needs.
The Scottish Government directly supports a wide variety of programmes to help local authorities achieve environmental targets, for example the Carbon Trust Carbon Management Programme, which helps organisations to reduce their carbon emissions, and the Sustainable Scotland Network (SSN) which provides expert support, guidance and advice to local authority Sustainable Development officers.
","AnswerDate":"2010-02-25T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":null,"MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Roseanna Cunningham","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":206504,"EventID":"S3O-09619","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":4,"MSPID":2185,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":2,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2010-02-25T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-02-25T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions it has had with Glasgow Chamber of Commerce or other business organisations on its decision to cancel the Glasgow Airport Rail Link. ","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions it has had with Glasgow Chamber of Commerce or other business organisations on its decision to cancel the Glasgow Airport Rail Link. ","AnswerText":"I met with members of the Glasgow Chamber of Commerce on 25 November 2009 and the Cabinet Secretary for Finance and Sustainable Growth is due to meet with them on 3 March 2010. Whilst we appreciate the Chamber''s views on the Glasgow Airport Rail Link, the overall affordability position on the Scottish Budget meant we had reluctantly to cancel the project. It should be remembered that significant investment in the Glasgow to Paisley rail corridor continues under the Paisley Corridor Improvements project. ","AnswerDate":"2010-02-25T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":null,"MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Stewart Stevenson","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":206505,"EventID":"S3O-09635","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":4,"MSPID":2188,"Party":"Scottish Green Party","RegionID":4,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2010-02-25T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-02-25T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive when it expects to be able to reduce the number of prison places as a result of the introduction of effective policies to reduce reoffending. ","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive when it expects to be able to reduce the number of prison places as a result of the introduction of effective policies to reduce reoffending. ","AnswerText":"The Scottish Government is committed to breaking the cycle of reoffending by tackling the problem of offenders caught in the revolving door of short sentences for whom prison is clearly not working.
The Scottish Government wants to see these offenders payback positively to their communities. That is why we have proposals in the Criminal Justice and Licensing (Scotland) Bill for swift, tough and visible community payback.
As the independent Scottish Prisons Commission said, that will be the point when prison numbers start to decline. Prison will then be used for its proper purpose of protecting the public from serious and dangerous offenders.
","AnswerDate":"2010-02-25T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":null,"MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Kenny MacAskill","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":206506,"EventID":"S3O-09637","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":4,"MSPID":2641,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":28,"ApprovedDate":"2010-02-25T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-02-25T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will consider expanding programmes to control numbers of greylag geese to cover small islands off Uist where they nest extensively.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will consider expanding programmes to control numbers of greylag geese to cover small islands off Uist where they nest extensively.","AnswerText":"We have no plans to do so at present. In line with international legal requirements, the purpose of the existing scheme is to protect agricultural crops from damage by geese, not to control goose numbers. There is no justification for extending the programme to these off-lying islands because the land on them is not cultivated and so is not at risk in this way. ","AnswerDate":"2010-02-25T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":null,"MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Roseanna Cunningham","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":206507,"EventID":"S3O-09661","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":4,"MSPID":1841,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":6,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2010-02-25T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-02-25T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive when it last met senior members of Grampian Police. ","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive when it last met senior members of Grampian Police. ","AnswerText":"I met Assistant Chief Constable Derek Penman during a visit to Aberdeen on Wednesday 17 February 2010.
Whilst in Aberdeen I launched a new youth justice initiative and visited Aberdeen Prison.
","AnswerDate":"2010-02-25T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":null,"MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Kenny MacAskill","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":206508,"EventID":"S3O-09698","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":4,"MSPID":2364,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":11,"ApprovedDate":"2010-03-04T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-03-04T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will commit to increasing the number and widening the range of fair trade products used by its catering services. ","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will commit to increasing the number and widening the range of fair trade products used by its catering services. ","AnswerText":"We seek to provide a range of Fairtrade and ethically traded products through our catering service. We currently offer a number of items including coffee, tea, sugar, confectionery, orange juice and bananas. To widen the service provision new products are regularly trialled and retained if there is the necessary demand. ","AnswerDate":"2010-03-04T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":null,"MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"John Swinney","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":206509,"EventID":"S3O-09745","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":4,"MSPID":3746,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":5,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2010-03-04T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-03-04T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what progress is being made toward creating a task force for co-ordinating marine renewables construction and transmission over the next five years. ","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what progress is being made toward creating a task force for co-ordinating marine renewables construction and transmission over the next five years. ","AnswerText":"A number of joint industry and public sector groups are already working on a range of activities aimed at accelerating the development of the offshore wind and wave and tidal energy sectors. For example, the Offshore Wind Industry Group and Pentland Firth Delivery Group are tackling important issues such as supply chain development, finance, skills, planning and grid infrastructure. Scottish Enterprise and Highlands and Islands Enterprise are leading the National Renewables Infrastructure Plan which takes a strategic approach to the development of the port, harbour and manufacturing facilities that will be required to grow Scotland''s offshore renewable industry. We will shortly make an announcement on the coordination of all of this activity under the chairmanship of Sandy Cumming. ","AnswerDate":"2010-03-04T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":null,"MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Jim Mather","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":206510,"EventID":"S3O-09792","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":4,"MSPID":2059,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":18,"ApprovedDate":"2010-03-11T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-03-11T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what reforms the Cabinet Secretary for Education and Lifelong Learning plans to implement to address illiteracy and improve the standards of reading and writing in school","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what reforms the Cabinet Secretary for Education and Lifelong Learning plans to implement to address illiteracy and improve the standards of reading and writing in schools. ","AnswerText":"The Scottish Government is committed to improving literacy for everyone in Scotland. Curriculum for Excellence has literacy at its heart and, for the first time, is now the responsibility of all teachers. It is designed to improve the quality of learning and teaching, and to raise literacy standards.
Our young people will learn the fundamentals of reading, writing, listening and talking, and, equally importantly, how these skills can be applied critically to analyse and evaluate information.
I committed to bring forward a literacy action plan within the context of Curriculum for Excellence, and we are discussing its content with our partners. As part of this process, I met with the Literacy Commission on 14 January 2010 and today the Curriculum for Excellence Management Board met with members of the Literacy Commission to discuss taking forward the recommendations of their recent report.
","AnswerDate":"2010-03-11T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":null,"MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Michael Russell","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":206511,"EventID":"S3O-09807","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":4,"MSPID":1782,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":59,"ApprovedDate":"2010-03-11T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-03-11T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what importance it places on Scotland’s maritime heritage. ","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what importance it places on Scotland’s maritime heritage. ","AnswerText":"The Scottish Government recognises the great importance of Scotland''s maritime heritage. Just last month we passed the Marine (Scotland) Bill to allow us to create Historic Marine Protected Areas for our heritage at sea. Around our coast, heritage designations already recognise the significance of 107 historic lighthouses and 90 harbours. We are also investing in our maritime heritage. Over the last five years, Historic Scotland''s Building Repair Grant Scheme has contributed £2.5 million. Over the last two years, Museums and Galleries Scotland has invested approximately £1.3 million in Scottish Government funding towards maritime heritage through its grants schemes. ","AnswerDate":"2010-03-11T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":null,"MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Fiona Hyslop","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":206512,"EventID":"S3O-09847","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":4,"MSPID":2876,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":8,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2010-03-11T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-03-11T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what contribution sporting events held in Scotland involving overseas competitors make to the economy. ","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what contribution sporting events held in Scotland involving overseas competitors make to the economy. ","AnswerText":"Every year international sporting events staged in this country attract international athletes, fans and supporters boosting Scotland''s economy. Events of all kind are a valuable way of driving sustainable economic growth, promoting Scotland and showcasing Scotland on a world stage.
These events cover a range of different sports including major rugby events such as the Heineken Cup Final, last years Mountain Bike World Cup and the UCI Mountain Bike and Trials World Championships.
International golf events are also key economic drivers, with the Open a consistent performer for Scotland. The 2007 Championship at Carnoustie generated £26.7 million and this year the Open returns to St Andrews.
","AnswerDate":"2010-03-11T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":null,"MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"John Swinney","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":206513,"EventID":"S3O-09860","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":4,"MSPID":2892,"Party":"Scottish Green Party","RegionID":2,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2010-03-11T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-03-11T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what criteria it will use for the approval or rejection of local authority proposals to use tax increment financing. ","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what criteria it will use for the approval or rejection of local authority proposals to use tax increment financing. ","AnswerText":"Any decision on local authority proposals to use tax increment financing will be made on a value for money basis. Scottish Futures Trust have been asked to develop a set of criteria to inform this assessment process. ","AnswerDate":"2010-03-11T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":null,"MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"John Swinney","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":206514,"EventID":"S3O-09865","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":4,"MSPID":1961,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":33,"ApprovedDate":"2010-03-18T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-03-18T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will provide a briefing to opposition spokespersons on the implications of the judgements in cases C-197/08 Commission v France, C-198/08 Commission v Austria ","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will provide a briefing to opposition spokespersons on the implications of the judgements in cases C-197/08 Commission v France, C-198/08 Commission v Austria and C-221/08 Commission v Ireland for the legal competence of the Scottish Government’s use of mechanisms referred to in those cases. ","AnswerText":"On 15 December I wrote to party leaders offering a briefing on the Alcohol Bill and I welcome the fact that the Conservatives, the Liberal Democrats, the Green Party and SNP members took up that offer.
In respect of the recent ruling on tobacco I am happy to provide a briefing to opposition spokespersons on the cases mentioned.
","AnswerDate":"2010-03-18T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":null,"MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Nicola Sturgeon","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":206515,"EventID":"S3O-09874","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":4,"MSPID":2892,"Party":"Scottish Green Party","RegionID":2,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2010-03-18T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-03-18T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether adequate services are in place to assess and meet the mental health needs of asylum seekers and refugees. ","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether adequate services are in place to assess and meet the mental health needs of asylum seekers and refugees. ","AnswerText":"Asylum seekers and refugees have access to all NHS services on the same basis as the local population and NHS boards will ensure their mental health needs are met on the basis of comprehensive needs assessment and delivery of culturally sensitive services.
In addition, with Scottish Government funding, NHS Health Scotland runs a multi-agency programme of mental health improvement work with asylum seekers in Glasgow. The Sanctuary project is run with a range of partners including the Scottish Refugee Council; the Medical Foundation for the Victims of Torture, and NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde. The three main strands of the project are: (1) mental health awareness-raising with asylum seekers and refugees through community conversations; (2) specialised training for mental health staff across a range of sectors regarding the particular mental health needs of asylum seekers and refugees, and (3) a DVD about the asylum seeking process and its impact on mental health, which is to be incorporated into the training.
","AnswerDate":"2010-03-18T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":null,"MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Shona Robison","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":206516,"EventID":"S3O-09896","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":4,"MSPID":2059,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":18,"ApprovedDate":"2010-03-18T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-03-18T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what provisions are in place to support doctors who take time out to visit schools and teach children about the dangers of knife-related crime. ","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what provisions are in place to support doctors who take time out to visit schools and teach children about the dangers of knife-related crime. ","AnswerText":"The Scottish Government is providing £80,000 in funding to support Medics Against Violence, a charity set up by three Scottish surgeons to tackle the problem of youth violence. They have recruited over 100 healthcare professionals who have pledged to volunteer their time to take part in projects to reduce violence. They currently deliver anti-violence lessons in schools designed to warn young people about the dangers of carrying a knife and demonstrate the impact violence has on the lives of victims, their families and the professionals who work with them.
I was pleased to meet some of those involved with Medics Against Violence at its launch in December 2008, and I am sure the member will wish to join me in congratulating them on their continuing efforts to reduce violence in Scotland.
","AnswerDate":"2010-03-18T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":null,"MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Nicola Sturgeon","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":206517,"EventID":"S3O-09931","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":4,"MSPID":2068,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":22,"ApprovedDate":"2010-03-18T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-03-18T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what it is doing to retain and increase the number of volunteer drivers to provide vital patient transport services in remote parts of Scotland. ","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what it is doing to retain and increase the number of volunteer drivers to provide vital patient transport services in remote parts of Scotland. ","AnswerText":"The Scottish Government recognises and welcomes the commitment of the Scottish Ambulance Service to work towards improving the patient transport service for those patients who are eligible to receive the service. How the Scottish Ambulance Service delivers that commitment “ and responsibility “ is for it to determine. The Scottish Ambulance Service is also aware of the extent to which the Scottish Government and I, in particular, value the contribution of all volunteers who support the NHS.
Better Health, Better Care committed the governmentto developing a national approach to travel management. In taking forward that commitment we drew up and issued, on 27 November 2009, a Healthcare Transport Framework which provides guidance to NHS boards on the need for them to draw up action plans which will support patients who require support and help in getting to and from health care appointments. I understand that most recently on 16 March 2010 NHS Highland met with the Scottish Ambulance Service and other transport providers to discuss how best to meet these access challenges for the people of the Highland area.
","AnswerDate":"2010-03-18T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":null,"MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Nicola Sturgeon","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":206518,"EventID":"S3O-09940","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":4,"MSPID":1814,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":1,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2010-03-18T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-03-18T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what discussion it has had with the UK Government in relation to minimum pricing for alcohol. ","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what discussion it has had with the UK Government in relation to minimum pricing for alcohol. ","AnswerText":"We have regular discussions with the UK Government about alcohol policy and we are pleased that only last week at the debate in the House of Commons on the Health Select Committee''s report on alcohol, the UK Government did not rule out minimum pricing for alcohol. ","AnswerDate":"2010-03-18T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":null,"MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Nicola Sturgeon","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":206519,"EventID":"S3O-09945","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":4,"MSPID":3758,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":1,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2010-03-18T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-03-18T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether it considers that the findings of the Consumer Focus Wales report, Post Office Closures: Impact of the Network Change Programme, have implications for Scotland’s ","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether it considers that the findings of the Consumer Focus Wales report, Post Office Closures: Impact of the Network Change Programme, have implications for Scotland’s experience of the Network Change Programme and its impact on social inclusion in Scotland. ","AnswerText":"The Scottish Government recognises the important social and economic role that post offices play in both urban and rural communities across Scotland. The report helps confirm that similar issues exist in both Wales and Scotland in respect of Network Change. The UK Government is of course responsible for post office matters under the current devolution settlement. As with many other areas, this Government''s view is that enhancing the powers of this Parliament would better serve Scotland''s interests. ","AnswerDate":"2010-03-18T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":null,"MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Alex Neil","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":206520,"EventID":"S3O-09948","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":4,"MSPID":2133,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":6,"ApprovedDate":"2010-03-18T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-03-18T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive when it last met representatives of HM Revenue and Customs. ","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive when it last met representatives of HM Revenue and Customs. ","AnswerText":"Scottish Government officials are in contact with HM Revenue and Customs as a matter of routine. The most recent ministerial meeting at which HMRC was represented was a meeting involving the Minister for Enterprise, Energy and Tourism held on 22 February 2010. ","AnswerDate":"2010-03-18T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":null,"MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"John Swinney","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":206521,"EventID":"S3O-09952","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":4,"MSPID":3759,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":1,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2010-03-18T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-03-18T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive how it plans to increase the use of self-directed support by users of health and social care services. ","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive how it plans to increase the use of self-directed support by users of health and social care services. ","AnswerText":"The Scottish Government''s vision to increase the uptake of Self Directed Support is outlined in our National Strategy that is currently subject to consultation.
Soon we will also consult on proposals for new Self Directed Support legislation. These proposals are designed to consolidate and extend existing legislation.
","AnswerDate":"2010-03-18T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":null,"MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Shona Robison","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":206522,"EventID":"S3O-09965","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":4,"MSPID":2633,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":5,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2010-03-25T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-03-25T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has submitted a response to the consultation on the draft Merchant Shipping (Ship-to-Ship Transfer) Regulations 2010 and, if so, whether it will publish its re","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has submitted a response to the consultation on the draft Merchant Shipping (Ship-to-Ship Transfer) Regulations 2010 and, if so, whether it will publish its response.","AnswerText":"I have written to the UK Government, supporting proposals by the Maritime and Coastguard Agency to make regulations covering the ship-to-ship transfer of oil cargoes within the United Kingdom''s internal waters and territorial seas. At the same time I made clear my view that Scottish ministers should be responsible for oil transfer in Scottish waters.
Separately, my officials have submitted a detailed response to the Maritime and Coastguard Agency.
Copies of both letters have been placed in the Scottish Parliament Information Centre (Bib. numbers 50544 and 50545).
","AnswerDate":"2010-03-25T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":null,"MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Richard Lochhead","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":206523,"EventID":"S3O-09966","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":4,"MSPID":1866,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":30,"ApprovedDate":"2010-03-25T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-03-25T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive when it will produce its annual progress report on tackling antisocial behaviour as promised in the framework set out by Promoting Positive Outcomes: Working Together to ","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive when it will produce its annual progress report on tackling antisocial behaviour as promised in the framework set out by Promoting Positive Outcomes: Working Together to Prevent Antisocial Behaviour in Scotland, published in March 2009.","AnswerText":"The Promoting Positive Outcomes Implementation Plan was published at the end of October 2009 and the first annual report on implementation will be presented in the autumn. ","AnswerDate":"2010-03-25T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":null,"MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Fergus Ewing","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":206524,"EventID":"S3O-09974","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":4,"MSPID":3811,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":4,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2010-03-25T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-03-25T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether the Cabinet Secretary for Justice plans to review his decision regarding the release of Abdelbaset Ali Mohmed Al Megrahi.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether the Cabinet Secretary for Justice plans to review his decision regarding the release of Abdelbaset Ali Mohmed Al Megrahi.","AnswerText":"No. ","AnswerDate":"2010-03-25T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":null,"MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Kenny MacAskill","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":206525,"EventID":"S3O-09986","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":4,"MSPID":2228,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":8,"ApprovedDate":"2010-03-25T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-03-25T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive to what extent officials at the Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority are allowed to use their discretion in considering cases involving historical abuse.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive to what extent officials at the Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority are allowed to use their discretion in considering cases involving historical abuse.","AnswerText":"The terms of the Criminal Injuries Compensation Scheme are governed by the Criminal Injuries Compensation Act 1995. Changes to the Scheme are matters for the UK Government. The Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority is the cross border public authority that administers the Scheme throughout Great Britain on behalf of the Ministry of Justice, and its case officers can exercise discretion within the terms of the scheme. ","AnswerDate":"2010-03-25T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":null,"MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Kenny MacAskill","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":206526,"EventID":"S3O-09994","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":4,"MSPID":1768,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":60,"ApprovedDate":"2010-03-25T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-03-25T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what action it is taking to tackle wildlife crime. ","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what action it is taking to tackle wildlife crime. ","AnswerText":"In April 2008 HM Inspectorate of Constabulary for Scotland and the Inspectorate of Prosecution in Scotland published a report of their thematic review into wildlife crime arrangements.
The recommendations of that report - Natural Justice - focussed on partnership working and we have followed those through by strengthening and re-structuring the Partnership for Action Against Wildlife Crime to improve its effectiveness. We have also established a fund aimed at supporting innovations in combating wildlife crime as well as taking action to reduce the single farm payments made to five claimants in cases connected with poisoned birds.
I am also pleased to bring to your attention that the Crown Office recently appointed Alex Prentice QC to act as Crown Council for Wildlife Crime “ a further show of commitment to the subject, following the establishment of a network of Specialist Wildlife Fiscals throughout Scotland.
","AnswerDate":"2010-03-25T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":null,"MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Roseanna Cunningham","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":206527,"EventID":"S3O-10002","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":4,"MSPID":4074,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":73,"ApprovedDate":"2010-03-25T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-03-25T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what action is being taken to reduce knife crime in the Lothian and Borders area. ","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what action is being taken to reduce knife crime in the Lothian and Borders area. ","AnswerText":"The Scottish Government is working with the police-led Violence Reduction Unit to tackle violence across Scotland. Lothian and Borders Police undertake a variety of activities to reduce knife crime. These range from work in secondary schools to highlight the dangers of getting involved with knives, to the deployment of Scottish Government funded Ferroguard metal detectors to keep city and town centres safe.
I''m pleased to say that we''ve seen a 15.5% reduction in offensive weapons crimes in Lothian and Borders since 2006-07. This should come as no surprise with record numbers of police officers on the streets, record investment in activities for young people through CashBack for Communities, and record investment in the Violence Reduction Unit to address the causes of violent offending.
I am sure the member will wish to join me in thanking the Chief Constable of Lothian and Borders Police, and indeed every police officer in the force, for their tireless work to tackle knife crime.
S3O-10002, originally answered in the chamber on 25 March 2010 (Official Report c. 25108), has been corrected. The original answer can be found in the Official Report of 25 March 2010:
","AnswerDate":"2010-03-25T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":null,"MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Kenny MacAskill","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":206528,"EventID":"S3O-10021","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":4,"MSPID":2030,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":1,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2010-03-25T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-03-25T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive how it is supporting language teaching for primary school teachers.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive how it is supporting language teaching for primary school teachers.","AnswerText":"The Scottish Government is supporting language teaching in both primary and secondary schools through a variety of means, including annual funding to Learning and Teaching Scotland, the Scottish Centre for Information on Language Teaching and British Council Scotland to help teachers become better equipped to deliver the expectations for language teaching and international education as set out in Curriculum for Excellence. This support involves promoting and sharing examples of good practice, and, where appropriate, refreshing teachers'' own language skills in order to improve teachers'' confidence and competence in teaching modern languages.
This work also supports teachers in their responsibility to engage in continuous professional development, and supporting local authorities in ensuring that an appropriate range of opportunities for professional development are available to teachers.
","AnswerDate":"2010-03-25T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":null,"MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Michael Russell","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":206529,"EventID":"S3O-10052","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":4,"MSPID":2010,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":8,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2010-03-25T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-03-25T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what it is doing to encourage businesses to recycle.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what it is doing to encourage businesses to recycle.","AnswerText":"Scottish Government funds the Zero Waste Scotland delivery programme to provide a one-stop-shop to businesses, organisations and individuals seeking advice and support on reducing waste, recycling and resource efficiency. ","AnswerDate":"2010-03-25T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":null,"MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Richard Lochhead","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":206530,"EventID":"S3O-10085","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":4,"MSPID":2117,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":47,"ApprovedDate":"2010-04-15T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-04-15T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what the impact on patient care will be of a 5% reduction in departmental budgets in NHS Grampian.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what the impact on patient care will be of a 5% reduction in departmental budgets in NHS Grampian.","AnswerText":"The Scottish Government expects NHS Grampian to provide the highest possible standard of healthcare and it has received a cash increase of £16 million in its 2010‘11 budget. NHS Grampian has advised that whilst the local requirement to deliver a 5% savings target during 2010‘11 is challenging, it is achievable. The board is currently looking at a whole range of efficiency measures with a view to identifying those that will not impact on patient care. ","AnswerDate":"2010-04-15T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":null,"MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Nicola Sturgeon","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":206531,"EventID":"S3O-10138","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":4,"MSPID":2595,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":4,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2010-04-15T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-04-15T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive how many people charged with assault to injury have received a direct measure since 1 April 2008.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive how many people charged with assault to injury have received a direct measure since 1 April 2008.","AnswerText":"Approximately 71,000 charges of assault are recorded by the police each year. Eight hundred and fifteen people in 2008-09 and 546 in 2009-10, have been issued with direct measures for assault to injury by procurators fiscal in terms of the Criminal Proceedings etc (Reform) (Scotland) Act 2007.
The new direct measures, introduced with unanimous support by this Parliament in 2007, have helped to make the summary criminal courts in Scotland faster and more effective and over 50,000 police officers and members of the public have been spared the need to go to court to give evidence.
","AnswerDate":"2010-04-15T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":null,"MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Kenny MacAskill","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":206532,"EventID":"S3O-10204","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":4,"MSPID":3815,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":5,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2010-04-22T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-04-22T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what it is doing to support musical instrument tuition.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what it is doing to support musical instrument tuition.","AnswerText":"The Expressive Arts, including music, are an important and integral part of Curriculum for Excellence. Instrumental music tuition strengthens pupil engagement with the Arts, and supports delivery of the curriculum.
Through the Youth Music Initiative all local authorities receive funding to help widen access to free music tuition in schools. By the end of the current comprehensive spending review period, YMI will have invested £67.5 million in tuition and other high quality music projects throughout the whole of Scotland.
","AnswerDate":"2010-04-22T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":null,"MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Michael Russell","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":206533,"EventID":"S3O-10236","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":4,"MSPID":3746,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":5,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2010-04-22T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-04-22T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what steps it is taking to safeguard and expand the provision of artistic and cultural education in schools.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what steps it is taking to safeguard and expand the provision of artistic and cultural education in schools.","AnswerText":"We are working closely with our partners, including the Scottish Arts Council and Learning Teaching Scotland, to develop an action plan of practical steps to enhance the use of the arts, culture and creativity in the delivery of Curriculum for Excellence.
This will build on the outcomes of a successful ministerial seminar with representatives from both the education and culture sectors held on 15 December 2009.
","AnswerDate":"2010-04-22T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":null,"MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Michael Russell","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":206534,"EventID":"S3O-10238","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":4,"MSPID":3129,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":2,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2010-04-22T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-04-22T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what representations the Minister for Culture, External Affairs and the Constitution has made to Culture and Sport Glasgow regarding its decision to close 12 community ce","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what representations the Minister for Culture, External Affairs and the Constitution has made to Culture and Sport Glasgow regarding its decision to close 12 community centres throughout Glasgow and what the current situation is regarding community buy-outs of these facilities.","AnswerText":"This is a matter for Glasgow City Council and local communities in Glasgow. However, I understand that efforts are underway locally to find alternatives to closure of these facilities or alternative ways of meeting the needs of communities where these facilities are closing. ","AnswerDate":"2010-04-22T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":null,"MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Fiona Hyslop","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":206535,"EventID":"S3O-10240","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":4,"MSPID":2133,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":6,"ApprovedDate":"2010-04-22T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-04-22T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive how it will measure the success of its India plan.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive how it will measure the success of its India plan.","AnswerText":"The government''s India plan sets out three clear objectives consistent with the government''s international framework; to attract talented people in India to Scotland, to bring a sharp economic growth focus to the promotion of Scotland in India and to enhance Scotland''s reputation with communities here and in India. I have given a commitment to provide the European and External Relations Committee with an annual update on the progress measured in the four key areas of the plan “ education and science, trade and investment, cultural links and tourism. This will include an update against each of the action points for the government and analysis of performance management information gathered as part of government''s activities. ","AnswerDate":"2010-04-22T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":null,"MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Fiona Hyslop","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":206536,"EventID":"S3O-10248","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":4,"MSPID":2674,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":3,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2010-04-22T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-04-22T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether it considers that the development of Gaelic is progressing at a satisfactory pace.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether it considers that the development of Gaelic is progressing at a satisfactory pace.","AnswerText":"Gaelic development is progressing well but there is still much to be accomplished before we would describe the achievements as satisfactory. The Scottish Government''s clear aim is to ensure that the measures we are putting in place are effective in increasing the acquisition and use of Gaelic. ","AnswerDate":"2010-04-22T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":null,"MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Fiona Hyslop","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":206537,"EventID":"S3O-10262","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":4,"MSPID":2633,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":5,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2010-04-29T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-04-29T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive when the business case for a new Glenwood Health Centre in Glenrothes will be approved by ministers. ","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive when the business case for a new Glenwood Health Centre in Glenrothes will be approved by ministers. ","AnswerText":"The Glenwood Health Centre Initial Agreement was submitted to Scottish Government for initial comment on 30 March 2010. This document was approved by the NHS Fife Board''s Finance and Resources Committee at its meeting on the same day.
Formal approval to the Initial Agreement by Fife NHS Board is anticipated at its meeting on 27 April 2010.
The Initial Agreement will be formally considered by the Scottish Government''s Capital Investment Group at its meeting on 26 May 2010.
","AnswerDate":"2010-04-29T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":null,"MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Nicola Sturgeon","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":206538,"EventID":"S3O-10268","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":4,"MSPID":1778,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":40,"ApprovedDate":"2010-04-29T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-04-29T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what steps it has taken to ensure that sheltered businesses, such as Royal Strathclyde Blindcraft Industries, have been invited to bid or had the chance to match best pri","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what steps it has taken to ensure that sheltered businesses, such as Royal Strathclyde Blindcraft Industries, have been invited to bid or had the chance to match best price for procurement contracts for supply of NHS uniforms under £144,000, in line with European regulations that allow organisations to reserve public contracts for such businesses. ","AnswerText":"The requirements of the national uniform contract in terms of quality, timeliness, volumes required, price and technical expertise determined that the contract should be awarded on a sole supplier basis.
The estimated annual value is approximately £3 million, dependant on health board uptake.
All suppliers who notified an interest to the published contract notice and were able to demonstrate capability to meet the above requirements were invited to submit tenders. The business was awarded to the supplier whose tender scored highest against the published scoring criteria.
","AnswerDate":"2010-04-29T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":null,"MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Nicola Sturgeon","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":206539,"EventID":"S3O-10318","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":4,"MSPID":2252,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":34,"ApprovedDate":"2010-04-29T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-04-29T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what action it is taking to protect the stock of wild salmon in rivers. ","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what action it is taking to protect the stock of wild salmon in rivers. ","AnswerText":"We have made available £1.2 million over three years forging a new partnership with the Rivers and Fisheries Trusts of Scotland and local salmon fishery managers to modernise the management of wild salmon and freshwater fisheries in Scotland. ","AnswerDate":"2010-04-29T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":null,"MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Roseanna Cunningham","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":206540,"EventID":"S3O-10322","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":4,"MSPID":1826,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":35,"ApprovedDate":"2010-04-29T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-04-29T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what decisions have been made regarding the implementation timetable of the Curriculum for Excellence and new qualifications. ","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what decisions have been made regarding the implementation timetable of the Curriculum for Excellence and new qualifications. ","AnswerText":"I have accepted the unanimous advice from the Curriculum for Excellence Management Board that the implementation of the Curriculum for Excellence programme by August 2010 is realistic and achievable.
The Education Institute of Scotland alone favoured a one year delay to the introduction of the new qualifications. I have today met with the EIS to continue discussions on addressing their concerns.
","AnswerDate":"2010-04-29T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":null,"MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Michael Russell","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":206541,"EventID":"S3O-10341","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":4,"MSPID":2133,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":6,"ApprovedDate":"2010-04-29T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-04-29T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether it plans to make a submission to the EU consultation on sport policy. ","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether it plans to make a submission to the EU consultation on sport policy. ","AnswerText":"The Scottish Government will be responding to the EU consultation on sport policy. The UK Government is co-ordinating the response.
However, Sport is a devolved responsibility and Scotland is recognised as having a different approach and the Scottish Government will ensure that the interests of Scottish Sport are represented in any UK wide response to the consultation. That makes it even more important for us to feed into the development of any UK-wide response to the consultation. We are actively engaged with the UK Government on how Scotland can help shape the UK position.
","AnswerDate":"2010-04-29T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":null,"MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Shona Robison","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":206542,"EventID":"S3O-10347","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":4,"MSPID":2010,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":8,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2010-04-29T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-04-29T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions it has had with the UK Government regarding proposals to increase national insurance contributions. ","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions it has had with the UK Government regarding proposals to increase national insurance contributions. ","AnswerText":"Besides the impact on Scottish employers in the private sector the increase in national insurance contribution rates will result in approximately £104 million of the Scottish Government''s budget being returned to the Treasury in the form of higher tax payments. Were the money to stay in Scotland it could pay for approximately 2,300 more police officers or 4,000 more nurses each year.
We have made it clear that we disagree with this increase especially when the country is emerging from a long and severe recession. We will continue to protest that this cut should be reversed to avoid further burdens on Scottish employers and protect front line public services in Scotland.
","AnswerDate":"2010-04-29T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":null,"MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"John Swinney","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":206543,"EventID":"S3O-10348","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":4,"MSPID":3750,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":4,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2010-04-29T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-04-29T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has received a copy of any reports by the Scottish Football Review Committee chaired by Henry McLeish. ","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has received a copy of any reports by the Scottish Football Review Committee chaired by Henry McLeish. ","AnswerText":"The first stage of the Review of Scottish Football, which Henry McLeish has been chairing, was published by the Scottish Football Association (SFA) on Friday 23 April 2010 and is in the public domain.
I welcome the publication of this comprehensive review which provides both the Government and the SFA with a number of recommendations. The report gives us the opportunity to sit down with our key partners and look at the type of support we can offer to ensure we are best placed to secure maximum benefit for football and other sports in the future.
\r\no","AnswerDate":"2010-04-29T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":null,"MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Shona Robison","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":206544,"EventID":"S3O-10359","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":4,"MSPID":2394,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":5,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2010-05-05T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-05-05T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what its response is to the recent HM Inspectorate of Prisons (HMIP) report on Perth Prison. ","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what its response is to the recent HM Inspectorate of Prisons (HMIP) report on Perth Prison. ","AnswerText":"The Scottish Government welcomes HMCIP''s report and is pleased with his conclusion that Perth is a very well led and managed prison that it has many examples of good practice and everyone is focused on trying to help prisoners and meet their needs. ","AnswerDate":"2010-05-05T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":null,"MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Kenny MacAskill","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":206545,"EventID":"S3O-10363","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":4,"MSPID":3061,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":1,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2010-05-05T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-05-05T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what action it is taking to address the problem of flood damage to homes in the Falkirk Council area. ","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what action it is taking to address the problem of flood damage to homes in the Falkirk Council area. ","AnswerText":"We are working to bring Part 4 of the Flood Risk Management (Scotland) Act 2009 into effect in the autumn. This will give local authorities a new suite of powers to better manage the risk of flood damage to homes, whatever the source, throughout Scotland.
Construction of Falkirk Council''s Bo''ness Flood Prevention Scheme is well underway and is expected to be completed this autumn.
","AnswerDate":"2010-05-05T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":null,"MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Roseanna Cunningham","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":206546,"EventID":"S3O-10423","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":4,"MSPID":2049,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":4,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2010-05-05T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-05-05T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what guidelines the law officers will provide regarding the potential prosecution of a person assisting another to end his or her life. ","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what guidelines the law officers will provide regarding the potential prosecution of a person assisting another to end his or her life. ","AnswerText":"Any decision to prosecute is a matter for the Lord Advocate acting independently and in the public interest. Every case is considered on its own individual facts and circumstances and the Law Officers do not consider it appropriate to publish definitive prosecution policy guidelines in this area. The Prosecution Code, published by the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service, sets out the principles to be applied by Procurators Fiscal when deciding whether to prosecute.
The Prosecution Code is a public document and can be found at:
","AnswerDate":"2010-05-05T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":null,"MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Frank Mulholland","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":206547,"EventID":"S3O-10430","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":4,"MSPID":1906,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":50,"ApprovedDate":"2010-05-05T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-05-05T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what the benefits will be for employment as a result of the announcement of a £3.2 million new freight facilities grant to Montrose Port Authority. ","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what the benefits will be for employment as a result of the announcement of a £3.2 million new freight facilities grant to Montrose Port Authority. ","AnswerText":"Decisions on award of Freight Facilities Grant are based on evidence of the environmental benefits which will be generated and the additional costs which will be incurred when transferring freight from road to rail or water. Although this development will undoubtedly also lead to an increase in employment opportunities in the Montrose area, we do not hold detailed figures on the likely level of increase. ","AnswerDate":"2010-05-05T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":null,"MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Stewart Stevenson","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":206548,"EventID":"S3O-10438","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":4,"MSPID":4080,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":6,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2010-05-05T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-05-05T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether it considers that Scotland will meet its European air quality targets this year. ","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether it considers that Scotland will meet its European air quality targets this year. ","AnswerText":"These targets are being met across the vast majority of Scotland. However, as in the rest of the UK, there is a small number of urban locations where the limit value for nitrogen dioxide is not expected to be met by the end of the year. The four UK administrations are currently preparing a joint submission to the European Commission for an extension to 2015 for meeting this limit value, by which time it is expected to be achieved throughout Scotland. ","AnswerDate":"2010-05-05T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":null,"MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Roseanna Cunningham","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":206549,"EventID":"S3O-10440","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":4,"MSPID":2252,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":34,"ApprovedDate":"2010-05-05T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-05-05T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive when it expects the restructuring of Scottish Environment Protection Agency’s environmental science services to be completed. ","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive when it expects the restructuring of Scottish Environment Protection Agency’s environmental science services to be completed. ","AnswerText":"The Scottish Environment Protection Agency has decided that its laboratory services can best be delivered through a centre of excellence model, located at two main laboratory sites based in Aberdeen and the central belt. These laboratories will be supported by a field science and scientific advisory service based in locations across Scotland.
SEPA intends to implement this model over the next two to five years on a phased basis to coincide with changes to its estate in the locations affected. Changes to its organisational structure and to the way it delivers its services are predominantly operational matters for the agency itself.
","AnswerDate":"2010-05-05T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":null,"MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Roseanna Cunningham","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":206550,"EventID":"S3O-10474","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":4,"MSPID":1857,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":15,"ApprovedDate":"2010-05-13T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-05-13T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will review the operation of the Licensing (Scotland) Act 2005. ","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will review the operation of the Licensing (Scotland) Act 2005. ","AnswerText":"We are committed to evaluating and monitoring the impact the Act is having. In the immediate term, we are using the Criminal Justice and Licensing Bill to strengthen some provisions and put right some problems identified during implementation. In the longer term the findings from the comprehensive monitoring and evaluation process being led by NHS Health Scotland will allow us to look at the wider effect the Act is having.
While it is far too early to draw any firm conclusions about the impact on promoting the licensing objectives, it is encouraging that, in the first few months of operation, we are seeing the police and licensing boards taking tough action against problem premises, particularly in relation to underage sales where a number of licences have already been suspended.
","AnswerDate":"2010-05-13T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":null,"MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Kenny MacAskill","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":206551,"EventID":"S3O-10486","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":4,"MSPID":2345,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":56,"ApprovedDate":"2010-05-13T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-05-13T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what date it anticipates making an announcement on the second tranche of its capital funding for the schools investment programme. ","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what date it anticipates making an announcement on the second tranche of its capital funding for the schools investment programme. ","AnswerText":"We will announce the next tranche of funding from the new school building programme later this year. ","AnswerDate":"2010-05-13T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":null,"MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Keith Brown","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":206552,"EventID":"S3O-10497","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":4,"MSPID":1926,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":48,"ApprovedDate":"2010-05-13T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-05-13T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions it has had with Grampian Police regarding its new local policing model. ","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions it has had with Grampian Police regarding its new local policing model. ","AnswerText":"This government is committed to making our communities safer and stronger places to live. That is why we are delivering on our commitment to provide 1,000 additional police officers in our communities. But there would be no point in having these extra officers unless they were making a real difference on the streets across Scotland. That is why I very much welcome Chief Constable Colin McKerracher''s initiative for Grampian Police to have a renewed focus on community policing: to make local police officers more accessible and visible; to listen to the needs of local people and keep them informed, and to work with partner agencies to encourage people to take responsibility for their own behaviours and actions.
I know from speaking to chief constables across all of the Scottish forces that they are making maximum use of the extra resources provided by this government by focussing on the need to take policing into the heart of our communities.
","AnswerDate":"2010-05-13T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":null,"MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Kenny MacAskill","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":206553,"EventID":"S3O-10498","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":4,"MSPID":2641,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":28,"ApprovedDate":"2010-05-13T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-05-13T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what it will do to promote the tourist industry in the Western Isles in 2010-11. ","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what it will do to promote the tourist industry in the Western Isles in 2010-11. ","AnswerText":"As with all areas of Scotland, the Western Isles is marketed by VisitScotland based on its considerable strengths and its ability to deliver what visitors are looking for on their visit to Scotland. VisitScotland uses a range of channels including new media and websites, cinema, TV and radio, direct mail and PR to reach potential visitors at home and abroad.
Particular examples of marketing campaigns which help attract visitors to the Western Isles include: A Perfect Day; Autumn Moments, Meet the Scots and of course the visitor guide for the Outer Hebrides which is available in over 100 visitor information centres across Scotland.
","AnswerDate":"2010-05-13T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":null,"MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Jim Mather","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":206554,"EventID":"S3O-10504","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":4,"MSPID":1814,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":1,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2010-05-13T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-05-13T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive , further to the answer to question S3W-28748 by John Swinney on 16 November 2009, how it monitors the number of small and medium-sized enterprises that compete for publi","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive , further to the answer to question S3W-28748 by John Swinney on 16 November 2009, how it monitors the number of small and medium-sized enterprises that compete for public sector contracts. ","AnswerText":"The Scottish Government''s Public Contracts Scotland portal captures information on the number of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) that express an interest in contracts advertised on the portal. Since PCS was launched in October 2008, 83% of notes of interest have been from SMEs.
Further improvements are being made to Public Contracts Scotland to allow us to monitor the number of contracts awarded to SMEs, and a pilot is underway to examine how the portal can assist SMEs through the advertising of sub-contracting opportunities.
","AnswerDate":"2010-05-13T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":null,"MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"John Swinney","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":206555,"EventID":"S3O-10505","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":4,"MSPID":3901,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":53,"ApprovedDate":"2010-05-13T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-05-13T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what impact the result of the UK general election will have on relations between the Scottish Government and its UK counterparts. ","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what impact the result of the UK general election will have on relations between the Scottish Government and its UK counterparts. ","AnswerText":"The Scottish Government will continue to pursue the best interests of Scotland in its relationship with the UK Government. As the First Minister set out in his letter to the new Prime Minister yesterday, we would expect our working relationship to be based on widely accepted principles of mutual respect and parity of esteem.
Our key focus is on protecting the recovery and we will therefore press the UK Government to honour the plans in place for Scotland''s budget, in particular for 2010-11, and Scotland''s public services. We will look for progress on releasing the Fossil Fuel Levy Fund and on releasing Barnett consequentials to Scotland arising from regeneration-related spending on the Olympics. We will also seek agreement that no change would be made to the current system of financing devolved government without consultation and agreement with the devolved administrations.
","AnswerDate":"2010-05-13T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":null,"MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Fiona Hyslop","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":206556,"EventID":"S3O-10512","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":4,"MSPID":2133,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":6,"ApprovedDate":"2010-05-13T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-05-13T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what effect the cancellation of the renewal of the Trident nuclear missile system would have on the Scottish budget. ","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what effect the cancellation of the renewal of the Trident nuclear missile system would have on the Scottish budget. ","AnswerText":"Cancellation of the Trident nuclear missile system would create an opportunity to spend a significant sum of public money on other public spending priorities. Scotland would be entitled to the consequentials if there were any increases to comparable spending programmes such as health or education resulting from the savings created by the cancellation. ","AnswerDate":"2010-05-13T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":null,"MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"John Swinney","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":206557,"EventID":"S3O-10528","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":4,"MSPID":2202,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":8,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2010-05-13T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-05-13T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what its projected monetary saving will be on the Scottish budget for the four years to 2010-11 and its targeted 2% annual saving over the next three years. ","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what its projected monetary saving will be on the Scottish budget for the four years to 2010-11 and its targeted 2% annual saving over the next three years. ","AnswerText":"In 2007-08, the Scottish public sector delivered £1,316 million cash-releasing efficiency savings and a further £839 million in 2008-09. The November 2009 Efficiency Delivery Plan identified potential savings of £1,111 million in 2009-10 and £1,609 million in 2010-11.
Once the incoming UK Government confirms its intentions for the spending review and the future of the public finances, the Scottish Government will consider the detail of what that will mean in terms of the next phase of efficiencies.
","AnswerDate":"2010-05-13T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":null,"MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"John Swinney","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":206558,"EventID":"S3O-10530","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":4,"MSPID":3896,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":25,"ApprovedDate":"2010-05-13T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-05-13T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive when the Cabinet Secretary for Finance and Sustainable Growth last met representatives of Orkney Islands Council. ","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive when the Cabinet Secretary for Finance and Sustainable Growth last met representatives of Orkney Islands Council. ","AnswerText":"Ministers and officials regularly meet representatives of councils, including Orkney Islands Council.
I had planned to meet representatives of the council on Monday but a delay to the flight prevented this from happening. I will make further arrangements to hold this meeting.
","AnswerDate":"2010-05-13T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":null,"MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"John Swinney","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":206559,"EventID":"S3O-10558","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":4,"MSPID":4014,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":5,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2010-05-20T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-05-20T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive when it expects to be able to provide parents, teachers and pupils with full details on the new structure of the SQA examination system. ","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive when it expects to be able to provide parents, teachers and pupils with full details on the new structure of the SQA examination system. ","AnswerText":"SQA have released details of the design principles for the new National 4 and National 5 qualifications and have provided information on how they are taking forward the qualifications development process. They will provide the details of individual qualifications as they are developed. All the key milestones for qualifications are set out in the Curriculum for Excellence programme plan and have been communicated widely. ","AnswerDate":"2010-05-20T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":null,"MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Michael Russell","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":206560,"EventID":"S3O-10564","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":4,"MSPID":4016,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":64,"ApprovedDate":"2010-05-20T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-05-20T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions it has had with local authorities on the use of US-style yellow buses for schools. ","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions it has had with local authorities on the use of US-style yellow buses for schools. ","AnswerText":"The Scottish Government has had no such discussions with local authorities, or requests for such discussions. ","AnswerDate":"2010-05-20T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":null,"MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Keith Brown","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":206561,"EventID":"S3O-10581","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":4,"MSPID":2029,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":71,"ApprovedDate":"2010-05-20T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-05-20T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has commissioned research into back pain in adolescents. ","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has commissioned research into back pain in adolescents. ","AnswerText":"The Scottish Government has not commissioned research into back pain in adolescents. The Chief Scientist Office does not normally commission research but supports research projects initiated by the research community in Scotland. No applications into back pain in adolescents have been received but good quality proposals that will add to the evidence base would be welcomed. ","AnswerDate":"2010-05-20T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":null,"MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Shona Robison","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":206562,"EventID":"S3O-10596","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":4,"MSPID":1768,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":60,"ApprovedDate":"2010-05-20T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-05-20T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what powers the Scottish Funding Council has to intervene when further education courses are withdrawn after they have commenced. ","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what powers the Scottish Funding Council has to intervene when further education courses are withdrawn after they have commenced. ","AnswerText":"The Scottish Funding Council expects colleges to offer courses which are viable in terms of student numbers; offer a high standard of teaching, and are relevant in terms of the future employability of the student and the needs of the local economy. Within those parameters colleges are generally free to take their own decisions on the courses they offer and how they offer them. ","AnswerDate":"2010-05-20T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":null,"MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Keith Brown","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":206563,"EventID":"S3O-10600","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":4,"MSPID":2182,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":5,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2010-05-20T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-05-20T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has made any recent changes to its procedures for supporting future cultural events.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has made any recent changes to its procedures for supporting future cultural events.","AnswerText":"The Scottish Government has not made any significant recent changes to its procedures for supporting future cultural events. ","AnswerDate":"2010-05-20T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":null,"MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Fiona Hyslop","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":206564,"EventID":"S3O-10609","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":4,"MSPID":1735,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":29,"ApprovedDate":"2010-05-20T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-05-20T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what external affairs issues will be discussed at the first meeting with the new Secretary of State for Scotland. ","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what external affairs issues will be discussed at the first meeting with the new Secretary of State for Scotland. ","AnswerText":"The First Minister and Cabinet Secretary for Finance and Sustainable Growth have already had their first meeting with the new Prime Minister and Secretary of State for Scotland on 14 May 2010 at St Andrews House. I spoke to the Secretary of State yesterday by phone, and hope to meet him in the next few weeks.
The First Minister raised a number of issues with the Prime Minister including: the agenda of respect in government to government relations and the application of current funding arrangements in relation to; the fossil fuel levy, capital acceleration, Olympic regeneration funding consequentials and the proposals for borrowing powers recommended in the Calman Commission Report.
When I meet the Secretary of State in the near future I hope to address the positive ongoing work of the Joint Ministerial Committee and Scotland''s role in Europe and EU Council Meetings.
","AnswerDate":"2010-05-20T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":null,"MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Fiona Hyslop","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":206565,"EventID":"S3O-10623","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":4,"MSPID":2049,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":4,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2010-05-20T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-05-20T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive when it last met Scottish Opera and what issues were discussed. ","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive when it last met Scottish Opera and what issues were discussed. ","AnswerText":"I met Scottish Opera and the four other National Performing Companies on 17 May 2010. We discussed areas of mutual interest including the companies'' education work and international profile, the outlook for public expenditure, and scope for collaboration between arts and culture organisations. ","AnswerDate":"2010-05-20T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":null,"MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Fiona Hyslop","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":206566,"EventID":"S3O-10628","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":4,"MSPID":2674,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":3,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2010-05-20T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-05-20T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what support is provided for adult learners of Gaelic. ","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what support is provided for adult learners of Gaelic. ","AnswerText":"Adult Gaelic learning is a central element of the action plan to increase the numbers of Gaelic speakers. This plan was prepared by B²rd na G idhlig at the request of the Scottish Government. There is a wide range of support in place for adult learners of Gaelic from government, authorities and public bodies. Our aim is to ensure that this support is effective and results in an increase of opportunities and encouragement to learn the language for people in all areas and at all stages of learning. ","AnswerDate":"2010-05-20T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":null,"MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Fiona Hyslop","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":206567,"EventID":"S3O-10641","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":4,"MSPID":2123,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":32,"ApprovedDate":"2010-05-27T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-05-27T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive when regulations concerning inspections as required by section 58 of the Public Services Reform (Scotland) Act 2010 will be laid. ","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive when regulations concerning inspections as required by section 58 of the Public Services Reform (Scotland) Act 2010 will be laid. ","AnswerText":"Regulations concerning inspections as required by section 58 of the Public Services Reform (Scotland) Act 2010 will be laid in time for the effective operation of the new scrutiny bodies'' regulatory regime from April 2011. Full consultation on the regulations will be taking place over summer 2010. ","AnswerDate":"2010-05-27T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":null,"MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Shona Robison","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":206568,"EventID":"S3O-10642","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":4,"MSPID":1751,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":3,"ApprovedDate":"2010-05-27T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-05-27T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive , in view of latest figures showing that the number of central heating installations under the Energy Assistance Package, including legacy installations, amounted to arou","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive , in view of latest figures showing that the number of central heating installations under the Energy Assistance Package, including legacy installations, amounted to around half of those carried out in the final year of the central heating programme, whether it considers that the Energy Assistance Package has matched its objectives and expectations. ","AnswerText":"I am very pleased with the first year of the Energy Assistance Package (EAP), a four-stage package of help, targeted at people who are fuel poor, and recommended by the independent Scottish Fuel Poverty Forum. The EAP does much more than the old Central Heating Programme.
In its first year the EAP delivered:
energy savings advice provided 81,933 times;
helped almost a 1,000 older households to increase their annual income, on average, by £1,681;
helped 2,167 households to move to cheaper social tariffs, saving on average £118 a year, and
installed heating or improved heating systems for over 11,500 households of which 7,000 installations were EAP referrals, 63% of the total. The average delivery time was a third of that under the central heating programme.
","AnswerDate":"2010-05-27T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":null,"MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Alex Neil","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":206569,"EventID":"S3O-10647","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":4,"MSPID":1803,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":58,"ApprovedDate":"2010-05-27T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-05-27T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether it is aware of any local authorities that have suspended the recruitment of teachers on permanent employment contracts and, if so, what representations have been ","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether it is aware of any local authorities that have suspended the recruitment of teachers on permanent employment contracts and, if so, what representations have been made on this matter. ","AnswerText":"We have not received any representations regarding local authorities that have suspended the recruitment of teachers on permanent employment contracts.
The Scottish Government is fully committed to helping more newly qualified teachers into work. We are working with local authorities to better align local and national decision making in teacher workforce planning to ensure we have the right number of teachers to meet the needs of our pupils.
","AnswerDate":"2010-05-27T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":null,"MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Michael Russell","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":206570,"EventID":"S3O-10648","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":4,"MSPID":1831,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":6,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2010-05-27T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-05-27T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will outline how it will ensure a continuing robust NHS partnership with staff, patients and carers. ","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will outline how it will ensure a continuing robust NHS partnership with staff, patients and carers. ","AnswerText":"Our Better Health Better Care Action Plan launched in August 2007, set out our commitments to a robust NHS partnership with staff, patients and carers. Actions include:
The Better Together, Patient Experience Programme launched in 2008, which encourages and empowers patients, carers and staff to work together in partnership to provide patient centred care and improve NHS services for the benefit of everyone;
The Patient Rights (Scotland) Bill, introduced to the Scottish Parliament in March, which aims to improve patients'' experiences of using health services and support people to become more involved in their health.
More recently we have also launched the Quality Strategy which will see the quality of care provided by the NHS measured for the first time through patients'' experience and the information used to drive up standards. The Quality Strategy will put patients at the heart of everything the NHS does and give people a new confidence in the health service.
","AnswerDate":"2010-05-27T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":null,"MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Nicola Sturgeon","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":206571,"EventID":"S3O-10675","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":4,"MSPID":1805,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":1,"ApprovedDate":"2010-05-27T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-05-27T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what steps it is taking to ensure that good quality bus services are provided according to community need. ","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what steps it is taking to ensure that good quality bus services are provided according to community need. ","AnswerText":"The Scottish Government is committed to bus services in Scotland. We are taking forward a number of initiatives with local government partners and bus operators to maintain and improve bus services including statutory Quality Partnerships, Punctuality Improvement Partnerships and the appointment of a Senior Bus Development Advisor.
The Scottish Government reached an agreement earlier this year with the Confederation of Passenger Transport around funding levels for concessionary travel and the Bus Service Operators Grant which will give budget certainty and stability to the bus industry. This funding amounts to over £240 million in the current financial year.
","AnswerDate":"2010-05-27T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":null,"MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Stewart Stevenson","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":206572,"EventID":"S3O-10680","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":4,"MSPID":2596,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":7,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2010-05-27T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-05-27T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what work it is undertaking to reduce the rate of inflation in the NHS. ","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what work it is undertaking to reduce the rate of inflation in the NHS. ","AnswerText":"There are several initiatives in place that aim to reduce the rate of inflation in the NHS. These primarily focus on the areas that consume a high percentage of the budget, i.e. pay, procurement and prescribing.
NHS pay is determined at the UK level by independent pay review bodies. The Scottish Government feed into this process. Part of the evaluation of the pay review bodies is to consider the current state of the economy including growth, the labour market and inflation. In the procurement of services, national contracts are negotiated to ensure value for money.
There are also initiatives in place to control the prices which the NHS is paying for both generic and proprietary drugs and to ensure remuneration arrangements for independent Primary Care contractors for 2010-11 are reasonable in current economic circumstances.
NHS boards are also required to operate within their agreed revenue resource limit; operate within their capital resource limit; meet their cash requirement, and meet their cash efficiency target hence controlling the rate of expenditure within the NHS overall.
","AnswerDate":"2010-05-27T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":null,"MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Nicola Sturgeon","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":206573,"EventID":"S3O-10713","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":4,"MSPID":3901,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":53,"ApprovedDate":"2010-05-27T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-05-27T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what the total number of NHS Tayside staff will be in 2011 compared with 2007. ","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what the total number of NHS Tayside staff will be in 2011 compared with 2007. ","AnswerText":"There are no definitive figures available yet. NHS Tayside are in the process of developing their future workforce profile in discussion with staff side representatives and have made clear there will be no redundancies. The latest figures available from Information Services Division, National Services Scotland show that the number of staff employed by NHS Tayside has increased by 537 from 2007 to 2009. ","AnswerDate":"2010-05-27T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":null,"MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Nicola Sturgeon","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":206574,"EventID":"S3O-10714","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":4,"MSPID":2110,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":66,"ApprovedDate":"2010-05-27T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-05-27T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what steps it is taking in conjunction with NHS Ayrshire and Arran to reduce drug addiction in North Ayrshire. ","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what steps it is taking in conjunction with NHS Ayrshire and Arran to reduce drug addiction in North Ayrshire. ","AnswerText":"Our national drug strategy, The Road to Recovery, published in May 2008, is focused on recovery and the needs of the individual. NHS Ayrshire and Arran has received an extra 28% drug treatment funding since 2006-07.
Officials are working closely with NHS Ayrshire and Arran to help them meet the treatment waiting times target, that by March 2013, 90% of people who need help with their drug problem will wait no longer than three weeks for treatment. National Support Coordinators are working with the Alcohol and Drug Partnership in North Ayrshire, to support their efforts to tackle drug misuse.
","AnswerDate":"2010-05-27T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":null,"MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Shona Robison","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":206575,"EventID":"S3O-10718","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":4,"MSPID":3129,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":2,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2010-05-27T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-05-27T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what further progress has been made in response to the campaign championed by Ryan McLaughlin with regard to the importance of taking vitamin D supplements to combat mult","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what further progress has been made in response to the campaign championed by Ryan McLaughlin with regard to the importance of taking vitamin D supplements to combat multiple sclerosis and potentially other illnesses. ","AnswerText":"We are working closely with the McLaughlin family and the Multiple Sclerosis Society to support a summit on vitamin D. Unfortunately the summit was postponed in May because of the volcanic ash, but has been rescheduled for 21 September 2010.
In addition we are working with our partners to raise public awareness of the importance of vitamin D.
","AnswerDate":"2010-05-27T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":null,"MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Nicola Sturgeon","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":206576,"EventID":"S3O-10720","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":4,"MSPID":2133,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":6,"ApprovedDate":"2010-05-27T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-05-27T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive when it last met the chairman of NHS Forth Valley. ","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive when it last met the chairman of NHS Forth Valley. ","AnswerText":"I met the Chair of NHS Forth Valley on 24 May 2010 at the last regular meeting of NHS board chairs, when we discussed a wide range of matters affecting the delivery of patient services.
Officials from the Scottish Government Health Directorates also meet representatives of NHS Forth Valley regularly to discuss matters of current interest affecting health services in the area.
","AnswerDate":"2010-05-27T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":null,"MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Nicola Sturgeon","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":206577,"EventID":"S3O-10742","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":4,"MSPID":1751,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":3,"ApprovedDate":"2010-06-03T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-06-03T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what encouragement it gives to local authorities and community organisations to protect natural environments. ","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what encouragement it gives to local authorities and community organisations to protect natural environments. ","AnswerText":"Local authorities and community organisations are encouraged to protect natural environments in a number of ways, including involvement in Local Biodiversity Action Partnerships and a range of practical and financial support measures available from Scottish Natural Heritage. Local authorities have a duty under the Nature Conservation (Scotland) Act 2004 to further the conservation of biodiversity. ","AnswerDate":"2010-06-03T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":null,"MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Roseanna Cunningham","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":206578,"EventID":"S3O-10767","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":4,"MSPID":3815,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":5,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2010-06-03T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-06-03T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive when adult mental health will come under the current waiting time guarantee. ","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive when adult mental health will come under the current waiting time guarantee. ","AnswerText":"Other than the already established referral to treatment target for access to specialist child and adolescent mental health, and our commitment to develop an access target for psychological therapies to be announced in 2011-12, there are no current plans to include other mental health services in current referral to treatment waiting time guarantees.
The Patient Rights (Scotland) Bill will include mental health services in its aims to establish a 12 week treatment time guarantee for patients receiving elective or planned treatment on an inpatient or day case basis.
Where mental health services are delivered on this basis then the treatment time guarantee will apply. Expected completion of the Bill through Parliament is spring 2011.
","AnswerDate":"2010-06-03T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":null,"MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Nicola Sturgeon","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":206579,"EventID":"S3O-10773","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":4,"MSPID":1805,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":1,"ApprovedDate":"2010-06-03T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-06-03T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what steps it is taking to tackle antisocial behaviour. ","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what steps it is taking to tackle antisocial behaviour. ","AnswerText":"In March 2009, Councillor Harry McGuigan of COSLA and I published our shared vision for tackling antisocial behaviour in Scotland, Promoting Positive Outcomes. This was developed in partnership with the Convention of Scottish Local Authorities (COSLA) and other national partners, and supported across this chamber when it was debated on 2 April 2009.
I am delighted to say that a significant amount of work is going in to tackling antisocial behaviour in Scotland.
We are continuing to meet our commitment of having 1,000 additional police officers on Scotland''s streets making our communities safer places to live and work. Additionally, we have committed investment of over £17 million since the Cashback for Communities scheme was announced in June 2007. In North Lanarkshire this amounts to 38 awards receiving a total of £285,488.
","AnswerDate":"2010-06-03T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":null,"MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Fergus Ewing","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":206580,"EventID":"S3O-10780","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":4,"MSPID":4016,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":64,"ApprovedDate":"2010-06-03T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-06-03T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive when it last met representatives of Lothian and Borders Police. ","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive when it last met representatives of Lothian and Borders Police. ","AnswerText":"I last met representatives of Lothian and Borders Police at Howdenhall police station on 1 June 2010, on the day I announced record numbers of police officers in Scotland, with numbers in Lothian and Borders exceeding 3,000 for the first time.
I last met Chief Constable David Strang on 18 May 2010 as part of my regular one-to-one meetings with all chief constables.
","AnswerDate":"2010-06-03T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":null,"MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Kenny MacAskill","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":206581,"EventID":"S3O-10803","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":4,"MSPID":2133,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":6,"ApprovedDate":"2010-06-03T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-06-03T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive when it last met the chief executive of Scottish Natural Heritage. ","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive when it last met the chief executive of Scottish Natural Heritage. ","AnswerText":"There is regular contact between the Scottish Government and Scottish Natural Heritage at all levels, and in relation to a wide range of matters concerning Scotland''s natural heritage. The chief executive most recently met Scottish Government officials on 26 May 2010. ","AnswerDate":"2010-06-03T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":null,"MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Roseanna Cunningham","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":206582,"EventID":"S3O-10820","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":4,"MSPID":4080,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":6,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2010-06-03T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-06-03T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has reconsidered the interpretation of the Rural Priorities scheme guidance to permit anaerobic digestion plants to receive funding. ","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has reconsidered the interpretation of the Rural Priorities scheme guidance to permit anaerobic digestion plants to receive funding. ","AnswerText":"The setting of priorities for the Rural Priorities element of the Scotland Rural Development Programme is done at a regional level. In the north-east, this is the responsibility of the Grampian Regional Proposal Assessment Committee, or RPAC. The Grampian RPAC is currently in the process of considering its regional priorities. Specifically, in relation to anaerobic digesters, they will consider the future arrangements for the inclusion of such projects under diversification measures.
The other ten RPACs are reviewing the funding of anaerobic digesters in their regions.
","AnswerDate":"2010-06-03T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":null,"MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Richard Lochhead","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":206583,"EventID":"S3O-10822","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":4,"MSPID":2252,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":34,"ApprovedDate":"2010-06-03T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-06-03T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what action it is taking to protect endangered plant and animal species as part of the United Nations International Year of Biodiversity. ","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what action it is taking to protect endangered plant and animal species as part of the United Nations International Year of Biodiversity. ","AnswerText":"The Scottish Biodiversity Strategy is delivered through a wide range of actions that protect endangered plant and animal species, carried out by many partners. A good example of this partnership approach can be found in the new Edinburgh Local Biodiversity Action Plan, that was launched in March 2010 as part of a biodiversity weekend at the Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh. The local biodiversity partnership are planning a range of actions, including a project to protect and re-establish juniper in the Pentland Hills.
In the International Year of Biodiversity we are seeking to renew people''s appreciation of nature, and to reinforce the message that biodiversity delivers many services vital to human health and prosperity.
","AnswerDate":"2010-06-03T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":null,"MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Roseanna Cunningham","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":206584,"EventID":"S3O-10823","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":4,"MSPID":2866,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":63,"ApprovedDate":"2010-06-03T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-06-03T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive when post offices will be able to access the £1 million Post Office Diversification Fund included in the 2010-11 budget. ","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive when post offices will be able to access the £1 million Post Office Diversification Fund included in the 2010-11 budget. ","AnswerText":"Discussions with key stakeholders have informed the development of a discussion paper on the format and operation of the fund. This will be issued very shortly and discussed with sub-postmasters at roadshow events. Responses will help finalise details of the fund. On current plans sub-postmasters will be able to apply for funding over the summer. ","AnswerDate":"2010-06-03T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":null,"MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Jim Mather","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":206585,"EventID":"S3O-10846","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":4,"MSPID":1860,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":3,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2010-06-10T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-06-10T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what progress has been made in cutting journey times by rail from Inverness to Edinburgh. ","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what progress has been made in cutting journey times by rail from Inverness to Edinburgh. ","AnswerText":"Transport Scotland has been working in close partnership with Network Rail and First ScotRail to deliver improvements to rail services between Inverness and the Central Belt from December 2011. The precise details of these improvements will be known later this year. ","AnswerDate":"2010-06-10T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":null,"MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Stewart Stevenson","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":206586,"EventID":"S3O-10883","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":4,"MSPID":1961,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":33,"ApprovedDate":"2010-06-10T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-06-10T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what its latest and best estimate is for the total liability still to be met by local authorities in settling equal pay claims. ","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what its latest and best estimate is for the total liability still to be met by local authorities in settling equal pay claims. ","AnswerText":"This is a matter for local authorities as independent corporate bodies. It is not information which is held centrally by the Scottish Government. ","AnswerDate":"2010-06-10T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":null,"MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"John Swinney","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":206587,"EventID":"S3O-10886","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":4,"MSPID":2892,"Party":"Scottish Green Party","RegionID":2,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2010-06-10T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-06-10T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what estimate it has made of the likely reduction in greenhouse gas emissions as a result of the recession. ","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what estimate it has made of the likely reduction in greenhouse gas emissions as a result of the recession. ","AnswerText":"The emissions projections used by the Scottish Government and the Committee on Climate Change take account of the recession based on the 2009 growth forecasts. These show emissions falling by 0.4% between 2007 and 2008, by 1.2% between 2008 and 2009, and by 0.1% between 2009 and 2010. It is not possible to say how much of the decrease in greenhouse gas emissions projected for 2008 and 2009 is due to the recession and how much is due to UK and Scottish Government policies.
There is a significant degree of uncertainty when projecting emissions, and the Committee on Climate Change acknowledged this when giving advice to the Scottish Government.
","AnswerDate":"2010-06-10T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":null,"MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Stewart Stevenson","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":206588,"EventID":"S3O-10915","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":4,"MSPID":2185,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":2,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2010-06-10T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-06-10T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what action it is taking to mitigate the effects of financial cutbacks on public services. ","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what action it is taking to mitigate the effects of financial cutbacks on public services. ","AnswerText":"The Scottish Government''s 2010-11 Budget, which was approved by majority vote in the Parliament, seeks to protect frontline services and prioritise economic recovery in the face of the significant spending reductions imposed by the previous UK Government.
The budget included an average increase of 2.7% in funding for NHS boards and, for a third successive year, an increase in the proportionate share of the overall Scottish budget allocated to local government, which had been in steady decline under the previous administration.
","AnswerDate":"2010-06-10T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":null,"MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"John Swinney","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":206589,"EventID":"S3O-10916","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":4,"MSPID":2202,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":8,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2010-06-10T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-06-10T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether free school meals, free prescriptions, NHS distinction awards or any other of its policies are protected under the expenditure analysis of the Independent Budget ","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether free school meals, free prescriptions, NHS distinction awards or any other of its policies are protected under the expenditure analysis of the Independent Budget Review. ","AnswerText":"The remit for the Independent Budget Review, which has been published, makes clear the scope of the work to be undertaken by the review. ","AnswerDate":"2010-06-10T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":null,"MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"John Swinney","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":206590,"EventID":"S3O-10939","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":4,"MSPID":2595,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":4,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2010-06-17T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-06-17T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what work has been carried out in the last 12 months in improving the delivery of its China Plan. ","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what work has been carried out in the last 12 months in improving the delivery of its China Plan. ","AnswerText":"The government is committed to strengthening its links with the People''s Republic of China.
The China Plan is reviewed on a regular basis with the government''s delivery agents, other government bodies and key stakeholders to ensure that its objectives and targets are delivered by 2011.
","AnswerDate":"2010-06-17T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":null,"MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Fiona Hyslop","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":206591,"EventID":"S3O-10942","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":4,"MSPID":1839,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":3,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2010-06-17T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-06-17T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive how it ensures that trunk road works, including land use development proposals that impact on trunk roads, give due consideration to the needs of cyclists. ","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive how it ensures that trunk road works, including land use development proposals that impact on trunk roads, give due consideration to the needs of cyclists. ","AnswerText":"We require special consideration to be given for cyclists in all new trunk road schemes and within improvements to existing trunk roads. The new Scottish Planning Policy also requires that the needs of cyclists and the promotion of sustainable modes of transport are fully considered in land use development proposals that impact on trunk roads. ","AnswerDate":"2010-06-17T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":null,"MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Stewart Stevenson","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":206592,"EventID":"S3O-10946","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":4,"MSPID":2603,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":6,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2010-06-17T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-06-17T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive when it anticipates that work will commence on improvements at the Haudagain roundabout in Aberdeen. ","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive when it anticipates that work will commence on improvements at the Haudagain roundabout in Aberdeen. ","AnswerText":"As I have made clear on a number of occasions we will start improvements to the Haudagain Roundabout on completion of the Aberdeen Western Peripheral Route. ","AnswerDate":"2010-06-17T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":null,"MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Stewart Stevenson","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":206593,"EventID":"S3O-10949","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":4,"MSPID":1862,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":37,"ApprovedDate":"2010-06-17T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-06-17T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive which of the 35 new schools announced on 2 June 2010 will be directly funded by the Scottish Futures Trust. ","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive which of the 35 new schools announced on 2 June 2010 will be directly funded by the Scottish Futures Trust. ","AnswerText":"We have been absolutely clear since we first announced the new school building programme a year ago that the Scottish Government will be directly funding the school building programme. The Scottish Futures Trust is co-ordinating, facilitating and managing the programme on our behalf, working alongside local authorities. The SFT will develop, recommend and implement approaches that will secure a better schools programme across Scotland, and better value for money than could be achieved through each authority working separately. ","AnswerDate":"2010-06-17T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":null,"MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Keith Brown","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":206594,"EventID":"S3O-10965","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":4,"MSPID":2159,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":20,"ApprovedDate":"2010-06-17T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-06-17T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions it will have with the UK Government regarding regional television news. ","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions it will have with the UK Government regarding regional television news. ","AnswerText":"I wrote to Jeremy Hunt, the new UK Government Secretary of State for Culture, the Olympics, Media and Sport, about broadcasting on 24 May. I have subsequently discussed broadcasting with Ed Vaizey, the UK Government Minister for Culture, on 7 June. On both occasions I emphasised the importance of maintaining a choice of Scottish news for viewers in Scotland. I also made it clear that I intend to engage with the UK Government on broadcasting issues as fully and constructively as possible over the coming months. ","AnswerDate":"2010-06-17T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":null,"MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Fiona Hyslop","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":206595,"EventID":"S3O-10980","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":4,"MSPID":2182,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":5,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2010-06-17T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-06-17T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether it is content that the New Ways waiting times system is working satisfactorily.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether it is content that the New Ways waiting times system is working satisfactorily.","AnswerText":"The recent Audit Scotland report on Managing NHS waiting lists “ A review of new arrangements published on 4 March stated that New Ways has introduced significant changes to the way patients waits are managed, and NHSScotland has done well to implement the new arrangements.
So yes, I do think the system is working satisfactorily, but we will continue to monitor it and make improvements, where necessary.
","AnswerDate":"2010-06-17T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":null,"MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Nicola Sturgeon","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":206596,"EventID":"S3O-10985","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":4,"MSPID":2185,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":2,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2010-06-17T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-06-17T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether the future of Stow College is adversely affected by the development of the new Glasgow Metropolitan College. ","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether the future of Stow College is adversely affected by the development of the new Glasgow Metropolitan College. ","AnswerText":"The activity which colleges are funded to deliver is the responsibility of the Scottish Funding Council, not ministers. The key consideration in any funding decision is the interests of learners and the quality of the education they receive. The funding council has made clear that, should courses be transferred from Stow, it wishes to work with the college to plan an effective transition and to ensure that Stow College remains viable. ","AnswerDate":"2010-06-17T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":null,"MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Keith Brown","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":206597,"EventID":"S3O-11006","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":4,"MSPID":3901,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":53,"ApprovedDate":"2010-06-17T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-06-17T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what representation it has made to the Israeli Government following the Israeli boarding of the flotilla delivering aid to Gaza. ","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what representation it has made to the Israeli Government following the Israeli boarding of the flotilla delivering aid to Gaza. ","AnswerText":"The First Minister has written to the Israeli Ambassador in the strongest terms condemning the recent actions taken by the Israeli authorities and called on Israel to lift the blockade and allow humanitarian aid in to Gaza as a matter of urgency. ","AnswerDate":"2010-06-17T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":null,"MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Fiona Hyslop","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":206598,"EventID":"S3O-11049","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":4,"MSPID":2059,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":18,"ApprovedDate":"2010-06-24T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-06-24T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what assessment it has made of the impact of knife crime on NHS services. ","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what assessment it has made of the impact of knife crime on NHS services. ","AnswerText":"NHS Scotland recorded 1,857 admissions due to assault by a sharp object in financial year 2008-09. Over the same period, there were 3,688 acute occupied bed days across NHS Scotland associated with assault by a sharp object. ","AnswerDate":"2010-06-24T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":null,"MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Nicola Sturgeon","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":206599,"EventID":"S3O-11067","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":4,"MSPID":1754,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":5,"ApprovedDate":"2010-06-24T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-06-24T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what is being done to help first-time buyers. ","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what is being done to help first-time buyers. ","AnswerText":"The Scottish Government spent a record £95 million in 2009-10 on continuing to help first time buyers through the Low-cost Initiative for First Time Buyers. We are now also developing more innovative forms of affordable housing, for example through a £2.5 million New Supply Shared Equity trial being funded in partnership with private developers.
More widely, the Scottish Government previously pressed the UK Government for an exemption from stamp duty land tax on properties bought for less than £250,000 to help first time buyers. The previous UK Government implemented this and we will continue to maintain pressure on the new government to continue this exemption in this difficult economic climate.
","AnswerDate":"2010-06-24T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":null,"MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Alex Neil","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":206600,"EventID":"S3O-11070","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":4,"MSPID":3806,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":3,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2010-06-24T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-06-24T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive when it last met representatives of NHS Highland and what issues were discussed. ","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive when it last met representatives of NHS Highland and what issues were discussed. ","AnswerText":"The Minister for Public Health and Sport chaired NHS Highland''s Annual Review in Oban on 22 June 2010 where a wide range of issues were discussed. ","AnswerDate":"2010-06-24T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":null,"MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Nicola Sturgeon","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":206601,"EventID":"S3O-11072","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":4,"MSPID":4074,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":73,"ApprovedDate":"2010-06-24T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-06-24T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether it plans to review targets to reduce waiting times for cancer testing and receiving results. ","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether it plans to review targets to reduce waiting times for cancer testing and receiving results. ","AnswerText":"Cancer targets have already been reviewed and were included and published in the updated cancer plan, Better Cancer Care. The old 62-day target performance has now been met for five consecutive quarters and two new tougher 31 and 62-day targets have been introduced to be delivered by December 2011. ","AnswerDate":"2010-06-24T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":null,"MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Nicola Sturgeon","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":206602,"EventID":"S3O-11086","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":4,"MSPID":1826,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":35,"ApprovedDate":"2010-06-24T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-06-24T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether the NHS funds private ambulance transfers of patients when a bed in a more suitable unit is available but no Scottish Ambulance Service vehicle is available. ","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether the NHS funds private ambulance transfers of patients when a bed in a more suitable unit is available but no Scottish Ambulance Service vehicle is available. ","AnswerText":"Where it is clinically appropriate to do so, and when patient safety will not be compromised, NHS boards can fund private ambulance services to undertake patient transport or transfer services. \r\nto ","AnswerDate":"2010-06-24T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":null,"MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Nicola Sturgeon","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":206603,"EventID":"S3O-11087","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":4,"MSPID":2154,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":49,"ApprovedDate":"2010-06-24T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-06-24T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive when the Cabinet Secretary for Health and Wellbeing last met the chief executive of NHS Grampian and whether she discussed the impact of current funding difficulties on t","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive when the Cabinet Secretary for Health and Wellbeing last met the chief executive of NHS Grampian and whether she discussed the impact of current funding difficulties on the delivery of frontline services. ","AnswerText":"I meet the Chief Executive of NHS Grampian at various times throughout the year, for example when I chair the NHS board''s annual review. Officials from the Scottish Government Health Directorates meet the chief executive regularly and did so most recently on 15 June 2010. Discussions cover a range of current matters affecting service delivery, including the NHS board''s investment of its increased funding allocation for 2010-11 in frontline services. ","AnswerDate":"2010-06-24T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":null,"MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Nicola Sturgeon","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":206604,"EventID":"S3O-11089","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":4,"MSPID":2651,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":41,"ApprovedDate":"2010-06-24T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-06-24T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what measures are being put in place to ensure that healthcare professionals are following the most recent expert guidelines on coeliac disease to improve the diagnosis r","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what measures are being put in place to ensure that healthcare professionals are following the most recent expert guidelines on coeliac disease to improve the diagnosis rates. ","AnswerText":"All healthcare professionals are expected to keep up-to-date with guidance on long-term conditions such as Coeliac Disease. There are a number of approaches to ensure that this information is kept up-to-date, and readily available.
GPs are often the first point of contact for people with symptoms suggestive of the condition. To support them, there are guidelines on the management of adults with Coeliac Disease produced by the Primary Care Society for Gastroenterology.
More generally, clinicians have access to the guidance on the topic issued by the British Society of Gastroenterology earlier this year.
NHS 24 also has detailed information on the symptoms, diagnosis and treatment of Coeliac Disease.
","AnswerDate":"2010-06-24T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":null,"MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Shona Robison","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":206605,"EventID":"S3O-11106","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":4,"MSPID":1893,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":6,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2010-07-01T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-07-01T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive when it estimates work will start on the construction of the Aberdeen Western Peripheral Route and in what year it now expects the project to be completed. ","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive when it estimates work will start on the construction of the Aberdeen Western Peripheral Route and in what year it now expects the project to be completed. ","AnswerText":"I anticipate that the legal challenges submitted to the Court of Session will cause significant delay to the construction of the Aberdeen Western Peripheral Route. Until the challenges are heard in Court and resolved we cannot be precise about the impact on the project timetable. ","AnswerDate":"2010-07-01T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":null,"MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Stewart Stevenson","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":206606,"EventID":"S3O-11175","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":4,"MSPID":1996,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":19,"ApprovedDate":"2010-07-01T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-07-01T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what measures it is taking to combat antisocial behaviour in Glasgow. ","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what measures it is taking to combat antisocial behaviour in Glasgow. ","AnswerText":"We are pursuing the policies I outlined earlier today.
I am sure that the member will welcome, as I do, the CashBack funded Jump2It programme for basketball in primary schools. The programme ran in 37 primary schools in the east end of Glasgow for 3,400 pupils, including every primary school in the Shettleston area last year.
","AnswerDate":"2010-07-01T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":null,"MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Fergus Ewing","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":206607,"EventID":"S3O-11191","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":4,"MSPID":3806,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":3,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2010-07-01T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-07-01T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive when it last met representatives of Moray Council to discuss issues regarding rural affairs. ","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive when it last met representatives of Moray Council to discuss issues regarding rural affairs. ","AnswerText":"Ministers have had regular meetings with representatives of Moray Council to discuss a range of issues, including many that touch upon rural matters. ","AnswerDate":"2010-07-01T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":null,"MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Richard Lochhead","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":206608,"EventID":"S3O-11202","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":4,"MSPID":1751,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":3,"ApprovedDate":"2010-09-09T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-09-09T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what guidance it gives to local authorities to support children with additional support needs.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what guidance it gives to local authorities to support children with additional support needs.","AnswerText":"The Scottish Government has revised, and in August 2010 published, the Supporting Children''s Learning Code of Practice. The Code of Practice, which has been updated to take account of the Education (Additional Support for Learning) (Scotland) Act 2009, provides detailed guidance explaining the duties on education authorities and other agencies to support children''s learning. Education authorities and other appropriate agencies, such as NHS boards, are under a duty to have regard to the code.
We have also commissioned Learning Teaching Scotland to prepare case studies, exemplification and summary material for practitioners.
The Scottish Government also funds Enquire, the national advice and information service to provide independent advice and guidance to families of children who require additional support.
","AnswerDate":"2010-09-09T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":null,"MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Adam Ingram","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":206609,"EventID":"S3O-11305","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":4,"MSPID":2610,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":1,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2010-09-16T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-09-16T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions it has had with public bodies regarding plans to merge those with overlapping functions.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions it has had with public bodies regarding plans to merge those with overlapping functions.","AnswerText":"The Scottish Government is continuing to look for opportunities to simplify and streamline the public bodies landscape in Scotland wherever possible. ","AnswerDate":"2010-09-16T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":null,"MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"John Swinney","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":206610,"EventID":"S3O-11320","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":4,"MSPID":2154,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":49,"ApprovedDate":"2010-09-16T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-09-16T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what its position is on the retention of the forensic services laboratory in Aberdeen.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what its position is on the retention of the forensic services laboratory in Aberdeen.","AnswerText":"The Scottish Police Services Authority (SPSA) delivers forensic science services to all eight police forces and the Crown Office Procurator Fiscal Service on a national basis. The SPSA is committed to creating an improved and responsive national service and has been carrying out extensive engagement with stakeholders over the last 18 months as part of its forensic modernisation programme. I anticipate SPSA will submit proposals for the Scottish Government''s consideration later this month. We will carefully consider SPSA''s proposals before reaching a decision. ","AnswerDate":"2010-09-16T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":null,"MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Kenny MacAskill","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":206611,"EventID":"S3O-11373","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":4,"MSPID":3806,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":3,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2010-09-16T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-09-16T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what recent discussions have taken place regarding full university status for the prospective University of the Highlands and Islands.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what recent discussions have taken place regarding full university status for the prospective University of the Highlands and Islands.","AnswerText":"UHI Millennium Institute submitted its application for university title to the Privy Council Office in May 2010. The Scottish Government has sought the advice of the Quality Assurance Agency (QAA) for Higher Education on the application and a scrutiny panel is now assessing it with a view to QAA providing recommendations to Scottish ministers in December 2010. The Scottish Government also launched a consultation on 30 August 2010 on the award of university title to UHI which seeks responses by 22 November 2010. ","AnswerDate":"2010-09-16T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":null,"MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Michael Russell","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":206612,"EventID":"S3O-11381","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":4,"MSPID":2596,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":7,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2010-09-23T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-09-23T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what the rate of absence due to sickness was in days lost per full-time equivalent employee in each NHS board in the last year.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what the rate of absence due to sickness was in days lost per full-time equivalent employee in each NHS board in the last year.","AnswerText":"NHSScotland does not gather data on the numbers of days lost due to sickness absence, but does monitor the number of hours lost, as this is a more accurate measure of the impact of sickness absence on the service.
For the period 1 April 2009 to 31 March 2010, NHSScotland had an absence rate for the year of 4.75% of the total available contracted hours.
This rate represents a 0.2% reduction in sickness absence over the 2008-09 rate of 5.95% and a 0.8% reduction compared with the 2006-07 rate of 5.55%.
Percentage rates for each NHS board are published yearly by the Information Services Division (ISD). Further information on sickness absence rates in NHSScotland can be found at the ISD website.
","AnswerDate":"2010-09-23T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":null,"MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Nicola Sturgeon","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":206613,"EventID":"S3O-11423","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":4,"MSPID":2159,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":20,"ApprovedDate":"2010-09-23T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-09-23T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether it expects the forthcoming teacher numbers statistics to show an increase or decrease in teacher employment and for what reasons.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether it expects the forthcoming teacher numbers statistics to show an increase or decrease in teacher employment and for what reasons.","AnswerText":"Teacher employment is a matter for local authorities. The 2010 teacher census is being conducted today and the results will be published in December. I expect that, given the financial pressures on local authorities and the over supply mistakes of the previous administration that the numbers will continue on a downward trend. ","AnswerDate":"2010-09-23T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":null,"MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Michael Russell","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":206614,"EventID":"S3O-11446","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":4,"MSPID":1735,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":29,"ApprovedDate":"2010-09-23T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-09-23T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what improvements have been made in health services in West Lothian since 2007.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what improvements have been made in health services in West Lothian since 2007.","AnswerText":"There have been a number of positive developments in health services for the area.
A prime example is St. John''s Hospital which has gone from strength to strength in recent years. There has been considerable investment in the hospital, such as a state of the art endoscopy facility which cost approximately £3.1 million and a new £8.2 million short stay elective surgery centre treating an extra 3,000 patients a year.
St John''s is now a vibrant and busy hospital, we only have to look at increases in activity to see that, in the case of outpatients by 43.5% since 2005-06.
Those are all signs of the commitment that the Scottish Government gave to the future of St John''s as an acute hospital in Lothian.
","AnswerDate":"2010-09-23T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":null,"MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Nicola Sturgeon","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":206615,"EventID":"S3O-11465","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":4,"MSPID":1841,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":6,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2010-09-23T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-09-23T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether it considers that the current GP out-of-hours service offers value-for-money for the taxpayer and best meets the needs of the patient.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether it considers that the current GP out-of-hours service offers value-for-money for the taxpayer and best meets the needs of the patient.","AnswerText":"NHS boards have the primary responsibility for procuring a safe and sustainable delivery of out-of-hours services for their area and are expected to do so in a way that meets the needs of the communities they support in as cost effective a way as possible. ","AnswerDate":"2010-09-23T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":null,"MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Nicola Sturgeon","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":206616,"EventID":"S3O-11501","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":4,"MSPID":1996,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":19,"ApprovedDate":"2010-09-30T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-09-30T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what recent discussions it has had with NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde regarding the future of services in the east end of Glasgow, such as Lightburn Hospital.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what recent discussions it has had with NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde regarding the future of services in the east end of Glasgow, such as Lightburn Hospital.","AnswerText":"In line with current guidance on informing, engaging and consulting people in developing health and community services, NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde asked government officials earlier this year to confirm the NHS board''s assumption that their proposed changes to inpatient rehabilitation services in east Glasgow, including the possible closure of Lightburn Hospital, should be considered as major service change.
This was confirmed and, accordingly, the NHS board initiated formal public consultation on 30 August 2010. This will run until 30 November 2010 and I would encourage all local stakeholders to play a full part in this process and to register their views with the board.
","AnswerDate":"2010-09-30T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":null,"MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Nicola Sturgeon","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":206617,"EventID":"S3O-11526","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":4,"MSPID":3771,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":2,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2010-09-30T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-09-30T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has been consulted by the UK Government concerning the date for the next UK general election.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has been consulted by the UK Government concerning the date for the next UK general election.","AnswerText":"The UK Government has not consulted the Scottish Government about the date of the next general election. The Scottish Government has made its views clear on the clash of dates with elections to the Scottish Parliament and would welcome discussion on how to avoid the difficulties such a clash would cause. ","AnswerDate":"2010-09-30T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":null,"MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Jim Mather","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":206618,"EventID":"S3O-11573","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":4,"MSPID":1961,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":33,"ApprovedDate":"2010-10-07T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-10-07T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what estimate it has made of the additional revenue and capital costs to local authorities of the policy of imposing a maximum number of 25 pupils in primary 1 classes.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what estimate it has made of the additional revenue and capital costs to local authorities of the policy of imposing a maximum number of 25 pupils in primary 1 classes.","AnswerText":"The financial effects of The Education (Lower Primary Class Sizes) (Scotland) Amendment Regulations 2010 were addressed in the related Executive Note.
The Scottish Government consulted widely prior to introducing the regulations. The vast majority of the 24 local authorities that responded explicitly welcomed the regulations, and comments relating to resource implications referred almost exclusively to the possibility of extending the requirements to P2 and P3 classes.
","AnswerDate":"2010-10-07T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":null,"MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Michael Russell","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":206619,"EventID":"S3O-11616","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":4,"MSPID":1926,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":48,"ApprovedDate":"2010-10-07T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-10-07T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has had discussions with the UK Government regarding health and safety legislation and the police service.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has had discussions with the UK Government regarding health and safety legislation and the police service.","AnswerText":"No. Health and safety legislation is a reserved matter for consideration by the UK Parliament. I await the publication of Lord Young''s review of health and safety legislation to see whether there are any consequences for policing in Scotland. ","AnswerDate":"2010-10-07T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":null,"MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Kenny MacAskill","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":206620,"EventID":"S3O-11646","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":4,"MSPID":4086,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":7,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2010-10-07T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-10-07T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions it has had with organisations and representatives from the business community following the business rates revaluation that came into effect in April 201","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions it has had with organisations and representatives from the business community following the business rates revaluation that came into effect in April 2010.","AnswerText":"Throughout the revaluation process ministers and officials have taken a number of actions to communicate with the business community. This includes meeting, corresponding and listening to representations from a number of individual ratepayers and business organisations. ","AnswerDate":"2010-10-07T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":null,"MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"John Swinney","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":206621,"EventID":"S3O-11649","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":4,"MSPID":2030,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":1,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2010-10-07T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-10-07T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether the £111 million that has been reported as being saved by the Scottish Futures Trust has been or will be deployed.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether the £111 million that has been reported as being saved by the Scottish Futures Trust has been or will be deployed.","AnswerText":"The Scottish Futures Trust has identified £111 million of net future benefits as a result of work undertaken in 2009-10. These benefits are from a mixture of efficiency gains, additional investment and avoided costs. ","AnswerDate":"2010-10-07T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":null,"MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"John Swinney","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":206622,"EventID":"S3O-11695","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":4,"MSPID":3759,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":1,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2010-10-28T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-10-28T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what position it takes on tuition fees.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what position it takes on tuition fees.","AnswerText":"We believe that access to higher education should be based on the ability to learn and not the ability to pay. We have firmly ruled out the option of charging tuition fees, a position which has been supported by the Parliament. ","AnswerDate":"2010-10-28T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":null,"MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Michael Russell","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":206623,"EventID":"S3O-11719","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":4,"MSPID":1783,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":67,"ApprovedDate":"2010-10-28T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-10-28T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will continue to provide educational maintenance allowances for college students.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will continue to provide educational maintenance allowances for college students.","AnswerText":"As we announced in June, increased demand and pressures on public expenditure, and the fact that our budget for 2011-12 is not yet set, require us to review the scheme in December 2010. We will take stock of spend to date and the numbers of young people in receipt of educational maintenance allowance (EMA). This will allow us to consider whether further adjustment to the EMA programme is needed in order to control pressure on the budget. We have no plans to end it. ","AnswerDate":"2010-10-28T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":null,"MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Michael Russell","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":206624,"EventID":"S3O-11771","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":4,"MSPID":2185,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":2,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2010-11-04T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-11-04T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive how many electroencephalograph (EEG) technicians are in post and what support the NHS provides for out-of-hours EEG access for people with suspected acute epileptic seizu","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive how many electroencephalograph (EEG) technicians are in post and what support the NHS provides for out-of-hours EEG access for people with suspected acute epileptic seizure activity.","AnswerText":"Information on the number of electroencephalograph (EEG) technicians in post is not held centrally.
In terms of NHS support for out of hours access to an EEG, we expect NHS boards to follow the recommendations in the Scottish Intercollegiate Guidelines Network guidelines on epilepsy in adults and children. These indicate when an EEG should be performed. It is essential that this should be done in timely fashion, so that the necessary treatment can be started.
","AnswerDate":"2010-11-04T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":null,"MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Shona Robison","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":206625,"EventID":"S3O-11794","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":4,"MSPID":3901,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":53,"ApprovedDate":"2010-11-04T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-11-04T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what progress has been made regarding the Dundee Victoria and Albert Museum project.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what progress has been made regarding the Dundee Victoria and Albert Museum project.","AnswerText":"The Victoria and Albert at Dundee partnership has made significant progress on developing proposals for the project including an extensive business case and business plan. I congratulate the partnership on the highly successful exhibition in Dundee of the architectural competition and on making the selection of a preferred bidder for the architectural and design work, announced on 3 November 2010. The Scottish Government has provided financial support for these developments. We remain committed to making a significant capital contribution to the project, which I hope to announce following the conclusion of the Spending Review. ","AnswerDate":"2010-11-04T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":null,"MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Fiona Hyslop","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":206626,"EventID":"S3O-11802","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":4,"MSPID":2876,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":8,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2010-11-04T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-11-04T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what support is available to NHS employees who have suffered stress as a result of bullying and harassment in their place of work.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what support is available to NHS employees who have suffered stress as a result of bullying and harassment in their place of work.","AnswerText":"The Staff Governance Standard commits NHSScotland employers to ensuring that all staff are treated fairly and consistently and that the minimum standards as described in the relevant Partnership Information Network (PIN) policy are met or exceeded. The PIN policy on tackling bullying and harassment stipulates that NHS boards must have mechanisms of support available to employees who feel they have been the victims of bullying and harassment. Those support mechanisms can include access to confidential contacts and professional counselling. The dignity at work project was also launched early this year to promote a positive working culture and behaviours across NHSScotland and to develop tools and behaviours that will reduce the perceived or actual levels of bullying and harassment felt across the organisation. ","AnswerDate":"2010-11-04T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":null,"MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Nicola Sturgeon","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":206627,"EventID":"S3O-11803","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":4,"MSPID":2963,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":2,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2010-11-04T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-11-04T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what the impact of the Comprehensive Spending Review will be on the voluntary sector in Scotland.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what the impact of the Comprehensive Spending Review will be on the voluntary sector in Scotland.","AnswerText":"We recognise the fundamental role that the third sector has in creating a more successful Scotland. We are considering the UK Government''s Comprehensive Spending Review and its implications for the draft Scottish budget. We recognise that the current economic conditions place pressures on the third sector but make the third sector all the more important to our communities.
I had direct discussions with senior representatives of the third sector to inform our plans for the next spending period which will be announced shortly.
","AnswerDate":"2010-11-04T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":null,"MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"John Swinney","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":206628,"EventID":"S3O-11818","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":4,"MSPID":1866,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":30,"ApprovedDate":"2010-11-04T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-11-04T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive on what date it expects a tenancy deposit protection scheme to become operational.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive on what date it expects a tenancy deposit protection scheme to become operational.","AnswerText":"A public consultation on draft regulations to set the framework for tenancy deposit schemes in Scotland, and the conditions for their approval, ended on 3 October 2010. We are currently analysing the consultation responses.
We plan to introduce the regulations to the Parliament by the end of 2010. This will enable proposals for national tenancy deposit schemes to be submitted to ministers in early 2011.
Until we receive proposals, it is not possible to predict the exact date on which a tenancy deposit scheme will become operational.
","AnswerDate":"2010-11-04T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":null,"MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Alex Neil","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":206629,"EventID":"S3O-11834","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":4,"MSPID":1832,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":42,"ApprovedDate":"2010-11-04T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-11-04T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what additional resources it will make available to ensure that full-time accident and emergency services at the Victoria Hospital in Kirkcaldy are maintained until the o","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what additional resources it will make available to ensure that full-time accident and emergency services at the Victoria Hospital in Kirkcaldy are maintained until the opening of the new hospital building. ","AnswerText":"As the member knows, as part of its programme of service change set out in Right for Fife, NHS Fife has been planning since 2002 to move to a new model of accident and emergency and acute medical service based in Victoria Hospital and supported by a minor injuries service at Queen Margaret Hospital. That move is due to take place in early 2012. I expect NHS Fife to make the transition to the new service model in a way that best meets patients'' clinical needs and ensures their safety. ","AnswerDate":"2010-11-04T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":null,"MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Nicola Sturgeon","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":206630,"EventID":"S3O-11860","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":4,"MSPID":2596,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":7,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2010-11-11T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-11-11T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what environmental criteria Scottish Natural Heritage assesses prior to the installation of onshore wind farms.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what environmental criteria Scottish Natural Heritage assesses prior to the installation of onshore wind farms.","AnswerText":"Scottish Natural Heritage (SNH) is a statutory consultee in relation to all developments which are subject to environmental impact assessment and in relation to all strategic environmental assessments. In addition, SNH may offer comments or advice to local planning authorities on other smaller scale developments where there are significant natural heritage issues. In formulating its advice in all these cases, SNH will consider the likely impacts on flora, fauna, landscape, visual amenity, recreation and access. ","AnswerDate":"2010-11-11T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":null,"MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Roseanna Cunningham","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":206631,"EventID":"S3O-11876","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":4,"MSPID":2866,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":63,"ApprovedDate":"2010-11-11T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-11-11T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive to what extent it has reduced the impact of regulation on the farming community since it came into office.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive to what extent it has reduced the impact of regulation on the farming community since it came into office.","AnswerText":"I am sure the member is aware that most of the regulation that impacts on Scotland''s farmers and land managers comes from Europe and under the terms of the Scotland Act Scottish Ministers must implement relevant EU rules.
The Scottish Government is however committed to reducing the burden on Scotland''s farmers and have taken effective action to ensure that happens. Our Scotland''s Environmental and Rural Services (SEARS) initiative continues to improve the experience of service delivery for farmers and other rural land managers. Since its launch at Royal Highland Show 2008, SEARS has rationalised inspection activity, reduced charges, tackled bureaucracy, listened to customers, and improved access to services.
","AnswerDate":"2010-11-11T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":null,"MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Richard Lochhead","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":206632,"EventID":"S3O-11908","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":4,"MSPID":1986,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":69,"ApprovedDate":"2010-11-11T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-11-11T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what progress it is making in tackling knife crime.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what progress it is making in tackling knife crime.","AnswerText":"The Scottish Government is working with the Violence Reduction Unit and other partners to tackle knife crime. Violent crime is at its lowest level in over 30 years with the crime of handling an offensive weapon having reduced 30% since 2006-07. This success has been achieved through tough enforcement, supported by record numbers of police officers, and innovative education initiatives like our ground breaking No Knives, Better Lives campaign. I am sure the member will join me in welcoming the fact that this has led to a 35% reduction in knife carrying in Inverclyde over the period of the campaign. ","AnswerDate":"2010-11-11T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":null,"MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Kenny MacAskill","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":206633,"EventID":"S3O-11927","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":4,"MSPID":3743,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":6,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2010-11-11T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-11-11T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what steps it is taking with NFU Scotland and the Health and Safety Executive to improve health and safety awareness among the farming community.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what steps it is taking with NFU Scotland and the Health and Safety Executive to improve health and safety awareness among the farming community.","AnswerText":"Health and safety at work is a reserved matter and the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) is responsible for regulating health and safety in Scotland. Nevertheless the Scottish Government wants to see greater awareness of health and safety issues amongst Scotland''s farming communities. There has been recent contact at official level between the HSE, the NHS Centre for Healthy Working Lives and the partners in Scotland''s Environmental and Rural Services to explore ways in which the HSE can be supported in raising awareness of health and safety in rural Scotland. ","AnswerDate":"2010-11-11T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":null,"MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Richard Lochhead","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":206634,"EventID":"S3O-11938","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":4,"MSPID":2876,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":8,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2010-11-11T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-11-11T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what the reduction in crashes, injuries and deaths has been since the introduction of road safety cameras and what the estimated financial savings have been.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what the reduction in crashes, injuries and deaths has been since the introduction of road safety cameras and what the estimated financial savings have been.","AnswerText":"Road safety cameras were introduced in 1990. Reported road accidents fell by 43% between 1990 and 2009, all severity injuries fell by 45% and road fatalities fell by 60%. These reductions will be due to a number of factors (including road safety education and engineering initiatives) and not the introduction of road safety cameras alone.
Had casualty levels remained the same as in 1990, it is estimated that the cost to the Scottish economy could have been around £70 million per year (in 2009 prices).
","AnswerDate":"2010-11-11T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":null,"MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Stewart Stevenson","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":206635,"EventID":"S3O-11946","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":4,"MSPID":1906,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":50,"ApprovedDate":"2010-11-11T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-11-11T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive how and when it will respond to the findings of the Inquiry into Future Support for Agriculture and Rural Development by Brian Pack.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive how and when it will respond to the findings of the Inquiry into Future Support for Agriculture and Rural Development by Brian Pack.","AnswerText":"The inquiry was asked to advise on how the Scottish Government''s vision for agriculture could be put into practice in a future farm support system. I would like to pay tribute to Brian Pack and his committee for their excellent work on the inquiry.
The Scottish Government gave an initial response when the inquiry report was published on 3 November 2010. Considerable follow-up work will be needed and I will announce details shortly.
As Brian Pack himself said, the development of a new farm support system will be a long process, involving lengthy European negotiations. At this stage, it is important to establish the principles underlying a new system. While we are still studying the report in detail, I can already endorse the main principles it sets out.
","AnswerDate":"2010-11-11T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":null,"MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Richard Lochhead","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":206636,"EventID":"S3O-11949","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":4,"MSPID":2610,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":1,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2010-11-11T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-11-11T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive when it last met representatives of the Scottish Crime and Drug Enforcement Agency.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive when it last met representatives of the Scottish Crime and Drug Enforcement Agency.","AnswerText":"Ministers and officials meet representatives of the Scottish Crime and Drug Enforcement Agency on a regular basis.
The most recent ministerial meeting was on 3 November 2010 when I met Deputy Director General Johnny Gywnne at Woodfarm Education Centre in Giffnock.
","AnswerDate":"2010-11-11T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":null,"MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Kenny MacAskill","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":206637,"EventID":"S3O-11984","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":4,"MSPID":1908,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":4,"ApprovedDate":"2010-11-18T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-11-18T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive when the Cabinet Secretary for Finance and Sustainable Growth last met COSLA.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive when the Cabinet Secretary for Finance and Sustainable Growth last met COSLA.","AnswerText":"I meet representatives of COSLA regularly, and have done so several times in the last few weeks. ","AnswerDate":"2010-11-18T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":null,"MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"John Swinney","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":206638,"EventID":"S3O-12016","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":4,"MSPID":3771,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":2,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2010-11-18T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-11-18T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what progress has been made in developing a scheme to incentivise local authorities to improve the collection of non-domestic rates.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what progress has been made in developing a scheme to incentivise local authorities to improve the collection of non-domestic rates.","AnswerText":"Discussions are ongoing with COSLA to finalise the details of how the planned Business Rates Incentivisation Scheme will operate. I can confirm that the intention is still to introduce the new arrangements from 1 April 2011. ","AnswerDate":"2010-11-18T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":null,"MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"John Swinney","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":206639,"EventID":"S3O-12023","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":4,"MSPID":3129,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":2,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2010-11-18T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-11-18T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what action it is taking to improve the provision of and access to occupational health services.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what action it is taking to improve the provision of and access to occupational health services.","AnswerText":"The Scottish Government, through the Partnership Information Network (PIN) policies, sets the minimum standard NHSScotland boards must meet when providing support for staff with health issues. The PIN policy Managing Health at Work makes clear that it is crucially important that staff have access to competent occupational health services.
Earlier this year the Scottish Government and the Management Steering Group of NHS Scotland established the Occupational Health and Safety Strategic Forum. As part of its remit, I have asked the Forum to develop a new strategic framework for occupational health and safety provision for staff within NHSScotland, to replace the current strategy, Towards a Safer, Healthier Workplace, published in 1999.
This strategic framework will provide an opportunity to confirm our commitment to a person centred approach towards health, wellbeing and safety at work, ensuring all staff are well supported by an integrated strategy that adds value to existing occupational health and safety policies and services.
","AnswerDate":"2010-11-18T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":null,"MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Nicola Sturgeon","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":206640,"EventID":"S3O-12040","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":4,"MSPID":3896,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":25,"ApprovedDate":"2010-11-18T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-11-18T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive how many (a) farmers and (b) crofters have notified a reduction in their eligible land areas for the purposes of claiming under Single Farm Payment or Less Favoured Area ","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive how many (a) farmers and (b) crofters have notified a reduction in their eligible land areas for the purposes of claiming under Single Farm Payment or Less Favoured Area Support schemes since new guidance was issued by ministers in May 2010.","AnswerText":"The member has raised the matter of land eligibility for these schemes in previous questions and in correspondence with me. I very much regret, therefore, that I must again remind him that the guidance issued was not new and had been represented to farmers and stakeholders well in advance of the May submission date for the single application forms. What constituted eligibility for these schemes, therefore, before the issue of the guidance and what constituted eligibility afterwards is the same.
The Scottish Government''s publicity about eligibility, the issue of the notes for guidance and the reminder of the provisions of EU legislation that allowed farmers to correct their claims, together, meant that farmers were given the opportunity to safeguard subsidies that are such a necessary part of their business viability. I was pleased that in excess of 2,000 businesses took this opportunity. I regret that I am not able to provide separate figures for farmers and crofters.
","AnswerDate":"2010-11-18T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":null,"MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Richard Lochhead","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":206641,"EventID":"S3O-12050","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":4,"MSPID":2068,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":22,"ApprovedDate":"2010-11-18T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-11-18T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what action it is taking to ensure that Scotland reaps the maximum benefit from offshore renewable energy.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what action it is taking to ensure that Scotland reaps the maximum benefit from offshore renewable energy.","AnswerText":"Scotland''s Offshore Wind Route Map and the Marine Energy Road Map identify the key actions that the Scottish Government and other key renewable industry stakeholders are currently taking forward so that Scotland can reap the maximum benefit from offshore renewable energy. ","AnswerDate":"2010-11-18T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":null,"MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Jim Mather","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":206642,"EventID":"S3O-12059","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":4,"MSPID":4014,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":5,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2010-11-25T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-11-25T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what plans the Cabinet Secretary for Education and Lifelong Learning has to give more control of schools to head teachers.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what plans the Cabinet Secretary for Education and Lifelong Learning has to give more control of schools to head teachers.","AnswerText":"Devolving a greater degree of control to head teachers is something that I am keen to support. I will soon be making an announcement for plans on this matter. ","AnswerDate":"2010-11-25T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":null,"MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Michael Russell","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":206643,"EventID":"S3O-12066","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":4,"MSPID":1961,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":33,"ApprovedDate":"2010-11-25T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-11-25T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what recent discussions it has had with ministers of the Government of the Republic of Ireland on the benefits of membership of the Euro.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what recent discussions it has had with ministers of the Government of the Republic of Ireland on the benefits of membership of the Euro.","AnswerText":"The Scottish Government has not had any recent discussions with ministers of the Government of the Republic of Ireland regarding membership of the Euro. ","AnswerDate":"2010-11-25T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":null,"MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Fiona Hyslop","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":206644,"EventID":"S3O-12089","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":4,"MSPID":2010,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":8,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2010-11-25T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-11-25T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive how many apprenticeship places it is supporting in 2010-11.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive how many apprenticeship places it is supporting in 2010-11.","AnswerText":"The Scottish Government, through Skills Development Scotland (SDS), initially offered 15,000 new apprenticeship places in 2010-11. Through the use of strategic European Social Fund funding, SDS were able to supplement this by an additional 5,000 places as announced by the First Minister in June 2010. ","AnswerDate":"2010-11-25T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":null,"MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Keith Brown","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":206645,"EventID":"S3O-12122","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":4,"MSPID":2059,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":18,"ApprovedDate":"2010-11-25T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-11-25T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what procedures are in place to monitor the progress of Creative Scotland.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what procedures are in place to monitor the progress of Creative Scotland.","AnswerText":"The procedures in place to monitor the progress of Creative Scotland mirror those for all statutory NDPBs. These include measures for public accountability to the Parliament and to ministers through the statutory requirements in the Public Services Reform (Scotland) Act 2010 and in other legislation, along with other guidance. ","AnswerDate":"2010-11-25T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":null,"MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Fiona Hyslop","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":206646,"EventID":"S3O-12160","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":4,"MSPID":4086,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":7,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2010-12-02T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-12-02T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what its position is on the benefits of telecare services for remote and rural communities.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what its position is on the benefits of telecare services for remote and rural communities.","AnswerText":"All 32 health and social care partnerships across Scotland have now received their 2010-11 Telecare Development Programme allocation of £4 million and all are pursuing and developing local Telecare services, many in remote and rural communities.
Significant impacts have been evidenced on supporting people effectively using Telecare at home as a very real alternative to hospital or care home admission.
We are asking local partnerships, within their plans for this year, to further mainstream telecare services and increase convergence with telehealth activity. The Scottish Government''s Joint Improvement Team is working closely in pursuit of this with local partnerships and the Scottish Centre for Telehealth (SCT).
","AnswerDate":"2010-12-02T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":null,"MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Nicola Sturgeon","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":206647,"EventID":"S3O-12190","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":4,"MSPID":1908,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":4,"ApprovedDate":"2010-12-02T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-12-02T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive when ministers last met the National Performance Management Committee and what issues were discussed.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive when ministers last met the National Performance Management Committee and what issues were discussed.","AnswerText":"Ministers have never met the National Performance Management Committee. ","AnswerDate":"2010-12-02T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":null,"MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Nicola Sturgeon","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":206648,"EventID":"S3O-12247","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":4,"MSPID":4016,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":64,"ApprovedDate":"2010-12-09T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-12-09T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive how many people on community service orders have been drafted in to help with snow clearing.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive how many people on community service orders have been drafted in to help with snow clearing.","AnswerText":"Low-level offenders sentenced to unpaid work all around those areas of Scotland affected by the recent adverse weather conditions have been working hard as part of the clear-up efforts. Information is being placed within the Scottish Parliament Information Centre (Bib. number 52182) today which shows the numbers of those on community service that have been undertaking this work. It shows that offenders have carried out 14,949 hours of work between 25 November 2010 and 8 December 2010. ","AnswerDate":"2010-12-09T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":null,"MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Kenny MacAskill","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":206649,"EventID":"S3O-12343","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":4,"MSPID":4016,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":64,"ApprovedDate":"2010-12-16T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-12-16T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive how it is supporting the Eyemouth fishing industry.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive how it is supporting the Eyemouth fishing industry.","AnswerText":"Following extensive discussion with the Scottish Fisheries Council, the Scottish Government has adopted a four pillar plan designed to support the fishing industry across Scotland. The aim, in Eyemouth as elsewhere, is to enable Scottish fishermen to weather current challenges and ensure their industry''s future viability.
Of course, just this week we have also concluded the annual autumn negotiations in Brussels, in which I secured the best possible deal available to Scotland within the current, broken, Common Fisheries Policy framework.
","AnswerDate":"2010-12-16T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":null,"MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Richard Lochhead","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":206650,"EventID":"S3O-12400","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":4,"MSPID":2182,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":5,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2010-12-16T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-12-16T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions the Cabinet Secretary for Health and Wellbeing has had with NHSScotland regarding its preparations for winter.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions the Cabinet Secretary for Health and Wellbeing has had with NHSScotland regarding its preparations for winter.","AnswerText":"I have discussed winter planning with the chairs of all NHSScotland boards at our monthly meetings. The NHSScotland Chief Executive has also held discussions with NHS board chief executives.
The Scottish Government hosted a National Winter Planning Conference on 15 June, where the key findings of the 2009-10 winter review were presented and discussed.
The Scottish Government also hosted two regional winter planning events on 21 and 23 September, which gave NHS boards, and their partners, an opportunity to illustrate how they were enhancing their 2010-11 winter planning arrangements.
The Scottish Government issued winter planning guidance, which emphasised the importance of planning from a whole systems perspective, to all NHS boards on 7 October.
","AnswerDate":"2010-12-16T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":null,"MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Nicola Sturgeon","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":206651,"EventID":"S3O-12449","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":4,"MSPID":4086,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":7,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2010-12-23T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-12-23T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what its assessment is of the potential impact of the 2010-11 Scotland’s Winter Festivals programme.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what its assessment is of the potential impact of the 2010-11 Scotland’s Winter Festivals programme.","AnswerText":"The Scottish Executive has transferred operational responsibility for the delivery of St Andrew''s Day and Winter Festivals commitments to EventScotland from 2010 onwards. The change of delivery model will bring about a sharper economic focus to Winter Festivals activity, and will ensure that these benefits are extended beyond central Scotland. EventScotland, as delivery agents, will put in place their own methods of evaluation, which includes:
Asking each funded event to submit a post-event outcome report.
Commissioning event audience research for St Andrew''s Day events.
Undertaking Media Evaluation.
Monitoring web traffic on the campaign websites.
","AnswerDate":"2010-12-23T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":null,"MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Fiona Hyslop","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":206652,"EventID":"S3O-12455","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":4,"MSPID":2866,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":63,"ApprovedDate":"2010-12-23T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-12-23T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what percentage of looked after children entered into a higher education course in the last year.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what percentage of looked after children entered into a higher education course in the last year.","AnswerText":"The School Leavers Destination Publication (1 December 2010) indicates that 2.1% of school leavers, identified as being Looked After during their final year at school, were in higher education approximately three months after leaving from the academic year 2009-10. ","AnswerDate":"2010-12-23T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":null,"MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Adam Ingram","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":206653,"EventID":"S3O-12500","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":4,"MSPID":1803,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":58,"ApprovedDate":"2010-12-23T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-12-23T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what its most recent assessment was of class sizes for primary one to three pupils.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what its most recent assessment was of class sizes for primary one to three pupils.","AnswerText":"The recently published schools census shows that 21.7% of P1 to P3 pupils were either in classes of 18 or fewer, or in two teacher classes of 36 or fewer. This exceeded the 20% target that we agreed with COSLA earlier this year and means that more P1 to P3 pupils are benefitting from the increased time with their teacher that goes hand in hand with smaller class sizes. ","AnswerDate":"2010-12-23T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":null,"MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Michael Russell","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":236900,"EventID":"S3W-30347","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2110,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":66,"ApprovedDate":"2010-01-05T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-01-05T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what the cost will be in each year from 2010-11 onwards for which information is available to (a) each NHS board, (b) each local authority and (c) the remainder of the Sc","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what the cost will be in each year from 2010-11 onwards for which information is available to (a) each NHS board, (b) each local authority and (c) the remainder of the Scottish block grant of the Chancellor of the Exchequer’s decision to increase employers’ national insurance contributions by 0.5% from 2011.","AnswerText":"Employers and employees'' National Insurance contributions are to increase by a further 0.5% from 1 April 2011. This is in addition to the 0.5% increase from 1 April 2011 announced at PBR 2008. In total, this will mean an estimated additional pressure on Scottish Budgets from 2011-12 of approximately £104 million.
The estimated additional costs on individual areas of the public sector are £36 million for NHS, £57 million for local government, £10 million for the police and fire services and £1 million for the Scottish Government.
The following tables show the split by local authority and NHS board:
Local Authority
1% increase.
£m
Aberdeen City
1.9
Aberdeenshire
2.6
Angus
1.1
Argyll and Bute
1.1
Clackmannanshire
0.6
Dumfries and Galloway
1.6
Dundee City
1.7
East Ayrshire
1.4
East Dunbartonshire
1.2
East Lothian
0.9
East Renfrewshire
1.0
Edinburgh (City of)
4.7
Eilean Siar
0.5
Falkirk
1.6
Fife
4.5
Glasgow City
6.6
Highland
2.1
Inverclyde
0.9
Midlothian
0.9
Moray
0.9
North Ayrshire
1.6
North Lanarkshire
3.6
Orkney Islands
0.5
Perth and Kinross
1.4
Renfrewshire
Local Authority
Energy Efficiency Report
Angus
1,603
Comhairle nan Eilean Siar
1,837
Dundee
1,048
Edinburgh
2,788
Fife
2,951
Glasgow
2,690
Highland
1,145
Orkney
206
South Lanarkshire
753
Stirling
4,158
Total
19,179
","AnswerDate":"2010-01-13T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-01-19T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Alex Neil","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":236902,"EventID":"S3W-30349","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1845,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":6,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2010-01-05T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-01-05T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive how many households have applied to the free home insulation scheme, broken down by Scottish Parliament constituency.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive how many households have applied to the free home insulation scheme, broken down by Scottish Parliament constituency.","AnswerText":"As at 3 January 2010, the number of households by parliamentary constituency who have, or will receive, an energy efficiency report as a result of the home insulation scheme is shown in the following table. It is not possible to provide a further breakdown between the multiple constituencies which form part of the Highland and Glasgow/South Lanarkshire local authority programmes.
Parliamentary Constituency
Local Authority
Energy Efficiency Report
Angus
Angus
1,603
Caithness, Sutherland and Easter Ross/Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber
","AnswerDate":"2010-01-13T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-01-19T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Alex Neil","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":236903,"EventID":"S3W-30350","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1845,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":6,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2010-01-05T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-01-05T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive how many households are awaiting the installation of home insulation under the free home insulation scheme, broken down by local authority area.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive how many households are awaiting the installation of home insulation under the free home insulation scheme, broken down by local authority area.","AnswerText":"As at 3 January 2010, the number of households by local authority area that have requested insulation measures from the programme is as follows:
Local Authority
Insulation Measure Requests
Angus
508
Comhairle nan Eilean Siar
539
Dundee
532
Edinburgh
782
Fife
902
Glasgow
493
Highland
397
Orkney
125
South Lanarkshire
161
Stirling
371
Total
4,810
In addition, home insulation scheme assessors have identified clients eligible for assistance under the Scottish Government''s Energy Assistance Package or have referred clients, through their own choice, to other support measures available under the Carbon Emissions Reduction Target (CERT). These are detailed as follows:
Local Authority
Referred to EAP/CERT Support Measures
Angus
130
Comhairle nan Eilean Siar
232
Dundee
73
Edinburgh
199
Fife
262
Glasgow
158
Highland
108
Orkney
12
South Lanarkshire
18
Stirling
124
Total
1,316
Parliamentary Constituency
Local Authority
Insulation Measure Requests
Angus
Angus
508
Caithness, Sutherland and Easter Ross/Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber
","AnswerDate":"2010-01-15T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-01-19T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Alex Neil","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":236905,"EventID":"S3W-30352","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1845,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":6,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2010-01-05T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-01-05T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what the average waiting time is for the installation of home insulation under the free home insulation scheme.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what the average waiting time is for the installation of home insulation under the free home insulation scheme.","AnswerText":"Contracted suppliers for the home insulation scheme are obliged to fully complete the householder''s installation within 28 calendar days of the referral being passed to them and, apart from where the needs of the household prevent the supplier from doing so or other factors such as severe weather, installations are being completed comfortably within this timescale.
Data which will allow for an accurate calculation of the average waiting time for the installation of insulation measures will be available shortly as the scheme develops.
\r\n","AnswerDate":"2010-01-13T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-01-19T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Alex Neil","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":236906,"EventID":"S3W-30353","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2167,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":3,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2010-01-05T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-01-05T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what opportunity it will give to licensees to put their case to the Scottish Ministers before a licence is suspended, revoked or varied under section 23 of the Marine (Sc","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what opportunity it will give to licensees to put their case to the Scottish Ministers before a licence is suspended, revoked or varied under section 23 of the Marine (Scotland) Bill.","AnswerText":"A marine licence will only be suspended, revoked or varied, if through compliance monitoring or a complaint, Marine Scotland believes that a breach has been made. If it is not an emergency situation the licensee may be asked to temporarily suspend operations and to provide a response before any final decision is taken. All licensees will be kept fully informed through dialogue and in writing of the reasons why a licence has been varied, suspended or revoked. ","AnswerDate":"2010-01-15T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-01-19T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Richard Lochhead","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":236907,"EventID":"S3W-30354","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2167,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":3,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2010-01-05T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-01-05T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what safeguards it will put in place to ensure the independence and impartiality of decision making on the suspension, revocation or variation of a licence under section ","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what safeguards it will put in place to ensure the independence and impartiality of decision making on the suspension, revocation or variation of a licence under section 23 of the Marine (Scotland) Bill.","AnswerText":"Decisions on the suspension, revocation or variation of a licence under section 23 will be taken on evidence. All decisions taken by Marine Scotland and the evidence on which they are based will be subject to public scrutiny through the Freedom of Information (Scotland) Act 2002 and The Environmental Information (Scotland) Regulations 2004. Also, the Marine Bill provides for a right of appeal under section 52. ","AnswerDate":"2010-01-15T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-01-19T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Richard Lochhead","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":236908,"EventID":"S3W-30355","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2167,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":3,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2010-01-05T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-01-05T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what provision it will make for reasons to be given to licensees for decisions to suspend, revoke or vary a licence under section 23 of the Marine (Scotland) Bill.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what provision it will make for reasons to be given to licensees for decisions to suspend, revoke or vary a licence under section 23 of the Marine (Scotland) Bill.","AnswerText":"I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-30353 on 15 January 2010. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament''s website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/Apps2/Business/PQA/Default.aspx. ","AnswerDate":"2010-01-15T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-01-19T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Richard Lochhead","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":236909,"EventID":"S3W-30356","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2167,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":3,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2010-01-05T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-01-05T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what provision it will make for reasons to be given to applicants for a licensing decision under section 22 of the Marine (Scotland) Bill.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what provision it will make for reasons to be given to applicants for a licensing decision under section 22 of the Marine (Scotland) Bill.","AnswerText":"The Scottish Ministers are committed to producing guidance on the new marine licence application process. However, it is expected that in practice the process will involve continuous dialogue between the applicant and Marine Scotland before a licensing decision is reached. In addition, all applicants will be informed in writing of the reasons why an application has been refused or of the conditions that are to be attached to a marine licence. ","AnswerDate":"2010-01-15T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-01-19T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Richard Lochhead","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":236910,"EventID":"S3W-30357","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2167,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":3,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2010-01-05T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-01-05T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what grounds of appeal there will be against decisions taken by the Scottish Ministers under section 22 of the Marine (Scotland) Bill and what powers sheriffs will have i","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what grounds of appeal there will be against decisions taken by the Scottish Ministers under section 22 of the Marine (Scotland) Bill and what powers sheriffs will have in dealing with such appeals.","AnswerText":"As currently drafted section 29 of the Marine Bill requires Scottish ministers, by regulation, to make provisions for any person who applies for a marine licence to appeal against a decision under section 22. These regulations must come into force on the day on which Part 3 of the Bill, (marine licensing), comes into force. We anticipate the regulations will make an appeal possible on grounds listed in Section 38(6).
The Scottish Government will hold a full public consultation on these regulations in due course and this will cover grounds of appeal and the powers of the appellate body. These regulations will be subject to parliamentary approval.
","AnswerDate":"2010-01-15T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-01-19T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Richard Lochhead","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":236911,"EventID":"S3W-30358","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2167,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":3,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2010-01-05T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-01-05T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what grounds of appeal there will be against decisions taken by the Scottish Ministers under section 23 of the Marine (Scotland) Bill to suspend, revoke or vary a licence","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what grounds of appeal there will be against decisions taken by the Scottish Ministers under section 23 of the Marine (Scotland) Bill to suspend, revoke or vary a licence and what powers sheriffs will have in dealing with such appeals.","AnswerText":"As currently drafted, Section 52 of the Marine Bill requires Scottish ministers by regulation to make provisions for any person, who is subject to a notice under section 23 (variation, suspension or revocation notice), section 34 (compliance notice), section 35 (remediation notice), section 46 (stop notice) or section 48 (emergency safety notice) to appeal against that decision. We anticipate the regulations will make an appeal possible on grounds listed in Section 38(6).
These regulations must come into force on the day on which Part 3 of the Bill, (marine licensing), comes into force.
The Scottish Government will hold a full public consultation on these regulations in due course and this will cover grounds of appeal and the powers of the appellate body. These regulations will be subject to Parliamentary approval.
","AnswerDate":"2010-01-15T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-01-19T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Richard Lochhead","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":236912,"EventID":"S3W-30359","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2167,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":3,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2010-01-05T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-01-05T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what schedule is required to be followed by the contractor responsible for gritting the A9 between Perth and Inverness on (a) Monday to Friday, (b) Saturday and (c) Sunda","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what schedule is required to be followed by the contractor responsible for gritting the A9 between Perth and Inverness on (a) Monday to Friday, (b) Saturday and (c) Sunday.","AnswerText":"The contractual requirements that our Operating Company, Scotland TranServ, has to deliver are set out in a document that is available on the Transport Scotland Website at:
","AnswerDate":"2010-01-14T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-01-19T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Stewart Stevenson","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":236913,"EventID":"S3W-30360","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2167,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":3,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2010-01-05T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-01-05T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what conditions need to be met before it is deemed necessary to grit the A9 between Perth and Inverness.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what conditions need to be met before it is deemed necessary to grit the A9 between Perth and Inverness.","AnswerText":"I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-30359 on 14 January 2010. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament''s website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/Apps2/Business/PQA/Default.aspx. ","AnswerDate":"2010-01-14T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-01-19T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Stewart Stevenson","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":236914,"EventID":"S3W-30361","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2167,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":3,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2010-01-05T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-01-05T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what the expected response time is for the contractor to grit the A9 between Inverness and Perth.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what the expected response time is for the contractor to grit the A9 between Inverness and Perth.","AnswerText":"I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-30359 on 14 January 2010. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament''s website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/Apps2/Business/PQA/Default.aspx. ","AnswerDate":"2010-01-14T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-01-19T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Stewart Stevenson","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":236915,"EventID":"S3W-30362","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2167,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":3,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2010-01-05T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-01-05T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what its position is on the provisions for clearing snow on the A9 between Perth and Inverness.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what its position is on the provisions for clearing snow on the A9 between Perth and Inverness.","AnswerText":"I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-30359 on 14 January 2010. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament''s website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/Apps2/Business/PQA/Default.aspx ","AnswerDate":"2010-01-14T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-01-19T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Stewart Stevenson","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":236916,"EventID":"S3W-30363","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2080,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":17,"ApprovedDate":"2010-01-05T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-01-05T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive how much funding it gave to Inspiring Scotland in (a) 2008 and (b) 2009.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive how much funding it gave to Inspiring Scotland in (a) 2008 and (b) 2009.","AnswerText":"In the financial year 2008-09 the Scottish Government contributed £1.44 million to the 14:19 Fund. In 2009-10 it has committed £4 million to the 14:19 Fund. ","AnswerDate":"2010-01-14T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-01-19T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Michael Russell","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":236917,"EventID":"S3W-30364","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2080,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":17,"ApprovedDate":"2010-01-05T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-01-05T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive how much funding Inspiring Scotland received from sources other than the Scottish Government in (a) 2008 and (b)2009.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive how much funding Inspiring Scotland received from sources other than the Scottish Government in (a) 2008 and (b)2009.","AnswerText":"In the financial year 2008-09, £2.191 million was received for the 14:19 Fund from sources other than Scottish Government. In the reporting period of the latest 14:19 Fund Investor Report, organisations within the 14:19 Fund obtained additional funding for their work levered by the Inspiring Scotland investment of an estimated £3.3 million. ","AnswerDate":"2010-01-14T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-01-19T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Michael Russell","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":236918,"EventID":"S3W-30365","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2080,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":17,"ApprovedDate":"2010-01-05T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-01-05T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive how many people accessed employment through Inspiring Scotland in 2009.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive how many people accessed employment through Inspiring Scotland in 2009.","AnswerText":"Inspiring Scotland is a venture philanthropy organisation which aims to bring public, private and charitable funds to deliver on key social issues. It brings together both funding for services and capacity building for organisations in which it invests. The 14:19 Fund focuses on young people aged 14 to 19 who struggle to enter education, employment or training. The most recent 14:19 Fund Investor Report that provides detail on the first nine months'' activity (January to September 2009) shows that 2,427 young people were actively involved in services, of whom 475 had achieved positive destinations, with 23% going into employment. The Investor Report can be accessed at www.inspiringscotland.org.uk and is available through the Scottish Parliament Information Centre (Bib. number 47378). ","AnswerDate":"2010-01-14T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-01-19T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Michael Russell","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":236919,"EventID":"S3W-30366","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2080,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":17,"ApprovedDate":"2010-01-05T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-01-05T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive how many young people accessed employment through Inspiring Scotland in 2009.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive how many young people accessed employment through Inspiring Scotland in 2009.","AnswerText":"Inspiring Scotland is a venture philanthropy organisation which aims to bring public, private and charitable funds to deliver on key social issues. It brings together both funding for services and capacity building for organisations in which it invests. The 14:19 Fund focuses on young people aged 14 to 19 who struggle to enter education, employment or training. The most recent 14:19 Fund Investor Report that provides detail on the first nine months'' activity (January to September 2009) shows that 2,427 young people were actively involved in services, of whom 475 had achieved positive destinations, with 23% going into employment. The Investor Report can be accessed at www.inspiringscotland.org.uk and is available through the Scottish Parliament Information Centre, (Bib. number 47378). ","AnswerDate":"2010-01-15T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-01-19T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Michael Russell","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":236920,"EventID":"S3W-30367","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1752,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":57,"ApprovedDate":"2010-01-05T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-01-05T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive how many times the A76 in East Ayrshire was treated with grit and salt between midnight on 23 and midnight on 24 December 2009.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive how many times the A76 in East Ayrshire was treated with grit and salt between midnight on 23 and midnight on 24 December 2009.","AnswerText":"I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-30327 on 15 January 2010. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament''s website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/Apps2/Business/PQA/Default.aspx. ","AnswerDate":"2010-01-15T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-01-19T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Stewart Stevenson","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":236921,"EventID":"S3W-30368","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1752,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":57,"ApprovedDate":"2010-01-05T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-01-05T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive how many times the A76 in East Ayrshire was cleared by a snow plough between midnight on 23 and midnight on 24 December 2009.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive how many times the A76 in East Ayrshire was cleared by a snow plough between midnight on 23 and midnight on 24 December 2009.","AnswerText":"I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-30325 on 15 January 2010. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament''s website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/Apps2/Business/PQA/Default.aspx. ","AnswerDate":"2010-01-15T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-01-19T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Stewart Stevenson","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":236922,"EventID":"S3W-30369","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1752,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":57,"ApprovedDate":"2010-01-05T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-01-05T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive how many times pavements and footpaths adjacent to the A76 in (a) New Cumnock and (b) Mauchline were treated with salt and grit between midnight on 23 and midnight on 24 ","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive how many times pavements and footpaths adjacent to the A76 in (a) New Cumnock and (b) Mauchline were treated with salt and grit between midnight on 23 and midnight on 24 December 2009.","AnswerText":"I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-30331 on 15 January 2010. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament''s website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/Apps2/Business/PQA/Default.aspx. ","AnswerDate":"2010-01-15T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-01-19T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Stewart Stevenson","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":236923,"EventID":"S3W-30370","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1752,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":57,"ApprovedDate":"2010-01-05T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-01-05T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what action was taken to clear snow from pavements and footpaths adjacent to the A76 in (a) New Cumnock and (b) Mauchline between midnight on 23 and midnight on 24 Decemb","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what action was taken to clear snow from pavements and footpaths adjacent to the A76 in (a) New Cumnock and (b) Mauchline between midnight on 23 and midnight on 24 December 2009.","AnswerText":"I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-30331 on 15 January 2010. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament''s website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/Apps2/Business/PQA/Default.aspx. ","AnswerDate":"2010-01-15T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-01-19T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Stewart Stevenson","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":236924,"EventID":"S3W-30371","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1752,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":57,"ApprovedDate":"2010-01-05T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-01-05T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive how many times the A77 south of Ayr was treated with grit and salt between midnight on 23 and midnight on 24 December 2009.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive how many times the A77 south of Ayr was treated with grit and salt between midnight on 23 and midnight on 24 December 2009.","AnswerText":"I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-30338 on 15 January 2010. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament''s website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/Apps2/Business/PQA/Default.aspx. ","AnswerDate":"2010-01-15T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-01-19T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Stewart Stevenson","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":236925,"EventID":"S3W-30372","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1752,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":57,"ApprovedDate":"2010-01-05T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-01-05T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive how many times the A77 south of Ayr was cleared by a snow plough between midnight on 23 and midnight on 24 December 2009.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive how many times the A77 south of Ayr was cleared by a snow plough between midnight on 23 and midnight on 24 December 2009.","AnswerText":"I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-30336 on 15 January 2010. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament''s website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/Apps2/Business/PQA/Default.aspx. ","AnswerDate":"2010-01-15T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-01-19T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Stewart Stevenson","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":236926,"EventID":"S3W-30373","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1752,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":57,"ApprovedDate":"2010-01-05T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-01-05T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive how many times pavements and footpaths adjacent to the A77 in (a) Ballantrae, (b) Lendalfoot, (c) Girvan, (d) Kirkoswald, (e) Maybole and (f) Minishant were treated with ","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive how many times pavements and footpaths adjacent to the A77 in (a) Ballantrae, (b) Lendalfoot, (c) Girvan, (d) Kirkoswald, (e) Maybole and (f) Minishant were treated with salt and grit between midnight on 23 and midnight on 24 December 2009.","AnswerText":"I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-30341 on 15 January 2010. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament''s website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/Apps2/Business/PQA/Default.aspx. ","AnswerDate":"2010-01-15T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-01-19T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Stewart Stevenson","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":236927,"EventID":"S3W-30374","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1752,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":57,"ApprovedDate":"2010-01-05T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-01-05T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what action was taken to clear snow from pavements and footpaths adjacent to the A77 in (a) Ballantrae, (b) Lendalfoot, (c) Girvan, (d) Kirkoswald, (e) Maybole and (f) Mi","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what action was taken to clear snow from pavements and footpaths adjacent to the A77 in (a) Ballantrae, (b) Lendalfoot, (c) Girvan, (d) Kirkoswald, (e) Maybole and (f) Minishant between midnight on 23 and midnight on 24 December 2009.","AnswerText":"I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-30341 on 15 January 2010. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament''s website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/Apps2/Business/PQA/Default.aspx. ","AnswerDate":"2010-01-15T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-01-19T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Stewart Stevenson","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":236928,"EventID":"S3W-30375","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1783,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":67,"ApprovedDate":"2010-01-05T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-01-05T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive how many emergency hospital admissions can be attributed to the recent cold weather conditions and what proportion was represented by individuals aged over 60.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive how many emergency hospital admissions can be attributed to the recent cold weather conditions and what proportion was represented by individuals aged over 60.","AnswerText":"Official statistics relating to emergency admissions to acute general hospitals in NHSScotland are published as part of the quarterly update to the acute hospital care section of the Information Services Division''s (ISD) website http://www.isdscotland.org/isd/3400.html.
The next publication is scheduled for 30 March 2010, and will include high level statistics up to the quarter ending 31 December 2009 based on ISD(S)1 aggregate data returns.
The subsequent publication is scheduled for 29 June 2010, and will include high level statistics up to the quarter ending 31 March 2010.
Publication of annual hospital activity, national statistics up to the year ending 31 March 2010, is scheduled for 28 September 2010 as part of the annual update to the acute hospital care section of ISD''s website. These statistics will include detailed age and diagnosis specific information for emergency admissions based on SMR01 patient level discharge records.
Whilst details of diagnoses on SMR01 records can be used to identify medical conditions likely to be related to cold weather, the data collection cannot attribute admissions due to prevailing cold weather per se.
","AnswerDate":"2010-01-13T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-01-19T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Nicola Sturgeon","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":236929,"EventID":"S3W-30376","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1783,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":67,"ApprovedDate":"2010-01-05T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-01-05T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive how many people have been treated at emergency units due to falls during the recent cold weather conditions and what proportion was represented by individuals aged over 6","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive how many people have been treated at emergency units due to falls during the recent cold weather conditions and what proportion was represented by individuals aged over 60.","AnswerText":"The precise number of people attending NHS emergency services due to falls during the recent severe weather is not available from centrally collected, validated statistics.
Please refer to the answer to the question S3O-9094 on 14 January 2010 for high level management information provided by NHS boards and figures published by the Scottish Ambulance Service. Note; this does not include age-related information. The answer to the oral parliamentary question is available on the Parliaments website, the official report can be viewed at:
Official statistics on accident and emergency attendances up to 31 December 2009 will be published by Information Services Division on 24 February 2010 http://www.isdscotland.org/isd/4024.html.
","AnswerDate":"2010-01-15T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-01-19T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Nicola Sturgeon","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":236930,"EventID":"S3W-30377","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1783,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":67,"ApprovedDate":"2010-01-05T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-01-05T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive how many people have been treated for hypothermia during the recent cold weather conditions and what proportion was represented by individuals aged over 60.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive how many people have been treated for hypothermia during the recent cold weather conditions and what proportion was represented by individuals aged over 60.","AnswerText":"People with hypothermia may be treated in a number of different health care settings (for example; accident and emergency (A&E) departments, acute hospitals).
The number of patients admitted to general acute hospitals with a diagnosis of hypothermia during this period will be available on publication of the acute hospital care section of ISD''s website scheduled for 28 September 2010. This publication will include detailed age and diagnosis specific information for hospital admissions based on SMR01 patient level discharge records up to the year ending 31 March 2010.
According to management information, during the period 21 December 2009 to 3 January 2010, NHS boards reported around 55 patients attended A&E departments with a provisional diagnosis of hypothermia across NHSScotland. Approximately 50% of these were patients aged 60 or over.
It should be noted that the management information quoted above is likely to be incomplete as the ability of A&E data systems to capture diagnosis based information varies between NHS boards. Interpretation should be made with caution.
","AnswerDate":"2010-01-18T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-01-19T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Nicola Sturgeon","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":236931,"EventID":"S3W-30378","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2010,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":8,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2010-01-05T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-01-05T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what the average NHS expenditure is on a person in receipt of specialist palliative care services.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what the average NHS expenditure is on a person in receipt of specialist palliative care services.","AnswerText":"Information on average NHS expenditure on a person in receipt of specialist palliative care services is not held centrally.
NHS boards are responsible for the planning and provision of NHS services for their populations and it is for NHS boards to agree appropriate funding of care providers within their board geographical area.
A wide range of health professionals are needed to care for patients in palliative care and this care can be provided in a variety of settings, including patients'' homes, hospitals, care homes and in the independent healthcare sector via hospices, which are partly funded by the NHS.
","AnswerDate":"2010-01-15T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-01-19T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Shona Robison","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":236932,"EventID":"S3W-30379","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2010,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":8,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2010-01-05T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-01-05T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what the average NHS expenditure is on a person in receipt of generalist palliative care services.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what the average NHS expenditure is on a person in receipt of generalist palliative care services.","AnswerText":"Information on average NHS expenditure on a person in receipt of generalist palliative care services is not held centrally.
NHS boards are responsible for the planning and provision of NHS services for their populations and it is for NHS boards to agree appropriate funding of care providers within their board geographical area.
A wide range of health professionals are needed to care for patients in palliative care and this care can be provided in a variety of settings, including patient''s homes, hospitals, care homes and in the independent sector via hospices, which are partly funded by the NHS.
","AnswerDate":"2010-01-15T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-01-19T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Shona Robison","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":236933,"EventID":"S3W-30380","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2010,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":8,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2010-01-05T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-01-05T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive how many practising palliative care specialists there are.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive how many practising palliative care specialists there are.","AnswerText":"The information requested is not held centrally. However, information showing NHS staff employed by specialty, including palliative medicine, is published annually as part of the workforce census at 30 September each year.
A wide range of health professionals, which includes medical staff and clinical nurse specialists are needed to care for patients in palliative care and this can be provided in a variety of settings including patient''s own homes, hospitals, care homes and in the independent healthcare sector via hospices.
","AnswerDate":"2010-01-15T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-01-19T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Shona Robison","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":236934,"EventID":"S3W-30381","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2010,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":8,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2010-01-05T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-01-05T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive how many palliative care specialist posts there are.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive how many palliative care specialist posts there are.","AnswerText":"The information requested is not held centrally. However, information showing NHS staff employed by specialty, including palliative medicine, is published annually as part of the workforce census at 30 September each year.
Information about consultant vacancies is available at http://www.isdscotland.org/isd/5899.html. There is no vacancy data available for other relevant grades of staff.
A wide range of health professionals, which includes medical staff and clinical nurse specialists are needed to care for patients in palliative care and this can be provided in a variety of settings including patient''s own homes, hospitals, care homes and in the independent healthcare sector via hospices.
","AnswerDate":"2010-01-15T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-01-19T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Shona Robison","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":236935,"EventID":"S3W-30382","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2010,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":8,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2010-01-05T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-01-05T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what the average annual number is of people receiving either generalist or specialist palliative care.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what the average annual number is of people receiving either generalist or specialist palliative care.","AnswerText":"The information requested is not held centrally. Palliative care can be provided in a variety of settings, including patient''s homes, hospitals, care homes and in the independent healthcare sector via hospices. ","AnswerDate":"2010-01-15T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-01-19T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Shona Robison","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":236936,"EventID":"S3W-30383","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2010,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":8,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2010-01-05T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-01-05T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive how much it costs to train a palliative care generalist.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive how much it costs to train a palliative care generalist.","AnswerText":"The information requested is not held centrally. A wide range of health professionals are needed to care for patients in palliative care and this care can be provided in a variety of settings including patient''s homes, hospitals, care homes and in the independent health care sector via hospices. ","AnswerDate":"2010-01-15T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-01-19T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Shona Robison","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":236937,"EventID":"S3W-30384","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2010,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":8,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2010-01-05T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-01-05T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive how much it costs to train a palliative care specialist.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive how much it costs to train a palliative care specialist.","AnswerText":"The information requested is not held centrally. A wide range of health professionals are needed to care for patients in palliative care and this care can be provided in a variety of settings including patient''s homes, hospitals, care homes and in the independent healthcare sector via hospices. \r\n-w","AnswerDate":"2010-01-15T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-01-19T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Shona Robison","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":236938,"EventID":"S3W-30385","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2010,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":8,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2010-01-05T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-01-05T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what costs are associated with delivering Living and Dying Well: A national action plan for palliative and end of life care in Scotland.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what costs are associated with delivering Living and Dying Well: A national action plan for palliative and end of life care in Scotland.","AnswerText":"NHS boards are responsible for the planning and provision of NHS services for their populations and it is for NHS boards to agree appropriate funding of care providers within their board geographical area.
Funding of £3 million per year has been made available for the implementation of Living and Dying Well to fund a Directed Enhanced Service to support improvements in generalist palliative care. The funding is focussed on general practices with the aim of improving generalist palliative care for all, regardless of age, diagnosis or location.
In addition to this, £500,000 development funding was provided in 2008-09 for use centrally and to support NHS boards in the development of delivery plans. Further additional funding of £120,000 in 2008-09 and £500,000 in 2009-10 was made available to support implementation of the plan, to ensure that generalist palliative care was supported and to ensure the development of care in community based settings.
","AnswerDate":"2010-01-15T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-01-19T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Shona Robison","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":236939,"EventID":"S3W-30386","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1862,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":37,"ApprovedDate":"2010-01-05T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-01-05T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive how many significant case reviews have been carried out in each of the last 10 years, broken down by local authority.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive how many significant case reviews have been carried out in each of the last 10 years, broken down by local authority.","AnswerText":"In Scotland, since 2007 a significant case review has been undertaken in those instances identified in the Scottish Government''s national guidance, Protecting Children and Young People: Interim Guidance for Child Protection Committees for Conducting a Significant Case Review (2007). It is the responsibility of local child protection committees to oversee such reviews. Since 1999 there have been 101 significant case reviews in Scotland.
Child Protection Committee
1999
2000
2001
2002
2003
2004
2005
2006
2007
2008
2009
Total
Angus
0
0
0
0
0
0
2
0
0
0
0
2
Argyll and Bute
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
3
0
0
0
3
Clackmannanshire
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
Dumfries and Galloway
","AnswerDate":"2010-01-15T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-01-19T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Adam Ingram","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":236940,"EventID":"S3W-30387","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1862,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":37,"ApprovedDate":"2010-01-05T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-01-05T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether evidence exists that women living in areas of social deprivation have a lower uptake of breast screening services.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether evidence exists that women living in areas of social deprivation have a lower uptake of breast screening services.","AnswerText":"I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-28602 on 12 November 2009. All answers to parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament''s website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/Apps2/Business/PQA/Default.aspx. ","AnswerDate":"2010-01-08T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-01-19T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Nicola Sturgeon","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":236941,"EventID":"S3W-30388","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1862,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":37,"ApprovedDate":"2010-01-05T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-01-05T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive which NHS boards have evaluated the success of policies designed to increase the uptake rate of breast screening.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive which NHS boards have evaluated the success of policies designed to increase the uptake rate of breast screening.","AnswerText":"NHS boards who have evaluated the success of policies designed to increase uptake rates are:
NHS Ayrshire and Arran
NHS Lanarkshire
NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde.
","AnswerDate":"2010-01-19T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-01-19T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Nicola Sturgeon","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":236942,"EventID":"S3W-30389","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1865,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":2,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2010-01-05T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-01-05T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what action it will take in response to concerns raised over the proposed trade mission to Israel by Scottish Development International.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what action it will take in response to concerns raised over the proposed trade mission to Israel by Scottish Development International.","AnswerText":"The Scottish Government supports a number of trade missions to the Middle East, for example last October when SDI visited the United Arab Emirates.
The trade mission to Israel is taking place as part of Scottish Development International''s planned programme of overseas trade missions. The mission focuses on developing links to assist Scottish companies to secure new investment and jobs into Scotland by developing overseas markets. The mission is being organised in partnership with UK Trade and Investment.
The government''s position on the situation in Gaza is very clear, and the then Minister for External Affairs, Michael Russell announced a funding package of £427,996 of emergency humanitarian assistance last year to support Scottish-based charities operating in the area.
The funding assisted the Scottish-based organisations to provide essential aid such as food, hygiene and safe drinking water to malnourished children and families.
","AnswerDate":"2010-01-14T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-01-19T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Jim Mather","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":236943,"EventID":"S3W-30390","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1837,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":36,"ApprovedDate":"2010-01-05T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-01-05T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether it plans to introduce a boiler scrappage scheme, similar to that in England.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether it plans to introduce a boiler scrappage scheme, similar to that in England.","AnswerText":"The Scottish Government''s recent consultation on an Energy Efficiency Action Plan for Scotland, which closed on 5 January 2010, welcomed views on any energy saving scheme, including potential incentives to replace inefficient boilers. We will now analyse responses to the consultation and develop the final action plan, which will be published in the spring.
Our £2 million Energy Saving Scotland Home Loans pathfinder initiative is already providing interest-free loans to help Scottish householders upgrade to a more energy efficient boiler. We are also providing free or discounted boilers to thousands of households through the Energy Assistance Package, aimed at tackling the causes of fuel poverty and backed by £60 million this financial year.
","AnswerDate":"2010-01-18T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-01-19T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Jim Mather","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":236944,"EventID":"S3W-30391","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1837,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":36,"ApprovedDate":"2010-01-05T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-01-05T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has discussed a boiler scrappage scheme with the Scottish Fuel Poverty Forum.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has discussed a boiler scrappage scheme with the Scottish Fuel Poverty Forum.","AnswerText":"The subject of boiler scrappage schemes is to be included on the agenda of the next meeting of the Scottish Fuel Poverty Forum on 26 January 2010. ","AnswerDate":"2010-01-18T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-01-19T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Alex Neil","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":236945,"EventID":"S3W-30392","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1837,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":36,"ApprovedDate":"2010-01-05T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-01-05T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive when it plans to issue fresh guidance to local authorities on housing allocations.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive when it plans to issue fresh guidance to local authorities on housing allocations.","AnswerText":"We are currently in the process of developing the new practical guide to social housing allocations and gathering practice examples for inclusion in the guide. We anticipate publishing the guide for consultation in spring this year. ","AnswerDate":"2010-01-13T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-01-19T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Alex Neil","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":236946,"EventID":"S3W-30393","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1837,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":36,"ApprovedDate":"2010-01-05T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-01-05T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive when it plans to issue examples of best practice in housing allocation to local authorities.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive when it plans to issue examples of best practice in housing allocation to local authorities.","AnswerText":"I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-30392 on 13 January 2010. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament''s website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/Apps2/Business/PQA/Default.aspx. ","AnswerDate":"2010-01-13T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-01-19T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Alex Neil","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":236947,"EventID":"S3W-30394","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1837,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":36,"ApprovedDate":"2010-01-05T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-01-05T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive when it plans to issue an analysis of the returns from local authorities on their progress in reaching interim homelessness targets.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive when it plans to issue an analysis of the returns from local authorities on their progress in reaching interim homelessness targets.","AnswerText":"An analysis of the returns from local authorities in reaching interim homelessness targets was provided in the statistics bulletin published by the Scottish Government on 4 September 2009. This analysis and continuing engagement with local authorities is informing the work of the joint Scottish Government/COSLA 2012 steering group, established in October last year to help maintain progress towards targets, which will meet for the fourth time in February 2010. ","AnswerDate":"2010-01-08T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-01-19T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Alex Neil","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":236948,"EventID":"S3W-30395","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":3811,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":4,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2010-01-05T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-01-05T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive how many classroom assistants are employed in special education in each local authority and how this compares with the figure for each of the last five years.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive how many classroom assistants are employed in special education in each local authority and how this compares with the figure for each of the last five years.","AnswerText":"Information on the number of classroom assistants employed in special education in each local authority in 2009 can be accessed at table 9.9 in the statistical bulletin Teachers in Scotland published on 27 November 2009. A link to the table is set out below:
","AnswerDate":"2010-01-14T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-01-19T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Michael Russell","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":236949,"EventID":"S3W-30396","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":3811,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":4,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2010-01-05T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-01-05T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive when it will provide a substantive answer to question S3W-27408, which received a holding reply on 30 September 2009.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive when it will provide a substantive answer to question S3W-27408, which received a holding reply on 30 September 2009.","AnswerText":"A substantive answer to question S3W-27408 issued on 24 March 2010. ","AnswerDate":"2010-03-24T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-01-19T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"John Swinney","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":236950,"EventID":"S3W-30397","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":3811,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":4,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2010-01-05T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-01-05T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive when the Cabinet Secretary for Finance and Sustainable Growth will write to provide the information requested in S3W-27400 in line with his holding response of 29 Septemb","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive when the Cabinet Secretary for Finance and Sustainable Growth will write to provide the information requested in S3W-27400 in line with his holding response of 29 September 2009.","AnswerText":"I wrote to the member on 3 March 2010. A copy of the letter was also placed in the Scottish Parliament Information Centre (Bib. number 49262). ","AnswerDate":"2010-03-10T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-01-19T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"John Swinney","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":236951,"EventID":"S3W-30398","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":3811,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":4,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2010-01-05T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-01-05T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive when the Cabinet Secretary for Finance and Sustainable Growth will write to provide the information requested in S3W-21590 in line with his holding response of 20 March 2","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive when the Cabinet Secretary for Finance and Sustainable Growth will write to provide the information requested in S3W-21590 in line with his holding response of 20 March 2009.","AnswerText":"The information requested in S3W-21590 was not available in time to meet the original deadline and a holding response was issued on 20 March 2009. I wrote to the member on 15 January 2010 with this information and an apology for the delay in its provision. A copy of the letter has been placed in the Scottish Parliament Information Centre (Bib. number 47911). ","AnswerDate":"2010-01-19T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-01-19T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"John Swinney","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":236952,"EventID":"S3W-30399","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2603,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":6,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2010-01-05T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-01-05T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-27576 by Kenny MacAskill on 30 September 2009, on what date it expects the Scottish Crime Campus to be fully operational with all f","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-27576 by Kenny MacAskill on 30 September 2009, on what date it expects the Scottish Crime Campus to be fully operational with all functions and staff located at the facility.","AnswerText":"Subject to contract, the crime campus is expected to become fully operational by the middle of 2013. ","AnswerDate":"2010-01-14T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-01-19T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Kenny MacAskill","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":236953,"EventID":"S3W-30400","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2603,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":6,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2010-01-05T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-01-05T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what agencies and functions it will locate at the Scottish Crime Campus.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what agencies and functions it will locate at the Scottish Crime Campus.","AnswerText":"The Scottish Crime Campus will provide accommodation for the Scottish Crime and Drug Enforcement Agency and its partner agencies involved in tackling serious organised crime in Scotland. These agencies include parts of the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service, the Serious Organised Crime Agency and HM Revenue and Customs. The site will also provide a new forensic science laboratory. For operational and security reasons it would not be appropriate to publish details of all of the functions moving to the site. ","AnswerDate":"2010-01-14T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-01-19T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Kenny MacAskill","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":236954,"EventID":"S3W-30401","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2603,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":6,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2010-01-05T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-01-05T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive on what date it anticipates that each agency or function will move to the Scottish Crime Campus.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive on what date it anticipates that each agency or function will move to the Scottish Crime Campus.","AnswerText":"Subject to contract the first agency is expected to move into the Scottish Crime Campus by the end of 2012 with full occupation expected by mid-2013. This plan takes account of the demands placed on some of the agencies as a result of their involvement with security for the 2012 Olympics. ","AnswerDate":"2010-01-14T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-01-19T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Kenny MacAskill","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":236955,"EventID":"S3W-30402","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2603,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":6,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2010-01-05T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-01-05T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether there will be sufficient space for all agencies involved in the Scottish Crime Campus at the Gartcosh site.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether there will be sufficient space for all agencies involved in the Scottish Crime Campus at the Gartcosh site.","AnswerText":"Yes. The building will provide accommodation for over 1,100 staff and the design team has worked closely with all the participating agencies to ensure the new building meets their staffing and operational requirements, including an allowance for some future expansion. ","AnswerDate":"2010-01-14T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-01-19T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Kenny MacAskill","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":236956,"EventID":"S3W-30403","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2252,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":34,"ApprovedDate":"2010-01-05T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-01-05T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what representations it has made to the US Government in the last two years regarding its ban on importing Scottish haggis.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what representations it has made to the US Government in the last two years regarding its ban on importing Scottish haggis.","AnswerText":"The US import ban on haggis remains in place. It''s a great pity that the American authorities are denying ex-pat Scots and other US consumers the chance to enjoy the delights of this world renowned delicacy, with Burns Night just around the corner.
Given that haggis is perfectly safe to eat, the US market could have real potential for our producers and Scottish ministers hope that the American authorities will reconsider this longstanding import ban.
","AnswerDate":"2010-01-19T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-01-19T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Richard Lochhead","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":236957,"EventID":"S3W-30404","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1831,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":6,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2010-01-06T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-01-06T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what the estimated annual consumption of pure alcohol per litre per head of population of people aged 16 and over has been in each of the last 10 years, broken down by (a","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what the estimated annual consumption of pure alcohol per litre per head of population of people aged 16 and over has been in each of the last 10 years, broken down by (a) age group and (b) gender.","AnswerText":"Data on consumption of pure alcohol are not available. Data on alcohol sales are often used as a proxy for consumption but it should be noted that this does not necessarily measure the same thing.
The following table provides data on annual sales of pure alcohol, calculated as litres per head of population aged 16+. Further age and gender breakdowns are not available. Scottish data are only currently available from 2005 onwards.
Sales of Pure Alcohol, Litres per Head of Population Aged 16+, Scotland
Year1
2005
2006
2007
2008
2008X3
2009X2,4
Litres of pure alcohol per head of population aged 16+
11.9
11.8
11.9
11.6
11.7
11.8
Source: NHS Health Scotland (data supplied from the Nielsen Company).
Notes:
1. Data relate to calendar years.
2. Data for 2009 are currently only available up to end September 2009 for on sales and week ending 3 October 2009 for off sales. The figures for 2009X therefore represent the 12 month period to end September 2009 for on sales and week ending 3 October 2009 for off sales.
3. A comparable period has been provided for 2008 (column titled 2008X) which covers the 12 month period to end September 2008 for on sales and week ending 4 October 2008 for off sales.
4. The 2009 population figure is based on a projection as the mid-year estimate has not been published yet.
","AnswerDate":"2010-01-18T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-01-20T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Shona Robison","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":236958,"EventID":"S3W-30405","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1831,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":6,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2010-01-06T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-01-06T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what the estimated alcohol abstention rate is, broken down by gender.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what the estimated alcohol abstention rate is, broken down by gender.","AnswerText":"According to the 2008 Scottish Health Survey, 10% of men and 13% of women reported that they have never drunk alcohol or no longer drink alcohol. ","AnswerDate":"2010-01-18T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-01-20T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Shona Robison","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":236959,"EventID":"S3W-30406","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1831,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":6,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2010-01-06T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-01-06T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what the estimated annual consumption of pure alcohol per litre per head of population of people aged 16 and over would be where this figure took into account the estimat","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what the estimated annual consumption of pure alcohol per litre per head of population of people aged 16 and over would be where this figure took into account the estimated alcohol abstention rate, broken down by gender.","AnswerText":"Data on consumption of pure alcohol are not available. Data on alcohol sales are often used as a proxy for consumption but it should be noted that this does not necessarily measure the same thing.
The following table provides data on annual sales of pure alcohol, calculated as litres per head of population aged 16+ where the population has been adjusted to exclude those who abstain from alcohol.
Gender breakdowns are not available. Scottish data are only currently available from 2005 onwards.
Sales of pure alcohol, litres per head of population aged 16+ (adjusted to exclude abstainers), Scotland:
Litres of Pure Alcohol Per Head of Population Aged 16+ (Adjusted to Exclude Abstainers)1
2005
2006
2007
2008
2008X3
2009X2,4
13.5
13.4
13.4
13.2
13.2
13.4
Source: NHS Health Scotland (data supplied from the Nielsen Company).
Notes:
1. Data relate to calendar years.
2. Data for 2009 are currently only available up to end September 2009 for on sales and week ending 3 October 2009 for off sales. The figures for 2009X therefore represent the 12 month period to end September 2009 for on sales and week ending 3 October 2009 for off sales.
3. A comparable period has been provided for 2008 (column titled 2008X) which covers the 12 month period to end September 2008 for on sales and week ending 4 October 2008 for off sales.
4. The 2009 population is based on a projection as the mid-year estimate is not yet published.
","AnswerDate":"2010-01-19T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-01-20T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Shona Robison","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":236960,"EventID":"S3W-30407","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2108,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":68,"ApprovedDate":"2010-01-06T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-01-06T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive when it will introduce a boiler scrappage scheme similar to that on offer in England.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive when it will introduce a boiler scrappage scheme similar to that on offer in England.","AnswerText":"I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-30390 on 18 January 2010. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament''s website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/Apps2/Business/PQA/Default.aspx. ","AnswerDate":"2010-01-18T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-01-20T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Jim Mather","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":236961,"EventID":"S3W-30408","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2108,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":68,"ApprovedDate":"2010-01-06T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-01-06T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has considered the economic and environmental benefits of introducing a boiler scrappage scheme similar to that on offer in England.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has considered the economic and environmental benefits of introducing a boiler scrappage scheme similar to that on offer in England.","AnswerText":"The Scottish Government will consider the economic and environmental benefits of a range of energy saving scheme options, including potential incentives for replacing inefficient boilers, in the context of the development of our Energy Efficiency Action Plan for Scotland, which will be published in the spring. ","AnswerDate":"2010-01-18T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-01-20T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Jim Mather","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":236962,"EventID":"S3W-30409","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1970,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":65,"ApprovedDate":"2010-01-06T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-01-06T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-13290 by Nicola Sturgeon on 30 May 2008, how much will remain in each year from 2009-10 to 2017-18 from the capital allocation to N","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-13290 by Nicola Sturgeon on 30 May 2008, how much will remain in each year from 2009-10 to 2017-18 from the capital allocation to NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde after funding for the new Southern General Hospital has been excluded.","AnswerText":"The capital allocations available in 2009-10 and 2010-11 are unchanged. The level of capital resources available to all NHS boards after 2010-11 will be subject to the outcome of future spending reviews and the outcome of a review of the basis of distributing capital resources to NHSScotland bodies, which is to be undertaken in 2010. ","AnswerDate":"2010-01-14T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-01-20T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Nicola Sturgeon","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":236963,"EventID":"S3W-30410","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1970,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":65,"ApprovedDate":"2010-01-06T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-01-06T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-13291 by Nicola Sturgeon on 30 May 2008, whether it will provide an updated list of the sources of anticipated capital receipts tha","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-13291 by Nicola Sturgeon on 30 May 2008, whether it will provide an updated list of the sources of anticipated capital receipts that NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde will use to contribute funding for the new Southern General Hospital and in which financial year each receipt is expected to be obtained.","AnswerText":"The sources of anticipated capital receipts are unchanged from the previous answer given to S3W-13291 on 30 May 2008.
The exact timing and final value of individual capital receipts will be dependent upon detailed negotiations, prevailing property market conditions and factors such as planning consent(s) at the time at which disposals are undertaken.
","AnswerDate":"2010-01-14T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-01-20T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Nicola Sturgeon","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":236964,"EventID":"S3W-30411","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2866,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":63,"ApprovedDate":"2010-01-06T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-01-06T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive how many telephone exchanges are broadband enabled.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive how many telephone exchanges are broadband enabled.","AnswerText":"BT has confirmed that of Scotland''s 1070 telephone exchanges, 1,049 have been enabled for broadband by BT.
The 21 non-enabled exchanges are located in the Western Isles, and in the areas served by these exchanges, the Connected Communities network, which is owned and managed by Highlands and Islands Enterprise, provides a broadband service.
One hundred and eighteen of the 1,049 broadband-enabled exchanges offer broadband services at half a megabit per second, and the remainder (931) all offer broadband services at up to eight megabits per second. When BT''s exchange upgrade programme, announced on 9 December 2009, is complete in October 2010, the number of exchanges offering broadband services at half a megabit per second will reduce to 92, while the remainder (957) will all offer broadband services at up to eight megabits per second.
Furthermore, BT has confirmed that currently, 42 of its broadband-enabled exchanges have also been upgraded under its separate and ongoing 21CN (21st Century Network) upgrade programme, and these exchanges offer broadband services at up to twenty megabits per second.
","AnswerDate":"2010-01-14T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-01-20T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Jim Mather","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":236965,"EventID":"S3W-30412","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2866,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":63,"ApprovedDate":"2010-01-06T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-01-06T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive how many telephone exchanges receive (a) a half and (b) an up to eight megabits per second broadband service.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive how many telephone exchanges receive (a) a half and (b) an up to eight megabits per second broadband service.","AnswerText":"I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-30411 on 14 January 2010. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament''s website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/Apps2/Business/PQA/Default.aspx. ","AnswerDate":"2010-01-14T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-01-20T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Jim Mather","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":236966,"EventID":"S3W-30413","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2595,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":4,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2010-01-06T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-01-06T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive how much it and its agencies have spent on recruitment advertising since May 2007, broken down by (a) directorate or agency and (b) position advertised.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive how much it and its agencies have spent on recruitment advertising since May 2007, broken down by (a) directorate or agency and (b) position advertised.","AnswerText":"The following table shows spend with our recruitment advertising supplier, TMP, on recruitment advertising media for civil service recruitment and public appointments. Agencies may have used other recruitment advertising suppliers but that spend is not available centrally. The information on recruitment advertising spend by position advertised could only be calculated at disproportionate cost and therefore is not provided.
Scottish Government Core (by Directorate General)
2007-08
(May to March)
2008-09
2009-10
(April to December)
Economy
Note 1
76,986
32,201
Education
Note 1
83,083
52,583
Environment
Note 1
86,813
80,270
Health
Note 1
153,015
93,991
Justice and Communities
Note 1
131,233
56,420
Finance and Corporate Services
Note 1
130,877
28,815
Permanent Secretary
Note 1
34,793
14,632
Central and other spend
Note 1
108,133
5,020
Total for Scottish Government Core
930,041
804,933
363,932
Scottish Government Main Agencies
2003-04
2004-05
2005-06
2006-07
2007-08
0
5 or less
5 or less
6
12
Figures are presented nationally to reduce the risk of individuals being identified through the publication of these statistics. In the vast majority of local authorities, there are no primary school pupils recorded as being temporarily excluded as a result of alcohol misuse.
","AnswerDate":"2010-01-15T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-01-20T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Keith Brown","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":236968,"EventID":"S3W-30415","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2595,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":4,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2010-01-06T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-01-06T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive how many direct measures were issued for (a) assault and (b) assault to injury in November 2009, broken down by sheriff court.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive how many direct measures were issued for (a) assault and (b) assault to injury in November 2009, broken down by sheriff court.","AnswerText":"The following table shows the number of charges of (a) assault and (b) assault to injury where the initial decision taken by the Procurator Fiscal was to deal with the offending behaviour by means of a direct measure.
The 239 charges relate to a total of 218 persons issued with an offer of a direct measure, out of a total of 3,411 persons offered a direct measure during the same period.
The figures include only those direct measures that were affected by the provisions in the Criminal Proceedings etc (Reform) (Scotland) Act 2007.
Office
Direct Measure Issued
Charges Reported
Assault
Assault to Injury
Assault
Assault to Injury
Aberdeen
13
1
170
65
Airdrie
9
2
117
6
Alloa
1
-
17
4
Arbroath
-
-
17
25
Ayr
-
2
70
52
Banff
-
-
9
12
Campbeltown
-
-
5
3
Cupar
-
-
The 222 charges relate to a total of 211 persons issued with an offer of a direct measure, out of a total of 3,330 persons offered a direct measure during the same period.
The figures include only those direct measures that were affected by the provisions in the Criminal Proceedings etc (Reform) (Scotland) Act 2007.
Office
Direct Measure Issued
Charges Reported
Assault
Assault to Injury
Assault
Assault to Injury
Aberdeen
5
2
215
58
Airdrie
6
-
128
15
Alloa
-
1
26
21
Arbroath
2
1
18
8
Ayr
4
1
63
53
Banff
2
1
5
12
Campbeltown
2
-
4
1
Cupar
-
1
","AnswerDate":"2010-01-20T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-01-20T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Frank Mulholland","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":236970,"EventID":"S3W-30417","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2866,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":63,"ApprovedDate":"2010-01-06T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-01-06T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what progress has been made on establishing the Finance and Investment arm of the Scottish Futures Trust.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what progress has been made on establishing the Finance and Investment arm of the Scottish Futures Trust.","AnswerText":"I have asked Barry White, Chief Executive of the Scottish Futures Trust, to respond. His response is as follows:
The SFT is likely to make its first investment, in a hub company, in 2010. Work is ongoing on the corporate structure required to support that investment and others, in accordance with our corporate plan.
","AnswerDate":"2010-01-15T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-01-20T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"John Swinney","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":236971,"EventID":"S3W-30418","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2866,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":63,"ApprovedDate":"2010-01-06T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-01-06T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what work is being carried out by the Finance and Investment arm of the Scottish Futures Trust.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what work is being carried out by the Finance and Investment arm of the Scottish Futures Trust.","AnswerText":"I have asked Barry White, Chief Executive of the Scottish Futures Trust to respond. His response is as follows:
The Scottish Futures Trust''s (SFT) funding and financing development activities include tax increment financing, National Housing Trust and preparing to invest in hub companies. All these activities are currently carried out by SFT rather than a separately established subsidiary.
","AnswerDate":"2010-01-15T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-01-20T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"John Swinney","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":236972,"EventID":"S3W-30419","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":4080,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":6,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2010-01-06T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-01-06T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive when it will lay before the Parliament the orders necessary to allow work to commence on the Aberdeen Western Peripheral Route.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive when it will lay before the Parliament the orders necessary to allow work to commence on the Aberdeen Western Peripheral Route.","AnswerText":"The Orders for the Aberdeen Western Peripheral Route were laid before Parliament on the 18 January 2010. ","AnswerDate":"2010-01-15T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-01-20T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Stewart Stevenson","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":236973,"EventID":"S3W-30420","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1853,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":16,"ApprovedDate":"2010-01-06T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-01-06T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-29209 by Alex Neil on 8 December 2009, when it will provide the information that it undertook to provide in that answer.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-29209 by Alex Neil on 8 December 2009, when it will provide the information that it undertook to provide in that answer.","AnswerText":"The information requested in question S3W-29209 was provided to the Scottish Parliament Information Centre (Bib. number 49810) on 21 December 2009 and released by them on 23 December 2009. ","AnswerDate":"2010-01-13T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-01-20T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Alex Neil","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":236974,"EventID":"S3W-30421","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1853,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":16,"ApprovedDate":"2010-01-06T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-01-06T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-29208 by Alex Neil on 8 December 2009, when it will provide the information that it undertook to provide in that answer.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-29208 by Alex Neil on 8 December 2009, when it will provide the information that it undertook to provide in that answer.","AnswerText":"The information requested in question S3W-29208 was provided to the Scottish Parliament Information Centre (Bib. number 49810) on 21 December 2009 and released by them on 23 December 2009. ","AnswerDate":"2010-01-13T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-01-20T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Alex Neil","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":236975,"EventID":"S3W-30422","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1921,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":8,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2010-01-06T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-01-06T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will consider investigating the practices identified in the Soil Association’s report, Soil Carbon and Organic Farming: A review of the evidence on the relatio","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will consider investigating the practices identified in the Soil Association’s report, Soil Carbon and Organic Farming: A review of the evidence on the relationship between agriculture and soil carbon sequestration, and how organic farming can contribute to climate change mitigation and adaptation, as a means of helping Scotland meet its emissions reduction targets.","AnswerText":"The Scottish Government welcomes the Soil Association''s report. It is a useful contribution to the debate, and evidence base, informing the implementation of our Farming for a Better Climate (FBC) action plan (www.farmingforabetterclimate.org). FBC focuses on mitigation measures which can be delivered on-farm and which deliver win-wins “ good for the farming business and good for the environment, including carbon sequestration. As part of the policy making process, officials plan to meet with Soil Association Scotland colleagues to discuss the detail of the report, and its relevance for Scotland. ","AnswerDate":"2010-01-15T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-01-20T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Richard Lochhead","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":236976,"EventID":"S3W-30423","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2866,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":63,"ApprovedDate":"2010-01-06T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-01-06T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive, following publication of the Scottish Futures Trust corporate plan 2009-2014, whether it now considers the Scottish Futures Trust to be fully operational.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive, following publication of the Scottish Futures Trust corporate plan 2009-2014, whether it now considers the Scottish Futures Trust to be fully operational.","AnswerText":"I refer the member to the answer to S3W-28171 on 18 December 2009. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament''s website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/Apps2/Business/PQA/Default.aspx. ","AnswerDate":"2010-01-15T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-01-20T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"John Swinney","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":236977,"EventID":"S3W-30424","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2866,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":63,"ApprovedDate":"2010-01-06T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-01-06T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive, following publication of the Scottish Futures Trust corporate plan 2009-2014, whether it expects the Scottish Futures Trust to realise annual savings of £100-£150 millio","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive, following publication of the Scottish Futures Trust corporate plan 2009-2014, whether it expects the Scottish Futures Trust to realise annual savings of £100-£150 million.","AnswerText":"The Scottish Futures Trust (SFT) corporate plan 2009-14, published in November 2009, clearly sets out a public commitment to delivering £100-£150 million of benefits per annum. The progress of SFT towards achieving this target will be reported in their annual report for 2009-10 which will be laid before Parliament by the end of 2010 and also made publicly available. ","AnswerDate":"2010-01-15T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-01-20T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"John Swinney","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":236978,"EventID":"S3W-30425","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2866,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":63,"ApprovedDate":"2010-01-06T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-01-06T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive, following publication of the Scottish Futures Trust corporate plan 2009-2014, what proportion of savings and benefits it estimates will be derived from each of the Scott","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive, following publication of the Scottish Futures Trust corporate plan 2009-2014, what proportion of savings and benefits it estimates will be derived from each of the Scottish Futures Trust's five main areas of activity.","AnswerText":"I have asked Barry White, Chief Executive of the Scottish Futures Trust, to respond. His response is as follows:
As the Scottish Futures Trust''s (SFT) involvement in projects will often bridge more than one of SFT''s five main areas of activity, savings and benefits will be calculated and published as an aggregate. The progress of SFT towards achieving this target will be set out in our annual reports.
","AnswerDate":"2010-01-15T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-01-20T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"John Swinney","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":236979,"EventID":"S3W-30426","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2866,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":63,"ApprovedDate":"2010-01-06T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-01-06T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive, following publication of the Scottish Futures Trust corporate plan 2009-2014, whether each of the Scottish Futures Trust's five main areas of activity has been set indiv","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive, following publication of the Scottish Futures Trust corporate plan 2009-2014, whether each of the Scottish Futures Trust's five main areas of activity has been set individual targets for savings and benefits.","AnswerText":"I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-30425 on 15 January 2010. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament''s website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/Apps2/Business/PQA/Default.aspx. ","AnswerDate":"2010-01-15T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-01-20T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"John Swinney","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":236980,"EventID":"S3W-30427","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2866,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":63,"ApprovedDate":"2010-01-06T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-01-06T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what public and private organisations have been involved in discussions with the Scottish Futures Trust, as stated on page four of the Scottish Futures Trust corporate pl","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what public and private organisations have been involved in discussions with the Scottish Futures Trust, as stated on page four of the Scottish Futures Trust corporate plan 2009-2014.","AnswerText":"I have asked Barry White, Chief Executive of the Scottish Futures Trust, to respond. His response is as follows:
To maximise its impact, the Scottish Futures Trust (SFT) has been involved in a large number of discussions with a very wide range of public and private organisations across Scotland and internationally. To date SFT have had discussions with all 32 Scottish local authorities, seven area health boards, Scottish Government agencies such as Transport Scotland, Scottish Water, and with individual companies as well as with industry representative bodies such as CBI Scotland, Chambers of Commerce and the Scottish Building Federation.
","AnswerDate":"2010-01-15T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-01-20T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"John Swinney","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":236981,"EventID":"S3W-30428","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2866,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":63,"ApprovedDate":"2010-01-06T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-01-06T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether records and minutes are available of the discussions between public and private organisations and the Scottish Futures Trust, as stated on page four of the Scotti","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether records and minutes are available of the discussions between public and private organisations and the Scottish Futures Trust, as stated on page four of the Scottish Futures Trust corporate plan 2009-2014.","AnswerText":"I have asked Barry White, Chief Executive of the Scottish Futures Trust, to respond. His response is as follows:
Many of the Scottish Futures Trust''s discussions between public and private organisations are focused on ensuring organisations are aware of the skills of SFT or are commercially sensitive and as a result records and minutes cannot always be made available.
","AnswerDate":"2010-01-18T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-01-20T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"John Swinney","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":236982,"EventID":"S3W-30429","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2866,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":63,"ApprovedDate":"2010-01-06T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-01-06T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive for how many years revenue from the Scottish Government will be the Scottish Futures Trust's main source of income.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive for how many years revenue from the Scottish Government will be the Scottish Futures Trust's main source of income.","AnswerText":"The budget for the Scottish Futures Trust (SFT) has been set by the Scottish Government and their provision up to 2013-14 is set out in the Scottish Futures Trust corporate plan. All budgets are subject to Parliamentary approval. The Management Statement and Financial Memorandum for the Scottish Futures Trust also enables the SFT to charge for services, provided they are agreed in advance with the Scottish Government. ","AnswerDate":"2010-01-15T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-01-20T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"John Swinney","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":236983,"EventID":"S3W-30430","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2866,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":63,"ApprovedDate":"2010-01-06T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-01-06T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive when it considers that the Scottish Futures Trust will be ready to form joint ventures and make investments that will allow other sources of income to be developed. ","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive when it considers that the Scottish Futures Trust will be ready to form joint ventures and make investments that will allow other sources of income to be developed. ","AnswerText":"I have asked Barry White, Chief Executive of the Scottish Futures Trust, to respond. His response is as follows:
The Scottish Futures Trust is already able to form joint ventures and will do so when appropriate. The work referred to in answers to parliamentary questions S3W-30417 and S3W-30418 on 15 January 2010 may lead to investment opportunities in 2010.
","AnswerDate":"2010-01-15T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-01-20T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"John Swinney","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":236984,"EventID":"S3W-30431","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2866,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":63,"ApprovedDate":"2010-01-06T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-01-06T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what important performance measures will be externally validated, as stated on page six of the Scottish Futures Trust corporate plan 2009-2014.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what important performance measures will be externally validated, as stated on page six of the Scottish Futures Trust corporate plan 2009-2014.","AnswerText":"I have asked Barry White, Chief Executive of the Scottish Futures Trust, to respond. His response is as follows:
A specific review is being sought on the measurement methods used to assess long term benefits. The findings of this review are expected later in the year.
","AnswerDate":"2010-01-15T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-01-20T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"John Swinney","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":236985,"EventID":"S3W-30432","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2866,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":63,"ApprovedDate":"2010-01-06T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-01-06T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive how the Scottish Futures Trust's objectives, as described in the Scottish Futures Trust corporate plan 2009-2014, differ from those outlined in the Scottish Government ne","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive how the Scottish Futures Trust's objectives, as described in the Scottish Futures Trust corporate plan 2009-2014, differ from those outlined in the Scottish Government news release, Scottish Futures Trust, on 20 May 2008.","AnswerText":"I have asked Barry White, Chief Executive of the Scottish Futures Trust (SFT), to respond. His response is as follows:
SFT has evolved since its formation and continues to evolve and develop, against a changing UK and international backdrop, under the leadership of its board. The May 2008 business case target of £100-£150 million of annual benefits realised through our five core activities continues to guide the corporate and business planning process.
","AnswerDate":"2010-01-15T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-01-20T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"John Swinney","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":236986,"EventID":"S3W-30433","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2866,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":63,"ApprovedDate":"2010-01-06T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-01-06T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether it considers that the Scottish Futures Trust is providing “more bang for the people’s bucks”, as the Cabinet Secretary for Finance and Sustainable Growth stated i","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether it considers that the Scottish Futures Trust is providing “more bang for the people’s bucks”, as the Cabinet Secretary for Finance and Sustainable Growth stated it would in the Scottish Government news release, Scottish Futures Trust, on 20 May 2008.","AnswerText":"I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-24622 on 16 June 2009. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament''s website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/Apps2/Business/PQA/Default.aspx. ","AnswerDate":"2010-01-15T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-01-20T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"John Swinney","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":236987,"EventID":"S3W-30434","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2866,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":63,"ApprovedDate":"2010-01-06T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-01-06T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what fees are or will be charged by the Scottish Futures Trust to the Scottish Government for the services it provides and how these fees are or will be calculated.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what fees are or will be charged by the Scottish Futures Trust to the Scottish Government for the services it provides and how these fees are or will be calculated.","AnswerText":"I have asked Barry White, Chief Executive of the Scottish Futures Trust, to respond. His response is as follows:
The Scottish Futures Trust (SFT) will set out in its annual business plan the cost of the services proposed for each 12 month period. The corporate five-year plan sets out estimates of SFT''s annual budgets for the periods 2011-12 to 2013-14.
","AnswerDate":"2010-01-15T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-01-20T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"John Swinney","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":236988,"EventID":"S3W-30435","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2866,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":63,"ApprovedDate":"2010-01-06T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-01-06T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what deadline has been set for the Scottish Futures Trust’s delivery of £100-£150 million of savings per annum, as stated on page four of the Scottish Futures Trust corpo","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what deadline has been set for the Scottish Futures Trust’s delivery of £100-£150 million of savings per annum, as stated on page four of the Scottish Futures Trust corporate plan 2009-2014, and what progress has been made toward meeting this target.","AnswerText":"I have asked Barry White, Chief Executive of the Scottish Futures Trust, to respond. His response is as follows:
The target remains and is stated in both the current business plan and the five-year corporate plan. Good progress is being made towards the delivery of benefits and savings and will be published in our annual reports.
","AnswerDate":"2010-01-15T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-01-20T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"John Swinney","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":236989,"EventID":"S3W-30436","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2866,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":63,"ApprovedDate":"2010-01-06T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-01-06T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive how and by whom the performance multiplier of a minimum of x7 referred to on page 19 of the Scottish Futures Trust corporate plan 2009-2014 was set.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive how and by whom the performance multiplier of a minimum of x7 referred to on page 19 of the Scottish Futures Trust corporate plan 2009-2014 was set.","AnswerText":"I have asked Barry White, Chief Executive of the Scottish Futures Trust (SFT), to respond. His response is as follows:
The x7 multiplier was identified by SFT as a result of analysis of the forecast workload and activities as at November 2009, allowing tangible evidence of progress towards the annual £100-£150 million benefits.
","AnswerDate":"2010-01-15T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-01-20T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"John Swinney","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":236990,"EventID":"S3W-30437","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2866,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":63,"ApprovedDate":"2010-01-06T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-01-06T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether the Scottish Futures Trust will be audited by Audit Scotland.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether the Scottish Futures Trust will be audited by Audit Scotland.","AnswerText":"I have asked Barry White, Chief Executive of the Scottish Futures Trust (SFT), to respond. His response is as follows:
SFT''s accounts will be audited by independent auditors appointed by the board in accordance with the Companies Act. These are laid before the Scottish Parliament prior to the end of the calendar year.
","AnswerDate":"2010-01-15T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-01-20T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"John Swinney","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":236991,"EventID":"S3W-30438","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2866,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":63,"ApprovedDate":"2010-01-06T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-01-06T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive how the schools designed and built under the governance of the Scottish Futures Trust will differ from those designed and built under PPP/PFI.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive how the schools designed and built under the governance of the Scottish Futures Trust will differ from those designed and built under PPP/PFI.","AnswerText":"The schools being delivered by the SFT offer better value for money than those designed and built under PFI. Through collaboration and aggregation of the schools programme SFT will help deliver value for money from the £1.25 billion of public investment.
The Scottish Futures Trust is working with local authorities and relevant organisations such as Architecture and Design Scotland and the Carbon Trust to ensure the new schools being built as part of the new £1.25 billion school building programme embody the principles and objectives of the new school estate strategy, Building Better Schools: Investing in Scotland''s Future, which was published on 28 September 2009.
","AnswerDate":"2010-01-20T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-01-20T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Keith Brown","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":236992,"EventID":"S3W-30439","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2866,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":63,"ApprovedDate":"2010-01-06T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-01-06T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether it considers that PPP/PFI schools were designed and built to an acceptable standard.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether it considers that PPP/PFI schools were designed and built to an acceptable standard.","AnswerText":"The Audit Scotland report, Improving the school estate, published in March 2008, noted that the new-build schools they assessed, which including some procured through PPP, fell short of in some aspects of good practice in school design. The report made a number of recommendations which the Scottish Government and COSLA accepted in full and which have been incorporated into the new school estate strategy, Building Better Schools: Investing in Scotland''s Future. ","AnswerDate":"2010-01-20T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-01-20T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Keith Brown","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":236993,"EventID":"S3W-30440","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2866,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":63,"ApprovedDate":"2010-01-06T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-01-06T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive when and by whom the decision was made not to apply to the Joint European Resources for Micro to medium Enterprises (JEREMIE) scheme for funding for the Scottish Investme","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive when and by whom the decision was made not to apply to the Joint European Resources for Micro to medium Enterprises (JEREMIE) scheme for funding for the Scottish Investment Bank. ","AnswerText":"Following careful analysis the Scottish Enterprise board recommended at its 4 December 2009 meeting against proceeding with a loan application to the European Investment Bank under the JEREMIE initiative. Their analysis was significantly influenced by the cost and complexity of the arrangements that would have been required to avoid such borrowing counting against the Scottish Government''s Departmental Expenditure Limit under the budgeting rules applied by the UK Government.
This advice was conveyed to the Scottish Government in a letter from the Scottish Enterprise Chairman on 15 December 2009. The Cabinet Secretary for Finance and Sustainable Growth wrote to the Chief Secretary to the UK Treasury on 16 December 2009 to express his concern about the significant impact that these budgeting rules have had on our consideration of the JEREMIE model as a mechanism to improve access to finance for Scottish SMEs. No reply to that letter has yet been received.
","AnswerDate":"2010-01-20T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-01-20T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Jim Mather","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":236994,"EventID":"S3W-30441","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2866,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":63,"ApprovedDate":"2010-01-06T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-01-06T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive, in light of the decision not to apply to the Joint European Resources for Micro to medium Enterprises (JEREMIE) scheme for funding, whether it remains committed to setti","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive, in light of the decision not to apply to the Joint European Resources for Micro to medium Enterprises (JEREMIE) scheme for funding, whether it remains committed to setting up a Scottish Investment Bank.","AnswerText":"The Scottish Investment Bank Ltd has already been established as a subsidiary of Scottish Enterprise and the Scottish Government remains fully committed to taking this initiative forward. We continue to explore what other types of private and public finance can be marshalled to support our commitment to assisting Scottish businesses. However, our efforts have not been aided by the lack of flexibility shown to date by the UK Treasury in respect of potential borrowing from the European Investment Bank under the JEREMIE initiative. ","AnswerDate":"2010-01-20T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-01-20T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Jim Mather","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":236995,"EventID":"S3W-30442","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2866,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":63,"ApprovedDate":"2010-01-06T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-01-06T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether it is intended that the Scottish Investment Bank will have further resources beyond those of the Scottish Co-investment Fund, the Scottish Venture Fund and the Sc","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether it is intended that the Scottish Investment Bank will have further resources beyond those of the Scottish Co-investment Fund, the Scottish Venture Fund and the Scottish Seed Fund.","AnswerText":"Yes, it has always been the intention to pursue additional resources beyond these existing funds. ","AnswerDate":"2010-01-20T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-01-20T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Jim Mather","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":236996,"EventID":"S3W-30443","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2866,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":63,"ApprovedDate":"2010-01-06T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-01-06T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether the aims and objectives of the Scottish Investment Bank have changed following the decision not to apply to the Joint European Resources for Micro to medium Enter","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether the aims and objectives of the Scottish Investment Bank have changed following the decision not to apply to the Joint European Resources for Micro to medium Enterprises (JEREMIE) scheme for funding.","AnswerText":"There has been no resultant change in our aims and objectives for the Scottish Investment Bank, following Scottish Enterprise''s recommendation not to pursue a JEREMIE model in light of the lack of flexibility shown by the UK Treasury in application of its budgeting rules. ","AnswerDate":"2010-01-20T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-01-20T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Jim Mather","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":236997,"EventID":"S3W-30444","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2866,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":63,"ApprovedDate":"2010-01-06T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-01-06T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3M-25877 by Jim Mather on 4 August 2009, whether the work to identify what further resources may be available to the Scottish Investme","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3M-25877 by Jim Mather on 4 August 2009, whether the work to identify what further resources may be available to the Scottish Investment Bank is complete or remains ongoing.","AnswerText":"Work remains ongoing in identifying means of augmenting the circa £150 million starting resource of the Scottish Investment Bank. ","AnswerDate":"2010-01-20T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-01-20T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Jim Mather","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":236998,"EventID":"S3W-30445","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2866,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":63,"ApprovedDate":"2010-01-06T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-01-06T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3M-25877 by Jim Mather on 4 August 2009, what funding sources are being examined through the work to identify further resources that m","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3M-25877 by Jim Mather on 4 August 2009, what funding sources are being examined through the work to identify further resources that may be available to the Scottish Investment Bank. ","AnswerText":"With Scottish Enterprise, we will be looking at potential for European funding and for the wider private sector banking and investment community to participate in the further development of the Scottish Investment Bank. ","AnswerDate":"2010-01-20T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-01-20T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Jim Mather","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":236999,"EventID":"S3W-30446","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2866,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":63,"ApprovedDate":"2010-01-06T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-01-06T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3M-25877 by Jim Mather on 4 August 2009, whether it is now in a position to identify what proportion of funding available to the Scott","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3M-25877 by Jim Mather on 4 August 2009, whether it is now in a position to identify what proportion of funding available to the Scottish Investment Bank will not come from the Scottish Co-investment Fund, the Scottish Venture Fund or the Scottish Seed Fund.","AnswerText":"Opportunities for additional funding are being explored at this time. The government will in due course share further details with the Scottish Parliament. ","AnswerDate":"2010-01-20T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-01-20T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Jim Mather","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":237000,"EventID":"S3W-30447","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2866,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":63,"ApprovedDate":"2010-01-06T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-01-06T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether it considers that the Scottish Investment Bank will have external sources of funding and, if so, from where this funding might come.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether it considers that the Scottish Investment Bank will have external sources of funding and, if so, from where this funding might come.","AnswerText":"I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-30446 on 20 January 2010. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament''s website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/Apps2/Business/PQA/Default.aspx. ","AnswerDate":"2010-01-20T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-01-20T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Jim Mather","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":237001,"EventID":"S3W-30448","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2866,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":63,"ApprovedDate":"2010-01-06T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-01-06T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what proportion of funding it wishes to be available to the Scottish Investment Bank beyond that from the Scottish Co-investment Fund, the Scottish Venture Fund and the S","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what proportion of funding it wishes to be available to the Scottish Investment Bank beyond that from the Scottish Co-investment Fund, the Scottish Venture Fund and the Scottish Seed Fund.","AnswerText":"I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-30446 on 20 January 2010. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament''s website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/Apps2/Business/PQA/Default.aspx. ","AnswerDate":"2010-01-20T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-01-20T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Jim Mather","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":237002,"EventID":"S3W-30449","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2866,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":63,"ApprovedDate":"2010-01-06T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-01-06T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will continue to call the Scottish Investment Bank a bank if it is unable to secure external sources of funding.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will continue to call the Scottish Investment Bank a bank if it is unable to secure external sources of funding.","AnswerText":"Yes. The Scottish Investment Bank Ltd has already been formally established as a subsidiary of Scottish Enterprise. ","AnswerDate":"2010-01-20T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-01-20T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Jim Mather","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":237003,"EventID":"S3W-30450","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2866,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":63,"ApprovedDate":"2010-01-06T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-01-06T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what role the Scottish Investment Bank performs in administering funding from the Scottish Co-investment Fund, the Scottish Venture Fund or the Scottish Seed Fund that Sc","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what role the Scottish Investment Bank performs in administering funding from the Scottish Co-investment Fund, the Scottish Venture Fund or the Scottish Seed Fund that Scottish Enterprise was unable to perform.","AnswerText":"The Scottish Investment Bank Ltd has now been established as a subsidiary of Scottish Enterprise. It is envisaged that this new subsidiary will undertake functions in relation to these three funds comparable to those currently undertaken by Scottish Enterprise. \r\n\r","AnswerDate":"2010-01-20T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-01-20T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Jim Mather","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":237004,"EventID":"S3W-30451","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2866,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":63,"ApprovedDate":"2010-01-06T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-01-06T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive how the Scottish Investment Bank's administration of funding from the Scottish Co-investment Fund, the Scottish Venture Fund or the Scottish Seed Fund differs from the pr","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive how the Scottish Investment Bank's administration of funding from the Scottish Co-investment Fund, the Scottish Venture Fund or the Scottish Seed Fund differs from the previous administration of these schemes by Scottish Enterprise.","AnswerText":"I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-30450 on 20 January 2010. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament''s website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/Apps2/Business/PQA/Default.aspx. ","AnswerDate":"2010-01-20T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-01-20T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Jim Mather","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":237005,"EventID":"S3W-30452","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2866,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":63,"ApprovedDate":"2010-01-06T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-01-06T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive which projects are shovel ready, as stated by the Cabinet Secretary for Finance and Sustainable Growth in the news release, Pre-Budget Report, on 9 December 2009.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive which projects are shovel ready, as stated by the Cabinet Secretary for Finance and Sustainable Growth in the news release, Pre-Budget Report, on 9 December 2009.","AnswerText":"The Scottish Government was ready to deploy accelerated capital in the order of £300 million for the immediate benefit of the Scottish economy, protecting jobs and promoting recovery. Projects in key areas such as affordable housing and enterprise which would have benefited from additional funding in 2010-11 will now not receive an early injection of capital. ","AnswerDate":"2010-01-15T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-01-20T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"John Swinney","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":237006,"EventID":"S3W-30453","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2866,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":63,"ApprovedDate":"2010-01-06T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-01-06T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive which infrastructure projects are at risk due to a lack of accelerated capital in the pre-Budget report.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive which infrastructure projects are at risk due to a lack of accelerated capital in the pre-Budget report.","AnswerText":"The failure of the pre-Budget report to contain any further capital acceleration means that infrastructure projects will now not receive an early injection of capital. ","AnswerDate":"2010-01-15T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-01-20T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"John Swinney","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":237007,"EventID":"S3W-30454","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2866,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":63,"ApprovedDate":"2010-01-06T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-01-06T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive how many jobs it estimates have been created or supported by its (a) economic recovery plan, (b) economic strategy and (c) accelerated capital investment and how these ha","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive how many jobs it estimates have been created or supported by its (a) economic recovery plan, (b) economic strategy and (c) accelerated capital investment and how these have been measured.","AnswerText":"The government economic strategy is the overarching strategy that focuses the activity of government, and the public sector in its widest sense, on increasing sustainable economic growth and on addressing the long-term gap in Scotland''s economic growth performance compared to many of its competitors. Progress against the government economic strategy is measured through a set of challenging long-term targets.
The economic recovery plan is firmly rooted within the government economic strategy, and through the economic recovery plan the Scottish Government is ensuring that every area of government activity supports our commitments to deliver economic recovery and long-term sustainable growth by: supporting jobs and our communities; strengthening Scotland''s education and skills, and investing in innovation and the industries of the future. Estimates of the number of jobs supported by the actions within the economic recovery plan, including the accelerated capital spending programme, are contained within the Economic Recovery Plan: Update document published on 29 October 2009.
","AnswerDate":"2010-01-15T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-01-20T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"John Swinney","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":237008,"EventID":"S3W-30455","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2866,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":63,"ApprovedDate":"2010-01-06T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-01-06T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what measures are in place to help local authorities grow their own economies.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what measures are in place to help local authorities grow their own economies.","AnswerText":"The Scottish Government economic strategy sets out our approach to achieve our central purpose of sustainable economic growth. This overarching strategy sets the direction for the public sector in Scotland.
We have taken forward the principles of the government economic strategy through an economic recovery plan. This plan helps ensure that all Scottish Government activity is aligned to position us for recovery. We are continuing to work with our partners in local government and the agencies to ensure there is a unified effort across the public sector.
","AnswerDate":"2010-01-15T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-01-20T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"John Swinney","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":237009,"EventID":"S3W-30456","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2866,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":63,"ApprovedDate":"2010-01-06T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-01-06T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what measures are in place to help local authorities contribute to Scotland’s economic growth.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what measures are in place to help local authorities contribute to Scotland’s economic growth.","AnswerText":"The Scottish Government economic strategy sets out our approach to achieve our central purpose of sustainable economic growth. This overarching strategy sets the direction for the public sector in Scotland.
We have taken forward the principles of the government economic strategy through an economic recovery plan. This plan helps ensure that all Scottish Government activity is aligned to position us for recovery. We are continuing to work with our partners in local government and the agencies to ensure there is a unified effort across the public sector.
","AnswerDate":"2010-01-15T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-01-20T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"John Swinney","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":237010,"EventID":"S3W-30457","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2364,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":11,"ApprovedDate":"2010-01-06T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-01-06T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will publish details of any bonus schemes in place for Scottish Futures Trust staff.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will publish details of any bonus schemes in place for Scottish Futures Trust staff.","AnswerText":"I have asked Barry White, Chief Executive of the Scottish Futures Trust, to respond. His response is as follows:
Scottish Futures Trust has no bonus scheme for its staff.
","AnswerDate":"2020-01-15T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-01-20T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"John Swinney","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":237011,"EventID":"S3W-30458","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2364,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":11,"ApprovedDate":"2010-01-06T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-01-06T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-29198 by Fergus Ewing on 3 December 2009, when it expects to reach a decision on whether to fund the Iona Community to deliver anti","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-29198 by Fergus Ewing on 3 December 2009, when it expects to reach a decision on whether to fund the Iona Community to deliver anti-sectarianism workshops in adult prisons.","AnswerText":"As I announced on 17 January 2010, we are providing £20,000 to the Iona Community to allow them to run a pilot scheme to develop and deliver anti-sectarianism workshops to adult prisoners in HMP Addiewell. ","AnswerDate":"2010-01-20T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-01-20T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Fergus Ewing","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":237012,"EventID":"S3W-30459","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2364,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":11,"ApprovedDate":"2010-01-06T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-01-06T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive how many twinning arrangements were in place between denominational and non-denominational schools at the start of the 2009-10 school year, broken down by local authority","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive how many twinning arrangements were in place between denominational and non-denominational schools at the start of the 2009-10 school year, broken down by local authority.","AnswerText":"This is a matter for local authorities. The information requested is not held centrally. ","AnswerDate":"2010-01-20T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-01-20T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Keith Brown","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":237013,"EventID":"S3W-30460","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1837,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":36,"ApprovedDate":"2010-01-06T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-01-06T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what its total spend was on the Energy Assistance Package from April to October 2009.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what its total spend was on the Energy Assistance Package from April to October 2009.","AnswerText":"The fuel poverty programme spend up to the end of December 2009 was £20,290,773. ","AnswerDate":"2010-01-14T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-01-20T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Alex Neil","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":237014,"EventID":"S3W-30461","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1837,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":36,"ApprovedDate":"2010-01-06T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-01-06T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive how much of its funding on the Energy Assistance Package from April to October 2009 was used (a) to purchase insulation and (b) for central heating systems.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive how much of its funding on the Energy Assistance Package from April to October 2009 was used (a) to purchase insulation and (b) for central heating systems.","AnswerText":"We do not have separate funding streams for insulation and central heating. The Managing Agent sub-contracts the delivery of the appropriate measures for each household, which often comprises a package of measures such as a heating system, insulation, and draughtproofing. The managing agent bills Scottish Government for the package of measures delivered to each household. ","AnswerDate":"2010-01-14T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-01-20T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Alex Neil","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":237015,"EventID":"S3W-30462","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1837,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":36,"ApprovedDate":"2010-01-06T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-01-06T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive how many of the 4,701 heating system measures under the Energy Assistance Package in 2009 were central heating installations.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive how many of the 4,701 heating system measures under the Energy Assistance Package in 2009 were central heating installations.","AnswerText":"I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-30463 on 14 January 2010. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament''s website, the search facility for which can be found at: http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/Apps2/Business/PQA/Default.aspx. ","AnswerDate":"2010-01-14T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-01-20T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Alex Neil","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":237016,"EventID":"S3W-30463","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1837,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":36,"ApprovedDate":"2010-01-06T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-01-06T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive how many of the 4,701 heating system measures under the Energy Assistance Package in 2009 were gas central heating systems.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive how many of the 4,701 heating system measures under the Energy Assistance Package in 2009 were gas central heating systems.","AnswerText":"Of the 5,138 heating system measures delivered between April and end November 2009, 3,863 included mains gas boilers; 1,017 included electric storage heating systems, 186 included oil boilers; 29 included liquid petroleum gas (LPG) boilers; 22 included solid fuel boilers, two were connected to a district heating scheme, and one had an air source heat pump. Eighteen were repairs to central heating systems. ","AnswerDate":"2010-01-14T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-01-20T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Alex Neil","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":237017,"EventID":"S3W-30464","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1837,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":36,"ApprovedDate":"2010-01-06T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-01-06T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive how many of the 4,701 heating system measures under the Energy Assistance Package in 2009 were legacy central heating installations.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive how many of the 4,701 heating system measures under the Energy Assistance Package in 2009 were legacy central heating installations.","AnswerText":"Figures are presented related to financial years, in this case the year is 2009-10.
Five thousand, one hundred and thirty-eight heating system measures were installed between April and end November 2009. All were funded from the same budget. Some were applications transferred from the central heating programme because, as is always the case, it is not possible to complete all work applied for within the same financial year.
In order to avoid confusion, the figures are being presented where possible in terms of the fuel poverty programme budget, without disaggregating the measures by the source of the application, but where possible giving a break-down by local authority.
The Energy Assistance Package does much more than heating systems because it takes an holistic approach to fuel poverty. For instance, benefit checks that increase the household budget have an important impact on fuel poverty. By the end of November, Scottish Government had:
completed heating system upgrades or installations for 5,138 households;
installed insulation in a further 3,259 households;
given ï energy savings advice in 32,550 instances;
increased the income of over 553 older households by £921 a year on average, and
identified an average potential increase to annual income of £2,311 for 148 families who had a benefit check.
","AnswerDate":"2010-01-14T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-01-20T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Alex Neil","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":237018,"EventID":"S3W-30465","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1837,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":36,"ApprovedDate":"2010-01-06T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-01-06T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether the use of the term heating system measures in the Energy Assistance Package was agreed with the Scottish Fuel Poverty Forum.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether the use of the term heating system measures in the Energy Assistance Package was agreed with the Scottish Fuel Poverty Forum.","AnswerText":"It was not thought necessary to agree with the forum the use of this term, which is intended to cover the considerable range of measures that are installed: mains gas boilers, electric storage heaters, oil boilers, LPG boilers, solid fuel boilers, air source heat pumps, connections to district heating networks, and, where appropriate, all or part of the ancillary distribution system of radiators and pipework, or repairs to central heating systems. ","AnswerDate":"2010-01-14T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-01-20T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Alex Neil","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":237019,"EventID":"S3W-30466","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1837,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":36,"ApprovedDate":"2010-01-06T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-01-06T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-20924 by Alex Neil on 10 March 2009, when it will publish its plans for recording the provision of housing support services.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-20924 by Alex Neil on 10 March 2009, when it will publish its plans for recording the provision of housing support services.","AnswerText":"The detail and timescales for the new data collection will be determined following the completion of the work of the joint working group referred to in my replies to question S3W-20924 and the related answers to questions S3W-26591, S3W-26592 and S3W-26593 on 10 September 2009. The group met for the first time in December 2009 and it is envisaged that it will meet between three and four more times before completing its remit. Papers for the working group and minutes of the working group meetings will be published on the Scottish Government website at:
","AnswerDate":"2010-01-14T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-01-20T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Alex Neil","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":237020,"EventID":"S3W-30467","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":3758,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":1,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2010-01-06T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-01-06T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether the rail franchise operator is required to run six-carriage trains on the Glasgow to Edinburgh rail line.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether the rail franchise operator is required to run six-carriage trains on the Glasgow to Edinburgh rail line.","AnswerText":"ScotRail plans the capacity for each service in advance of each timetable change. Services on the Edinburgh to Glasgow via Falkirk High route are currently planned to operate with six carriages in the morning and evening peak. Some off-peak and weekend journeys are also planned to be provided with six carriages.
Where the planned capacity is not provided, ScotRail is penalised under a performance regime in the franchise agreement. The regime is managed and monitored by Transport Scotland.
","AnswerDate":"2010-01-15T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-01-20T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Stewart Stevenson","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":237021,"EventID":"S3W-30468","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":3758,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":1,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2010-01-06T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-01-06T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether the passenger rail franchise requires specific capacity for particular services.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether the passenger rail franchise requires specific capacity for particular services.","AnswerText":"Rail services in Scotland are managed and monitored by the Scottish Government agency, Transport Scotland, and operated by ScotRail through a Franchise Agreement.
ScotRail prepares a train plan containing the total seating plus standing capacity for each service on a weekday, Saturday and Sunday. Its obligation is to plan the best allocation of its entire train fleet to passenger services that is reasonably practicable. It should ensure, so far as possible, that if excess demand occurs, it is not concentrated on any particular route or passenger service.
The train plan is submitted to Transport Scotland for approval. Once agreed, if planned capacity is not provided, ScotRail is penalised under a performance regime in the franchise agreement. The regime is managed and monitored by Transport Scotland.
","AnswerDate":"2010-01-15T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-01-20T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Stewart Stevenson","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":237022,"EventID":"S3W-30469","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2085,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":27,"ApprovedDate":"2010-01-06T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-01-06T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what the total cost has been of developing the Crofting Reform (Scotland) Bill to date, also showing the cost of (a) the Committee of Inquiry on Crofting, (b) analysing t","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what the total cost has been of developing the Crofting Reform (Scotland) Bill to date, also showing the cost of (a) the Committee of Inquiry on Crofting, (b) analysing the results of the Draft Crofting Reform (Scotland) Bill consultation, (c) staff time in drawing up proposals and drafting the Bill, (d) the public launch, (e) travel and subsistence costs and (f) any other costs.","AnswerText":"The total cost of developing the Crofting Reform (Scotland) Bill to date is approximately £1,023,658. A breakdown is provided in the following table. The Committee of Inquiry on Crofting was established by the previous administration during the 2006 Crofting Reform (etc) Bill. The committee of inquiry was established from December 2006 and ran till May 2008. Subsequent government costs have been incurred in taking forward the Committee of Inquiry on Crofting recommendations.
Cost (£)
Committee of Inquiry on Crofting
654,647
Staff time in drawing up proposals and draft Bill
174,099
Publication and distribution of documents
34,364
Holding consultation meetings
21,755
Advertising and publicity
6,836
Analysing the results of the draft Crofting Reform (Scotland) Bill consultation
14,232
Staff time in drawing up proposals and Bill
106,042
Public launch of Bill
3,032
Travel and Subsistence
8,651
Total
1,023,658
","AnswerDate":"2010-01-15T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-01-20T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Roseanna Cunningham","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":237023,"EventID":"S3W-30470","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2085,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":27,"ApprovedDate":"2010-01-06T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-01-06T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what the total cost was of the Draft Crofting Reform (Scotland) Bill, also showing the cost of (a) staff time in drawing up proposals and drafting the draft Bill, (b) pub","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what the total cost was of the Draft Crofting Reform (Scotland) Bill, also showing the cost of (a) staff time in drawing up proposals and drafting the draft Bill, (b) publication and distribution of documents, (c) advertising and publicity, (d) holding consultation meetings, (e) travel and subsistence costs and (f) any other costs.","AnswerText":"I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-30469, on 15 January 2010. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/Apps2/Business/PQA/default.aspx. ","AnswerDate":"2010-01-15T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-01-20T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Roseanna Cunningham","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":237024,"EventID":"S3W-30471","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":3896,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":25,"ApprovedDate":"2010-01-06T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-01-06T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what its position is on the fairness and proportionality of the single farm payment penalty system.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what its position is on the fairness and proportionality of the single farm payment penalty system.","AnswerText":"The rules for CAP payment reductions under cross-compliance are laid down in European legislation. In general breaches of cross-compliance should result in a reduction of 3% being applied to a beneficiaries payments for one year under the Single Farm Payment Scheme, Scottish Beef Calf Scheme, Energy Crop Scheme, Protein Crop Premium, Less Favoured Area Support Scheme and certain management options claimed under the Land Managers Options Scheme and Rural Priorities.
Prior to 2009, most breaches of cross-compliance in Scotland were resulting in a 1% reduction or a warning letter as this was considered to be appropriate for the seriousness of the breaches that were being found. We have now been forced to increase the payment reduction levels under cross-compliance because recent EC audits in Scotland, the UK and across Europe, have ruled the current penalty systems too lenient.
These increases must be implemented to avoid potential, costly penalties on the Scottish Government from the EU which could have a detrimental and unjust effect on the level of funds available to all farmers and other land managers. The cross-compliance payment reduction systems in England, Wales and Northern Ireland were also tightened up in 2009 following their EC audits.
","AnswerDate":"2010-01-15T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-01-20T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Richard Lochhead","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":237025,"EventID":"S3W-30472","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":3896,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":25,"ApprovedDate":"2010-01-06T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-01-06T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions it has had with stakeholders regarding the single farm payment penalty system.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions it has had with stakeholders regarding the single farm payment penalty system.","AnswerText":"Stakeholders were alerted to the review of payment reduction levels in January 2009, following the audits in England and Wales in 2008. We had meetings with them and kept in touch as the review progressed. The revised cross-compliance payment reduction system was discussed with stakeholders at a meeting on 5 November 2009, prior to writing to land managers later that month. ","AnswerDate":"2010-01-15T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-01-20T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Richard Lochhead","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":237026,"EventID":"S3W-30473","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":3896,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":25,"ApprovedDate":"2010-01-06T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-01-06T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive when it next expects to meet stakeholders to discuss the single farm payment penalty system.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive when it next expects to meet stakeholders to discuss the single farm payment penalty system.","AnswerText":"We have regular meetings with stakeholders and these matters will be discussed if appropriate. Although no meetings are scheduled at present to discuss this specific topic, we expect this to be raised at forthcoming meetings. ","AnswerDate":"2010-01-15T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-01-20T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Richard Lochhead","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":237027,"EventID":"S3W-30474","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":3896,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":25,"ApprovedDate":"2010-01-06T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-01-06T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions it has had with European Commission officials regarding the single farm payment penalty system since May 2007.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions it has had with European Commission officials regarding the single farm payment penalty system since May 2007.","AnswerText":"Officials from Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland met with Commission officials in February 2009 to discuss proposals to revise the Cross Compliance payment reduction systems as a result of the 2008 audits in England and Wales.
The Commission made it clear at this meeting that they expected the majority of Cross Compliance breaches to result in a 3% payment reduction otherwise significant disallowance (EC fines) would apply. This approach was further confirmed and clarified in the Commission audit letters to Wales and later to Northern Ireland following their audit in spring 2009.
At our request the UK raised the issue of Cross Compliance penalties at the Council of Ministers on 16 December 2009 and we will press for meetings to be held with the new Commission to keep our concerns on the agenda.
","AnswerDate":"2010-01-20T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-01-20T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Richard Lochhead","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":237028,"EventID":"S3W-30475","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":3896,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":25,"ApprovedDate":"2010-01-06T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-01-06T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive when it next expects to meet European Commission officials to discuss the single farm payment penalty system.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive when it next expects to meet European Commission officials to discuss the single farm payment penalty system.","AnswerText":"No meetings are scheduled at present as the new commission has yet to be agreed and finalised by the European Parliament. ","AnswerDate":"2010-01-20T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-01-20T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Richard Lochhead","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":237029,"EventID":"S3W-30476","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":3896,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":25,"ApprovedDate":"2010-01-06T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-01-06T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what action it is taking to ensure that penalties imposed under the Single Farm Payment Scheme are fair and proportionate.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what action it is taking to ensure that penalties imposed under the Single Farm Payment Scheme are fair and proportionate.","AnswerText":"All cross-compliance inspections are carried out according to clearly laid down procedures across Scotland and the results and any penalties that are applied are monitored on a national basis. ","AnswerDate":"2010-01-15T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-01-20T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Richard Lochhead","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":237030,"EventID":"S3W-30477","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":3896,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":25,"ApprovedDate":"2010-01-06T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-01-06T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what research it is undertaking to examine the fairness and proportionality of fines imposed under the Single Farm Payment Scheme.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what research it is undertaking to examine the fairness and proportionality of fines imposed under the Single Farm Payment Scheme.","AnswerText":"We are looking at the detailed results of European Commission audits across the rest of Europe and speaking to other member states who have been audited to confirm the position in their countries. ","AnswerDate":"2010-01-15T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-01-20T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Richard Lochhead","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":237031,"EventID":"S3W-30478","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":3896,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":25,"ApprovedDate":"2010-01-06T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-01-06T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what support it is providing to farmers who believe that they may have been disproportionately penalised under the Single Farm Payment Scheme.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what support it is providing to farmers who believe that they may have been disproportionately penalised under the Single Farm Payment Scheme.","AnswerText":"Land managers who are penalised under cross-compliance can submit an appeal under the new EU Rural Payments Appeal Procedure which was launched on the 20 November 2009. ","AnswerDate":"2010-01-15T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-01-20T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Richard Lochhead","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":237032,"EventID":"S3W-30479","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2068,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":22,"ApprovedDate":"2010-01-06T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-01-06T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether it plans to introduce a boiler scrappage scheme.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether it plans to introduce a boiler scrappage scheme.","AnswerText":"I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-30390 on 18 January 2010. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament''s website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/Apps/Business/PQA/Default.aspx. ","AnswerDate":"2010-01-18T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-01-20T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Jim Mather","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":237033,"EventID":"S3W-30480","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2167,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":3,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2010-01-07T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-01-07T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what consideration has been given to the Review of the General Permitted Development Order 1992: Final Report in any recent reviews of permitted development rights.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what consideration has been given to the Review of the General Permitted Development Order 1992: Final Report in any recent reviews of permitted development rights.","AnswerText":"The Scottish Government''s current priorities are householder permitted development and domestic microgeneration technologies. The recommendations in the Heriot-Watt report in relation to microgeneration were a consideration when drafting the Town and Country Planning (General Permitted Development) (Domestic Microgeneration) (Scotland) Amendment Order 2009. Householder permitted development was subject to a separate review carried out by Heriot-Watt University.
We will consider the research findings and recommendations produced by Heriot‘Watt University et al from their review of the General Permitted Development Order in their report along with any other relevant information when we are identifying the priorities for taking forward the review of the wider General Permitted Development Order later in 2010.
","AnswerDate":"2010-01-15T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-01-21T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Stewart Stevenson","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":237034,"EventID":"S3W-30481","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2010,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":8,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2010-01-07T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-01-07T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive how many households suffered a loss of water supply in November 2009, broken down by (a) Scottish Parliament constituency and (b) local authority area.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive how many households suffered a loss of water supply in November 2009, broken down by (a) Scottish Parliament constituency and (b) local authority area.","AnswerText":"This information is not held centrally. I have asked the Chief Executive of Scottish Water to reply directly to you. ","AnswerDate":"2010-01-15T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-01-21T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Stewart Stevenson","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":237035,"EventID":"S3W-30482","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2010,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":8,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2010-01-07T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-01-07T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive how many households suffered a loss of water supply in December 2009, broken down by (a) Scottish Parliament constituency and (b) local authority area.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive how many households suffered a loss of water supply in December 2009, broken down by (a) Scottish Parliament constituency and (b) local authority area.","AnswerText":"This information is not held centrally. I have asked the Chief Executive of Scottish Water to reply directly to you. ","AnswerDate":"2010-01-15T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-01-21T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Stewart Stevenson","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":237036,"EventID":"S3W-30483","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2610,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":1,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2010-01-07T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-01-07T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what additional measures have been put in place by NHS Lanarkshire and other agencies to manage delayed discharges effectively.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what additional measures have been put in place by NHS Lanarkshire and other agencies to manage delayed discharges effectively.","AnswerText":"NHS Lanarkshire have established a range of measures along with their local authority partners to ensure no patients are delayed in hospital for longer than necessary, but it is the whole system approach by the partnership which includes good communication between agencies and the use of flexible and responsive support services which collectively deliver good outcomes.
The partnership in Lanarkshire has been successful in recording no patients delayed for longer than the agreed six week discharge period from April 2008 until October 2009. Unfortunately, due to an unexpected increase in hospital activity, eight patients were delayed at October in Lanarkshire hospitals. I understand the partnership has now recovered the position.
","AnswerDate":"2010-01-18T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-01-21T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Shona Robison","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":237037,"EventID":"S3W-30484","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2610,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":1,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2010-01-07T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-01-07T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive how much additional funding has been allocated by NHS Lanarkshire and other agencies to support additional measures implemented to manage delayed discharges.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive how much additional funding has been allocated by NHS Lanarkshire and other agencies to support additional measures implemented to manage delayed discharges.","AnswerText":"NHS boards and local authorities are expected to work within their combined resources to manage delayed discharge. £29 million previously earmarked for delayed discharge, was added to the overall local government settlement in 2008-09.
The Lanarkshire partnership has been very successful in tackling delayed discharges. They have identified up to £500,000 to enhance routine services over the winter period to ensure that success continues.
","AnswerDate":"2010-01-18T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-01-21T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Shona Robison","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":237038,"EventID":"S3W-30485","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2610,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":1,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2010-01-07T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-01-07T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive for how long NHS Lanarkshire doctors are expected to support NHS 24 in providing additional triage cover over weekends.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive for how long NHS Lanarkshire doctors are expected to support NHS 24 in providing additional triage cover over weekends.","AnswerText":"NHS 24 employs or contracts with GPs in partner health boards, including NHS Lanarkshire, to respond to agreed levels of pre-prioritised calls from patients in their area. These calls are funded by NHS 24. ","AnswerDate":"2010-01-18T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-01-21T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Nicola Sturgeon","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":237039,"EventID":"S3W-30486","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2610,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":1,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2010-01-07T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-01-07T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-29915 by Alex Neil on 6 January 2010, on what risk basis the Scottish Housing Regulator will determine its regulatory engagement wi","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-29915 by Alex Neil on 6 January 2010, on what risk basis the Scottish Housing Regulator will determine its regulatory engagement with registered social landlords.","AnswerText":"I have asked Michael Cameron, Acting Chief Executive of the Scottish Housing Regulator to respond.
His response is as follows:
We identify the risks each registered social landlord (RSL) presents to our regulatory purpose. The main risks to our purpose are likely to be:
financial failure in an RSL;
stock quality and investment failures, and
governance failures leading to, and arising from, mismanagement and misconduct, and poor service quality.
","AnswerDate":"2010-01-15T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-01-21T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Alex Neil","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":237040,"EventID":"S3W-30487","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2610,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":1,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2010-01-07T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-01-07T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-29109 by John Swinney on 1 December 2009, how assessments of progress are being made in relation to affordable housing by local aut","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-29109 by John Swinney on 1 December 2009, how assessments of progress are being made in relation to affordable housing by local authorities.","AnswerText":"With regard to assessments of progress in relation to affordable housing paid for or supported by local authorities, we do not currently hold information centrally on properties funded wholly or partly by second home council tax funds. However, Scottish Government Regional Housing Investment Teams liaise with local authority partners over the use of council tax second homes monies both as part of Strategic Housing Investment Plans discussions and more regular programme management discussions. Details of affordable housing supported by local authorities, including the new Council Housing Building programme, are published in quarterly statistics on our website and provide details of site starts and completions:
","AnswerDate":"2010-01-15T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-01-21T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"John Swinney","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":237041,"EventID":"S3W-30488","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":3743,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":6,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2010-01-07T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-01-07T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive when it will publish its response to Professor Alec Spencer’s report on his review of the decision to transfer Brian Martin to open conditions.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive when it will publish its response to Professor Alec Spencer’s report on his review of the decision to transfer Brian Martin to open conditions.","AnswerText":"The Scottish Government''s Response to Professor Spencer''s report will be published today. A copy of the Response will be placed in the Scottish Parliament Information Centre (Bib. number 49904). ","AnswerDate":"2010-01-08T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-01-21T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Kenny MacAskill","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":237042,"EventID":"S3W-30489","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":4086,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":7,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2010-01-07T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-01-07T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive how much it planned to contribute to the Scotland Rural Development Programme 2007-13 at the start of the programme, also expressed as a percentage.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive how much it planned to contribute to the Scotland Rural Development Programme 2007-13 at the start of the programme, also expressed as a percentage.","AnswerText":"The total value of the Scotland Rural Development Programme at the time of approval was just under ‚¬2.3 billion, or £1.6 billion at the £/‚¬ exchange rate prevailing at that time. The Scottish Government''s contribution was planned to be around 68% of that amount at ‚¬1.55 billion. ","AnswerDate":"2010-01-15T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-01-21T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Richard Lochhead","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":237043,"EventID":"S3W-30490","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":4086,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":7,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2010-01-07T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-01-07T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what the projections are for its spending on the Scotland Rural Development Programme 2007-13 over the course of the programme, also expressed in percentages.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what the projections are for its spending on the Scotland Rural Development Programme 2007-13 over the course of the programme, also expressed in percentages.","AnswerText":"At 1 January 2009, the projected spend on the Scotland Rural Development Programme (SRDP) from its commencement in 2007, to the end of the current Spending Review Period at 31 March 2011, was £751.1 million. Of this, £511.8 million (68%) is from Scottish Government and £239 million (32%) is from the EU.
Financial year 2010-11 is the last in the current three year Spending Review period. At this stage we cannot pre-empt discussions on the profile of SRDP expenditure in the next spending review period prior to ministerial consideration and Scottish Parliamentary scrutiny in relation to the budget setting process, or indeed knowing what the overall envelope of resources available to the Scottish Government will be.
","AnswerDate":"2010-01-15T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-01-21T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Richard Lochhead","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":237044,"EventID":"S3W-30491","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":4086,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":7,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2010-01-07T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-01-07T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what the projections were as at 1 January 2009 for the (a) national and (b) European spend on the Scotland Rural Development Programme 2007-13 until the end of 2009, brok","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what the projections were as at 1 January 2009 for the (a) national and (b) European spend on the Scotland Rural Development Programme 2007-13 until the end of 2009, broken down by programme components.","AnswerText":"The projections for expenditure for financial year 2009-10 for the Scotland Rural Development Programme from the Scottish Government''s budget documents total £218.3 million. Of this, £146.6 million (67.2%) is from domestic sources and £71.6 million (32.8%) is from the EU. Total predicted expenditure for 2009-10 by programme component is as follows:
Scotland Rural Development Budget Component
Total
£m
Business Development
33.4
Less Favoured Area Support Scheme
61.0
Agri-environmental Measures
58.3
Forestry
32.6
Rural Enterprise
18.2
Rural Communities
8.7
Leader
5.8
Technical Assistance
0.3
Total
218.3
","AnswerDate":"2010-01-15T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-01-21T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Richard Lochhead","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":237045,"EventID":"S3W-30492","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":4086,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":7,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2010-01-07T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-01-07T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what the (a) national and (b) European spend was on the Scotland Rural Development Programme 2007-13 in 2009, broken down by programme components.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what the (a) national and (b) European spend was on the Scotland Rural Development Programme 2007-13 in 2009, broken down by programme components.","AnswerText":"Scottish Government outturn for financial year 2009-10 will be published in the Consolidated Accounts later in 2010 following the end of the current financial year. ","AnswerDate":"2010-01-20T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-01-21T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Richard Lochhead","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":237046,"EventID":"S3W-30493","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1783,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":67,"ApprovedDate":"2010-01-07T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-01-07T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-29764 by Nicola Sturgeon on 6 January 2010, how many senior charge nurses have direct access to budgets for urgent repairs and repl","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-29764 by Nicola Sturgeon on 6 January 2010, how many senior charge nurses have direct access to budgets for urgent repairs and replacement equipment.","AnswerText":"The HAI National Action Plan requires NHS boards to have an identified budget for urgent repairs and replacement equipment available to senior charge nurses. All NHS boards have confirmed that they comply with this aspect of the action plan. ","AnswerDate":"2010-01-18T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-01-21T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Nicola Sturgeon","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":237047,"EventID":"S3W-30494","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1783,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":67,"ApprovedDate":"2010-01-07T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-01-07T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-29763 by Nicola Sturgeon on 6 January 2010, whether every senior charge nurse has direct responsibility for the deployment of clean","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-29763 by Nicola Sturgeon on 6 January 2010, whether every senior charge nurse has direct responsibility for the deployment of cleaning staff and, if not, where this responsibility lies.","AnswerText":"Not all Senior Charge Nurses (SCNs) have direct responsibility for the routine deployment of cleaning staff. In some areas this responsibility lies with Domestic Supervisors. However, Domestic Supervisors will respond to requests from SCNs to address any specific issues identified through their role of promoting a clean and safe environment for staff, patients and visitors. ","AnswerDate":"2010-01-18T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-01-21T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Nicola Sturgeon","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":237048,"EventID":"S3W-30495","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2038,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":44,"ApprovedDate":"2010-01-07T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-01-07T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive when it will announce its decision on the proposed A92 Road Orders in relation to the A92 east of Newport-on-Tay, Fife.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive when it will announce its decision on the proposed A92 Road Orders in relation to the A92 east of Newport-on-Tay, Fife.","AnswerText":"The Report of the Public Local Inquiry has been received by my officials and is currently being considered. A decision will be announced as soon as possible and the report of the Inquiry will be made available at that time. ","AnswerDate":"2010-01-15T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-01-21T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Stewart Stevenson","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":237049,"EventID":"S3W-30496","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2595,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":4,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2010-01-07T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-01-07T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive how many people have been treated for hypothermia in NHS Lothian during the recent cold weather conditions and what proportion was represented by individuals aged over 60","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive how many people have been treated for hypothermia in NHS Lothian during the recent cold weather conditions and what proportion was represented by individuals aged over 60.","AnswerText":"People with hypothermia may be treated in a number of different health care settings (for example; accident and emergency (A&E) departments, acute hospitals).
The total number of people who have received treatment in these settings for hypothermia during the recent severe weather is not available from centrally collected, validated statistics.
It is not possible to identify people with hypothermia attending A&E departments in NHS Lothian from local management information as A&E data systems do not hold diagnosis based information.
The number of patients admitted to general acute hospitals with a diagnosis of hypothermia in NHS Lothian during this period will be available from National Statistics on publication of the Acute Hospital Care section of ISD''s website, scheduled for 28 September 2010. This publication will include detailed age and diagnosis specific information for hospital admissions based on SMR01 patient level discharge records up to the year ending 31 March 2010.
","AnswerDate":"2010-01-18T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-01-21T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Nicola Sturgeon","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":237050,"EventID":"S3W-30497","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2595,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":4,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2010-01-07T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-01-07T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive how many people have been treated at emergency units in NHS Lothian due to falls during the recent cold weather conditions and what proportion was represented by individu","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive how many people have been treated at emergency units in NHS Lothian due to falls during the recent cold weather conditions and what proportion was represented by individuals aged over 60.","AnswerText":"The precise number of people attending NHS Lothian emergency services due to falls during the recent severe weather is not available from centrally collected, validated statistics.
According to provisional management information, during the period 28 December 2009 to 3 January 2010, there were approximately 37% more attendances at accident and emergency (A&E) departments in NHS Lothian, due to falls and fractures, when compared to the same period last year.
Official statistics on A&E attendances up to 31 December 2009 will be published by Information Services Division on 24 February 2010 http://www.isdscotland.org/isd/4024.html.
","AnswerDate":"2010-01-18T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-01-21T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Nicola Sturgeon","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":237051,"EventID":"S3W-30498","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2595,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":4,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2010-01-07T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-01-07T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive how many emergency hospital admissions in NHS Lothian can be attributed to the recent cold weather conditions and what proportion was represented by individuals aged over","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive how many emergency hospital admissions in NHS Lothian can be attributed to the recent cold weather conditions and what proportion was represented by individuals aged over 60.","AnswerText":"Official statistics relating to emergency admissions to acute general hospitals in NHS Lothian are published as part of the quarterly update to the Acute Hospital Care section of the Information Services Division''s (ISD) website (http://www.isdscotland.org/isd/3400.html).
The next publication is scheduled for 30 March 2010 and will include high level statistics up to the quarter ending 31 December 2009 based on ISD(S)1 aggregate data returns.
The subsequent publication is scheduled for 29 June 2010 and will include high level statistics up to the quarter ending 31 March 2010.
Publication of annual hospital activity, national statistics up to the year ending 31 March 2010 is scheduled for 28 September 2010 as part of the annual update to the Acute Hospital Care section of ISD''s website. These statistics will include detailed age and diagnosis specific information for emergency admissions based on SMR01 patient level discharge records.
Whilst details of diagnoses on SMR01 records can be used to identify medical conditions likely to be related to cold weather, the data collection cannot attribute admissions due to prevailing cold weather per se.
","AnswerDate":"2010-01-18T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-01-21T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Nicola Sturgeon","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":237052,"EventID":"S3W-30499","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2651,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":41,"ApprovedDate":"2010-01-07T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-01-07T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive which local authorities have contacted the Scottish Government Resilience Room since 22 December 2009 regarding low levels of salt and grit and what the (a) date and mean","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive which local authorities have contacted the Scottish Government Resilience Room since 22 December 2009 regarding low levels of salt and grit and what the (a) date and means of initial contact, (b) date of the Scottish Government response and (c) action taken was, broken down by local authority.","AnswerText":"Local authorities and trunk road operators have their own contracts with salt suppliers and government quite rightly cannot interfere with these. However, the Scottish Government is doing everything possible to support councils and operators in keeping disruption to a minimum during this difficult weather.
Following discussion with the Convention of Scottish Local Authorities and the Society of Local Authority Chief Executives on 28 December 2009, Scottish Resilience officials first e‘mailed Scotland''s 32 local authorities on 29 December requesting information on salt/grit supplies. Returns were collated on 30 December and this data has been updated daily since 1January 2010. To ensure that operators and suppliers work together to agree the most effective distribution and use of available salt supplies in order to minimise the risk to public safety, this information has been shared at a pan-Scotland level with COSLA, SOLACE, Transport Scotland and with regional resilience contacts. Information has also been collated at a UK level and shared with the three main UK salt suppliers, for their customers only, to inform their delivery schedules.
Scottish Government has also established a Scottish Salt Cell, to support and advise councils and operators in managing the current supply and demand for salt and to explore options for securing alternative supplies.
","AnswerDate":"2010-01-18T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-01-21T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Kenny MacAskill","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":237053,"EventID":"S3W-30500","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2651,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":41,"ApprovedDate":"2010-01-07T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-01-07T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive which local authorities have received supplies of extra salt and grit following contact with the Scottish Government Resilience Room since 22 December 2009 and what the (","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive which local authorities have received supplies of extra salt and grit following contact with the Scottish Government Resilience Room since 22 December 2009 and what the (a) source of the materials supplied, (b) date of delivery and (c) tonnage supplied was, broken down by local authority.","AnswerText":"The detail requested concerns a series of individual transactions between local authorities, operators and suppliers and is therefore treated as commercial information. In the period to 18 January 2010 we can however confirm that with the support of the Scottish Salt Group, which was established by Scottish Government, 59 instances of mutual aid have taken place across Scotland resulting in the movement of over 11,000 tonnes of salt. Thus far, the Scottish Salt Group has also identified and allocated additional salt supplies to Scottish local authorities in excess of 2,800 tonnes. This process continues. ","AnswerDate":"2010-01-20T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-01-21T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Kenny MacAskill","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":237054,"EventID":"S3W-30501","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1845,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":6,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2010-01-07T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-01-07T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive how many local authorities are collecting rents for allotments using regulations that have not been confirmed by the Scottish Ministers in terms of section 6(1) of the Al","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive how many local authorities are collecting rents for allotments using regulations that have not been confirmed by the Scottish Ministers in terms of section 6(1) of the Allotments (Scotland) Act 1892.","AnswerText":"Information is not held centrally on whether local authorities are collecting rents for allotments under regulations made in terms of section 6(1) of the Allotments (Scotland) Act 1892, which have not been confirmed by ministers as required by section 6(1). Any such collection is a matter for individual authorities. ","AnswerDate":"2010-01-15T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-01-21T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"John Swinney","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":237055,"EventID":"S3W-30502","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1845,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":6,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2010-01-07T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-01-07T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether local authority allotment tenants who have been charged rent as a result of the implementation of regulations that have not been confirmed by the Scottish Ministe","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether local authority allotment tenants who have been charged rent as a result of the implementation of regulations that have not been confirmed by the Scottish Ministers in terms of section 6(1) of the Allotments (Scotland) Act 1892 are entitled to have these rents repaid to them.","AnswerText":"A local authority would not be entitled to collect rent under regulations that had not been formally confirmed by Scottish Ministers in terms of section 6(1) of the Allotment (Scotland) Act 1892. Regulations made under this provision have no legal effect without ministerial confirmation. It would be for the local authority to resolve with its allotment holders the issue of rent collected in this manner. ","AnswerDate":"2010-01-15T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-01-21T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"John Swinney","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":237056,"EventID":"S3W-30503","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1803,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":58,"ApprovedDate":"2010-01-07T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-01-07T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what steps it is taking to prepare for the consequences of the forthcoming thaw.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what steps it is taking to prepare for the consequences of the forthcoming thaw.","AnswerText":"Although a thaw is now taking place in many parts of Scotland, there is currently no indication that the rate of thawing will result in severe flooding problems, nor have any official SEPA flood warnings been issued. The Scottish Government continues to work closely with SEPA''s flood warning staff and the Met office to monitor the situation. Local authorities have been briefed on the importance of ensuring drainage is clear and that piles of cleared snow are situated in areas that are not vulnerable to flooding. In response to the severe weather, the Scottish Government has convened its resilience room, and all strategic co-ordinating groups are providing updates on potential flooding problems. ","AnswerDate":"2010-01-14T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-01-21T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Roseanna Cunningham","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":237057,"EventID":"S3W-30504","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1853,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":16,"ApprovedDate":"2010-01-07T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-01-07T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will detail the charges made for factoring services by housing associations and social landlords in Glasgow and the West of Scotland.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will detail the charges made for factoring services by housing associations and social landlords in Glasgow and the West of Scotland.","AnswerText":"I have asked Michael Cameron, Acting Chief Executive of the Scottish Housing Regulator to respond.
His response is as follows:
Some registered social landlords set up subsidiaries to run their factoring services. These subsidiaries are not subject to our full financial analysis. However, from the information submitted to us by registered social landlords operating in Glasgow and the West of Scotland we know that in 2008-09 they received income of around £10.6 million for providing services to owners of around 58,000 properties. This equates to an average annual charge of £183 per property or £45 per quarter. We have however included Glasgow Housing Association''s subsidiary in that £10.6 million figure due to its material effect on the sector.
It is likely that the figure of £10.6 million above covers administrative charges and the costs of routine factoring services but not all the costs of major capital works recharged to owners.
","AnswerDate":"2010-01-18T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-01-21T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Alex Neil","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":237058,"EventID":"S3W-30505","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1853,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":16,"ApprovedDate":"2010-01-07T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-01-07T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what guidance it offers to housing associations and social landlords providing factoring services.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what guidance it offers to housing associations and social landlords providing factoring services.","AnswerText":"I have asked Michael Cameron, Acting Chief Executive of the Scottish Housing Regulator to respond.
His response is as follows:
The Scottish Housing Regulator publishes performance standards and self-assessment guidance on factoring on our website. We expect landlords to follow the principles of these standards in their activities and where appropriate we test landlord performance against these during our inspections.
Since March 2009 the Scottish Government has been working with key industry, consumer and housing stakeholders (including the Scottish Federation of Housing Associations) to establish a national accreditation scheme for residential property managers. The scheme will be voluntary, industry-led and open to all sectors offering property management and land maintenance services (housing associations, local authorities, private firms, sheltered housing and land maintenance companies “ including land owning land maintenance companies).
","AnswerDate":"2010-01-18T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-01-21T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Alex Neil","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":237059,"EventID":"S3W-30506","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1853,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":16,"ApprovedDate":"2010-01-07T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-01-07T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what role the Scottish Housing Regulator has in relation to factoring services provided by housing associations and social landlords.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what role the Scottish Housing Regulator has in relation to factoring services provided by housing associations and social landlords.","AnswerText":"I have asked Michael Cameron, Acting Chief Executive of the Scottish Housing Regulator to respond.
His response is as follows:
The Scottish Housing Regulator''s overall purpose is to regulate to:
protect the interests of current and future tenants, and other service users;
ensure the continuing provision of good quality social housing in terms of decent homes, good services, value for money and financial viability, and
maintain the confidence of funders.
We publish performance standards and self-assessment guidance on factoring. We expect landlords to follow the principles of these standards in their activities. Where appropriate or when concerns have been raised by service users we test landlord performance against these principles during our inspections and other regulatory engagement.
Our analysis of registered social landlords finances includes an assessment of the impact any factoring activities have on their core business. We will discuss any concerns that may arise from this assessment with the landlord.
","AnswerDate":"2010-01-18T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-01-21T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Alex Neil","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":237060,"EventID":"S3W-30507","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1860,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":3,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2010-01-07T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-01-07T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what services are available to older people who are housebound due to the current weather conditions to enable them to purchase groceries and other essential items.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what services are available to older people who are housebound due to the current weather conditions to enable them to purchase groceries and other essential items.","AnswerText":"Local authorities, health boards, voluntary organisations and private care providers are working hard to ensure that housebound people receive the help they need during the severe weather conditions, including assistance with purchasing groceries and other essential items. The Scottish Government, local authorities and voluntary organisations are publicising the help available as set out in my answer to question S3W-30510 on 18 January 2010. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament''s website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/Apps2/Business/PQA/Default.aspx. ","AnswerDate":"2010-01-21T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-01-21T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Shona Robison","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":237061,"EventID":"S3W-30508","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1860,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":3,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2010-01-07T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-01-07T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what emergency funding is available to ensure that no older person is unable to access key services due to the current weather conditions.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what emergency funding is available to ensure that no older person is unable to access key services due to the current weather conditions.","AnswerText":"The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) provide cold weather payments to those in receipt of income related benefits, including pension credit, when specified criteria are met. Payments of £25 are made when the area in which the person lives is, or is forecasted to be, zero degrees celsius or below for a period of seven consecutive days. Payments are made automatically to those who qualify. As with all DWP benefits the policy on cold weather payments is reserved to the UK Government.
As for local authority and health board funding for the delivery of key services during the severe weather, both are expected to deal with some rise and fall in expenditure demands within the money allocated to them by the Scottish Government.
","AnswerDate":"2010-01-21T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-01-21T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Shona Robison","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":237062,"EventID":"S3W-30509","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1860,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":3,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2010-01-07T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-01-07T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether there is a helpline for older people who are housebound due to the current weather conditions through which they can access essential goods and services.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether there is a helpline for older people who are housebound due to the current weather conditions through which they can access essential goods and services.","AnswerText":"Local authority social work departments operate emergency helplines and when contacted will ensure that all vulnerable housebound people receive essential goods and services whenever possible. The Scottish Government, local authorities and voluntary organisations are publicising the help available as set out in the answer to the question S3W-30510 on 18 January 2010. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament''s website, the search facility for which can be found at:
","AnswerDate":"2010-01-18T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-01-21T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Shona Robison","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":237063,"EventID":"S3W-30510","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1860,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":3,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2010-01-07T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-01-07T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what information is available to older people who are housebound due to the current weather conditions and how such information is relayed.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what information is available to older people who are housebound due to the current weather conditions and how such information is relayed.","AnswerText":"The Scottish Government is working with local authorities and local radio to help individuals in communities find help for themselves and others. We are publicising “ through the Weather Wise section of the government''s website “ local authority helpline numbers for those experiencing difficulties. In addition, local authorities and voluntary organisations are involved in a range of activities to publicise the help available and how to access it. ","AnswerDate":"2010-01-18T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-01-21T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Shona Robison","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":237064,"EventID":"S3W-30511","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2202,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":8,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2010-01-07T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-01-07T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive how many scheduled operations were or have been cancelled or delayed in December 2009 and January 2010 to make way for fracture patients requiring operations after slippi","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive how many scheduled operations were or have been cancelled or delayed in December 2009 and January 2010 to make way for fracture patients requiring operations after slipping on ice, broken down by NHS board.","AnswerText":"Centrally collected, validated statistics do not carry information on the reasons why scheduled operations or procedures are cancelled or delayed.
In the event that an operation or procedure is cancelled by the service, for whatever reason, the patient would be made a further, reasonable offer as soon as possible which should not be detrimental to the patient''s waiting time.
Official statistics relating to cancellations of outpatient attendances and inpatient/day case treatment are published as part of the quarterly update to the Waiting Times and Waiting Lists section of the Information Services Division''s (ISD) website (http://www.isdscotland.org/isd/3454.html).
The next publication is scheduled for 23 February 2010 and will include cancellation statistics up to the quarter ending 31 December 2009 derived from the National Waiting Times Data Warehouse.
The subsequent publication is scheduled for 25 May 2010 and will include statistics up to the quarter ending 31 March 2010.
","AnswerDate":"2010-01-18T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-01-21T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Nicola Sturgeon","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":237065,"EventID":"S3W-30512","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2202,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":8,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2010-01-07T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-01-07T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive how many patients have undergone operations to treat a fracture in each month of the last year, broken down by NHS board.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive how many patients have undergone operations to treat a fracture in each month of the last year, broken down by NHS board.","AnswerText":"There is no definitive list of operations which relate to the specific treatment of fractures. The range of procedures which may be performed to treat fractures may also be performed for other clinical reasons. Thus, the precise number patients who undergo an operation to treat a fracture is not available from central records.
The numbers of hospital stays at which a fracture diagnosis and an operation which may be related to the fracture are recorded is shown in the table below. These data are broken down by NHS board of treatment and calendar month, for the latest available 12 month period.
Number of NHSScotland hospital stays where a fracture diagnosis and an operation which may be related to the fracture are recorded1,2, by NHS board of treatment and month of discharge:
NHS Board of Treatment
Month of Discharge
July
2008
August
2008
September
2008
October
2008
November
2008
December
2008
Ayrshire and Arran
161
137
115
122
122
184
Borders
36
29
31
33
17
33
Dumfries and Galloway
66
50
54
55
44
59
Fife
108
110
104
100
89
121
Forth Valley
98
87
95
80
73
Regional committees retain the discretion, in exceptional circumstances, to approve cases below the threshold, or reject cases above the threshold, taking account of the full range of local circumstances.
Individual applicants can obtain information on request from their case officer, on scoring thresholds, and how their own case was scored.
To date we have not received any request to publish the national thresholds, but would be happy to do so.
","AnswerDate":"2010-01-15T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-01-21T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Richard Lochhead","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":237067,"EventID":"S3W-30514","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2223,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":26,"ApprovedDate":"2010-01-07T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-01-07T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive how long after meetings of regional proposal assessment committees it has made its decisions to endorse or overturn the committees’ recommendations to grant aid under the","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive how long after meetings of regional proposal assessment committees it has made its decisions to endorse or overturn the committees’ recommendations to grant aid under the Scotland Rural Development Programme, broken down into each (a) round of applications since the programme became operational and (b) committee area.","AnswerText":"The Regional Proposal Assessment Committee (RPAC) system only relates to the Rural Priorities element of the Scotland Rural Development Programme (SRDP). We endeavour to make decisions on RPAC recommendations as soon as possible after the final committee has sat. However, there are a number of internal procedures to be followed in order to collate and validate the accuracy of the figures before the recommendations can be considered. As the recommendations from all regions are considered by the Scottish Government within the same timescale, there is no regional breakdown of the figures.
The following table sets out, for each round, the date of the last RPAC meeting and the date of the formal announcement of the results.
RPAC (last day)
Announcement
26 August 2008
11 September 2008
31 October 2008
26 November 2008
9 December 2008
29 December 2008
26 February 2009
2 April 2009
14 August 2009
16 September 2009
27 November 2009
7 January 2010
","AnswerDate":"2010-01-15T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-01-21T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Richard Lochhead","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":237068,"EventID":"S3W-30515","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2223,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":26,"ApprovedDate":"2010-01-07T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-01-07T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive how long it has taken, after announcing the successful applications for grant aid under the Scotland Rural Development Programme, to send contracts to the successful appl","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive how long it has taken, after announcing the successful applications for grant aid under the Scotland Rural Development Programme, to send contracts to the successful applicants, broken down by regional proposal assessment committee areas.","AnswerText":"We are not able to report average contract issue times for each region. We issue contracts for successful Rural Priorities applications as soon as possible after approval is given. The time taken to issue contracts can be affected by a number of factors, including the complexity of the case, the accuracy of the information provided by the applicant and changes to payment rates. In such cases, officials remain in contact with applicants to keep them informed of the situation.
Any applicant with concerns should speak to their case officer in the first instance.
","AnswerDate":"2010-01-15T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-01-21T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Richard Lochhead","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":237069,"EventID":"S3W-30516","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2223,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":26,"ApprovedDate":"2010-01-07T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-01-07T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive how long it has taken to review the tenders for grant aid for capital projects made under the Scotland Rural Development Programme, broken down into each (a) round of app","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive how long it has taken to review the tenders for grant aid for capital projects made under the Scotland Rural Development Programme, broken down into each (a) round of applications since the programme became operational and (b) regional proposal assessment committee areas.","AnswerText":"The consideration of all supporting documentation is an integral part of the project assessment process. All applications for grant are considered within the published framework and timescales for the assessment of applications. These timescales may vary due to the size and complexity of cases. Further details are available on the Rural Priorities website at:
For information on the time taken between assessment rounds and the announcement of results, I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-30514, on 15 January 2010. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament''s website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/Apps2/Business/PQA/Default.aspx.
","AnswerDate":"2010-01-15T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-01-21T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Richard Lochhead","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":237070,"EventID":"S3W-30517","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2223,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":26,"ApprovedDate":"2010-01-07T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-01-07T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether the formal guidelines it issues to applicants for grant aid under the Scotland Rural Development Programme include a requirement or recommendation that applicants","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether the formal guidelines it issues to applicants for grant aid under the Scotland Rural Development Programme include a requirement or recommendation that applicants’ bridging loan arrangements should be made with a commercial bank.","AnswerText":"There is no specific recommendation or requirement in the guidance for the Rural Priorities element of the Scotland Rural Development Programme regarding the arrangements for any bridging loan that may be necessary.
Ultimately it is for applicants to provide adequate evidence that sufficient match funding is available to enable the project to go forward.
","AnswerDate":"2010-01-15T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-01-21T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Richard Lochhead","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":237071,"EventID":"S3W-30518","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2223,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":26,"ApprovedDate":"2010-01-07T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-01-07T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive how many applications were made in 2009 to the Scotland Rural Development Programme by Shetland applicants; how many of these included agri-environment proposals, and how","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive how many applications were made in 2009 to the Scotland Rural Development Programme by Shetland applicants; how many of these included agri-environment proposals, and how many of the agri-environment applications were (a) successful and (b) rejected.","AnswerText":"In 2009, 113 applications were made by Shetland applicants for funding under the Rural Priorities element of the Scotland Rural Development Programme. Ninety-one of these included agri-environment options.
(a) 63 proposals with an agri-environment element gained approval, either in full or in part.
(b) 28 proposals had their agri-environment element rejected.
","AnswerDate":"2010-01-15T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-01-21T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Richard Lochhead","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":237072,"EventID":"S3W-30519","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2394,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":5,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2010-01-07T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-01-07T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what contingency plans it has in place for situations where a local authority exhausts its supplies of grit and salt and is unable to replenish them.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what contingency plans it has in place for situations where a local authority exhausts its supplies of grit and salt and is unable to replenish them.","AnswerText":"The Scottish Government is doing everything possible to ensure that councils, trunk road operators and salt suppliers work together to ensure best use of available salt supplies in order minimise the risk to public safety. In the event of a local authority being at risk of running out of road salt, existing arrangements for supporting mutual aid between councils and trunk road operators would apply, in addition to ensuring that the relevant salt supplier was advised of the situation to inform its delivery schedules.
The Scottish Government has established a Scottish Salt Cell, to support and advise councils and operators in managing the current supply and demand for salt, and to explore options for securing alternative supplies.
","AnswerDate":"2010-01-18T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-01-21T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Kenny MacAskill","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":237073,"EventID":"S3W-30520","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2394,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":5,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2010-01-07T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-01-07T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions it has had with the UK Government and its appropriate agencies regarding resources and supplies of grit and salt should these be required.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions it has had with the UK Government and its appropriate agencies regarding resources and supplies of grit and salt should these be required.","AnswerText":"In order to provide consistent advice to the UK''s main salt suppliers, which supply to councils and trunk road operators across the UK, a UK Salt Cell has been established. The UK Salt Cell brings together the Department for Transport (Chair), the Scottish Government, the Welsh Assembly Government, Transport Scotland, the Highways Agency, COSLA, the Local Government Association and other relevant agencies and departments. It meets twice-weekly to monitor the salt supply and delivery position across the UK, and to advise suppliers on the most effective distribution of available salt supplies. To support that process, Scottish Government officials are also in regular contact with Department for Transport and colleagues. ","AnswerDate":"2010-01-15T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-01-21T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"John Swinney","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":237074,"EventID":"S3W-30521","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2394,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":5,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2010-01-07T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-01-07T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive how many tonnes of salt and grit it has in reserve to deal with the extreme weather conditions.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive how many tonnes of salt and grit it has in reserve to deal with the extreme weather conditions.","AnswerText":"Responsibility for maintaining Scotland''s public roads and footpaths, including the purchase and use of road salt, sits with local authorities and trunk road operators. The Scottish Government does not therefore hold significant reserves of salt or grit for allocation to councils and operators.
I also refer the member to the answer to question S3W-30519 on 18 January 2010 which is available on the Parliament''s website, the search facility for which can be found at:
","AnswerDate":"2010-01-19T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-01-21T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"John Swinney","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":237075,"EventID":"S3W-30522","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2394,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":5,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2010-01-07T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-01-07T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what advice it and its agencies are giving to communities and farmers at risk of flooding once the snow thaws.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what advice it and its agencies are giving to communities and farmers at risk of flooding once the snow thaws.","AnswerText":"Although a thaw is now taking place in many parts of Scotland, there is currently no indication that the rate of thawing will result in severe flooding problems. Nevertheless, people should heed the advice on SEPA''s website and be prepared for flooding. SEPA''s flood warning staff continue to work closely with the Met Office and people should look out for any flood watches or warnings which may be issued on SEPA''s Floodline service. In response to the severe weather, the Scottish Government has convened its resilience room, and all strategic co-ordinating groups are providing updates on potential flooding problems. ","AnswerDate":"2010-01-15T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-01-21T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Richard Lochhead","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":237076,"EventID":"S3W-30523","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2188,"Party":"Scottish Green Party","RegionID":4,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2010-01-07T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-01-07T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive how many and what contracts have been placed by Scotland Excel.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive how many and what contracts have been placed by Scotland Excel.","AnswerText":"This is a matter for Scotland Excel to answer and should be referred to:
","AnswerDate":"2010-01-15T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-01-21T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"John Swinney","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":237077,"EventID":"S3W-30524","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2188,"Party":"Scottish Green Party","RegionID":4,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2010-01-07T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-01-07T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what the total value is of all contracts placed with Scotland Excel.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what the total value is of all contracts placed with Scotland Excel.","AnswerText":"I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-30523 on 15 January 2010. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament''s website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/Apps2/Business/PQA/Default.aspx. ","AnswerDate":"2010-01-15T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-01-21T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"John Swinney","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":237078,"EventID":"S3W-30525","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2188,"Party":"Scottish Green Party","RegionID":4,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2010-01-07T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-01-07T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what firms (a) have been contracted by Scotland Excel and (b) previously fulfilled these contracts.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what firms (a) have been contracted by Scotland Excel and (b) previously fulfilled these contracts.","AnswerText":"I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-30523 on 15 January 2010. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament''s website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/Apps2/Business/PQA/Default.aspx. ","AnswerDate":"2010-01-15T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-01-21T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"John Swinney","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":237079,"EventID":"S3W-30526","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2188,"Party":"Scottish Green Party","RegionID":4,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2010-01-07T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-01-07T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what the net loss or gain to businesses has been as a result of the placement of contracts by Scotland Excel as of the latest date for which information is available.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what the net loss or gain to businesses has been as a result of the placement of contracts by Scotland Excel as of the latest date for which information is available.","AnswerText":"I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-30523 on 15 January 2010. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament''s website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/Apps2/Business/PQA/Default.aspx. ","AnswerDate":"2010-01-15T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-01-21T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"John Swinney","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":237080,"EventID":"S3W-30527","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1988,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":5,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2010-01-07T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-01-07T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions it has had with the General Register Office for Scotland regarding the transfer of data from microfilm and microfiche to digital format.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions it has had with the General Register Office for Scotland regarding the transfer of data from microfilm and microfiche to digital format.","AnswerText":"None: the transfer was completed in 2004. ","AnswerDate":"2010-01-19T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-01-21T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Jim Mather","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":237081,"EventID":"S3W-30528","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1988,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":5,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2010-01-07T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-01-07T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether it is aware that microfilm and microfiche facilities are to be withdrawn from the General Register Office for Scotland.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether it is aware that microfilm and microfiche facilities are to be withdrawn from the General Register Office for Scotland.","AnswerText":"I understand that, while the digital images of census and other records give much faster and more convenient access to the records, the paper documents and the microfilm and microfiche will remain available when necessary “ for instance where the digital image, created from the microfiche and microfilm, is inadequately legible. ","AnswerDate":"2010-01-19T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-01-21T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Jim Mather","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":237082,"EventID":"S3W-30529","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1988,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":5,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2010-01-07T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-01-07T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will intervene if there are proposals to destroy microfilm and microfiche data held by the General Register Office for Scotland once they have been transferred","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will intervene if there are proposals to destroy microfilm and microfiche data held by the General Register Office for Scotland once they have been transferred to digital format.","AnswerText":"There are no such proposals. ","AnswerDate":"2010-01-19T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-01-21T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Jim Mather","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":237083,"EventID":"S3W-30530","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":3811,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":4,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2010-01-07T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-01-07T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what official engagements were undertaken by (a) the First Minister, (b) each cabinet secretary and (c) other ministers between 18 December 2009 and 6 January 2010.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what official engagements were undertaken by (a) the First Minister, (b) each cabinet secretary and (c) other ministers between 18 December 2009 and 6 January 2010.","AnswerText":"The detailed information requested is currently being collated and I will write to the member as soon as the information is available. A copy of the letter will be placed in the Scottish Parliament Information Centre (Bib. number 50055). ","AnswerDate":"2010-01-15T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-01-21T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"John Swinney","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":237084,"EventID":"S3W-30531","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":3811,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":4,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2010-01-07T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-01-07T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what the respective legal responsibilities are of the householder and local authority where an accident occurs on a pavement cleared of snow by the householder.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what the respective legal responsibilities are of the householder and local authority where an accident occurs on a pavement cleared of snow by the householder.","AnswerText":"Any legal responsibility for an accident would depend on the particular circumstances and ultimately a court would determine whether any person had acted reasonably or had caused or contributed to the accident through their careless or reckless action. Householders who take reasonable measures to clear a pavement outside their home would not normally attract legal liability for subsequent accidents and while a roads authority is expected to take reasonable steps to keep public roads and pavements clear, it is entitled to prioritise and target resources accordingly. Any pedestrian using a footpath in winter conditions would be expected to take care for their own safety. ","AnswerDate":"2010-01-19T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-01-21T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"John Swinney","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":237085,"EventID":"S3W-30532","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":3811,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":4,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2010-01-07T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-01-07T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what the membership is of the Scottish Government Resilience group and on how many occasions it has met since 22 December 2009.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what the membership is of the Scottish Government Resilience group and on how many occasions it has met since 22 December 2009.","AnswerText":"As of 14 January 2010, the Cabinet Sub-Committee SGoRR had met 10 times during the current period of severe winter weather. The committee has been chaired by the First Minister and attendance has included a number of cabinet secretaries and ministers depending on how events have impacted across their portfolio responsibilities. Ministers are also supported in these meetings by a wide range of officials.
In addition to meetings of the Cabinet Sub-Committee, the Scottish Government Resilience Room has supported a range of activity and further stakeholder discussions to support and advise Scotland''s public sector organisations during the recent period of severe winter weather.
","AnswerDate":"2010-01-18T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-01-21T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Kenny MacAskill","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":237086,"EventID":"S3W-30533","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":3811,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":4,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2010-01-07T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-01-07T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what additional finance will be made available to local authorities to deal with the consequences of the extended period of snow and low temperatures.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what additional finance will be made available to local authorities to deal with the consequences of the extended period of snow and low temperatures.","AnswerText":"In line with the partnership working set out in the concordat, the Scottish Government is in regular contact with our local government partners to discuss a range of financial pressures on their budgets, including the recent severe winter weather, and consider how these can be accommodated. We will continue to work collaboratively with all councils to try to assist with any difficulties they have. ","AnswerDate":"2010-01-15T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-01-21T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"John Swinney","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":237087,"EventID":"S3W-30534","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":3811,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":4,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2010-01-07T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-01-07T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what journeys have been undertaken by public transport by ministers since 18 December 2009.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what journeys have been undertaken by public transport by ministers since 18 December 2009.","AnswerText":"The detailed information requested is currently being collated and I will write the member as soon as the information is available. A copy of the letter will be placed in the Scottish Parliament Information Centre (Bib. number 50056). ","AnswerDate":"2010-01-15T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-01-21T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"John Swinney","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":237088,"EventID":"S3W-30535","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":3811,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":4,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2010-01-07T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-01-07T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive on what occasions the Permanent Secretary of the Scottish Executive was at work in his office between 18 December 2009 and 6 January 2010.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive on what occasions the Permanent Secretary of the Scottish Executive was at work in his office between 18 December 2009 and 6 January 2010.","AnswerText":"Between 18 December and 6 January, the Permanent Secretary was at work in his office on:
Friday 18 December 2009
Monday 21 December 2009
Tuesday 22 December 2009
Wednesday 23 December 2009
Tuesday 29 December 2009
Thursday 31 December 2009
Tuesday 6 January 2010.
","AnswerDate":"2010-01-15T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-01-21T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"John Swinney","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":237089,"EventID":"S3W-30536","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":3811,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":4,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2010-01-07T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-01-07T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what meetings or discussions took place between the Cabinet Secretary for Health and Wellbeing and chief officers of NHS boards between 18 December 2009 and 6 January 201","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what meetings or discussions took place between the Cabinet Secretary for Health and Wellbeing and chief officers of NHS boards between 18 December 2009 and 6 January 2010.","AnswerText":"Officials in the Scottish Government Health Directorates have maintained daily contact throughout the period with the senior management teams of all NHS boards, including the Scottish Ambulance Service and NHS 24, to discuss a range of current issues. In view of the recent severe weather, these discussions have had a strong focus on any additional pressures on NHS services in Scotland and how NHS boards have been managing them. I received regular situation reports.
I also attended regular meetings of the Cabinet Sub Committee, CSC-SGORR. This committee sets the Scottish Government''s strategic response priorities and ensures that the necessary government resources are being brought to bear to support responders in dealing with severe weather issues.
","AnswerDate":"2010-01-18T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-01-21T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Nicola Sturgeon","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":237090,"EventID":"S3W-30537","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":3811,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":4,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2010-01-07T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-01-07T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions or meetings have taken place between the Cabinet Secretary for Education and Lifelong Learning and local authority education officials since May 2007 abo","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions or meetings have taken place between the Cabinet Secretary for Education and Lifelong Learning and local authority education officials since May 2007 about the principles and procedures for school closures in adverse weather conditions.","AnswerText":"No such discussions or meetings have taken place between the Cabinet Secretary and council education officials. There has been and continues to be, especially during the current period of severe weather, appropriate and close liaison between Scottish Government and council officials about these matters. ","AnswerDate":"2010-01-14T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-01-21T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Michael Russell","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":237091,"EventID":"S3W-30538","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":3811,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":4,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2010-01-07T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-01-07T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive how many offenders (a) subject to a community service order and (b) in detention were deployed to help in communities affected by adverse weather conditions on each day s","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive how many offenders (a) subject to a community service order and (b) in detention were deployed to help in communities affected by adverse weather conditions on each day since 18 December 2009.","AnswerText":"Information for the full period requested is not held centrally. In response to a request for information on numbers of offenders on community service involved in work to combat the winter weather in the week 5 to 12 January, however, 29 out of 32 local authorities have submitted returns. The information shows that there were 2,071 individuals on community service orders and probation orders who were engaged in this work. This represents 15,205 hours of work and amounts to 60.1% of the 3,444 offenders local authorities have told us were available for work.
The type of work being done has involved, among other duties, clearing snow and ice from pavements and driveways around hospitals, schools and homes for the elderly and other vulnerable people across Scotland. This work began with the onset of the winter weather before Christmas.
Three prisoners have been helping to clear snow in the community.
","AnswerDate":"2010-01-19T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-01-21T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Kenny MacAskill","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":237092,"EventID":"S3W-30539","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2117,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":47,"ApprovedDate":"2010-01-07T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-01-07T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the ministerial statement by the Minister for Energy, Enterprise and Tourism on 6 January 2010 (Official Report c. 22407), when it expects construction work o","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the ministerial statement by the Minister for Energy, Enterprise and Tourism on 6 January 2010 (Official Report c. 22407), when it expects construction work on the Beauly to Denny power line upgrade to start.","AnswerText":"The consent conditions require construction to begin within four years, although Scottish and Southern Energy have indicated they hope to begin work on the project in 2010. ","AnswerDate":"2010-01-19T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-01-21T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Jim Mather","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":237093,"EventID":"S3W-30540","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2117,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":47,"ApprovedDate":"2010-01-07T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-01-07T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the ministerial statement by the Minister for Energy, Enterprise and Tourism on 6 January 2010 (Official Report c. 22407), when it expects construction work o","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the ministerial statement by the Minister for Energy, Enterprise and Tourism on 6 January 2010 (Official Report c. 22407), when it expects construction work on the Beauly to Denny power line upgrade to be completed.","AnswerText":"The consent conditions require that all works, including construction of the new line and dismantling of the existing line, be completed within 10 years. However, renewable energy development imperatives exist for the developers to complete work much sooner. ","AnswerDate":"2010-01-19T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-01-21T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Jim Mather","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":237094,"EventID":"S3W-30541","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2117,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":47,"ApprovedDate":"2010-01-07T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-01-07T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the ministerial statement by the Minister for Energy, Enterprise and Tourism on 6 January 2010 (Official Report c. 22407), how many kilometres of the Beauly t","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the ministerial statement by the Minister for Energy, Enterprise and Tourism on 6 January 2010 (Official Report c. 22407), how many kilometres of the Beauly to Denny power line upgrade ministers will require the developers to place underground.","AnswerText":"As I said in my statement to Parliament on 6 January 2010 and to the Enterprise Energy and Tourism Committee on 13 January 2010, under Section 37 of the Electricity Act, under which the Beauly to Denny application was submitted, I have no powers to require the developers to place any of the line underground. ","AnswerDate":"2010-01-26T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-01-21T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Jim Mather","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":237095,"EventID":"S3W-30542","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2117,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":47,"ApprovedDate":"2010-01-07T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-01-07T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the ministerial statement by the Minister for Energy, Enterprise and Tourism on 6 January 2010 (Official Report c. 22408), how many kilometres of the 86.5 kil","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the ministerial statement by the Minister for Energy, Enterprise and Tourism on 6 January 2010 (Official Report c. 22408), how many kilometres of the 86.5 kilometres of existing wirescape ministers will require developers to place underground.","AnswerText":"Plans submitted to Scottish ministers to mitigate the wirescape in five distinct locations, as required by conditions, must include proposals for undergrounding, removing or mitigating a total of 86.5km of overhead line. It is therefore not possible to provide a definitive answer on the specific length of wirescape which will be undergrounded until proposals from developers for the various rationlisation schemes have been agreed in line with consent conditions. ","AnswerDate":"2010-01-19T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-01-21T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Jim Mather","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":237096,"EventID":"S3W-30543","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2117,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":47,"ApprovedDate":"2010-01-07T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-01-07T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the ministerial statement by the Minister for Energy, Enterprise and Tourism on 6 January 2010 (Official Report c. 22407), whether consultations with an envir","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the ministerial statement by the Minister for Energy, Enterprise and Tourism on 6 January 2010 (Official Report c. 22407), whether consultations with an environmental liaison group and a tourism, cultural heritage and community liaison group will lead to a delay in the start of construction work.","AnswerText":"Scottish and Southern Energy have already indicated they intend to begin their public engagement at an early stage. The developers'' engagement will include consultation with the Environmental Liaison Group and Tourism, Cultural Heritage and Community Liaison Group. I do not anticipate this resulting in any significant delay. Consultation with these groups will be an ongoing process throughout construction. ","AnswerDate":"2010-01-19T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-01-21T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Jim Mather","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":237097,"EventID":"S3W-30544","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2117,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":47,"ApprovedDate":"2010-01-07T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-01-07T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the ministerial statement by the Minister for Energy, Enterprise and Tourism on 6 January 2010 (Official Report c. 22407), which conditions attached to the co","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the ministerial statement by the Minister for Energy, Enterprise and Tourism on 6 January 2010 (Official Report c. 22407), which conditions attached to the consent for the Beauly to Denny power line upgrade will require significant adjustment to the developers’ existing plans.","AnswerText":"Until proposals from developers for the various mitigation plans have been agreed in line with consent conditions, it is not possible to determine which conditions attached to the consent will require significant adjustment to the developers'' existing plans. ","AnswerDate":"2010-01-19T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-01-21T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Jim Mather","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":237098,"EventID":"S3W-30545","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2117,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":47,"ApprovedDate":"2010-01-07T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-01-07T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the ministerial statement by the Minister for Energy, Enterprise and Tourism on 6 January 2010 (Official Report c. 22407), whether new planning consents will ","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the ministerial statement by the Minister for Energy, Enterprise and Tourism on 6 January 2010 (Official Report c. 22407), whether new planning consents will be required as a result of the conditions attached to the consent for the Beauly to Denny power line upgrade.","AnswerText":"I do not anticipate any new planning applications as a result of the conditions, however until proposals from developers for mitigation plans have been agreed in line with the consent conditions, this cannot be definitively ruled out. ","AnswerDate":"2010-01-19T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-01-21T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Jim Mather","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":237099,"EventID":"S3W-30546","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2117,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":47,"ApprovedDate":"2010-01-07T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-01-07T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the ministerial statement by the Minister for Energy, Enterprise and Tourism on 6 January 2010 (Official Report c. 22407), what additional delays to the Beaul","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the ministerial statement by the Minister for Energy, Enterprise and Tourism on 6 January 2010 (Official Report c. 22407), what additional delays to the Beauly to Denny power line upgrade it expects as a result of conditions to the consent.","AnswerText":"I do not anticipate any additional delays as a result of the conditions of consent, although the exact timing will depend on what is proposed by the developers. ","AnswerDate":"2010-01-20T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-01-21T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Jim Mather","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":237100,"EventID":"S3W-30547","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1783,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":67,"ApprovedDate":"2010-01-07T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-01-07T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether distinction awards made to consultants are added to salaries and therefore reflected in pension provision.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether distinction awards made to consultants are added to salaries and therefore reflected in pension provision.","AnswerText":"Yes. ","AnswerDate":"2010-01-18T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-01-21T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Nicola Sturgeon","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":237101,"EventID":"S3W-30548","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1783,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":67,"ApprovedDate":"2010-01-07T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-01-07T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what the value of distinction awards made to consultants was in (a) 2007-08 and (b) 2008-09 and has been in 2009-10, broken down by number of consultants.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what the value of distinction awards made to consultants was in (a) 2007-08 and (b) 2008-09 and has been in 2009-10, broken down by number of consultants.","AnswerText":"The number of award holders and the associated funding allocated to the NHS boards in Scotland in the three most recent financial years is as follows:
Financial Year
Number of Award Holders
Funding allocated to boards for Distinction Awards
(£)
2007-08
524
24,164,310
2008-09
552
26,460,756
2009-10
578
27,961,798
","AnswerDate":"2010-01-18T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-01-21T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Nicola Sturgeon","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":237102,"EventID":"S3W-30549","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1783,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":67,"ApprovedDate":"2010-01-07T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-01-07T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what the total pension provision for retired consultants with distinction awards was in (a) 2007-08 and (b) 2008-09 and has been in 2009-10 and what proportion of that pe","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what the total pension provision for retired consultants with distinction awards was in (a) 2007-08 and (b) 2008-09 and has been in 2009-10 and what proportion of that pension provision can be attributed to distinction awards.","AnswerText":"NHS pensions including pensions for consultants are the responsibility of the Scottish Public Pension Agency (SPPA). Distinction Awards are consolidated into consultant salaries and so SPPA does not hold the information in the detail requested. ","AnswerDate":"2010-01-18T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-01-21T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Nicola Sturgeon","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":237103,"EventID":"S3W-30550","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1783,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":67,"ApprovedDate":"2010-01-07T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-01-07T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether award or bonus schemes for which it has responsibility, including those relating to non-departmental public bodies but excluding the consultants’ distinction awar","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether award or bonus schemes for which it has responsibility, including those relating to non-departmental public bodies but excluding the consultants’ distinction awards, are reflected in the calculation of final pensions.","AnswerText":"The pay award and bonus arrangements for which ministers have responsibility vary considerably across the public sector, depending upon the business needs of the public body or sector. In the main, annual pay awards incorporate three main elements: a basic pay award; a progression or consolidated performance payment, and where eligible, a performance bonus. Generally, the first two elements are consolidated into basic pay and as such are included in the calculation of final pension. Bonuses are defined as non-consolidated payments that are not consolidated into base pay. They are not pensionable and are used to reward exceptional performance. ","AnswerDate":"2010-01-19T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-01-21T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"John Swinney","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":237104,"EventID":"S3W-30551","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1783,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":67,"ApprovedDate":"2010-01-07T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-01-07T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive who decides on the granting of distinction awards to consultants and whether it will detail the professional background of those involved.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive who decides on the granting of distinction awards to consultants and whether it will detail the professional background of those involved.","AnswerText":"The Scottish Advisory Committee on Distinction Awards (SACDA) a non-departmental public body, acts on behalf of Scottish ministers in deciding which individual medical and dental consultants in the NHS in Scotland should receive distinction awards for outstanding professional work.
Members are appointed by the Cabinet Secretary for Health and Wellbeing and they must adhere to a code of conduct and ethical standards in public life. Basic details of SACDA Committee Members and Advisers together with their professional status can be found on the SACDA website at http://www.show.scot.nhs.uk/sacda. More details on the committee members are published within the annual report which is also available on the SACDA website under the section called annual report.
","AnswerDate":"2010-01-18T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-01-21T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Nicola Sturgeon","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":237105,"EventID":"S3W-30552","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":3811,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":4,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2010-01-08T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-01-08T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive how it calculates the average cost of answering a written parliamentary question.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive how it calculates the average cost of answering a written parliamentary question.","AnswerText":"The methodology for calculating the average cost of answering a written parliamentary question is set out in the Scottish Government Finance Study, published on 2 October 2008, copies of which were placed in The Scottish Parliament Information Centre (Bib. number 46897). ","AnswerDate":"2010-01-14T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-01-22T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Bruce Crawford","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":237106,"EventID":"S3W-30553","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":3811,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":4,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2010-01-08T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-01-08T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether it is playing a part in the review of funding from the Higher Education Funding Council for England for university museums and galleries being led by Sir Muir Rus","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether it is playing a part in the review of funding from the Higher Education Funding Council for England for university museums and galleries being led by Sir Muir Russell.","AnswerText":"The review to which the question refers is being undertaken by the Higher Education Funding Council for England and concerns it''s funding for university museums and galleries in England. The Scottish Government is therefore not involved. ","AnswerDate":"2010-01-20T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-01-22T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Michael Russell","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":237107,"EventID":"S3W-30554","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2603,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":6,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2010-01-08T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-01-08T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether it considers that the new Framework Contract for the Provision of Interpreting, Translation and Transcription Services has improved the quality of interpretation ","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether it considers that the new Framework Contract for the Provision of Interpreting, Translation and Transcription Services has improved the quality of interpretation services offered in courts.","AnswerText":"Scottish Court Service (SCS) has responsibility for securing interpretation services in support of an accused person in criminal court proceedings.
We are satisfied with the service and formal monitoring now forms part of the contract. The requirement within the contract to increase the numbers of interpreters with DPSI qualifications year on year will enhance quality levels.
\r\n
2007
2008
2009
January
73,559
77,244
52,340
February
88,136
65,446
125,563
March
51,603
73,581
124,683
April
36,908
53,140
53,752
May
40,342
64,484
126,908
June
75,930
49,336
141,267
July
93,015
29,361
148,527
August
77,136
173,470
64,443
September
77,256
84,197
148,916
October
73,439
85,741
25,105
November
87,610
87,794
122,658
December
43,949
136,423
110,617
","AnswerDate":"2010-01-19T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-01-22T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Kenny MacAskill","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":237109,"EventID":"S3W-30556","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2603,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":6,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2010-01-08T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-01-08T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what the average cost to provide interpretation by a single interpreter in a court case (a) was prior to and (b) is under the new Framework Contract for the Provision of ","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what the average cost to provide interpretation by a single interpreter in a court case (a) was prior to and (b) is under the new Framework Contract for the Provision of Interpreting, Translation and Transcription Services.","AnswerText":"The information sought is not currently available owing to the short time that has elapsed since Scottish Court Service opted in to the framework contract. ","AnswerDate":"2010-01-19T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-01-22T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Kenny MacAskill","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":237110,"EventID":"S3W-30557","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2603,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":6,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2010-01-08T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-01-08T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether it considers that the new Framework Contract for the Provision of Interpreting, Translation and Transcription services will save the Scottish Court Service money ","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether it considers that the new Framework Contract for the Provision of Interpreting, Translation and Transcription services will save the Scottish Court Service money and, if so, how much.","AnswerText":"The framework contract provides for a more efficient procurement process for all collaborative partners. Requests for interpretation and translation services are demand driven.
Being party to the framework contract ensures that Scottish Court Service benefits from the best commercial rates available through open competition.
","AnswerDate":"2010-01-19T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-01-22T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Kenny MacAskill","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":237111,"EventID":"S3W-30558","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2603,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":6,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2010-01-08T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-01-08T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether the introduction of the new Framework Contract for the Provision of Interpreting, Translation and Transcription services was motivated by a desire to reduce costs","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether the introduction of the new Framework Contract for the Provision of Interpreting, Translation and Transcription services was motivated by a desire to reduce costs.","AnswerText":"The collaborative procurement was intended to improve the quality of service and deliver improved value for money through reducing duplicated procurement effort on the part of the courts (prior to introduction of the contract each court purchased individually). We are not aware of any evidence to suggest that the new arrangements have adversely affected the quality of interpreting services provided to the Scottish Criminal Justice System. The new contracts are monitored and to date there have been no reports of contractors failing to meet agreed levels of service. ","AnswerDate":"2010-01-19T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-01-22T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Kenny MacAskill","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":237112,"EventID":"S3W-30559","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2603,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":6,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2010-01-08T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-01-08T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what benefits it considers that the introduction of a national register of public service interpreters similar to that in operation in England and Wales would bring.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what benefits it considers that the introduction of a national register of public service interpreters similar to that in operation in England and Wales would bring.","AnswerText":"The Translating, Interpreting and Communication Support Group, set up by the Scottish Government to improve the standard of translation and interpreting services, identified monitoring quality and standards of the interpretation service as a key priority. One way of facilitating this could be through the use of the existing UK wide national register or a register specific to Scotland. ","AnswerDate":"2010-01-22T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-01-22T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Alex Neil","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":237113,"EventID":"S3W-30560","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2603,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":6,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2010-01-08T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-01-08T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether it would support the introduction of a national register of public service interpreters similar to that in operation in England and Wales.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether it would support the introduction of a national register of public service interpreters similar to that in operation in England and Wales.","AnswerText":"The national register of public service interpreters operational in England and Wales also operates in Scotland. However, it is our understanding that it is not widely used. The Scottish Government would be supportive of steps to improve monitoring of quality and data, through the use of a register if service providers felt that was the most effective way of doing so. ","AnswerDate":"2010-01-22T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-01-22T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Alex Neil","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":237114,"EventID":"S3W-30561","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2603,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":6,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2010-01-08T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-01-08T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive how many interpretation assignments have been undertaken by the Scottish Court Service in each month of the last two years, broken down by interpreters (a) with and (b) w","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive how many interpretation assignments have been undertaken by the Scottish Court Service in each month of the last two years, broken down by interpreters (a) with and (b) without a Diploma in Public Service Interpreting.","AnswerText":"Information sought relative to the period prior to the inception of the Framework Contract for the Provision of Interpreting, Translation and Transcription Services is not held centrally.
The information for the period since the Scottish Court Service opted in to the Framework Contract in August 2009 is set out in the following table. The contractors are required to increase the numbers of interpreters with DPSI qualifications year on year, the progress of which will be monitored by government officials.
2009
Assignments
DPSI
Non-DPSI
August
217
36
181
September
339
75
264
October
660
110
550
November
792
159
533
December
508
114
394
The final column of the table indicates the number of interpreters attending court in that period who did not hold the DPSI accreditation, but who held equivalent qualifications or experience in the requested language, and which qualifications and experience have been considered satisfactory by the court.
","AnswerDate":"2010-01-19T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-01-22T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Kenny MacAskill","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":237115,"EventID":"S3W-30562","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2185,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":2,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2010-01-08T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-01-08T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what its position is on residential drug and alcohol treatment facilities, such as Castle Craig Hospital, running under capacity, given that, as of September 2009, 8% of ","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what its position is on residential drug and alcohol treatment facilities, such as Castle Craig Hospital, running under capacity, given that, as of September 2009, 8% of individuals still waiting for a first drug treatment appointment had waited for over a year.","AnswerText":"The Scottish Government provides funding via NHS health boards, for treatment and support services. Decisions on spend “ including for residential rehabilitation services are made at a local level by alcohol and drug partnerships taking into account local assessment of need and priorities as set out in our Framework for Action Changing Scotland''s Relationship with Alcohol and the framework for local partnerships on alcohol and drugs. As such, decisions on residential rehabilitation will be made locally.
Decisions on treatment should not be driven by the under capacity of a private residential facility but instead, by the needs of the client. Someone waiting for their first appointment for drug treatment does not necessarily mean they are requiring residential rehabilitation.
Residential rehabilitation is one of a number of treatments. Decisions on the most appropriate treatment for individual patients are taken by clinicians, in consultation with their patient, who determine the most appropriate form of treatment, taking account of the needs and circumstances of the individual. Their aim is to ensure that the treatment package will provide the most effective support for the individual concerned.
","AnswerDate":"2010-01-21T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-01-22T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Shona Robison","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":237116,"EventID":"S3W-30563","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2185,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":2,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2010-01-08T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-01-08T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what its position is on Castle Craig Hospital running under capacity given that, as of September 2009, over 40% of individuals in Midlothian and East Lothian still waitin","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what its position is on Castle Craig Hospital running under capacity given that, as of September 2009, over 40% of individuals in Midlothian and East Lothian still waiting for a first drug treatment appointment had waited for over 26 weeks.","AnswerText":"I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-30562 on 21 January 2010. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament''s website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/Apps2/Business/PQA/Default.aspx. ","AnswerDate":"2010-01-21T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-01-22T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Shona Robison","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":237117,"EventID":"S3W-30564","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2185,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":2,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2010-01-08T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-01-08T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what its position is on residential drug and alcohol treatment facilities, such as Castle Craig Hospital, running under capacity given that, as of September 2009, 25% of ","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what its position is on residential drug and alcohol treatment facilities, such as Castle Craig Hospital, running under capacity given that, as of September 2009, 25% of individuals still waiting for a residential rehabilitation place had been waiting for between five and eight weeks and 45% had been waiting for between nine and 26 weeks.","AnswerText":"I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-30562 on 21 January 2010. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament''s website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/Apps2/Business/PQA/Default.aspx. ","AnswerDate":"2010-01-21T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-01-22T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Shona Robison","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":237118,"EventID":"S3W-30565","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2185,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":2,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2010-01-08T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-01-08T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what its position is on residential drug and alcohol treatment facilities, such as Castle Craig Hospital, running under capacity given the finding of a gap between need a","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what its position is on residential drug and alcohol treatment facilities, such as Castle Craig Hospital, running under capacity given the finding of a gap between need and service availability in the report, Scottish Alcohol Needs Assessment, with, on average, one in 12 people able to access treatment services.","AnswerText":"The Scottish Alcohol Needs Assessment report (published by the Scottish Association of Alcohol and Drug Action Teams) mapped the number of publically funded alcohol treatment provision falling within Tiers 2, 3 and 4 modalities of care as defined by models of Care for Alcohol Misusers (The National Treatment Agency for Substance Misuse, 2006). It identified 97 services in Scotland in 2006-07 as providing specialist alcohol interventions of which 10 were residential agencies and the remainder (87) were community-based. The majority (59.4%) provided services for both drug and alcohol misusers and 37.5% provided exclusively alcohol services.
The provision of services is for each local area to consider, taking account of local needs, circumstances and resources. It is for individual NHS boards, local authorities and alcohol and drug partnerships (ADPs) to ensure that appropriate health care services are provided to meet the needs of their resident populations.
The Scottish Government provides funding via NHS health boards, for treatment and support services. Decisions on spend “ including for residential rehabilitation services are made at a local level by alcohol and drug partnerships taking into account local assessment of need and priorities as set out in our framework for Action Changing Scotland''s Relationship with Alcohol and the framework for local partnerships on alcohol and drugs. As such, decisions on residential rehabilitation will be made locally.
The Scottish Government allocated £36 million via NHS health boards for tackling alcohol misuse in 2009-10 and £28 million for tackling drug misuse.
Decisions on the most appropriate treatment for individual patients are taken by clinicians, in consultation with their patient, who determine the most appropriate form of treatment, taking account of the needs and circumstances of each patient. Their aim is to ensure that the treatment package will provide the most effective support for the individual concerned.
","AnswerDate":"2010-01-21T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-01-22T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Shona Robison","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":237119,"EventID":"S3W-30566","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2394,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":5,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2010-01-08T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-01-08T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will release all advice that it took on alternatives to the Beauly to Denny power line upgrade application, such as subsea cables, undergrounding and upgrading","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will release all advice that it took on alternatives to the Beauly to Denny power line upgrade application, such as subsea cables, undergrounding and upgrading the east coast pylon route.","AnswerText":"All evidence submitted to the public local inquiry will be published on the Scottish Government''s website as soon as possible. This is a huge task, so the information will appear gradually over the coming weeks as it is added to the system. ","AnswerDate":"2010-01-19T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-01-22T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Jim Mather","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":237120,"EventID":"S3W-30567","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1857,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":15,"ApprovedDate":"2010-01-08T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-01-08T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has had discussions with Scottish Development International regarding the planned trade mission to Israel and, if so, on what date.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has had discussions with Scottish Development International regarding the planned trade mission to Israel and, if so, on what date.","AnswerText":"Scottish Development International (SDI) is a joint venture between the Scottish Government and Scottish Enterprise. It arranged the trade mission to Israel, in partnership with UK Trade and Investment, as part of its regular yearly programme of overseas trade missions.
As there are no restrictions in place as regards trading with Israel, there was no requirement for SDI to seek dispensation from Scottish Government colleagues prior to arranging this trade mission.
","AnswerDate":"2010-01-20T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-01-22T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Jim Mather","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":237121,"EventID":"S3W-30568","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1857,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":15,"ApprovedDate":"2010-01-08T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-01-08T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what funding it provides to Scottish Development International.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what funding it provides to Scottish Development International.","AnswerText":"Scottish Development International (SDI) is a joint venture between the Scottish Government, Scottish Enterprise and Highlands and Islands Enterprise. Its budget for 2009-10 was £24.3 million.
The majority of Scottish Development International''s budget, £21.7 million, comes from Scottish Enterprise''s grant-in-aid budget. SDI was also allocated £1.7 million from Scottish Government to cover the salary costs of its Scottish Government employees. In addition, SDI received £0.7 million from the Scottish Government to support its work in the Scottish regions and £0.2 million from Scottish Government in support of its work in the education sector.
","AnswerDate":"2010-01-19T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-01-22T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Jim Mather","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":237122,"EventID":"S3W-30569","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1831,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":6,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2010-01-08T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-01-08T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive how much has been (a) allocated to and (b) spent on smoking cessation services and related tobacco control activity in each year since 2006-07, also (i) expressed in real","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive how much has been (a) allocated to and (b) spent on smoking cessation services and related tobacco control activity in each year since 2006-07, also (i) expressed in real terms and (ii) broken down by NHS board.","AnswerText":"The following table contains a breakdown by Health Board of smoking cessation allocations/spend.
Health Board
2006-07
2007-08
2008-09
2009-10
Actual
Actual
Real Terms
Actual
Real Terms
Actual
Real Terms
Ayrshire and Arran
£387,000
£542,000
£530,161
£542,000
£510,759
£542,000
£502,032
Borders
£118,000
£170,000
£166,287
£170,000
£160,201
£170,000
£157,464
Dumfries and Galloway
£160,000
£231,000
£225,954
£231,000
£217,685
£231,00
£213,966
Fife
£326,000
£462,000
£451,909
£462,000
£435,371
£462,000
£427,932
Forth Valley
£264,000
£373,000
£364,853
£373,000
£351,500
£373,000
£345,495
Grampian
£418,000
For Scotland, the most recent information available is from 2008, when 25.2% all of those aged 16+ smoked. By sex the figure was 24.9% and 25.4% for males and females respectively.
The data source is the Scottish Household Survey.
For Sweden, the most recent information available is from 2005, when 15.9% of those aged 15+ smoked. Data is not available by sex.
The data source is the Health for All Database, which is hosted by the Scottish Public Health Observatory (ScotPHO).
","AnswerDate":"2010-01-19T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-01-22T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Shona Robison","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":237124,"EventID":"S3W-30571","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2596,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":7,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2010-01-08T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-01-08T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-29873 by John Swinney on 8 January 2010, what reductions in the Departmental Expenditure Limit (DEL) arise under the Barnett Formul","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-29873 by John Swinney on 8 January 2010, what reductions in the Departmental Expenditure Limit (DEL) arise under the Barnett Formula as a result of the recent decision by the UK Government to reduce the Higher Education Funding Council for England Grant Settlement for 2010-11 by £518 million and whether these reductions have been taken into account in the expected DEL totals for 2010-11 published by the Scottish Government in the budget documents as altered by the £23.1 million consequentials in the pre-Budget report.","AnswerText":"There are no further reductions expected to arise in the Departmental Expenditure Limit for Scotland from the decision to reduce the Higher Education Funding Council for England Grant Settlement for 2010-11. No changes have therefore been made to the Scottish Government budget documents. ","AnswerDate":"2010-01-22T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-01-22T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"John Swinney","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":237125,"EventID":"S3W-30572","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1857,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":15,"ApprovedDate":"2010-01-08T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-01-08T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what the timescale is within which its agencies should respond to enquiries from MSPs.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what the timescale is within which its agencies should respond to enquiries from MSPs.","AnswerText":"The Scottish Government and its agencies are expected to respond to all enquiries, including those from MSPs, within 20 working days. ","AnswerDate":"2010-01-19T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-01-22T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"John Swinney","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":237126,"EventID":"S3W-30573","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1857,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":15,"ApprovedDate":"2010-01-08T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-01-08T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what the timescale is within which the Scottish Legal Aid Board should respond to enquiries from MSPs.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what the timescale is within which the Scottish Legal Aid Board should respond to enquiries from MSPs.","AnswerText":"The Scottish Legal Aid Board''s internal target for responding to correspondence from MSPs is 28 calendar days. The board has measures in place to manage and monitor the time taken to respond to correspondence. ","AnswerDate":"2010-01-18T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-01-22T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Kenny MacAskill","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":237127,"EventID":"S3W-30574","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1783,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":67,"ApprovedDate":"2010-01-11T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-01-11T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive how many procedures have been cancelled due to recent winter pressures, broken down by NHS board.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive how many procedures have been cancelled due to recent winter pressures, broken down by NHS board.","AnswerText":"Centrally collected, validated statistics do not carry information on the reasons why scheduled operations or procedures are cancelled or delayed.
In the event that an operation or procedure is cancelled by the service, for whatever reason, the patient would be made a further, reasonable offer as soon as possible which should not be detrimental to the patient''s waiting time.
Official statistics relating to cancellations of outpatient attendances and inpatient/day case treatment are published as part of the quarterly update to the waiting times and waiting lists section of the Information Services Division''s (ISD) website (http://www.isdscotland.org/isd/3454.html).
The next publication is scheduled for 23 February 2010 and will include cancellation statistics up to the quarter ending 31 December 2009 derived from the National Waiting Times Data Warehouse.
The subsequent publication is scheduled for 25 May 2010 and will include statistics up to the quarter ending 31 March 2010.
","AnswerDate":"2010-01-18T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-01-25T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Nicola Sturgeon","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":237128,"EventID":"S3W-30575","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1783,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":67,"ApprovedDate":"2010-01-11T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-01-11T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive how many people who would otherwise have qualified were denied patient transport due to recent winter pressures, broken down by NHS board.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive how many people who would otherwise have qualified were denied patient transport due to recent winter pressures, broken down by NHS board.","AnswerText":"Patient Transport Service (PTS) journeys have only been cancelled due to adverse weather conditions where access was significantly compromised or where patients or staff were placed at risk and every effort has been made by the Scottish Ambulance Service, working very closely with local NHS Boards, to convey as many patients as possible to clinics and appointments. In all but the most extreme conditions the service has continued to convey renal, oncology and other high priority or at risk patients.
The Scottish Ambulance Service has provided the following table which shows the number of cancellations of PTS journeys due to bad weather conditions. The figures are broken down for a three week period and are also shown as a percentage of total planned journeys.
Week
Bad Weather Cancellations
w/c 21 December 2009
2,918
9.9%
w/c 28 December 2009
1,058
4.7%
w/c 4 January 2010
3,931
13.7%
The Scottish Ambulance Service is working with NHS boards and individual clinics to ensure any necessary rescheduling is undertaken as soon as possible.
","AnswerDate":"2010-01-18T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-01-25T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Nicola Sturgeon","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":237129,"EventID":"S3W-30576","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2108,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":68,"ApprovedDate":"2010-01-11T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-01-11T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what advice ministers or other public authorities received from the emergency services including the police about holding a bonspiel on the Lake of Menteith.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what advice ministers or other public authorities received from the emergency services including the police about holding a bonspiel on the Lake of Menteith.","AnswerText":"The decision on whether to hold a bonspiel was a matter for the Royal Caledonian Curling Club not ministers so the emergency services did not provide any such advice to ministers. ","AnswerDate":"2010-01-19T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-01-25T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Kenny MacAskill","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":237130,"EventID":"S3W-30577","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2108,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":68,"ApprovedDate":"2010-01-11T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-01-11T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what advice was issued by the police or other emergency services about holding a bonspiel on the Lake of Menteith.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what advice was issued by the police or other emergency services about holding a bonspiel on the Lake of Menteith.","AnswerText":"I understand that the Royal Caledonian Curling Club held two meetings with Central Scotland Police and other public agencies to discuss holding a bonspiel, or Grand Match, on the Lake of Menteith. The police and other emergency services gave advice about safety issues arising from the holding of such an event. The Royal Caledonian Curling Club subsequently decided not to proceed with the event. The Scottish Government was not involved in those discussions and the precise nature of any advice given is a matter for those who attended the meetings. ","AnswerDate":"2010-01-19T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-01-25T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Kenny MacAskill","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":237131,"EventID":"S3W-30578","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2108,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":68,"ApprovedDate":"2010-01-11T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-01-11T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what powers the police have to stop a bonspiel going ahead on the Lake of Menteith.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what powers the police have to stop a bonspiel going ahead on the Lake of Menteith.","AnswerText":"The police do not have any specified powers to stop such an event. The onus is on event organisers to run a safe event. ","AnswerDate":"2010-01-19T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-01-25T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Kenny MacAskill","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":237132,"EventID":"S3W-30579","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2108,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":68,"ApprovedDate":"2010-01-11T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-01-11T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what power or legislation was invoked in preventing the proposed bonspiel going ahead on the Lake of Menteith this year.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what power or legislation was invoked in preventing the proposed bonspiel going ahead on the Lake of Menteith this year.","AnswerText":"No power or legislation was invoked to prevent the proposed bonspiel on Lake of Menteith. The Royal Curling Club took the decision not to go ahead. ","AnswerDate":"2010-01-19T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-01-25T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Kenny MacAskill","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":237133,"EventID":"S3W-30580","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2108,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":68,"ApprovedDate":"2010-01-11T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-01-11T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether ministers made any inquiries of the event organisers, the police or other emergency services about the proposed bonspiel going ahead on the Lake of Menteith this ","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether ministers made any inquiries of the event organisers, the police or other emergency services about the proposed bonspiel going ahead on the Lake of Menteith this year.","AnswerText":"Representatives of the Royal Caledonian Curling Club had been in contact with Scottish Government officials during the week commencing 4 January 2010 because the club was seeking financial support for a documentary film that was being planned should the grand match go ahead the following weekend. EventScotland officials were also in contact with the club and had offered advice about practical aspects of the event.
The club had removed the Lake of Menteith from its list of potential sites for the grand match in 2000-01 for various reasons including the issue of suitable car parking. It became apparent on 4 January 2010 that the relevant landowners in the area would in fact allow access and parking adjacent to the Lake of Menteith, and the club representatives met with Central Scotland Police and other emergency services on 6 and 8 January 2010.
Following clear unambiguous advice from the police and other emergency services the club representatives concluded that there was not time to prepare satisfactory plans for traffic and access for emergencies before the weekend. It is for this reason that the club cancelled its plans for a grand match on the Lake of Menteith over the weekend of 9 and 10 January 2010.
The club has informed the Scottish Government that plans were already in place for the other main potential sites for a grand match (Piper Dam and Loch Leven), although over the weekend of 9 and 10 January 2010, the ice at these sites was not suitable. The club is now updating its plans for all three sites with a view to being ready should suitable weather conditions return.
","AnswerDate":"2010-01-25T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-01-25T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Shona Robison","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":237134,"EventID":"S3W-30581","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2108,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":68,"ApprovedDate":"2010-01-11T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-01-11T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether ministers will look into the decision to cancel this year’s proposed bonspiel on the Lake of Menteith to see if the public interest was well served.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether ministers will look into the decision to cancel this year’s proposed bonspiel on the Lake of Menteith to see if the public interest was well served.","AnswerText":"The Grand Matches are arranged by the Royal Caledonian Curling Club. As the event organiser, it is for the Club to make decisions about holding the event following discussion with the relevant Police and emergency services. These discussions will include measures to ensure the safety of participants and spectators. In this way the public interest has to be taken into account by the event-organisers. Most event-organisers will also seek to arrange third party liability insurance to protect themselves in the event of action from third parties.
Ministers have been fully briefed on the circumstances surrounding the Royal Caledonian Curling Club''s decision not to go ahead with an event at the Lake of Menteith on 9 and 10 January 2010. The Club is now updating its plans for all three sites with a view to being ready should suitable weather conditions return. EventScotland officials are in contact with the Royal Caledonian Curling Club and are able to provide advice if necessary.
","AnswerDate":"2010-01-20T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-01-25T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Jim Mather","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":237135,"EventID":"S3W-30582","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2167,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":3,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2010-01-11T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-01-11T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what steps it is taking to secure a share of the £1 billion announced by the UK Government on 7 January 2010 for the roll-out of super-fast broadband.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what steps it is taking to secure a share of the £1 billion announced by the UK Government on 7 January 2010 for the roll-out of super-fast broadband.","AnswerText":"Whilst it is not yet known how the UK Government will allocate the £1 billion that it announced on 7 January 2010 for the roll-out of next-generation broadband, the Scottish Government will continue to liaise with the Department of Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS), as part of its bilateral engagement on wider Digital Britain telecoms issues, to ensure that Scottish interests are fully represented as the UK Government takes forward this work. In addition, the Scottish Government is currently considering BIS''s current consultation on this issue, and will issue an appropriate response in due course. ","AnswerDate":"2010-01-18T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-01-25T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Jim Mather","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":237136,"EventID":"S3W-30583","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2633,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":5,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2010-01-11T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-01-11T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what changes it has made to Scottish Enterprise’s Proof of Concept programme.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what changes it has made to Scottish Enterprise’s Proof of Concept programme.","AnswerText":"This is an operational matter for Scottish Enterprise. I will ask its Chief Executive to write to you in this regard. ","AnswerDate":"2010-01-20T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-01-25T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Jim Mather","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":237137,"EventID":"S3W-30584","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2633,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":5,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2010-01-11T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-01-11T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what feedback it has had from universities regarding contract changes requested of them through Scottish Enterprise’s Proof of Concept programme.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what feedback it has had from universities regarding contract changes requested of them through Scottish Enterprise’s Proof of Concept programme.","AnswerText":"The government has received no feedback on this issue. ","AnswerDate":"2010-01-20T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-01-25T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Jim Mather","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":237138,"EventID":"S3W-30585","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2633,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":5,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2010-01-11T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-01-11T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive how many applications Scottish Enterprise has received to its Proof of Concept programme in each year since its creation.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive how many applications Scottish Enterprise has received to its Proof of Concept programme in each year since its creation.","AnswerText":"I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-30583 on 20 January 2010. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament''s website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/Apps2/Business/PQA/Default.aspx. ","AnswerDate":"2010-01-20T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-01-25T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Jim Mather","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":237139,"EventID":"S3W-30586","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2633,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":5,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2010-01-11T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-01-11T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive how many research projects have received funding through Scottish Enterprise’s Proof of Concept programme in each year since its creation.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive how many research projects have received funding through Scottish Enterprise’s Proof of Concept programme in each year since its creation.","AnswerText":"I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-30583 on 20 January 2010. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament''s website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/Apps2/Business/PQA/Default.aspx. ","AnswerDate":"2010-01-20T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-01-25T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Jim Mather","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":237140,"EventID":"S3W-30587","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2633,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":5,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2010-01-11T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-01-11T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive how many research projects have had their funding through Scottish Enterprise’s Proof of Concept programme withdrawn or restructured in each year since its creation, brok","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive how many research projects have had their funding through Scottish Enterprise’s Proof of Concept programme withdrawn or restructured in each year since its creation, broken down by reason for withdrawal or restructuring.","AnswerText":"I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-30583 on 20 January 2010. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament''s website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/Apps2/Business/PQA/Default.aspx. ","AnswerDate":"2010-01-20T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-01-25T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Jim Mather","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":237141,"EventID":"S3W-30588","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2633,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":5,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2010-01-11T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-01-11T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive how many businesses created through Scottish Enterprise’s Proof of Concept programme have continued to operate for longer than (a) one, (b) two, (c) three, (d) four, and ","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive how many businesses created through Scottish Enterprise’s Proof of Concept programme have continued to operate for longer than (a) one, (b) two, (c) three, (d) four, and (e) five year(s).","AnswerText":"I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-30583 on 20 January 2010. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament''s website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/Apps2/Business/PQA/Default.aspx. ","AnswerDate":"2010-01-26T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-01-25T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Jim Mather","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":237142,"EventID":"S3W-30589","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2633,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":5,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2010-01-11T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-01-11T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether restrictions are placed on universities as to the individuals or organisations that they may (a) work with while or (b) license to after receiving support from Sc","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether restrictions are placed on universities as to the individuals or organisations that they may (a) work with while or (b) license to after receiving support from Scottish Enterprise’s Proof of Concept programme.","AnswerText":"I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-30583 on 20 January 2010. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament''s website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/Apps2/Business/PQA/Default.aspx. ","AnswerDate":"2010-01-20T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-01-25T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Jim Mather","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":237143,"EventID":"S3W-30590","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2633,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":5,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2010-01-11T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-01-11T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether Scottish Enterprise takes a significant stake directly or indirectly in businesses created through the Proof of Concept programme.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether Scottish Enterprise takes a significant stake directly or indirectly in businesses created through the Proof of Concept programme.","AnswerText":"I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-30583 on 20 January 2010. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament''s website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/Apps2/Business/PQA/Default.aspx. ","AnswerDate":"2010-01-20T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-01-25T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Jim Mather","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":237144,"EventID":"S3W-30591","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2633,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":5,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2010-01-11T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-01-11T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive how many advisors the Proof of Concept programme has employed in each of the last five years and will employ in 2010-11.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive how many advisors the Proof of Concept programme has employed in each of the last five years and will employ in 2010-11.","AnswerText":"I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-30583 on 20 January 2010. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament''s website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/Apps2/Business/PQA/Default.aspx. ","AnswerDate":"2010-01-20T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-01-25T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Jim Mather","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":237145,"EventID":"S3W-30592","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2603,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":6,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2010-01-11T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-01-11T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what measures it has in place to financially support undergraduates from low-income families who take up internships.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what measures it has in place to financially support undergraduates from low-income families who take up internships.","AnswerText":"The measures which the Scottish Government has put in place to financially support all undergraduates from low-income families, including those who take up internships is publicly available at the following websites:
The Student Awards Agency for Scotland website and the Scottish Government website:
","AnswerDate":"2010-01-20T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-01-25T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Michael Russell","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":237146,"EventID":"S3W-30593","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2633,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":5,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2010-01-11T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-01-11T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what support it gives to undergraduates taking up internships.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what support it gives to undergraduates taking up internships.","AnswerText":"The support provided by the Scottish Government to all undergraduates, including those who take up internships is publicly available at the following websites:
","AnswerDate":"2010-01-21T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-01-25T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Michael Russell","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":237147,"EventID":"S3W-30594","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1839,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":3,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2010-01-11T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-01-11T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what the percentage breakdown is of NHS outpatients by department.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what the percentage breakdown is of NHS outpatients by department.","AnswerText":"The number and percentage of new outpatient attendances broken down by clinical specialty for financial year ending 31 March 2009 is shown in the following table.
Table: NHSScotland New Outpatient Attendances by Specialty. Financial Year Ending 31March 2009
Specialty
Number of New Outpatient Attendances
Percentage of Total New Outpatient Attendances
Adolescent Psychiatry
1,955
0.1
Allergy
378
0.0
Anaesthetics
8,630
0.6
Cardiology
38,667
2.7
Cardiothoracic Surgery
4,132
0.3
Child Psychiatry
3,396
0.2
Chiropodists/podiatrists
3
0.0
Clinical Chemistry
31
0.0
Clinical Genetics
4,389
0.3
Clinical Oncology
12,001
0.8
Communicable Diseases
4,100
0.3
Dermatology
113,125
7.8
Diagnostic Radiology
171
0.0
Ear, Nose & Throat (ENT)
102,920
7.1
Endocrinology & Diabetes
17,435
1.2
Forensic Psychiatry
519
Excellent progress has been made in reducing waiting times across hospital services including in the specialty of ophthalmology. NHSScotland has effectively sustained delivery of the 12 week targets for both a first outpatient consultation following a GP or dentist referral and for inpatient and day case treatment a year early. The 12 week targets are milestone targets towards delivery of the 18 weeks referral to treatment target and was due to be delivered at the end of March 2010.
","AnswerDate":"2010-01-25T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-01-25T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Shona Robison","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":237149,"EventID":"S3W-30596","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1839,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":3,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2010-01-11T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-01-11T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what progress has been made to move from a paper-based to an electronic referral system for acute care.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what progress has been made to move from a paper-based to an electronic referral system for acute care.","AnswerText":"The proportion of GP-to-hospital referrals made electronically rather than on paper has increased from 75% in October 2008 to 91% in November 2009.
The national eReferral team is supporting NHS boards to continue to improve their performance.
","AnswerDate":"2010-01-18T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-01-25T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Nicola Sturgeon","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":237150,"EventID":"S3W-30597","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1839,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":3,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2010-01-11T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-01-11T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive how much each NHS board has spent in relation to clinical negligence claims in each of the last five years.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive how much each NHS board has spent in relation to clinical negligence claims in each of the last five years.","AnswerText":"I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-11099 on 14 April 2008 which contains the data requested for the financial years 2004-05 to 2006-07, and the answer to question S3W-22006 on 25 March 2009 which contains the data requested for the financial year 2007-08. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament''s website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/Apps2/Business/PQA/Default.aspx
The following table details the number of clinical negligence cases that settled in 2008-09 together with the sums paid out in those settlements.
Health Board
Settled Cases
(No.)
Sums Paid
(£)
Ayrshire and Arran
10
420,488
Borders
3
24,000
Dumfries and Galloway
3
161,653
Fife
3
4,555,328
Forth Valley
20
3,480,944
Grampian
14
4,286,163
Greater Glasgow and Clyde
50
8,835,807
Highland
8
282,769
Lanarkshire
7
1,698,250
Lothian
27
1,454,203
Orkney
1
40,000
Tayside
22
732,142
Western Isles
1
3,000
NHS 24
1
25,000
National Waiting Times Board
1
8,000
The information below captures the main educational opportunities provided through the prison learning centres and our vocational training units including our PE departments. Where these are linked to SQA certification this is noted.
Prison
Courses delivered in the Prison Learning Centre
Aberdeen
SQA Certificated: Communication, English, Numeracy, Maths, Computing/IT, ESOL (English classes for students whose main language is not English), Art, Employability
Addiewell
SQA Certificated: Core Skills - Communication, Numeracy, Problem Solving, IT and Working with Others Languages (Spanish, French, Italian), Business Administration and Management, IT, ESOL, Literacies, Enterprise and Employability.
SQA Certificated Open Learning “ Communication, Numeracy, Psychology, Sociology, Journalism, Sports Development
REHIS: Food Preparation and Cooking, Music and Performance, Art, First Aid, Health and Safety in the Workplace, Wellbeing, Industrial Cleaning
Barlinnie
SQA Certificated: English, Communication, English for Speakers of Other Languages, Creative Writing, Maths/Numeracy, IT/Computing, Modern Studies, Art
REHIS - Food Hygiene
Storybook Class (Creating personalised story books for your children)
Stewart Stevenson:Scotland''s Road Safety Framework to 2020, launched in June 2009, sets out our national road safety priorities and a range of commitments which we shall deliver in partnership with our key stakeholders to improve road safety.
The Framework seeks to inform local authorities'' road safety delivery plans to ensure that we have a joined up approach, whilst allowing flexibility for them to determine their own local priorities and solutions. All local authorities in Scotland publish their own local road safety plan, however copies are not held c","AnswerDate":"2010-07-19T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-07-22T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Stewart Stevenson","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":241379,"EventID":"S3W-34835","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":3806,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":3,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2010-06-24T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-06-24T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what measures are in place to involve young people directly in motor accident and collision prevention. ","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what measures are in place to involve young people directly in motor accident and collision prevention. ","AnswerText":"Version:1.0 StartHTML:0000000179 EndHTML:0000008242 StartFragment:0000003110 EndFragment:0000008202 SourceURL:file:///\\\\cc02fd\\writtenanswers$\\To_Be_Processed\\S3W-34835.doc
Stewart Stevenson:Scotland''s Road Safety Framework to 2020, published in June 2009, contains a number of commitments which we shall deliver in partnership with internal colleagues and external stakeholders to address the needs of children and young people and drivers aged 17-25.
These include continued funding for Road Safety Scotland to develop far-reaching road safety educational resources; continuing to support the use of school travel plans fully involving the local community; and looking for innovative ways to target young drivers with appropriate messages about safe driving.
In late summer 2010, we also intend to condu","AnswerDate":"2010-07-19T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-07-22T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Stewart Stevenson","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":241380,"EventID":"S3W-34836","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":3806,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":3,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2010-06-24T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-06-24T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether it plans to make representations to the UK Government to review the standard driving test given the impact on road safety in Scotland and whether it will request ","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether it plans to make representations to the UK Government to review the standard driving test given the impact on road safety in Scotland and whether it will request the inclusion of night driving.","AnswerText":"Version:1.0 StartHTML:0000000179 EndHTML:0000007171 StartFragment:0000003110 EndFragment:0000007131 SourceURL:file:///\\\\cc02fd\\writtenanswers$\\To_Be_Processed\\S3W-34836.doc
Stewart Stevenson:We have no plans at present to make representations to the UK Government to review the standard driving test.
The Driving Standards Agency conducted a consultation exercise in 2008 asking for views on overhauling the Driver Training and Testing Regime, for which they are responsible, including a proposal to include additional steps prior to fully qualifying as a driver. We provided a full response to that consultation including asking for elements of Pass Plus to be included in the training regime pre-test. We believe that the Dri","AnswerDate":"2010-07-19T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-07-22T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Stewart Stevenson","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":241381,"EventID":"S3W-34837","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":3806,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":3,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2010-06-24T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-06-24T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether it plans to make representations to the UK Government to suggest that it consider setting a limit to the engine size of cars that young drivers can legally drive.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether it plans to make representations to the UK Government to suggest that it consider setting a limit to the engine size of cars that young drivers can legally drive.","AnswerText":" We have no plans at present to make representations to the UK Government to suggest that it considers setting a limit to the engine size of cars that young drivers can legally drive.
In late summer 2010, we intend to conduct a national public debate with young drivers, their parents and guardians and representative groups in order to explore the issues and potential solutions on road safety for young and newly qualified drivers and shall await its outcome.
","AnswerDate":"2010-07-19T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-07-22T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Stewart Stevenson","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":241382,"EventID":"S3W-34838","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":3806,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":3,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2010-06-24T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-06-24T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether there are plans for joint working between the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service and police forces in referring young drivers who have committed road traf","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether there are plans for joint working between the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service and police forces in referring young drivers who have committed road traffic offences to an approved referral scheme.","AnswerText":"Young drivers are identified as a priority group in Scotland''s Road Safety Framework, published by the Government in June 2009.
The Government has already been involved in discussions with the Police and the Crown Office on the introduction of a pilot scheme in the Grampian Police Force area which would allow young drivers the opportunity to take additional training to address their unsafe driving behaviour as an alternative to prosecution.
The Government, Police and the Crown Office have also been working together for some years to deliver the Driver Improvement Scheme in Scotland. Under this initiative, drivers who have been charged with careless driving may be offered the opportunity to attend additional training as an alternative to prosecution. The scheme covers drivers of all ages and is available throughout Scotland including the islands.
","AnswerDate":"2010-07-16T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-07-22T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Kenny MacAskill","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":241383,"EventID":"S3W-34839","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":3806,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":3,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2010-06-24T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-06-24T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive when it was decided to close the Energy Saving Scotland home renewables grant scheme for electricity generating technologies and new build properties.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive when it was decided to close the Energy Saving Scotland home renewables grant scheme for electricity generating technologies and new build properties.","AnswerText":"After a period of unprecedented demand for Energy Saving Scotland home renewables grants and with the forthcoming introduction of new building standards, the decision was made to close the scheme to electricity generating technologies and new build properties on 15 March 2010. The announcement was subsequently made on 17 March 2010. ","AnswerDate":"2010-07-15T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-07-22T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Jim Mather","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":241384,"EventID":"S3W-34840","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":3806,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":3,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2010-06-24T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-06-24T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive how many applications were made under the Energy Saving Scotland home renewables grant scheme from the Highlands and Islands parliamentary region by 17 March 2010 and how","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive how many applications were made under the Energy Saving Scotland home renewables grant scheme from the Highlands and Islands parliamentary region by 17 March 2010 and how many were successful. ","AnswerText":"By 17 March 2010, there had been 722 applications made under the Energy Saving Scotland home renewables grant scheme from the Highlands and Islands. Of these, 674 were successful. ","AnswerDate":"2010-07-16T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-07-22T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Jim Mather","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":241385,"EventID":"S3W-34841","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":3806,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":3,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2010-06-24T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-06-24T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether applications received for the Energy Saving Scotland home renewables grant scheme but not fully processed by the closure of the scheme on 17 March 2010 will still","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether applications received for the Energy Saving Scotland home renewables grant scheme but not fully processed by the closure of the scheme on 17 March 2010 will still be considered.","AnswerText":"Energy Saving Scotland home renewables grants is a demand led scheme and able to stay open only as long as funding allows. All those which were being actively assessed but not fully processed before 17 March 2010 were considered for funding. ","AnswerDate":"2010-07-15T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-07-22T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Jim Mather","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":241386,"EventID":"S3W-34842","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":3806,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":3,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2010-06-24T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-06-24T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive how many applications were outstanding when the Energy Saving Scotland home renewables grant scheme was closed for electricity generating technologies and for new build p","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive how many applications were outstanding when the Energy Saving Scotland home renewables grant scheme was closed for electricity generating technologies and for new build properties on 17 March 2010.","AnswerText":"There were 219 outstanding applications for Energy Saving Scotland home renewables grants on 17 March 2010. Of these, 131 related to electricity generating technologies or new build properties. ","AnswerDate":"2010-07-16T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-07-22T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Jim Mather","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":241387,"EventID":"S3W-34843","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1832,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":42,"ApprovedDate":"2010-06-24T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-06-24T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what action it will take to secure adequate training facilities throughout Scotland in order to link procurement to training in the construction industry.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what action it will take to secure adequate training facilities throughout Scotland in order to link procurement to training in the construction industry.","AnswerText":"In the context of our Economic Recovery plan, we are supporting construction by continuing to invest in infrastructure, social housing and skills and training. The Scottish Government will continue to work closely with the Scottish Construction Forum, Construction Skills, Skills Development Scotland and the Scottish Funding Council to identify the most sustainable approaches to maintaining a training facility infrastructure which meets the needs of the construction industry. ","AnswerDate":"2010-07-22T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-07-22T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Keith Brown","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":241388,"EventID":"S3W-34844","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1783,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":67,"ApprovedDate":"2010-06-24T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-06-24T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W–34552 by Shona Robison on 23 June 2010, when it received the interim report from the Infertility Network Scotland on IVF services.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W–34552 by Shona Robison on 23 June 2010, when it received the interim report from the Infertility Network Scotland on IVF services.","AnswerText":"The Scottish Government received Infertility Network Scotland''s interim report on 29 January 2010. ","AnswerDate":"2010-07-21T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-07-22T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Shona Robison","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":241389,"EventID":"S3W-34845","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1783,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":67,"ApprovedDate":"2010-06-24T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-06-24T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W–34553 by Shona Robison on 23 June 2010, in what month it will publish the Interim Report from Infertility Network Scotland on IVF s","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W–34553 by Shona Robison on 23 June 2010, in what month it will publish the Interim Report from Infertility Network Scotland on IVF services.","AnswerText":"Infertility Network Scotland''s interim report was discussed at the second meeting of the National Infertility Group on 13 July, and the report will be published on the maternity services website www.maternityservices.scot.nhs.uk and a copy placed in the Scottish Parliament Information Centre (Bib. number 51348) at the end of July 2010. ","AnswerDate":"2010-07-21T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-07-22T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Shona Robison","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":241390,"EventID":"S3W-34846","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1783,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":67,"ApprovedDate":"2010-06-24T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-06-24T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-34555 by Shona Robison on 23 June 2010, on what date in 2009 that the intention to set up the National Infertility Group was first ","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-34555 by Shona Robison on 23 June 2010, on what date in 2009 that the intention to set up the National Infertility Group was first announced.","AnswerText":"The intention to set up the National Infertility Group was first announced in a Scottish Government press release on 31 May 2009. ","AnswerDate":"2010-07-21T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-07-22T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Shona Robison","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":241391,"EventID":"S3W-34847","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1783,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":67,"ApprovedDate":"2010-06-24T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-06-24T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-34554 by Shona Robison on 23 June 2010, when ministers expect to receive the recommendations from the National Infertility Group an","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-34554 by Shona Robison on 23 June 2010, when ministers expect to receive the recommendations from the National Infertility Group and when they will respond.","AnswerText":"The National Infertility Group will provide its first report to Scottish Government Ministers by the end of 2010. ","AnswerDate":"2010-07-21T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-07-22T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Shona Robison","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":241392,"EventID":"S3W-34848","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1839,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":3,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2010-06-24T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-06-24T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive how many patients from Scotland have received treatment under the EU cross-border healthcare agreement.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive how many patients from Scotland have received treatment under the EU cross-border healthcare agreement.","AnswerText":"There is no EU cross-border healthcare agreement. Rather, European case-law has established that, under Article 56 of the Treaty of the Functioning of Europe (formerly Article 49 of the EU Treaty) patients have the right to obtain healthcare services in another European Economic Area (EEA) country that is the same as, or equivalent to, a service that would have been provided under the patient''s home healthcare system. This is subject to prior authorisation in certain circumstances, as set out in the National Health Service (Reimbursement of the Cost of EEA Treatment) (Scotland) Regulations 2010.
The patient pays for the treatment up-front and has a right to claim reimbursement up to the amount the same, or equivalent, treatment would have cost had the patient obtained it from their home healthcare system, or the actual amount if this is lower.
NHS territorial boards across Scotland have confirmed that since 2006, when the case-law was established, a total of three patients have received treatment in other EEA countries under Article 49/Article 56.
","AnswerDate":"2010-07-08T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-07-22T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Nicola Sturgeon","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":241393,"EventID":"S3W-34849","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1839,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":3,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2010-06-24T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-06-24T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive how many patients have been treated in Scotland under the EU cross-border healthcare agreement.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive how many patients have been treated in Scotland under the EU cross-border healthcare agreement.","AnswerText":"I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-34848 on 8 July 2010. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament''s website; the search facility for which can be found at:
NHS territorial boards across Scotland have confirmed that since 2006, when the case-law was established, a total of two patients have received treatment in Scotland under Article 49/Article 56.
","AnswerDate":"2010-07-08T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-07-22T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Nicola Sturgeon","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":241394,"EventID":"S3W-34850","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1839,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":3,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2010-06-24T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-06-24T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether patients with obstructive sleep apnoea are given access to a weight management programme when their weight is assessed to be a contributory factor for the conditi","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether patients with obstructive sleep apnoea are given access to a weight management programme when their weight is assessed to be a contributory factor for the condition.","AnswerText":"In line with Scottish Intercollegiate Guidelines Network (SIGN) Guideline 73 on the management of sleep apnoea in adults, sleep medicine services routinely provide weight reduction management advice as one of the lifestyle management factors that can have a positive effect on reducing the symptomatic effects of the condition.
In doing so, they will be assisted by our Counterweight programme, a Primary Care initiative under which a Weight Management Adviser provides adults referred to the programme with advice on how to achieve and maintain a healthy weight through diet and physical activity.
","AnswerDate":"2010-07-21T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-07-22T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Shona Robison","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":241395,"EventID":"S3W-34851","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1839,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":3,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2010-06-24T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-06-24T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what action is being taken to ensure that people are given early diagnosis and treatment for obstructive sleep apnoea.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what action is being taken to ensure that people are given early diagnosis and treatment for obstructive sleep apnoea.","AnswerText":"Clinicians in NHSScotland are expected to follow the recommendations in Scottish Intercollegiate Guidelines Network (SIGN) Guideline 73 in relation to the diagnosis and treatment of sleep apnoea in adults.
NHS Boards are working to reduce waiting times for services such as sleep apnoea, which were previously excluded from waiting time standards, to ensure that they meet the 18 weeks referral to treatment target by the end of 2011.
","AnswerDate":"2010-07-21T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-07-22T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Shona Robison","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":241396,"EventID":"S3W-34852","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1826,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":35,"ApprovedDate":"2010-06-25T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-06-25T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions it has had with Aegon UK over reported job losses at its life and pensions division based in Edinburgh.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions it has had with Aegon UK over reported job losses at its life and pensions division based in Edinburgh.","AnswerText":"The Cabinet Secretary for Finance and Sustainable Growth spoke to Otto Thoresen, Chief Executive of AEGON UK the day before the company announced the review of its operations. He assured Mr Thoresen that the Scottish Government will provide all possible support during the period of its review.
Scottish Development International is in close contact with AEGON and aims to meet with the company as soon as possible to make it aware of what support is available to help minimise any job losses, particularly compulsory redundancies.
","AnswerDate":"2010-07-23T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-07-23T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Jim Mather","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":241397,"EventID":"S3W-34853","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1826,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":35,"ApprovedDate":"2010-06-25T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-06-25T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what support will be put in place to assist people who face redundancy at Aegon UK’s Edinburgh office.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what support will be put in place to assist people who face redundancy at Aegon UK’s Edinburgh office.","AnswerText":"AEGON has stressed that it is determined to work with its employees and the unions at the facility to minimise job losses and in particular, compulsory redundancies at its Edinburgh office.
AEGON is unable, at this time, to offer any details on the numbers involved in any proposed job reductions in Edinburgh but, should job losses occur, the Scottish Government will, through Skills Development Scotland, coordinate local response teams under the Partnership Action for Continuing Employment (PACE) initiative, to provide tailored help and support.
The Finance Sector Jobs Taskforce is aware of the situation and will engage directly with the company at the right time.
","AnswerDate":"2010-07-23T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-07-23T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Jim Mather","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":241398,"EventID":"S3W-34854","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1826,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":35,"ApprovedDate":"2010-06-25T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-06-25T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what total labour cost was incurred by Skills Development Scotland through removing staff from their regular employment for the duration of the Shaping our Future roadsho","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what total labour cost was incurred by Skills Development Scotland through removing staff from their regular employment for the duration of the Shaping our Future roadshows.","AnswerText":"Staffing is an operational matter for SDS. I have asked the Chief Executive to write to you with this information. ","AnswerDate":"2010-07-22T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-07-23T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Keith Brown","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":241399,"EventID":"S3W-34855","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1826,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":35,"ApprovedDate":"2010-06-25T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-06-25T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what total cost was incurred for materials for the Skills Development Scotland Shaping our Future roadshows.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what total cost was incurred for materials for the Skills Development Scotland Shaping our Future roadshows.","AnswerText":"Procurement is an operational matter for SDS. I have asked the Chief Executive to write to you with this information. ","AnswerDate":"2010-07-22T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-07-23T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Keith Brown","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":241400,"EventID":"S3W-34856","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1826,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":35,"ApprovedDate":"2010-06-25T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-06-25T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what total cost was incurred for venue hire for the Skills Development Scotland Shaping our Future roadshows.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what total cost was incurred for venue hire for the Skills Development Scotland Shaping our Future roadshows.","AnswerText":"Procurement is an operational matter for SDS. I have asked the Chief Executive to write to you with this information. ","AnswerDate":"2010-07-22T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-07-23T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Keith Brown","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":241401,"EventID":"S3W-34857","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1768,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":60,"ApprovedDate":"2010-06-25T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-06-25T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive when the next review of Schedules 5 and 8 of the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 will take place.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive when the next review of Schedules 5 and 8 of the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 will take place.","AnswerText":"The Scottish Government has received recommendations for species to be added to, or deleted from, Schedules 5 and 8 of the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 from the 5th Quinquennial Review carried out by the Joint Nature Conservation Committee. The Scottish Government will shortly be consulting on these recommendations. ","AnswerDate":"2010-07-23T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-07-23T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Roseanna Cunningham","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":241402,"EventID":"S3W-34858","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1768,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":60,"ApprovedDate":"2010-06-25T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-06-25T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what organisations are consulted during the quinquennial reviews of Schedules 5 and 8 of the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what organisations are consulted during the quinquennial reviews of Schedules 5 and 8 of the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981.","AnswerText":"The Joint Nature Conservation Committee (JNCC) consulted a wide range of interest groups before making their recommendations. These can be found listed in documents on the JNCC website at http://www.jncc.gov.uk/page-4292. Section 22 of the 1981 Act requires the Scottish Government to consult Scottish Natural Heritage, and any other body it deems necessary before bringing forward proposals for changes to the schedules of the 1981 Act. The Scottish Government will shortly be issuing a consultation document which will be available on the Scottish Government website. ","AnswerDate":"2010-07-13T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-07-23T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Roseanna Cunningham","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":241403,"EventID":"S3W-34859","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1768,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":60,"ApprovedDate":"2010-06-25T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-06-25T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what opportunities exist outwith the quinquennial reviews to include additional species of animals and plants in Schedules 5 and 8 of the Wildlife and Countryside Act 198","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what opportunities exist outwith the quinquennial reviews to include additional species of animals and plants in Schedules 5 and 8 of the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981.","AnswerText":"Scottish Ministers may by secondary legislation, add or remove species on Schedules 5 and 8 at any time, following consultation with Scottish Natural Heritage and any other body it deems necessary. ","AnswerDate":"2010-07-13T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-07-23T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Roseanna Cunningham","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":241404,"EventID":"S3W-34860","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1768,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":60,"ApprovedDate":"2010-06-25T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-06-25T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what protection is afforded to the species of plants included in Schedule 8 of the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what protection is afforded to the species of plants included in Schedule 8 of the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981.","AnswerText":"Special protection is afforded by the Act to plants listed on Schedule 8 as set out in Sections 13(1) and 13(2) of the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981. This includes intentionally or recklessly picking, uprooting, destroying, or offering for sale, any plant on Schedule 8. ","AnswerDate":"2010-07-13T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-07-23T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Roseanna Cunningham","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":241405,"EventID":"S3W-34861","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1768,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":60,"ApprovedDate":"2010-06-25T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-06-25T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what protection is afforded to the species of animals included in Schedule 5 of the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what protection is afforded to the species of animals included in Schedule 5 of the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981.","AnswerText":"Special protection is afforded by the Act to animals listed on Schedules 5 as set out in Sections 9(1), 9(2), 9(4), and 9(5) of the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981. This includes intentionally or recklessly killing, injuring, or taking any animal on Schedule 5. ","AnswerDate":"2010-07-13T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-07-23T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Roseanna Cunningham","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":241406,"EventID":"S3W-34862","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2068,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":22,"ApprovedDate":"2010-06-25T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-06-25T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what specific action it is taking to stimulate rural social housing development.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what specific action it is taking to stimulate rural social housing development.","AnswerText":"A total of £672 million was spent on the delivery affordable housing across Scotland last year (2009-10) of which £160 million was spent in rural areas.
8,092 houses were completed last year, of which 1,859 were in rural areas.
","AnswerDate":"2010-07-23T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-07-23T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Alex Neil","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":241407,"EventID":"S3W-34863","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2068,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":22,"ApprovedDate":"2010-06-25T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-06-25T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether it is monitoring rural social housing development.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether it is monitoring rural social housing development.","AnswerText":"The Scottish Government''s Housing Investment Division now deploys the government''s six-fold urban/rural classification for reporting on its Affordable Housing Investment Programme.
Housing Investment Division will be in a position to report on rural approvals and site starts following the publication of official statistics. Official statistics for the first quarter of 2010-11 will be published on 26 August 2010.
","AnswerDate":"2010-07-23T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-07-23T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Alex Neil","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":241408,"EventID":"S3W-34864","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2068,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":22,"ApprovedDate":"2010-06-25T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-06-25T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what projections it has made for the number of homeless individuals there will be by the end of 2012.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what projections it has made for the number of homeless individuals there will be by the end of 2012.","AnswerText":"The Scottish Government has not made projections of the levels of homelessness by the end of 2012, nor of the number of new social housing units that need to be created in order to meet the 2012 homelessness target. The Scottish Government and the Convention of Scottish Local Authorities have jointly agreed a strategy to address the 2012 target. The four strands of the strategy are: continued leadership at both political and corporate level; preventing homelessness where possible; ensuring that all housing providers work together to maximise the access of homeless households to existing stock (both RSL and the private rented sector), and investing where appropriate to meet need. The number of homeless households in 2012 will depend, among other things, on the effectiveness of councils'' prevention strategies and the number of social housing units needed will depend on both the number of homeless households and the ways in which councils are able to use their new powers to discharge homelessness duties through the private rented sector.
In a series of seminars in autumn 2009, councils were provided with spreadsheet based models to allow them to explore the impact of prevention and new social house building on the need for lets to homeless households each year, up to and beyond 2012. The recent allocation of money to local authorities for new build had homelessness as a key criterion.
The Scottish Government and COSLA 2012 Steering Group held a prevention event in June this year which promoted the development of the housing options approach. This looks to prevent homelessness and also identify a more sustainable outcome for homeless households. This will impact on the number of homeless households presenting to local authorities.
","AnswerDate":"2010-07-23T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-07-23T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Alex Neil","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":241409,"EventID":"S3W-34865","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2068,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":22,"ApprovedDate":"2010-06-25T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-06-25T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what projections it has made for the number of new social housing units that need to be created in order to meet the 2012 homelessness target.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what projections it has made for the number of new social housing units that need to be created in order to meet the 2012 homelessness target.","AnswerText":"I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-34864 on 23 July 2010. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament''s website, the search facility for which can be found at www.scottish.parliament.uk/Apps2/Business/PQA/Default.aspx. ","AnswerDate":"2010-07-23T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-07-23T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Alex Neil","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":241410,"EventID":"S3W-34866","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2068,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":22,"ApprovedDate":"2010-06-25T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-06-25T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive how many evictions from (a) council and (b) housing association properties there were for antisocial behaviour in 2009.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive how many evictions from (a) council and (b) housing association properties there were for antisocial behaviour in 2009.","AnswerText":"The number of evictions from council houses due to anti-social behaviour is published annually by financial year on the Scottish Government''s website at http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Topics/Statistics/Browse/Housing-Regeneration/HSfS/Evictions.
","AnswerDate":"2010-07-23T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-07-23T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Alex Neil","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":241411,"EventID":"S3W-34867","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":4016,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":64,"ApprovedDate":"2010-06-25T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-06-25T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what areas in the Scottish Borders are in the worst 5% of the Scottish Index of Multiple Deprivation.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what areas in the Scottish Borders are in the worst 5% of the Scottish Index of Multiple Deprivation.","AnswerText":"A revision to the Scottish Index of Multiple Deprivation (SIMD) 2009 was made in the week of 19 July 2010. This is referred to as SIMD 2009 Version 2. This answer is based on the revised figures from SIMD 2009 Version 2 as opposed to the SIMD 2009 published in October 2009.
The SIMD is calculated at datazone level. Datazones are small statistical boundaries with an average population of around 750 people.
Of the Scottish Borders'' 130 datazones, none are in Scotland''s 5% most deprived areas using SIMD 2009 Version 2. Prior to the correction, the Scottish Borders had one datazone in the 5% most deprived but this datazone is now in the 10% most deprived.
A list of deprived datazones is available on the Scottish Index of Multiple Deprivation (SIMD) website: http://www.scotland.gov.uk/SIMD.
","AnswerDate":"2010-07-23T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-07-23T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"John Swinney","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":241412,"EventID":"S3W-34868","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1839,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":3,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2010-06-25T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-06-25T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether GPs and NHS staff can refer patients for chiropractic treatment. ","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether GPs and NHS staff can refer patients for chiropractic treatment. ","AnswerText":"NHS boards in Scotland are responsible for providing NHS services in accordance with national and local priorities and in line with the health needs of the population.
The Scottish Government recognises that complementary or alternative therapies, including chiropractic, may offer relief to some people suffering from a wide variety of conditions, and it is open to NHS boards in Scotland to make such services available based on an assessment of needs within their respective areas.
Guidance issued to NHS boards in August 2005 sets out the framework for the provision of these services in the NHS. This guidance is available from http://www.sehd.scot.nhs.uk/mels/HDL2005_37.pdf.
","AnswerDate":"2010-07-21T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-07-23T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Shona Robison","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":241413,"EventID":"S3W-34869","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1839,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":3,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2010-06-25T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-06-25T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what progress has been made to set up a managed clinical network for the management of chronic pain.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what progress has been made to set up a managed clinical network for the management of chronic pain.","AnswerText":"We continue to support the Managed Clinical Network for Chronic Pain in NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde. To help promote that MCN approach, the Lead Clinician of the Network is a member of the Scottish Chronic Pain Steering Group set up by our Lead Clinician for Chronic Pain. ","AnswerDate":"2010-07-21T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-07-23T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Shona Robison","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":241414,"EventID":"S3W-34870","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1839,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":3,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2010-06-25T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-06-25T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive how many patients are on waiting lists for a chronic pain management service in each NHS board area.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive how many patients are on waiting lists for a chronic pain management service in each NHS board area.","AnswerText":"Most pain clinics provide services to patients in an outpatient setting. Information on out patient waiting lists are collected centrally at speciality level only and does not differentiate between different types of clinics within the specialty. Consequently the information requested is not available centrally. ","AnswerDate":"2010-07-21T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-07-23T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Shona Robison","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":241415,"EventID":"S3W-34871","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1839,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":3,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2010-06-25T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-06-25T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what research and data is used to assess the successful outcomes of child healthy weight interventions as outlined in the HEAT target.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what research and data is used to assess the successful outcomes of child healthy weight interventions as outlined in the HEAT target.","AnswerText":"The Scottish Government have agreed child healthy weight targets with NHS boards. Individual boards have responsibility for making decisions on research and data collection locally.
NHS Health Scotland is exploring the feasibility of using locally collected data as part of the national evaluation of HEAT 3 which is currently underway.
","AnswerDate":"2010-07-12T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-07-23T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Shona Robison","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":241416,"EventID":"S3W-34872","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1839,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":3,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2010-06-25T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-06-25T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive which NHS boards have achieved the HEAT target to lower the prescribing rate of antidepressants by March 2010.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive which NHS boards have achieved the HEAT target to lower the prescribing rate of antidepressants by March 2010.","AnswerText":"Latest official statistics on the defined daily dose per capita for antidepressants, prescribed in Scotland that were dispensed by community pharmacists or dispensing doctors anywhere in the UK can be found on the ISDScotland website at:
www.isdscotland.org/isd/3671.html.
Information is presented by NHS board for financial years up to 2008-09. Provisional statistics for financial year 2009-10 are planned to be published on the 28 September 2010.
We do not anticipate that any NHS board will meet the target to level off the annual rate of increase of defined daily dose per capita of antidepressants which was due to be achieved by 31 March this year.
However, the HEAT target has driven a much better understanding of the issues that impact on anti-depressant prescribing across Scotland. As our understanding has improved, it has become clearer that we can not be sure that implementing evidence based prescribing behaviour will lead to a reduction in antidepressant usage. We have therefore reviewed the target and are committed to developing an access to psychological therapies target for inclusion in HEAT in 2011-12. We will continue to track antidepressant prescribing across Scotland to see what impact improving access to psychological therapies has on prescribing behaviour.
","AnswerDate":"2010-07-21T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-07-23T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Shona Robison","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":241417,"EventID":"S3W-34873","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2202,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":8,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2010-06-25T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-06-25T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-34286 by Nicola Sturgeon on 21 June 2010, whether the information requested will be available at a later date given that this infor","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-34286 by Nicola Sturgeon on 21 June 2010, whether the information requested will be available at a later date given that this information was given, in the answer to question S3W-25720 by Nicola Sturgeon on 3 August 2009, for the years 2004 to 2008.","AnswerText":"S3W-34286 was answered on the basis of a specific analysis by the Information Services Division of NHS National Services Scotland which was limited in the extent to which it could fully reflect the true prevalence of errors in surgery. Accordingly, there are no plans for this analysis to be repeated. NHS boards collect information on adverse events, which will include those arising from surgery. In contrast to hospital discharge records, the source used in the previous analysis, locally held adverse event data give an indication of whether or not harm occurred. Monitoring these data is the responsibility of NHS boards and they are not collated or evaluated centrally. ","AnswerDate":"2010-07-05T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-07-23T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Nicola Sturgeon","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":241418,"EventID":"S3W-34874","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2202,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":8,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2010-06-25T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-06-25T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-34283 by Nicola Sturgeon on 21 June 2010, whether the information requested will be available at a later date given that this infor","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-34283 by Nicola Sturgeon on 21 June 2010, whether the information requested will be available at a later date given that this information was given, in the answer to question S3W-25723 by Nicola Sturgeon on 3 August 2009, for the years 2004 to 2008.","AnswerText":"S3W-34283 was answered on the basis of a specific analysis by the Information Services Division of NHS National Services Scotland which was limited in the extent to which it could fully reflect the true prevalence of errors in surgery. Accordingly, there are no plans for this analysis to be repeated. NHS boards collect information on adverse events, which will include those arising from surgery. In contrast to hospital discharge records, the source used in the previous analysis, locally held adverse event data give an indication of whether or not harm occurred. Monitoring these data is the responsibility of NHS boards and they are not collated or evaluated centrally. ","AnswerDate":"2010-07-05T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-07-23T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Nicola Sturgeon","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":241419,"EventID":"S3W-34875","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1778,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":40,"ApprovedDate":"2010-06-25T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-06-25T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has for revised guidance from the Scottish Intercollegiate Guidelines Network to be developed for the treatment and care of patients with rheumatoid arthrit","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has for revised guidance from the Scottish Intercollegiate Guidelines Network to be developed for the treatment and care of patients with rheumatoid arthritis.","AnswerText":"Scottish Intercollegiate Guidelines Network (SIGN) Guideline 48 on the Management of Early Rheumatoid Arthritis which was published in December 2000 and updated in October 2004 is due to be replaced by a revised Guideline this autumn. The revised Guideline will address diagnosis, pharmacological treatment, and the role of the multi-disciplinary team in improving care of the rheumatoid arthritis patient. It will also include issues for discussion with patients. Clinicians in NHSScotland are expected to follow the recommendations in SIGN Guidelines.
As is now its practice, SIGN will be preparing an implementation programme to accompany publication of the revised Guideline.
","AnswerDate":"2010-07-21T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-07-23T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Shona Robison","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":241420,"EventID":"S3W-34876","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1778,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":40,"ApprovedDate":"2010-06-25T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-06-25T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what assessment it has made of variations in the provision of care for people with rheumatoid arthritis across (a) clinical care teams, (b) hospitals and (c) NHS boards.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what assessment it has made of variations in the provision of care for people with rheumatoid arthritis across (a) clinical care teams, (b) hospitals and (c) NHS boards.","AnswerText":"In December 2008, NHS Quality Improvement Scotland (NHS QIS) published its report on a Clinical Audit of Care in Rheumatoid Arthritis (CARA), which was undertaken to help implement key recommendations in Scottish Intercollegiate Guideline Network (SIGN) Guideline 48, and to identify any significant variations in the provision of care between individual clinical care teams, hospitals or NHS Boards.
The audit identified important challenges in the delivery of high quality health care of patients with newly diagnosed rheumatoid arthritis relating to delays in access to specialist medical and Allied Health Professional care and drug therapy and to developing patient-centred outcomes. It made recommendations for further audit, and these are being taken forward by the Scottish Society for Rheumatology''s web-based audit programme, supported by NHS QIS.
Both the audit and the revised Guideline on RA are intended to help address variations in provision of care across Scotland.
","AnswerDate":"2010-07-22T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-07-23T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Shona Robison","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":241421,"EventID":"S3W-34877","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1778,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":40,"ApprovedDate":"2010-06-25T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-06-25T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has for a rheumatoid arthritis strategy for Scotland.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has for a rheumatoid arthritis strategy for Scotland.","AnswerText":"Our national strategies relate to the clinical priorities of NHSScotland, as set out in Better Health, Better Care, and the Government has no plans to expand these.
However, the Government recognises rheumatoid arthritis (RA) as a serious condition which profoundly affects the lives of many people in Scotland. A wide range of work is therefore in hand to address it, including:
The exploration of a Managed Clinical Network approach to RA services;
The revision of Scottish Intercollegiate Guidelines Network (SIGN) Guideline 48 and the associated implementation programme being developed by NHS QIS;
The commissioning of the Scottish Public Health Network to undertake an update of the needs assessment for RA published by the Scottish Needs Assessment Programme in 2002;
Consideration of the approach to the management of RA that has been developed in the East of England;
Our general work on developing a musculo-skeletal programme based on integrated multi-disciplinary teams within community settings, incorporating the service model for pain management services that we are also developing; and
The work of the Orthopaedics Task & Finish group set up as part of the 18 weeks referral to treatment programme.
People living with RA will also benefit from our generic work on long-term conditions, including in particular our work on promoting self management.
","AnswerDate":"2010-07-21T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-07-23T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Shona Robison","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":241422,"EventID":"S3W-34878","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1778,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":40,"ApprovedDate":"2010-06-25T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-06-25T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what incentives exist for GPs to (a) identify and (b) manage (i) overweight and (ii) underweight patients.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what incentives exist for GPs to (a) identify and (b) manage (i) overweight and (ii) underweight patients.","AnswerText":"GP practices are entitled to receive additional funding when they produce a register of patients aged 16 and over with a body mass index (BMI) greater than or equal to 30 in the previous 15 months.
There are no similar cash incentives for GPs dealing with patients who are underweight. However, we would expect GPs to use their professional judgement and take the appropriate action for any patient showing signs or suffering from anorexia or bulimia or who are generally underweight using current BMI scales. Anyone with a BMI under 20 is classified as being underweight.
The management of patients in these categories include diet, change of life style, healthy eating, nutrition, exercise, detailed health plans etc. Apart from GPs who are normally the first point of contact for patients, dieticians, nutritionists and other healthcare professionals may also be involved in the management of such patients.
","AnswerDate":"2010-07-21T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-07-23T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Shona Robison","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":241423,"EventID":"S3W-34879","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1778,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":40,"ApprovedDate":"2010-06-25T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-06-25T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what steps are being taken to ensure that community nurses are trained to (a) identify and (b) treat malnutrition.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what steps are being taken to ensure that community nurses are trained to (a) identify and (b) treat malnutrition.","AnswerText":"The Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC), the UK nursing and midwifery regulator, sets the standards of education and training that nurses and midwives need to deliver high quality healthcare. The NMC is responsible for approving education programmes in line with its Standards of Proficiency for Pre-registration Nursing Education and Standards of Proficiency for Specialist Community Public Health Nurses and Specialist Community Nurses.
NMC approved pre and post registration nursing and midwifery programmes include competencies relating to the standards for the delivery of safe and effective nutritional care; including assessment, referral, care planning and delivery.
Following registration, nursing professionals are expected to maintain their skills and competencies in relation to their area of practice and the patient population for whom they care. NHS boards may develop and deliver local educational initiatives for community nurses as part of their continuous professional development.
Within a community context, registered nurses will be involved in the assessment of nutrition status as part of wider healthcare assessments and appropriate referral to clinical experts, including dieticians, GPs and other professionals with appropriate expertise.
Community nurses may be involved in the treatment of malnutrition by delivering the nursing elements of an individual''s care package as part of a wider multi-disciplinary team approach.
","AnswerDate":"2010-07-21T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-07-23T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Shona Robison","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":241424,"EventID":"S3W-34880","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1778,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":40,"ApprovedDate":"2010-06-25T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-06-25T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what assessment it has made of the findings of the Infertility Network Scotland following its survey of NHS boards on infertility services.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what assessment it has made of the findings of the Infertility Network Scotland following its survey of NHS boards on infertility services.","AnswerText":"The National Infertility Group discussed the findings of the survey undertaken by Infertility Network Scotland, and many of the issues raised by the survey are being considered by the group. The group will submit its first report to Scottish Government Ministers by the end of 2010. ","AnswerDate":"2010-07-21T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-07-23T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Shona Robison","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":241425,"EventID":"S3W-34881","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1778,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":40,"ApprovedDate":"2010-06-25T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-06-25T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to address the issues identified by the Infertility Network Scotland following its survey of NHS boards on infertility services.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to address the issues identified by the Infertility Network Scotland following its survey of NHS boards on infertility services.","AnswerText":"The work of the National Infertility Group seeks to address a number of issues concerning infertility services in Scotland. The group will submit its first report to Scottish Government Ministers by the end of 2010. ","AnswerDate":"2010-07-21T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-07-23T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Shona Robison","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":241426,"EventID":"S3W-34882","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1778,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":40,"ApprovedDate":"2010-06-25T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-06-25T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what steps are being taken to encourage the engagement of (a) fertility experts and (b) patients with NHS boards to discuss current services and potential improvements.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what steps are being taken to encourage the engagement of (a) fertility experts and (b) patients with NHS boards to discuss current services and potential improvements.","AnswerText":"The work of the National Infertility Group seeks to address a number of issues concerning infertility services in Scotland. Fertility experts and the patient stakeholder group, Infertility Network Scotland, are core members of the group. ","AnswerDate":"2010-07-21T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-07-23T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Shona Robison","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":241427,"EventID":"S3W-34883","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1778,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":40,"ApprovedDate":"2010-06-25T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-06-25T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what guidance it has issued to (a) local authorities and (b) NHS boards regarding the use of non-geographic telephone numbers as their main point of contact.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what guidance it has issued to (a) local authorities and (b) NHS boards regarding the use of non-geographic telephone numbers as their main point of contact.","AnswerText":"We have not issued guidance to local authorities or NHS boards on the use of non-geographic telephone numbers.
We understand, however, that the industry regulator, Ofcom, is currently carrying out a review of all non-geographic call services and they will be considering the use of such numbers by our public bodies and the impact this has on consumers.
","AnswerDate":"2010-07-12T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-07-23T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Nicola Sturgeon","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":241428,"EventID":"S3W-34884","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1778,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":40,"ApprovedDate":"2010-06-25T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-06-25T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what guidance it has issued to its directorates regarding the use of non-geographic telephone numbers as their main point of contact.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what guidance it has issued to its directorates regarding the use of non-geographic telephone numbers as their main point of contact.","AnswerText":"The Scottish Government currently uses a non geographic number, 0845 774 1741, as its published central contact number for the Scottish Government and its directorates. Use of this non geographic number ensures that calls from anywhere in the UK, using the same provider, are charged the same rate regardless of the callers location. There is no revenue sharing on calls to this number.
The telephony services within the Scottish Government are centrally managed by the Information Services and Information Systems (ISIS) division. ISIS is following the advice of the communications regulator, OFCOM, and is in the process of implementing the use of non geographic 030 numbers for calls to the Scottish Government. Numbers in the 030 range are for the exclusive use of public sector and not-for-profit organisations. All calls to these numbers are charged at no more than the national rate.
","AnswerDate":"2010-07-15T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-07-23T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Jim Mather","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":241429,"EventID":"S3W-34885","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1778,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":40,"ApprovedDate":"2010-06-25T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-06-25T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what studies it has conducted to assess the impact on different income groups of the use of non-geographic telephone numbers by public bodies.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what studies it has conducted to assess the impact on different income groups of the use of non-geographic telephone numbers by public bodies.","AnswerText":"The Scottish Government has not conducted any studies to assess the impact on or benefits for different income groups of the use of non-geographic or 03 telephone numbers by public bodies. We understand, however, that the industry regulator, OFCOM, is currently carrying out a review of all non-geographic call services, including 03 telephone numbers, and that the impact on consumers of the use of these numbers by public bodies will be considered as part of this review. ","AnswerDate":"2010-07-15T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-07-23T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Jim Mather","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":241430,"EventID":"S3W-34886","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1778,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":40,"ApprovedDate":"2010-06-25T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-06-25T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what guidance it has issued to (a) local authorities and (b) NHS boards regarding the use of 03 telephone numbers as a main point of contact.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what guidance it has issued to (a) local authorities and (b) NHS boards regarding the use of 03 telephone numbers as a main point of contact.","AnswerText":"No guidance has been issued by the Scottish Government to local authorities or NHS boards on the use of 03 telephone numbers as a main point of contact. ","AnswerDate":"2010-07-15T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-07-23T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"John Swinney","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":241431,"EventID":"S3W-34887","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1778,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":40,"ApprovedDate":"2010-06-25T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-06-25T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what guidance it has issues to its directorates regarding the use of 03 telephone numbers as their main point of contact.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what guidance it has issues to its directorates regarding the use of 03 telephone numbers as their main point of contact.","AnswerText":"Telephony services within the Scottish Government are centrally managed by the Information Services and Information Systems (ISIS) division. ISIS is following the advice of the communications regulator, OFCOM, and is in the process of implementing the use of non geographic 030 numbers. ISIS has reserved a block of 030 numbers for use by the Scottish Government. ","AnswerDate":"2010-07-15T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-07-23T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Jim Mather","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":241432,"EventID":"S3W-34888","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1778,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":40,"ApprovedDate":"2010-06-25T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-06-25T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what studies it has conducted to assess the benefits for different income groups of the use of 03 telephone numbers by public bodies.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what studies it has conducted to assess the benefits for different income groups of the use of 03 telephone numbers by public bodies.","AnswerText":"I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-34885 on 15 July 2010. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament''s website, the search facility for which can be found at: http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/Apps2/Business/PQA/Default.aspx. ","AnswerDate":"2010-07-16T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-07-23T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Jim Mather","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":241433,"EventID":"S3W-34889","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1778,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":40,"ApprovedDate":"2010-06-25T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-06-25T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what investigations it has made of the impact on individuals using mobile phones and pay-as-you-go phones of the cost of using 0845 telephone numbers.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what investigations it has made of the impact on individuals using mobile phones and pay-as-you-go phones of the cost of using 0845 telephone numbers.","AnswerText":"The Scottish Government has not made any investigations into the impact on individuals using mobile phones and pay-as-you-go phones of the cost of using 0845 telephone numbers. We understand, however, that the industry regulator, Ofcom, is currently carrying out a review of all non geographic call services, including 0845 telephone numbers, and that the issue of the impact of the cost of calls on mobile only pre-paid customers will be considered as part of this review. ","AnswerDate":"2010-07-08T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-07-23T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Jim Mather","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":241434,"EventID":"S3W-34890","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1778,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":40,"ApprovedDate":"2010-06-25T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-06-25T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what consideration it has given to Fife Council using 0845 telephone numbers to generate income in excess of £40,000 per annum.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what consideration it has given to Fife Council using 0845 telephone numbers to generate income in excess of £40,000 per annum.","AnswerText":"This is a matter for Fife Council as an independent corporate body. ","AnswerDate":"2010-07-15T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-07-23T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"John Swinney","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":241435,"EventID":"S3W-34891","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2167,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":3,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2010-06-25T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-06-25T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether there were or have been ministerial visits to the Cromarty Firth Port Authority in (a) 2007, (b) 2008, (c) 2009 and (d) 2010 and, if not, whether any such visits ","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether there were or have been ministerial visits to the Cromarty Firth Port Authority in (a) 2007, (b) 2008, (c) 2009 and (d) 2010 and, if not, whether any such visits are planned before the end of the current parliamentary session.","AnswerText":"The detailed information requested is currently being collated and I will write to the member as soon as this is available. A copy of the response will be placed in the Scottish Parliament''s Information Centre (Bib. number 51386). ","AnswerDate":"2010-07-22T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-07-23T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"John Swinney","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":241436,"EventID":"S3W-34892","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2167,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":3,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2010-06-25T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-06-25T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what the implications of the Merchant Shipping (Ship-to-Ship Transfers) Regulations 2010 are for Scottish port authorities that currently allow ship-to-ship oil transfers","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what the implications of the Merchant Shipping (Ship-to-Ship Transfers) Regulations 2010 are for Scottish port authorities that currently allow ship-to-ship oil transfers.","AnswerText":"The UK Government announced a review of the Merchant Shipping (Ship-to-Ship Transfer) Regulations on 8 July 2010.
This action will defer the entry into force of the Regulations from 1 October 2010 to 1 April 2011 but the announcement made clear that ship to ship transfers require some form of regulation.
Existing operations in several harbour authority areas in Scotland have a good safety record but the environmental impacts of ship to ship transfer operations is a matter of considerable public interest. I will be seeking reassurance that Scottish interests are taken into account in this review.
","AnswerDate":"2010-07-15T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-07-23T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Richard Lochhead","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":241437,"EventID":"S3W-34893","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2167,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":3,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2010-06-25T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-06-25T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether Highlands and Islands Enterprise is seeking to recover the funding that it awarded to Essentially Scottish Botanicals due to the company terminating its work on t","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether Highlands and Islands Enterprise is seeking to recover the funding that it awarded to Essentially Scottish Botanicals due to the company terminating its work on the project.","AnswerText":"This is an operational matter for Highlands and Islands Enterprise. I will ask its Chief Executive to write to you in this regard. ","AnswerDate":"2010-07-19T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-07-23T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Keith Brown","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":241438,"EventID":"S3W-34894","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":3806,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":3,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2010-06-25T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-06-25T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive when the updated Scottish Strategy for Victims will be published.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive when the updated Scottish Strategy for Victims will be published.","AnswerText":"A review of victims policy is now being commenced. The process will include a consultation on options for improving victim support planned for late summer 2010 and will conclude with publication of an updated policy framework at the turn of the year. ","AnswerDate":"2010-06-30T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-07-23T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Kenny MacAskill","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":241439,"EventID":"S3W-34895","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1860,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":3,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2010-06-25T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-06-25T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has been in communication with the North Highland College regarding proposals to stop the roof slating and tiling course at the college's Alness campus.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has been in communication with the North Highland College regarding proposals to stop the roof slating and tiling course at the college's Alness campus.","AnswerText":"The courses offered by colleges are a matter for their board of management which is responsible for securing the best overall value from the public resources at its disposal. Ministers, in line with the policy of successive administrations, do not seek to influence decisions on the provision offered by a college. ","AnswerDate":"2010-07-19T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-07-23T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Keith Brown","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":241440,"EventID":"S3W-34896","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1860,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":3,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2010-06-25T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-06-25T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what action it will take should the North Highland College implement the proposals to stop the roof slating and tiling course at the college’s Alness campus.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what action it will take should the North Highland College implement the proposals to stop the roof slating and tiling course at the college’s Alness campus.","AnswerText":"I understand that the individuals concerned are studying as part of a modern apprenticeship programme, support for which is a matter for Skills Development Scotland. I have asked the Chief Executive of Skills Development Scotland to write to the member. ","AnswerDate":"2010-07-19T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-07-23T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Keith Brown","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":241441,"EventID":"S3W-34897","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1860,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":3,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2010-06-25T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-06-25T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive how it will support students wishing to enrol in roof slating and tiling courses who must travel to the central belt for college training.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive how it will support students wishing to enrol in roof slating and tiling courses who must travel to the central belt for college training.","AnswerText":"Support for individuals on a modern apprenticeship programme is a matter for Skills Development Scotland. I have asked its Chief Executive to write to the member.
Financial support for other students is a matter for the college concerned, with which enquiries should be made direct.
","AnswerDate":"2010-07-19T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-07-23T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Keith Brown","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":241442,"EventID":"S3W-34898","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1860,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":3,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2010-06-25T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-06-25T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether additional funding can be made available to North Highland College should the college continue to run the roof slating and tiling course at its Alness campus.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether additional funding can be made available to North Highland College should the college continue to run the roof slating and tiling course at its Alness campus.","AnswerText":"Funding of individual colleges is a matter for the Scottish Funding Council and not Ministers. I have asked the Chief Executive of the Funding Council to write to the member. ","AnswerDate":"2010-07-19T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-07-23T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Keith Brown","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":241443,"EventID":"S3W-34899","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1860,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":3,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2010-06-25T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-06-25T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive when it expects to reach a decision on the proposed Sound of Barra Special Area of Conservation.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive when it expects to reach a decision on the proposed Sound of Barra Special Area of Conservation.","AnswerText":"The proposed Sound of Barra Special Area of Conservation (SAC) is presently undergoing an Impact Assessment, to explore the possible socio-economic effects of designation, with the final report expected in August. I will then consider the next steps to be taken in the early autumn. ","AnswerDate":"2010-08-11T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-07-23T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Roseanna Cunningham","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":241444,"EventID":"S3W-34900","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1860,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":3,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2010-06-25T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-06-25T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive how many patients have been diagnosed with multiple sclerosis, broken down by NHS board in each year since 2007.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive how many patients have been diagnosed with multiple sclerosis, broken down by NHS board in each year since 2007.","AnswerText":"The information requested is not available centrally. On the basis of previous population surveys it is estimated that there are approximately 10,500 people with Multiple Sclerosis (MS) in Scotland.
The national MS register, which ISD and the Multiple Sclerosis Society Scotland have been developing, with some start-up funding from the Scottish Government, began to collect information on new cases of MS in January 2010. The register should, in time, provide more accurate data on the incidence and prevalence of the condition in Scotland. The clinical standards for neurological services published at the beginning of this year by NHS Quality Improvement Scotland will also promote the gathering of better data on conditions such as MS.
","AnswerDate":"2010-07-21T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-07-23T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Shona Robison","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":241445,"EventID":"S3W-34901","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":3538,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":13,"ApprovedDate":"2010-06-25T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-06-25T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what the benefit-cost ratio of the Glasgow Airport Rail Link project was when it was cancelled. ","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what the benefit-cost ratio of the Glasgow Airport Rail Link project was when it was cancelled. ","AnswerText":"When the project was cancelled in September 2009 it had a benefit to cost ratio (BCR) of 1.1. ","AnswerDate":"2010-06-30T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-07-23T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Stewart Stevenson","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":241446,"EventID":"S3W-34902","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":3538,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":13,"ApprovedDate":"2010-06-25T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-06-25T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will publish the full business case for the Borders Rail Link.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will publish the full business case for the Borders Rail Link.","AnswerText":" I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-16378 on 26 September 2008. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament''s website, the search facility for which can be found at:
","AnswerDate":"2010-07-19T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-07-23T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Stewart Stevenson","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":241447,"EventID":"S3W-34903","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":3538,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":13,"ApprovedDate":"2010-06-25T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-06-25T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether there has been a recent alteration to the benefit-cost ratio of the Borders Rail Link and, if so, for what reason.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether there has been a recent alteration to the benefit-cost ratio of the Borders Rail Link and, if so, for what reason.","AnswerText":"There has been no recent alteration to the benefit-cost ratio of the Borders Railway. ","AnswerDate":"2010-07-19T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-07-23T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Stewart Stevenson","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":241448,"EventID":"S3W-34904","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1857,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":15,"ApprovedDate":"2010-06-25T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-06-25T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-33705 by Bruce Crawford on 3 June 2010 and in light of the First Minister’s comments reported in the media on 25 June 2010, whether","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-33705 by Bruce Crawford on 3 June 2010 and in light of the First Minister’s comments reported in the media on 25 June 2010, whether it will abandon plans for the introduction of a referendum Bill this parliamentary session.","AnswerText":"No.
I refer the member to the answer to question S3F-2525 at First Minister''s Questions on 1 July 2010, which can be found in the Official Report at the following link http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/business/officialReports/meetingsParliament/or-10/sor0701-02.htm#Col28143.
","AnswerDate":"2010-07-07T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-07-23T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Bruce Crawford","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":241449,"EventID":"S3W-34905","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1754,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":5,"ApprovedDate":"2010-06-28T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-06-28T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will list the freight facilities grants awarded in the last five years showing the amount of traffic that it was anticipated would switch from road to rail or ","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will list the freight facilities grants awarded in the last five years showing the amount of traffic that it was anticipated would switch from road to rail or water as a result of the work being funded.","AnswerText":"This information can be found on the Scottish Government website using the following link:
","AnswerDate":"2010-07-05T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-07-26T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Stewart Stevenson","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":241450,"EventID":"S3W-34906","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1826,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":35,"ApprovedDate":"2010-06-28T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-06-28T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive how many schools are using temporary accommodation to teach in, broken down by local authority","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive how many schools are using temporary accommodation to teach in, broken down by local authority","AnswerText":"The Scottish Government does not hold details of temporary accommodation being used by local authorities. ","AnswerDate":"2010-07-23T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-07-26T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Keith Brown","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":241451,"EventID":"S3W-34907","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1826,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":35,"ApprovedDate":"2010-06-28T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-06-28T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive how many children excluded from mainstream education in academic year 2009-10 for behavioural issues received counselling or assistance to specifically address this behav","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive how many children excluded from mainstream education in academic year 2009-10 for behavioural issues received counselling or assistance to specifically address this behaviour following exclusion, expressed as a percentage.","AnswerText":"The information requested is not available centrally. ","AnswerDate":"2010-07-19T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-07-26T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Adam Ingram","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":241452,"EventID":"S3W-34908","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1826,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":35,"ApprovedDate":"2010-06-28T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-06-28T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what action it is taking to encourage local authorities to borrow from the £10 million made available for early retirement packages for teachers.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what action it is taking to encourage local authorities to borrow from the £10 million made available for early retirement packages for teachers.","AnswerText":"It is up to local authorities to decide whether they need to borrow to fund early retirement packages for teachers, depending on their particular local needs and circumstances. ","AnswerDate":"2010-07-13T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-07-26T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Michael Russell","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":241453,"EventID":"S3W-34909","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1826,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":35,"ApprovedDate":"2010-06-28T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-06-28T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what action it is taking to reduce the number of unemployed post-probation teachers.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what action it is taking to reduce the number of unemployed post-probation teachers.","AnswerText":"The Scottish Government has taken a number of actions to help support post-probation teachers into work.
We made the difficult decision to reduce the intake of student teachers which will reduce the competition for posts among newly qualified teachers.
We created a scheme to allow local authorities to borrow up to £10 million to cover the up front costs of early retirement and free up jobs for newly qualified teachers.
We are continuing to work closely with COSLA and local authorities to achieve better reconciliation between local and national teacher workforce planning with a view to re-establishing an appropriate balance between teacher supply and demand.
","AnswerDate":"2010-07-29T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-07-26T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Michael Russell","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":241454,"EventID":"S3W-34910","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1826,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":35,"ApprovedDate":"2010-06-28T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-06-28T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive how much funding in the current financial year each local authority is dedicating to the development and implementation of the Curriculum for Excellence.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive how much funding in the current financial year each local authority is dedicating to the development and implementation of the Curriculum for Excellence.","AnswerText":"We expect all local authorities to have in place plans for the implementation of Curriculum for Excellence (CfE), but information on local funding to support these is not held centrally.
Despite current financial constraints, the Scottish Government is providing significant funding to local government - £35 billion over the period 2008-11. Under the terms of the Concordat, all education authorities have flexibility to allocate available resources in response to local needs and priorities, including implementation of CfE.
We are providing direct support to local authorities for CfE through the 10 point plan, including targeted support for those schools who need it, practical materials to provide clarity on what is expected, and £3 million to help support the implementation of quality assurance and moderation of assessment.
","AnswerDate":"2010-07-13T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-07-26T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Michael Russell","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":241455,"EventID":"S3W-34911","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1826,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":35,"ApprovedDate":"2010-06-28T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-06-28T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive how many local authorities will have schools offering the language baccalaureate in the academic year 2010-11.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive how many local authorities will have schools offering the language baccalaureate in the academic year 2010-11.","AnswerText":"This data will not be available until January 2011 when centres submit their finalised entries to the Scottish Qualifications Authority. ","AnswerDate":"2010-07-12T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-07-26T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Michael Russell","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":241456,"EventID":"S3W-34912","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1826,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":35,"ApprovedDate":"2010-06-28T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-06-28T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive how many local authorities will have schools offering the science baccalaureate in the academic year 2010-11.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive how many local authorities will have schools offering the science baccalaureate in the academic year 2010-11.","AnswerText":"This data will not be available until January 2011 when centres submit their finalised entries to the Scottish Qualifications Authority. ","AnswerDate":"2010-07-12T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-07-26T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Michael Russell","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":241457,"EventID":"S3W-34913","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1826,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":35,"ApprovedDate":"2010-06-28T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-06-28T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive how many pupils were presented for the language baccalaureate in the academic year 2009-10.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive how many pupils were presented for the language baccalaureate in the academic year 2009-10.","AnswerText":"19 pupils were presented for the Scottish Languages Baccalaureate in the academic year 2009-10. ","AnswerDate":"2010-07-12T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-07-26T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Michael Russell","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":241458,"EventID":"S3W-34914","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1826,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":35,"ApprovedDate":"2010-06-28T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-06-28T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive how many pupils were presented for the science baccalaureate in the academic year 2009-10.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive how many pupils were presented for the science baccalaureate in the academic year 2009-10.","AnswerText":"119 pupils were presented for the Scottish Science Baccalaureate in the academic year 2009-10. ","AnswerDate":"2010-07-12T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-07-26T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Michael Russell","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":241459,"EventID":"S3W-34915","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1826,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":35,"ApprovedDate":"2010-06-28T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-06-28T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive how many (a) primary and (b) secondary pupils were excluded for being in possession of a weapon at school in the academic year 2008-09.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive how many (a) primary and (b) secondary pupils were excluded for being in possession of a weapon at school in the academic year 2008-09.","AnswerText":"The specific information requested is not available. However, in 2008-09, 255 primary and 370 secondary pupils were excluded for either physical assault using weapon or threat of physical violence using weapon or improvised weapon. ","AnswerDate":"2010-07-22T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-07-26T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Keith Brown","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":241460,"EventID":"S3W-34916","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1826,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":35,"ApprovedDate":"2010-06-28T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-06-28T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive how many (a) primary and (b) secondary pupils were excluded for being in possession of alcohol at school in the academic year 2008-09.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive how many (a) primary and (b) secondary pupils were excluded for being in possession of alcohol at school in the academic year 2008-09.","AnswerText":"The specific information requested is not available. However, in 2008-09, 8 primary and 236 secondary school pupils were excluded for substance misuse “ alcohol. ","AnswerDate":"2010-07-22T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-07-26T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Keith Brown","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":241461,"EventID":"S3W-34917","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1826,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":35,"ApprovedDate":"2010-06-28T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-06-28T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive how many (a) primary and (b) secondary pupils were excluded for being in possession of illegal drugs at school in the academic year 2008-09.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive how many (a) primary and (b) secondary pupils were excluded for being in possession of illegal drugs at school in the academic year 2008-09.","AnswerText":"The specific information requested is not available. However, in 2008-09, 5 primary and 293 secondary school pupils were excluded for substance misuse “ not alcohol. ","AnswerDate":"2010-07-22T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-07-26T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Keith Brown","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":241462,"EventID":"S3W-34918","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1826,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":35,"ApprovedDate":"2010-06-28T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-06-28T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive how many (a) primary; and (b) secondary pupils were excluded for (a) bullying and (b) homophobic bullying in the academic year 2008-09.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive how many (a) primary; and (b) secondary pupils were excluded for (a) bullying and (b) homophobic bullying in the academic year 2008-09.","AnswerText":"The specific information requested is not available. However, in 2008-09, a total of 4 pupils (from primary, secondary and special schools) were excluded for ˜sustained peer exclusion for the purpose of causing significant distress''. None of these pupils had a homophobic motivation recorded. ","AnswerDate":"2010-07-22T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-07-26T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Keith Brown","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":241463,"EventID":"S3W-34919","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2033,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":61,"ApprovedDate":"2010-06-28T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-06-28T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what the timetable is for its consideration of Scottish Power Generation Limited’s application for consent to replace the four coal-fired generating units at Cockenzie Po","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what the timetable is for its consideration of Scottish Power Generation Limited’s application for consent to replace the four coal-fired generating units at Cockenzie Power Station with two high-efficiency gas-fired combined cycle gas turbine (CCGT) generating units.","AnswerText":"East Lothian Council submitted their formal objection to Cockenzie proposal to Scottish ministers on 29 June 2010.
Under paragraph 2(2) of Schedule 8 of The Electricity Act 1989, when the relevant planning authority objects to a proposal, and that objection is not withdrawn, Scottish minister must cause a public inquiry to be held.
A determination by Scottish ministers will not be made until this Inquiry has been held, and the resultant report received for consideration. Each case is unique and as such it is difficult to determine and exact timetable, but in general, referral to a public inquiry can add between six and 12 months to a determination timeframe.
","AnswerDate":"2010-07-23T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-07-26T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Jim Mather","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":241464,"EventID":"S3W-34920","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2033,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":61,"ApprovedDate":"2010-06-28T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-06-28T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what impact East Lothian Council’s decision to oppose a new gas-fired power station at Cockenzie will have on the timetable for consideration of Scottish Power Generation","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what impact East Lothian Council’s decision to oppose a new gas-fired power station at Cockenzie will have on the timetable for consideration of Scottish Power Generation Limited’s application. ","AnswerText":"East Lothian Council submitted their formal objection to Cockenzie proposal to Scottish Ministers on 29 June 2010.
Under paragraph 2(2) of Schedule 8 of The Electricity Act 1989, when the relevant Planning Authority objects to a proposal, and that objection is not withdrawn, Scottish Minister must cause a Public Inquiry to be held.
A determination by Scottish ministers will not be made until this Inquiry has been held, and the resultant report received for consideration. Each case is unique and as such it is difficult to determine and exact timetable, but in general, referral to a Public Inquiry can add between six and 12 months to a determination timeframe.
","AnswerDate":"2010-07-23T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-07-26T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Jim Mather","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":241465,"EventID":"S3W-34921","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2033,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":61,"ApprovedDate":"2010-06-28T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-06-28T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what impact East Lothian Council’s decision to oppose a new gas-fired power station at Cockenzie will have on the cost of a public inquiry on Scottish Power Generation Li","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what impact East Lothian Council’s decision to oppose a new gas-fired power station at Cockenzie will have on the cost of a public inquiry on Scottish Power Generation Limited’s application.","AnswerText":"Under paragraph 2(2) of Schedule 8 of The Electricity Act 1989, when the relevant planning authority objects to a proposal, and that objection is not withdrawn, Scottish minister must cause a public inquiry to be held. Hence, the objection from East Lothian Council has led to a public inquiry being called into the Cockenzie proposal.
In terms of costs, each party is expected to meet their own administration costs. However, expenses may be claimed by any person on grounds of unreasonable behaviour by another party. More information about expense claims can be found in the Scottish Government Planning Circular 6-1990. A copy of this document is available through the attached link http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Publications/1990/03/circular-6-1990.
","AnswerDate":"2010-07-23T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-07-26T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Jim Mather","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":241466,"EventID":"S3W-34922","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2033,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":61,"ApprovedDate":"2010-06-28T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-06-28T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what criteria it will use to decide on Scottish Power Generation Limited’s application for consent to replace the four coal-fired generating units at Cockenzie Power Stat","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what criteria it will use to decide on Scottish Power Generation Limited’s application for consent to replace the four coal-fired generating units at Cockenzie Power Station with two high-efficiency gas-fired combined cycle gas turbine (CCGT) generating units.","AnswerText":"Scottish ministers will consider responses to the application consultation, representations from members of the public and the report resulting from the public inquiry alongside all legislative and planning obligations before coming to a determination on the Cockenzie proposal. ","AnswerDate":"2010-07-23T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-07-26T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Jim Mather","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":241467,"EventID":"S3W-34923","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2033,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":61,"ApprovedDate":"2010-06-28T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-06-28T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether new non-nuclear baseload electricity generating capacity at existing power station sites remains a national development priority.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether new non-nuclear baseload electricity generating capacity at existing power station sites remains a national development priority.","AnswerText":"Consistent with the considerations and principles set out in paragraphs 151 and 152 of the second National Planning Framework (NPF2), new non-nuclear baseload electricity generating capacity at existing power station sites remains a national development priority. ","AnswerDate":"2010-07-23T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-07-26T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Stewart Stevenson","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":241468,"EventID":"S3W-34924","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2033,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":61,"ApprovedDate":"2010-06-28T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-06-28T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive how it will take account of the views of local residents when considering Scottish Power Generation Limited’s application for consent to replace the four coal-fired gener","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive how it will take account of the views of local residents when considering Scottish Power Generation Limited’s application for consent to replace the four coal-fired generating units at Cockenzie Power Station with two high-efficiency gas-fired combined cycle gas turbine (CCGT) generating units.","AnswerText":"Public representations are a material consideration for applications submitted under s36 of the Electricity Act. Although the statutory consultee period for these applications is 28 days, Scottish ministers remain open to representations up until a determination is made. Any individual, or group, with an interest in the Cockenzie development are invited to submit their views. Details on the various way to submit representations can be found on the Scottish Government website at http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Topics/Business-Industry/Energy/Infrastructure/Energy-Consents/Support-object. ","AnswerDate":"2010-07-23T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-07-26T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Jim Mather","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":241469,"EventID":"S3W-34925","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1837,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":36,"ApprovedDate":"2010-06-28T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-06-28T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive how many people applied for the Open Market Shared Equity pilot in 2009-10.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive how many people applied for the Open Market Shared Equity pilot in 2009-10.","AnswerText":"Three thousand, four hundred and thirty households submitted application forms for the Open Market Shared Equity Pilot in 2009-10. Of these applicants, 2,164 were eligible for support through the scheme. ","AnswerDate":"2010-07-23T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-07-26T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Alex Neil","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":241470,"EventID":"S3W-34926","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1837,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":36,"ApprovedDate":"2010-06-28T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-06-28T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive how many people it estimates will be supported under its Low-cost Initiative for First-Time Buyers programme in 2010-11.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive how many people it estimates will be supported under its Low-cost Initiative for First-Time Buyers programme in 2010-11.","AnswerText":"The Scottish Government plans to help over 1,000 people access home ownership in 2010-11 through its Low Cost Initiative for First Time Buyers schemes in 2010-11.
","AnswerDate":"2010-07-23T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-07-26T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Alex Neil","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":241471,"EventID":"S3W-34927","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1839,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":3,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2010-06-28T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-06-28T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what progress is being made in bringing the Virgin Galactic space tourism business to the Lossiemouth base in Moray.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what progress is being made in bringing the Virgin Galactic space tourism business to the Lossiemouth base in Moray.","AnswerText":"Highlands and Islands Enterprise are continuing to develop their relationship with Virgin Galactic with a view to supporting possible space operations from Scotland. Virgin Galactic have reiterated their ongoing commitment to the concept of using RAF Lossiemouth as a commercial base of operations for suborbital space tourist flights during summer months. They feel that RAF Lossiemouth offers an advantage by utilising the closed air space in the area which would be ideal for launching a spaceship at 50,000ft, and it benefits from having a runway at the edge of the sea, enabling take-off over the Moray Firth. However, there are significant regulatory and planning issues to overcome first to support space flights from Scotland and Virgin Galactic have always said that they would not even consider operations outside the USA until at least 2013. ","AnswerDate":"2010-07-14T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-07-26T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Jim Mather","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":241472,"EventID":"S3W-34928","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2678,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":8,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2010-06-28T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-06-28T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive how many (a) reported accidents, (b) injuries and (c) fatalities there have been on the roads in each year since 1997, also broken down by road. ","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive how many (a) reported accidents, (b) injuries and (c) fatalities there have been on the roads in each year since 1997, also broken down by road. ","AnswerText":"The following table shows a summary of the information requested. A detailed breakdown of these categories by road can be found in the Scottish Parliament Information Centre (Bib. number 51328).
Reported Road Accidents and Casualties Killed or Injured on Scottish Roads Since 1997
1997
1998
1999
2000
2001
2002
Accidents
16,646
16,519
15,415
15,131
14,723
14,343
All Casualties*
22,629
22,467
21,002
20,517
19,910
19,275
Fatalities
377
385
310
326
348
304
2003
2004
2005
2006
2007
2008
2009
Accidents
13,918
13,919
13,438
13,110
12,506
12,158
11,538
All Casualties
18,757
18,502
17,885
17,269
Pedal Cyclists Involved, Killed or Injured in Reported Road Accidents on Scottish Roads Since 1997
1997
1998
1999
2000
2001
2002
Involved in Accidents
1,309
1,167
1,062
900
942
852
All Casualties*
1,272
1,140
1,017
884
916
828
Fatalities
9
13
8
12
10
8
2003
2004
2005
2006
2007
2008
2009
Involved in Accidents
840
794
808
801
740
768
822
All Casualties*
802
776
781
781
714
","AnswerDate":"2010-08-04T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-07-26T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Stewart Stevenson","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":241474,"EventID":"S3W-34930","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2678,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":8,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2010-06-28T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-06-28T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive how many (a) accidents, (b) injuries and (c) fatalities there have been on the rail network in each year since 1997, also broken down by line.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive how many (a) accidents, (b) injuries and (c) fatalities there have been on the rail network in each year since 1997, also broken down by line.","AnswerText":"The following table includes all accidents on the Scottish rail network statutorily reported under the Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations 1995. They include workforce accidents, accidents involving the general public and accidents arising from trespass and vandalism such as missiles through cab windows, fires and running into obstructions, etc. The injury statistics also include all workforce and general public injuries occurring on railway premises, including those arising from trespass and attempted suicides.
1997-88
1998-99
1999-2000
2000-01
2001-02
2002-03
2003
2004
2005
2006
2007
2008
All Accidents
121
156
139
151
116
83
50
49
41
46
53
47
All Injuries
440
329
339
385
375
326
303
293
316
248
274
210
All Fatalities
19
19
25
27
20
17
27
19
21
28
21
21
Fatalities Excluding Trespassers and Suicides
0
0
0
2
5
2
1
<","AnswerDate":"2010-07-05T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-07-26T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Stewart Stevenson","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":241475,"EventID":"S3W-34931","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2678,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":8,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2010-06-28T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-06-28T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive hhow many (a) accidents, (b) injuries and (c) fatalities there have been at Scottish airports or on flights scheduled to arrive at or depart from them in each year since ","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive hhow many (a) accidents, (b) injuries and (c) fatalities there have been at Scottish airports or on flights scheduled to arrive at or depart from them in each year since 1997, also broken down by airport.","AnswerText":"The Scottish Executive does not hold information on the number of (a) accidents, (b) injuries and (c) fatalities there have been at Scottish airports or on flights scheduled to arrive at or depart from them. This information can be sought from the Civil Aviation Authority for information relating to flights and from the Health and Safety Executive for information relating to airports.","AnswerDate":"2010-07-19T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-07-26T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Stewart Stevenson","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":241476,"EventID":"S3W-34932","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1837,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":36,"ApprovedDate":"2010-06-28T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-06-28T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to the second supplementary to question S3O-11060 by Alex Neil on 24 June 2010 (Official Report c. 27736), whether it will detail the allocations o","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to the second supplementary to question S3O-11060 by Alex Neil on 24 June 2010 (Official Report c. 27736), whether it will detail the allocations of the Low-cost Initiative for First-Time Buyers scheme funding to support 1,500 families in 2009","AnswerText":"Details of planned and announced units and expenditure for the Low-cost Initiative for First Time Buyers Schemes in 2009-10 that were provided through the Affordable Housing Investment Programme can be found at:
The Affordable Housing Investment Programme Out-turn Report for 2009-10 providing out-turn management information for financial year 2009-10 will be published shortly on the web page provided above.
","AnswerDate":"2010-07-23T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-07-26T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Alex Neil","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":241477,"EventID":"S3W-34933","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1837,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":36,"ApprovedDate":"2010-06-28T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-06-28T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to the second supplementary to question S3O-11060 by Alex Neil on 24 June 2010 (Official Report c. 27736), whether it will detail the allocations o","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to the second supplementary to question S3O-11060 by Alex Neil on 24 June 2010 (Official Report c. 27736), whether it will detail the allocations of the Low-cost Initiative for First-Time Buyers scheme funding to support 1,000 families in 2010","AnswerText":"The Scottish Government plans to spend a total of £48.816 million through its Low-cost Initiative for First Time Buyers schemes in 2010-11, broken down as follows:
","AnswerDate":"2010-07-23T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-07-26T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Alex Neil","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":241478,"EventID":"S3W-34934","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1837,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":36,"ApprovedDate":"2010-06-28T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-06-28T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what funding is available for Low-cost Initiative for First-Time Buyers scheme in 2010-11.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what funding is available for Low-cost Initiative for First-Time Buyers scheme in 2010-11.","AnswerText":"I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-34933 on 23 July 2010 which details the allocation of funding for the Low-cost Initiative for First Time Buyers schemes in 2010-11. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament''s website, the search facility for which can be found at www.scottish.parliament.uk/Apps2/Business/PQA/Default.aspx. ","AnswerDate":"2010-07-23T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-07-26T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Alex Neil","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":241479,"EventID":"S3W-34935","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":3896,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":25,"ApprovedDate":"2010-06-28T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-06-28T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive how many hectares of native trees, including Scots pine, were planted in each of the last five years, broken down by (a) public land, (b) private land and (c) Forestry Co","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive how many hectares of native trees, including Scots pine, were planted in each of the last five years, broken down by (a) public land, (b) private land and (c) Forestry Commission conservancy area.","AnswerText":"The areas of new native woodland planted on private land over the last five years, broken down by Forestry Commission Scotland Conservancy, are shown below. Details of new planting on the national forest estate are not kept by conservancy, but the total amount of new native woodland planted over the same five year period is around 230 hectares.
Areas in Hectares (ha) of New Native Woodlands
Conservancy
2005-06
2006-07
2007-08
2008-09
2009-10
Total
Central
100
208
583
24
85
1,000
Grampian
217
614
251
78
57
1,217
Highland and Islands
1,886
957
857
337
775
4,812
Perth and Argyll
342
791
412
256
137
1,938
South Scotland
184
689
312
243
210
1,638
Total Scotland
2,729
3,259
2,415
938
1,264
10,605
","AnswerDate":"2010-07-23T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-07-26T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Roseanna Cunningham","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":241480,"EventID":"S3W-34936","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":3896,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":25,"ApprovedDate":"2010-06-28T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-06-28T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive how many hectares of native trees have been approved for planting in the next planting season through the Scotland Rural Development Programme.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive how many hectares of native trees have been approved for planting in the next planting season through the Scotland Rural Development Programme.","AnswerText":"There are 4,430 hectares of native woodland approved for new planting in the next planting season through the Scotland Rural Development Programme. ","AnswerDate":"2010-07-23T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-07-26T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Roseanna Cunningham","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":241481,"EventID":"S3W-34937","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":3896,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":25,"ApprovedDate":"2010-06-28T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-06-28T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive how many hectares of woodland were lost due to (a) restoration of open ground habitats, (b) clearance for wind farms, (c) loss to development and (d) loss of hedgerow tre","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive how many hectares of woodland were lost due to (a) restoration of open ground habitats, (b) clearance for wind farms, (c) loss to development and (d) loss of hedgerow trees in each of the last five years.","AnswerText":"I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-32887 on 28 April 2010 which set out the total amount of woodland felling in each of the past five years. A breakdown of these figures into the various categories now requested is not readily available at present. Forestry Commission Scotland (FCS) records show that the total amount of private sector woodland approved for felling over the past five years without a replanting condition was 678 hectares. However, certain categories of felling (including felling associated with planning permission) are exempt from felling licence requirements, and no central records are held on exempt felling.
Current work on improving the National Forest Inventory and implementing the policy on the Control of Woodland Removal will provide additional information on woodland loss. In addition, the Native Woodland Survey being carried out by FCS will provide maps and estimates of recent losses of native and ancient woodland related to development and other causes.
","AnswerDate":"2010-07-23T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-07-26T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Roseanna Cunningham","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":241482,"EventID":"S3W-34938","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":3896,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":25,"ApprovedDate":"2010-06-28T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-06-28T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive how many hectares of native woodland were lost due to (a) restoration of open ground habitats, (b) clearance for wind farms, (c) loss to development, and (d) loss of hedg","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive how many hectares of native woodland were lost due to (a) restoration of open ground habitats, (b) clearance for wind farms, (c) loss to development, and (d) loss of hedgerow trees in each of the last five years.","AnswerText":"I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-32887 on 28 January 2010 which set out the total amount of woodland felling in each of the past five years. A breakdown of these figures into the various categories now requested is not readily available at present. Forestry Commission Scotland (FCS) records show that the total amount of private sector woodland approved for felling over the past five years without a replanting condition was 678 hectares. However, certain categories of felling (including felling associated with planning permission) are exempt from felling licence requirements, and no central records are held on exempt felling.
Current work on improving the National Forest Inventory and implementing the policy on the Control of Woodland Removal will provide additional information on woodland loss. In addition, the Native Woodland Survey being carried out by FCS will provide maps and estimates of recent losses of native and ancient woodland related to development and other causes.
All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament''s website, the search facility for which can be found at www.scottish.parliament.uk/Apps2/Business/PQA/Default.aspx.
","AnswerDate":"2010-07-23T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-07-26T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Roseanna Cunningham","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":241483,"EventID":"S3W-34939","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":3896,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":25,"ApprovedDate":"2010-06-28T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-06-28T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive how much ancient woodland was lost in each of the last five years.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive how much ancient woodland was lost in each of the last five years.","AnswerText":"I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-32887 on 28 April 2010 which set out the total amount of woodland felling in each of the past five years. A breakdown of these figures into the various categories now requested is not readily available at present. Forestry Commission Scotland (FCS) records show that the total amount of private sector woodland approved for felling over the past five years without a replanting condition was 678 hectares. However, certain categories of felling (including felling associated with planning permission) are exempt from felling licence requirements, and no central records are held on exempt felling.
Current work on improving the National Forest Inventory and implementing the policy on the Control of Woodland Removal will provide additional information on woodland loss. In addition, the Native Woodland Survey being carried out by FCS will provide maps and estimates of recent losses of native and ancient woodland related to development and other causes.
All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament''s website, the search facility for which can be found at:
","AnswerDate":"2010-07-23T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-07-26T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Roseanna Cunningham","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":241484,"EventID":"S3W-34940","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2080,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":17,"ApprovedDate":"2010-06-28T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-06-28T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what steps it is taking to ensure that the needs of all carers are assessed.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what steps it is taking to ensure that the needs of all carers are assessed.","AnswerText":"The legislation does not require the needs of all carers to be assessed. The Social Work (Scotland) Act 1968, as amended by the Community Care and Health (Scotland) Act 2002 (the 2002 Act), gives substantial and regular carers the right to request an assessment of their ability to provide care. The Children (Scotland) Act 1995, as amended by the 2002 Act, gives substantial and regular carers of a child with disabilities the right to request an assessment of their ability to care. The legislation also requires local authorities to inform carers of their potential right to a carer''s assessment.
We are working with partners so that they better understand the importance of the carer''s assessment and that they take forward proposals to increase uptake of good quality outcome-focussed assessments. Some ideas being taken forward by local authorities include the introduction of carers'' self-assessment and the development of e-learning carer awareness modules for staff.
The Carers Strategy for Scotland, to be published shortly, will include action points to encourage the uptake of good quality assessments and will highlight good practice in the carrying out of carers'' assessments.
","AnswerDate":"2010-07-12T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-07-26T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Nicola Sturgeon","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":241485,"EventID":"S3W-34941","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2080,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":17,"ApprovedDate":"2010-06-28T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-06-28T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what steps it is taking to ensure that there is support at a national level for creating employment opportunities in poorer communities.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what steps it is taking to ensure that there is support at a national level for creating employment opportunities in poorer communities.","AnswerText":"Employment policy is reserved to the UK Government. However, the Scottish Government is doing all that it can, within the scope of its current powers, to promote employment opportunities across Scotland.
For example:
We are supporting six Urban Regeneration Companies (URCs) to deliver wide-ranging regeneration strategies in some of our poorest communities. All of these aim to create new employment opportunities for local people. We have invested £127 million in these projects since 2004; £92 million since 2007.
We are encouraging the use of Community Benefit clauses, which help to ensure that local people benefit from training and job opportunities arising from the physical transformation of their area. As well as the Commonwealth Games project in Glasgow, there are good examples of this in places like Raploch and Dundee. See the Scottish Government website for more details http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Topics/Government/Procurement/policy/procurecombenefits
Through ScotAction, we have invested £145 million to support the skills needs not only of the unemployed, but also of those in work and those facing redundancy. We are also in the process of rolling out an integrated employment and skills service across Scotland. Delivered in partnership by Jobcentre Plus and Skills Development Scotland, this service will help to ensure that all unemployed people have timely access to appropriate careers advice and training.
We continue to work closely with CPPs and local employability partnerships to join up and otherwise enhance support for those out of work, as well as to promote enterprise and healthy working lives. This includes work to develop links between employability and, for example, the health and voluntary sectors. For more details, visit: http://www.employabilityinscotland.com/.
In February we launched a Supported Employment Framework for people with disabilities. The Framework aims to ensure that supported employment is seen as a valued and integral part of local mainstream employment services. See http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Publications/2010/02/23093849/0 for details.
","AnswerDate":"2010-07-23T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-07-26T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Keith Brown","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":241486,"EventID":"S3W-34942","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2080,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":17,"ApprovedDate":"2010-06-28T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-06-28T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what examples it can provide of its use of article 19 of the EU directive on public procurement to obtain contracts for sheltered workplaces.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what examples it can provide of its use of article 19 of the EU directive on public procurement to obtain contracts for sheltered workplaces.","AnswerText":"The Scottish Government does not currently hold any contracts awarded following the use of Article 19 of the EU Procurement Directives. The Scottish Government is actively exploring how Article 19 may be used at the fit-out stage in the construction of the Scottish Crime Campus.
The Public Contracts Scotland contract advertising portal is being developed to send issue alerts to purchasers when they select a category of goods or services that could be supplied by a support business. A brochure will also be issued to public authorities, which profiles all supported businesses in Scotland and highlights the range of goods and services available.
The Scottish Government is also working at a number of levels to increase access to public contracts for supported business, such as by providing access to guidance, training and skills through the Enterprising Third Sector Action Plan.
","AnswerDate":"2010-07-28T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-07-26T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"John Swinney","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":241487,"EventID":"S3W-34943","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2080,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":17,"ApprovedDate":"2010-06-28T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-06-28T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what steps it is taking to influence the private sector to pay a living wage.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what steps it is taking to influence the private sector to pay a living wage.","AnswerText":"The Scottish Government is keen to ensure that people have a decent wage and from 1 August this year nobody employed by the Scottish Government will earn under £7.15 an hour - the current living wage level proposed by the Scottish Living Wage Campaign. However beyond the levels set by the National Minimum Wage, which is reserved to the UK Government, private sector pay is a matter for companies, their employees and Trade Unions. ","AnswerDate":"2010-07-16T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-07-26T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Alex Neil","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":241488,"EventID":"S3W-34944","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2080,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":17,"ApprovedDate":"2010-06-28T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-06-28T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what steps it is taking to monitor how the Fairer Scotland Fund is being used to tackle poverty.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what steps it is taking to monitor how the Fairer Scotland Fund is being used to tackle poverty.","AnswerText":"The Fairer Scotland Fund is no longer ring-fenced, having been rolled-up into local authorities'' general revenue funding for 2010-11.
Going forward, single outcome agreement (SOA) annual reports are the key means of monitoring progress made by local partners in using their collective resources to tackle poverty and concentrations of disadvantage.
Councils are required to submit SOA annual reports on behalf of their Community Planning Partnership to the Scottish Government each autumn. My officials will continue to review these reports in the context of the Scottish Government''s joint statement with COSLA, Equal Communities in a Fairer Scotland, which clearly sets out our commitment to tackling concentrated multiple disadvantage and builds upon the key principles of the Fairer Scotland Fund.
","AnswerDate":"2010-07-23T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-07-26T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Alex Neil","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":241489,"EventID":"S3W-34945","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2080,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":17,"ApprovedDate":"2010-06-28T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-06-28T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive how it has used community benefit clauses to ensure that poor people benefit from housing investment.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive how it has used community benefit clauses to ensure that poor people benefit from housing investment.","AnswerText":"In February 2008 the Scottish Government published a detailed report and guidance on Community Benefit clauses with practical information on how and when to use the clauses including case studies, model clauses and lessons learnt. The report provided clear examples of how local authorities, housing associations and regeneration companies could use the clauses to achieve training and recruitment opportunities for a range of target groups through housing investment.
We are continuing to work with the wider public sector to roll out Community Benefits clauses. These have now been used in a variety of public contracts and contractors have committed to over 2,000 placements for people who have been out of work and to SME and social enterprise development. For example, the Scottish Government Energy Assistance Programme contract has achieved a commitment to between 12% and 16% of the workforce being new entrant trainees in addition to a range of opportunities for SMEs and social enterprises.
","AnswerDate":"2010-07-14T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-07-26T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"John Swinney","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":241490,"EventID":"S3W-34946","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2080,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":17,"ApprovedDate":"2010-06-28T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-06-28T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will discuss with COSLA how to ensure that single outcome agreements are poverty-proofed.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will discuss with COSLA how to ensure that single outcome agreements are poverty-proofed.","AnswerText":"The Scottish Government has ongoing discussions with COSLA about local authorities'' approach to tackling poverty, as set out in Achieving Our Potential (the Scottish Government and COSLA framework). This has included discussion of what support and guidance is needed by Community Planning Partnerships and strategic public authorities to ensure that tackling poverty is given due regard in strategic decision-making, including commitments within single outcome agreements. ","AnswerDate":"2010-07-23T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-07-26T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Alex Neil","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":241491,"EventID":"S3W-34947","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1837,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":36,"ApprovedDate":"2010-06-28T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-06-28T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-30392 by Alex Neil on 13 January 2010, what the response has been to the consultation on the guide to social housing allocations.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-30392 by Alex Neil on 13 January 2010, what the response has been to the consultation on the guide to social housing allocations.","AnswerText":"We are currently finalising the new practical guide on social housing allocations for social landlords. We now intend to issue this guide for consultation in August and conclude the consultation in October. ","AnswerDate":"2010-07-23T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-07-26T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Alex Neil","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":241492,"EventID":"S3W-34948","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2080,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":17,"ApprovedDate":"2010-06-28T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-06-28T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what allocations there were in Glasgow under the boiler scrappage scheme, broken down by Scottish Index of Multiple Deprivation area.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what allocations there were in Glasgow under the boiler scrappage scheme, broken down by Scottish Index of Multiple Deprivation area.","AnswerText":"The Energy Saving Scotland boiler scrappage scheme issued vouchers on a first come, first served basis. Information on applicants was not captured in the format requested but can be broken down by postcode area in the Glasgow City council area. This is supplied in the following table.
Please note these figures will change, for example, if duplicate vouchers are found or if applicants do not redeem their vouchers.
Outcode
Vouchers
Outcode
Vouchers
G11
14
G4
3
G12
14
G40
1
G13
31
G41
28
G14
14
G42
16
G15
7
G43
15
G2
1
G44
17
G20
9
G45
1
G21
5
G46
1
G22
2
G5
1
G23
1
G51
2
G3
6
G52
14
G31
5
G53
12
","AnswerDate":"2010-07-23T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-07-26T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Fiona Hyslop","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":241494,"EventID":"S3W-34950","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1782,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":59,"ApprovedDate":"2010-06-28T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-06-28T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executivewhat assessment it has made of the funding required to guarantee the long-term financial security of the Scottish Maritime Museum.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executivewhat assessment it has made of the funding required to guarantee the long-term financial security of the Scottish Maritime Museum.","AnswerText":"I was pleased to visit the Scottish Maritime Museum on 14 June to open the new PS Lochlomond gallery, to announce an additional £100,000 funding for the museum, and to hear about its work and future challenges. The financial situation of the Scottish Maritime Museum and other industrial museums is being considered by the Museums Think Tank. Museums Galleries Scotland is working with the Maritime Museum to help ensure the development of a sustainable business model for the museum. ","AnswerDate":"2010-07-23T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-07-26T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Fiona Hyslop","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":241495,"EventID":"S3W-34951","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1782,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":59,"ApprovedDate":"2010-06-28T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-06-28T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what importance it places on the preservation of maritime heritage.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what importance it places on the preservation of maritime heritage.","AnswerText":"The Scottish Government recognises the importance of preserving Scotland''s maritime heritage. The Marine (Scotland) Bill received Royal Assent on 14 March 2010. This will allow us to create Historic Marine Protected Areas for our heritage at sea while heritage designations around our coast already recognise the significance of 107 historic lighthouses and 90 harbours. The Scottish Government is also investing in our maritime heritage. Over the last five years, Historic Scotland''s Building Repair Grant Scheme has contributed £2.5 million. Over the last two years, Museums and Galleries Scotland has invested approximately £1.3 million in Scottish Government funding towards maritime heritage through its grants schemes. ","AnswerDate":"2010-07-23T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-07-26T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Fiona Hyslop","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":241496,"EventID":"S3W-34952","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1782,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":59,"ApprovedDate":"2010-06-28T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-06-28T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what consideration it has given to providing additional funding to assist the industrial museums to work more closely in partnership","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what consideration it has given to providing additional funding to assist the industrial museums to work more closely in partnership","AnswerText":"The Museums Think Tank has been considering the benefits of greater collaborative and partnership working between the industrial museums, and across the museums sector. I welcome this approach and look forward to discussing the group''s recommendations later in the summer. All decisions on Scottish Government funding will, of course, be subject to the outcome of the forthcoming spending review. ","AnswerDate":"2010-07-23T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-07-26T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Fiona Hyslop","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":241497,"EventID":"S3W-34953","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2080,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":17,"ApprovedDate":"2010-06-28T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-06-28T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-34233 by Alex Neil on 14 June 2010, whether it can confirm that the Scottish Neighbourhood Statistics database shows that the Scott","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-34233 by Alex Neil on 14 June 2010, whether it can confirm that the Scottish Neighbourhood Statistics database shows that the Scottish Government’s preferred indicator of child poverty recorded a figure of 45% in 2007-08.","AnswerText":"The figure of 45 percent quoted above appears on the Scottish Neighbourhood Statistics and Scottish Government websites and refers to the proportion of children in Scotland living in households that are dependent on out of work benefits or where Child Tax Credit is more than the family element. At a local authority level this is used as a proxy indicator for child poverty and is the Scottish Government''s current preferred indicator for examining the distribution of child poverty across local authorities. It is not however comparable to the official child poverty estimates which are published for Scotland and the UK.
At a Scotland level the Scottish Government uses the Family Resources Survey (FRS) to measure child poverty and the 2008-09 figures for the preferred child poverty indicators are as follow:
Percentage of children in relative poverty (Before Housing Costs): 21 percent.
Percentage of children in absolute poverty (Before Housing Costs): 11 percent.
Percentage of children in material deprivation and low income combined: 16 percent.
FRS figures are not available at local authority level or for smaller geographical areas and so proxy indicators, such as the one quoted above, are used for poverty research concerning these areas.
","AnswerDate":"2010-07-23T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-07-23T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Alex Neil","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":241498,"EventID":"S3W-34954","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2080,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":17,"ApprovedDate":"2010-06-28T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-06-28T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-34472 by John Swinney on 22 June 2010, whether it plans to hold a central list of the contracts that it has entered into. ","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-34472 by John Swinney on 22 June 2010, whether it plans to hold a central list of the contracts that it has entered into. ","AnswerText":"The Scottish Government has recently started to collate a central lists of its contracts. This work is expected to be complete by the end of the year.
Question S3W-34472 refers to contracts that make specific reference to compliance with the national minimum wage. The central list of contracts will not capture information on this level of detail.
","AnswerDate":"2010-07-27T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-07-26T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"John Swinney","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":241499,"EventID":"S3W-34955","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2080,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":17,"ApprovedDate":"2010-06-28T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-06-28T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-34472 by John Swinney on 22 June 2010, how it monitors contracts that it enters into to ensure that they contain a minimum wage cla","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-34472 by John Swinney on 22 June 2010, how it monitors contracts that it enters into to ensure that they contain a minimum wage clause.","AnswerText":"Compliance with the national minimum wage is a legal obligation on employers. In the majority of cases there is no need to include a contract clause which refers to this aspect of UK employment law. We do not, therefore, monitor this issue. ","AnswerDate":"2010-07-27T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-07-26T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"John Swinney","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":241500,"EventID":"S3W-34956","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2080,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":17,"ApprovedDate":"2010-06-28T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-06-28T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-34472 by John Swinney on 22 June 2010, in what circumstances it would enter into a contract that does not contain a minimum wage cl","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-34472 by John Swinney on 22 June 2010, in what circumstances it would enter into a contract that does not contain a minimum wage clause.","AnswerText":"For most contracts, there is no need to include clauses requiring a contractor to comply with legal obligations that govern the conduct of its business. In some cases, the purchaser may decide to apply such clauses to address particular concerns regarding compliance in relation to the type of product or service being bought. \r\nof t","AnswerDate":"2010-07-27T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-07-26T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"John Swinney","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":241501,"EventID":"S3W-34957","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2080,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":17,"ApprovedDate":"2010-06-28T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-06-28T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-34473 by John Swinney on 22 June 2010, what specific EU legislation would be breached by a requirement that a contractor pay the mi","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-34473 by John Swinney on 22 June 2010, what specific EU legislation would be breached by a requirement that a contractor pay the minimum wage.","AnswerText":"Question S3W-34473 referred to a living wage which is generally understood to mean a wage over and above the statutory national minimum wage and the answer was provided in that context. Contractors engaging UK workers are required to comply with UK employment law including the National Minimum Wage Act 1998. It is imposing a requirement to go further than the 1998 Act that could restrict the freedom to provide services guaranteed by article 56 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union. ","AnswerDate":"2010-07-23T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-07-26T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"John Swinney","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":241502,"EventID":"S3W-34958","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1782,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":59,"ApprovedDate":"2010-06-28T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-06-28T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions it has had with James Watt College following the announcement of a shortfall in bursary payments to students.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions it has had with James Watt College following the announcement of a shortfall in bursary payments to students.","AnswerText":"Ministers have been briefed by the College on this issue but have not otherwise been involved in direct discussions. ","AnswerDate":"2010-07-22T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-07-26T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Keith Brown","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":241503,"EventID":"S3W-34959","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1782,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":59,"ApprovedDate":"2010-06-28T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-06-28T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what consideration it has given to providing financial assistance to James Watt College to meet the shortfall in bursary payments to students.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what consideration it has given to providing financial assistance to James Watt College to meet the shortfall in bursary payments to students.","AnswerText":"Funding of individual colleges is a matter for the Scottish Funding Council and not Ministers. I understand that a resolution of the matter which the Member raises has now been achieved. ","AnswerDate":"2010-07-22T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-07-26T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Keith Brown","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":241504,"EventID":"S3W-34960","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2675,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":3,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2010-06-29T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-06-29T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive when the annual progress report on tackling climate change will be published.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive when the annual progress report on tackling climate change will be published.","AnswerText":"The Climate Change in Scotland: Annual Report 2009-10 is now available at http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Publications/2010/06/29093219. ","AnswerDate":"2010-06-30T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-07-27T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Stewart Stevenson","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":241505,"EventID":"S3W-34961","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2223,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":26,"ApprovedDate":"2010-06-29T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-06-29T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether oral and written evidence to the Accounts Commission public inquiry into Shetland Islands Council, which is holding its public hearing in Lerwick on 28 and 29 Jun","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether oral and written evidence to the Accounts Commission public inquiry into Shetland Islands Council, which is holding its public hearing in Lerwick on 28 and 29 June 2010, is protected by privilege. ","AnswerText":"The inquiry referred to was held under the terms of section 103B of the Local Government (Scotland) Act 1973. The act does not address the legal status of evidence given at such inquiries, nor the extent to which witnesses at such inquiries are protected by privilege. It is not for the Scottish Government to provide legal advice to others. It would be for the courts to determine the extent to which the common law principles of qualified or other privilege give protection in the circumstances of a particular case. Where witnesses have concerns about such matters of law, they need to seek their own appropriate legal advice. ","AnswerDate":"2010-07-23T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-07-27T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"John Swinney","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":241506,"EventID":"S3W-34962","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1837,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":36,"ApprovedDate":"2010-06-29T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-06-29T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive, following the announcement in a news release of 15 June 2010 of the Scottish Housing Options Approach funding programme being backed by approximately £500,000 that is ea","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive, following the announcement in a news release of 15 June 2010 of the Scottish Housing Options Approach funding programme being backed by approximately £500,000 that is earmarked for staff training and service development, whether the amount has been ring-fenced for this purpose.","AnswerText":"The Housing Options Approach Funding Programme consists of around £500,000 of enabling funding which is available for local authorities to move towards a Housing Options approach to homelessness prevention work. The funding is only available for housing options related work which will assist local authorities in meeting the 2012 Homelessness target. ","AnswerDate":"2010-07-23T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-07-27T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Alex Neil","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":241507,"EventID":"S3W-34963","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1837,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":36,"ApprovedDate":"2010-06-29T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-06-29T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive how many houses will be built in the new urban village in the Tillydrone area of Aberdeen.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive how many houses will be built in the new urban village in the Tillydrone area of Aberdeen.","AnswerText":"Two hundred and eighty-six homes will be built in the Donside urban village in Aberdeen. The village will include 144 affordable homes for rent and 65 homes for shared equity, provided by Tenants First Housing Cooperative and Langstane Housing Association. Another 77 houses will be sold on the open market by CHAP Construction. The development incorporates a range of houses and flats. ","AnswerDate":"2010-07-26T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-07-27T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Alex Neil","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":241508,"EventID":"S3W-34964","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1837,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":36,"ApprovedDate":"2010-06-29T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-06-29T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive how much was paid for the land where the new urban village in the Tillydrone area of Aberdeen will be built.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive how much was paid for the land where the new urban village in the Tillydrone area of Aberdeen will be built.","AnswerText":"The site was bought in February 2006 for £10.75 million. ","AnswerDate":"2010-07-26T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-07-27T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Alex Neil","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":241509,"EventID":"S3W-34965","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1837,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":36,"ApprovedDate":"2010-06-29T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-06-29T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive how much each unit built in the new urban village in the Tillydrone area of Aberdeen will cost. ","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive how much each unit built in the new urban village in the Tillydrone area of Aberdeen will cost. ","AnswerText":"The 209 affordable homes in the Donside urban village will cost a total of £32 million. The average build cost is £0.153 million per home. Actual costs will vary according to the size and type of property being constructed.
Sixty-five of the affordable homes will be offered for sale on a shared equity basis under the low cost initiative for first time buyers. The sales price for these homes will be determined by a professional valuation surveyor approximately three months before being offered for sale.
The remaining 77 homes will be built by CHAP Construction and offered for sale on the open market.
","AnswerDate":"2010-07-26T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-07-27T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Alex Neil","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":241510,"EventID":"S3W-34966","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":3775,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":7,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2010-06-29T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-06-29T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive how it proposes to respond to the determination issued by the sheriff in the fatal accident inquiry into the tragic circumstances of the death of 21-month-old Ben McCreat","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive how it proposes to respond to the determination issued by the sheriff in the fatal accident inquiry into the tragic circumstances of the death of 21-month-old Ben McCreath.","AnswerText":"The Scottish Government is commencing a review of this specific area of the building regulations in line with the sheriff''s recommendation. This review will consider if the restriction on gap dimensions within protective barriers should be extended to all buildings.
We will start the review process immediately and intend to issue a public consultation early in 2011.
","AnswerDate":"2010-06-30T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-07-27T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Stewart Stevenson","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":241511,"EventID":"S3W-34967","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1783,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":67,"ApprovedDate":"2010-06-29T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-06-29T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will collect and publish statistics on the number of hospital-acquired E. coli deaths.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will collect and publish statistics on the number of hospital-acquired E. coli deaths.","AnswerText":"The medical certificate of the cause of death, which is the information source for General Register Office for Scotland (GROS) statistics, describes the diseases or conditions leading or contributing to death. It does not detail whether the disease or condition was hospital acquired. On that basis, GROS has confirmed it cannot distinguish between deaths from hospital acquired E. coli and deaths from E. coli that was acquired elsewhere, in order to collect and publish such statistics. ","AnswerDate":"2010-07-12T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-07-27T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Nicola Sturgeon","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":241512,"EventID":"S3W-34968","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1783,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":67,"ApprovedDate":"2010-06-29T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-06-29T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether it considers that E. coli affects more patients than (a) MRSA and (b) Clostridium difficile.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether it considers that E. coli affects more patients than (a) MRSA and (b) Clostridium difficile.","AnswerText":"The Health Protection Scotland (HPS) NHSScotland National HAI Prevalence Survey, dated July 2007, confirmed that E. coli accounted for 6.7% of infections and was predominantly associated with urinary tract infections. This same report also confirmed that both Clostridium difficile and MRSA accounted for more than 17% of infections. ","AnswerDate":"2010-07-12T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-07-27T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Nicola Sturgeon","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":241513,"EventID":"S3W-34969","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1783,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":67,"ApprovedDate":"2010-06-29T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-06-29T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive how many people contracted hospital-acquired E. coli in (a) 2007-08, (b) 2008-09 and (c) 2009-10.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive how many people contracted hospital-acquired E. coli in (a) 2007-08, (b) 2008-09 and (c) 2009-10.","AnswerText":"Health Protection Scotland (HPS) has confirmed that until a better understanding can be established of what proportion of E. coli bacteraemias are healthcare associated, their epidemiology and what measures are available to prevent them, it would be difficult to separate out any healthcare associated subset from total case numbers.
HPS is currently reviewing possible options for surveillance but advise that in the interim E. coli bacteraemias will continue to be reported as part of annual antimicrobial resistance surveillance reporting arrangements. The first report, published in January 2010, is available through the HPS website using the following url:
","AnswerDate":"2010-07-12T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-07-27T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Nicola Sturgeon","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":241514,"EventID":"S3W-34970","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2182,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":5,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2010-06-29T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-06-29T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether there will be Barnett consequentials arising from the £20 million announced for expanding respite care for disabled children in England.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether there will be Barnett consequentials arising from the £20 million announced for expanding respite care for disabled children in England.","AnswerText":"The Scottish Government may be entitled to consequentials from the UK in respect of the announcement for expanding respite care for disabled children in England in the 2010 Budget depending upon how this is dealt with in the Comprehensive Spending Review. Any consequentials will be contained within the overall Comprehensive Spending Review Settlement 2010 which is due for publication on 20 October 2010.
It is the responsibility of Scottish ministers to decide how additional consequential funding should be allocated and the Scottish Government will be looking at all budgets as part of its own spending review process.
","AnswerDate":"2010-07-27T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-07-27T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Shona Robison","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":241515,"EventID":"S3W-34971","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1866,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":30,"ApprovedDate":"2010-06-29T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-06-29T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive when it plans to publish guidance on measuring outcomes for disabled people.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive when it plans to publish guidance on measuring outcomes for disabled people.","AnswerText":"Local plans and progress on improving outcomes for disabled people are described in single outcome agreements (SOAs) between the Scottish Government and community planning partnerships.
The Community Care Outcomes Framework, published in December 2008, also underpin the SOAs to help partnerships understand how to secure better outcomes for people who use care services.
","AnswerDate":"2010-07-23T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-07-27T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Alex Neil","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":241516,"EventID":"S3W-34972","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2595,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":4,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2010-06-29T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-06-29T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive how many adults were diagnosed with type (a) 1 and (b) 2 diabetes in the Lothians region in (i) 2008-09 and (ii) 2009-10, broken down by local authority area.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive how many adults were diagnosed with type (a) 1 and (b) 2 diabetes in the Lothians region in (i) 2008-09 and (ii) 2009-10, broken down by local authority area.","AnswerText":"The information is not available in the form requested, but the prevalence of diabetes in NHS Lothian in calendar years 2008 and 2009 is given in the table below.
Number of People Diagnosed with Type 1 and Type 2 Diabetes in NHS Lothian
Year
2008
2009
Type 1 Diabetes
3,933
4,019
Type 2 Diabetes
26,240
27,506
Total
30,173
31,525
Source: Scottish Diabetes Surveys.
Data on the incidence or prevalence of diabetes, broken down by local authority, are not held centrally.
","AnswerDate":"2010-07-26T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-07-27T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Shona Robison","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":241517,"EventID":"S3W-34973","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2595,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":4,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2010-06-29T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-06-29T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive how many children under 16 have been diagnosed with type (a) 1 and (b) 2 diabetes in the Lothians region in each of the last five years, broken down by local authority ar","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive how many children under 16 have been diagnosed with type (a) 1 and (b) 2 diabetes in the Lothians region in each of the last five years, broken down by local authority area.","AnswerText":"The number of children in NHS Lothian recorded as having Type 1 diabetes in each year from 2005 to 2009 is set out in the following table.
Number of Children Under 15 Diagnosed with Type 1 Diabetes in NHS Lothian
Accurate data on the number of children under the age of 15 with Type 2 diabetes are not available, due to the potential recording overlap with other types of diabetes such as Maturity Onset Diabetes of the Young (MODY).
Data on the incidence or prevalence of diabetes, broken down by local authority, are not held centrally.
","AnswerDate":"2010-07-26T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-07-27T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Shona Robison","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":241518,"EventID":"S3W-34974","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2595,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":4,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2010-06-29T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-06-29T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-17154 by Kenny MacAskill on 12 November 2008, what additional information it has on how much money recovered from convicted crimina","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-17154 by Kenny MacAskill on 12 November 2008, what additional information it has on how much money recovered from convicted criminals under the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002 has been spent in the Lothians region, broken down by (a) parliamentary constituency and (b) project.","AnswerText":"Monies recovered under the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002 are distributed through the CashBack for Communities programme, which includes a range of partnerships with Scottish sporting, arts and business associations to provide diversionary activities for young people in Scottish communities.
CashBack funding has been granted to the Scottish Football Association (£2.5m), the Scottish Rugby Union (£1.4m), Scottish Sports Futures and BasketballScotland (£1.7m), the Sports Facilities Fund (£2m), Youthlink Scotland (£4m), Scottish Screen and the Scottish Arts Council for the Creative Identities Initiative (£1.2m). All recorded spending is done by Local Authority rather than parliamentary constituency.
Football activities in the Lothians include Street Football, Midnight Leagues, Soccer 1 and 2 and a School of Football for the South East region based in Dalkeith at Newbattle High School. Funding for Street football and Midnight leagues in each area is £28,000 for Edinburgh City, £25,600 in East Lothian, £28,200 in Midlothian and £26,600 in West Lothian during 2008-10. Total funding for Soccer One was £21,737 in Edinburgh City, £7,050 in East Lothian, £7,050 in Midlothian and £3,525 in West Lothian in 2008-09. The School of Football received £18,200 in 2008-09 and 2009-10.
The Scottish Rugby Union (SRU) in 2008-09 delivered free rugby sessions, street rugby and coaching programmes to primary and secondary young people in the Lothian''s. £60,000 was invested in 20 staff posts and equipment for all areas to deliver. In 2009-10 £64,000 was invested again for staff and equipment in the Lothian''s.
Scottish Sports Futures is delivering basketball activities in Edinburgh through their programme of Twilight Basketball and Jump2It. Over the past two years £155,945.22 has been spent on both Twilight Basketball and Jump2It in the Lothians.
The Sports Facilities fund was split over 26 projects throughout Scotland. Five projects were awarded a combined £463,083 throughout the Lothians. £250,000 to two projects in West Lothian, £100,00 for one project in East Lothian, £63,083 for one project in Midlothian and £50,000 for one project in Edinburgh City.
Youthlink Scotland have distributed £4m of CashBack funding, it is allocated by local authority rather than parliamentary constituency. The breakdown of spending in the Lothians regions for successful applicants is as follows; East Lothian £49,983, Edinburgh £291,185, Midlothian £48,437 and West Lothian £68,766.00
A further £2.5 million funding scheme for Youthlink Round 4 was announced on 15 July 2010. The funding will be distributed throughout Scotland to successful applicants over two years. There will be three phases of applications for this strand of Youthlink, the first phase will close 27 August 2010, the second phase on the 28 January 2011 and the third phase on the 16 of September 2011.
In the last few months three new national projects have been launched; the Multisport project funding of £1.5m, £500k to YouthScotland to administer a grant project for uniformed and small organisations, and £1.6 million allocated to the Personal Social Development project.
","AnswerDate":"2010-07-22T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-07-27T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Kenny MacAskill","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":241519,"EventID":"S3W-34975","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2595,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":4,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2010-06-29T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-06-29T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive how many charges were brought as a result of the (a) 45 attacks on prison staff at HMP Addiewell and (b) 16 attacks at HMP Saughton in 2009, broken down by disposals appl","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive how many charges were brought as a result of the (a) 45 attacks on prison staff at HMP Addiewell and (b) 16 attacks at HMP Saughton in 2009, broken down by disposals applied.","AnswerText":"I have asked Willie Pretswell, Interim Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service, to respond. His response is as follows:
In the orderly room, (a) a total of 48 charges were brought in respect of these incidents at HMP Addiewell, and (b) 16 charges were brought in respect of the incidents at HMP Edinburgh.
The punishments awarded in respect of these incidents are as follows:
HMP Addiewell
Award
Number of Awards
Caution
1
Forfeiture of Privileges
25
Stoppage/deduction of earning or other cash
20
Cellular Confinement
9
Forfeiture of other entitlements, e.g to wear own clothes
0
In addition, there was one Not Guilty finding, three cases were dismissed and hearings for 6 charges are adjourned at the time of writing.
HMP Edinburgh
Award
Number of Awards
Caution
0
Forfeiture of Privileges
13
Stoppage/deduction of earning or other cash
12
Cellular Confinement
3
Forfeiture of other entitlements, e.g to wear own clothes
0
In addition, two charges are adjourned at the time of writing.
","AnswerDate":"2010-07-21T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-07-27T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Kenny MacAskill","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":241520,"EventID":"S3W-34976","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2185,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":2,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2010-06-29T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-06-29T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what action it is taking on the recommendations of the Regulatory Review Group regarding the operation of the Licensing (Scotland) Act 2005.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what action it is taking on the recommendations of the Regulatory Review Group regarding the operation of the Licensing (Scotland) Act 2005.","AnswerText":"The Scottish Government is using the Criminal Justice and Licensing Bill to address a number of issues that arose during the transition period from the 1976 Act to the 2005 Act, and work is already ongoing in respect of variations and revised statutory guidance. I indicated to stakeholders that we would review the prescribed forms to see whether they can be improved and, following the publication of its recommendations, I have asked the Regulatory Review Group to give further consideration to this. I have invited COSLA to examine the proposal for a national licensing forum. ","AnswerDate":"2010-07-21T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-07-27T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Kenny MacAskill","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":241521,"EventID":"S3W-34977","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2185,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":2,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2010-06-29T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-06-29T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will address the variation across Scotland in premises licence fees from £200 to £2,000 identified by the Regulatory Review Group in its review of the operatio","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will address the variation across Scotland in premises licence fees from £200 to £2,000 identified by the Regulatory Review Group in its review of the operation of the Licensing (Scotland) Act 2005.","AnswerText":"No. Premises licence application fees and annual fees are set by licensing boards in line with the Licensing (Fees) (Scotland) Regulations 2007. These fees are linked to the rateable value of the premises concerned. This approach was agreed by licensing boards and most of the licensed trade and was based on independent research which recommended that while some anomalies would arise, a link to rateable value was the fairest approach overall. We do not consider that a further and full review of fee arrangements should be taken forward in the short term, nor do we consider it desirable to return to the fee arrangements under the 1976 Act where a small gift shop paid the same as a large supermarket. ","AnswerDate":"2010-07-21T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-07-27T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Kenny MacAskill","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":241522,"EventID":"S3W-34978","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2185,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":2,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2010-06-29T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-06-29T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will review the rateable value banding system for licence fees under the Licensing (Scotland) Act 2005.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will review the rateable value banding system for licence fees under the Licensing (Scotland) Act 2005.","AnswerText":"I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-34977 on 21 July 2010. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament''s website, the search facility for which can be found at:
","AnswerDate":"2010-07-21T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-07-27T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Kenny MacAskill","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":241523,"EventID":"S3W-34979","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2185,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":2,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2010-06-29T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-06-29T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether it plans to introduce standardised licence application forms and issue guidance to applicants relating to the Licensing (Scotland) Act 2005.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether it plans to introduce standardised licence application forms and issue guidance to applicants relating to the Licensing (Scotland) Act 2005.","AnswerText":"Standardised forms are already in place by virtue of secondary legislation. These include the forms for premises licence applications, personal licence applications, a standard template for operating plans and a specification for layout plans. I have already given an undertaking to review forms in light of transition. I have accepted the Regulatory Review Groups offer to begin this process. Guidance to applicants is also available and we are happy to consider whether that needs to be revised. ","AnswerDate":"2010-07-21T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-07-27T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Kenny MacAskill","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":241524,"EventID":"S3W-34980","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2185,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":2,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2010-06-29T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-06-29T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive for what reason the National Licensing Forum was disbanded.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive for what reason the National Licensing Forum was disbanded.","AnswerText":"The National Licensing Forum was disbanded by the previous administration. ","AnswerDate":"2010-07-21T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-07-27T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Kenny MacAskill","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":241525,"EventID":"S3W-34981","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2185,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":2,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2010-06-29T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-06-29T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will consider convening a working group to look at difficulties arising from the operation of the Licensing (Scotland) Act 2005.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will consider convening a working group to look at difficulties arising from the operation of the Licensing (Scotland) Act 2005.","AnswerText":"There are already mechanisms in place to allow stakeholders to raise any issues that they feel should be re-examined, for example the Scottish Government Alcohol Industry Partnership, the ACPOS Licensing Group, and the Retailers'' Working Group. Discussions with these groups have allowed us to use the Criminal Justice and Licensing Bill to address a number of issues and we will continue to work with stakeholders as the 2005 Act beds in. ","AnswerDate":"2010-07-21T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-07-27T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Kenny MacAskill","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":241526,"EventID":"S3W-34982","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2675,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":3,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2010-06-30T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-06-30T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what progress has been made on broadband support in areas under the Scotland Rural Development Programme (SRDP) and when details of delivery will be announced.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what progress has been made on broadband support in areas under the Scotland Rural Development Programme (SRDP) and when details of delivery will be announced.","AnswerText":"I am pleased to announce today that a new Challenge Fund will deliver support for rural broadband solutions through the LEADER network in Scotland.
This will deliver one million euros of much needed support for broadband projects in rural areas and help towards economic recovery.
The new investment that will be delivered through the LEADER network will support small-scale, community driven projects in rural areas and is aimed at improving coverage and bringing faster broadband to rural communities.
This means that communities will have the opportunity to define their own broadband needs and develop a project which meets these needs. The LEADER Local Action Groups, with technical assistance, will then assess the merits of the applications for that area and bid for funding to the Challenge Fund.
Local Action Groups will be invited to bid to the Challenge Fund by 24 September 2010. The deadline set for submission of applications to Local Action.
Groups will be for them to determine locally, but we are keen to move this forward.
This process will streamline applications and allow bids to be made to the Challenge Fund in late September so that the funding can be delivered at a time of economic need.
I recognise that there are different broadband support needs and solutions across Scotland and believe that the Local Action Group network across Scotland is best placed to assess these local needs.
This will deliver support from the SRDP in a way that is flexible but also focused and I am delighted to be able to announce a way forward for Rural Communities and broadband.
","AnswerDate":"2010-07-01T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-07-28T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Richard Lochhead","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":241527,"EventID":"S3W-34983","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2133,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":6,"ApprovedDate":"2010-06-30T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-06-30T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive when the report of the review of the UK response to the 2009 influenza A (H1N1) pandemic will be published. ","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive when the report of the review of the UK response to the 2009 influenza A (H1N1) pandemic will be published. ","AnswerText":"The report of the Independent Review of the Government Response to the 2009 H1N1 Pandemic will be published today.
The review was jointly commissioned, and the chair appointed, by all four UK Health Ministers in March 2010. Dame Deirdre Hine chaired the review.
The four UK Health Ministers set up this Independent Review with a remit to review the appropriateness and effectiveness of the UK strategy for responding domestically to the swine flu pandemic, and make recommendations for any future influenza pandemic.
I would like to thank Dame Deidre Hine and her team for their work and I welcome her report and recommendations. I will take these into consideration when reviewing our future pandemic plans in the Scottish Framework For Responding To An Influenza Pandemic.
Copies of the report are available in the Scottish Parliament Information Centre (Bib Number 51190).
","AnswerDate":"2010-07-01T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-07-28T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Nicola Sturgeon","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":241528,"EventID":"S3W-34984","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2678,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":8,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2010-06-30T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-06-30T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what it anticipates the total cost of the Borders railway project will be and how much it plans to contribute to the scheme in each year between now and the estimated dat","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what it anticipates the total cost of the Borders railway project will be and how much it plans to contribute to the scheme in each year between now and the estimated date of completion..","AnswerText":"As I stated to the Parliament on 5 March 2008, the Borders Railway is expected to cost between £235 million and £295 million (at 2012 prices).
The Borders Railway will be designed, built, financed and maintained by a newly created, Transport Scotland-backed single purpose vehicle (SPV), using a design, build, finance and maintenance contract. The SPV will enter into a contract with Transport Scotland for the delivery and maintenance of the Borders Railway over a 30 year period. Repayments will be made throughout the 30 year duration by the Scottish Government via a not for profit distributing procurement model via an annual unitary charge.
Transport Scotland provides the initial capital required to purchase the land and undertake required early activities. The Transport Scotland budget for these activities, broken down on a year by year basis up to the date of construction completion in 2014, is shown in the table below:
Financial Year
2008-09
2009-10
2010-11
2011-12
2012-13
2013-14
2014-15
Total
Cost (£ million)
28.072
9.446
7.714
7.387
6.424
6.363
2.090
67.497
","AnswerDate":"2010-07-30T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-07-28T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Stewart Stevenson","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":241529,"EventID":"S3W-34985","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2678,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":8,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2010-06-30T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-06-30T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what the cost-benefit ratio is for the Borders railway project. ","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what the cost-benefit ratio is for the Borders railway project. ","AnswerText":"The benefit-cost Ratio for the Borders railway project is 1.2. ","AnswerDate":"2010-07-26T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-07-28T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Stewart Stevenson","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":241530,"EventID":"S3W-34986","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1831,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":6,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2010-06-30T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-06-30T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what percentages of P7 schoolchildren would be recorded in the National Dental Inspection Programme with no obvious decay experience in their permanent dentition in each ","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what percentages of P7 schoolchildren would be recorded in the National Dental Inspection Programme with no obvious decay experience in their permanent dentition in each report since 2007 if the figures for each NHS board were expressed by community health partnership area.","AnswerText":"The percentages of P7 schoolchildren recorded in the National Dental Inspection Programme with no obvious decay experience in their permanent dentition, by community health partnership area, are not held centrally for 2007. Table 1 shows, by community health partnership area, the percentage of P7 children inspected in the National Dental Inspection Programme of 2009 with no obvious decay experience in their permanent dentition.
Table1: Percentage of P7 schoolchildren with no obvious decay experience in permanent dentition, as recorded in the National Dental Inspection Programme of 2009; by community health partnership area.
Percentage with no Obvious Decay Experience in Permanent Dentition
Community Health Partnership Area
East Ayrshire Community Health Partnership
69.6
North Ayrshire Community Health Partnership
67.7
South Ayrshire Community Health Partnership
72.4
Scottish Borders Community Health and Care Partnership
70.9
Dumfries and Galloway Community Health Partnership
57.8
Dunfermline and West Fife Community Health Partnership
67.2
Glenrothes and North East Fife Community Health Partnership
67.2
Kirkcaldy and Levenmouth Community Health Partnership
67.2
Clackmannanshire Community Health Partnership
68.7
Falkirk Community Health Partnership
68.7
Stirling Community Health Partnership
68.7
Aberdeen City Community Health Partnership
63.7
Aberdeenshire Community Health Partnership
63.7
Moray Community Health and Social Care Partnership
63.7
East Dunbartonshire Community Health Partnership
61.3
East Glasgow Community Health and Care Partnership
51.1
East Renfrewshire Community Health and Care Partnership
73.0
Inverclyde Community Health Partnership
54.9
","AnswerDate":"2010-07-26T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-07-28T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Shona Robison","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":241532,"EventID":"S3W-34988","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1831,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":6,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2010-06-30T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-06-30T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what the estimated expenditure was on (a) hospital, (b) community and (c) family services for people aged 65 or over in NHS Tayside in the last year for which information","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what the estimated expenditure was on (a) hospital, (b) community and (c) family services for people aged 65 or over in NHS Tayside in the last year for which information is available.","AnswerText":"This information requested is not held centrally. ","AnswerDate":"2010-07-26T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-07-28T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Shona Robison","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":241533,"EventID":"S3W-34989","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1831,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":6,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2010-06-30T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-06-30T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what the estimated expenditure by Dundee City Council was on (a) care at home, (b) care homes and (c) day care for people aged 65 or over in the last year for which infor","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what the estimated expenditure by Dundee City Council was on (a) care at home, (b) care homes and (c) day care for people aged 65 or over in the last year for which information is available. ","AnswerText":"The information requested is given in the table below:
Dundee City Council - Net Expenditure on Older People Services 2008-09
Net Expenditure
(£000)
(a) Care at Home
12,323
(b) Care Homes
18,039
(c) Day Care
1,314
Source: Local Government Finance LFR3 return.
","AnswerDate":"2010-07-23T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-07-28T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Shona Robison","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":241534,"EventID":"S3W-34990","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1831,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":6,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2010-06-30T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-06-30T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what information it has on the projected number of people who will receive care in NHS long-stay beds in the NHS Tayside area in the period up to 2033, based on 2007-08 f","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what information it has on the projected number of people who will receive care in NHS long-stay beds in the NHS Tayside area in the period up to 2033, based on 2007-08 figures.","AnswerText":"Modelling work has been undertaken at a national level as part of the reshaping care for older people programme. This work is focussed on the need for care for people over 65 only, and it does not drill down into individual local authority or NHS board areas. All information on the modelling work can be accessed at the following web address:
","AnswerDate":"2010-07-26T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-07-28T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Shona Robison","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":241535,"EventID":"S3W-34991","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1831,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":6,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2010-06-30T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-06-30T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what information it has on the projected number of people who will receive care in (a) care homes, (b) home care and (c) day care in Dundee in the period up to 2033, base","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what information it has on the projected number of people who will receive care in (a) care homes, (b) home care and (c) day care in Dundee in the period up to 2033, based on 2007-08 figures.","AnswerText":"Modelling work has been undertaken at a national level as part of the reshaping care for older people programme. This work is focussed on the need for care for people over 65 only, and it does not drill down into individual local authority or NHS board areas. All information on the modelling work can be accessed at the following web address:
","AnswerDate":"2010-07-26T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-07-28T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Shona Robison","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":241536,"EventID":"S3W-34992","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1831,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":6,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2010-06-30T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-06-30T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what information it has on the projected number of staff who will be required to provide care in (a) care homes, (b) home care and (c) day care in Dundee in the period up","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what information it has on the projected number of staff who will be required to provide care in (a) care homes, (b) home care and (c) day care in Dundee in the period up to 2033, based on 2007-08 figures.","AnswerText":"Modelling work has been undertaken at a national level as part of the reshaping care for older people programme. This work is focussed on the need for care for people over 65 only, and it does not drill down into individual local authority or NHS board areas. All information on the modelling work can be accessed at the following web address:
","AnswerDate":"2010-07-26T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-07-28T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Shona Robison","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":241537,"EventID":"S3W-34993","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1831,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":6,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2010-06-30T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-06-30T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what percentage of the population was of working age in Dundee in the last year for which information is available and what that percentage will be in 2033 if current pro","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what percentage of the population was of working age in Dundee in the last year for which information is available and what that percentage will be in 2033 if current proposals to increase the pensionable age are implemented.","AnswerText":"In mid-2009, 62.6 per cent of the population of Dundee City was of working age. In 2033, the projections published by the General Register Office for Scotland suggest that 60.2 per cent of the population of Dundee City will be of working age, assuming that the planned increases in the working age to 66 years are implemented. ","AnswerDate":"2010-07-14T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-07-28T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Jim Mather","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":241538,"EventID":"S3W-34994","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2049,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":4,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2010-06-30T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-06-30T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive when it will publish the interim Process Evaluation of the Drug Treatment and Testing Orders II Pilot. ","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive when it will publish the interim Process Evaluation of the Drug Treatment and Testing Orders II Pilot. ","AnswerText":"The interim Process Evaluation of the Drug Treatment and Testing Order II (DTTO II) Pilot in the Lothian and Borders Community Justice Authority has been published today on the Scottish Government website.
The evaluation provides indicative evidence of the positive role that DTTO IIs can play in helping offenders, in particular women, to achieve a reduction in drug misuse, greater stability in living arrangements and move towards entry into employment, education and training.
That is why I have decided to extend funding in the pilot area until the end of March 2012. Continued funding will provide an opportunity to build on the pilot''s success by collecting longer term monitoring data for a larger sample of clients. Some of the data collected will contribute to a wider review which we are undertaking on the effectiveness of interventions for offenders with drug problems in the criminal justice system. That review will conclude early next year.
Proposals under the Criminal Justice and Licensing (Scotland) Bill introduce a new Community Payback Order (CPO). This will provide sentencers with a menu of options including a drug treatment requirement. We will promote use of the CPO with a drug treatment requirement for women offenders who have drug-related offending issues.
","AnswerDate":"2010-06-01T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-07-28T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Fergus Ewing","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":241539,"EventID":"S3W-34995","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1877,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":70,"ApprovedDate":"2010-06-30T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-06-30T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive when will it start to publish economic forecasts for Scotland.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive when will it start to publish economic forecasts for Scotland.","AnswerText":"The Scottish Government has no immediate plans to publish economic forecasts for the Scottish economy. The Chief Economic Adviser regularly publishes an assessment on the future prospects for the Scottish economy within the State of the Economy publication series. This draws together existing evidence, including independent forecasts, to help inform our understanding of the future performance of the Scottish economy. ","AnswerDate":"2010-07-23T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-07-28T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"John Swinney","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":241540,"EventID":"S3W-34996","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":3758,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":1,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2010-06-30T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-06-30T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will report on the outcome of the June 2010 British-Irish Council summit.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will report on the outcome of the June 2010 British-Irish Council summit.","AnswerText":"On 25 June, the States of Guernsey hosted the fourteenth Summit meeting of the British-Irish Council, attended by ministers from all eight member administrations. The summit began with a very useful discussion on the global financial situation and on the measures being taken by members to best position their economies for recovery.
The main theme of the summit was Marine Renewable Energy, the workstream for which is led by Scotland. The council discussed the ongoing activity of the workstream as well as looking towards areas for future co-operation and growth in this sector. This included the continued exchange of best practice on marine environment and research issues and the identification of key opportunities for ongoing collaboration across administrations. The council also agreed the importance of involving the European Commission in future discussions.
Given the importance of the significant wave and tidal resources of BIC member administrations and the opportunities for the growth and competitiveness of this sector, it was apt that the council''s discussions came only a day after the States of Guernsey and the Scottish Government hosted a conference, held on Guernsey.
The seminar involved a number of key players from the Scottish wave and tidal sector sharing their experiences and lessons learned with developers and industry representatives from across the Channel Islands as well as members of the marine energy sub-group.
I am pleased to say that the council also agreed that the standing secretariat of the council should be located in Scotland. We are delighted that we will host this new base for co-ordinating and planning the future work of the council, and are committed to working with all member administrations to ensure its successful and early establishment.
As with previous summits, the meeting received progress reports and agreed a plan for future work on the other subjects currently being taken forward by council members. These are drugs misuse; demography; digital inclusion; the environment; energy, both grid infrastructure and marine renewables; collaborative spatial planning; early years; indigenous, minority and lesser-used languages; transport, and social inclusion.
","AnswerDate":"2010-07-01T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-07-28T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Fiona Hyslop","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":241541,"EventID":"S3W-34997","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1752,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":57,"ApprovedDate":"2010-06-30T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-06-30T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what representations it has had from dispensing GP practices in Ayrshire regarding the control of arrangements required to set up NHS pharmaceutical services","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what representations it has had from dispensing GP practices in Ayrshire regarding the control of arrangements required to set up NHS pharmaceutical services","AnswerText":"We have had a variety of representations from dispensing GP practices in NHS Ayrshire and Arran with regard to the control of entry arrangements. Most recently, we have received a number of responses to our Review of the Control of Entry Arrangements consultation exercise, which ended in June 2010. Details can be found on the Scottish Government website at:
www.scotland.gov.uk/318195.
","AnswerDate":"2010-07-22T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-07-28T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Shona Robison","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":241542,"EventID":"S3W-34998","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1752,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":57,"ApprovedDate":"2010-06-30T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-06-30T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what discussion it has had with rural organisations and community groups in Ayrshire regarding dispensing GP practices and the long-term viability of GP practices in rura","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what discussion it has had with rural organisations and community groups in Ayrshire regarding dispensing GP practices and the long-term viability of GP practices in rural areas.","AnswerText":"We have had a variety of representations from dispensing GP practices, rural organisations and community groups in NHS Ayrshire and Arran with regard to the control of entry arrangements. Most recently, we have received a number of responses to our Review of the Control of Entry Arrangements consultation exercise, which ended in June 2010. Details can be found on the Scottish Government website at www.scotland.gov.uk/318195. ","AnswerDate":"2010-07-22T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-07-28T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Shona Robison","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":241543,"EventID":"S3W-34999","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1752,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":57,"ApprovedDate":"2010-06-30T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-06-30T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive how much money recovered under the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002 has been spent in (a) East Ayrshire (b) South Ayrshire and (c) the Carrick, Cumnock and Doon Valley Scottis","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive how much money recovered under the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002 has been spent in (a) East Ayrshire (b) South Ayrshire and (c) the Carrick, Cumnock and Doon Valley Scottish parliamentary constituency.","AnswerText":"Monies recovered under the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002 are distributed through the CashBack for Communities programme, which includes a range of partnerships with Scottish sporting, arts and business associations to provide diversionary activities for young people in Scottish communities.
CashBack funding has been granted to the Scottish Football Association (£2.5m), the Scottish Rugby Union (£1.4m), Scottish Sports Futures and BasketballScotland (£1.7m), the Sports Facilities Fund (£2m), Youthlink Scotland (£4), Scottish Screen and the Scottish Arts Council for the Creative Identities Initiative (£1.2m). All recorded spending is done by Local Authority rather than parliamentary constituency.
Football activities in South and East Ayrshire include Street Football, Midnight Leagues, Soccer 1 and 2 and a School of Football for the South West region based in Cumnock at Cumnock Academy. Funding for Street football and Midnight leagues in Ayrshire was £27,400 for East Ayrshire and, £27,400 in South Ayrshire during 2008-10. Total funding for Soccer One was £7,050 in East Ayrshire and £7,637.50 in South Ayrshire in 2008-09. The School of Football received £18,200 in 2008-09 and 2009-10.
The Scottish Rugby Union (SRU) in 2008-09 delivered free rugby sessions, street rugby and coaching programmes to primary and secondary young people in Ayrshire. £13,000 was invested in equipment and resources in East and South Ayrshire to help deliver the programmes. In 2009-10 £18,000 was invested again for equipment and resources for the programmes as well as a contribution for two development officers in East and South Ayrshire. The street rugby programme is now being expanded with the help of the development officers to include a pilot school of rugby in Cummnock Academy and Grange Academy (Kilmarnock).
Scottish Sports Futures is delivering basketball activities in East Ayrshire through their recently-expanded Jump2It programme. £10,000 has been spent in East Ayrshire. Basketball Scotland fund the West Regional Basketball Co-ordinator who operates in Ayrshire entirely through CashBack. £1100 was recently spent to include Ayrshire basketball teams in U14 competition and support the newly formed club develop a youth section.
The Sports Facilities fund was split over 26 projects throughout Scotland. The Caledonian Youth Club in South Ayrshire received £53,000 for construction of synthetic 5 a side pitch with portable goals and nets.
Scottish Arts Council through Creative Identities have spent £15,661.80 in South Ayrshire and £16,950 in East Ayrshire on a variety of projects from open access workshops to multi-media projects.
Youthlink Scotland have distributed £4m of CashBack funding so far. In East Ayrshire 11 projects have been awarded £79,083.05 and 18 projects in South Ayrshire have been awarded £80,014.61 over the first 3 rounds of Youthlink funding.
A further £2.5 million funding scheme for Youthlink Round 4 was announced on the 15 July 2010. The funding will be distributed throughout Scotland to successful applicants over two years. There will be three phases of applications for this strand of Youthlink, the first phase will close 27 August 2010, the second phase on the 28 January 2011 and the third phase on the 16 of September 2011.
In the last few months three new national projects have been launched; the Multisport project funding of £1.5m, £500k to YouthScotland to administer a grant project for uniformed and small organisations, and £1.6 million allocated to the Personal Social Development project.
","AnswerDate":"2010-07-22T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-07-28T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Kenny MacAskill","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":241544,"EventID":"S3W-35000","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1752,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":57,"ApprovedDate":"2010-06-30T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-06-30T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-34103 by Jim Mather on 21 June 2010, how many completed applications to the boiler scrappage scheme were received and what the reas","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-34103 by Jim Mather on 21 June 2010, how many completed applications to the boiler scrappage scheme were received and what the reason was for the refusal of any applications, broken down by postcode area","AnswerText":"Applications were approved on a first come, first served basis until the initial allocation of vouchers was equal to the budget allocated. The system did not record unsuccessful applications. A total of 4,602 vouchers were allocated during the initial allocation. Following subsequent appeals by individuals and the clarification of these and existing cases the number of current applications is 4,645, 20 of these are duplicates.
The reason for refusal of applications, broken down by postcode, is tabled below.
Postcode
Reason
Postcode
Reason
AB14
Not ESTR
EH55
Not G Rated
AB14
Not ESTR
FK1
Not ESTR
AB16
Not ESTR
FK5
Incorrect address
AB16
Not ESTR
FK9
Has Home Loan
AB21
Not G Rated
G11
Incorrect address
AB43
Incorrect address
G41
Not ESTR
AB44
Not home owner
G42
Not ESTR
AB55
Incorrect address
G42
Not ESTR
AB56
Incorrect address
G46
Not ESTR
AB56
Incorrect address
","AnswerDate":"2010-07-28T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-07-28T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Richard Lochhead","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":241546,"EventID":"S3W-35002","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1803,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":58,"ApprovedDate":"2010-06-30T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-06-30T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive when it expects its review of sewage sludge regulations to be completed.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive when it expects its review of sewage sludge regulations to be completed.","AnswerText":"Officials are currently discussing the scope and timing of a review of these regulations, which have UK-wide application, with their counterparts in Whitehall and the other devolved administrations. It is expected that consultation on any proposed changes would take place before the end of the current calendar year. ","AnswerDate":"2010-07-28T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-07-28T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Richard Lochhead","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":241547,"EventID":"S3W-35003","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1752,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":57,"ApprovedDate":"2010-06-30T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-06-30T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will review the terms of the contract for the operation of HMP Kilmarnock.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will review the terms of the contract for the operation of HMP Kilmarnock.","AnswerText":"I have asked John Ewing, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service, to respond. His response is as follows:
The SPS has no current plans to review the terms of the contract for HMP Kilmarnock.
There is a mechanism for change which is specified in the contract which can be invoked to take account of changes in legislation or the requirements of the SPS or the Scottish Government.
","AnswerDate":"2010-07-21T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-07-28T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Kenny MacAskill","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":241548,"EventID":"S3W-35004","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1752,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":57,"ApprovedDate":"2010-06-30T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-06-30T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what assessment it has made of the differences between the contract for the operation of HMP Kilmarnock and HMP Addiewell with reference to (a) value for money and (b) re","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what assessment it has made of the differences between the contract for the operation of HMP Kilmarnock and HMP Addiewell with reference to (a) value for money and (b) reduction in reoffending.","AnswerText":"I have asked John Ewing, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service, to respond. His response is as follows:
Both contracts have been drawn up to deliver value for money and each contributes to the Scottish Government and Scottish Prison Services strategy to reduce re-offending. Each is contributing towards those goals albeit in different ways.
","AnswerDate":"2010-07-21T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-07-28T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Kenny MacAskill","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":241549,"EventID":"S3W-35005","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2678,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":8,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2010-06-30T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-06-30T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the publication of the Road Safety Foundation’s report, Saving Lives for Less, which shows that Scotland has the highest average risk rating of all regions in","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the publication of the Road Safety Foundation’s report, Saving Lives for Less, which shows that Scotland has the highest average risk rating of all regions in Britain, whether it will establish a dedicated accident black spot fund.","AnswerText":"Version:1.0 StartHTML:0000000179 EndHTML:0000007204 StartFragment:0000003303 EndFragment:0000007164 SourceURL:file:///\\\\cc02fd\\writtenanswers$\\To_Be_Processed\\S3W-35005.doc
Stewart Stevenson:No. We are making available almost £12 billion in funding for local authorities this financial year. Decisions about local road investment are a matter for individual councils. Expenditure on trunk roads in Scotland in 2010-11 will be £568 million.
","AnswerDate":"2010-07-19T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-07-28T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Stewart Stevenson","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":241550,"EventID":"S3W-35006","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2678,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":8,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2010-06-30T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-06-30T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive how it will respond to the findings of the Road Safety Foundation’s report, Saving Lives for Less, which shows that Scotland has the highest average risk rating of all re","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive how it will respond to the findings of the Road Safety Foundation’s report, Saving Lives for Less, which shows that Scotland has the highest average risk rating of all regions in Britain.","AnswerText":"Version:1.0 StartHTML:0000000179 EndHTML:0000008113 StartFragment:0000003303 EndFragment:0000008073 SourceURL:file:///\\\\cc02fd\\writtenanswers$\\To_Be_Processed\\S3W-35006.doc
Stewart Stevenson:We are responding through implementation of Scotland''s Road Safety Framework to 2020, published last year. This includes specific commitments on trunk roads and local roads, including engineering measures and work, through route safety groups, to reduce casualties along routes which are shown to have the highest incidences of road casualties. These route safety groups include representation from local authorities, the police and others, working together to provide innovative joined up solutions to reduce casualties. Transport Scotland assesses t","AnswerDate":"2010-07-19T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-07-28T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Stewart Stevenson","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":241551,"EventID":"S3W-35007","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1768,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":60,"ApprovedDate":"2010-06-30T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-06-30T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive which local authorities hold a current general licence under section 16 of the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 for the control of lesser black backed gulls and when the","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive which local authorities hold a current general licence under section 16 of the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 for the control of lesser black backed gulls and when these licences will expire.","AnswerText":"Local authorities who need to control gulls may do so under the terms of a Scottish Government general licence, provided that they meet the conditions which are set out on the licence. The licence can be downloaded from the link below. The Scottish Government does not keep a record of general licences issued. The general licence does require returns. The current licences expire on 31 December 2010.
","AnswerDate":"2010-07-23T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-07-28T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Roseanna Cunningham","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":241552,"EventID":"S3W-35008","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1768,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":60,"ApprovedDate":"2010-06-30T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-06-30T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive which local authorities hold a current general licence under section 16 of the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 for the control of herring gulls and when these licences ","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive which local authorities hold a current general licence under section 16 of the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 for the control of herring gulls and when these licences will expire","AnswerText":"I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-35007 on 23 July 2010. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament''s website, the search facility for which can be found at www.scottish.parliament.uk/Apps2/Business/PQA/Default.aspx. ","AnswerDate":"2010-07-23T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-07-28T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Roseanna Cunningham","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":241553,"EventID":"S3W-35009","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1839,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":3,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2010-06-30T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-06-30T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive how much money it has allocated to the Long Term Conditions Alliance Scotland in relation to the management of chronic pain in the last two years.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive how much money it has allocated to the Long Term Conditions Alliance Scotland in relation to the management of chronic pain in the last two years.","AnswerText":"The Scottish Government has not allocated any specific funding to the Long Term Conditions Alliance Scotland (LTCAS) in relation to the management of chronic pain.
LTCAS is, however, responsible for the administration of the self management fund, for which the Scottish Government has made £4 million available during the period 2009‘10 to 2010-11. A number of successful applications to the fund are expected to bring real benefits to people living with chronic pain in Scotland. Details of all successful applications can be found on the LTCAS website.
","AnswerDate":"2010-07-26T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-07-28T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Shona Robison","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":241554,"EventID":"S3W-35010","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1839,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":3,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2010-06-30T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-06-30T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has carried out Priority Action 5 of the NHS Quality Improvement Scotland report, Getting to GRIPS with Chronic Pain in Scotland, to review Scottish Government","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has carried out Priority Action 5 of the NHS Quality Improvement Scotland report, Getting to GRIPS with Chronic Pain in Scotland, to review Scottish Government-funded pain management programmes provided outwith Scotland and consider investment in the development and provision of Scottish regional and local pain management programmes, including a residential facility for patients unable to attend as outpatients and, if so, what the outcome was.","AnswerText":"The role of residential pain management facilities is being considered by the chronic pain steering group as part of the service model our lead clinician for chronic pain has been developing in conjunction with those responsible for the musculo-skeletal programme. The overall aim is to make sure each person with chronic pain gets the treatment they need in the most appropriate place. ","AnswerDate":"2010-07-26T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-07-28T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Shona Robison","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":241555,"EventID":"S3W-35011","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1839,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":3,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2010-06-30T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-06-30T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what clinical standards have been developed by NHS Quality Improvement Scotland for secondary care chronic pain services and when they will be implemented.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what clinical standards have been developed by NHS Quality Improvement Scotland for secondary care chronic pain services and when they will be implemented.","AnswerText":"NHS Quality Improvement Scotland is considering this recommendation from the GRIPS report as part of its work in developing an improvement programme that will help NHS boards take forward their chronic pain services. ","AnswerDate":"2010-07-26T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-07-28T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Shona Robison","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":241556,"EventID":"S3W-35012","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1839,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":3,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2010-06-30T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-06-30T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what progress has been achieved to reduce the rate of increase in the proportion of children with a body mass index outwith a healthy range.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what progress has been achieved to reduce the rate of increase in the proportion of children with a body mass index outwith a healthy range.","AnswerText":"The National Performance Indicator for child healthy weight and progress so far can be found on the Scotland Performs web pages:
http://www.scotland.gov.uk/About/scotPerforms/indicators/childrensBMI (the national indicator relates to children aged 2-15).
Progress is being made to reduce the rate of increase in the proportion of children with a body mass index outwith a healthy range with figures showing a drop from 1.7% per annum between 1998 and 2003 to 0.8% per annum between 2003 and 2008.
","AnswerDate":"2010-07-22T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-07-28T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Shona Robison","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":241557,"EventID":"S3W-35013","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1839,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":3,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2010-06-30T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-06-30T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive how much funding it provided to the Long Term Conditions Alliance in (a) 2006-07, (b) 2007-08, (c) 2008-09 and (d) 2009-10 and how much is allocated for 2010-11.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive how much funding it provided to the Long Term Conditions Alliance in (a) 2006-07, (b) 2007-08, (c) 2008-09 and (d) 2009-10 and how much is allocated for 2010-11.","AnswerText":"The information requested on the funding provided to the Long Term Conditions Alliance Scotland is given in the following table:
Financial Year
Amount
2006-07
£160.00
2007-08
£80,135.00
2008-09
£568,949.41
2009-10
£747,609.89
2010-11
£563,000.00
The following is the original answer (published on 26 July 2010); see below.
The information requested on the funding provided to the Long Term Conditions Alliance Scotland is given in the following table:
Financial Year
Amount
2006-07
£160.00
2007-08
£80,135.00
2008-09
£568,949.41
2009-10
£747,609.89
2010-11
£976,054.00
","AnswerDate":"2010-07-26T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-07-28T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Shona Robison","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":241558,"EventID":"S3W-35014","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1839,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":3,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2010-06-30T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-06-30T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what action has been taken to control exposure to, demand for and consumption of excessive quantities of high calorie foods and drinks as outlined in Preventing Overweigh","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what action has been taken to control exposure to, demand for and consumption of excessive quantities of high calorie foods and drinks as outlined in Preventing Overweight and Obesity in Scotland: A Route Map Towards Healthy Weight.","AnswerText":"The Route Map is a long term strategy spanning 20 years. Our current priority is to develop an action plan and identify key milestones to support delivery of the Route Map. A report of progress will be published in 2013.
In the meantime, we are committed to improving the nation''s diet through work with a range of stakeholders. For example, with retailers through the Scottish Grocers'' Federation Healthy Living Programme, caterers through the Healthyliving Award, consumers through our ˜Take Life On'' campaign, third sector groups through Community Food and Health (Scotland) and with the education sector through our implementation of the Schools (Health Promotion and Nutrition) (Scotland) Act 2007.
","AnswerDate":"2010-07-22T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-07-28T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Shona Robison","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":241559,"EventID":"S3W-35015","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1839,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":3,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2010-06-30T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-06-30T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what action has been taken to increase energy expenditure as outlined in Preventing Overweight and Obesity in Scotland: A Route Map Towards Healthy Weight.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what action has been taken to increase energy expenditure as outlined in Preventing Overweight and Obesity in Scotland: A Route Map Towards Healthy Weight.","AnswerText":"The Route Map is a long term strategy spanning 20 years. Our current priority is to develop an action plan and identify key milestones to support delivery of the Route Map. A report of progress will be published in 2013.
In the meantime we are making progress in a number of areas to increase energy expenditure. For example, in June 2010 we published the first ever Cycling Action Plan for Scotland (CAPS), which outlines an overarching vision for a 10% modal share for cycling by 2020. It also sets out the Government''s commitments to deliver the 17 actions and outcomes in the document and to work in partnership with key delivery agencies in delivering the outcomes. We will continue working on projects that increase road safety for cyclists, identify opportunities to include active travel into planning guidance and develop a robust delivery mechanism for cycle training in primary schools across the country.
We are currently also working on a refresh of the National Transport Strategy which will be consulted on shortly. That refresh recognises the need to develop and promote the links between more active forms of travel and health generally.
We have also launched Active Nation which aims to encourage people of all ages and abilities to become more physically active in the run up to the Commonwealth Games in 2014 and beyond.
\r\ns","AnswerDate":"2010-07-22T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-07-28T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Shona Robison","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":241560,"EventID":"S3W-35016","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1839,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":3,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2010-06-30T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-06-30T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what progress has been made to increase the responsibility of organisations for the health and wellbeing of their employees.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what progress has been made to increase the responsibility of organisations for the health and wellbeing of their employees.","AnswerText":"Our Health Works strategy, published in November 2009, promotes the importance of promoting health and wellbeing in the workplace as a means of improving the wellbeing of the working age population and improving productivity.
The Scottish Centre for Healthy Working Lives provides a wide range of information and support for employers and employees through its website, free and confidential advice line and through its network of advisers. A growing number of employers, particularly small and medium-sized enterprises are accessing the centre''s services to help promote the wellbeing of their staff.
Workplace health and safety and employment legislation are issues reserved to the UK Government.
","AnswerDate":"2010-07-23T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-07-28T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Shona Robison","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":241561,"EventID":"S3W-35017","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1839,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":3,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2010-06-30T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-06-30T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive how many (a) children and (b) adults were registered as (i) overweight, (ii) obese and (iii) morbidly obese in each NHS board in each of the last two years.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive how many (a) children and (b) adults were registered as (i) overweight, (ii) obese and (iii) morbidly obese in each NHS board in each of the last two years.","AnswerText":"Most of the data requested is not held centrally. However, information is held on the numbers of patients aged 16 and over, who are registered to a Scottish general practice and have been recorded as being obese (with a body mass index/BMI of 30 or more). This data is available through the Quality and Outcomes Framework (QOF) of the new General Medical Services contract. QOF is a part of the new General Medical Services contract, and comprises a framework of indicators that practices much achieve against in order to receive QOF funding.
Tables 1 and 2 show the numbers of patients aged over 16, with a BMI of 30 or over, included on QOF obesity registers for Scotland and in each NHS Board, for the financial years 2007-08 and 2008-09.
Table 1 Numbers of Patients Aged 16 and Over Included on General Practice QOFRegisters for Obesity, 2007-08
NHS Board
Practices with Reportable QOF Data
Number of Practices on which this Count is Based
Total List Size (All Ages) of these Practices
All Practices
Total list Size (all ages) of these Practices
Ayrshire and Arran
29,115
59
387,649
59
387,649
Borders
7,418
25
115,011
25
115,011
Dumfries and Galloway
12,504
35
154,898
35
154,898
Fife
27,145
56
369,872
","AnswerDate":"2010-07-22T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-07-28T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Shona Robison","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":241563,"EventID":"S3W-35019","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1839,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":3,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2010-06-30T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-06-30T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive how much was spent on anti-obesity drugs in each of the last 10 years.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive how much was spent on anti-obesity drugs in each of the last 10 years.","AnswerText":"Information on drugs used in the treatment of obesity, including costs, can be found on the Information Services Division Scotland website www.isdscotland.org/isd/4635.html.
The data given relate to prescribed items dispensed in the community by community pharmacists and dispensing doctors. These data do not include the cost of any drugs dispensed in hospitals or hospital-based clinics.
It is important to note that the marketing authorisation of one of the drugs listed “ rimonabant (Acomplia) - was withdrawn on 16 January 2009. The marketing authorisation for another of the drugs - sibutramine (Reductil) - was suspended in January 2010. Further information can be found on the website of the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency at www.mhra.gov.uk.
","AnswerDate":"2010-07-23T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-07-28T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Shona Robison","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":241564,"EventID":"S3W-35020","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1837,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":36,"ApprovedDate":"2010-06-30T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-06-30T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what anti-litter campaigns it has funded in each of the last five years.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what anti-litter campaigns it has funded in each of the last five years.","AnswerText":"For each of the last five years Scottish Government has provided funding to Keep Scotland Beautiful''s anti-litter campaign team Keep Scotland Tidy, now funded as part of the zero waste Scotland programme. During this time Keep Scotland Tidy ran a number of anti-litter campaigns designed to raise public awareness of the problem, with the most high profile being the annual National Spring Clean campaign. ","AnswerDate":"2010-07-28T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-07-28T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Richard Lochhead","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":241565,"EventID":"S3W-35021","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1837,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":36,"ApprovedDate":"2010-06-30T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-06-30T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive how much funding it provided for the National Spring Clean 2010 campaign.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive how much funding it provided for the National Spring Clean 2010 campaign.","AnswerText":"The National Spring Clean 2010 campaign was run by Keep Scotland Tidy. In 2009-10 the Scottish Government provided Keep Scotland Tidy''s funding of £553,000.
The provision of a National Spring Clean campaign in 2010 was one of the main objectives/expected outcomes of this funding award.
","AnswerDate":"2010-07-28T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-07-28T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Richard Lochhead","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":241566,"EventID":"S3W-35022","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1837,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":36,"ApprovedDate":"2010-06-30T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-06-30T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what measures it is taking to reduce litter across Scotland.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what measures it is taking to reduce litter across Scotland.","AnswerText":"Scotland''s zero waste plan, launched in June 2010, sets the strategic direction for waste policy for Scotland. Zero Waste Scotland is the Scottish Government''s delivery programme for zero waste. It provides a range of support, campaigns and other interventions to help people and organisations on the journey to zero waste.
The Scottish Government provides funding to the zero waste Scotland litter and flytipping programme which supports local authorities and other stake holders in their role tackling litter in public places.
The Scottish Government is keen to see the number of recycling on the go facilities in public places increase substantially across Scotland. Zero Waste Scotland has been commissioned to produce guidance on recycling on the go, which can turn the problem of litter into a resource for Scotland.
\r\na","AnswerDate":"2010-07-28T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-07-28T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Richard Lochhead","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":241567,"EventID":"S3W-35023","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1837,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":36,"ApprovedDate":"2010-06-30T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-06-30T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what measures it is taking to deter people from leaving litter at the side of motorways.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what measures it is taking to deter people from leaving litter at the side of motorways.","AnswerText":"Transport Scotland is working with range of stakeholders with the remit to manage, maintain and/or influence the control of litter within Scotland''s public road and rail transport corridors, including motorways. ","AnswerDate":"2010-07-15T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-07-28T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Richard Lochhead","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":241568,"EventID":"S3W-35024","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1839,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":3,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2010-06-30T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-06-30T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive, in light of the appointment of senior psychologists to the role of approved clinician under mental health legislation for England and Wales, whether it will consider ext","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive, in light of the appointment of senior psychologists to the role of approved clinician under mental health legislation for England and Wales, whether it will consider extending the role of chartered psychologists, who under Part 8 of the Mental Health (Care and Treatment) (Scotland) Act 2003 can be responsible for the treatment of mental disorder for patients on probation orders, to a wider Resident Medical Officer-type role in appropriate cases.","AnswerText":"In determining the requirements for the role of Approved Medical Practitioner*(AMP), prior to the enactment of the Mental Health (Care and Treatment) (Scotland) Act 2003, the role of chartered psychologists as AMPs was considered and rejected. Having chartered psychologists as AMPs would result in a duplication of work as patients who are detained under the 2003 act are usually on medication and would already have medical input from doctors (AMPs) responsible for prescribing medication and for their detention.
Note: *An Approved Medical Practitioner (AMP) is a medical practitioner who has been approved under section 22 of the 2003 Act by an NHS board or the State Hospitals Board for Scotland as having special experience in the diagnosis and treatment of mental disorder.
","AnswerDate":"2010-07-23T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-07-28T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Shona Robison","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":241569,"EventID":"S3W-35025","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":3901,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":53,"ApprovedDate":"2010-06-30T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-06-30T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what the financial results were of the accelerated capital programme undertaken in 2009-10. ","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what the financial results were of the accelerated capital programme undertaken in 2009-10. ","AnswerText":"The accelerated capital programme is a central element in the Government''s Economic Recovery Plan, helping to support over 5000 jobs in the Scottish Economy. In 2009-10, £292.5 million of capital spending was accelerated from this year''s Budget.
In 2009-10, £292.5 of capital spending was delivered through the accelerated capital programme, representing 100% of planned spend.
As part of the programme:
local authorities invested £90 million to accelerate a range of capital spending programmes across 32 local authorities;
the Scottish Government invested £24.5 million to deliver road improvements and enhanced park-and-ride facilities to cut congestion;
£18.6 million was provided for infrastructure improvements for colleges and universities, and
Scottish Enterprise accelerated £30 million of investment in key projects to deliver wider benefits to the Scottish economy.
Details of the outturn capital spend in each portfolio are shown in the following table:
Portfolio
Programme
Annual Budget
Outturn
Variance
Finance and Sustainable Growth
Major and Smaller Roads Schemes
23.9
23.9
0.0
Strategic Park and Ride
5.0
5.0
0.0
Enterprise Agencies
30.0
30.0
0.0
F&SG Total
58.9
58.9
(0.0)
Health and Wellbeing
Affordable Housing Investment Programme
10.0
10.0
0.0
Housing and Regeneration - Fuel Poverty
5.0
5.0
0.0
Town Centre Regeneration Fund
60.0
60.0
0.0
NHS
50.0
50.0
0.0
H&W Total
125.0
125.0
In some instances, existing groups augmented as necessary have been asked to take forward the excellence work.
","AnswerDate":"2010-07-28T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-07-28T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Michael Russell","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":241571,"EventID":"S3W-35027","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1970,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":65,"ApprovedDate":"2010-06-30T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-06-30T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what percentage of each of the excellence groups is made up of classroom teachers, broken down by subject, and how many teachers have accepted invitations to become membe","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what percentage of each of the excellence groups is made up of classroom teachers, broken down by subject, and how many teachers have accepted invitations to become members of these groups.","AnswerText":"A list of the current membership of all of the excellence groups will be placed in the Scottish Parliament Information Centre (Bib. number 51354).
The list includes the number of teachers who are confirmed as members on each group.
","AnswerDate":"2010-07-28T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-07-28T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Michael Russell","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":241572,"EventID":"S3W-35028","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1970,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":65,"ApprovedDate":"2010-06-30T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-06-30T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive who, apart from celebrities, are in the excellence groups and when they were approached.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive who, apart from celebrities, are in the excellence groups and when they were approached.","AnswerText":"A list of the current membership of all the excellence groups will be placed in the Scottish Parliament Information Centre (Bib. number 51354).
Members were approached during May and June 2010.
","AnswerDate":"2010-07-28T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-07-28T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Michael Russell","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":241573,"EventID":"S3W-35029","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1839,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":3,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2010-06-30T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-06-30T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will publish the waiting times for mental health services as recommended in the Audit Scotland report, Overview of Mental Health Services.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will publish the waiting times for mental health services as recommended in the Audit Scotland report, Overview of Mental Health Services.","AnswerText":"The recommendation to ensure data on waiting times are collected and reported routinely is directed at local service provider partners.
I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-35030 on 23 July 2010 which set out action on establishing national mental health service waiting time targets. National data on these aspects will be published as it becomes available. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament''s website, the search facility for which can be found at www.scottish.parliament.uk/Apps2/Business/PQA/Default.aspx.
","AnswerDate":"2010-07-23T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-07-28T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Shona Robison","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":241574,"EventID":"S3W-35030","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1839,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":3,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2010-06-30T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-06-30T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what action is being taken to address mental health services with long waiting times, as recommended in the Audit Scotland report, Overview of Mental Health Services.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what action is being taken to address mental health services with long waiting times, as recommended in the Audit Scotland report, Overview of Mental Health Services.","AnswerText":"Those adults accessing mental health services for the first time or within unplanned or crisis care usually do so quickly, and we are already addressing those areas affected by the longest waits in planned access to care.
We have established the first ever mental health waiting time target for access to specialist child and adolescent mental health services (CAMHS) which means by March 2013 no one will wait longer than 26 weeks. We are also investing £6.5 million over three years to increase the number of psychologists working in specialist CAMHS. A further £2 million per year is available to NHS boards on a recurring basis to accelerate the development of specialist CAMHS.
We are also investing and working with NHS boards and NHS Education for Scotland to expand and improve access to evidence based psychological therapies. This includes a commitment to develop an access target for psychological therapies for inclusion in HEAT in 2011-12.
The Patient Rights (Scotland) Bill will also include mental health services in its aims to establish a 12 week treatment time guarantee for patients receiving elective or planned treatment on an inpatient or day case basis. Where mental health services are delivered on this basis then the treatment time guarantee will apply.
","AnswerDate":"2010-07-23T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-07-28T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Shona Robison","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":241575,"EventID":"S3W-35031","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1839,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":3,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2010-06-30T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-06-30T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what action is being taken to treat the estimated (a) 75% of drug users and (b) 50% of people with an alcohol problem who may also have a mental health problem as outline","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what action is being taken to treat the estimated (a) 75% of drug users and (b) 50% of people with an alcohol problem who may also have a mental health problem as outlined in the Audit Scotland report, Overview of Mental Health Services.","AnswerText":"It is primarily the responsibility of NHS boards to work with other key agencies to provide appropriate services for these groups in a holistic and integrated way.
In 2007 the Scottish Government published the Closing The Gaps guidance to boards, with a series of recommendations including that local substance misuse and mental health services should have in place an agreed assessment tool to identify co-morbidity and enable the package of care to be matched to the range of needs.
Both Changing Scotland''s Relationship with Alcohol: A Framework for Action and Scotland''s national drugs strategy The Road to Recovery recognises the need for better integration of services, to ensure that barriers to an individual''s recovery - such as a mental health problem “ are addressed in conjunction with treatment for drug and alcohol problems. This is a fundamental element of progress in the national health target HEAT A11 which includes an expectation that by 2013 90% of clients will wait no longer than three weeks from referral to treatment to appropriate drugs treatment to support their recovery. A referral to treatment time appropriate to alcohol treatment will be defined and incorporated into a refined target covering both drugs and alcohol by April 2011.
","AnswerDate":"2010-07-26T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-07-28T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Shona Robison","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":241576,"EventID":"S3W-35032","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1839,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":3,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2010-06-30T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-06-30T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what successful outcomes have been achieved in treating the estimated 70% of prisoners identified as having a mental health problem.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what successful outcomes have been achieved in treating the estimated 70% of prisoners identified as having a mental health problem.","AnswerText":"I have asked John Ewing, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service, to respond. His response is as follows:
The SPS does not record specific outcome measures on the individual treatment of prisoners with mental health problems. The SPS seeks to deliver against the National Offender Outcomes, of which Offender Outcome 1 relates to the mental health and wellbeing of prisoners.
","AnswerDate":"2010-07-22T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-07-28T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Kenny MacAskill","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":241577,"EventID":"S3W-35033","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1839,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":3,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2010-06-30T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-06-30T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive how may vacancies exist for (a) psychiatrists and (b) psychologists.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive how may vacancies exist for (a) psychiatrists and (b) psychologists.","AnswerText":"Information showing consultant vacancies by specialty, including psychiatric specialties, is published by Information Services Division Scotland and can be found at:
Information about vacancies for psychologists is not centrally available.
","AnswerDate":"2010-07-23T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-07-28T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Shona Robison","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":241578,"EventID":"S3W-35034","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1839,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":3,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2010-06-30T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-06-30T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what assessment there has been of NHS boards in meeting quality standards in terms of the integrated care pathway for mental health services due for implementation and as","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what assessment there has been of NHS boards in meeting quality standards in terms of the integrated care pathway for mental health services due for implementation and assessment from 2009, as recommended in the Audit Scotland report, Overview of Mental Health Services.","AnswerText":"There are no specific recommendations in the Audit Scotland report, Overview of Mental Health Services, on the national standards for integrated care pathways (ICPs) for mental health.
NHS boards are responsible for developing and implementing local ICPs based on these national standards, with support from and assessment and accreditation by NHS Quality Improvement Scotland (NHS QIS).
All boards achieved the first stage (the foundation stage) of accreditation by the September 2009 deadline; and they continue to work with NHS QIS to meet further accreditation levels.
","AnswerDate":"2010-07-21T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-07-23T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Shona Robison","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":241579,"EventID":"S3W-35035","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1839,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":3,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2010-06-30T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-06-30T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will publish the results of its monitoring of whether national standards for crisis services have been implemented to ensure that the services provided meet lo","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will publish the results of its monitoring of whether national standards for crisis services have been implemented to ensure that the services provided meet local demand, as recommended in the Audit Scotland report, Overview of Mental Health Services.","AnswerText":"Although the Audit Scotland report does not specifically recommend that the Scottish Government publish these results, we will be undertaking additional work in 2011 in assessing and disseminating information on Boards'' implementation of the National Standards.
Implementation of the National Standards is currently monitored and evaluated as part of the Scottish Government''s performance management of NHS Boards; and is complemented by the work of the Mental Health Collaborative in continuing to track the activity of Boards in reducing readmissions in line with the former readmissions HEAT target.
Ongoing work of the Mental Health Benchmarking Project includes action on developing the collection of data on the availability of crisis and out of hours services. This data will enable Boards and others to compare and measure service provision in this area.
","AnswerDate":"2010-07-22T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-07-28T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Shona Robison","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":241580,"EventID":"S3W-35036","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1839,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":3,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2010-06-30T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-06-30T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive how much each local authority spent on mental health services in each of the last five years.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive how much each local authority spent on mental health services in each of the last five years.","AnswerText":"I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-24327 on 11 June 2009 which set out net revenue expenditure on social work services for adults with mental health needs for the period 1998-99 to 2007-08. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament''s website, the search facility for which can be found at www.scottish.parliament.uk/Apps2/Business/PQA/Default.aspx.
Information for 2008-09 is set out in the following table:
2008-09
£000
Scotland
88,986
Aberdeen City
5,010
Aberdeenshire
3,895
Angus
1,130
Argyll and Bute
1,386
Clackmannanshire
1,204
Dumfries and Galloway
2,321
Dundee City
1,336
East Ayrshire
1,786
East Dunbartonshire
1,839
East Lothian
1,321
East Renfrewshire
1,217
Edinburgh, City of
8,514
Eilean Siar
592
Falkirk
2,915
Fife
7,106
Glasgow City
8,944
Highland
2,665
Inverclyde
","AnswerDate":"2010-07-22T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-07-28T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Shona Robison","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":241582,"EventID":"S3W-35038","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1839,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":3,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2010-06-30T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-06-30T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what the current waiting time is for (a) drug and (b) alcohol treatment, broken down by NHS board.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what the current waiting time is for (a) drug and (b) alcohol treatment, broken down by NHS board.","AnswerText":"Waiting times information for drug treatment, broken down by NHS board is available on the ISD website and can be found at:
http://www.isdscotland.org/isd/5962.html.
Waiting times information for alcohol treatment, broken down by NHS board is not held centrally.
","AnswerDate":"2010-07-27T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-07-23T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Fergus Ewing","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":241583,"EventID":"S3W-35039","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1839,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":3,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2010-06-30T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-06-30T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what progress has been made in providing counselling support for children and young people as set out in its 2005 report, The Mental Health of Children and Young People: ","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what progress has been made in providing counselling support for children and young people as set out in its 2005 report, The Mental Health of Children and Young People: A Framework for Promotion, Prevention and Care.","AnswerText":"Significant progress in implementing this part of the Framework by 2015 is being supported by the Scottish Government''s investment of £6.5 million over the next 3 years to increase the number of psychologists working in specialist CAMHS; and is complemented by an additional £2 million per year “ matched by NHS Boards “ to enhance intensive community mental health services for this age group.
In addition, statutory and voluntary partners are working to provide resources, support and advice to enable all of those working with children and young people - in all settings - to promote good mental health and wellbeing and provide counselling support. Examples of partnership activity which is helping to build the capacity of the whole childrens'' workforce include the Playfield Institute, set up by NHS Fife; and the HandsOnScotland toolkit, developed by Barnardo''s, HeadsUpScotland and others.
Monitoring progress in this area is a key part of the Scottish Government''s performance management of NHS Boards.
","AnswerDate":"2010-07-22T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-07-28T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Shona Robison","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":241584,"EventID":"S3W-35040","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1839,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":3,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2010-06-30T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-06-30T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether NHS boards provide Children and Adolescent Mental Health Services. ","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether NHS boards provide Children and Adolescent Mental Health Services. ","AnswerText":"All NHS boards in Scotland provide access to a range of child and adolescent mental health services (CAMHS) with specialist inpatient services provided on a regional basis.
Considerable progress has been made in recent years both in mapping out what needs to be done and in delivering the changes that will be required now and in the future to improve these vital services. This has involved work in many different areas including training and workforce planning; increasing hospital bed numbers; reducing inappropriate hospital admissions; early intervention; supported transitions; improved primary care, and better planning and delivery of specialist care.
We have established a 26 week HEAT target for access to specialist CAMHS to be achieved by March 2013; further supported the development of CAMHS specialist services by investing an additional £2 million per year on a recurring basis, and we have made available £6.5 million new money over three years from 2009-10 to develop the CAMHS psychology workforce and support additional training places and posts.
","AnswerDate":"2010-07-23T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-07-28T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Shona Robison","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":241585,"EventID":"S3W-35041","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1839,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":3,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2010-06-30T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-06-30T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether NHS boards provide psychology services for older people, including a crisis service.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether NHS boards provide psychology services for older people, including a crisis service.","AnswerText":"NHS Boards are responsible for providing psychology and crisis services for all age groups, and for having the right number and mix of qualified staff and configuration of services to meet local need in these areas.
A draft report on Applied Psychology and Psychology in the NHS in Scotland was circulated to Boards in December and discussed with NHS Chief Executives in April. The report identified key challenges and opportunities in the provision of psychology services for older people. The report''s working group will reconvene shortly to produce a final version of the report.
National Standards and the Crisis Toolkit have been published in recent years, and implementation of the Standards is monitored as part of the Scottish Government''s performance management of Boards. In addition, the Mental Health Benchmarking Project includes action on developing the collection of data on the availability of crisis services, which will enable Boards and others to compare and measure service provision.
","AnswerDate":"2010-07-22T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-07-28T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Shona Robison","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":241586,"EventID":"S3W-35042","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1839,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":3,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2010-06-30T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-06-30T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether NHS patients can choose from a range of evidence-based psychological therapies including counselling and psychotherapy.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether NHS patients can choose from a range of evidence-based psychological therapies including counselling and psychotherapy.","AnswerText":"Access to a range of evidence based psychological therapies is available across all NHS boards in Scotland.
In line with the principle of participation in the Mental Health (Care and Treatment) Scotland Act 2003, service uses should be fully involved so far as they are able to be in all aspects of their assessment, care, treatment and support. Decisions about the best treatment will take into account the clinical evidence, patient choice and the appropriateness of the patient for a particular treatment.
We are committed to working with NHS boards and NHS Education for Scotland to improve access to psychological therapies across Scotland. We are also developing an access target for psychological therapies for inclusion in HEAT in 2011-12.
","AnswerDate":"2010-07-23T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-07-28T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Shona Robison","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":241587,"EventID":"S3W-35043","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1839,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":3,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2010-06-30T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-06-30T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether all recommendations in the publication, Remember I’m Still Me, published jointly by the Mental Welfare Commission and the Care Commission have now been implemente","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether all recommendations in the publication, Remember I’m Still Me, published jointly by the Mental Welfare Commission and the Care Commission have now been implemented.","AnswerText":"Remember I''m Still Me''s findings and recommendations “ the latter aimed at the Scottish Government and other key partners - helped inform development of Scotland''s first National Dementia Strategy, published in June.
As part of implementing the Strategy over the next 3 years, we are working with partners to address the recommendations in Remember I''m Still Me.
","AnswerDate":"2010-07-22T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-07-28T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Shona Robison","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":241588,"EventID":"S3W-35044","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1803,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":58,"ApprovedDate":"2010-06-30T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-06-30T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what guidance it provides to local authorities on the appropriate siting of waste-to-energy plants.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what guidance it provides to local authorities on the appropriate siting of waste-to-energy plants.","AnswerText":"Paragraphs 168 and 169 of the second National Planning Framework provide guidance on the relationships between waste, heat and other forms of energy and considerations relevant to the siting of waste installations. Paragraph 219 of Scottish Planning Policy: the Scottish Government''s policy on nationally important land use matters provides locational guidance for thermal treatment plants with a reference to the Scottish Environment Protection Agency''s Thermal Treatment of Waste Guidelines 2009. A further reference to sites identified for energy from waste facilities and heat and power use is given in Annex B of the Zero Waste Plan. Additional guidance is provided in Planning Advice Note 63 which is being updated during 2010. ","AnswerDate":"2010-07-28T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-07-28T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Richard Lochhead","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":241589,"EventID":"S3W-35045","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2364,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":11,"ApprovedDate":"2010-06-30T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-06-30T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive when it expects to publish the recommendations of its working group on future museum strategy.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive when it expects to publish the recommendations of its working group on future museum strategy.","AnswerText":"I will be discussing the recommendations with the group in August and, subject to that discussion, expect its findings to be published soon thereafter. ","AnswerDate":"2010-07-23T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-07-28T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Fiona Hyslop","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":241590,"EventID":"S3W-35046","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1803,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":58,"ApprovedDate":"2010-06-30T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-06-30T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what impact it considers that the decision by the UK Government to support proposals to implement the new east coast main line service in May 2011 will have on rail trave","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what impact it considers that the decision by the UK Government to support proposals to implement the new east coast main line service in May 2011 will have on rail travellers in Scotland.","AnswerText":"The introduction of the SLC2 timetable on the east coast main line in May 2011 will affect the overall pattern of rail service provision within Scotland. We already know that the 13 daily direct services between Glasgow Central and London King''s Cross will be reduced to only two per day.
We are working with the rail industry to identify where any further gaps in services may occur and are continuing to make representations to the Department for Transport on this issue.
","AnswerDate":"2010-07-27T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-07-28T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Stewart Stevenson","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":241591,"EventID":"S3W-35047","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2117,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":47,"ApprovedDate":"2010-07-01T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-07-01T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether any local authority has taken an appeal to court against its own licensing committee and, if so, when and what the result was. ","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether any local authority has taken an appeal to court against its own licensing committee and, if so, when and what the result was. ","AnswerText":"This information is not held centrally. ","AnswerDate":"2010-07-21T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-07-29T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Kenny MacAskill","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":241592,"EventID":"S3W-35048","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2117,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":47,"ApprovedDate":"2010-07-01T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-07-01T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether any local authority has cited an objector under 16 to appear in court.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether any local authority has cited an objector under 16 to appear in court.","AnswerText":"This information is not held centrally. ","AnswerDate":"2010-07-23T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-07-29T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Alex Neil","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":241593,"EventID":"S3W-35049","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":4014,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":5,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2010-07-01T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-07-01T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what action it will take to improve road safety on the A822. ","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what action it will take to improve road safety on the A822. ","AnswerText":"Version:1.0 StartHTML:0000000179 EndHTML:0000006726 StartFragment:0000003110 EndFragment:0000006686 SourceURL:file:///\\\\cc02fd\\writtenanswers$\\To_Be_Processed\\S3W-35049.doc
Stewart Stevenson:The A822 is classed as a local road and is, therefore, the responsibility of those local authorities through whose area the route runs. We are making available almost £12 billion in funding for local authorities this financial year. Decisions about local road investment are a matter for individual councils.
","AnswerDate":"2010-07-19T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-07-29T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Stewart Stevenson","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":241594,"EventID":"S3W-35050","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":4014,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":5,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2010-07-01T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-07-01T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what action it will take to improve road safety on the A823.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what action it will take to improve road safety on the A823.","AnswerText":" The A823 is classed as a local road and is, therefore, the responsibility of those local authorities through whose area the route runs. We are making available almost £12 billion in funding for local authorities this financial year. Decisions about local road investment are a matter for individual councils. ","AnswerDate":"2010-07-19T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-07-29T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Stewart Stevenson","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":241595,"EventID":"S3W-35051","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1839,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":3,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2010-07-01T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-07-01T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether all patients with a dual diagnosis of a mental health condition and drug or alcohol addiction will be offered treatment for both conditions in order to aid recove","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether all patients with a dual diagnosis of a mental health condition and drug or alcohol addiction will be offered treatment for both conditions in order to aid recovery.","AnswerText":"Yes. It is the responsibility of NHS boards to work with other agencies to provide an integrated and recovery-focussed package of care and treatment to all patients with a dual diagnosis of a mental health condition and a drug or alcohol addiction, following a multi-disciplinary needs assessment. ","AnswerDate":"2010-07-26T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-07-29T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Shona Robison","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":241596,"EventID":"S3W-35052","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1845,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":6,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2010-07-01T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-07-01T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive how much has been paid in councillors’ expenses in each year since 2007, broken down by (a) local authority and (b) political grouping.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive how much has been paid in councillors’ expenses in each year since 2007, broken down by (a) local authority and (b) political grouping.","AnswerText":"This information is not held centrally. ","AnswerDate":"2010-07-07T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-07-29T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"John Swinney","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":241597,"EventID":"S3W-35053","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1820,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":12,"ApprovedDate":"2010-07-01T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-07-01T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive how many posts have been removed in NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde since May 2007; how many posts are vacant; how long they have been vacant, and how many are in frontline","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive how many posts have been removed in NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde since May 2007; how many posts are vacant; how long they have been vacant, and how many are in frontline services.","AnswerText":"This is a matter for NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde. The information requested is not held centrally. ","AnswerDate":"2010-08-06T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-07-29T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Nicola Sturgeon","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":241598,"EventID":"S3W-35054","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1820,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":12,"ApprovedDate":"2010-07-01T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-07-01T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive how many posts in NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde have been subject to a change of qualification requirements since May 2007 and what those changes are.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive how many posts in NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde have been subject to a change of qualification requirements since May 2007 and what those changes are.","AnswerText":"This is a matter for NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde. The information requested is not held centrally. ","AnswerDate":"2010-08-06T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-07-29T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Nicola Sturgeon","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":241599,"EventID":"S3W-35055","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1820,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":12,"ApprovedDate":"2010-07-01T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-07-01T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether the Cabinet Secretary for Health and Wellbeing has received a recommendation from NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde for the closure of Lightburn Hospital.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether the Cabinet Secretary for Health and Wellbeing has received a recommendation from NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde for the closure of Lightburn Hospital.","AnswerText":"No recommendations have been received. ","AnswerDate":"2010-07-23T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-07-29T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Shona Robison","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":241600,"EventID":"S3W-35056","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1820,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":12,"ApprovedDate":"2010-07-01T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-07-01T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive how many beds were or have been available for use in Lightburn Hospital in (a) 2007, (b) 2008, (c) 2009 and (d) 2010.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive how many beds were or have been available for use in Lightburn Hospital in (a) 2007, (b) 2008, (c) 2009 and (d) 2010.","AnswerText":"The information is presented in the following table.
2007
2008
2009
2010
Average Available Staffed Beds
106
91
93
94
Source: ISD Scotland.
","AnswerDate":"2010-07-23T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-07-29T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Shona Robison","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":241601,"EventID":"S3W-35057","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1820,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":12,"ApprovedDate":"2010-07-01T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-07-01T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has received proposals for the closure of Lightburn Hospital and, if so, what alternative plans have been recommended to accommodate the needs of patients.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has received proposals for the closure of Lightburn Hospital and, if so, what alternative plans have been recommended to accommodate the needs of patients.","AnswerText":"I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-35055 on 23 July 2010. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament''s website; the search facility for which can be found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/Apps2/Business/PQA/Default.aspx. ","AnswerDate":"2010-07-23T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-07-29T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Shona Robison","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":241602,"EventID":"S3W-35058","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1820,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":12,"ApprovedDate":"2010-07-01T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-07-01T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions have taken place between Glasgow City Council’s social work department and NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde concerning bed or ward closures at Lightburn Hos","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions have taken place between Glasgow City Council’s social work department and NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde concerning bed or ward closures at Lightburn Hospital.","AnswerText":"NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde have confirmed that discussions were held with Glasgow City Council''s Social Work Department in 2007 about changes in the bed configuration at Lightburn Hospital at that time. The NHS board has been clear that any future bed re-modelling would be informed by the full engagement of local stakeholders, and taken forward through the joint rehabilitation structure with their social work partners. ","AnswerDate":"2010-07-23T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-07-29T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Shona Robison","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":241603,"EventID":"S3W-35059","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1820,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":12,"ApprovedDate":"2010-07-01T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-07-01T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether the Cabinet Secretary for Health and Wellbeing has received recommendations from NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde for the closure of Parkhead Hospital.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether the Cabinet Secretary for Health and Wellbeing has received recommendations from NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde for the closure of Parkhead Hospital.","AnswerText":"No. ","AnswerDate":"2010-08-03T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-07-29T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Nicola Sturgeon","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":241604,"EventID":"S3W-35060","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1820,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":12,"ApprovedDate":"2010-07-01T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-07-01T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what resources have been lost to mental health services in the east end of Glasgow since May 2007; what savings target has been proposed for 2010-11, and what actual savi","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what resources have been lost to mental health services in the east end of Glasgow since May 2007; what savings target has been proposed for 2010-11, and what actual savings have been implemented.","AnswerText":"NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde has confirmed that the relevant budget has risen from £4,120,266 in 2007-08 to £4,382,921 in 2010-11; an increase of £262,655.
We understand that the board has a savings target of £100,000 in 2010-11 for this particular budget, and that £50,000 has been delivered to date as a consequence of reviewing and reducing agency staff costs, and non-pay expenditure.
","AnswerDate":"2010-08-11T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-07-29T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Nicola Sturgeon","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":241605,"EventID":"S3W-35061","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1820,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":12,"ApprovedDate":"2010-07-01T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-07-01T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether there are plans to close any of the three mental health resource centres operating in the east end of Glasgow.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether there are plans to close any of the three mental health resource centres operating in the east end of Glasgow.","AnswerText":"NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde has confirmed that the development plan for the east of Glasgow community health and care partnership (CHCP) identified the possibility of a move from three to two resource centres.
However, the board is clear that such an eventuality would be dependent on the outcome of a current review of local mental health services. The east CHCP committee has established a working group to consider how mental health services should be organised and delivered locally. The working group, which includes a range of local stakeholders, has only met once to date and no formal service proposals have been agreed.
","AnswerDate":"2010-08-03T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-07-29T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Nicola Sturgeon","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":241606,"EventID":"S3W-35062","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1782,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":59,"ApprovedDate":"2010-07-01T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-07-01T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive how many inward investors have located in Scotland in each year since 2005.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive how many inward investors have located in Scotland in each year since 2005.","AnswerText":"Of the 306 inward investment projects recorded by Scottish Development International between 1 April 2005 and 31 March 2010, 98 were new projects from first-time inward investors. They are broken down by year as follows.
Year
Number of New Projects by New Inward Investors
2005-06
15
2006-07
15
2007-08
22
2008-09
15
2009-10
31
Total
98
","AnswerDate":"2010-07-27T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-07-29T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Jim Mather","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":241607,"EventID":"S3W-35063","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1782,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":59,"ApprovedDate":"2010-07-01T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-07-01T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive how many contacts Scottish Development International has had with potential investors in each year since 2005.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive how many contacts Scottish Development International has had with potential investors in each year since 2005.","AnswerText":"Scottish Development International (SDI) does not have a record of the number of individual contacts it makes with each potential investor. However, the number of companies which were considered prospective first time inward investors in each year from 2005-06 until 2009-10 is given in the following table.
This table shows the number of companies contacted by SDI staff which, at the point the contact was made, did not have a presence in Scotland. These contacts include a combination of specifically targeted face to face meetings, telephone calls, letters and emails. They do not include contacts made through mailshots or telemarketing.
Number of Companies Contacted
Year
2005-06
92
2006-07
137
2007-08
192
2008-09
254
2009-10
164
Total
839
Some companies may be recorded in more than one year. Additionally, some large companies with particularly diverse portfolios may be recorded more than once in any given year as different divisions of the same organisation may have been contacted.
","AnswerDate":"2010-07-27T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-07-29T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Jim Mather","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":241608,"EventID":"S3W-35064","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1782,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":59,"ApprovedDate":"2010-07-01T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-07-01T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what percentage of people in each target group received an influenza A (H1N1) vaccination. ","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what percentage of people in each target group received an influenza A (H1N1) vaccination. ","AnswerText":"The estimated uptake of influenza A (H1N1) vaccination for those under the age of 65 years and in a clinical at-risk group (including pregnant women) is 52.1%. The estimated uptake of vaccine for those aged 65 years and over in a clinical at-risk group is 56.2%. These data are based on estimates from automatic reporting from 95.3% of general practices in Scotland on 4 April 2010.
It is not possible to provide an estimate for uptake in the household contacts of the immuno-compromised group, as these individuals are not specifically coded on the IT systems used in general practices.
The estimated uptake rate for frontline health care staff is 55.1%. The estimated uptake rate for frontline social care staff is 32%. These figures are based on the numbers of people vaccinated considered against the numbers eligible for vaccination as reported to HPS by the NHS boards.
Phase 2 of the immunisation programme recommended H1N1 immunisation for all children over six months of age and under five years. The estimated uptake of vaccine among healthy children under five years of age is 44.5%. Using the Scottish Immunisation Recall System (SIRS) it is not possible to separately identify children in an at-risk category from those who are healthy, therefore this figure will also include vaccinations given to children at-risk where this has been recorded on SIRS.
","AnswerDate":"2010-07-23T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-07-29T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Shona Robison","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":241609,"EventID":"S3W-35065","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1845,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":6,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2010-07-01T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-07-01T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive who is responsible for drawing up the plans to develop specific protocols and care plans for the 13 disease areas associated with the Chronic Medication Service; what con","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive who is responsible for drawing up the plans to develop specific protocols and care plans for the 13 disease areas associated with the Chronic Medication Service; what consultations are being conducted with patient groups such as Asthma UK Scotland, and when the protocols and plans will be published.","AnswerText":"The protocol to be used in association with serial prescriptions will be generic. Scottish Government Medical and Pharmaceutical Officers are currently considering the development of the generic protocol. This group will also consider any disease specific aspects, in consultation with experts in the field “ including patient groups. ","AnswerDate":"2010-07-22T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-07-29T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Shona Robison","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":241610,"EventID":"S3W-35066","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1845,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":6,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2010-07-01T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-07-01T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive how many pharmacists have been trained to deliver the Chronic Medication Service.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive how many pharmacists have been trained to deliver the Chronic Medication Service.","AnswerText":"All community pharmacists have received implementation training resources from NES Pharmacy and IT training from their pharmacy IT System Supplier. ","AnswerDate":"2010-07-22T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-07-29T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Shona Robison","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":241611,"EventID":"S3W-35067","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1845,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":6,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2010-07-01T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-07-01T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what the uptake has been of the Chronic Medication Service, broken down by disease.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what the uptake has been of the Chronic Medication Service, broken down by disease.","AnswerText":"On 12 July 2010 there were 561 patients with long term conditions registered for the Chronic Medication Service. The information held centrally is not broken down by disease. ","AnswerDate":"2010-07-22T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-07-29T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Shona Robison","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":241612,"EventID":"S3W-35068","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":3806,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":3,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2010-07-01T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-07-01T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive when resurfacing work on the Cromarty Bridge will commence and how long it is anticipated that it will take.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive when resurfacing work on the Cromarty Bridge will commence and how long it is anticipated that it will take.","AnswerText":"A trial refurbishment contract will start on site on 12 July 2010 for 12 weeks, which will include resurfacing the four spans at the south end of Cromarty Bridge. There are currently no works programmed for refurbishment of the remainder of the bridge. ","AnswerDate":"2010-07-14T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-07-29T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Stewart Stevenson","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":241613,"EventID":"S3W-35069","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":3806,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":3,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2010-07-01T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-07-01T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what plans are in place to minimise disruption from reduction in the available carriageway on the Cromarty Bridge during resurfacing work. ","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what plans are in place to minimise disruption from reduction in the available carriageway on the Cromarty Bridge during resurfacing work. ","AnswerText":" The planned works at Cromarty Bridge will be carried out with traffic light control. The queue lengths at the site will be monitored and if necessary, the lights controlled manually at peak times to minimise delays.
During the two days of the Black Isle Show, the carriageway will be opened to
two-way traffic. Speed restrictions will, however, be in place as traffic will be running directly on the concrete bridge deck.
","AnswerDate":"2010-07-14T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-07-29T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Stewart Stevenson","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":241614,"EventID":"S3W-35070","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1768,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":60,"ApprovedDate":"2010-07-01T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-07-01T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what information it has on what proportion of the total production of farmed Atlantic salmon in the United Kingdom has been sold under the EU protected geographical indic","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what information it has on what proportion of the total production of farmed Atlantic salmon in the United Kingdom has been sold under the EU protected geographical indication regulations for Scottish Farmed Salmon in each year since 2004.","AnswerText":"We do not hold information on the amounts of farmed salmon sold as Scottish Farmed Salmon by the industry. ","AnswerDate":"2010-07-28T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-07-29T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Richard Lochhead","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":241615,"EventID":"S3W-35071","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1768,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":60,"ApprovedDate":"2010-07-01T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-07-01T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-33328 by Richard Lochhead on 5 May 2010 and given that the Scottish Government confirms the validity of the 2008 protected geograph","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-33328 by Richard Lochhead on 5 May 2010 and given that the Scottish Government confirms the validity of the 2008 protected geographical indication (PGI) amendment as published in the European Union Official Journal, specifying the stages of production of fresh fish that must take place in Scotland, for what reason it is suggested that the current specification of the PGI does not state which stages of the production process for Scottish farmed salmon must take place within the geographical area.","AnswerText":"I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-34479 on 28 June 2010. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament''s website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/Apps2/Business/PQA/Default.aspx. ","AnswerDate":"2010-07-28T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-07-29T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Richard Lochhead","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":241616,"EventID":"S3W-35072","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1837,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":36,"ApprovedDate":"2010-07-01T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-07-01T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive how many of the 1,172 applicants awaiting Stage Four measures under the Energy Assistance Package as of 12 May 2010 received central heating by 25 June 2010.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive how many of the 1,172 applicants awaiting Stage Four measures under the Energy Assistance Package as of 12 May 2010 received central heating by 25 June 2010.","AnswerText":"We do not have this information available at this time. ","AnswerDate":"2010-07-26T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-07-29T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Alex Neil","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":241617,"EventID":"S3W-35073","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":3815,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":36,"ApprovedDate":"2010-07-01T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-07-01T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what measures, not available in March 2010, it will introduce to prevent heavy losses of livestock during severe weather conditions.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what measures, not available in March 2010, it will introduce to prevent heavy losses of livestock during severe weather conditions.","AnswerText":"Of the 15,066 referrals to stage four in 2009-10, 1,825 households did not complete an eligibility survey. Of these:
Six hundred and ninety-six referrals were cancelled because the managing agent was unable to contact the customer. Referrals were only cancelled after the managing agent had attempted four contact calls and issued a letter to the applicant requesting contact within a month;
Two hundred and seven households referred were rejected at an initial screening on the eligibility criteria without having an eligibility survey undertaken, and
Nine hundred and twenty-two households referred withdrew before completion of the eligibility survey. The table provides a breakdown of the reasons provided.
Not interested
487
52.8%
Did not want the upheaval
54
5.9%
Installation undertaken by others
65
7.0%
Moving house
42
4.6%
Withdrew due to illness
42
4.6%
Could not get access for eligibility survey
167
18.1%
Landlord refused to have the improvements
5
0.5%
Other reasons
60
6.5%
Total
922
100.0%
","AnswerDate":"2010-07-26T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-07-29T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Alex Neil","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":241618,"EventID":"S3W-35074","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1837,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":36,"ApprovedDate":"2010-07-01T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-07-01T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what reasons were given for the 2,614 people found not to be eligible for Stage Four measures under the Energy Assistance Package.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what reasons were given for the 2,614 people found not to be eligible for Stage Four measures under the Energy Assistance Package.","AnswerText":"Of the 15,066 referrals to Stage Four of the Energy Assistance Package in 2009-10, 2,614 households were found not to be eligible at the eligibility survey. An analysis of these households is given in the following table.
Not eligible due to the energy efficiency of the home,
1,804
69.0%
Did not provide evidence of eligibility
536
20.5%
Did not have any of the qualifying benefits
199
7.6%
Not of a qualifying age and had no eligible children
33
1.3%
Had evidence but after checking was deemed insufficient
16
0.6%
Lived in social housing
14
0.5%
Had not lived in the dwelling for 12 months
12
0.5%
Total
2,614
100.0%
","AnswerDate":"2010-07-26T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-07-29T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Alex Neil","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":241619,"EventID":"S3W-35075","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1837,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":36,"ApprovedDate":"2010-07-01T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-07-01T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what reasons were given by the 980 people found eligible for Stage Four of the Energy Assistance Package who withdrew before work took place. ","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what reasons were given by the 980 people found eligible for Stage Four of the Energy Assistance Package who withdrew before work took place. ","AnswerText":"Of the 15,066 referrals to Stage Four of the Energy Assistance Package in 2009-10, 1,062 households found eligible for Stage Four withdrew before work took place (due to a reporting error by the managing agent the 980 figure given was incorrect). An analysis of the reasons given by the households is provided in the following table.
Not willing/able to pay excess, where cost of work exceeded grant available
16
1.5%
Did not want upheaval
253
23.8%
Illness
26
2.4%
Moving house
49
4.6%
Not interested
504
47.5%
Had arranged for installation to be undertaken by others
93
8.8%
Landlord refused permission
12
1.1%
Property not suitable
54
5.1%
Unable to gain access for survey
10
0.9%
Other
45
4.2%
Total
1,062
100%
","AnswerDate":"2010-07-26T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-07-29T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Alex Neil","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":241620,"EventID":"S3W-35076","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1837,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":36,"ApprovedDate":"2010-07-01T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-07-01T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive how many households with children received Stage Four measures under the Energy Assistance Package from April 2010 to end June 2010.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive how many households with children received Stage Four measures under the Energy Assistance Package from April 2010 to end June 2010.","AnswerText":"Three hundred and two households with children received Stage Four measures under the Energy Assistance Package from April 2010 to end June 2010. ","AnswerDate":"2010-07-26T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-07-29T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Alex Neil","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":241621,"EventID":"S3W-35077","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1837,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":36,"ApprovedDate":"2010-07-01T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-07-01T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what percentage of households receiving Stage Four measures under the Energy Assistance Package from April 2010 to end June 2010 included families with children.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what percentage of households receiving Stage Four measures under the Energy Assistance Package from April 2010 to end June 2010 included families with children.","AnswerText":"9% of households receiving Stage Four measures under the Energy Assistance Package from April 2010 to end June 2010 were families with children. ","AnswerDate":"2010-07-26T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-07-29T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Alex Neil","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":241622,"EventID":"S3W-35078","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":3806,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":3,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2010-07-02T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-07-02T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive for what reason the report, Final Report: Options for the Ferry Services Between Gourock and Dunoon, by the consultants, Deloitte and Touche, which provides an economic a","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive for what reason the report, Final Report: Options for the Ferry Services Between Gourock and Dunoon, by the consultants, Deloitte and Touche, which provides an economic analysis of the Gourock-Dunoon ferry service, has been removed from its website.","AnswerText":" I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-35079 on 14 July 2009. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament''s website, the search facility for which can be found at:
","AnswerDate":"2010-07-14T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-07-30T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Stewart Stevenson","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":241623,"EventID":"S3W-35079","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":3806,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":3,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2010-07-02T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-07-02T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive when the report, Final Report: Options for the Ferry Services Between Gourock and Dunoon, by the consultants, Deloitte and Touche, was removed from its website; who took ","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive when the report, Final Report: Options for the Ferry Services Between Gourock and Dunoon, by the consultants, Deloitte and Touche, was removed from its website; who took the decision to remove it, and whether it will be returned to the website.","AnswerText":" This report, which was published in 1998, has not been removed from the Scottish Government website. It is available at: http://www.scotland.gov.uk/library2/doc15/fogd-00.asp.
It was briefly unavailable for technical reasons due to maintenance work, including improvements to the functionality of the Scottish Government website.
","AnswerDate":"2010-07-14T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-07-30T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Stewart Stevenson","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":241624,"EventID":"S3W-35080","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":3806,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":3,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2010-07-02T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-07-02T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will instruct the Scottish Environment Protection Agency to liaise with the Met Office to conduct a weather radar network review with the aim of providing a be","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will instruct the Scottish Environment Protection Agency to liaise with the Met Office to conduct a weather radar network review with the aim of providing a better service for flood prevention.","AnswerText":"SEPA is in regular dialogue with the Met Office. It has produced a business case for a potential joint flood forecasting service which I am currently considering. ","AnswerDate":"2010-07-13T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-07-30T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Roseanna Cunningham","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":241625,"EventID":"S3W-35081","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":3811,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":4,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2010-07-02T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-07-02T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive how much has been (a) spent, (b) committed and (c) not yet committed on the Borders railway project.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive how much has been (a) spent, (b) committed and (c) not yet committed on the Borders railway project.","AnswerText":"£52 million has already been invested in developing the project to this stage, demonstrating the Government''s commitment to the project. This consists of approximately £45 million from Scottish Government, with the remainder from local council contributions and parliamentary phase grant awards.
I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-34984 on 30 July 2010. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament''s website, the search facility for which can be found at
","AnswerDate":"2010-08-04T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-07-30T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Stewart Stevenson","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":241626,"EventID":"S3W-35082","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":3811,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":4,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2010-07-02T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-07-02T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive how many of its staff are working on the Borders railway project.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive how many of its staff are working on the Borders railway project.","AnswerText":"Transport Scotland currently has four permanent staff allocated to the Borders railway project. ","AnswerDate":"2010-07-23T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-07-30T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Stewart Stevenson","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":241627,"EventID":"S3W-35083","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":3811,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":4,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2010-07-02T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-07-02T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive how much has been spent on consultants on the Borders railway project broken down by firm.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive how much has been spent on consultants on the Borders railway project broken down by firm.","AnswerText":"As of June 2010, consultant costs for the Borders railway project were approximately £2.7 million with a breakdown of costs as follows:
Consultancy
£
Dundas and Wilson
548,638
Environmental
457,594
Turner and Townsend
59,577
Ernst and Young
1,344,932
Partnerships UK
145,278
Mott MacDonald
14,981
Weber Shandwick
206,041
Total
2,777,041
","AnswerDate":"2010-08-04T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-07-30T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Stewart Stevenson","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":241628,"EventID":"S3W-35084","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":3811,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":4,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2010-07-02T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-07-02T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether any compulsory purchase orders have been issued or are planned to be issued in relation to the Borders railway project.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether any compulsory purchase orders have been issued or are planned to be issued in relation to the Borders railway project.","AnswerText":"Compulsory purchase orders relating to the Borders railway project as authorised by the Waverley Railway (Scotland) Act 2006 have been issued. A final tranche of compulsory purchase orders relating to land/access rights required to maintain the railway will be issued once the design has been finalised though the procurement process. ","AnswerDate":"2010-07-26T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-07-30T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Stewart Stevenson","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":241629,"EventID":"S3W-35085","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":3811,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":4,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2010-07-02T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-07-02T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive by what means the Borders railway project will be funded.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive by what means the Borders railway project will be funded.","AnswerText":"The Borders railway line will be designed, built, financed and maintained by a newly created, Transport Scotland-backed company, using a design, build, finance and maintenance contract and will use the Scottish Government''s non-profit distributing procurement model as developed by the Scottish Futures Trust. ","AnswerDate":"2010-07-26T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-07-30T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Stewart Stevenson","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":241630,"EventID":"S3W-35086","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":3811,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":4,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2010-07-02T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-07-02T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will lift any statutory requirement on legal authorities in relation to the provision of services to (a) children, (b) older people and (c) other groups.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will lift any statutory requirement on legal authorities in relation to the provision of services to (a) children, (b) older people and (c) other groups.","AnswerText":"Legislation, whether as primary legislation, secondary legislation or statutory guidance, is monitored routinely across the Scottish Government. However, Ministers have no plans to lift any statutory requirements on local authorities in relation to provision of services to (a) children (b) older people (c) other groups. ","AnswerDate":"2010-07-16T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-07-30T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"John Swinney","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":241631,"EventID":"S3W-35087","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":3811,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":4,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2010-07-02T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-07-02T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to monitor the reduction or withdrawal of services to (a) local authorities and (b) NHS boards as a result of budget reductions in (i) 2010-11 and (ii) ","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to monitor the reduction or withdrawal of services to (a) local authorities and (b) NHS boards as a result of budget reductions in (i) 2010-11 and (ii) 2011-12.","AnswerText":"There is extensive engagement between national and local government on the impact of budget changes, in line with the principles in the concordat. Supporting that engagement, a range of information is published on the budgets set by local authorities over time and on the services they deliver. This includes, for example, the annual publication of local government financial statistics, annual reports on single outcome agreements as signed by community planning partnerships (which include both councils and the NHS in each area), and formal inspection and audit reports.
NHS boards submit local delivery plans (LDP) to the Scottish Government Health Directorate (SGHD) annually which are subsequently signed off by SGHD to ensure that appropriate service delivery and financial plans are in place each year. Monitoring of the plans takes place locally within each board at public board meetings and in addition SGHD carries out annual reviews, also in public, to assess against LDP progress. When boards have major service change proposals a robust process of consultation and independent scrutiny is undertaken.
","AnswerDate":"2010-08-03T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-07-30T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Nicola Sturgeon","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":241632,"EventID":"S3W-35088","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":3811,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":4,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2010-07-02T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-07-02T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will consider encouraging higher and further education institutions to examine what savings can be made through mergers with neighbouring institutions.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will consider encouraging higher and further education institutions to examine what savings can be made through mergers with neighbouring institutions.","AnswerText":"Ministers will continue to encourage institutions to look critically at the scope for efficiencies and other savings, whether through collaboration or merger or in other ways. Ministers engage closely with colleges and have a keen interest in all such initiatives. Their engagement with colleges sits alongside the statutory responsibility of the Scottish Funding Council for the delivery of a coherent system of higher and further education. Like all other non-departmental public bodies, the funding council is expected to secure the best value from the resources at its disposal. ","AnswerDate":"2010-07-27T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-07-30T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Keith Brown","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":241633,"EventID":"S3W-35089","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":3811,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":4,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2010-07-02T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-07-02T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what non-departmental public bodies have been wound up in the last 12 months and which of its directorates is responsible in each case.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what non-departmental public bodies have been wound up in the last 12 months and which of its directorates is responsible in each case.","AnswerText":"The Scottish Arts Council and Scottish Screen, both of which were sponsored by the Culture, External Affairs and Tourism Directorate, were wound up on 1 July 2010. A further six bodies will be wound up on 1 August 2010. These are the Advisory Committee on Sites of Special Scientific Interest and the Deer Commission (both sponsored by the Rural and Environment Directorate); the Building Standards Advisory Committee (Built Environment Directorate); the Historic Environment Advisory Council (Historic Scotland); the Scottish Industrial Development Board (Business Directorate) and the Scottish Records Advisory Council (Culture, External Affairs and Tourism Directorate).
Further information about public bodies which have been wound up or merged as part of the government''s on-going simplification programme is available at:
","AnswerDate":"2010-07-27T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-07-30T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"John Swinney","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":241634,"EventID":"S3W-35090","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":3811,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":4,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2010-07-02T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-07-02T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what the legal status of the Scottish Investment Bank is and with what regulatory bodies is it registered.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what the legal status of the Scottish Investment Bank is and with what regulatory bodies is it registered.","AnswerText":"The Scottish Investment Bank Ltd has been incorporated as a wholly owned subsidiary of Scottish Enterprise. As initially constituted, the Scottish Investment Bank would not need to be registered with any regulatory bodies. We are, however, keeping this under review as the work to develop it progresses. ","AnswerDate":"2010-07-27T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-07-30T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Jim Mather","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":241635,"EventID":"S3W-35091","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":3811,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":4,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2010-07-02T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-07-02T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive how many full-time equivalent employees of the Scottish Investment Bank there were as of 1 July 2010.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive how many full-time equivalent employees of the Scottish Investment Bank there were as of 1 July 2010.","AnswerText":"The Scottish Investment Bank has no full-time equivalent employees as of 1 July 2010. The Scottish Government and Scottish Enterprise have formed a joint project team to develop the Scottish Investment Bank which has until now been concentrating on the development of a new loan fund. The longer term staffing arrangements for the Scottish Investment Bank have yet to be determined ","AnswerDate":"2010-07-27T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-07-30T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Jim Mather","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":241636,"EventID":"S3W-35092","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":3811,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":4,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2010-07-02T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-07-02T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what grants and loans have been made by the Scottish Investment Bank.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what grants and loans have been made by the Scottish Investment Bank.","AnswerText":"There have never been any plans for the Scottish Investment Bank to deliver grants but we are working to have a new loan fund open for business by the end of this year. In the meantime, Scottish Enterprise continues to make investments in innovative, high growth potential Scottish companies through its existing equity-based funds which will also form part of the Scottish Investment Bank. ","AnswerDate":"2010-07-27T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-07-30T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Jim Mather","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":241637,"EventID":"S3W-35093","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":3811,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":4,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2010-07-02T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-07-02T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what private funds have been obtained by the Scottish Investment Bank since its creation.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what private funds have been obtained by the Scottish Investment Bank since its creation.","AnswerText":"Using the public sector investment of £50 million as cornerstone funding, work to secure substantial additional private sector investment is well underway. Discussions with a number of potential investors are progressing satisfactorily. ","AnswerDate":"2010-08-04T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-07-30T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Jim Mather","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":241638,"EventID":"S3W-35094","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":3811,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":4,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2010-07-02T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-07-02T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what consideration has been given to approaching the National Trust for Scotland to discuss joint working with Historic Scotland.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what consideration has been given to approaching the National Trust for Scotland to discuss joint working with Historic Scotland.","AnswerText":"Historic Scotland works closely with the National Trust for Scotland in a number of areas and continues to develop its joint working agreed in the 2006 concordat between the two agencies.
The chief executives of Historic Scotland and the National Trust for Scotland meet regularly to discuss further opportunities to work together where it is appropriate and beneficial to both organisations.
","AnswerDate":"2010-07-23T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-07-30T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Fiona Hyslop","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":241639,"EventID":"S3W-35095","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":3811,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":4,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2010-07-02T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-07-02T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what percentage of funds for capital spending in transport comes from each of the available funding services.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what percentage of funds for capital spending in transport comes from each of the available funding services.","AnswerText":"The funding source for each project is assessed individually based on the size and type of project, the suitability for the various forms of funding and the availability of funds. ","AnswerDate":"2010-09-30T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-07-30T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Stewart Stevenson","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":241640,"EventID":"S3W-35096","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":3811,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":4,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2010-07-02T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-07-02T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what resources it will use to fund the Forth replacement crossing.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what resources it will use to fund the Forth replacement crossing.","AnswerText":"As advised in the Parliamentary statement on Strategic Transport Projects Review, on 10 December 2008, the Forth Replacement Crossing will be publicly funded and will be procured through a conventional design and build contract. ","AnswerDate":"2010-07-14T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-07-30T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Stewart Stevenson","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":241641,"EventID":"S3W-35097","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":3811,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":4,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2010-07-02T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-07-02T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what consideration is being given to expenditure on concessionary fares as part of its budget strategy.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what consideration is being given to expenditure on concessionary fares as part of its budget strategy.","AnswerText":"Concessionary travel remains a priority for the Scottish Government. We have taken steps in the current financial year to support the efficiency and sustainability of the Scotland-wide free bus travel scheme for older and disabled people, through a package of reforms agreed with the bus industry following the publication of the review of the scheme, and the scheme will also be extended to injured service veterans from April 2011.
Ministers will bring forward a draft Budget for 2011-12 in November, once the outcome of the UK Comprehensive Spending Review is known, in the normal way.
","AnswerDate":"2010-07-26T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-07-30T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Stewart Stevenson","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":241642,"EventID":"S3W-35098","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":3811,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":4,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2010-07-02T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-07-02T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what total income arose from its charging for services in 2009-10 and what consideration is being given to increasing this.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what total income arose from its charging for services in 2009-10 and what consideration is being given to increasing this.","AnswerText":"The income received by the core Scottish Executive in 2009-10 was £8.9 million.
The scope for increased revenues is kept under review.
","AnswerDate":"2010-07-26T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-07-30T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"John Swinney","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":241643,"EventID":"S3W-35099","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":3811,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":4,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2010-07-02T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-07-02T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what projects were funded through the regulated asset base in each of the last three years.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what projects were funded through the regulated asset base in each of the last three years.","AnswerText":"The following table shows which programmes/projects were funded via the regulated asset base in each of the last three years:
2007-08
2008-09
2009-10
Nil
Airdrie to Bathgate Rail Line
Airdrie to Bathgate Rail Line
Edinburgh Glasgow Improvement Programme
Paisley Corridor Improvements
Paisley Corridor Improvements
Glasgow Barrhead Kilmarnock
Glasgow Barrhead Kilmarnock
Ayrshire/Inverclyde Infrastructure Enhancements
Stabling Enhancements
","AnswerDate":"2010-08-04T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-07-30T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Stewart Stevenson","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":241644,"EventID":"S3W-35100","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":3811,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":4,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2010-07-02T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-07-02T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what the latest estimated cost is of the Edinburgh-to-Glasgow rail enhancement; what the sources of funds are for this project, and when it will be completed.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what the latest estimated cost is of the Edinburgh-to-Glasgow rail enhancement; what the sources of funds are for this project, and when it will be completed.","AnswerText":"The estimated Capital cost of the Edinburgh - Glasgow Improvements Programme (EGIP) remains £1,135 million.
The programme will be fully funded by the Scottish Government. Network Rail and the Office of Rail Regulation (ORR) have confirmed that Network Rail''s Regulatory Asset Base (RAB) financing facility is available to finance the infrastructure elements of the EGIP programme.
The programme remains on schedule for final completion by December 2016.
","AnswerDate":"2010-07-23T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-07-30T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Stewart Stevenson","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":241645,"EventID":"S3W-35101","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":3811,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":4,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2010-07-02T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-07-02T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what the latest estimated cost is of the Glasgow subway improvement; what the sources of funds are for this project, and when it will be completed.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what the latest estimated cost is of the Glasgow subway improvement; what the sources of funds are for this project, and when it will be completed.","AnswerText":"The operation and maintenance of the subway is a matter for Strathclyde Partnership for Transport (SPT). SPT''s current estimate of the capital cost of their preferred option for the subway modernisation is £283.9 million in nominal terms.
The Scottish Government has received a copy of SPT''s outline business case and is working with them to develop their proposals further, including funding options and timescales.
","AnswerDate":"2010-08-04T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-07-30T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Stewart Stevenson","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":241646,"EventID":"S3W-35102","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":3811,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":4,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2010-07-02T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-07-02T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what the total expenditure was on the passenger rail franchise and associated costs in 2009-10.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what the total expenditure was on the passenger rail franchise and associated costs in 2009-10.","AnswerText":"The total expenditure on the passenger rail franchise in 2009-10 was £271m. In addition Network Rail provides the infrastructure on which the services operate and Scottish Ministers fund Network Rail in respect of the rail network in Scotland. The Network Rail payment for 2009-10 was £367m. The franchise payment to ScotRail is for delivering the terms of the Franchise Agreement including the services specified. The Network Rail payment is for the operation, maintenance and renewal of the existing network.","AnswerDate":"2010-07-14T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-07-30T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Stewart Stevenson","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":241647,"EventID":"S3W-35103","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1820,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":12,"ApprovedDate":"2010-07-02T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-07-02T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive how many aids and adaptations were or have been undertaken in homes in the Glasgow Baillieston constituency by Glasgow City Council in (a) 2007, (b) 2008, (c) 2009 and (d","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive how many aids and adaptations were or have been undertaken in homes in the Glasgow Baillieston constituency by Glasgow City Council in (a) 2007, (b) 2008, (c) 2009 and (d) 2010 and what budgets were allocated to each project.","AnswerText":"This is a matter for Glasgow City Council. The information requested is not held centrally. ","AnswerDate":"2010-07-23T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-07-30T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Shona Robison","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":241648,"EventID":"S3W-35104","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1820,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":12,"ApprovedDate":"2010-07-02T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-07-02T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde has set timescales to respond to correspondence from elected members on matters concerning constituents and, if so, whether such tim","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde has set timescales to respond to correspondence from elected members on matters concerning constituents and, if so, whether such timescales are in line with other NHS boards across Scotland.","AnswerText":"NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde have confirmed that all correspondence from elected members concerning constituent complaints are handled in accordance with the national NHS Complaints Procedure. Most complaints raised under the national NHS Complaints Procedure should receive a response within 20 working days. In a limited number of cases, NHS boards may need more time to provide a full response. In such cases, the relevant board should contact the correspondent to explain the delay and provide an estimate of when it expects to respond in full. ","AnswerDate":"2010-07-23T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-07-30T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Shona Robison","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":241649,"EventID":"S3W-35105","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2345,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":56,"ApprovedDate":"2010-07-02T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-07-02T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will list every new regulation applied to the commercial fishing sector since 1999, broken down by year of introduction.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will list every new regulation applied to the commercial fishing sector since 1999, broken down by year of introduction.","AnswerText":"Marine Scotland has published a list of fisheries legislation detailing the year it came in to force at:
","AnswerDate":"2010-07-30T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-07-30T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Richard Lochhead","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":241650,"EventID":"S3W-35106","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2345,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":56,"ApprovedDate":"2010-07-02T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-07-02T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions it is having with the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) regarding effort trading between Scottish and English fishermen.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions it is having with the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) regarding effort trading between Scottish and English fishermen.","AnswerText":"The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) has decided, for the 2010-11 effort management period, to permit fishing vessels that it administers to transfer days at sea only to other vessels that it administers. The Department of Agriculture and Rural Development in Northern Ireland has taken an equivalent decision in relation to the vessels that it administers.
It is for each Fisheries Administration (FA) to consider what steps they regard as necessary to manage the effort of their fleets within the portions of UK fishing effort limits that they are responsible for managing. The Scottish Government considers that it may well be possible to allow for some transfers of days at sea between vessels administered by different FAs, but also considers that close monitoring of any such agreements should be agreed in advance. This issue has been raised in discussions with DEFRA and other FAs, and those discussions continue.
","AnswerDate":"2010-07-15T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-07-30T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Richard Lochhead","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":241651,"EventID":"S3W-35107","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2345,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":56,"ApprovedDate":"2010-07-02T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-07-02T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what assessment it has made of the success of real-time closures.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what assessment it has made of the success of real-time closures.","AnswerText":"Article 13 of Council Regulation (EU) No 1342/2008 (the Cod Recovery Plan) provides for allocation of additional fishing effort for cod avoidance measures. The Scottish Government has implemented Article 13 through the conservation credits scheme (CCS), which allows for real-time closures (RTCs) to buy back additional fishing effort for Scotland''s fishing fleet.
Marine Scotland Science submitted an analysis of these measures for consideration by the Commission''s Scientific Technical and Economic Committee for Fisheries (STECF) at its plenary meeting in mid-July. The recently published STECF assessment of that analysis acknowledged the progress made by Scotland in improving the situation for North Sea cod through the CCS.
STECF also noted that the most recent stock assessment results indicated that the 25% reduction in North Sea cod mortality in 2009, required by all member states under the Cod Recovery Plan, had not been realized. STECF suggested that measures under Article 13 of the Cod Recovery Plan should be expanded to include increasing the size of RTCs and increasing the uptake of cod-selective gears that reduce the level of discards. The Scottish Government had already taken action on both fronts in early July, both by extending the scope of RTCs and by making available buy-backs for the use of further selective fishing gears in the CCS.
","AnswerDate":"2010-07-30T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-07-30T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Richard Lochhead","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":241652,"EventID":"S3W-35108","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2345,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":56,"ApprovedDate":"2010-07-02T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-07-02T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what (a) training and (b) start-up funding is available for new entrants into commercial fishing.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what (a) training and (b) start-up funding is available for new entrants into commercial fishing.","AnswerText":"Training for new entrants into commercial fishing is delivered through a network of industry-led group training associations (GTAs) covering the whole of mainland Scotland and the Highlands and Islands. The GTAs are registered with the Sea Fish Industry Authority (Seafish) as their approved training providers for the statutory safety training courses undertaken by all fishermen going to sea.
The GTA network provision is supplemented by a number of colleges of further education specialising in training for fishing industry, i.e. Banff and Buchan College, North Atlantic Fisheries College, Orkney College and Lews Castle College. These colleges deliver SVQs and certificates of competency for deck and engineer officers. There are currently four learning providers supported by Skills Development Scotland for delivery of the Fishing Deckhand SVQ Level 2 through the Skillseekers national training programme.
Grant aid for capital investment in the fisheries sector is available under the European Fisheries Fund (EFF) programme for 2007-2013. EFF provides for capital grants to assist across a range of measures including assistance to young fishers (up to 40 years of age) to purchase their first full, or part, ownership of an active fishing vessel (subject to eligibility criteria).
","AnswerDate":"2010-07-30T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-07-30T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Richard Lochhead","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":241653,"EventID":"S3W-35109","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2345,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":56,"ApprovedDate":"2010-07-02T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-07-02T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive how many fishermen who decommissioned their vessel under the Fishing Vessels (Decommissioning) (Scotland) Scheme 2001 still possess quota.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive how many fishermen who decommissioned their vessel under the Fishing Vessels (Decommissioning) (Scotland) Scheme 2001 still possess quota.","AnswerText":"Under the 2001 decommissioning scheme, the fixed quota allocation (FQA) units associated with the licences of decommissioned vessels could be transferred to other over 10 metre licences, licence entitlements or to fish producer organisation dummy licences. The deadline for such transfers was 31 December 2004.
By far the majority transferred FQA units to fish producer organisation (PO) dummy licences. The conditions under which such transfers took place were commercial matters solely between the vessel owner and PO.
More than five years have passed since the above deadline. It is not possible, therefore, to say now how many vessel owners still enjoy quota allocations deriving from the licences of their decommissioned vessels.
","AnswerDate":"2010-07-30T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-07-30T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Richard Lochhead","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":241654,"EventID":"S3W-35110","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2345,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":56,"ApprovedDate":"2010-07-02T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-07-02T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive for how long fishermen who decommissioned their vessel under the Fishing Vessels (Decommissioning) (Scotland) Scheme 2001 were permitted to retain quota.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive for how long fishermen who decommissioned their vessel under the Fishing Vessels (Decommissioning) (Scotland) Scheme 2001 were permitted to retain quota.","AnswerText":"I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-35109 on 30 July 2010. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament''s website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/Apps2/Business/PQA/Default.aspx. ","AnswerDate":"2010-07-30T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-07-30T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Richard Lochhead","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":241655,"EventID":"S3W-35111","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2059,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":18,"ApprovedDate":"2010-07-02T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-07-02T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive how many acute occupied bed days were directly connected to a diagnosis of assault by sharp object in 2009-10, broken down by NHS board.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive how many acute occupied bed days were directly connected to a diagnosis of assault by sharp object in 2009-10, broken down by NHS board.","AnswerText":"The number of emergency admissions where a diagnosis of assault by sharp object is recorded and the number of occupied bed days associated with those admissions for the financial year ending 31 March 2010 are presented in the following table.
Figures for elective and emergency admissions are presented separately. Totals for both types of admissions have not been included as a proportion of elective patients will have been previously admitted as an emergency and would therefore appear in both categories.
Emergency admissions only includes patients admitted as an inpatient and does not include patients treated solely within accident and emergency departments.
Additional data and commentary on assault by a sharp object is published as part of ISD''s unintentional injuries publication http://www.isdscotland.org/isd/5327.html.
Number of Inpatient and Day Case Episodes and Acute Occupied Bed Days1,2,3 Connected with an Assault by Sharp Object4 Split by Admission Type and NHS Board, Year Ending 31 March 2010p
NHS Board of Treatment
Elective Admissions
Emergency Admissions
Total Number of Episodes
Total Number of Bed Days4
Total Number of Episodes
Total Number of Bed Days4
NHS Scotland
261
1,097
1,178
1,843
Golden Jubilee National Hospital
11
40
7
8
NHS Ayrshire and Arran
21
75
95
126
NHS Borders
-
-
*
*
NHS Dumfries and Galloway
-
-
6
7
NHS Fife
6
10
22","AnswerDate":"2010-08-03T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-07-30T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Nicola Sturgeon","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":241656,"EventID":"S3W-35112","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2059,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":18,"ApprovedDate":"2010-07-02T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-07-02T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive how many hospital admissions due to assault by sharp object there were in 2009-10.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive how many hospital admissions due to assault by sharp object there were in 2009-10.","AnswerText":"The number of emergency admissions where a diagnosis of assault by sharp object is recorded and the number of occupied bed days associated with those admissions for the financial year ending 31 March 2010 are presented in the answer to question S3W-35111 on 3 August 2010. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament''s website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/Apps2/Business/PQA/Default.aspx
Additional data and commentary on assault by a sharp object is published as part of ISD''s unintentional injuries publication http://www.isdscotland.org/isd/5327.html.
","AnswerDate":"2010-08-03T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-07-30T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Nicola Sturgeon","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":241657,"EventID":"S3W-35113","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1741,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":8,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2010-07-02T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-07-02T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether it expects NHS boards to meet the first HEAT targets on drugs rehabilitation referrals by December 2010 and what sanctions will be laid against boards that fail t","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether it expects NHS boards to meet the first HEAT targets on drugs rehabilitation referrals by December 2010 and what sanctions will be laid against boards that fail to meet these targets.","AnswerText":"All NHS boards have assured us that they are on track to achieve their interim performance indicators by December 2010. The HEAT target for reducing waiting times to drug treatment is to be achieved by March 2013.
Prior to agreeing the HEAT target for reducing waiting times to drug treatment, Scottish Government officials consulted with all NHS boards to ensure that the target was realistic and achievable. In March 2010, every NHS board submitted local delivery plans to the Scottish Government outlining plans for delivery of the performance indicators.
As part of the overall drug and alcohol HEAT project, an improvement support programme is being developed to proactively support NHS boards achieve the target. As part of an annual review process, the Cabinet Secretary for Health and Wellbeing and the Minister for Public Health and Sport hold NHS boards to account for the services they deliver. This involves meetings with each board which are held in public and at which any performance issues are raised as appropriate. Any follow-up action required as a result is formally recorded and subsequently monitored.
","AnswerDate":"2010-07-27T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-07-30T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Fergus Ewing","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":241658,"EventID":"S3W-35114","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1741,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":8,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2010-07-02T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-07-02T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive how many meetings have taken place between ministers and representatives of NHS boards to discuss the national strategy on drugs rehabilitation since May 2009.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive how many meetings have taken place between ministers and representatives of NHS boards to discuss the national strategy on drugs rehabilitation since May 2009.","AnswerText":"As Minister for Community Safety with the remit for drugs rehabilitation and the national strategy, The Road to Recovery, I communicate to NHS boards through the mechanism of the joint partnerships of alcohol and drug partnerships. I have discussed the national drugs strategy, The Road to Recovery, with 11 alcohol and drug partnerships, as referred to in the following table, since May 2009. and there was a NHS board representative at all these meetings. This engagement is continuing through the summer period.
East Ayrshire
25 January 2010
Lanarkshire
10 March 2010
West Dunbartonshire
15 March 2010
Glasgow City
22 March 2010
North Ayrshire
12 April 2010
Moray
26 April 2010
Aberdeen City
7 June 2010
Argyll and Bute
28 June 2010
Aberdeenshire
7 June 2010
Mid and East Lothian
6 July 2010
Highland
23 July 2010
In November 2009, my colleague Shona Robison MSP, Minister for Public Health and Sport, and I also met the alcohol and drug partnership chairs and NHS strategic leads for each NHS board.
","AnswerDate":"2010-07-27T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-07-30T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Fergus Ewing","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":241659,"EventID":"S3W-35115","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1741,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":8,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2010-07-02T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-07-02T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive how many meetings took place between ministers and representatives of NHS boards to discuss the subject of drugs rehabilitation in (a) 2005-06, (b) 2006-07, (c) 2007-08 a","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive how many meetings took place between ministers and representatives of NHS boards to discuss the subject of drugs rehabilitation in (a) 2005-06, (b) 2006-07, (c) 2007-08 and (d) 2008-09.","AnswerText":"The Scottish Government does not hold information centrally relating to meetings between all ministers and representatives of NHS boards to discuss the subject of drugs rehabilitation for 2005-06 and 2006-07.
As Minister for Community Safety with remit for drugs rehabilitation and the national drugs strategy, The Road to Recovery, I communicate to NHS boards through the mechanism of the joint partnerships of alcohol and drug partnerships, previously known as alcohol and drug action teams (ADATs). I met with all ADAT Chairs once in 2007-08 and twice in 2008-09 and also conducted a Road to Recovery Autumn tour, which involved representatives from NHS boards, in the areas following during 2008-09:
Aberdeen
4 November 2008
Angus
28 October 2008
Ayrshire
15 October 2008
Dundee
18 November 2008
Edinburgh
12 November 2008
Forth Valley
11 November 2008
Glasgow
9 December 2008
Highland
5 December 2008
Lanarkshire
21 October 2008
West Dunbartonshire
25 November 2008
","AnswerDate":"2010-07-27T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-07-30T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Fergus Ewing","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":241660,"EventID":"S3W-35116","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1783,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":67,"ApprovedDate":"2010-07-05T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-07-05T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will follow the lead of the UK Department of Health and publish weekly data on MRSA and Clostridium difficile on a hospital by hospital basis.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will follow the lead of the UK Department of Health and publish weekly data on MRSA and Clostridium difficile on a hospital by hospital basis.","AnswerText":"I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-34752 on 5 July 2010. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament''s website, the search facility for which can be found at www.scottish.parliament.uk/Apps2/Business/PQA/Default.aspx. ","AnswerDate":"2010-07-12T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-08-02T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Nicola Sturgeon","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":241661,"EventID":"S3W-35117","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1826,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":35,"ApprovedDate":"2010-07-05T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-07-05T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive when it will publish its report on the 2009 Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA) results.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive when it will publish its report on the 2009 Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA) results.","AnswerText":"The report will be published on Tuesday 7 December 2010, to coincide with the publication by the OECD of the international report. ","AnswerDate":"2010-07-12T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-08-02T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Michael Russell","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":241662,"EventID":"S3W-35118","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1826,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":35,"ApprovedDate":"2010-07-05T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-07-05T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive when it will publish its report on the 2008 Trends in International Mathematics and Science Study (TIMSS) Advanced results.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive when it will publish its report on the 2008 Trends in International Mathematics and Science Study (TIMSS) Advanced results.","AnswerText":"There was no 2008 Trends in International Mathematics and Science Study. The study takes place every four years. The report for the 2007 study was published on 9 December 2008 and is available on the government website using the following link.
","AnswerDate":"2010-07-12T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-08-02T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Michael Russell","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":241663,"EventID":"S3W-35119","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1826,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":35,"ApprovedDate":"2010-07-05T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-07-05T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive how many teachers employed by local authorities have been subject to misconduct allegations by pupils in each year since 2005-06.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive how many teachers employed by local authorities have been subject to misconduct allegations by pupils in each year since 2005-06.","AnswerText":"This information is not centrally collated by the Scottish Government. Local authorities are responsible for the conduct of their employees. ","AnswerDate":"2010-07-30T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-08-02T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Adam Ingram","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":241664,"EventID":"S3W-35120","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1826,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":35,"ApprovedDate":"2010-07-05T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-07-05T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive how many teachers employed by local authorities who have been subject to misconduct allegations by pupils in each year since 2005-06 were (a) disciplined and (b) dismisse","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive how many teachers employed by local authorities who have been subject to misconduct allegations by pupils in each year since 2005-06 were (a) disciplined and (b) dismissed.","AnswerText":"This information is not centrally collated by the Scottish Government. Local authorities are responsible for the conduct of their employees. ","AnswerDate":"2010-07-30T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-08-02T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Adam Ingram","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":241665,"EventID":"S3W-35121","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1826,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":35,"ApprovedDate":"2010-07-05T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-07-05T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive how many teachers employed by local authorities who have been subject to misconduct allegations by pupils in each year since 2005-06 were cleared of the allegations.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive how many teachers employed by local authorities who have been subject to misconduct allegations by pupils in each year since 2005-06 were cleared of the allegations.","AnswerText":"This information is not centrally collated by the Scottish Government. Local authorities are responsible for the conduct of their employees. ","AnswerDate":"2010-07-30T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-08-02T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Adam Ingram","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":241666,"EventID":"S3W-35122","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1826,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":35,"ApprovedDate":"2010-07-05T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-07-05T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive how many allegations of misconduct made by pupils against teachers employed by local authorities in each year since 2005-06 were subsequently dropped by the pupil.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive how many allegations of misconduct made by pupils against teachers employed by local authorities in each year since 2005-06 were subsequently dropped by the pupil.","AnswerText":"This information is not centrally collated by the Scottish Government. Local authorities are responsible for the conduct of their employees. ","AnswerDate":"2010-07-30T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-08-02T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Adam Ingram","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":241667,"EventID":"S3W-35123","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1826,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":35,"ApprovedDate":"2010-07-05T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-07-05T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive how many teachers employed by local authorities have been disciplined in each year since 2005-06 for (a) misconduct and (b) capability.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive how many teachers employed by local authorities have been disciplined in each year since 2005-06 for (a) misconduct and (b) capability.","AnswerText":"This information is not centrally collated by the Scottish Government. Local authorities are responsible for the conduct and competence of their employees. ","AnswerDate":"2010-07-30T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-08-02T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Adam Ingram","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":241668,"EventID":"S3W-35124","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1826,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":35,"ApprovedDate":"2010-07-05T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-07-05T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive how many teachers employed by local authorities have been dismissed in each year since 2005-06 for (a) misconduct and (b) capability.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive how many teachers employed by local authorities have been dismissed in each year since 2005-06 for (a) misconduct and (b) capability.","AnswerText":"This information is not centrally collated by the Scottish Government. Local authorities are responsible for the conduct and competence of their employees. ","AnswerDate":"2010-07-30T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-08-02T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Adam Ingram","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":241669,"EventID":"S3W-35125","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1826,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":35,"ApprovedDate":"2010-07-05T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-07-05T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive how many cases have been heard by the General Teaching Council for Scotland’s disciplinary sub-committee in each year since 2005, broken down by (a) reason and (b) outcom","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive how many cases have been heard by the General Teaching Council for Scotland’s disciplinary sub-committee in each year since 2005, broken down by (a) reason and (b) outcome.","AnswerText":"
2005-06
Nineteen cases were heard to conclusion:
Twelve cases related to criminal convictions “ of these
eleven teachers were removed from the register
in one case the Disciplinary Sub-Committee decided to defer making a decision for a period not exceeding two years.
Five cases related to alleged relevant misconduct “ of these
two teachers were removed from the register
in one case no order was made following a finding that the teacher was not guilty of relevant misconduct
in one case a decision to make no order was reached following a finding of guilty of relevant misconduct
in one case the Disciplinary Sub-Committee decided to defer making a decision for a period not exceeding two years.
One application for registration related to alleged relevant misconduct was considered “ this was refused
One application for restoration to the register was considered “ this was accepted and the teacher restored to the register
2006-07
Fourteen cases were heard (eight to conclusion and six continued):
five cases related to criminal conviction “ all five teachers were removed from the register.
Three cases related to allegations of relevant misconduct “ all three teachers were removed from the register
In six cases (including one application for restoration to the register) “ hearings were continued into 2007-08.
2007-08
Nineteen cases were heard to conclusion:
Thirteen cases related to criminal conviction “ of these
eight teachers were removed from the register
in one case a decision to make no order was reached
in one case a reprimand was issued
in three cases a conditional registration order was made
Three cases related to alleged relevant misconduct “ of these
two teachers were removed from the register
in one case no order was made following a finding that the teacher was guilty of relevant misconduct
One application for registration related to criminal conviction was considered “ this was refused
Two applications for restoration to the register “
one was refused
one was withdrawn.
2008-09
Twenty cases were heard to conclusion:
Seven cases related to criminal conviction “ of these
six teachers were removed from the register
in one case a reprimand was issued..
Ten cases related to alleged relevant misconduct “ of these
eight teachers were removed from the register
in one case a reprimand was issued
in one case a conditional registration order was made.
One case related to professional competence “ this teacher was removed from the register.
One application for registration related to criminal conviction “ this was accepted.
One application for restoration to the register “ this was accepted and the teacher restored to the register.
2009-10
Twenty-three cases were heard to conclusion:
Nine cases related to criminal conviction “ of these
eight teachers were removed from the register
in one case a conditional registration order was made.
Ten cases related to alleged relevant misconduct “ of these
eight teachers were removed from the register
in one case no order was made following a finding that the teacher was not guilty of relevant misconduct
in one case a reprimand was issued.
One case related to professional competence “ this teacher was removed from the register.
Two applications for registration related to conviction “ one was refused and one was withdrawn.
One application for restoration to the register “ this was withdrawn.
","AnswerDate":"2010-07-30T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-08-02T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Adam Ingram","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":241670,"EventID":"S3W-35126","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2202,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":8,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2010-07-05T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-07-05T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will place in the Scottish ParIiament Information Centre (SPICe) a progress report on the non-statutory pilots underway alongside the NHS board election pilots","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will place in the Scottish ParIiament Information Centre (SPICe) a progress report on the non-statutory pilots underway alongside the NHS board election pilots.","AnswerText":"The Health Board (Membership and Elections) Scotland Act 2009 stipulates that an independent evaluation, be carried out into the Pilot Health Board Elections. The London School of Economics in association with the University of St Andrews has been appointed to undertake this task, and this will also look at the effects of the non-statutory pilots which are underway. The Scottish Government expects the findings of this Independent Evaluation to be laid before Parliament in the autumn of 2012.
I wrote to you in March 2009 prior to Stage 3 of the Act to outline the approach that I intend to take in delivering non statutory alternative pilots. This involved a mix of the following approaches across NHS Grampian and NHS Lothian:
strengthening the role of Public Partnership Forums by appointing at least one of their members to the local health board;
reducing the number of Executive members on a Board to 5 and increasing the number of non executive members. This will give a clear majority to non executive and councillor members;
enhancing the public appointments process in the pilot area to increase the diversity around the board table.
I can confirm that a member of Midlothian Public Partnership Forum has been appointed to the NHS Lothian Board after a selection process overseen by the Office of the Commissioner for Public Appointments. You will also wish to note that the number of Executive Directors in both non-statutory pilot areas has been reduced to 5 which is consistent with the reductions in both Pilot Elected Health Boards.
An enhanced public appointment process to appoint 2 additional members in NHS Grampian is currently underway which is aimed at increasing diversity around the board table. A further appointment will also be made to the NHS Lothian Board in due course using the alternative proposals.
","AnswerDate":"2010-07-12T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-08-02T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Nicola Sturgeon","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":241671,"EventID":"S3W-35127","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2182,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":5,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2010-07-05T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-07-05T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what steps it has taken or will take to eliminate industrial trans fats from food provided by the NHS and items on sale in NHS premises or in premises leased to others by","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what steps it has taken or will take to eliminate industrial trans fats from food provided by the NHS and items on sale in NHS premises or in premises leased to others by the NHS.","AnswerText":"While the Scottish government has no current plans to ban trans fats in hospital food, we do recognise it is vitally important that when people are in hospital their nutritional needs are a priority and a balanced diet is tailored to assist each person''s recovery. Over 95% of NHS hospital canteens now have the Healthyliving Award which helps food outlets prepare and promote the sale of healthier food options to staff, visitors and patients.
We are committed to working jointly with industry and retailers to make healthy choices easier for everyone. The food industry has successfully taken voluntary steps to reformulate many products and as a result the average intake of trans fats has been significantly reduced. However, we will keep our position under close review, actively monitoring outputs of ongoing work and new research, in Scotland, the UK and internationally.
","AnswerDate":"2010-07-22T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-08-02T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Shona Robison","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":241672,"EventID":"S3W-35128","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2182,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":5,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2010-07-05T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-07-05T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what steps it is taking to ensure that all catering courses include a module on nutrition, as is the case in the Scandinavian countries.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what steps it is taking to ensure that all catering courses include a module on nutrition, as is the case in the Scandinavian countries.","AnswerText":"The Scottish Government''s food, health and education policies all contribute to successful delivery of our national outcomes that we live longer, healthier lives and improve the life chances for children, young people and families at risk. These are Scottish outcomes to address Scottish issues.
Curriculum for Excellence will play an important part in promoting the health and wellbeing of children and young people. In particular, the food and health experiences and outcomes provide learners with a variety of opportunities to apply their knowledge and skills to plan and safely prepare dishes for a healthy balanced diet meeting their needs and those of others.
We are also ensuring the new national courses involving catering, being developed under Curriculum for Excellence at SCQF levels 4 and 5, draw on the experiences and outcomes. This will ensure the key requirements of health and wellbeing, for example lifestyle, food and nutrition, are included in the new courses.
Meanwhile, all existing national courses that involve aspects of catering, such as college delivered SVQs, skills for work, HNCs and HNDs, already include elements of nutrition and healthy eating. This is either through specific units studied as an integral part of the course or by embedded clearly identifiable nutrition and healthy eating themes.
","AnswerDate":"2010-07-26T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-08-02T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Keith Brown","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":241673,"EventID":"S3W-35129","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2182,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":5,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2010-07-05T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-07-05T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive, in light of the call from the National Institute for Clinical Excellence (NICE) for a ban on industrial trans fats, what discussions the Scottish Government has had with","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive, in light of the call from the National Institute for Clinical Excellence (NICE) for a ban on industrial trans fats, what discussions the Scottish Government has had with the Food Standards Agency regarding ensuring the elimination of such trans fats from take-away food outlets in Scotland.","AnswerText":"The Scottish Government has consulted with the Food Standards Agency (FSA) Scotland. FSA Scotland advise that there is no scientific evidence to suggest that take-away food outlets serve food with a disproportionately high trans fat content.
We will continue to keep trans fats levels under close review, actively monitoring outputs of ongoing work and new research in Scotland, the UK and internationally, and will support action to protect consumer health that is evidence based.
","AnswerDate":"2010-07-22T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-08-02T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Shona Robison","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":241674,"EventID":"S3W-35130","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1845,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":6,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2010-07-06T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-07-06T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what information it has regarding plans to open a Ministry of Defence Hospital Unit in Scotland.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what information it has regarding plans to open a Ministry of Defence Hospital Unit in Scotland.","AnswerText":"The opening of Ministry of Defence Hospital Units (MDHU) in Scotland is a decision for the Ministry of Defence. However the Scottish Government would be happy to assist in the work of that UK Department on future requirements as required. ","AnswerDate":"2010-07-12T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-08-03T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Nicola Sturgeon","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":241675,"EventID":"S3W-35131","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1845,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":6,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2010-07-06T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-07-06T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what representations it has made to the Ministry of Defence regarding the opening of a Ministry of Defence Hospital Unit in Scotland.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what representations it has made to the Ministry of Defence regarding the opening of a Ministry of Defence Hospital Unit in Scotland.","AnswerText":"Scottish Ministers have made no representations to the MoD regarding the location of Ministry of Defence Hospital Units (MDHUs). ","AnswerDate":"2010-07-12T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-08-03T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Nicola Sturgeon","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":241676,"EventID":"S3W-35132","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1783,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":67,"ApprovedDate":"2010-07-06T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-07-06T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what the optimal time is for screening for MRSA in advance of a hospital admission.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what the optimal time is for screening for MRSA in advance of a hospital admission.","AnswerText":"Health Protection Scotland advise that the optimal time for pre-admission screening for MRSA is around 30 days prior to admission. ","AnswerDate":"2010-08-03T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-08-03T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Nicola Sturgeon","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":241677,"EventID":"S3W-35133","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1783,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":67,"ApprovedDate":"2010-07-06T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-07-06T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what guidance it provides to NHS boards on the timing of screening for MRSA prior to a patient's admission to hospital. ","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what guidance it provides to NHS boards on the timing of screening for MRSA prior to a patient's admission to hospital. ","AnswerText":"NHS boards are advised in the Health Protection Scotland protocol for MRSA screening national rollout in Scotland that patients who have a planned admission date should be screened at the pre-admission stage or at outpatient clinics.
If this is not possible, NHS boards are advised that patients should be screened on admission to hospital and in these cases the patient would follow the screening pathway of an emergency patient.
","AnswerDate":"2010-08-03T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-08-03T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Nicola Sturgeon","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":241678,"EventID":"S3W-35134","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1783,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":67,"ApprovedDate":"2010-07-06T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-07-06T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether screening for MRSA six weeks before admission to hospital is appropriate given that there is time to become infected in the period between the test and admission.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether screening for MRSA six weeks before admission to hospital is appropriate given that there is time to become infected in the period between the test and admission.","AnswerText":"Health Protection Scotland advise that it is appropriate to screen patients six weeks prior to admission to allow adequate time for decolonisation and repeat tests for patients who test MRSA positive. However, the optimal time is 30 days.
A recent systematic review entitled Eradication of Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcusaureus Carriage concluded that the success rate for MRSA eradication with nasal application of mupirocin ointment was approximately 90% at one week post decolonisation completion. The report can be viewed at:
","AnswerDate":"2010-08-03T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-08-03T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Nicola Sturgeon","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":241679,"EventID":"S3W-35135","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1866,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":30,"ApprovedDate":"2010-07-06T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-07-06T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive how many applications were made to the Energy Saving Scotland home renewables grant scheme in each of the last three years, broken down by (a) parliamentary constituency ","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive how many applications were made to the Energy Saving Scotland home renewables grant scheme in each of the last three years, broken down by (a) parliamentary constituency and (b) local authority area.","AnswerText":"The following table shows the number of applications made to the Energy Saving Scotland home renewables grant scheme in each of the last three years, broken down by local authority area. The information is not routinely held broken down by parliamentary constituency.
Local Authority
2007-08
2008-09
2009-10
Aberdeen City
2
4
16
Aberdeenshire
109
184
207
Angus
26
38
44
Argyll and Bute
46
69
71
Clackmannanshire
4
7
10
Comhairle nan Eilean Siar
17
55
43
Dumfries and Galloway
68
73
86
Dundee City
7
4
6
East Ayrshire
20
18
19
East Dunbartonshire
12
13
9
East Lothian
18
26
38
","AnswerDate":"2010-07-30T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-08-03T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Jim Mather","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":241680,"EventID":"S3W-35136","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1866,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":30,"ApprovedDate":"2010-07-06T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-07-06T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive how many grants were awarded under the Energy Saving Scotland home renewables grant scheme in each of the last three years, broken down by (a) parliamentary constituency ","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive how many grants were awarded under the Energy Saving Scotland home renewables grant scheme in each of the last three years, broken down by (a) parliamentary constituency and (b) local authority area.","AnswerText":"The following table shows the number of grants awarded under the Energy Saving Scotland home renewables grant scheme in each of the last three years, broken down by local authority area. The information is not routinely held broken down by parliamentary constituency.
Local Authority
2007-08
2008-09
2009-10
Aberdeen City
3
3
4
Aberdeenshire
96
116
135
Angus
34
27
30
Argyll and Bute
39
39
63
Clackmannanshire
4
4
7
Comhairle nan Eilean Siar
7
30
36
Dumfries and Galloway
59
45
57
Dundee City
6
1
5
East Ayrshire
17
14
14
East Dunbartonshire
11
6
5
East Lothian
15
17
22
Year
No. of Grants
Average Amount
2007-08
899
£2,318.03
2008-09
852
£2,630.09
2009-10
919
£2,777.79
","AnswerDate":"2010-07-30T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-08-03T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Jim Mather","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":241682,"EventID":"S3W-35138","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1866,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":30,"ApprovedDate":"2010-07-06T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-07-06T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what average percentage of the cost of installing a home renewables device has been covered by grants awarded under the Energy Saving Scotland home renewables grant schem","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what average percentage of the cost of installing a home renewables device has been covered by grants awarded under the Energy Saving Scotland home renewables grant scheme since 2007.","AnswerText":"The following tables show the average percentage of the cost of installing a home renewables device that was covered by grants awarded under the Energy Saving Scotland home renewables grant scheme since 2007. As the cost of the devices varies quite considerably, it is more representative of the scheme to break this down by technology type.
2007-08
Technology
Average Final Installation Cost
Average Grant Amount
Average % of Cost
Air Source Heat Pump
£9,298.97
£2,765.34
29.74%
Biomass
£9,717.45
£2,640.54
27.17%
GSHP
£14,150.25
£3,642.11
25.74%
Hydro
£21,902.70
£3,620.40
16.53%
Lerwick DH
£3,362.30
£956.23
28.44%
Solar Hot Water
£4,420.95
£1,322.00
29.90%
Wind Turbine
£13,819.53
£2,739.44
19.82%
Total
£8,849.53
£2,318.03
26.19%
2008-09
Technology
Average","AnswerDate":"2010-07-30T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-08-03T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Jim Mather","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":241683,"EventID":"S3W-35139","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1866,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":30,"ApprovedDate":"2010-07-06T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-07-06T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive how many applications to the Energy Saving Scotland home renewables grant scheme were made between 17 March and 1 July 2010.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive how many applications to the Energy Saving Scotland home renewables grant scheme were made between 17 March and 1 July 2010.","AnswerText":"Between 17 March and 1 July 2010, the Energy Saving Scotland home renewables grant scheme received a total of 764 applications.
","AnswerDate":"2010-07-30T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-08-03T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Jim Mather","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":241684,"EventID":"S3W-35140","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1866,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":30,"ApprovedDate":"2010-07-06T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-07-06T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive how much from the Energy Saving Scotland home renewables grant budget lines in (a) 2007-08, (b) 2008-09 and (c) 2009-10 was spent on grants for (i) electricity and (ii) h","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive how much from the Energy Saving Scotland home renewables grant budget lines in (a) 2007-08, (b) 2008-09 and (c) 2009-10 was spent on grants for (i) electricity and (ii) heat generating technologies.","AnswerText":"The following table shows how much from the Energy Saving Scotland home renewables grants budget was spent on grants for electricity and heat generating technologies in each of the last three years.
Technology Type
2007-08
2008-09
2009-10
Heat
£1,888,623
£2,030,486
£2,256,158
Electricity
£195,285
£210,354
£296,633
","AnswerDate":"2010-07-30T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-08-03T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Jim Mather","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":241685,"EventID":"S3W-35141","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2108,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":68,"ApprovedDate":"2010-07-06T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-07-06T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive how many inspections of sunbed salons have taken place since the implementation of the Public Health etc. (Scotland) Act 2008 (Sunbed) Regulations 2009.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive how many inspections of sunbed salons have taken place since the implementation of the Public Health etc. (Scotland) Act 2008 (Sunbed) Regulations 2009.","AnswerText":"The information requested is not held centrally. Inspection of sunbed premises are undertaken by local authority enforcement officers. However, it is intended to survey local authorities on their enforcement of the regulations once these have been in force for a year. ","AnswerDate":"2010-08-03T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-08-03T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Nicola Sturgeon","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":241686,"EventID":"S3W-35142","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2108,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":68,"ApprovedDate":"2010-07-06T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-07-06T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive how many fines have been issued against sunbed salons since the implementation of the Public Health etc. (Scotland) Act 2008 (Sunbed) Regulations 2009.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive how many fines have been issued against sunbed salons since the implementation of the Public Health etc. (Scotland) Act 2008 (Sunbed) Regulations 2009.","AnswerText":"The information requested is not held centrally. Fixed penalty notices to sunbed premises are issued by local authority enforcement officers. ","AnswerDate":"2010-07-26T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-08-03T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Shona Robison","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":241687,"EventID":"S3W-35143","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2108,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":68,"ApprovedDate":"2010-07-06T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-07-06T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether any sunbed salons have closed as a result of the implementation of the Public Health etc. (Scotland) Act 2008 (Sunbed) Regulations 2009.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether any sunbed salons have closed as a result of the implementation of the Public Health etc. (Scotland) Act 2008 (Sunbed) Regulations 2009.","AnswerText":"There is anecdotal evidence of a small number of unsupervised premises closing as a result of the new regulations, and of a number of health clubs no longer offering sunbed facilities to their members. ","AnswerDate":"2010-07-26T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-08-03T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Shona Robison","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":241688,"EventID":"S3W-35144","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2108,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":68,"ApprovedDate":"2010-07-06T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-07-06T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what information it collects on the implementation of the Public Health etc. (Scotland) Act 2008 (Sunbed) Regulations 2009.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what information it collects on the implementation of the Public Health etc. (Scotland) Act 2008 (Sunbed) Regulations 2009.","AnswerText":"The information requested is not held centrally. The Scottish Government does not routinely collect data on the Sunbed Regulations 2009. However, it is intended to survey local authorities on their enforcement of the regulations once these have been in force for a year. ","AnswerDate":"2010-07-26T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-08-03T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Shona Robison","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":241689,"EventID":"S3W-35145","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2108,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":68,"ApprovedDate":"2010-07-06T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-07-06T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether it is monitoring the implementation of the Public Health etc. (Scotland) Act 2008 (Sunbed) Regulations 2009.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether it is monitoring the implementation of the Public Health etc. (Scotland) Act 2008 (Sunbed) Regulations 2009.","AnswerText":"I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-35144 on 26 July 2010. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament''s website, the search facility for which can be found at www.scottish.parliament.uk/Apps2/Business/PQA/Default.aspx. ","AnswerDate":"2010-07-26T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-08-03T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Shona Robison","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":241690,"EventID":"S3W-35146","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1752,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":57,"ApprovedDate":"2010-07-06T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-07-06T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-31065 by Jim Mather on 9 February 2010, what discussions it has had with local authorities regarding the cumulative impact of wind ","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-31065 by Jim Mather on 9 February 2010, what discussions it has had with local authorities regarding the cumulative impact of wind farm developments.","AnswerText":"Officials from the Scottish Government''s Energy and Built Environment Directorates hold regular and routine discussions with local authorities about onshore renewables policy and land-use planning, including matters related to the cumulative impacts of wind farm developments where they are raised. ","AnswerDate":"2010-07-23T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-08-03T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Stewart Stevenson","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":241691,"EventID":"S3W-35147","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1752,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":57,"ApprovedDate":"2010-07-06T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-07-06T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions it has had with tourism industry representatives in South Ayrshire regarding the cumulative impact of wind farm developments.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions it has had with tourism industry representatives in South Ayrshire regarding the cumulative impact of wind farm developments.","AnswerText":"The Scottish Government has held no such discussions regarding wind farm applications under Section 36 of the Electricity Act (1989). However, where applications are to be determined by Scottish ministers there are robust and transparent planning procedures in place to ensure that all landscape, environment and visual impact issues relating to any development are taken fully into account.
In addition, Scottish Planning Policy (SPP), which sets out the Scottish Government''s planning policies on the siting of wind farms, indicates that planning authorities should consider the likely impacts of wind farm developments on tourism and recreation interests.
","AnswerDate":"2010-07-30T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-08-03T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Jim Mather","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":241692,"EventID":"S3W-35148","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":4086,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":7,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2010-07-06T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-07-06T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has for the future of cervical cancer screening in the NHS and whether ministers will make a statement on the matter.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has for the future of cervical cancer screening in the NHS and whether ministers will make a statement on the matter.","AnswerText":"Cervical screening is and will remain an important part of the Scottish Government''s strategy on reducing the burden of cancer through early detection for many years to come. The introduction of the Human Papilloma virus (HPV) vaccination programme is expected to have an impact on the prevalence of HPV, and so cervical cancer, amongst women in Scotland in the long term, and this may in due course lead to changes in the screening programme.
The vaccination programme will not have an immediate impact upon the screening programme given that we will need to continue to offer cervical screening to those women who were out with the age range to receive the vaccine. We will continue to take account of epidemiological and surveillance information when taking decisions about the screening programme. The screening programme will also change as new technologies evolve such as automated imaging for cervical cytology and HPV testing.
As a result of research into women''s attitudes to screening, NHS Health Scotland will publish new information leaflets for women which will be sent with the women''s invitation to screening. These will be available later this year. In addition, new leaflets which give more specific information for women attending for the first time and lesbian and bisexual women will be published.
","AnswerDate":"2010-07-26T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-08-03T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Shona Robison","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":241693,"EventID":"S3W-35149","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":4086,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":7,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2010-07-06T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-07-06T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what proportion of deaths from cervical cancer occurred in women aged (a) 60 and over, (b) between 30 and 59 and (c) under 30 in each year since 2001.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what proportion of deaths from cervical cancer occurred in women aged (a) 60 and over, (b) between 30 and 59 and (c) under 30 in each year since 2001.","AnswerText":"The relevant information can be found on the Information Services Division website at:
","AnswerDate":"2010-07-26T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-08-03T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Shona Robison","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":241694,"EventID":"S3W-35150","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":4086,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":7,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2010-07-06T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-07-06T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will make a statement on primary school standards. ","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will make a statement on primary school standards. ","AnswerText":"We currently have no plans to make a statement on primary school standards. ","AnswerDate":"2010-07-27T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-08-03T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Michael Russell","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":241695,"EventID":"S3W-35151","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":4086,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":7,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2010-07-06T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-07-06T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will make a statement on secondary school standards.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will make a statement on secondary school standards.","AnswerText":"We currently have no plans to make a statement on secondary school standards. ","AnswerDate":"2010-07-27T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-08-03T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Michael Russell","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":241696,"EventID":"S3W-35152","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":4086,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":7,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2010-07-06T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-07-06T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what steps it is taking to help reduce child poverty.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what steps it is taking to help reduce child poverty.","AnswerText":"There are a very wide range of actions being undertaken by the Scottish Government and partners to reduce child poverty. Our broad approach is set out in the three inter-linked policy frameworks Achieving Our Potential, Early Years Framework, and Equally Well. These link with other relevant policy frameworks, such as the national approach to supporting and working with children and young people, to ensure all receive the help they need, when they need it. They also link to policies promoting the employability, education and life chances of both adults and young people (such as Workforce Plus, More Choices More Chances, and Curriculum for Excellence). We are working across Government and with partners in CPPs, third sector and wider society, to implement these frameworks in a cohesive way.
Scottish Government has also ensured that Scotland is covered by the Child Poverty Act, and is developing a Child Poverty Strategy in line with this. The strategy will set out the measures that we propose to take to contribute to the UK-wide target to eradicate child poverty by 2020, and to ensure as far as possible that children in Scotland do not experience socio-economic disadvantage. This strategy will be published in spring 2011.
","AnswerDate":"2010-07-30T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-08-03T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Alex Neil","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":241697,"EventID":"S3W-35153","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":4086,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":7,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2010-07-06T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-07-06T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will make a statement on education provision for children with additional support needs.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will make a statement on education provision for children with additional support needs.","AnswerText":"The Parliament held a debate on the Supporting Children''s Code of Practice on 26 May 2010. I have no immediate plans to make a further statement on provision for children with additional support needs at this stage. ","AnswerDate":"2010-07-30T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-08-03T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Adam Ingram","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":241698,"EventID":"S3W-35154","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":4086,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":7,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2010-07-06T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-07-06T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether it is investigating the potential for a derogation to allow burial of fallen stock on hill ground and, if so, when the results of that investigation will be annou","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether it is investigating the potential for a derogation to allow burial of fallen stock on hill ground and, if so, when the results of that investigation will be announced.","AnswerText":"Scottish ministers have already allowed a derogation for the burial of fallen stock in a designated remote area. However, burial should not be regarded as the first option on remote areas, rather it should be the very last option considered for disposal purposes. In Scotland, the designated remote areas covers the majority of the Highlands and Islands and Argyllshire.
The Scottish Government will soon be consulting on consolidation the Animal by-Products (Scotland) Regulations 2003 and will be seeking views on a number of derogations including one that would allow burial/burning of fallen stock where access is impractical or there is health and safety risks of collection.
","AnswerDate":"2010-07-28T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-08-03T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Richard Lochhead","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":241699,"EventID":"S3W-35155","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":4086,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":7,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2010-07-06T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-07-06T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive when it plans to allow burial of fallen stock on hill ground.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive when it plans to allow burial of fallen stock on hill ground.","AnswerText":"Fallen stock in the designated remote areas is currently allowed to be buried. In Scotland, the designated remote areas covers the majority of the Highlands and Islands and Argyllshire.
However, burial should not be regarded as the first option in remote areas, rather it should be the very last option considered for disposal purposes.
","AnswerDate":"2010-07-28T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-08-03T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Richard Lochhead","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":241700,"EventID":"S3W-35156","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":4086,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":7,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2010-07-06T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-07-06T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether it considers that fallen stock should not be allowed to be buried on hill ground and what the reasons are for its position on this matter.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether it considers that fallen stock should not be allowed to be buried on hill ground and what the reasons are for its position on this matter.","AnswerText":"The requirements for correct disposal of fallen stock exist to protect human and animal health and to protect the environment.
Scientific evidence shows that the degradation process essential to ensure reduction of BSE/TSE infectivity cannot be guaranteed by burial. Even after burial scrapie infected material can persist in the soil for years and present a source of infection. Therefore it is essential that fallen stock is disposed in the correct way.
","AnswerDate":"2010-07-28T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-08-03T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Richard Lochhead","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":241701,"EventID":"S3W-35157","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":4086,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":7,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2010-07-06T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-07-06T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will reintroduce natural regeneration of margins in fields next to wood and water as an eligible part of land management options.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will reintroduce natural regeneration of margins in fields next to wood and water as an eligible part of land management options.","AnswerText":"There are no plans to introduce natural regeneration as part of the small-scale woodland creation measure under land managers options. Support for natural regeneration is available through the Rural Priorities funding mechanism. ","AnswerDate":"2010-07-28T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-08-03T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Richard Lochhead","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":241702,"EventID":"S3W-35158","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":4086,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":7,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2010-07-06T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-07-06T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether it is considering encouraging smaller tree plantings on farmland as opposed to larger tree plantings that may compete with other farming interests.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether it is considering encouraging smaller tree plantings on farmland as opposed to larger tree plantings that may compete with other farming interests.","AnswerText":"Smaller tree planting is already supported through the small scale woodland creation measure available under the Land Managers Options and also the native woodland and mixed conifer/broadleaf woodland models under the Rural Priorities mechanism of the Scotland Rural Development Programme.
Using the land managers options, landowners can plant new woods with native species from 0.1 - 1.0 hectare in size and using the Rural Priorities, landowners can create new native woodlands or mixed conifer/broadleaf woodland of 0.25 hectares or greater.
","AnswerDate":"2010-07-28T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-08-03T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Richard Lochhead","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":241703,"EventID":"S3W-35159","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":4014,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":5,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2010-07-06T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-07-06T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive how many teachers have been struck off the teaching register in each year since 1999.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive how many teachers have been struck off the teaching register in each year since 1999.","AnswerText":"The table shows the numbers of teachers struck off the teaching register in each year.
1999-2000
5
2000-01
8
2001-02
2
2002-03
5
2003-04
4
2004-05
8
2005-06
13
2006-07
8
2007-08
10
2008-09
15
2009-10
17
","AnswerDate":"2010-07-30T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-08-03T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Adam Ingram","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":241704,"EventID":"S3W-35160","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":4014,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":5,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2010-07-06T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-07-06T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive how many probationer teachers have not successfully completed their probationary period and registered because of (a) misconduct and (b) incompetence in each year since 1","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive how many probationer teachers have not successfully completed their probationary period and registered because of (a) misconduct and (b) incompetence in each year since 1999.","AnswerText":"The following details relate to the period since the teacher induction scheme was introduced in autumn 2002. Comprehensive records are not available before this date.
The following table shows:
Column a “ Teachers who have not completed their probationary period due to misconduct;
Column b(i) “ Probationary teachers who have had their provisional registration cancelled at the end of the one year probationary year referred to, having not achieved the required standard.
Column b(ii) “ Probationary teachers who have either had their provisional registration cancelled or have resigned or lapsed from the register, having not achieved the required standard subsequent to having been granted a period of extension to their provisional registration at the end of their probationary year.
Year
A
b(i)
b(ii)
2002-03
1
10
10
2003-04
0
10
4
2004-05
5
5
4
2005-06
1
11
6
2006-07
1
10
14
2007-08
4
12
15
2008-09
5
15
1
2009-10
1
11
0
","AnswerDate":"2010-07-30T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-08-03T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Adam Ingram","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":241705,"EventID":"S3W-35161","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":4086,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":7,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2010-07-06T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-07-06T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive under what statutory instrument its Rural Payments and Inspections Directorate is implementing rules regarding ineligible land under the Single Farm Payment Scheme.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive under what statutory instrument its Rural Payments and Inspections Directorate is implementing rules regarding ineligible land under the Single Farm Payment Scheme.","AnswerText":"The Single Farm Payment Scheme is regulated primarily by European legislation with domestic legislation (i.e. Scottish or UK statutory instrument, as appropriate) being used for those aspects where member states have a choice over the way in which a measure is implemented. Since the inception of the Single Farm Payment Scheme various European Council Regulations (currently EC 73/2009) have chosen to define eligible land as arable land, permanent pasture or land used to grow permanent crops. Member states do not have a choice over what may constitute eligible land and it follows that land that cannot satisfy any of the regulatory definitions is ineligible. ","AnswerDate":"2010-08-02T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-08-03T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Richard Lochhead","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":241706,"EventID":"S3W-35162","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":4086,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":7,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2010-07-06T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-07-06T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what criteria it uses to define ineligible land under the Single Farm Payment Scheme.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what criteria it uses to define ineligible land under the Single Farm Payment Scheme.","AnswerText":"I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-35161 on 2 August 2010.
Eligible land is either arable land, permanent pasture of land used to grow permanent crops. It follows that land that does not meet these definitions, which are set in European legislation, is ineligible for the purposes of the Single Farm Payment Scheme. The following is an illustrative but not exhaustive list of the types of ineligible land.
Ineligible land will include impenetrable gorse, scrub or bracken, areas made up of rock, scree, ponds and water courses, woods, buildings, yards, hard standing and roads. Areas of gorse, bracken and unwanted encroachment of dense vegetation need to be carefully assessed for the purposes of claiming agricultural support. The key is not to claim areas of dense cover that are impenetrable to stock and where there is no growth below for grazing. Woodland which has a vegetative under-growth in which livestock can forage is eligible for the purposes of the Single Farm Payment Scheme but if the tree cover prevents vegetation from growing, the area cannot be used as forage and is ineligible.
All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament''s website, the search facility for which can be found at:
","AnswerDate":"2010-08-02T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-08-03T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Richard Lochhead","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":241707,"EventID":"S3W-35163","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":4086,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":7,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2010-07-06T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-07-06T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether the same criteria for ineligible land under the Single Farm Payment Scheme are used throughout the Rural Payments and Inspections Directorate.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether the same criteria for ineligible land under the Single Farm Payment Scheme are used throughout the Rural Payments and Inspections Directorate.","AnswerText":"I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-35161 on 2 August 2010.
The Single Farm Payment Scheme is regulated by European Council Regulation (EC) 73/2009 and this defines what constitutes eligible land. The Scottish Government''s Rural Payments and Inspections Directorate have taken this as the starting point for guidance issued to farmers and crofters in the form of the Single Farm Payment Scheme notes for guidance as well as internal guidance to its own staff, both in its headquarters and across its 16 area offices located throughout Scotland.
The Rural Payments and Inspections Directorate issued individual copies of the Single Farm Payment Scheme notes for guidance to 21,500 farmers and crofters across Scotland earlier this year. These notes are available at:
","AnswerDate":"2010-08-02T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-08-03T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Richard Lochhead","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":241708,"EventID":"S3W-35164","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":4086,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":7,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2010-07-06T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-07-06T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what checks are made to ensure that the same criteria to define ineligible land under the Single Farm Payment Scheme are used throughout the Rural Payments and Inspection","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what checks are made to ensure that the same criteria to define ineligible land under the Single Farm Payment Scheme are used throughout the Rural Payments and Inspections Directorate. ","AnswerText":"The Rural Payments and Inspections Directorate''s Agricultural and Rural Delivery Division headquarters staff are responsible for the issue of internal guidance to its 250 professional and technical staff and ongoing support in the form of training in relation to, amongst other things, what constitutes eligible or ineligible land. This work takes as its starting point European Council Regulation 73/2009 that defines what constitutes eligible land. These frontline staff undertake on-farm inspections to ensure compliance with scheme conditions on eligibility and managerial and supervisory controls are used to monitor staff performance. A key element in ensuring a consistent approach is the reliance placed on training delivered both centrally and locally. ","AnswerDate":"2010-08-02T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-08-03T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Richard Lochhead","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":241709,"EventID":"S3W-35165","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1860,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":3,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2010-07-06T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-07-06T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive how many acute hospital admissions there have been with a primary or secondary diagnosis of diabetes (a) in Scotland and (b) per 1,000 of population in each community hea","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive how many acute hospital admissions there have been with a primary or secondary diagnosis of diabetes (a) in Scotland and (b) per 1,000 of population in each community health partnership area in NHS Highland in each of the last three years, broken down by intermediate geographical zone.","AnswerText":"The information requested is provided in the following tables:
Table 1: Acute Hospital Admissions with a Primary or Secondary Diagnosis of Diabetes (and Rates per 1,000 Population) for Scotland
Financial Year
2006-07
2007-08
2008-09
Number of Admissions
Rate per 1,000 Pop
Number of Admissions
Rate per 1,000 Pop
Number of Admissions
Rate per 1,000 Pop
NHS Scotland
72,206
14.1
77,383
15.0
79,545
15.4
Table 2: Acute Hospital Admissions with a Primary or Secondary Diagnosis of Diabetes (and Rates per 1,000 Population) for Argyll and Bute Community Health Partnership (CHP) and its Intermediate Geography Zones
Financial Year
2006-07
2007-08
2008-09
Number of Admissions
Rate per 1,000 Pop
Number of Admissions
Rate per 1,000 Pop
Number of Admissions
Rate per 1,000 Pop
Argyll and Bute CHP
1,028
11.3
1,262
13.8
1,357
","AnswerDate":"2010-07-30T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-08-03T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Jim Mather","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":241711,"EventID":"S3W-35167","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1752,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":57,"ApprovedDate":"2010-07-06T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-07-06T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-31065 by Jim Mather on 9 February 2010, what additional electricity infrastructure is planned to facilitate new wind farms located ","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-31065 by Jim Mather on 9 February 2010, what additional electricity infrastructure is planned to facilitate new wind farms located in the Carrick, Cumnock and Doon Valley parliamentary constituency.","AnswerText":"I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-35166 answered on 30 July 2010. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament''s website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/Apps2/Business/PQA/Default.aspx. ","AnswerDate":"2010-07-30T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-08-03T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Jim Mather","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":241712,"EventID":"S3W-35168","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1752,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":57,"ApprovedDate":"2010-07-06T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-07-06T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-31065 by Jim Mather on 9 February 2010, what percentage of the total number of wind farms is located in the Carrick, Cumnock and Do","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-31065 by Jim Mather on 9 February 2010, what percentage of the total number of wind farms is located in the Carrick, Cumnock and Doon Valley parliamentary constituency.","AnswerText":"Applications for onshore wind farms in excess of 50 megawatts (MW) are considered by Scottish ministers under Section 36 of the Electricity Act (1989) and a total of 30 wind farms in Scotland have been consented in this way.
Of these 30 wind farms, five are located in South and East Ayrshire local authorities, representing 17 per cent in terms of wind farm developments, 25 per cent in terms of wind turbine numbers and 11 per cent in terms of installed capacity.
Application for wind farms of 50 MW and below are considered by the relevant local planning authority. Information on such developments is not held centrally and is a matter for planning authorities across the Carrick, Cumnock and Doon Valley parliamentary constituency.
","AnswerDate":"2010-07-30T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-08-03T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Jim Mather","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":241713,"EventID":"S3W-35169","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1752,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":57,"ApprovedDate":"2010-07-07T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-07-07T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive how many expressions of interest have been submitted to develop wind farms in the Carrick, Cumnock and Doon Valley parliamentary constituency.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive how many expressions of interest have been submitted to develop wind farms in the Carrick, Cumnock and Doon Valley parliamentary constituency.","AnswerText":"Information on expressions of interest to develop wind farms of 50 megawatts and below is not held centrally and is a matter for planning authorities across the Carrick, Cumnock and Doon Valley parliamentary constituency.
Requests for scoping opinions for possible developments that may be greater than 50 megawatts are dealt with by the Scottish Government''s Energy Consents Unit.
At this time, five formal requests for scoping opinions have been submitted to the Energy Consents Unit, together with Environmental Assessments and preliminary details of proposals for wind farm developments within the Carrick, Cumnock and Doon Valley constituency.
","AnswerDate":"2010-07-30T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-08-03T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Jim Mather","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":241714,"EventID":"S3W-35170","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1752,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":57,"ApprovedDate":"2010-07-07T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-07-07T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive how many planning applications for wind farms in the Carrick, Cumnock and Doon Valley parliamentary constituency are being considered.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive how many planning applications for wind farms in the Carrick, Cumnock and Doon Valley parliamentary constituency are being considered.","AnswerText":"Information on wind farm applications being considered by Scottish Ministers is available by local authority areas.
Applications for onshore wind farms in excess of 50 megawatts (MW) are considered by Scottish Ministers under Section 36 of the Electricity Act 1989. Currently two section 36 wind farm applications are under consideration. One is located in the South Ayrshire local authority area and the other in East Ayrshire.
Wind farm applications below 50 MW are initially considered by the planning authorities but such applications may be referred to Scottish Ministers for consideration under either the notification or appeals procedures. There are currently no notified applications being considered but there is one appealed application with the Directorate for Planning and Environmental Appeals for a development in the East Ayrshire local authority area.
","AnswerDate":"2010-08-04T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-08-03T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Stewart Stevenson","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":241715,"EventID":"S3W-35171","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1752,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":57,"ApprovedDate":"2010-07-07T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-07-07T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive which wind farm operators have (a) operational sites, (b) developments being considered in the planning process and (c) expressed an interest in development in the Carric","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive which wind farm operators have (a) operational sites, (b) developments being considered in the planning process and (c) expressed an interest in development in the Carrick, Cumnock and Doon Valley parliamentary constituency.","AnswerText":"The Scottish Government''s Energy Consents Unit holds the following information on wind farm developments and potential developments of greater than 50 megawatts (MW) in the Carrick, Cumnock and Doon Valley parliamentary constituency:
(a) Operational sites are operated by:
i Scottish and Southern Energy
ii Scottish Power Renewables.
(b) Applications for wind farm developments have been received from:
iii Scottish Power Renewables
iv E-on UK.
(c) The following wind farm operators have formally requested a Scoping Opinion for potential developments which may be greater than 50 MW:
v Coriolis,
vi Scottish Power Renewables
vii North British Wind Power
viii Infinergy.
Information on wind farm developments of 50 MW and below is not held centrally and is a matter for planning authorities across the Carrick, Cumnock and Doon Valley parliamentary constituency.
","AnswerDate":"2010-07-30T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-08-04T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Jim Mather","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":241716,"EventID":"S3W-35172","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1752,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":57,"ApprovedDate":"2010-07-07T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-07-07T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what action is being taken to encourage wind farm developers to contribute to community development.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what action is being taken to encourage wind farm developers to contribute to community development.","AnswerText":"The Scottish Government welcomes the commitment shown by developers through voluntary, ex-gratia community benefit agreements and has published guidance and models for delivery online at http://www.scotland.gov.uk/261186. ","AnswerDate":"2010-07-30T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-08-04T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Jim Mather","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":241717,"EventID":"S3W-35173","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1752,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":57,"ApprovedDate":"2010-07-07T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-07-07T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive how much has been paid by wind farm operators in community benefit funding to community groups in the Carrick, Cumnock and Doon Valley parliamentary constituency in each ","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive how much has been paid by wind farm operators in community benefit funding to community groups in the Carrick, Cumnock and Doon Valley parliamentary constituency in each year since 1999 and what projects have received this funding.","AnswerText":"The information requested is not held centrally. Community benefit agreements for wind farms are a private matter between the developer and communities concerned. The Scottish Government has no legal powers to compel parties to disclose the commercial details of such agreements. ","AnswerDate":"2010-07-30T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-08-04T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Jim Mather","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":241718,"EventID":"S3W-35174","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2678,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":8,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2010-07-07T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-07-07T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what the customer satisfaction rates for Scottish Water have been in each year since its inception, also broken down by local authority area.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what the customer satisfaction rates for Scottish Water have been in each year since its inception, also broken down by local authority area.","AnswerText":"The Scottish Government does not hold this data centrally. However, based on the overall performance measure, which covers a range of customer service measures, Scottish Water''s performance has improved dramatically since 2006. Scottish Water''s Annual Reports show that there has been an 80% improvement from 162 points in 2006 to 291 points by 2010 and that the customer satisfaction rate, which is measured independently twice a year, has increased to 82% by the end of 2009-10, an all time high in customers'' satisfaction with the outcome of their contact. More detailed information about Scottish Waters performance, including customer satisfaction rates, is available from Scottish Water and I have asked the chief executive to reply to you directly. ","AnswerDate":"2010-08-06T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-08-04T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Stewart Stevenson","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":241719,"EventID":"S3W-35175","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2678,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":8,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2010-07-07T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-07-07T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive how many people have become ill as a result of drinking tap water in each year since 1997.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive how many people have become ill as a result of drinking tap water in each year since 1997.","AnswerText":"The information requested is not held centrally. This is a matter for Health Protection Scotland. ","AnswerDate":"2010-08-02T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-08-04T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Roseanna Cunningham","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":241720,"EventID":"S3W-35176","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2678,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":8,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2010-07-07T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-07-07T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what tests are undertaken to establish the safety of drinking water and what the outcomes of these tests have been in each year since 1997, also broken down by local auth","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what tests are undertaken to establish the safety of drinking water and what the outcomes of these tests have been in each year since 1997, also broken down by local authority area.","AnswerText":"The Water Supply (Water Quality) (Scotland) Regulations2001 set out the standards and testing frequencies for 51 different parameters to establish the safety of public drinking water supplies. Additional sampling is also undertaken for cryptosporidium.
There are similar requirements for private water supplies, which serve approximately 3% of the population, and these are set out in the Private Water Supplies (Scotland) Regulations 2006.
Both the public and private water supply regulations are publicly available on the OPSI website athttp://www.opsi.gov.uk/legislation/scotland/ssi2001/20010207.htmandhttp://www.opsi.gov.uk/legislation/scotland/ssi2006/20060209.htmrespectively.
A summary of all water quality results is published each year by the Drinking Water Quality Regulator for Scotland in the Drinking Water Quality in Scotland series of publications. Copies are available in the Scottish Parliament Information Centre, and Bib. numbers are listed in the following table:
Bib. Number
Drinking water quality in Scotland 1997
19165
Drinking water quality in Scotland 1998
19163
Drinking water quality in Scotland 1999
17148
Drinking water quality in Scotland 2000
20065
Drinking water quality in Scotland 2001
26009
Drinking water quality in Scotland 2002
31063
Drinking water quality in Scotland 2003
34052
Drinking water quality in Scotland 2004
37158
Drinking water quality in Scotland 2005
40187
Drinking water quality in Scotland 2006
43430
Drinking water quality in Scotland 2007
46426
Drinking water quality in Scotland 2008
51377
Prior to 2002, the data is not broken down by local authority, but by water authority area.
","AnswerDate":"2010-08-02T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-08-04T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Roseanna Cunningham","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":241721,"EventID":"S3W-35177","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2678,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":8,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2010-07-07T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-07-07T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive how many gallons of mains water have been lost via leakage in each year since 1997, also broken down by local authority area.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive how many gallons of mains water have been lost via leakage in each year since 1997, also broken down by local authority area.","AnswerText":" Historically little attention was given to leakage. For that reason accurate figures are not available prior to 2006. However, in 2005-06 the government agreed with the Water Industry Commission for Scotland (WICS) that leakage was a priority and required Scottish Water to make annual reductions. Scottish Water''s leakage has reduced from 1,104 million litres per day (ml/day) in 2005-06 to 704 ml/day in 2009 10. More detailed information about levels of leakage is available from Scottish Water and I have therefore asked the chief executive to reply to you directly. ","AnswerDate":"2010-08-06T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-08-04T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Stewart Stevenson","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":241722,"EventID":"S3W-35178","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2678,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":8,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2010-07-07T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-07-07T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what the average annual (a) household and (b) business water charges have been in each year since 1997 in (i) cash and (ii) real terms, also broken down by local authorit","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what the average annual (a) household and (b) business water charges have been in each year since 1997 in (i) cash and (ii) real terms, also broken down by local authority area.","AnswerText":"Prior to 1996, charges were set by the regional councils. Following the formation of the three water authorities in 1996, charges were harmonised within each authority over a period of several years. Following the formation of Scottish Water in 2002, charges were then harmonised across Scotland over three years so that by 2004-05 charges for all customers were set at a nationally averaged rate for Scotland as a whole. The number of customers of each water authority is not held centrally and therefore it is not possible to provide average household charges prior to 200405. However, data is held on Band D household water and sewerage charges (which are higher than the average household charge) and this is provided in the following table.
1996-97
1997-98
1998-99
1999-2000
2000-01
2001-02
2002-03
2003-04
Water Authority Area
£
£
£
£
£
£
£
£
North
Tayside
81.50
113.76
158.52
204.60
299.58
350.18
350.18
350.18
Grampian
97.00
128.26
170.52
209.75
299.58
350.18
350.18
350.18
Highland
97.00
128.26
170.52
209.75
299.58
350.18
350.18
350.18
Western Isles
Any recommendation by the reporter is still subject to consideration by ministers, when they make their decision on the Section 36 Fallago Wind Farm application in due course.
\r\n
Table 1. Fire and Rescue Services
Year
Malicious False Alarms
2007
1,001
2006
897
2005
1,110
2004
1,136
2003
1,264
Source: Fire Statistics Scotland 2007.
Table 2. Police
2004-05
2005-06
2006-07
2007-08
2008-09
False calls to the emergency services and bomb hoaxes
84
77
70
-
-
*Hoax calls to the emergency services
-
-
-
26
52
*Hoax bomb calls
-
-
-
16
13
Total
84
77
70
42
65
Source: Scottish Government police recorded crime statistics.
Notes:*Prior to 2007-08 these two categories were collected under the heading false calls to the emergency services and bomb hoaxes.
","AnswerDate":"2010-07-29T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-08-04T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Kenny MacAskill","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":241725,"EventID":"S3W-35181","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2892,"Party":"Scottish Green Party","RegionID":2,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2010-07-07T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-07-07T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what information will be available to it to inform its decision on any proposal from the Scottish Funding Council to merge Glasgow Metropolitan College, the Glasgow Colle","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what information will be available to it to inform its decision on any proposal from the Scottish Funding Council to merge Glasgow Metropolitan College, the Glasgow College of Nautical Studies and Central College, Glasgow.","AnswerText":"The proposal to merge has been made to ministers by the colleges themselves. Ministers will consider the detailed merger proposal document submitted by the colleges and the advice of the Scottish Funding Council, which has a statutory duty to advise ministers. Ministers will consider the range of views and comments received in response to their own public consultation launched in December 2009. Ministers will also consider responses to the separate consultation exercise undertaken by the colleges themselves, as well as any other representations which have been made to ministers since these consultations closed. ","AnswerDate":"2010-07-23T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-08-04T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Keith Brown","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":241726,"EventID":"S3W-35182","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2892,"Party":"Scottish Green Party","RegionID":2,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2010-07-07T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-07-07T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive how much of the information used by it to inform its decision on any proposal from the Scottish Funding Council to merge Glasgow Metropolitan College, the Glasgow College","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive how much of the information used by it to inform its decision on any proposal from the Scottish Funding Council to merge Glasgow Metropolitan College, the Glasgow College of Nautical Studies and Central College, Glasgow will be made public.","AnswerText":"We will be happy to make available all information upon which Ministers base their decision, with the exception of information which might be exempt under freedom of information legislation. ","AnswerDate":"2010-07-23T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-08-04T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Keith Brown","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":241727,"EventID":"S3W-35183","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2892,"Party":"Scottish Green Party","RegionID":2,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2010-07-07T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-07-07T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether it plans to conduct a public consultation exercise to examine the merits of any proposal from the Scottish Funding Council to merge Glasgow Metropolitan College, ","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether it plans to conduct a public consultation exercise to examine the merits of any proposal from the Scottish Funding Council to merge Glasgow Metropolitan College, the Glasgow College of Nautical Studies and Central College, Glasgow.","AnswerText":"Ministers launched a public consultation exercise on the prospect of the merger on 21 December 2009. Ministers are also aware of the outcome of the separate consultation exercise undertaken by the colleges concerned. Ministers have received since then a range of further views and representations on the proposed merger, all of which will be taken into account by ministers in reaching their decision. ","AnswerDate":"2010-07-23T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-08-04T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Keith Brown","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":241728,"EventID":"S3W-35184","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":4014,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":5,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2010-07-07T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-07-07T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive how many teachers in each (a) primary and (b) secondary school in each local authority take part in residential outdoor education.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive how many teachers in each (a) primary and (b) secondary school in each local authority take part in residential outdoor education.","AnswerText":"The Scottish Government does not hold this information. ","AnswerDate":"2010-07-30T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-08-04T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Adam Ingram","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":241729,"EventID":"S3W-35185","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":4014,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":5,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2010-07-07T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-07-07T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what guidance it has given to schools to provide the necessary leadership and direction for delivering outdoor education as part of the Curriculum for Excellence through ","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what guidance it has given to schools to provide the necessary leadership and direction for delivering outdoor education as part of the Curriculum for Excellence through Outdoor Learning.","AnswerText":"Curriculum for excellence through outdoor learning provides guidance to schools and centres on progressive outdoor learning experiences from ages three to 18. The guidance emphasises that all staff at every level of involvement with the education of children and young people have a responsibility to make the most of the outdoor environment to support the delivery of the experiences and outcomes within Curriculum for Excellence. The new guidance is supported by a Learning and Teaching Scotland online resource which is designed to support schools in making learning in the outdoor environment a reality for all children and young people.
We are in the process of establishing an implementation group to provide strategic direction on the delivery of curriculum for excellence through outdoor learning. This group will lead and direct the formation of a national network for outdoor learning which will help to build capacity in schools and local authorities.
","AnswerDate":"2010-07-30T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-08-04T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Adam Ingram","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":241730,"EventID":"S3W-35186","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":4014,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":5,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2010-07-07T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-07-07T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what guidance it has given to equip teachers with the necessary knowledge and skills to deliver outdoor education as part of the Curriculum for Excellence through Outdoor","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what guidance it has given to equip teachers with the necessary knowledge and skills to deliver outdoor education as part of the Curriculum for Excellence through Outdoor Learning.","AnswerText":"Learning and Teaching Scotland is developing a structured programme of continuing professional development events and resources to support teachers, educators and their partners as they implement the new guidance on outdoor learning. The programme will be available from October 2010. This will complement curriculum for excellence through outdoor learning and build on the series of seminars held during May and June 2010 to raise awareness of the new guidance and facilitate reflection and discussion. ","AnswerDate":"2010-07-30T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-08-04T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Adam Ingram","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":241731,"EventID":"S3W-35187","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":4014,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":5,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2010-07-07T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-07-07T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what representations it has made to ensure that HM Inspectorate of Education inspection frameworks recognise and encourage outdoor learning as part of the Curriculum for ","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what representations it has made to ensure that HM Inspectorate of Education inspection frameworks recognise and encourage outdoor learning as part of the Curriculum for Excellence through Outdoor Learning.","AnswerText":"The Outdoor Learning Strategic Advisory Group, on which HMIE was represented, recommended to ministers that HMIE inspections should consider and evaluate outdoor learning provision in schools and other settings. HMIE are committed to evaluating the learning experiences of children and young people across a broad curriculum in line with the curriculum design principles of Curriculum for Excellence. Part of this is an expectation that schools should take advantage of the opportunities for outdoor learning that exist within and across the curriculum, and which are reflected in some of the experiences and outcomes of Curriculum for Excellence. In addition, HMIE will continue to identify and share good practice in outdoor learning through its reports, Journey to Excellence and other activities. ","AnswerDate":"2010-07-30T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-08-04T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Adam Ingram","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":241732,"EventID":"S3W-35188","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2117,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":47,"ApprovedDate":"2010-07-07T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-07-07T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive how many applications for Saltire Prize Official Applicant status (a) have been made and (b) were successful.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive how many applications for Saltire Prize Official Applicant status (a) have been made and (b) were successful.","AnswerText":"One application has been received and will be awarded Saltire Prize Applicant Status. A further three potential applicants have indicated their intention to compete following the outcome of the Further Scottish Leasing Round for wave and tidal energy being opened by The Crown Estate later this year.
It is intended that the application period for the Saltire Prize Grand Challenge will remain open as long as possible. The competition opened for business in March 2010, and the application period will remain open until January 2015.
","AnswerDate":"2010-07-30T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-08-04T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Jim Mather","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":241733,"EventID":"S3W-35189","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2117,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":47,"ApprovedDate":"2010-07-07T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-07-07T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive in what country each of the applicants for Saltire Prize Official Applicant status is based.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive in what country each of the applicants for Saltire Prize Official Applicant status is based.","AnswerText":"Of the three potential applicants, one is based in Australia and two are based in the USA. ","AnswerDate":"2010-07-30T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-08-04T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Jim Mather","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":241734,"EventID":"S3W-35190","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2117,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":47,"ApprovedDate":"2010-07-07T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-07-07T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive in what country each of the successful applicants for Saltire Prize Official Applicant status is based.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive in what country each of the successful applicants for Saltire Prize Official Applicant status is based.","AnswerText":"The team who will be awarded official applicant status is based in Scotland. To date we have only received one application that has provided the necessary evidence of a lease agreement and it is based in Scotland. ","AnswerDate":"2010-08-04T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-08-04T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Jim Mather","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":241735,"EventID":"S3W-35191","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2117,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":47,"ApprovedDate":"2010-07-07T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-07-07T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive when (a) ministers and (b) officials last met members of the Aberdeen Western Peripheral Route steering group.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive when (a) ministers and (b) officials last met members of the Aberdeen Western Peripheral Route steering group.","AnswerText":"The last Aberdeen Western Peripheral Route steering group meeting was held on 1 April 2010. Ministers do not attend the steering group meetings. ","AnswerDate":"2010-08-04T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-08-04T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Stewart Stevenson","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":241736,"EventID":"S3W-35192","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2117,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":47,"ApprovedDate":"2010-07-07T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-07-07T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive when its officials last met officials from (a) Aberdeen City and (b) Aberdeenshire Council and what matters were discussed.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive when its officials last met officials from (a) Aberdeen City and (b) Aberdeenshire Council and what matters were discussed.","AnswerText":"Scottish Government officials regularly meet officials from councils, including Aberdeen City and Aberdeenshire Councils, to discuss a range of issues. ","AnswerDate":"2010-07-15T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-08-04T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"John Swinney","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":241737,"EventID":"S3W-35193","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2117,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":47,"ApprovedDate":"2010-07-07T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-07-07T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive when the Cabinet Secretary for Finance and Sustainable Growth last met the administration of (a) Aberdeen City and (b) Aberdeenshire Council and what matters were discuss","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive when the Cabinet Secretary for Finance and Sustainable Growth last met the administration of (a) Aberdeen City and (b) Aberdeenshire Council and what matters were discussed.","AnswerText":"I last met members of Aberdeen City and Aberdeenshire Councils, along with other councils, on 25 June 2010 to discuss issues around public expenditure. ","AnswerDate":"2010-07-15T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-08-04T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"John Swinney","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":241738,"EventID":"S3W-35194","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2117,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":47,"ApprovedDate":"2010-07-07T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-07-07T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions the Cabinet Secretary for Finance and Sustainable Growth has had with (a) Aberdeen City and (b) Aberdeenshire Council regarding the introduction of a new","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions the Cabinet Secretary for Finance and Sustainable Growth has had with (a) Aberdeen City and (b) Aberdeenshire Council regarding the introduction of a new tax to help fund the construction of the Aberdeen Western Peripheral Route.","AnswerText":"The Cabinet Secretary for Finance and Sustainable Growth has held general discussions on funding matters with Aberdeen City and Aberdeenshire Councils but these did not include a new tax to help fund the construction of the Aberdeen Western Peripheral Route. ","AnswerDate":"2010-08-20T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-08-04T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Stewart Stevenson","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":241739,"EventID":"S3W-35195","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2117,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":47,"ApprovedDate":"2010-07-07T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-07-07T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions its officials have had with (a) Aberdeen City and (b) Aberdeenshire Council regarding the introduction of a new tax to help fund the construction of the ","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions its officials have had with (a) Aberdeen City and (b) Aberdeenshire Council regarding the introduction of a new tax to help fund the construction of the Aberdeen Western Peripheral Route.","AnswerText":"Officials have had no discussions with Aberdeen City or Aberdeenshire Councils regarding introducing a new tax to help fund the construction of the Aberdeen Western Peripheral Route. ","AnswerDate":"2010-08-04T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-08-04T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Stewart Stevenson","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":241740,"EventID":"S3W-35196","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2117,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":47,"ApprovedDate":"2010-07-07T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-07-07T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions the Cabinet Secretary for Finance and Sustainable Growth has had with (a) Aberdeen City and (b) Aberdeenshire Council regarding opting out of the council","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions the Cabinet Secretary for Finance and Sustainable Growth has had with (a) Aberdeen City and (b) Aberdeenshire Council regarding opting out of the council tax freeze for 2011-12.","AnswerText":"The Scottish Government has had no discussions with Aberdeen City or Aberdeenshire Councils regarding opting out of the council tax freeze for 2011-12. ","AnswerDate":"2010-07-15T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-08-04T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"John Swinney","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":241741,"EventID":"S3W-35197","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2117,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":47,"ApprovedDate":"2010-07-07T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-07-07T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions its officials have had with (a) Aberdeen City and (b) Aberdeenshire Council regarding opting out of the council tax freeze for 2011-12.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions its officials have had with (a) Aberdeen City and (b) Aberdeenshire Council regarding opting out of the council tax freeze for 2011-12.","AnswerText":"I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-35196 on 15 July 2010. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament''s website, the search facility for which can be found at:
","AnswerDate":"2010-07-15T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-08-04T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"John Swinney","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":241742,"EventID":"S3W-35198","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2678,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":8,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2010-07-08T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-07-08T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive how many transport-related fines it has settled on behalf of its staff and at what cost in (a) cash and (b) real terms in each year since 2007.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive how many transport-related fines it has settled on behalf of its staff and at what cost in (a) cash and (b) real terms in each year since 2007.","AnswerText":"I am afraid that the information requested could only be obtained at disproportionate cost.
The Scottish Government''s Travel and Subsistence rules state that staff incurring car parking fines for illegal parking whilst on official business will not be reimbursed from official funds. As such the electronic Travel and Subsistence claim form that is utilised to submit and process claims does not include a separate code for claiming this expense.
Exceptionally, in cases where a car parking fine is issued as a result of a member of staff being unavoidably detained on official business for reasons beyond their control consideration may be given to reimbursing the cost of the fine, which could be claimed through a miscellaneous cost code or against parking costs. Counter signing officers would need to be prepared to defend this decision to internal auditors. In addition, the Travel and Subsistence team carries out regular audit checks of claims submitted and these checks have not disclosed any such payments.
However, the number of claims actually settled, if any, could only be obtained by printing off and manually examining each individual claim form and associated receipts.
","AnswerDate":"2010-08-13T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-08-05T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"John Swinney","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":241743,"EventID":"S3W-35199","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":8,"MSPID":2678,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":8,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2010-07-08T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-07-08T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body how many transport-related fines it has settled on behalf of its staff and at what cost in (a) cash and (b) real terms in each year since 2007. ","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body how many transport-related fines it has settled on behalf of its staff and at what cost in (a) cash and (b) real terms in each year since 2007. ","AnswerText":": No costs have been reimbursed to cover transport related fines since 2007. All SPCB staff are required to pay for their own transport related fines. ","AnswerDate":"2010-07-22T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-08-05T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Tom McCabe","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":241744,"EventID":"S3W-35200","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2182,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":5,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2010-07-09T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-07-09T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-34364 by Shona Robison on 21 June 2010, how many side effects or serious reactions have been reported in girls vaccinated and wheth","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-34364 by Shona Robison on 21 June 2010, how many side effects or serious reactions have been reported in girls vaccinated and whether they have occurred in any girls with underlying medical conditions.","AnswerText":"As of 14July 2010, the Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency(MHRA) has received a total of 327 reports of suspected adverse reactions (ADRs) associated with the use of human papilloma virus (HPV) vaccine (including Cervarix and brand unspecified reports) from Scotland, covering 1,002 ADRs. 77 of these reports were considered serious by the reporter and only 35 reports contained information on medical history.
The number and nature of suspected ADRs received so far is very much in line with what the MHRA expected to receive at this time and no serious new risks have been identified. Following administration of at least 4 million doses across the UK since September 2008, the balance of risks and benefits of Cervarix remains positive.
Documents which summarise the reports of suspected adverse reactions received by the MHRA in association with HPV vaccine are placed on the MHRA''s website at www.mhra.gov.uk/HPVvaccine.
","AnswerDate":"2010-08-03T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-08-06T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Nicola Sturgeon","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":241745,"EventID":"S3W-35201","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2678,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":8,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2010-07-09T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-07-09T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive how many drivers have been breathalysed and, of those, how many were found to be over the legal drink-drive limit in each year since 1997, also expressed as a proportion ","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive how many drivers have been breathalysed and, of those, how many were found to be over the legal drink-drive limit in each year since 1997, also expressed as a proportion of total tests undertaken and broken down by local authority area.","AnswerText":"Data on the number of drivers who have been breathalysed, and the number of those who were found to be over the legal drink-drive limit is not available centrally.
The information provided by the police refers to the number of cases recorded where an individual is in charge of a motor vehicle while unfit through drink or drugs, or has failed to provide a specimen for testing. Because there are several different preliminary tests (preliminary breath test, preliminary impairment test, and preliminary drug test), and the police officer involved may administer any one or more of these, the number of such incidents does not relate directly to the number of times that a breathalyser test has been carried out. Furthermore, the data is collected at an aggregate level, so details of individual crimes, such as the occupation of the individual, are not available.
The following tables provide the number of crimes and offences, relating to motor vehicles, involving driving, and drink or drugs1, by local authority area for 1997-98 to 2008-09
(i) 1997-98 to 2002-03
1997-98
1998-99
1999-2000
2000-01
2001-02
2002-03
Aberdeen City
485
472
395
390
431
474
Aberdeenshire
373
372
374
352
334
400
Angus
194
173
165
134
234
193
Argyll and Bute
217
158
171
193
212
233
Clackmannanshire
71
70
63
The information provided by the police refers to the number of cases recorded where an individual is in charge of a motor vehicle while unfit through drink or drugs, or has failed to provide a specimen for testing. Because there are several different preliminary tests (preliminary breath test, preliminary impairment test, and preliminary drug test), and the police officer involved may administer any one or more of these, the number of such incidents does not relate directly to the number of times that a breathalyser test has been carried out. Furthermore, the data is collected at an aggregate level, so details of individual crimes, such as the occupation of the individual, are not available.
I also refer the member to the answer to question S3W-35201 on 29 July 2010. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament''s website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/Apps2/Business/PQA/Default.aspx.
","AnswerDate":"2010-07-29T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-08-06T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Kenny MacAskill","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":241747,"EventID":"S3W-35203","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2678,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":8,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2010-07-09T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-07-09T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive how many train drivers have been breathalysed and, of those, how many were found to be over the legal drink-drive limit in each year since 1997, also expressed as a propo","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive how many train drivers have been breathalysed and, of those, how many were found to be over the legal drink-drive limit in each year since 1997, also expressed as a proportion of total tests undertaken.","AnswerText":"Data on the number of train drivers who have been breathalysed, and the number of those who were found to be over the legal drink-drive limit is not available centrally.
The information provided by the police refers to the number of cases recorded where an individual endangers rail passengers. This offence includes, but is not restricted to, driving a train while unfit through drink or drugs. Because there are several different preliminary tests (preliminary breath test, preliminary impairment test, and preliminary drug test), and the police officer involved may administer any one or more of these, the number of such incidents does not relate directly to the number of times that a breathalyser test has been carried out. Furthermore, the data is collected at an aggregate level, so details of individual crimes, such as the occupation of the individual, are not available.
Section 27 of the Transport and Works Act 1992 makes it an offence to drive (or guard or signal) a train, tram or other guided vehicle either when unfit through drink or drugs or when the quantity of drink or drugs exceeds the prescribed limit. Section 38 sets out the prescribed limit which is the same as the one for road vehicle drivers.
The tables below show the number of offences of endangering rail passengers recorded by the police by local authority since 1997-98.
(i) 1997-98 to 2002-03
Local Authority Area
1997-98
1998-99
1999-2000
2000-01
2001-02
2002-03
Aberdeen City
-
-
-
-
-
-
Aberdeenshire
-
-
-
-
-
-
Angus
-
-
-
-
-
-
Argyll and Bute
-
-
-
-
-
-
Clackmannanshire
-
-
-
-
-
-
Dumfries and Galloway
-
-
-
-
The information provided by the police refers to the number of cases recorded where an individual is in charge of a motor vehicle while unfit through drink or drugs, or has failed to provide a specimen for testing. Because there are several different preliminary tests (preliminary breath test, preliminary impairment test, and preliminary drug test), and the police officer involved may administer any one or more of these, the number of such incidents does not relate directly to the number of times that a breathalyser test has been carried out. Furthermore, the data is collected at an aggregate level, so details of individual crimes, such as the occupation of the individual, are not available.
I also refer the member to the answer to question S3W-35201 on 29 July 2010. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament''s website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/Apps2/Business/PQA/Default.aspx.
","AnswerDate":"2010-07-29T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-08-06T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Kenny MacAskill","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":241749,"EventID":"S3W-35205","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1752,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":57,"ApprovedDate":"2010-07-09T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-07-09T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive how it will ensure that looked-after children receive the money that they are due from the Child Trust Fund that has already been passed to local authorities.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive how it will ensure that looked-after children receive the money that they are due from the Child Trust Fund that has already been passed to local authorities.","AnswerText":"Guidance on making payments was issued to local authorities in February 2009 and was further clarified in June 2010 in light of the decision by the UK Government to abolish Child Trust funds. I wrote to all local authorities on 29 July 2010 reminding them of their obligation to ensure every eligible child receives the appropriate Child Trust Fund payments. \r\nxm","AnswerDate":"2010-07-30T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-08-06T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Adam Ingram","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":241750,"EventID":"S3W-35206","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1752,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":57,"ApprovedDate":"2010-07-09T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-07-09T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive how many looked-after young people have not received the funds that they are entitled to from the Child Trust Fund that has already been passed to local authorities.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive how many looked-after young people have not received the funds that they are entitled to from the Child Trust Fund that has already been passed to local authorities.","AnswerText":"This information is not centrally held. ","AnswerDate":"2010-07-30T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-08-06T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Adam Ingram","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":241751,"EventID":"S3W-35207","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1752,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":57,"ApprovedDate":"2010-07-09T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-07-09T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to follow the example of the Welsh Assembly Government and provide a top-up to the funds provided by the UK Government for the Child Trust Funds for loo","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to follow the example of the Welsh Assembly Government and provide a top-up to the funds provided by the UK Government for the Child Trust Funds for looked-after children.","AnswerText":"We have no plans to make further payments. ","AnswerDate":"2010-07-30T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-08-06T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Adam Ingram","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":241752,"EventID":"S3W-35208","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1996,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":19,"ApprovedDate":"2010-07-09T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-07-09T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether it plans to consider water fluoridation.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether it plans to consider water fluoridation.","AnswerText":"There are currently no plans to fluoridate the public water supply. The Water (Fluoridation) Act 1985 places the onus on NHS boards, based on local consultations and full support of the general public, to apply to Scottish Water if they wish to introduce a fluoridation scheme. The majority of people that responded to a 2002 consultation document were against the idea.
The Scottish Government is committed to improving oral health, particularly in children, and widening access to NHS dentistry. On 20 March 2007, the Scottish Government launched the roll out of the school based dental service Childsmile School targeting the most deprived areas of Scotland. Recent statistics have also shown a rise in the number of NHS dentists and an increase in the number of patients, including children, registered with an NHS dentist. For example, we have met the 2008-09 dental HEAT target that 80% of all three to five-year-old children to be registered with an NHS dentist by 2010-11. In the period ending March 2008 the registration percentage of three to five-year-olds was 77.3%. This rose to 84.4% in the quarter ending March 2009.And one of the Scottish targets set for the year 2010 was that 60% of P7 children should be free of obvious dental decay experience. The recently published National Dental Inspection Programme report (2009) shows that the 63.6% P7 children in NHS boards across Scotland showed no signs of obvious decay experience in their permanent teeth.
","AnswerDate":"2010-07-27T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-08-06T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Shona Robison","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":241753,"EventID":"S3W-35209","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1996,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":19,"ApprovedDate":"2010-07-09T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-07-09T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what it is doing to improve oral health across Scotland.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what it is doing to improve oral health across Scotland.","AnswerText":"Since 2007 we have been building on the action plan for improving oral health and modernising dental services, extending the Childsmile programmes across Scotland and launching Childsmile School. We have continued to see an improvement in children''s dental health and are pleased to note that this also extends to the most deprived groups in the population. We are supporting a number of initiatives across Scotland to improve the oral health of vulnerable groups such as older people, the homeless and prisoners. ","AnswerDate":"2010-08-03T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-08-06T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Nicola Sturgeon","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":241754,"EventID":"S3W-35210","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1996,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":19,"ApprovedDate":"2010-07-09T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-07-09T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has a strategy on oral health.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has a strategy on oral health.","AnswerText":"The action plan for improving oral health and modernising NHS dental services has been in place since 2005. A key component of the action plan is the Childsmile programme, which is a dental preventative programme for children from birth. In 2007 the Scottish Government complemented this by introducing the Childsmile school preventive service. Additionally, we are currently developing a strategy to further improve the oral health and provide better access to NHS dental care for priority groups. ","AnswerDate":"2010-08-03T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-08-06T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Nicola Sturgeon","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":241755,"EventID":"S3W-35211","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1826,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":35,"ApprovedDate":"2010-07-09T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-07-09T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what action it has taken since the publication of the Early Years Framework to establish a social marketing campaign that supports parenting skills.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what action it has taken since the publication of the Early Years Framework to establish a social marketing campaign that supports parenting skills.","AnswerText":"Please refer to the information note on implementation of the Early Years Framework, which has been placed in the Scottish Parliament Information Centre (Bib. number 51402).
Our social marketing campaign which supports parenting skills was launched in September 2009. The PlayTalkRead campaign aims to support, empower and enable parents to improve life chances for their children. Evaluation has shown 90% awareness of the campaign but a continuing need to promote the importance of positive interaction between parents and their children aged 0 to three, whilst focusing our efforts on targeting parents in the most deprived areas across Scotland. We are considering the next phase of the campaign in the light of the evaluation.
","AnswerDate":"2010-07-30T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-08-06T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Adam Ingram","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":241756,"EventID":"S3W-35212","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1826,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":35,"ApprovedDate":"2010-07-09T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-07-09T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what action it has taken since the publication of the Early Years Framework to ensure that local partners develop a parental capacity-building model for antenatal and pos","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what action it has taken since the publication of the Early Years Framework to ensure that local partners develop a parental capacity-building model for antenatal and postnatal services.","AnswerText":"Please refer to the information note on implementation of the Early Years Framework, which has been placed in the Scottish Parliament Information Centre (Bib. number 51402)
Effective local implementation of the Early Years Framework is the key to achieving the changes we want to see. Single Outcome Agreements are the mechanism in the relationship between national and local partners through which shared priorities are progressed. Each Community Planning Partnership (CPP) is expected to reflect high level, strategic progress on the Early Years Framework within their SOA.
Most local areas have developed formal parenting strategies, which will have been informed by the Early Years Framework. These include the use of evidence based parenting programmes and approaches to ensure they have a competent and capable workforce to identify and address need as early as possible.
It is for local partners in CPPs to develop models tailored to meet local needs and the Scottish Government is not enforcing local action. We are however providing support to the national third sector parenting organisations and others to develop parenting capacity through well trained, multi-disciplinary/multi-agency staff in quality, evidence based parenting programmes/approaches.
We are also supporting specific initiatives including the Family Nurse Partnership and the Barnardo''s You First programme.
","AnswerDate":"2010-07-30T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-08-06T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Adam Ingram","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":241757,"EventID":"S3W-35213","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1826,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":35,"ApprovedDate":"2010-07-09T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-07-09T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive how many local partners have developed parental capacity-building models for antenatal and postnatal services since the publication of the Early Years Framework.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive how many local partners have developed parental capacity-building models for antenatal and postnatal services since the publication of the Early Years Framework.","AnswerText":"I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-35212 on 30 July 2010. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament''s website, the search facility for which can be found at www.scottish.parliament.uk/Apps2/Business/PQA/Default.aspx. ","AnswerDate":"2010-07-30T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-08-06T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Adam Ingram","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":241758,"EventID":"S3W-35214","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1826,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":35,"ApprovedDate":"2010-07-09T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-07-09T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what action it has taken since the publication of the Early Years Framework to develop mutual support networks for parents and other carers.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what action it has taken since the publication of the Early Years Framework to develop mutual support networks for parents and other carers.","AnswerText":"Please refer to the information note on implementation of the Early Years Framework, which has been placed in the Scottish Parliament Information Centre (Bib. number 51402).
It is for local partners in CPPs to develop models tailored to meet local needs and the Scottish Government is not prescribing local action. We are however providing support to the national third sector parenting organisations and others to develop parenting capacity through well trained, multi-disciplinary/multi-agency staff in quality, evidence based parenting programmes/approaches.
The Scottish Government provides funding for a range of parenting programmes which promote positive parenting skills and funding to voluntary sector services to provide a range of support services for parents and carers. These organisations include Parentline Scotland, Parenting Across Scotland, Home-Start, One Parent Families Scotland and Parent Network Scotland who provide training and classes for parents to help them deal with difficult behaviour and general parenting skills. Parentline Scotland also provides a free confidential helpline to parents and carers which offers support, information and advice.
","AnswerDate":"2010-07-30T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-08-06T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Adam Ingram","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":241759,"EventID":"S3W-35215","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1826,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":35,"ApprovedDate":"2010-07-09T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-07-09T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what action it has taken since the publication of the Early Years Framework to develop the roles of (a) nurseries, (b) schools and (c) childcare services in supporting (i","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what action it has taken since the publication of the Early Years Framework to develop the roles of (a) nurseries, (b) schools and (c) childcare services in supporting (i) family and (ii) community learning.","AnswerText":"Please refer to the information note on implementation of the Early Years Framework, which has been placed in the Scottish Parliament Information Centre (Bib. number 51402)
The focus of the Early Years Framework is supported by the joint COSLA and Scottish Government Statement on Community Learning and Development (CLD) which highlights the need to build the capacity of individuals, families and communities to secure the best outcomes for themselves. The Scottish Government, working with key partners such as Learning and Teaching Scotland supports the leading role of local authorities in facilitating partnership and in developing programmes which cover the three national priorities for CLD of: achievement through learning for adults, achievement through learning for young people and achievement through building community capacity.
In addition, information on the importance of family and community learning in improving outcomes for children has been disseminated through a range of seminars and conferences which have been held by Scottish Government, HMIE and Learning Teaching Scotland with ministerial input and key note speakers from high level roles in the field.
","AnswerDate":"2010-07-30T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-08-06T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Adam Ingram","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":241760,"EventID":"S3W-35216","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1826,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":35,"ApprovedDate":"2010-07-09T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-07-09T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what action it has taken since the publication of the Early Years Framework to ensure that community development programmes include parenting and early years as one of th","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what action it has taken since the publication of the Early Years Framework to ensure that community development programmes include parenting and early years as one of their priorities.","AnswerText":"Effective local implementation of the Early Years Framework is the key to achieving the changes we want to see and the Scottish Government is ensuring that Community Planning Partnerships (CPPs), including community development teams, are aware of the wide range of evidence that highlights the importance of parenting and the very early years of life. ","AnswerDate":"2010-07-30T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-08-06T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Adam Ingram","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":241761,"EventID":"S3W-35217","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1826,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":35,"ApprovedDate":"2010-07-09T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-07-09T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive how many community development programmes have included parenting and early years as one of their priorities since the publication of the Early Years Framework.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive how many community development programmes have included parenting and early years as one of their priorities since the publication of the Early Years Framework.","AnswerText":"This information is not held centrally. ","AnswerDate":"2010-07-30T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-08-06T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Adam Ingram","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":241762,"EventID":"S3W-35218","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1826,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":35,"ApprovedDate":"2010-07-09T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-07-09T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what action it has taken since the publication of the Early Years Framework to provide opportunities for parents to get involved in services as volunteer helpers or simil","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what action it has taken since the publication of the Early Years Framework to provide opportunities for parents to get involved in services as volunteer helpers or similar roles.","AnswerText":"Please refer to the information note on implementation of the Early Years Framework, which has been placed in the Scottish Parliament Information Centre (Bib. number 51402)
It is for local partners in community planning partnerships to develop models tailored to meet local needs. We are however providing support to the national third sector parenting organisations.
In addition, as part of our duty to promote parental involvement in children''s learning, we have highlighted and shared practice on how to involve parents and we are working with partners to support parents to reinforce the importance of family learning.
\r\n
It is for local partners in community planning partnerships (CPPs) to develop models tailored to meet local needs and the Scottish Government is not prescribing local action. We are however providing support to the national third sector parenting organisations and others to develop parenting capacity and support carers to improve outcomes for children. Many of the locally organised informal support networks such as baby and toddler groups will also be available to grandparents and others.
Those providing care to children with disabilities will benefit from the implementation of many of the action points contained in the Scottish Government''s new carers and young carers strategy. Again, CPPs have an important contribution to make.
","AnswerDate":"2010-08-05T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-08-06T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Adam Ingram","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":241764,"EventID":"S3W-35220","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1826,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":35,"ApprovedDate":"2010-07-09T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-07-09T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what action it has taken since the publication of the Early Years Framework to develop with partners a co-ordinated approach to early years, health inequalities and pover","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what action it has taken since the publication of the Early Years Framework to develop with partners a co-ordinated approach to early years, health inequalities and poverty at national and local level.","AnswerText":"Please refer to the information note on implementation of the Early Years Framework, which has been placed in the Scottish Parliament Information Centre (Bib. number 51402)
The early years framework is one of the three key social policy frameworks alongside Equally Well, the health inequalities framework and Achieving our Potential, the antipoverty framework, created jointly by the Scottish Government and COSLA, supported by the NHS, other public sector organisations and the third and private sectors. Taken together, the three frameworks form a coherent and long term approach to addressing disadvantage in Scotland and breaking the intergenerational cycle of inequalities. The child centred and multi agency approach in Getting it right for every child is the mechanism by which support for children is to be delivered.
Single outcome agreements (SOAs) are the mechanism in the relationship between national and local partners through which shared priorities are progressed. The three social policy frameworks are agreed priorities for all community planning partnerships (CPPs) and as such will be reflected within their SOA. It is for local partners in CPPs to develop models tailored to meet local needs, but Scottish Ministers and officials are closely engaged with CPPs to provide support.
","AnswerDate":"2010-08-05T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-08-06T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Adam Ingram","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":241765,"EventID":"S3W-35221","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1826,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":35,"ApprovedDate":"2010-07-09T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-07-09T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what action it has taken since the publication of the Early Years Framework to develop a renewed focus on services from pregnancy through to age three.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what action it has taken since the publication of the Early Years Framework to develop a renewed focus on services from pregnancy through to age three.","AnswerText":"Please refer to the information note on implementation of the Early Years Framework, which has been placed in the Scottish Parliament Information Centre (Bib. number 51402)
Effective local implementation of the Early Years Framework is the key to achieving the changes we want to see and the Scottish Government is ensuring that community planning partnerships (CPPs) are aware of the wide range of evidence that highlights the importance of the very early years of life.
The Maternity Services Action Group''s working group on ante-natal inequalities is developing evidence into action guidance for NHS boards in response to recommendation 4 of Equally Well.
In addition, the refreshed framework for maternity services, which we expect to issue in spring 2011, is focussing on strengthening the contribution of maternity services both in the quality of the care and support provided by maternity services “ ensuring it is person centred, safe and effective and the contribution of maternity services as partners with other public services, including the third sector.
NHS Quality Improvement Scotland and NHS Education for Scotland are developing a national syllabus for ante-natal education, which will allow for a consistent approach to antenatal parenting support across Scotland.
The Scottish Government launched the family nurse partnership programme, in January 2010. There is one site, consisting of six nurses and one supervisor in Edinburgh City, which is aiming to support 150 first-time teenage mothers. We are testing this model in Scotland, and the outcomes will be evaluated across the three years the programme is in place. The three key aims are to improve maternal health, to improve child health and wellbeing, and to improve economic self-sufficiency of the family.
We have undertaken a refresh of Health for All Children (Hall 4) which sets out the programme for screening, surveillance and health promotion contacts which every child can expect to receive. We have consulted on proposals to make the guidance more robust, particularly concerning the allocation of the health plan indicator (which determines the programme of contacts the child and family receive, depending on their assessed need), the use of the Getting it right for every child practice model for use as a tool for assessing the needs of children and families, re‘emphasising health promotion as part of universal services and the re-introduction of a universal 24 to 30 month review. The consultation process is still ongoing and further guidance on Hall 4 will be issued in autumn 2010.
","AnswerDate":"2010-08-05T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-08-06T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Adam Ingram","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":241766,"EventID":"S3W-35222","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1826,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":35,"ApprovedDate":"2010-07-09T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-07-09T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what action it has taken since the publication of the Early Years Framework to ensure that services such as housing, substance misuse treatment and development planning r","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what action it has taken since the publication of the Early Years Framework to ensure that services such as housing, substance misuse treatment and development planning recognise and promote the needs of children.","AnswerText":"Please refer to the information note on implementation of the Early Years Framework, which has been placed in the Scottish Parliament Information Centre (Bib. number 51402)
Through the community planning partnerships and children''s services planning processes, local partnerships are able to take a co-ordinated and integrated approach to meeting the needs in local communities, including the needs of children.
Getting it Right for Every Child (GIRFEC) provides the methodology which should underpin delivery of all services for children and young people. Under the GIRFEC approach, children with additional support needs will be identified in universal services and assessed using the national practice model.
The use of the GIRFEC approach will provide a comprehensive needs assessment and planning process to which all agencies will adhere, bringing in specialist assessment and help where necessary. Our delivery framework for substance misuse services includes specific action to support children affected by parental substance misuse.
","AnswerDate":"2010-08-05T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-08-06T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Adam Ingram","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":241767,"EventID":"S3W-35223","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1826,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":35,"ApprovedDate":"2010-07-09T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-07-09T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what action it has taken since the publication of the Early Years Framework to ensure more consistent access to intensive family support for those who need it.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what action it has taken since the publication of the Early Years Framework to ensure more consistent access to intensive family support for those who need it.","AnswerText":"Please refer to the information note on implementation of the Early Years Framework, which has been placed in the Scottish Parliament Information Centre (Bib. number 51402).
It is for local partners to plan, design and deliver services to meet the needs of families. Getting it Right for Every Child (GIRFEC) provides the methodology which should underpin the delivery of all services for children and young people. Experience has shown that taking a GIRFEC approach can strengthen the collective voice of the team around the child, and places the views, wishes and opinions of the child and family firmly at the centre of planning and decision making.
GIRFEC delivers a stronger and co-ordinated teamwork approach for children, especially for those with complex needs, and identifies and involves all agencies who can meet the assessed need. It not only considers immediate needs, but also takes a long term view of how children and their families can be supported through any difficulties, including life threatening and enduring conditions.
We are providing support to a number of specific initiatives including the family nurse partnership, the development of care pathways for vulnerable families being developed by NHS Quality Improvement Scotland. The Scottish Government has also supported child protection research that considered types of parenting interventions and the effects on children, where substance misuse is a factor. The Scottish Child Care and Protection Network published a report earlier this year which helps to establish an overview of effective parental interventions for local practitioners'' use.
We also continue to work with initiatives such as the Lloyds TSB partnership drugs initiative, and the projects that it supports, which are critically important in improving the day to day lives of many of the children and families within our communities specifically affected by adult substance misuse issues.
","AnswerDate":"2010-08-05T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-08-06T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Adam Ingram","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":241768,"EventID":"S3W-35224","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1826,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":35,"ApprovedDate":"2010-07-09T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-07-09T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what action it has taken since the publication of the Early Years Framework to ensure that sexual health advice and services are integrated into services for high-risk gr","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what action it has taken since the publication of the Early Years Framework to ensure that sexual health advice and services are integrated into services for high-risk groups such as substance misusers and looked-after children and that accessible drop-in sexual health services are provided for teenagers.","AnswerText":"Please refer to the information note on implementation of the Early Years Framework, which has been placed in the Scottish Parliament Information Centre (Bib. number 51402)
In line with Scotland''s sexual health strategy Respect and Responsibility and National Outcomes 2008-11, NHS boards and local authorities are required to work together to improve the sexual health of young people and to reduce teenage pregnancy. This includes the provision of accessible drop-in services offering general health advice, chlamydia testing, pregnancy testing and condoms, in or within walking distance from every secondary school in Scotland. We are working with NHS boards and local authorities to achieve that.
In addition, we are working with local authorities and the Scottish Prison Service who are required to prioritise the provision of sex and relationships education and one to one support for vulnerable young people, included looked-after or accommodated children.
NHS Quality Improvement Standards (QIS) for sexual health have been developed and Standard 3 is that NHS boards should ensure the development and delivery of integrated approaches to sexual health improvement, particularly in relation to young people. Criteria include the demonstration of delivery of targeted interventions for young people at greatest risk of teenage pregnancy and poor sexual health, including looked after children. NHS boards will be subject to QIS assessment shortly.
","AnswerDate":"2010-08-05T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-08-06T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Adam Ingram","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":241769,"EventID":"S3W-35225","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1826,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":35,"ApprovedDate":"2010-07-09T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-07-09T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what action it has taken since the publication of the Early Years Framework to develop a common values statement for the early years workforce.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what action it has taken since the publication of the Early Years Framework to develop a common values statement for the early years workforce.","AnswerText":"Please refer to the information note on implementation of the Early Years Framework, which has been placed in the Scottish Parliament Information Centre (Bib. number 51402)
The values required by the Early Years Framework are enshrined within the Getting it Right for Every Child (GIRFEC) values and principles. These values and principles are currently being embedded across Scotland, particularly in the GIRFEC pathfinder areas where the values have influenced areas such as multi-agency training and service cultures.
We will re-launch these values alongside the common core of skills once that is developed.
","AnswerDate":"2010-08-05T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-08-06T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Adam Ingram","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":241770,"EventID":"S3W-35226","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1826,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":35,"ApprovedDate":"2010-07-09T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-07-09T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what action it has taken since the publication of the Early Years Framework to ensure that NHS Education Scotland takes forward new educational developments for roles in ","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what action it has taken since the publication of the Early Years Framework to ensure that NHS Education Scotland takes forward new educational developments for roles in the children and young people’s workforce at SCQF levels 7 and 8.","AnswerText":"Please refer to the information note on implementation of the Early Years Framework, which has been placed in the Scottish Parliament Information Centre (Bib. number 51402).
In 2009, NHS Education for Scotland commissioned Robert Gordon University to develop and deliver a new course at SCQF levels 7 and 8. The Scottish Government is a member of the steering group overseeing the developments. The course focuses on children''s health and wellbeing. It is partly based on the standard in childhood practice, a social services standard, and is also attracting interest from some assistants based in schools, who have undertaken the course alongside their healthcare colleagues. This course is suitable for workers in health and education settings and could lead to more flexibility in job roles in the future.
","AnswerDate":"2010-08-05T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-08-06T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Adam Ingram","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":241771,"EventID":"S3W-35227","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1826,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":35,"ApprovedDate":"2010-07-09T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-07-09T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what action it has taken with NHS Education for Scotland since the publication of the Early Years Framework to ensure that joint roles across health, education and social","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what action it has taken with NHS Education for Scotland since the publication of the Early Years Framework to ensure that joint roles across health, education and social services can be developed.","AnswerText":"I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-35226 on 5 August 2010. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament''s website, the search facility for which can be found at www.scottish.parliament.uk/Apps2/Business/PQA/Default.aspx. ","AnswerDate":"2010-08-05T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-08-06T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Adam Ingram","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":241772,"EventID":"S3W-35228","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1826,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":35,"ApprovedDate":"2010-07-09T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-07-09T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what action it has taken since the publication of the Early Years Framework, aside from piloting early years courses at the universities of Aberdeen and Stirling, to ensu","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what action it has taken since the publication of the Early Years Framework, aside from piloting early years courses at the universities of Aberdeen and Stirling, to ensure that its values are embedded in initial training, induction, continuing professional development, professional standards and service culture.","AnswerText":"I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-35225 on 5 August 2010. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament''s website, the search facility for which can be found at www.scottish.parliament.uk/Apps2/Business/PQA/Default.aspx. ","AnswerDate":"2010-08-05T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-08-06T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Adam Ingram","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":241773,"EventID":"S3W-35229","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1826,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":35,"ApprovedDate":"2010-07-09T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-07-09T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what action it has taken since the publication of the Early Years Framework, aside from piloting early years courses at the universities of Aberdeen and Stirling, to ensu","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what action it has taken since the publication of the Early Years Framework, aside from piloting early years courses at the universities of Aberdeen and Stirling, to ensure that there is a focus on engagement skills for all early years practitioners.","AnswerText":"Please refer to the information note on implementation of the Early Years Framework, which has been placed in the Scottish Parliament Information Centre (Bib. number 51402).
The Scottish Government is committed to improving the skills of the early years workforce to ensure that every child has the best start in life. In addition to the support we have given for early years courses at the universities of Aberdeen and Stirling, we are also providing start up funding to Strathclyde University to develop a post graduate certificate in early years due to start this summer. We are also supporting the development of a DVD resource to support and inform practice for all early years practitioners working with our youngest children aged between 0 and three. This CPD resource includes updated guidance on practitioner engagement with very young children.
The Scottish Government asked Children in Scotland to lead the debate about what we can learn from workforce models in other countries, including how they engage their children, young people and families. In June 2010 we organised a workforce conference to share the findings and stimulate local interest and action.
","AnswerDate":"2010-08-05T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-08-06T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Adam Ingram","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":241774,"EventID":"S3W-35230","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1826,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":35,"ApprovedDate":"2010-07-09T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-07-09T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what action it has taken since the publication of the Early Years Framework to develop a strategic view of where workers with broader skills can add value to early years ","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what action it has taken since the publication of the Early Years Framework to develop a strategic view of where workers with broader skills can add value to early years services.","AnswerText":"I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-35229 on 5 August 2010. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament''s website, the search facility for which can be found at www.scottish.parliament.uk/Apps2/Business/PQA/Default.aspx. ","AnswerDate":"2010-08-05T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-08-06T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Adam Ingram","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":241775,"EventID":"S3W-35231","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1826,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":35,"ApprovedDate":"2010-07-09T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-07-09T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what action it has taken since the publication of the Early Years Framework to commission NHS Quality Improvement Scotland to develop integrated care pathways for antenat","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what action it has taken since the publication of the Early Years Framework to commission NHS Quality Improvement Scotland to develop integrated care pathways for antenatal, maternity and postnatal care.","AnswerText":"Please refer to the information note on implementation of the Early Years Framework, which has been placed in the Scottish Parliament Information Centre (Bib. number 51402).
The vulnerable families pathway, based on the principles of Getting it Right for Every Child, will support maternity services staff and others to meet the needs of women and babies with multiple and complex health and social care needs. The consultation process in respect of the pathway has now finished and next steps are currently being discussed.
","AnswerDate":"2010-08-05T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-08-06T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Adam Ingram","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":241776,"EventID":"S3W-35232","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1826,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":35,"ApprovedDate":"2010-07-09T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-07-09T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what action it has taken since the publication of the Early Years Framework to ensure that local partners develop capacity to meet a range of health and wider social need","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what action it has taken since the publication of the Early Years Framework to ensure that local partners develop capacity to meet a range of health and wider social needs in maternity support services.","AnswerText":"Please refer to the information note on implementation of the Early Years Framework, which has been placed in the Scottish Parliament Information Centre (Bib. number 51402).
The Maternity Services Action Group''s working group on ante-natal inequalities is developing evidence into action guidance for NHS boards in response to recommendation 4 of Equally Well.
In addition, the refreshed framework for maternity services, which we expect to issue in spring 2011, is focussing on strengthening the contribution of maternity services both in the quality of the care and support provided by maternity services ensuring it is person centred, safe and effective and the contribution of maternity services as partners with other public services, including the third sector.
","AnswerDate":"2010-08-05T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-08-06T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Adam Ingram","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":241777,"EventID":"S3W-35233","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1826,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":35,"ApprovedDate":"2010-07-09T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-07-09T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what action it has taken since the publication of the Early Years Framework to work with local partners to implement concordat commitments that increase the capacity of (","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what action it has taken since the publication of the Early Years Framework to work with local partners to implement concordat commitments that increase the capacity of (a) nurseries and (b) the early stages of primary.","AnswerText":"Please refer to the information note on implementation of the Early Years Framework, which has been placed in the Scottish Parliament Information Centre (Bib. number 51402).
National and local government continue to work closely together to take forward a range of policy priorities, including the commitments in the concordat.
Entitlement to free pre-school education has been increased to 475 hours per annum and we continue to work with COSLA and the Association of Directors of Education in Scotland on further expansion. Over 3,600 more children had access to teachers in pre-school settings in 2008-09 than in the previous year.
Working in partnership with local government and Learning and Teaching Scotland, we have embedded the Curriculum for Excellence in pre-school and primary settings, including provision of new materials for practitioners and parents.
","AnswerDate":"2010-08-05T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-08-06T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Adam Ingram","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":241778,"EventID":"S3W-35234","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1826,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":35,"ApprovedDate":"2010-07-09T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-07-09T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what action it took following the publication of the Early Years Framework to ensure that the Care Commission develop early intervention as an inspection focus for daycar","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what action it took following the publication of the Early Years Framework to ensure that the Care Commission develop early intervention as an inspection focus for daycare of children services in 2009-10.","AnswerText":"Please refer to the information note on implementation of the Early Years Framework, which has been placed in the Scottish Parliament Information Centre (Bib. number 51402).
The Care Commission agreed with the Scottish Government that during 2009-10, they would look at how regulated services support children''s development and learning by involving parents and carers. To that end, Care Commission officers advised all early years day care providers of this and sampled these services to gauge the extent to which parents and carers were being involved. This was also explained to providers at a seminar "Implementing the Early Years Framework: Delivering a Strategy for Effective Intervention" which was held in Edinburgh in May 2009 and chaired by the Care Commission''s chief executive.
","AnswerDate":"2010-08-05T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-08-06T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Adam Ingram","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":241779,"EventID":"S3W-35235","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1826,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":35,"ApprovedDate":"2010-07-09T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-07-09T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what action it has taken since the publication of the Early Years Framework to ensure that HM Inspectorate of Education include early intervention and good practice as pa","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what action it has taken since the publication of the Early Years Framework to ensure that HM Inspectorate of Education include early intervention and good practice as part of its report on aspects of the early years framework.","AnswerText":"Please refer to the information note on implementation of the Early Years Framework, which has been placed in the Scottish Parliament Information Centre (Bib. number 51402).
HM Inspectorate of Education (HMIE) undertook in 2008-09 to gather information on the implementation of the Early Years Framework from their inspections. In October 2009, the report Positive Start, Positive Outcomes was published on the HMIE website. It outlined the importance of partnership working and gave details of key issues facing those involved in implementing the framework. It also included a range of case studies exemplifying how the framework was being delivered across services and communities in Scotland. HMIE continue to monitor the Early Years Framework through their inspection programme, and to share good practice.
","AnswerDate":"2010-08-05T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-08-06T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Adam Ingram","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":241780,"EventID":"S3W-35236","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1826,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":35,"ApprovedDate":"2010-07-09T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-07-09T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what action it has taken since the publication of the Early Years Framework to establish an enhanced programme of antenatal and postnatal support that meets a range of me","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what action it has taken since the publication of the Early Years Framework to establish an enhanced programme of antenatal and postnatal support that meets a range of medical and social needs based on a parental capacity-building model with the health of parents at the core.","AnswerText":"I refer the member to the answer to questions S3W-35221 and S3W-35231 on 5 August 2010. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament''s website, the search facility for which can be found at:
","AnswerDate":"2010-08-05T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-08-06T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Adam Ingram","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":241781,"EventID":"S3W-35237","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1826,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":35,"ApprovedDate":"2010-07-09T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-07-09T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what action it has taken since the publication of the Early Years Framework to ensure enhanced early intervention, particularly in areas such as communication, literacy a","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what action it has taken since the publication of the Early Years Framework to ensure enhanced early intervention, particularly in areas such as communication, literacy and numeracy.","AnswerText":"Please refer to the information note on implementation of the Early Years Framework, which has been placed in the Scottish Parliament Information Centre (Bib. number 51402).
Raising literacy and numeracy standards is central to Curriculum for Excellence, the curriculum framework for learners three to 18. It will drive forward improvements in teaching and learning to ensure our young people have the literacy and numeracy skills they need for learning, life and work. Allpractitioners have a responsibility to promote the development of these skills, including in the early years. HM Inspectorate of Education evaluate and report on early language and mathematics in every inspection in pre-school centres.
We will publish a literacy action plan in the Autumn, bringing together work to improve literacy standards from across government, and also work being taken forward by our partners. It will address the continuum of learning, from the early years through to adult learning.
","AnswerDate":"2010-08-05T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-08-06T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Adam Ingram","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":241782,"EventID":"S3W-35238","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1826,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":35,"ApprovedDate":"2010-07-09T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-07-09T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what action it has taken since the publication of the Early Years Framework to ensure that the best use is made of universal services to better meet the needs of vulnerab","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what action it has taken since the publication of the Early Years Framework to ensure that the best use is made of universal services to better meet the needs of vulnerable children and families.","AnswerText":"Please refer to the information note on implementation of the Early Years Framework, which has been placed in the Scottish Parliament Information Centre (Bib. number 51402)
Getting it Right for Every Child(GIRFEC)is the national approach to helping children and young people in Scotland. The approach helps families and professionals to work better together with children and young people, and gives children and families more say in the help that they get.
The GIRFEC approach delivers a stronger and co-ordinated teamwork approach for children, especially for those with complex needs, and identifies and involves all agencies who can meet the assessed need. It not only considers immediate needs, but also takes a long term view of how children and their families can be supported through any difficulties, including life threatening and enduring conditions.
Where the plan is multi-agency a lead professional will be agreed to be the first point of contact with the child and family and to co-ordinate the actions set out in the plan. They will also liaise regularly with all the partners to the plan.
We have undertaken a refresh of Health for All Children (Hall 4) which sets out the programme for screening, surveillance and health promotion contacts which every child can expect to receive. We have consulted on proposals to make the guidance more robust, particularly concerning the allocation of the health plan indicator, which determines the programme of contacts the child and family receive, depending on their assessed need; the use of the GIRFEC practice model for use as a tool for assessing the needs of children and families; re-emphasising health promotion as part of universal services; and the re-introduction of a universal 24 to 30 month review. The consultation process is still ongoing and further guidance on Hall 4 will be issued in autumn 2010.
","AnswerDate":"2010-08-05T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-08-06T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Adam Ingram","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":241783,"EventID":"S3W-35239","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1826,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":35,"ApprovedDate":"2010-07-09T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-07-09T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what action it has taken since the publication of the Early Years Framework to equip all young people to make positive choices about pregnancy and parenthood.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what action it has taken since the publication of the Early Years Framework to equip all young people to make positive choices about pregnancy and parenthood.","AnswerText":"Please refer to the information note on implementation of the Early Years Framework, which has been placed in the Scottish Parliament Information Centre (Bib. number 51402).
Education has a key role to play in ensuring that young people make informed choices about sexual relationships and reducing unintended pregnancies. With the full introduction of Curriculum for Excellence from August 2010, children and young people will learn, as part of a broad health and wellbeing curriculum strand, about relationships, sexual health and parenthood.
Reducing unintended teenage pregnancies in girls under 16 is a key aim of Respect and Responsibility, Scotland''s sexual health strategy, which promotes the values of mature loving relationships, founded on self respect and respect for others. A total of £15 million over three years until March 2011 has been provided to NHS boards to support the implementation of the strategy.
With the publication of the Sexual Health Outcomes in 2008, NHS boards and their partners have been working closely together in order to address the wider cultural factors that affect sexual health and wellbeing.
In addition, guidance was issued by Learning Teaching Scotland in March 2010 which seeks to support local authorities, NHS boards and other agencies to reduce teenage pregnancies. Annual statistics, published in June, saw a reduction in the teenage pregnancy rate. That, combined with the recent decrease in the abortion rate, is encouraging.
There is now growing evidence to support intervention in early years to improve sexual health outcomes, and we will taking this into account as we update our sexual health strategy and national outcomes, which come to an end in March 2011. We will also be looking at other opportunities to include sexual health advice and interventions in acute and other healthcare settings.
","AnswerDate":"2010-08-05T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-08-06T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Adam Ingram","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":241784,"EventID":"S3W-35240","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1826,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":35,"ApprovedDate":"2010-07-09T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-07-09T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what action it has taken since the publication of the Early Years Framework to commission an analysis of skills and skills gaps across the different professions in early ","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what action it has taken since the publication of the Early Years Framework to commission an analysis of skills and skills gaps across the different professions in early years services.","AnswerText":"Please refer to the information note on implementation of the Early Years Framework, which has been placed in the Scottish Parliament Information Centre (Bib. number 51402)
The Scottish Government has commissioned the University of Strathclyde to undertake a functional analysis across the children''s workforce. This is the first step in both helping the sector work together to identify the core skills everyone should have when working with children and allowing it to identify and fill skills gaps.
","AnswerDate":"2010-08-05T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-08-06T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Adam Ingram","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":241785,"EventID":"S3W-35241","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1826,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":35,"ApprovedDate":"2010-07-09T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-07-09T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what action it has taken since the publication of the Early Years Framework to use a common values statement and an analysis of skills and gaps to identify the core skill","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what action it has taken since the publication of the Early Years Framework to use a common values statement and an analysis of skills and gaps to identify the core skills needed to deliver the Early Years Framework and Getting it Right for Every Child.","AnswerText":"I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-35225 and S3W-35240 on 5 August 2010. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament''s website, the search facility for which can be found at www.scottish.parliament.uk/Apps2/Business/PQA/Default.aspx. ","AnswerDate":"2010-08-05T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-08-06T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Adam Ingram","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":241786,"EventID":"S3W-35242","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1826,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":35,"ApprovedDate":"2010-07-09T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-07-09T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what reflections it has made since the publication of the Early Years Framework on the priority areas in local early years continuing professional development and trainin","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what reflections it has made since the publication of the Early Years Framework on the priority areas in local early years continuing professional development and training programmes and what action has been taken as a result.","AnswerText":"I refer the member to the answer to question S3W“35240 on 5 August 2010. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament''s website, the search facility for which can be found at www.scottish.parliament.uk/Apps2/Business/PQA/Default.aspx. ","AnswerDate":"2010-08-05T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-08-06T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Adam Ingram","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":241787,"EventID":"S3W-35243","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1826,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":35,"ApprovedDate":"2010-07-09T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-07-09T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what action it has taken since the publication of the Early Years Framework to study the characteristics of successful early years workforce models in other countries and","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what action it has taken since the publication of the Early Years Framework to study the characteristics of successful early years workforce models in other countries and what action it has taken on the findings.","AnswerText":"I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-35229 on 5 August 2010. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament''s website, the search facility for which can be found at www.scottish.parliament.uk/Apps2/Business/PQA/Default.aspx. ","AnswerDate":"2010-08-05T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-08-06T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Adam Ingram","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":241788,"EventID":"S3W-35244","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1826,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":35,"ApprovedDate":"2010-07-09T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-07-09T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what action it will take to continue to promote uptake of the UK childcare vouchers scheme by employers and employees.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what action it will take to continue to promote uptake of the UK childcare vouchers scheme by employers and employees.","AnswerText":"Please refer to the information note on implementation of the Early Years Framework, which has been placed in the Scottish Parliament Information Centre (Bib. number 51402).
The Early Years Framework committed the Scottish Government to promoting childcare vouchers among employers in Scotland. From January to June 2009, the Scottish Government ran a project to promote greater use of childcare vouchers among Scottish employers in the public, private and voluntary sectors with the report now available on the Scottish Government website. This has successfully raised the profile of childcare vouchers through individual contacts and working with the Scottish Trades Union Congress.
More recently, the Scottish Government pressed the former UK administration to drop plans to make potentially damaging changes to the tax incentives for childcare vouchers. We will continue efforts with the UK Government to create a single, progressive and more accessible means of supporting childcare costs through tax credits and childcare vouchers. Responsibility for these are reserved to the UK Government.
","AnswerDate":"2010-08-05T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-08-06T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Adam Ingram","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":241789,"EventID":"S3W-35245","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1826,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":35,"ApprovedDate":"2010-07-09T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-07-09T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what action it has taken since the publication of the Early Years Framework to develop a strategic view of childcare accessibility.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what action it has taken since the publication of the Early Years Framework to develop a strategic view of childcare accessibility.","AnswerText":"Please refer to the information note on implementation of the Early Years Framework, which has been placed in the Scottish Parliament Information Centre (Bib. number 51402).
This is a medium term action in the framework and we will take it forward with COSLA and local partners in due course.
","AnswerDate":"2010-08-05T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-08-06T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Adam Ingram","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":241790,"EventID":"S3W-35246","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1826,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":35,"ApprovedDate":"2010-07-09T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-07-09T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what action it has taken since the publication of the Early Years Framework to identify how to address gaps in childcare accessibility.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what action it has taken since the publication of the Early Years Framework to identify how to address gaps in childcare accessibility.","AnswerText":"I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-35245 on 5 August 2010. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament''s website, the search facility for which can be found at www.scottish.parliament.uk/Apps2/Business/PQA/Default.aspx. ","AnswerDate":"2010-08-05T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-08-06T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Adam Ingram","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":241791,"EventID":"S3W-35247","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1826,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":35,"ApprovedDate":"2010-07-09T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-07-09T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what action it has taken since the publication of the Early Years Framework to (a) develop and (b) market a single gateway to a range of advice and information for childr","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what action it has taken since the publication of the Early Years Framework to (a) develop and (b) market a single gateway to a range of advice and information for children and families.","AnswerText":"Please refer to the information note on implementation of the Early Years Framework, which has been placed in the Scottish Parliament Information Centre (Bib. number 51402).
The Scottish Government is working with local authority partners to further develop www.scottishchildcare.gov.uk into a family information service.
","AnswerDate":"2010-08-05T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-08-06T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Adam Ingram","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":241792,"EventID":"S3W-35248","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1826,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":35,"ApprovedDate":"2010-07-09T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-07-09T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what action it has taken since the publication of the Early Years Framework to develop local play and green space policies and improve play opportunities.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what action it has taken since the publication of the Early Years Framework to develop local play and green space policies and improve play opportunities.","AnswerText":"Please refer to the information note on implementation of the Early Years Framework, which has been placed in the Scottish Parliament Information Centre (Bib. number 51402).
The Scottish Government launched a two year Go Play Fund in 2009, a £4 million play programme to be managed and administered by Inspiring Scotland. This will help to provide the basis for a sustainable and active play sector in Scotland. The focus is on free play for five to 13 year olds as it is critical that we not only support our youngest children but also our older children. With Inspiring Scotland''s experience, Go Play will be able to support the play sector to create a more robust infrastructure across Scotland and ensure we can support and strengthen play services in the areas of greatest need.
","AnswerDate":"2010-08-05T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-08-06T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Adam Ingram","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":241793,"EventID":"S3W-35249","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1826,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":35,"ApprovedDate":"2010-07-09T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-07-09T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what action it has taken since the publication of the Early Years Framework to promote positive environments for children and families through (a) planning, (b) regenerat","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what action it has taken since the publication of the Early Years Framework to promote positive environments for children and families through (a) planning, (b) regeneration and (c) transport policies.","AnswerText":"Please refer to the information note on implementation of the Early Years Framework, which has been placed in the Scottish Parliament Information Centre (Bib. number 51402).
Through the community planning partnerships and children''s services planning processes, local partnerships are able to take a co-ordinated and integrated approach to meeting the needs in local communities, including the needs of children.
Getting it Right for Every Child provides the approach which should underpin the delivery of all services for children and young people.
Scottish planning policy encourages the provision of play space and other opportunities for children and young people to play freely, explore, discover and initiate their own activities to support their development. Local authorities are encouraged to carry out audits and prepare strategies about the open space in their area and to consider the creation of green networks which can help encourage more active travel and healthier lifestyles. The Designing Streets planning policy encourages the creation of environments which, through an emphasis on safe, walkable neighbourhoods, public green and hard spaces, the control of traffic and the consideration of pedestrians before cars, offers increased opportunity for children to engage in healthy exercise and play.
Our joint statement with COSLA Equal Communities in a Fairer Scotland in October 2009, signals the need for local authorities and their community planning partners to use the combined power of mainstream resources to tackle poverty in our most deprived communities. In doing so community planning partnerships are also expected to complement the key aims of the three linked social frameworks, including the Early Years Framework.
Scottish Government investment in active travel for schools has resulted in over 80% of schools working on or developing a travel plan for pupils and staff. Funding through Sustrans has provided safe routes to schools for those who wish to walk and cycle and for secure cycle parking.
In addition, the cycling action plan for Scotland was published in June 2010 and will promote cycle training for school children, starting in Primary 3.
","AnswerDate":"2010-08-05T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-08-06T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Adam Ingram","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":241794,"EventID":"S3W-35250","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1826,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":35,"ApprovedDate":"2010-07-09T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-07-09T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what action it has taken since the publication of the Early Years Framework to ensure that nurseries and schools support outdoor learning and outdoor play.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what action it has taken since the publication of the Early Years Framework to ensure that nurseries and schools support outdoor learning and outdoor play.","AnswerText":"Please refer to the information note on implementation of the Early Years Framework, which has been placed in the Scottish Parliament Information Centre (Bib. number 51402).
The Scottish Government is keen to see all our children and young people having positive learning experiences in a variety of settings and has invested in the production and promotion of guidance to support opportunities presented by the new school curriculum for learning in the outdoors. The guidance makes clear that the outdoor environment offers motivating, exciting, different, relevant and easily accessible activities from pre-school years through to college. A series of six regional events were held throughout Scotland in May and June 2010 to raise awareness of the new guidance Curriculum for Excellence through Outdoor Learning and the supporting online resource to re-emphasise the Scottish Government''s commitment for all children and young people to participate in a range of creative, sustainable and progressive outdoor learning experiences.
We have invested in the production and promotion of guidance and an online resource to support everyone in the learning community to pursue the opportunities presented by Curriculum for Excellence to provide creative, sustainable and progressive outdoor learning experiences for all children and young people. HM Inspectorate of Education pay particular attention on every inspection of pre-school centres to the quality of outdoor learning through play.
We also provided over £400,000 in 2009-10 through various Government initiatives to promote outdoor learning. These include the Forestry Commission''s education programme including forest schools; the National Trust for Scotland for visits to Bannockburn, Culloden and Robert Burns'' Birthplace; visits to Historic Scotland properties and through Scottish Natural Heritage support for grounds for learning. Funding will continue in 2010-11, when there will be additional visits to New Lanark, to the National Trust and Historic Scotland properties and funding to the Royal Highland Education Trust to encourage school trips to farms.
","AnswerDate":"2010-08-05T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-08-06T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Adam Ingram","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":241795,"EventID":"S3W-35251","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1826,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":35,"ApprovedDate":"2010-07-09T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-07-09T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what action it has taken since the publication of the Early Years Framework to ensure that community planning partners commission a locally developed plan and change prog","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what action it has taken since the publication of the Early Years Framework to ensure that community planning partners commission a locally developed plan and change programme for providing a more co-ordinated set of supports for children and families, building on integrated children’s services planning. ","AnswerText":"Please refer to the information note on implementation of the Early Years Framework, which has been placed in the Scottish Parliament Information Centre (Bib. number 51402).
Single outcome agreements (SOAs) are the mechanism in the relationship between national and local partners through which shared priorities are agreed and progressed. Each community planning partnership (CPP) is expected to reflect high level, strategic progress on the early years framework within their SOA. Each local authority has a statutory obligation to produce an integrated children''s services plan and this is to be seen as an integral part of the wider community plan.
It is for local partners in CPPs to develop models tailored to meet local needs, but Scottish Ministers and officials are closely engaged with CPPs to provide support. The Getting it Right for Every Child methodology facilitates an integrated and co-ordinated approach to the delivery of children''s services.
","AnswerDate":"2010-08-05T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-08-06T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Adam Ingram","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":241796,"EventID":"S3W-35252","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1826,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":35,"ApprovedDate":"2010-07-09T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-07-09T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive how many community planning partners have commissioned a locally developed plan and change programme for providing more co-ordinated sets of supports for children and fam","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive how many community planning partners have commissioned a locally developed plan and change programme for providing more co-ordinated sets of supports for children and families.","AnswerText":"I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-35251 on 5 August 2010. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament''s website, the search facility for which can be found at www.scottish.parliament.uk/Apps2/Business/PQA/Default.aspx. ","AnswerDate":"2010-08-05T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-08-06T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Adam Ingram","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":241797,"EventID":"S3W-35253","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1826,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":35,"ApprovedDate":"2010-07-09T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-07-09T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what action it has taken since the publication of the Early Years Framework to develop clear strategic leadership for 0 to 3 years services.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what action it has taken since the publication of the Early Years Framework to develop clear strategic leadership for 0 to 3 years services.","AnswerText":"Please refer to the information note on implementation of the Early Years Framework, which has been placed in the Scottish Parliament Information Centre (Bib. number 51402).
Effective local implementation of the Early Years Framework is the key to achieving the changes we want to see and the Scottish Government is ensuring that Community Planning Partnerships (CPPs) are aware of the wide range of evidence that highlights the importance of the very early years of life.
The Getting it right for every child (GIRFEC) approach, which should underpin the delivery of services for children and young people, makes clear the need for a lead professional to co-ordinate the services and support for individual children.
","AnswerDate":"2010-08-05T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-08-06T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Adam Ingram","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":241798,"EventID":"S3W-35254","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1826,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":35,"ApprovedDate":"2010-07-09T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-07-09T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what action it has taken since the publication of the Early Years Framework to ensure local reviews of partnership arrangements to align them with outcomes and start deve","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what action it has taken since the publication of the Early Years Framework to ensure local reviews of partnership arrangements to align them with outcomes and start developing longer-term and more strategic partnerships.","AnswerText":"Please refer to the information note on implementation of the Early Years Framework, which has been placed in the Scottish Parliament Information Centre (Bib. number 51402).
The Getting it right for every child (GIRFEC) approach and methodology facilitate and support local reviews of partnership arrangements, including private and voluntary sector partners, intended to lead to improved outcomes for all children and young people. The Scottish Government continues to provide support to local partners in taking forward implementation of GIRFEC, including by the development of an implementation guide, with specific summaries for different groups of staff and the sharing of the learning from the pathfinders in Highland, Lanarkshire and elsewhere.
In addition, the Scottish Government is working with the Improvement Service to build capacity in Community Planning Partnerships (CPPs) to support them in the delivery of the National Outcomes.
","AnswerDate":"2010-08-05T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-08-06T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Adam Ingram","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":241799,"EventID":"S3W-35255","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1826,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":35,"ApprovedDate":"2010-07-09T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-07-09T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what action it has taken since the publication of the Early Years Framework to develop models of early years service delivery that combine public sector and partners work","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what action it has taken since the publication of the Early Years Framework to develop models of early years service delivery that combine public sector and partners working alongside each other to common objectives.","AnswerText":"I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-35254 on 5 August 2010. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament''s website, the search facility for which can be found at www.scottish.parliament.uk/Apps2/Business/PQA/Default.aspx. ","AnswerDate":"2010-08-05T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-08-06T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Adam Ingram","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":241800,"EventID":"S3W-35256","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2202,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":8,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2010-07-09T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-07-09T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what the defined daily dose per capita of antidepressants was at the end of March 2010, broken down by NHS board","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what the defined daily dose per capita of antidepressants was at the end of March 2010, broken down by NHS board","AnswerText":"Latest official statistics on the defined daily dose per capita for antidepressants, prescribed in Scotland that were dispensed by community pharmacists or dispensing doctors anywhere in the UK can be found on the ISDScotland website at www.isdscotland.org/isd/3671.html.
Information is presented by NHS board for financial years up to 2008-09. Provisional statistics for financial year 2009-10 are planned to be published on the 28 September 2010.
","AnswerDate":"2010-07-26T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-08-06T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Shona Robison","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":241801,"EventID":"S3W-35257","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2202,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":8,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2010-07-09T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-07-09T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to develop the role of telehealth to enhance the provision of emergency and unscheduled care, in particular in rural areas.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to develop the role of telehealth to enhance the provision of emergency and unscheduled care, in particular in rural areas.","AnswerText":"There is various planned and actual activity around the use of telehealth to enhance the provision of emergency and unscheduled care. The focus for this work is NHS 24 and the Scottish Ambulance Service.
The Scottish Ambulance Service, in partnership with NHS 24 and GP out-of-hours services across Scotland, has established a professional to professional help line that gives ambulance staff the ability to contact another health care professional such as a senior GP for advice and support in real-time decision making and management of patients. This may for example allow a patient who previously would have been transferred from home to a distant hospital to be either managed at home or within their local community.
The ambulance service are also making use of defibrillators that allow transmission of ECGs to the local cardiac or accident and emergency unit to support the early diagnosis of myocardial infarction. This may mean immediate transfer to a centre for the administration of thrombolysis (clot busting). The new defibrillators can also capture further information regarding the crews'' performance during resuscitation, not only giving immediate feedback on the effectiveness of their intervention but also transmitting that information to a database for further detailed analysis and feedback. The ambulance service is currently piloting this.
NHS 24, through the Scottish Centre for Telehealth (SCT), is working with NHS Grampian to develop an integrated telemedicine solution utilising the network of community hospitals across rural Grampian. The evolving model will allow patients to be assessed in their community hospital by either a senior nurse or local GP supported by a specialist consultant in accident and emergency based in Aberdeen.
The Scottish Ambulance Service, through its investment in cab-based technology already has the capability to provide a level of decision making support to front line staff. Following a successful pilot project in Ayrshire where the patient record and clinical recordings were transmitted from the ambulance to the receiving accident and emergency department before the patient arrived, work is now ongoing with NHS Fife to further refine this development with the intention of extending the capability across Scotland.
Currently, first responders have access to senior paramedic support accessed by telephone to the emergency medical despatch centres of the ambulance service. There are currently no plans in place to further enhance this capability in the immediate future. However NHS 24/SCT is engaging with industry to monitor decision support solutions that deliver mobile telemedicine and looking at the future advances in technology and monitoring equipment to determine how these may realistically be deployed to benefit patients and support care providers.
","AnswerDate":"2010-08-03T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-08-06T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Nicola Sturgeon","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":241802,"EventID":"S3W-35258","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2202,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":8,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2010-07-09T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-07-09T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has explored with the Scottish Ambulance Service the potential to develop the role of telehealth to enhance the provision of emergency and unscheduled care, in","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has explored with the Scottish Ambulance Service the potential to develop the role of telehealth to enhance the provision of emergency and unscheduled care, in particular in rural areas.","AnswerText":"I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-35257 on 3 August 2010. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament''s website, the search facility for which can be found at:
","AnswerDate":"2010-08-03T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-08-06T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Nicola Sturgeon","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":241803,"EventID":"S3W-35259","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2202,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":8,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2010-07-09T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-07-09T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has considered giving first responders access to telehealth equipment to enhance their ability to provide emergency and unscheduled care in rural areas.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has considered giving first responders access to telehealth equipment to enhance their ability to provide emergency and unscheduled care in rural areas.","AnswerText":"I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-35257 on 3 August 2010. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament''s website, the search facility for which can be found at:
","AnswerDate":"2010-08-03T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-08-06T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Nicola Sturgeon","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":241804,"EventID":"S3W-35260","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2202,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":8,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2010-07-09T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-07-09T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive how many people aged (a) under 16, (b) 16 to 64 and (c) 65 and over were admitted to hospital as a result of malnutrition in 2009-10, broken down by NHS board.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive how many people aged (a) under 16, (b) 16 to 64 and (c) 65 and over were admitted to hospital as a result of malnutrition in 2009-10, broken down by NHS board.","AnswerText":"Data for 2009-10 is not complete at this time and is, as yet, unpublished. Data for 2009-10 will be available from 28 September 2010. ","AnswerDate":"2010-08-03T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-08-06T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Nicola Sturgeon","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":241805,"EventID":"S3W-35261","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2202,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":8,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2010-07-09T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-07-09T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive how many people aged 65 and over were admitted to hospital as a result of malnutrition in (a) 2007-08 and (b) 2008-09, broken down by NHS board.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive how many people aged 65 and over were admitted to hospital as a result of malnutrition in (a) 2007-08 and (b) 2008-09, broken down by NHS board.","AnswerText":"Centrally held data can provide some information for patients where malnutrition is identified on their hospital records. However, malnutrition will often not be the principal reason for admission to hospital but will be a co-morbidity or consequence of a more serious condition. Malnutrition may be recorded on a hospital record if it is clinically identified as an active problem requiring significant investigation while the patient is in hospital; or if it is present when the patient is admitted and requires routine management. As there is no standard group of diagnosis codes to identify malnutrition, the definition of malnutrition employed in this analysis includes diagnoses of anorexia nervosa, nutritional deficiencies (e.g. vitamin A, thiamine and calcium deficiencies), nutritional anaemias and malnutrition related diabetes mellitus.
The answer is given in the following table:
Table 1: Number of patients aged 65 years and over, treated in acute hospitals in Scotland, who have a recorded diagnosis of malnutrition; by NHS Board of Residence; financial years 2007-08 and 2008-09.
NHS Board of Residence
2007-08
2008-09
NHS Ayrshire and Arran
61
65
NHS Borders
30
38
NHS Dumfries and Galloway
85
61
NHS Fife
85
67
NHS Forth Valley
16
32
NHS Grampian
73
68
NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde
215
166
NHS Highland
48
67
NHS Lanarkshire
66
70
NHS Lothian
292
305
NHS Tayside
Table 1a: Deaths where Malnutrition was the Underlying Cause of Death.
Age at Death and NHS Board
2005
2006
2007
2008
2009
64 and under
Fife
0
0
0
1
0
Forth Valley
1
0
0
0
1
Greater Glasgow and Clyde
0
1
2
2
2
Lanarkshire
1
0
0
0
0
Lothian
0
1
0
1
0
","AnswerDate":"2010-07-23T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-08-06T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Jim Mather","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":241808,"EventID":"S3W-35264","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2188,"Party":"Scottish Green Party","RegionID":4,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2010-07-12T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-07-12T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive when it will publish guidance on disturbance of marine European protected species, as the Cabinet Secretary for Rural Affairs and the Environment committed to do on 2 Dec","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive when it will publish guidance on disturbance of marine European protected species, as the Cabinet Secretary for Rural Affairs and the Environment committed to do on 2 December 2009 during Stage 2 consideration of the Marine (Scotland) Bill (Official Report c. 2244).","AnswerText":"Marine Scotland is currently developing statutory guidance for Scottish inshore waters, in line with Scottish regulations. Marine Scotland will consult key marine stakeholders on this guidance and publish it in autumn 2010.
The Joint Nature Conservation Committee, Natural England and the Countryside Council for Wales have produced statutory guidance on the disturbance of marine European protected species for UK offshore areas, including offshore waters adjacent to Scotland.
","AnswerDate":"2010-07-28T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-08-09T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Richard Lochhead","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":241809,"EventID":"S3W-35265","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2188,"Party":"Scottish Green Party","RegionID":4,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2010-07-12T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-07-12T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive when it will consult stakeholders on the guidance relating to disturbance of marine European protected species, as the Cabinet Secretary for Rural Affairs and the Environ","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive when it will consult stakeholders on the guidance relating to disturbance of marine European protected species, as the Cabinet Secretary for Rural Affairs and the Environment committed to do on 2 December 2009 during Stage 2 consideration of the Marine (Scotland) Bill (Official Report c. 2244), and whether this will be a full public consultation.","AnswerText":"I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-35264 on 28 July 2010. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament''s website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/Apps2/Business/PQA/Default.aspx. ","AnswerDate":"2010-07-28T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-08-09T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Richard Lochhead","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":241810,"EventID":"S3W-35266","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2188,"Party":"Scottish Green Party","RegionID":4,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2010-07-12T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-07-12T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive on what legal basis it will authorise seismic surveys in Scottish territorial waters","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive on what legal basis it will authorise seismic surveys in Scottish territorial waters","AnswerText":"This is a matter reserved to Westminster under The Offshore Petroleum Activities (Conservation of Habitats) Regulations 2001 (as amended), which provide for the issuing of consents for geological surveys, including seismic surveys, for oil and gas related activities. Any consents in relation to seismic surveys whether in inshore or offshore waters are issued by the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change. ","AnswerDate":"2010-07-28T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-08-09T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Richard Lochhead","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":241811,"EventID":"S3W-35267","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2185,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":2,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2010-07-12T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-07-12T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what average monthly number of prisoners engaged with learning centres in prison in 2009-10.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what average monthly number of prisoners engaged with learning centres in prison in 2009-10.","AnswerText":"I have asked John Ewing, the Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service, to respond. His response is as follows:
The average monthly number of prisoners engaged with learning centres in prison in 2009-10 broken down by prison is as follows:
Prison
Average Monthly Number of Individual Prisoners who Engaged with Learning Centres in Prison in 2009-10
Aberdeen
85
Addiewell
98
Barlinnie
266
Cornton Vale
160
Dumfries
76
Edinburgh
278
Glenochil
180
Greenock
304
Inverness
105
Kilmarnock
65
Open Estate
127
Perth
232
Peterhead
123
Polmont
346
Shotts
206
Average number of individual prisoners attending prison learning centres in 2009-10
2,651
","AnswerDate":"2010-07-22T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-08-09T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Kenny MacAskill","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":241812,"EventID":"S3W-35268","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2185,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":2,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2010-07-12T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-07-12T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what work programmes are available to offenders serving custodial sentences, broken down by prison.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what work programmes are available to offenders serving custodial sentences, broken down by prison.","AnswerText":"I have asked John Ewing, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service, to respond. His response is as follows:
A wide range of work opportunities are available across the prison estate, these vary through time as Governors are constantly looking for new opportunities. The attached list provides a snapshot of the opportunities available.
HMP Aberdeen: Laundry, Industrial Cleaning, Catering, Internal service jobs
Open Estate: Catering, Forestry, Grounds & Gardening, Industrial Cleaning, Waste Management, Laundry, Public Reception, Library, Prisoners Canteen, Community Work Placements, Community Project Team, Internal service jobs.
Internal service jobs cover general assistance in a particular area of the prison, including cleaning.
","AnswerDate":"2010-07-22T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-08-09T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Kenny MacAskill","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":241813,"EventID":"S3W-35269","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2185,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":2,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2010-07-12T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-07-12T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what percentage of prisoners serving sentences of (a) less than six months, (b) six months to two years and (c) over two years has taken part in prison work programmes in","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what percentage of prisoners serving sentences of (a) less than six months, (b) six months to two years and (c) over two years has taken part in prison work programmes in each of the last three years.","AnswerText":"I have asked John Ewing, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service, to respond. His response is as follows:
All convicted prisoners are required by law to work. Participation may be limited by incapacity or unavailability of work places. Detailed information in the form required is not routinely recorded.
","AnswerDate":"2010-07-22T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-08-09T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Kenny MacAskill","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":241814,"EventID":"S3W-35270","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2185,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":2,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2010-07-12T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-07-12T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what percentage of prisoners serving sentences of (a) less than six months, (b) six months to two years and (c) over two years has taken part in prison education programm","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what percentage of prisoners serving sentences of (a) less than six months, (b) six months to two years and (c) over two years has taken part in prison education programmes in each of the last three years.","AnswerText":"I have asked John Ewing, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service, to respond. His response is as follows:
The Scottish Prison Service does not record the information requested in this way. However, based on the average monthly number of prisoners engaged with the prison learning centres, around 29%, 29% and 33% of all prisoners have taken part in prison education programmes in each of the last three years.
","AnswerDate":"2010-07-22T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-08-09T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Kenny MacAskill","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":241815,"EventID":"S3W-35271","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2185,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":2,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2010-07-12T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-07-12T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive how many prisoners have taken part in work programmes in prison in each of the last three years. ","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive how many prisoners have taken part in work programmes in prison in each of the last three years. ","AnswerText":"I have asked John Ewing, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service, to respond. His response is as follows:
All convicted prisoners are required by law to work. Participation may be limited by incapacity or unavailability of work places. Detailed information is not routinely recorded.
","AnswerDate":"2010-07-22T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-08-09T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Kenny MacAskill","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":241816,"EventID":"S3W-35272","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2185,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":2,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2010-07-12T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-07-12T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what (a) work and (b) education opportunities are available to offenders in prison on remand, broken down by prison. ","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what (a) work and (b) education opportunities are available to offenders in prison on remand, broken down by prison. ","AnswerText":"I have asked John Ewing, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service, to respond. His response is as follows:
(a) The work opportunities for remand prisoners are as follows:
HMP Aberdeen: Charity clothing work party.
HMP Addiewell: No work provision.
HMP Barlinnie: Internal Services jobs.
HMP & YOI Cornton Vale: Internal Services jobs.
HMP Dumfries: No work provision.
HMP Edinburgh: Laundry, Labels, General Purpose work party, Hobbies.
HMP Greenock: No work provision.
HMP Inverness: Internal Services jobs.
HMP Kilmarnock: Recycling, Textiles, Painting.
HMP Perth: Internal Services jobs.
HMYOI Polmont: Internal Services jobs.
Internal Services jobs cover general assistance in a particular area of the prison, including cleaning.
(b) The Education opportunities for remand prisoners are as follows:
HMP Aberdeen: English, Numeracy, Computing, Art for leisure.
HMP Addiewell: Healthwise, Media Studies, Art Enterprise, Brain Training, Art Project.
HMP Barlinnie: English for Speakers of Other Languages.
HMP & YOI Cornton Vale: Remand prisoners have access to Peer Tutoring for literacy. Young remand prisoners also have access to Art, Cookery and Card-making classes. Further work is being progressed to expand the range of educational opportunities available to all Remand prisoners.
HMP Dumfries: Literacy, Numeracy, Information Communication Technology, Art.
HMP Perth: Maths, English, Information Communication technology, Art, Small Group Work (literacy), Adult Numeracy Group, English for Speakers of Other Language, Teaching Kitchen, History, Guitar, Book Keeping, Drama, Languages, Adv. Learning, Peer Tutor Training, Job Club.
HMYOI Polmont: For the remand prisoners with high educational needs, classes on literacy and numeracy are available. 16 to 17-year-old remands attend with their convicted peers, with classes on ICT, communications, literacy, numeracy, English, creative writing, poetry and citizenship available.
The following establishments do not hold remand prisoners: HMP Glenochil, Open Estate, HMP Peterhead, HMP Shotts.
","AnswerDate":"2010-07-29T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-08-09T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Kenny MacAskill","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":241817,"EventID":"S3W-35273","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2110,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":66,"ApprovedDate":"2010-07-12T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-07-12T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what budget is allocated to the Court of the Lord Lyon and who the accountable officer is. ","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what budget is allocated to the Court of the Lord Lyon and who the accountable officer is. ","AnswerText":"This year a budget of £106,000 was allocated to the Court of the Lord Lyon. The accountable officer is Stella Manzie, Director General of Justice and Communities within the Scottish Government. ","AnswerDate":"2010-07-23T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-08-09T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Kenny MacAskill","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":241818,"EventID":"S3W-35274","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2110,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":66,"ApprovedDate":"2010-07-12T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-07-12T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive in which of its directorates responsibility for the Court of the Lord Lyon lies.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive in which of its directorates responsibility for the Court of the Lord Lyon lies.","AnswerText":"The Justice Directorate has a sponsorship role for the Court of the Lord Lyon, however the court exercises its judicial functions independently and some aspects of the work are reserved as it is part of the Royal household. ","AnswerDate":"2010-07-23T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-08-09T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Kenny MacAskill","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":241819,"EventID":"S3W-35275","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2110,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":66,"ApprovedDate":"2010-07-12T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-07-12T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what annual budget has been set for the Court of the Lord Lyon and what the final outturn for that budget line has been in each year since 1999.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what annual budget has been set for the Court of the Lord Lyon and what the final outturn for that budget line has been in each year since 1999.","AnswerText":"The table below sets out the budget allocation and the outturn figure for the Court of the Lord Lyon since 2005, which is the earliest year for which records are held internally within the Scottish Government. An outturn figure is not yet available for the current financial year. In addition to funding from Scottish Government the Court receives income from court fees, also shown in the table below. This is offset against their budget with the Scottish Government ultimately funding only the difference between their income and expenditure.
F/Y YEAR
Budget
Income
Outturn
£
£
2005-06
103,000
68,850
90,700
2006-07
100,000
69,850
103,000
2007-08
99,000
58,000
102,500
2008-09
99,106
58,900
98,500
2009-10
101,238
82,864
109,000
2010-11
106,000
Total
608,344
338,464
503,700
","AnswerDate":"2010-07-23T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-08-09T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Kenny MacAskill","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":241820,"EventID":"S3W-35276","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1845,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":6,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2010-07-12T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-07-12T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive how many cleaning staff have been directly employed by the NHS in each year since 1999, broken down by board.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive how many cleaning staff have been directly employed by the NHS in each year since 1999, broken down by board.","AnswerText":"The information requested is not held centrally as data on cleaning staff directly employed by NHS are not captured separately in the workforce statistics. NHS Services Scotland Information Services Division (ISD) Scotland publish data annually, as at 30 September, on Support Services - Hotel Services staff, which includes domestic staff but following agenda for change (AfC) assimilation the post descriptor domestic staff may not encompass all cleaners. Cleaning staff may have assimilated into other post descriptors. These figures include domestic supervisors and domestic managers. Furthermore, some NHS boards still externally contract cleaning staff which therefore makes it difficult to provide specific and accurate data on cleaners. Data for the years 2007 to 2009 for Hotel Services staff are presented in the following table:
2007
Head Count
2008
Head Count
2009
Head Count
Scotland
8,753
9,136
9,516
National Waiting Times Centre
45
49
55
NHS Ayrshire and Arran
947
963
963
NHS Borders
306
311
304
NHS Dumfries and Galloway
263
272
278
NHS Education for Scotland
3
-
-
NHS Fife
514
528
546
NHS Forth Valley
540
540
552
NHS Grampian
1,035
This scheme has not been cancelled. It was a demand-led scheme and all available funding has now been fully allocated. Therefore, as there has been no reduction to the original proposed programme, there will be potential increase in greenhouse gas emissions. In fact, due to the additional funding allocated to the programme the reduction in green house gas emissions will be more than would have been achieved with the original budget. The latest estimate for emissions reductions by the scheme is 140,052.3 lifetime tonnes of CO2.
","AnswerDate":"2010-08-16T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-08-09T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Jim Mather","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":241822,"EventID":"S3W-35278","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2603,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":6,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2010-07-12T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-07-12T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive when the provisions in the Criminal Justice and Licensing (Scotland) Bill for a presumption against custodial sentences of three months or less will come into force.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive when the provisions in the Criminal Justice and Licensing (Scotland) Bill for a presumption against custodial sentences of three months or less will come into force.","AnswerText":"I will inform Parliament once a decision has been taken on the date on which the relevant provisions will come into force. ","AnswerDate":"2010-08-09T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-08-09T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Kenny MacAskill","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":241823,"EventID":"S3W-35279","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2202,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":8,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2010-07-13T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-07-13T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what the 28-day hospital readmission rate has been from a (a) surgical and (b) medical speciality in each year since 2005, broken down by NHS board","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what the 28-day hospital readmission rate has been from a (a) surgical and (b) medical speciality in each year since 2005, broken down by NHS board","AnswerText":"The following tables show the 28-day hospital emergency readmission rate from surgical and medical specialities in each calendar year from 2005 to 2009, broken down by NHS board of residence.
Table 1: Number of discharges from a surgical specialty with a subsequent emergency readmission within 28 days, and hospital emergency readmission rate as a percentage of all discharges by NHS Board of Residence; calendar years 2005 to 2009P:
Emergency readmissions and % of total discharges
2005
2006
2007
2008
2009P
No.
%
No.
%
No.
%
No.
%
No.
%
NHS Ayrshire and Arran
2,216
5.0%
2,519
5.4%
2,726
5.7%
2,871
5.7%
3,203
6.1%
NHS Borders
578
5.4%
637
6.1%
718
6.5%
776
7.0%
740
6.7%
NHS Dumfries and Galloway
811
4.7%
792
4.2%
878
4.5%
919
","AnswerDate":"2010-08-09T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-08-10T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Nicola Sturgeon","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":241824,"EventID":"S3W-35280","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2202,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":8,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2010-07-13T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-07-13T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what the 28-day hospital readmission rate has been for people aged 65 and over from a (a) surgical and (b) medical speciality in each year since 2005, broken down by NHS ","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what the 28-day hospital readmission rate has been for people aged 65 and over from a (a) surgical and (b) medical speciality in each year since 2005, broken down by NHS board.","AnswerText":"The following tables show the 28-day hospital emergency readmission rate from surgical and medical specialities for people aged 65 and over in each calendar year from 2005 to 2009, broken down by NHS board of residence.
Table 1: Number of discharges from a surgical specialty for people aged 65 and over with a subsequent emergency readmission within 28 days, and hospital emergency readmission rate as a percentage of all discharges by NHS Board of Residence; calendar years 2005 to 2009P:
Emergency readmissions and % of total discharges
2005
2006
2007
2008
2009P
No.
%
No.
%
No.
%
No.
%
No.
%
NHS Ayrshire and Arran
886
6.0%
983
6.3%
1,071
6.4%
1,127
6.2%
1,281
6.6%
NHS Borders
208
5.9%
223
6.5%
226
6.5%
256
7.0%
258
7.0%
NHS Dumfries and Galloway
332
5.0%
321
4.3%
412
5.0%
Table 1: Number of Emergency Admission Bed Days for Patients aged 65 and Over
Year
2004-05
2005-06
2006-07
2007-08
2008-09
Emergency Admission bed days for patients aged 65+
2,811,417
2,830,625
2,885,894
2,857,316
2,920,138
This information is published regularly by the NHS Information Services Division and can be found on their website at http://www.isdscotland.org/isd/3838.html. The 2009-10 data will be published on 28 September 2010.
","AnswerDate":"2010-08-05T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-08-10T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Nicola Sturgeon","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":241826,"EventID":"S3W-35282","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1778,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":40,"ApprovedDate":"2010-07-13T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-07-13T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will list the vacancy (a) rates and (b) numbers for ambulance staff in the Scottish Ambulance Service, broken down by grade and Regional Operational Division i","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will list the vacancy (a) rates and (b) numbers for ambulance staff in the Scottish Ambulance Service, broken down by grade and Regional Operational Division in each of the last six years.","AnswerText":"The information requested is not held centrally. ","AnswerDate":"2010-08-05T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-08-10T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Nicola Sturgeon","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":241827,"EventID":"S3W-35283","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1778,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":40,"ApprovedDate":"2010-07-13T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-07-13T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executivehow many ambulance staff have been employed by the Scottish Ambulance Service, broken down by grade and Regional Operational Division in each of the last six years.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executivehow many ambulance staff have been employed by the Scottish Ambulance Service, broken down by grade and Regional Operational Division in each of the last six years.","AnswerText":"NHS Workforce data is published by National Services Scotland, Information Services Division (ISD) Scotland annually, as at 30 September. Data on ambulance staff in post for 2007-09 can be found at:
Select Scottish Ambulance Service from the pull down list.
Prior to 2007 NHS Workforce Information was published based on the Whitley pay structure. For this reason it is not possible to compare the Whitley staff in post information to Agenda for Change bandings (post 2007).
Headcount figures for ambulance staff (excluding Ambulance and control officers) from 1996-2006 can be found at:
Workforce data for Scottish Ambulance Service for 2006 is not shown in the above links due to discrepancies.
","AnswerDate":"2010-08-05T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-08-10T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Nicola Sturgeon","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":241828,"EventID":"S3W-35284","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1778,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":40,"ApprovedDate":"2010-07-13T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-07-13T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive how many 999 calls were made between 20 December 2007 and 1 January 2010 where it was decided that an ambulance was not necessary; and what proportion of calls over this ","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive how many 999 calls were made between 20 December 2007 and 1 January 2010 where it was decided that an ambulance was not necessary; and what proportion of calls over this period these represented, broken down by Regional Operational Division.","AnswerText":"The information requested is not held centrally. ","AnswerDate":"2010-08-05T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-08-10T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Nicola Sturgeon","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":241829,"EventID":"S3W-35285","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1778,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":40,"ApprovedDate":"2010-07-13T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-07-13T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive how many hoax calls the Scottish Ambulance Service received in the last 12 months for which figures are available, broken down by Regional Operational Division.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive how many hoax calls the Scottish Ambulance Service received in the last 12 months for which figures are available, broken down by Regional Operational Division.","AnswerText":"The information requested is not held centrally. ","AnswerDate":"2010-08-05T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-08-10T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Nicola Sturgeon","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":241830,"EventID":"S3W-35286","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1778,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":40,"ApprovedDate":"2010-07-13T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-07-13T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what the estimated maximum number of casualties the East Central Regional Operational Division of the Scottish Ambulance Service could cope with in one incident is; what ","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what the estimated maximum number of casualties the East Central Regional Operational Division of the Scottish Ambulance Service could cope with in one incident is; what assessment it has made of additional resources that might be required to meet any major incident, and where those resources would come from.","AnswerText":"The information requested is not held centrally. ","AnswerDate":"2010-08-05T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-08-10T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Nicola Sturgeon","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":241831,"EventID":"S3W-35287","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1778,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":40,"ApprovedDate":"2010-07-13T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-07-13T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what the average number of attendances was per year in district general hospital accident and emergency departments in (a) Queen Margaret Hospital, Dunfermline (b) Victor","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what the average number of attendances was per year in district general hospital accident and emergency departments in (a) Queen Margaret Hospital, Dunfermline (b) Victoria Hospital Kirkcaldy and (c) St. Andrews Hospital in each of the last six years.","AnswerText":"The numbers of accident and emergency attendances (new and return) at Queen Margaret Hospital, Dunfermline, Victoria Hospital, Kirkcaldy and St Andrew''s Memorial Hospital, St Andrews for financial years ending 31 March 2005 to 2010 are presented in the table below.
A&E Attendances1; Financial Years Ending 31 March 2005 to 2010
Victoria Hospital, Kirkcaldy
St Andrews Memorial Hospital,
St Andrews
Queen Margaret Hospital,
Dunfermline
2004-05
41,076
4,817
39,360
2005-06
41,479
4,933
39,484
2006-07
44,762
4,807
40,977
2007-08
45,577
3,585
41,579
2008-09
43,206
3,246
39,248
2009-10
42,048
3,764
40,300
Source: ISD(S)1 and ISD Accident and Emergency data mart.
Note: 1. includes all new and return attendances, planned and unplanned.
Further data on attendances at Accident and Emergency departments since 1 April 2006 can be found on the ISD website at http://www.isdscotland.org/isd/4024.html.
","AnswerDate":"2010-07-26T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-08-10T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Shona Robison","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":241832,"EventID":"S3W-35288","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1778,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":40,"ApprovedDate":"2010-07-13T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-07-13T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what the cost per head of (a) emergency and (b) non-emergency ambulance services in the East Central Regional Operational Division of the Scottish Ambulance Service was i","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what the cost per head of (a) emergency and (b) non-emergency ambulance services in the East Central Regional Operational Division of the Scottish Ambulance Service was in the last year.","AnswerText":"The information requested is not held in the format sought, however a range of information relating to the cost of ambulance activity is published annually in the ISD Scotland Cost Book. This information can be found at:
","AnswerDate":"2010-08-05T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-08-10T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Nicola Sturgeon","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":241833,"EventID":"S3W-35289","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1778,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":40,"ApprovedDate":"2010-07-13T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-07-13T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what the average time taken for the East Central Regional Operational Division of the Scottish Ambulance Service to respond to calls for the latest year was for which fig","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what the average time taken for the East Central Regional Operational Division of the Scottish Ambulance Service to respond to calls for the latest year was for which figures are available, and what the equivalent figures were for the previous three years.","AnswerText":"The information requested is not held in the format sought, however I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-34252 on 10 June 2010 and to the answer to question S3W-29061 on 1 December 2009 which provide details of average response times broken down by territorial board area.
","AnswerDate":"2010-08-05T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-08-10T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Nicola Sturgeon","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":241834,"EventID":"S3W-35290","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1778,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":40,"ApprovedDate":"2010-07-13T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-07-13T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether responsibility to provide ambulances to return patients from hospital to their homes lies with the ambulance service nearest to where the hospital is located or w","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether responsibility to provide ambulances to return patients from hospital to their homes lies with the ambulance service nearest to where the hospital is located or where the patient lives.","AnswerText":"While the Scottish Ambulance Service is structured into operating divisions for management purposes it is a national Special Health Board that serves all of Scotland. Where a patient requires transport to return from hospital it can be in a vehicle usually based in the patient''s own locality or a vehicle from elsewhere. This depends on the scheduling and availability of the required, and most appropriate, resource. ","AnswerDate":"2010-08-05T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-08-10T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Nicola Sturgeon","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":241835,"EventID":"S3W-35291","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2892,"Party":"Scottish Green Party","RegionID":2,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2010-07-14T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-07-14T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether it expects local authorities to fund support services for disabled people who (a) reside in the local authority area or (b) come from the local authority area but","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether it expects local authorities to fund support services for disabled people who (a) reside in the local authority area or (b) come from the local authority area but reside in another.","AnswerText":"The Scottish Government expects all local authorities to have a range of services in place to meet the needs of its local population.
Under the Social Work (Scotland) Act 1968, Scottish local authorities have a duty to provide community care services within their area. Eligibility for such services arises from the physical presence of an individual in the local authority area and from that individual being assessed as having a need that calls for the provision of a service.
A local authority may, therefore, be responsible for providing care to someone in its area who is ordinarily resident elsewhere. Section 86 of the 1968 Act and related regulations provide for certain expenditure incurred in so doing to be recoverable from the local authority in whose area the individual is ordinarily resident.
In a similar way Scottish Government expects local authorities to meet the housing support needs of all individuals currently living in their area but, where relevant, to be able to claim back such expenses from the local authority in which the individual ordinarily resides.
A circular published by the Scottish Government in March 2010 contains revised guidance on ordinary residence in relation to the recovery of the expenditure on accommodation and services provided under the 1968 Act and can be found at the following link (Circular CCD 3/2010). It contains guidanceonly and is not intended to be a definitive interpretation of the law, which is a matter for the Courts. Local authorities are, however, encouraged to follow the guidance to help achieve consistency and equity across Scotland.
The guidance also sets out new procedures for resolving disputes when local authorities cannot reach agreement as to which local authority is liable for the costs, and proposes transitional arrangements to help with voluntary moves.
","AnswerDate":"2010-08-09T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-08-11T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Shona Robison","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":241836,"EventID":"S3W-35292","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2876,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":8,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2010-07-14T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-07-14T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive how many domestic fires have been caused by faults in electrical installations and products since the introduction of a minimum standard for electrical installations was ","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive how many domestic fires have been caused by faults in electrical installations and products since the introduction of a minimum standard for electrical installations was included in the tolerable standard in 2006.","AnswerText":"The latest national statistics are contained in the Scottish Government Statistical Bulletin, Fire Statistics Scotland, 2007, which was published in August 2009. This report provides an overview of Scottish fire statistics over the 10 year period from 1998 to 2007. Table 10(a) shows that of the 6,684 Scottish primary dwelling fires in 2007, 664 were recorded as being caused by faulty appliance and leads. The report is available on the Scottish Government website at:
","AnswerDate":"2010-07-30T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-08-11T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Fergus Ewing","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":241837,"EventID":"S3W-35293","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1866,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":30,"ApprovedDate":"2010-07-14T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-07-14T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive when the Public Sector Climate Action Group was established.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive when the Public Sector Climate Action Group was established.","AnswerText":"The first meeting of the Public Sector Climate Action Group was held on 8 February 2010. Meeting papers are available on the Scottish Government website at:
","AnswerDate":"2010-08-04T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-08-11T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Stewart Stevenson","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":241838,"EventID":"S3W-35294","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1866,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":30,"ApprovedDate":"2010-07-14T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-07-14T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive how many times the Public Sector Climate Action Group has met since its creation.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive how many times the Public Sector Climate Action Group has met since its creation.","AnswerText":"The Public Sector Climate Action Group has met three times. Meeting papers are available on the Scottish Government website at:
","AnswerDate":"2010-08-04T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-08-11T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Stewart Stevenson","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":241839,"EventID":"S3W-35295","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1866,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":30,"ApprovedDate":"2010-07-14T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-07-14T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what the remit of the Public Sector Climate Action Group is.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what the remit of the Public Sector Climate Action Group is.","AnswerText":"The remit of the Public Sector Climate Action Group is available on the Scottish Government website at:
","AnswerDate":"2010-08-04T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-08-11T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Stewart Stevenson","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":241840,"EventID":"S3W-35296","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1866,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":30,"ApprovedDate":"2010-07-14T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-07-14T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive who is represented on the Public Sector Climate Action Group.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive who is represented on the Public Sector Climate Action Group.","AnswerText":"Membership of the Public Sector Climate Action Group can be found within minutes of meetings available on the Scottish Government website at:
","AnswerDate":"2010-08-04T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-08-11T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Stewart Stevenson","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":241841,"EventID":"S3W-35297","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1866,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":30,"ApprovedDate":"2010-07-14T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-07-14T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive how many members the Public Sector Climate Action Group has.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive how many members the Public Sector Climate Action Group has.","AnswerText":"I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-35296 on 4 August 2010. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament''s website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/Apps2/Business/PQA/Default.aspx. ","AnswerDate":"2010-08-04T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-08-11T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Stewart Stevenson","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":241842,"EventID":"S3W-35298","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1866,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":30,"ApprovedDate":"2010-07-14T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-07-14T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what areas have been selected for the £10 million universal access scheme under the Home Insulation Scheme.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what areas have been selected for the £10 million universal access scheme under the Home Insulation Scheme.","AnswerText":"The Universal Home Insulation Scheme Implementation Group, which I chair, has recommended that delivery of the scheme is led by local authorities. The Implementation Group, Scottish Government and COSLA have agreed and finalised the arrangements for the scheme, together with associated bidding guidance to assist local authorities and their partners in preparing bids. Bidding documents were issued to local authorities on 19 July 2010 and are due to be returned to the Scottish Government by 27 August 2010, following which assessment and area selection will take place. ","AnswerDate":"2010-08-06T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-08-11T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Alex Neil","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":241843,"EventID":"S3W-35299","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1866,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":30,"ApprovedDate":"2010-07-14T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-07-14T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what areas will be covered by the second phase of the Home Insulation Scheme.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what areas will be covered by the second phase of the Home Insulation Scheme.","AnswerText":"The Scottish Government''s approach to delivery of phase two of the Home Insulation Scheme (HIS) in 2010-11 was agreed with COSLA. We are working to agree the detail of final schemes for those local authorities which bid unsuccessfully in 2009-10, and have also given those authorities which chose not to bid in 2009-10 a further opportunity to do so. As a result we have been considering these bids for inclusion in the second phase of HIS and shall announce the outcome when we have completed this process. ","AnswerDate":"2010-08-05T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-08-11T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Alex Neil","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":241844,"EventID":"S3W-35300","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1866,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":30,"ApprovedDate":"2010-07-14T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-07-14T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive how many households will be targeted during the second phase of the Home Insulation Scheme.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive how many households will be targeted during the second phase of the Home Insulation Scheme.","AnswerText":"We estimate that the £15 million of Scottish Government funding available to deliver the second phase of the Home Insulation Scheme in 2010-11 will allow us to target around 200,000 households throughout Scotland. A more precise figure will be available when all bids have been considered and final decisions taken. ","AnswerDate":"2010-08-05T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-08-11T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Alex Neil","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":241845,"EventID":"S3W-35301","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1866,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":30,"ApprovedDate":"2010-07-14T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-07-14T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive further to the answer to question S3W-30350 by Alex Neil on 15 January 2010, how many of the households that requested insulation measures through the Home Insulation Sch","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive further to the answer to question S3W-30350 by Alex Neil on 15 January 2010, how many of the households that requested insulation measures through the Home Insulation Scheme have had these measures installed, broken down by local authority area.","AnswerText":"The table below sets out the number of households in the areas covered by the first phase of the Home Insulation Scheme that were referred under that scheme for insulation measures. The table also shows the number of those households referred under HIS which have had insulation installed under the scheme up to 4 July. Households receiving more than one insulation measure are counted only once. Installations of insulation measures based on referrals from the scheme are still continuing.
All households referred for insulation measures under HIS should have such measures installed in due course providing that, following a technical survey their home is found to be suitable for the insulation measure proposed; the customer still wants the work undertaken and the installer is able to contact the customer to arrange to undertake the work, and, in cases where the householder is required to make a financial contribution, they are prepared to do so.
A telephone survey based on 1,000 interviews in HIS areas identified 681 respondents which had received a home survey. Of these 33% had not yet proceeded to receive an installation. The main reasons given by the customer for not proceeding included: they already have insulation (18%); their home is not suitable (13%); a perception that they are not eligible (10%); they do not now want the insulation (9%); concerns about their financial contribution (9%), and they are waiting for the installer to contact them (7%).
Local council within which HIS area is located
Numbers of households for whom at least one referral for insulation under HIS was made
Numbers of households with at least one insulation installation under HIS (up to 4 July)
Orkney
254
152
Highland
1,445
766
Western Isles
2,634
1,362
Angus
1,768
780
Dundee
1,972
859
Glasgow
2,297
802
South Lanarkshire
295
154
Stirling
2,425
877
Edinburgh
1,619
483
Fife
1,800
674
","AnswerDate":"2010-08-06T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-08-11T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Alex Neil","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":241846,"EventID":"S3W-35302","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":4086,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":7,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2010-07-14T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-07-14T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether there have been any changes to the rules which govern public sector food procurement since the national food and drink policy workstream, Walking the Talk, was es","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether there have been any changes to the rules which govern public sector food procurement since the national food and drink policy workstream, Walking the Talk, was established in August 2008, and if so, what these changes were.","AnswerText":"Public sector procurement in Scotland is regulated by European Union Procurement Regulations, implemented in Scotland by the Public Contracts (Scotland) Regulations 2006. However the Scottish Government is encouraging the procurement of healthy, sustainable food across the public sector by promoting the effective use of these regulations, engaging with small and medium enterprises and piloting different approaches to helping food producers access public sector contracts. ","AnswerDate":"2010-08-02T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-08-11T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Richard Lochhead","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":241847,"EventID":"S3W-35303","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":4086,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":7,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2010-07-14T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-07-14T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether all its procurement contracts include a community benefit clause.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether all its procurement contracts include a community benefit clause.","AnswerText":"Community Benefit clauses are one of a range of social clauses that can be included in contracts. In February 2008 the Scottish Government published a detailed report on Community Benefit clauses with practical information on how and when to use the clauses and since then we have been involved in encouraging their use across the wider public sector. They should be considered on a contract by contract basis.
Use of Community Benefit clauses has been considered for a number of Scottish Government contracts and the clauses have been included in contracts for the Scottish Government Energy Assistance Programme and in contracts relating to the Scottish Crime Campus.
The Scottish Government Ready for Business Programme and the Scottish Sustainable Procurement Action and Delivery Plans will continue to promote Community Benefit and other social clauses within the core Scottish Government and across the wider public sector.
","AnswerDate":"2010-07-30T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-08-11T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"John Swinney","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":241848,"EventID":"S3W-35304","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":4086,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":7,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2010-07-14T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-07-14T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether there are any plans to change the rules which govern public sector food procurement before May 2011.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether there are any plans to change the rules which govern public sector food procurement before May 2011.","AnswerText":"Public sector procurement in Scotland is regulated by European Union (EU) Procurement Regulations, implemented in Scotland by the Public Contracts (Scotland) Regulations 2006. We are not aware of any plans to change EU Procurement Regulations as they apply to food before May 2011. ","AnswerDate":"2010-08-02T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-08-11T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Richard Lochhead","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":241849,"EventID":"S3W-35305","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":4086,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":7,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2010-07-14T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-07-14T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether its procurement policy follows the guidelines set out in the EU’s handbook on green public procurement.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether its procurement policy follows the guidelines set out in the EU’s handbook on green public procurement.","AnswerText":"The Scottish Government policy on green procurement is set out in the Scottish Sustainable Procurement Action Plan, which is broadly consistent with the EU handbook ","AnswerDate":"2010-07-30T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-08-11T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"John Swinney","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":241850,"EventID":"S3W-35306","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1752,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":57,"ApprovedDate":"2010-08-06T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-08-06T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions it has had with the UK Government regarding the competitiveness of the Scottish ferry industry.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions it has had with the UK Government regarding the competitiveness of the Scottish ferry industry.","AnswerText":"There is regular liaison and discussion between the Scottish and UK Governments regarding a wide range of maritime matters, including the Scottish ferry industry. ","AnswerDate":"2010-08-06T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-08-11T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Stewart Stevenson","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":241851,"EventID":"S3W-35307","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1752,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":57,"ApprovedDate":"2010-08-06T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-08-06T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what action is being taken to improve and develop ferry links between Scotland and Ireland.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what action is being taken to improve and develop ferry links between Scotland and Ireland.","AnswerText":"There are no ferry services operating between Scotland and the Republic of Ireland. However, there are three commercial services currently operating between Scotland and Northern Ireland, as follows:
Stranraer to Belfast (operated by Stena Line)*
Cairnryan to Larne (P & O Irish Sea Ferries)
Troon to Larne (P & O Irish Sea Ferries).
The A75 Cairntop to Barlae scheme, which is due for completion in October 2010, will see a new 1.4 mile stretch of dual carriageway. This will improve the access to and from Stranraer and Cairnryan in support of the above services. It will also support businesses, communities and tourism across Scotland.
In addition, Scottish ministers remain supportive of the provision of a service between Campbeltown and Ballycastle in Northern Ireland in view of the benefits it will bring to the people across Scotland and Northern Ireland. Consideration is currently being given to the timing of further work on the re-establishment of this service. However, in view of the limited funding available for the route in the 2010-11 budget, it would be inappropriate to say when any tendering of the route could start.
*Stena Line is planning to move its Belfast service from Stranraer to Old House Point, Loch Ryan. A Harbour Empowerment Order for the Loch Ryan Port has recently been approved by the Scottish Parliament which will enable Stena Line to develop and operate its new facility at Old House Point. In summary, the project will:
trigger a £200 million investment by Stena (including two new vessels).
safeguard around 500 port operation jobs (420 in Stranraer).
create around 900 new jobs during the construction period (100 will be local).
shorten the crossing time between Loch Ryan and Belfast.
enable significant regeneration proposals for Stranraer.
","AnswerDate":"2010-08-06T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-08-11T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Stewart Stevenson","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":241852,"EventID":"S3W-35308","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2182,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":5,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2010-07-14T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-07-14T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what its position is on the BMA Junior Doctors Committee’s BMA survey of junior doctors’ working arrangements 2010, which reported respondents’ concerns that the increase","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what its position is on the BMA Junior Doctors Committee’s BMA survey of junior doctors’ working arrangements 2010, which reported respondents’ concerns that the increased frequency of shift handovers and an associated increase in the number of doctors involved in a patient’s treatment was sometimes detrimental to the patient’s quality of care and overall experience.","AnswerText":"The NHS in Scotland has invested significantly in new ways of working to support the reduction in hours for doctors in training which has come as part of the implementation of the New Deal Contract and Working Time Regulations. Hospital at Night (H@N) has become the main focus of this, with investment in a multidisciplinary team working in the out of hours period providing care to the majority of inpatients within the hospital.
Safe and effective handover is key to ensuring the success of H@N and shift working, the safety of patients and the quality of care received. As such, NHS Boards have reviewed handover procedures to ensure they are as safe and effective as possible, and some have invested in new technologies such as a the Salisbury Handover Tool to aid this. The Scottish Government has made all NHS boards aware of this tool, and of any good practice across the country.
There is a significant amount of evidence which supports H@N as a safe and sustainable clinical model, and it is shown to improve the overall patient experience, improve clinical outcomes and reduce overall length of stay. Such is the success of H@N within NHS Scotland (and across the UK), it is now being extended to cover the daytime periods in a large number of areas across the country. More information on H@N can be found at:
Training grade doctors are also complimentary of the H@N environment, stating that they feel supported within the team, with the necessary clinical support available at all times. There is again documented and published evidence (by NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde) to show that H@N helps doctors in training achieve curriculum competencies at foundation year level.
","AnswerDate":"2010-07-22T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-08-11T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Shona Robison","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":241853,"EventID":"S3W-35309","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2182,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":5,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2010-07-14T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-07-14T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what steps it is taking to ensure that shift working, particularly shifts arising from the implementation of the European working time directive, and the implementation o","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what steps it is taking to ensure that shift working, particularly shifts arising from the implementation of the European working time directive, and the implementation of hospital at night schemes are not deleterious to patient safety and junior doctors’ health.","AnswerText":"Both patient safety and staff welfare are critical issues for health boards and they are constantly seeking to improve both. All rotas are designed to meet the minimum contractual and legal guidelines around hours of work, rest and breaks which ensure that doctors are not over tired or unsafe to work. Our WTR Adviser also works with NHS Boards to review working patterns, ensuring that any pattern implemented meets the minimum standards required.
The implementation of H@N has helped reduce the amount of out of hours work done by doctors in training, particularly during the night, with some posts now being required to work night shift one week in every six months. Previous to implementation of H@N, all specialty areas provided individual cover, which meant that night working was significantly higher in a large number of specialties than it is now. This reduction in night work means more time can be spent working in daytime hours.
The Scottish Government and NHS Scotland have implemented where possible the BMA''s recommendations around splitting night shift working from a week of nights to two individual periods of four nights on and three nights on with extended periods of rest after each.
The Scottish Government is also pursuing a policy of reshaping the medical workforce by moving to a health service predominantly delivered by trained doctors and to reduce the reliance on doctors in training for front-line service delivery. A trained doctor delivered service will ensure better health and higher quality healthcare services for patients resulting in improved patient outcomes and clinical safety. It also supports the continued development of excellence in medicine by giving us the opportunity to enhance the capacity of NHSScotland as a trained doctor''s capacity to deliver is far greater than a doctor in training.
These developments ensure that the welfare of doctors and the safety of patients is always a priority for NHSScotland boards.
","AnswerDate":"2010-07-22T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-08-11T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Shona Robison","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":241854,"EventID":"S3W-35310","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2182,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":5,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2010-07-14T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-07-14T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether it is taking steps to ensure that other NHS boards follow the practice undertaken by NHS Lothian of discussing complaints quarterly at a clinical governance steer","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether it is taking steps to ensure that other NHS boards follow the practice undertaken by NHS Lothian of discussing complaints quarterly at a clinical governance steering group, which the Scottish Public Services Ombudsman has commended and recommended should be followed by other public bodies.","AnswerText":"NHS boards are responsible for ensuring the quality, safety and effectiveness of the services they provide. The Scottish Government ensures that all complaints upheld by the Scottish Public Services Ombudsman are followed-up rigorously by NHS boards through established governance arrangements including consideration by Clinical Governance Committees. ","AnswerDate":"2010-07-26T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-08-11T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Shona Robison","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":241855,"EventID":"S3W-35311","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2182,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":5,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2010-07-14T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-07-14T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether, in relation to providing (a) compensation and (b) noise mitigation measures, it has taken the World Health Organization’s Night Noise Guidelines for Europe, publ","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether, in relation to providing (a) compensation and (b) noise mitigation measures, it has taken the World Health Organization’s Night Noise Guidelines for Europe, published in 2009, into account when assessing the impact of noise on households along the Stirling-Alloa-Kincardine railway line and, if so, what assumptions it made in interpreting the guidelines","AnswerText":"The Rail Noise Assessment “ Stirling “ Alloa “ Kincardine Rail Link Report published on 26 May 2009 were undertaken prior to the publication of the World Health Organisation Night Noise Guidelines for Europe. The WHO Night Noise Guidelines for Europe provides guidance on converting between noise metrics and mitigation thresholds reported are in line with the WHO Night Noise Guidelines for Europe. Claims for compensation, in relation to noise and disruption are considered under Part 1 of the Land Compensation (Scotland) Act 1973, and are managed by Network Rail. In determining claims Network Rail has taken into consideration the age and location of properties and it has been determined that only properties adjacent to the new railway line qualify. ","AnswerDate":"2010-08-06T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-08-11T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Stewart Stevenson","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":241856,"EventID":"S3W-35312","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2234,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":2,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2010-07-15T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-07-15T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what measures are being taken to reduce the number of accidental fires caused in domestic properties each year from faults in electrical installations and products in the","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what measures are being taken to reduce the number of accidental fires caused in domestic properties each year from faults in electrical installations and products in the Glasgow parliamentary region.","AnswerText":"The Scottish Government funds the national fire safety campaign Don''t Give Fire a Home. The website www.dontgivefireahome.com hosts information, advice and interactive materials to educate people about fire risks and to help them prevent fire in the home. The section electricity and fire safety covers areas from mains wiring and sockets to electrical appliances and lighting. In addition, targeted advertising campaigns promote the risks created by electrical appliances. Fire and rescue authorities including Strathclyde, which covers Glasgow, also run local community fire safety initiatives. Free home fire safety visits are offered by Scottish fire and rescue services to assess homes for fire hazards and offer advice. ","AnswerDate":"2010-07-30T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-08-12T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Fergus Ewing","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":241857,"EventID":"S3W-35313","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2345,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":56,"ApprovedDate":"2010-07-15T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-07-15T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-34671 by Richard Lochhead on 30 June 2010, what new systems are being introduced to speed up the processing of annual recurrent pay","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-34671 by Richard Lochhead on 30 June 2010, what new systems are being introduced to speed up the processing of annual recurrent payments for the Rural Priorities scheme. ","AnswerText":"The new systems are (1) an improvement in the procedure for clearing computer generated errors involving the reclassification of some automated checks, and (2) a change to the associated IT payment calculation programme to operate on a nightly rather than a twice weekly basis to ensure that authorised claims are paid quicker. These new systems were introduced on 29 June and 14 July respectively. ","AnswerDate":"2010-08-11T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-08-12T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Richard Lochhead","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":241858,"EventID":"S3W-35314","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2345,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":56,"ApprovedDate":"2010-07-15T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-07-15T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what assurances can be given to claimants that future annual recurrent payments under the Rural Priorities scheme will be paid on time.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what assurances can be given to claimants that future annual recurrent payments under the Rural Priorities scheme will be paid on time.","AnswerText":"We continue to improve the Rural Priorities payments process and our aim is to pay the vast majority of the 2010 annual recurrent claims by the end of March 2011. This is in line with the payments target for the long-established Less Favoured Area Support Scheme, which is another element of the SRDP. ","AnswerDate":"2010-08-11T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-08-12T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Richard Lochhead","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":241859,"EventID":"S3W-35315","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2603,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":6,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2010-07-15T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-07-15T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-30561 by Kenny MacAskill on 19 January 2010, how many interpretation assignments have been undertaken by the Scottish Court Service","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-30561 by Kenny MacAskill on 19 January 2010, how many interpretation assignments have been undertaken by the Scottish Court Service in each month of 2010, broken down by interpreters (a) with and (b) without a Diploma in Public Service Interpreting. ","AnswerText":"This question relates to operational matters that are the responsibility of the Scottish Court Service (SCS) corporate body. The question has been passed to the Chief Executive of the SCS who will reply in writing. ","AnswerDate":"2010-07-21T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-08-12T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Kenny MacAskill","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":241860,"EventID":"S3W-35316","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2603,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":6,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2010-07-15T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-07-15T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-30559 by Alex Neil on 22 January 2010, what further consideration it has given to how best to improve the quality and standards of ","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-30559 by Alex Neil on 22 January 2010, what further consideration it has given to how best to improve the quality and standards of interpretation services.","AnswerText":"The Scottish Government facilitated an event in June for stakeholders to discuss how translation and interpretation services might be improved across the public sector. Partners are now working collectively to look at the suggestions and how we may work together to improve the quality and standards of interpretation services. ","AnswerDate":"2010-08-05T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-08-12T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Alex Neil","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":241861,"EventID":"S3W-35317","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2603,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":6,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2010-07-15T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-07-15T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what action the Translating, Interpreting and Communication Support Group has taken to improve the standards of translation and interpreting services and how it will eval","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what action the Translating, Interpreting and Communication Support Group has taken to improve the standards of translation and interpreting services and how it will evaluate progress.","AnswerText":"I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-35316 on 5 August 2010. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament''s website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/Apps2/Business/PQA/Default.aspx. ","AnswerDate":"2010-08-05T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-08-12T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Alex Neil","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":241862,"EventID":"S3W-35318","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2603,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":6,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2010-07-15T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-07-15T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive, since the implementation of the framework contract for the provision of interpreting, translation and transcription services, on how many occasions courts have advised t","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive, since the implementation of the framework contract for the provision of interpreting, translation and transcription services, on how many occasions courts have advised the Scottish Court Service about a case in which an aspect of the performance of the interpretation service has had an effect on proceedings, broken down by month, and how this compares with the situation prior to the introduction of the framework contract.","AnswerText":"This question relates to operational matters that are the responsibility of the Scottish Court Service (SCS) corporate body. The question has been passed to the Chief Executive of the SCS who will reply in writing. ","AnswerDate":"2010-07-21T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-08-12T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Kenny MacAskill","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":241863,"EventID":"S3W-35319","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":4086,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":7,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2010-07-15T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-07-15T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has undertaken tests regarding the potential links between herbicide spraying and bee deaths and, if so, what the results were.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has undertaken tests regarding the potential links between herbicide spraying and bee deaths and, if so, what the results were.","AnswerText":"The Scottish Government takes issues related to bee populations very seriously and monitors developments in relation to pesticides and insects carefully. For example the Scottish Government have contributed to a £1.8 million study led by Dundee University on An investigation into the synergistic impact of sublethal exposure to industrial chemicals on the learning capacity and performance of bees, which is part of the GB-wide £10 million Insect Pollinators research initiative. ","AnswerDate":"2010-08-11T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-08-12T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Richard Lochhead","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":241864,"EventID":"S3W-35320","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2678,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":8,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2010-07-15T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-07-15T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive how much has been spent on its Designing Streets initiative, broken down by item of expenditure.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive how much has been spent on its Designing Streets initiative, broken down by item of expenditure.","AnswerText":"The total expenditure on the development of the Designing Streets policy document is £113,868.
Broken down by items of expenditure, this is as follows:
Policy development
£99,875
Design and publication costs
£12,742
Management, web conversion, cataloguing and indexing
£1,251
","AnswerDate":"2010-08-06T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-08-12T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Stewart Stevenson","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":241865,"EventID":"S3W-35321","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2678,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":8,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2010-07-15T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-07-15T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to take forward its Designing Streets initiative.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to take forward its Designing Streets initiative.","AnswerText":"Designing Streets is Scottish planning policy and was published on 1 March 2010.
Workshops are planned in the near future to assist local authorities with the interpretation and practical application of the design principles set out in the policy document.
","AnswerDate":"2010-08-06T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-08-12T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Stewart Stevenson","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":241866,"EventID":"S3W-35322","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2866,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":63,"ApprovedDate":"2010-07-15T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-07-15T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether the Scottish Futures Trust is generating its predicted savings of £100-150 million per annum. ","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether the Scottish Futures Trust is generating its predicted savings of £100-150 million per annum. ","AnswerText":"I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-30424 on 15 January 2010. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament''s website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/Apps2/Business/PQA/Default.aspx. ","AnswerDate":"2010-08-06T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-08-12T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"John Swinney","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":241867,"EventID":"S3W-35323","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2866,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":63,"ApprovedDate":"2010-07-15T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-07-15T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive how it is prioritising the projects in the Strategic Transport Projects Review.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive how it is prioritising the projects in the Strategic Transport Projects Review.","AnswerText":"I have previously highlighted our approach to the prioritisation of the projects in the Strategic Transport Projects Review.
Our priorities are:
Firstly, the Forth Replacement Crossing. The Bill has been brought before the Parliament.
Secondly, the Edinburgh to Glasgow Improvements Programme is being taken forward for delivery. The first phase of this programme, new hourly fast services between Glasgow and Edinburgh have been introduced. In addition, outline design for the new station at Gogar is progressing well, and it is planned that the station will be completed to coincide with the opening of the Edinburgh tram network.
Finally, Network Rail are working hard on the development of our plans for the Highland main line and the Aberdeen to Inverness line.
In terms of the remaining 25 projects, we are working with partners and stakeholders to take forward the development and design of these projects.
","AnswerDate":"2010-08-04T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-08-12T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Stewart Stevenson","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":241868,"EventID":"S3W-35324","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2866,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":63,"ApprovedDate":"2010-07-15T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-07-15T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what (a) progress has been made and (b) work is underway on each project in the Strategic Transport Projects Review.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what (a) progress has been made and (b) work is underway on each project in the Strategic Transport Projects Review.","AnswerText":"I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-35323 on 4 August 2010. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament''s website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/Apps2/Business/PQA/Default.aspx. ","AnswerDate":"2010-08-04T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-08-12T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Stewart Stevenson","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":241869,"EventID":"S3W-35325","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2866,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":63,"ApprovedDate":"2010-07-15T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-07-15T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether it plans to review the planning system in respect of (a) facilitating economic growth and employment, (b) giving greater weight to the needs of the economy or (c)","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether it plans to review the planning system in respect of (a) facilitating economic growth and employment, (b) giving greater weight to the needs of the economy or (c) the impact on the economy.","AnswerText":"The planning system is being reformed to support sustainable economic growth. ","AnswerDate":"2010-08-20T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-08-12T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Stewart Stevenson","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":241870,"EventID":"S3W-35326","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2866,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":63,"ApprovedDate":"2010-07-15T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-07-15T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what action it is taking to give greater incentives for local authorities to improve economic growth in their area.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what action it is taking to give greater incentives for local authorities to improve economic growth in their area.","AnswerText":"The Scottish Government fully recognises local authorities'' role in local economic development and is committed to ensuring they have the opportunity to contribute to growing local business success. It supports local authorities in this work through a range of measures. For example, local delivery of the Business Gateway was transferred, along with funding, to local authorities as part of the reform of the Enterprise Networks. This helped to ensure better integration of these services with other local authority services.
The Scottish Government continues to work closely with COSLA and the Scottish Local Authorities Economic Development Group (SLAED). For example, it has recently agreed a framework to offer local authorities clear guidance on business support activities that are likely to be supported through the European Regional Development Fund. This will ensure local authorities can develop suitable and consistent proposals to address the needs of small and medium-sized enterprises across Lowland and Upland Scotland.
The Scottish Government is also supporting local authorities through various business rate relief schemes. These schemes will reduce taxation for Scottish businesses by an estimated £2.4 billion over the next five years. Money which would otherwise be paid as tax, can now be reinvested in those businesses. Measures also include proposals for a business rates incentivisation scheme to encourage authorities to grow their tax base.
The Scottish Government also recently signed a funding agreement with the European Investment Bank (EIB) to establish a £50 million JESSICA Holding Fund in Scotland “ a new, flexible source of investment capital for revenue generating regeneration projects. The Holding Fund, which has been jointly financed by the Scottish Government and European Commission, will invest in Urban Development Funds, who will provide loans and other forms of repayable investment to projects. Schemes in 13 local authority areas will be eligible for investment.
Scottish Enterprise and HighIands and Islands Enterprise continue to work collaboratively with local authorities and Community Planning Partnerships providing expertise, advice and mentoring to support economic development at a local level.
","AnswerDate":"2010-07-30T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-08-12T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Jim Mather","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":241871,"EventID":"S3W-35327","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2866,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":63,"ApprovedDate":"2010-07-15T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-07-15T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether it is undertaking work to develop an asset disposal strategy.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether it is undertaking work to develop an asset disposal strategy.","AnswerText":"The Scottish Government has for some time had a strategy on estates asset management, including asset disposal. Any disposals of surplus or vacant property are undertaken following the principles set out in the Scottish Public Finance Manual. ","AnswerDate":"2010-08-04T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-08-12T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"John Swinney","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":241872,"EventID":"S3W-35328","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2866,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":63,"ApprovedDate":"2010-07-15T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-07-15T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what the absence rates of public sector employees have been in each of the last three years.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what the absence rates of public sector employees have been in each of the last three years.","AnswerText":"Each public sector body is responsible for recording their employees'' absence data within their management information systems (MIS). The Scottish Government only has access to its own MIS and not MIS for other public sector bodies, so is unable to provide an overall estimate of absence rates for all public sector employees in Scotland.
Information from the Scottish Government''s MIS, shows that the annual average working days lost (AWDL) by Scottish Government staff has reduced to 7.7 days for the period up to end March 2010.
As well as the official admin data, there are a number of surveys which collect information on sickness absence. However they are not all measuring the same thing as explained below.
The Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (CIPD) carry out an absence management survey of employers. Respondents are asked to provide information on the average number of working days lost per employee per year based on a 228-day working year. Results from the latest survey in March 2009 are provided in Table 1 along with comparisons with the previous year.
Table 1: Average days Lost per Employee per Year, 2008-09
1. The absence data is for the calendar year, January to December.
2. Results for the public and private sector are only published at UK level.
The Labour Force Survey (LFS) can provide an estimate of public sector absence rates as it collects information on whether respondents were off work due to sickness or injury in the reference week (usually the week before the respondent was interviewed). This is a survey of employees and provides an estimate of the proportion of employees who took at least one day off sick or injured in the reference week can be produced. Table 2 provides estimates from the LFS January to March datasets from 2008 to 2010 (latest available).
Table 2: Sickness Absence Rates* by Sector, Scotland, 2008-2010, not Seasonally Adjusted
Public Sector
Private Sector
All
","AnswerDate":"2010-08-04T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-08-12T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"John Swinney","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":241874,"EventID":"S3W-35330","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2866,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":63,"ApprovedDate":"2010-07-15T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-07-15T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether it plans to adopt the UK Government’s five-day target of settling public sector supplier invoices.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether it plans to adopt the UK Government’s five-day target of settling public sector supplier invoices.","AnswerText":"The Scottish Government is concentrating on ensuring that all our supplier invoices are paid within 10 days. Latest performance shows that over 95% of invoices are paid within that target, and the Scottish business sector has noted the positive contribution that this has made to company liquidity in Scotland over the past year.
We will continue to keep under review the target period for paying invoices.
","AnswerDate":"2010-08-04T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-08-12T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"John Swinney","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":241875,"EventID":"S3W-35331","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2866,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":63,"ApprovedDate":"2010-07-15T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-07-15T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive when it expects the first school of the first tranche of the Scotland’s Schools for the Future programme to open.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive when it expects the first school of the first tranche of the Scotland’s Schools for the Future programme to open.","AnswerText":"The Scottish Futures Trust will deliver the first primary school funded by Scotland''s Schools for the Future by the end of 2011, which will be four and a half years since this administration came to power. This compares with the five and a half years the first Scottish Executive administration took from taking office in July 1999 to opening the first school, the refurbished Dunbar Grammar School, in December 2004. ","AnswerDate":"2010-08-04T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-08-12T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Keith Brown","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":241876,"EventID":"S3W-35332","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2866,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":63,"ApprovedDate":"2010-07-15T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-07-15T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3M-33983 by Keith Brown on 2 June 2010, whether the role of the Scottish Futures Trust in the Scottish Government’s school building pr","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3M-33983 by Keith Brown on 2 June 2010, whether the role of the Scottish Futures Trust in the Scottish Government’s school building programme has involved more than informing local authorities of their funding allocations and, if so, what work it has carried out.","AnswerText":"All of the Scottish Futures Trust''s (SFT) activities, including SFT''s involvement in the Scotland''s Schools for the Future programme, are outlined in its business plans which are accessible on the SFT website (http://www.scottishfuturestrust.org.uk/).
The most recent Business plan for 2010-11 details SFT''s achievements against objectives which were set out in the 2009-10 business plan. SFT''s annual report will be published later this year will also provide further details on its progress.
","AnswerDate":"2010-08-12T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-08-12T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Keith Brown","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":241877,"EventID":"S3W-35334","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2866,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":63,"ApprovedDate":"2010-07-15T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-07-15T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive when it will publish the raw data on the 2010 non-domestic rates revaluation, including information on the proportion of businesses that have seen their rates increase or","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive when it will publish the raw data on the 2010 non-domestic rates revaluation, including information on the proportion of businesses that have seen their rates increase or decrease and by how much.","AnswerText":"All raw data showing valuations of individual properties following the 2010 business rates revaluation has been available since 10 February 2010 on the Scottish Assessors Association website and can be found at www.saa.gov.uk.
In addition the Scottish Government published a report on 14 May 2010 which provided information on the proportion of businesses which saw their rates increase or decrease. That report shows that following the 2010 revaluation almost 60% of ratepayers saw bills fall or remain the same and that the average saving was over £1,300 in 2010-11. That figure of 60% is before the impact of reliefs and appeals, both of which will lower bills further. The report can be found at:
","AnswerDate":"2010-07-27T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-08-12T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"John Swinney","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":241878,"EventID":"S3W-35335","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2866,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":63,"ApprovedDate":"2010-07-15T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-07-15T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether it plans to review rates relief schemes.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether it plans to review rates relief schemes.","AnswerText":"The Scottish Government keeps all its rates relief schemes under regular review. It is estimated that over the next five years £2.4 billion of rates relief will be available. ","AnswerDate":"2010-08-04T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-08-12T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"John Swinney","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":241879,"EventID":"S3W-35336","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2866,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":63,"ApprovedDate":"2010-07-15T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-07-15T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether it plans to harmonise the various methods of valuing biomass energy plants.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether it plans to harmonise the various methods of valuing biomass energy plants.","AnswerText":"Valuations of all non-domestic properties in Scotland, including those for biomass energy plants, are carried out by the Scottish Assessors independently of the Scottish Government. The valuation methodology for biomass energy plants is therefore a matter solely for the Scottish assessors who seek to harmonise valuation practice with their counterparts in the rest of the United Kingdom. ","AnswerDate":"2010-08-04T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-08-12T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"John Swinney","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":241880,"EventID":"S3W-35337","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2866,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":63,"ApprovedDate":"2010-07-15T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-07-15T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what action it is taking to improve businesses’ awareness and understanding of the grant schemes available.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what action it is taking to improve businesses’ awareness and understanding of the grant schemes available.","AnswerText":"The most widely used service for business seeking an effective advice support service is the Business Gateway. Local authorities are now responsible for its local delivery. The Business Gateway service involves extensive marketing programmes to ensure that the services it provides and signposts are publicised to businesses as comprehensively as possible.
The support provided by the Business Gateway includes advice on the financial support that may be available. The Business Gateway website contains a section dedicated to Finance and Grants, while its Enquiry Service provides details of grants and finance schemes available in each local authority area, ensuring that customers receive appropriate advice tailored to local needs.
","AnswerDate":"2010-07-30T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-08-12T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Jim Mather","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":241881,"EventID":"S3W-35338","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2866,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":63,"ApprovedDate":"2010-07-15T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-07-15T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what formal analysis or evaluation it has carried out of the impact of its economic recovery plan on the rate of unemployment","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what formal analysis or evaluation it has carried out of the impact of its economic recovery plan on the rate of unemployment","AnswerText":"The Economic Recovery Plan (ERP) sets out a number of priorities to accelerate recovery and to stimulate lasting improvements in Scotland''s long-term economic performance. The plan is focussed on three broad themes: Investing in innovation and industries of the future; strengthening education and skills, and supporting jobs and communities.
The plan has been focussed on responding to both the immediate short-term pressures arising as a result of the recession, particularly in the labour market and in terms of output, investment and confidence more generally, but also about protecting and improving the competitiveness and sustainability of the Scottish economy.
Elements of the ERP are estimated to support around 15,000 jobs in the Scottish economy, including over 5,000 jobs that are estimated to have been supported by the accelerated capital spending programme. Estimates of the impacts of some of these actions have been set out in the Economic Recovery Plan updates “ the most recent update was published on 3 March 2010 - and in the answer to question S3W-33003 on 28 April 2010.
The wider impact of some of these interventions (such as support for skills development, training and the funding of additional places for apprentices, etc.) cannot be captured in the short-term as they improve the long run capacity of the economy.
","AnswerDate":"2010-08-25T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-08-12T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"John Swinney","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":241882,"EventID":"S3W-35339","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2866,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":63,"ApprovedDate":"2010-07-15T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-07-15T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive how much it has spent on NHS distinction awards and pension contributions under this scheme since May 2007","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive how much it has spent on NHS distinction awards and pension contributions under this scheme since May 2007","AnswerText":"(a) The information requested was given previously in the answer to question S3W-30548 on 18 January 2010. For ease of reference the information is as follows:
Financial Year
Funding allocated to boards for Distinction Awards
(£)
2007-08
24,164,310
2008-09
26,460,756
2009-10
27,961,798
(b) The amounts shown include an element to cover the employers'' costs including pensions contributions. Information relating specifically to the spend on pension contributions is not available.
You should also be aware that this year I accepted the UK Doctors'' and Dentists'' Review Body (DDRB) recommendation that the value of the awards should not be increased in 2010-11 but rejected their recommendation that the Scottish Advisory Committee on Distinction Awards (SACDA) should have flexibility to determine the number of national awards to be made at each level in 2010-11. This also means that there will be no net increase in the overall numbers of awards available in the 2010 award round. The only new distinction awards that will be available are those that can be funded by cash released by those who retire or leave the service. This alone will realise savings of around £2 million this year.
As you know I am firmly of the view that a fundamental review of the distinction award schemes across the UK is required. That is why I have again written to my counterparts in the UK Health Departments seeking their agreement to a Four Nations Review of the schemes. I am waiting for their replies before deciding my course of action.
","AnswerDate":"2010-08-09T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-08-12T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Nicola Sturgeon","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":241883,"EventID":"S3W-35340","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2866,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":63,"ApprovedDate":"2010-07-15T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-07-15T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether it holds information on how much corporation tax is generated in Scotland, broken down by local authority or region","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether it holds information on how much corporation tax is generated in Scotland, broken down by local authority or region","AnswerText":"Government Expenditure and Revenue Scotland estimates that onshore and offshore corporation tax collectively generated £12.2 billion in Scotland during 2008-09, based on an illustrative geographical share of North Sea revenue. Estimates by local authority area and region are not available. ","AnswerDate":"2010-07-27T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-08-12T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Jim Mather","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":241884,"EventID":"S3W-35341","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2866,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":63,"ApprovedDate":"2010-07-15T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-07-15T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive how many community trusts are in operation, broken down by local authority","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive how many community trusts are in operation, broken down by local authority","AnswerText":"The information requested is not held centrally.
The Development Trust Association Scotland (DTAS) is the national body for development trusts in Scotland. DTAS is a membership organisation and further details on current membership and their work can be found at http://www.dtascot.org.uk.
","AnswerDate":"2010-08-25T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-08-12T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"John Swinney","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":241885,"EventID":"S3W-35342","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2866,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":63,"ApprovedDate":"2010-07-15T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-07-15T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive how many of its projects and initiatives have experienced budget overruns in the last three years, broken down by the (a) name and purpose of each project and (b) planned","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive how many of its projects and initiatives have experienced budget overruns in the last three years, broken down by the (a) name and purpose of each project and (b) planned and outturn budget costs","AnswerText":"The Scottish Government exercises careful management of all projects. Regular information on performance of projects is already published. ","AnswerDate":"2010-08-04T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-08-12T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"John Swinney","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":241886,"EventID":"S3W-35343","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2866,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":63,"ApprovedDate":"2010-07-15T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-07-15T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what support it is giving to develop town and city-wide wi-fi networks","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what support it is giving to develop town and city-wide wi-fi networks","AnswerText":"The Scottish Government will consider helping any local authority wishing to establish town and city-wide wi-fi networks by facilitating discussions with relevant organisations and the telecoms industry. At a community level, as announced by the Cabinet Secretary for Rural Affairs and the Environment on 1 July 2010, rural communities are now able to bid for a share of a ‚¬1 million fund to bring enhanced broadband to their areas. The new investment is being delivered by the LEADER scheme which supports small-scale, community driven projects in rural areas and is aimed at improving coverage and bringing faster broadband rural communities. These projects could include the establishment of small wi-fi networks. ","AnswerDate":"2010-07-30T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-08-12T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Jim Mather","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":241887,"EventID":"S3W-35344","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2866,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":63,"ApprovedDate":"2010-07-15T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-07-15T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive What it considers the reason to be that unemployment in Scotland is now at a higher rate than in the rest of the United Kingdom.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive What it considers the reason to be that unemployment in Scotland is now at a higher rate than in the rest of the United Kingdom.","AnswerText":"The most recent Scottish labour market statistics show that for the period March-May 2010 the ILO unemployment rate in Scotland was 8.1%, compared to a rate of 7.8% for the UK, as a whole. However, what is clear from the trends in unemployment rates during the recession is that both the UK and Scotland have followed a similar upward trajectory. However, as unemployment (and labour market performance in general) tends to lag changes in output in the economy, the different timing in terms of entry into recession in Scotland (one quarter later) can explain differences in unemployment rates at different points during the recessionary and recovery phases. Differences in the nature of the economic cycle between Scotland and the UK are also a key factor.
For an updated analysis of the State of Economy please see the latest assessment by the Scottish Government''s Chief Economic Adviser, which was published on 2 August 2010.
","AnswerDate":"2010-08-25T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-08-12T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"John Swinney","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":241888,"EventID":"S3W-35345","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2866,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":63,"ApprovedDate":"2010-07-15T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-07-15T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive What it considers the reason to be that Scotland has a business start-up rate lower than in the United Kingdom as a whole and other comparable countries","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive What it considers the reason to be that Scotland has a business start-up rate lower than in the United Kingdom as a whole and other comparable countries","AnswerText":"The Scottish Government measures the business start-up rate as the number of businesses registering for VAT and/or PAYE per 10,000 resident adults.
In 2008, Scotland''s business start-up rate was 38 per 10,000 resident adults compared to a rate of 54 for the UK. Historical VAT registration data dating back to the 1980s shows that the Scottish rate has persistently been below that of the UK. However, there are regional differences in the business start-up rate across the UK and within Scotland, with some areas in Scotland performing well against parts of the UK.
Progress has been made to close the gap with the UK over recent years. Businesses registering for VAT/PAYE in Scotland increased by 15.2% between 2002 and 2008 “ compared to a UK increase of 11.4%. Excluding London, the UK increase was only 7.9% over the period.
There are many factors that have an impact on business start-up rates “ including fiscal and tax policy, regulation, the rate of GDP growth, employment, business confidence and cultural/motivation factors. Many of these are out-with the direct control of the Scottish Government.
For example, the Government Economic Strategy makes clear that the Scottish Government believes in making the case for Scotland to have fuller, and eventually full, responsibility for tax raising and public spending, utilising this to make Scotland the lowest taxed part of the UK, dropping corporation tax significantly below the UK level. Thereby making Scotland a more attractive destination for business in general, but also for business start-ups.
","AnswerDate":"2010-09-01T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-08-12T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Jim Mather","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":241889,"EventID":"S3W-35346","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2866,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":63,"ApprovedDate":"2010-07-15T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-07-15T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what assessment it has made of the University of Strathclyde's Global Entrepreneurship Monitor (GEM) 2009 report into business start-up rates","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what assessment it has made of the University of Strathclyde's Global Entrepreneurship Monitor (GEM) 2009 report into business start-up rates","AnswerText":"The latest GEM report provides a useful contribution to our understanding of entrepreneurship, and the drivers and motivations behind entrepreneurial behaviour. The study aims to capture the level of entrepreneurial activity by surveying individuals about their intention or desire to start a business. On this measure, the GEM 2009 showed that Scotland''s entrepreneurial activity rate has fallen significantly by 18% over 2008-09. However, it should also be noted that the most recent GEM survey was conducted during a period of severe economic contraction, due to the global financial crisis. The decline in confidence to start up a business during this period is therefore not unexpected. As the report indicated, only 20% of individuals see opportunities, which was in line with the rest of the UK.
Our official measure of business start-ups is the VAT/PAYE registration rate, which captures actual company activity.
","AnswerDate":"2010-08-06T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-08-12T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"John Swinney","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":241890,"EventID":"S3W-35347","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2866,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":63,"ApprovedDate":"2010-07-15T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-07-15T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether it plans to reinstate external audits of local authority planning departments","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether it plans to reinstate external audits of local authority planning departments","AnswerText":"We have no plans at present to reinstate external audits of planning authorities. ","AnswerDate":"2010-08-20T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-08-12T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Stewart Stevenson","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":241891,"EventID":"S3W-35348","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2866,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":63,"ApprovedDate":"2010-07-15T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-07-15T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what action it is taking to incentivise young people to study science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) subjects","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what action it is taking to incentivise young people to study science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) subjects","AnswerText":"The Scottish Government supports a range of measures to encourage young people to study STEM subjects. Science and Engineering 21: An Action Plan for Education in the 21st Century launched in March this year sets out a framework and actions aimed at raising the profile of STEM subjects and associated career paths. The actions include highlighting real-life applications of science learning, building on the Do something creative. Do science marketing campaign, and showcasing science role models through the STEM Ambassadors Programme which brings practising scientists and technologists into schools to assist with activities, talks and careers events.
Last year, the Scottish Government introduced the Scottish Baccalaureate in Sciences which encourages more young people to study sciences in upper secondary school and aims to help equip them for the transition to tertiary education and employment. On 5 August, 89 young people received the first ever Science Baccalaureates awarded.
","AnswerDate":"2010-08-12T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-08-12T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Michael Russell","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":241892,"EventID":"S3W-35349","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2866,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":63,"ApprovedDate":"2010-07-15T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-07-15T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive how much it has spent supporting renewable energy research and development in each of the last three years","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive how much it has spent supporting renewable energy research and development in each of the last three years","AnswerText":"During the last three complete financial years, the Scottish Government has directly supported renewable energy research and development activity and the total amount spent is as follows:
Financial Year
Spend
2007-08
£1,543,783
2008-09
£845,534
2009-10
£1,042,641
This expenditure was principally made under the Wave And Tidal Energy Support Scheme (WATES), and has supported investment including Aquamarine, Wavegen and ScottishPower Renewables.
A wide range of organisations receive financial support from the Scottish Government and provide additional investment in renewables research and development, including Scottish Enterprise (SE), Highlands and Islands Enterprise and The Carbon Trust.
One example is the SE Wave And Tidal Energy: Research, Development and Demonstration Support(WATERS) scheme. On 6 July, this year, £13 million of support to five marine energy projects through the WATERS scheme was announced.
This does not include support given indirectly via our Universities through organisations including the Scottish Funding Council and Research Councils UK.
","AnswerDate":"2010-08-18T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-08-12T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Jim Mather","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":241893,"EventID":"S3W-35350","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2866,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":63,"ApprovedDate":"2010-07-15T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-07-15T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether it plans to review and streamline publicly-funded energy efficiency and environment performance advisory bodies.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether it plans to review and streamline publicly-funded energy efficiency and environment performance advisory bodies.","AnswerText":"The Scottish Government has no current plans to review publicly funded energy efficiency and environmental performance advisory bodies. We are however planning as part of our approach to the Low Carbon Economy to develop a co-ordinated approach to the delivery of energy and resource efficiency advice to business. ","AnswerDate":"2010-08-18T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-08-12T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Jim Mather","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":241894,"EventID":"S3W-35351","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2866,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":63,"ApprovedDate":"2010-07-15T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-07-15T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive how many publicly-funded energy efficiency and environment performance advisory bodies exist, and whom each supports","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive how many publicly-funded energy efficiency and environment performance advisory bodies exist, and whom each supports","AnswerText":"The Scottish Government funds both the Energy Saving Trust (EST) and the Carbon Trust, to provide energy efficiency support across all sectors. EST provide advice to householders and small businesses through the Energy Saving Scotland advice network, while the Carbon Trust support larger companies and the public sector.
We also fund the Zero Waste Scotland programme which delivers a range of initiatives to help businesses, local authorities, consumers and the third sector to reduce waste, recycle more and use resources sustainably.
","AnswerDate":"2010-08-18T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-08-12T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Jim Mather","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":241895,"EventID":"S3W-35352","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2866,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":63,"ApprovedDate":"2010-07-15T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-07-15T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive it is improving the promotion of science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) subjects in schools","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive it is improving the promotion of science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) subjects in schools","AnswerText":"I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-35348 on 12 August 2010. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament''s website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/Apps2/Business/PQA/Default.aspx. ","AnswerDate":"2010-08-12T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-08-12T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Michael Russell","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":241896,"EventID":"S3W-35353","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2633,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":5,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2010-07-16T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-07-16T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive how many pre-registration student nurse and midwifery intake training places there are for each higher education institution in 2010-11, also broken down by (a) adult nur","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive how many pre-registration student nurse and midwifery intake training places there are for each higher education institution in 2010-11, also broken down by (a) adult nursing, (b) mental health nursing, (c) learning disability nursing, (d) children’s nursing and (e) midwifery.","AnswerText":"The number of pre-registration student nurse and midwifery intake training places for 2010-11 is detailed below:
2010-11
Dundee University
Glasgow Caledonian University
Napier University
Robert Gordon University
Stirling University
University of the West of Scotland
Adult
332
349
420
208
268
609
Child
32
60
75
36
-
-
Learning Disability
-
30
30
-
-
-
Mental Health
57
61
61
30
73
122
Midwifery
20
21
36
24
26
57
Total 2010-11
441
521
622
298
367
788
An additional 23 pre-registration student nurse (adult nursing) intake places have been allocated to the Open University.
","AnswerDate":"2010-07-26T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-08-13T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Shona Robison","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":241897,"EventID":"S3W-35354","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1877,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":70,"ApprovedDate":"2010-07-16T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-07-16T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what schools in Renfrewshire have a suitability rating of C and D.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what schools in Renfrewshire have a suitability rating of C and D.","AnswerText":"Suitability data for all Scottish local authority schools will be included for the first time in the School Estate Statistics 2010, which will be published at the end of September 2010. ","AnswerDate":"2010-08-04T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-08-13T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Keith Brown","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":241898,"EventID":"S3W-35355","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1839,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":3,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2010-07-16T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-07-16T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive how many cases of bovine neonatal pancytopaenia (bleeding calf syndrome) were reported in (a) 2009 and (b) 2010, broken down by Scottish Agricultural College Veterinary S","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive how many cases of bovine neonatal pancytopaenia (bleeding calf syndrome) were reported in (a) 2009 and (b) 2010, broken down by Scottish Agricultural College Veterinary Service area.","AnswerText":"In 2009 SAC confirmed 48 cases of bovine neonatal pancytopenia (bleeding calf syndrome) on 35 farms in Scotland. For 2010, on 4 June, 72 cases had confirmed from 61 farms (six dairy farms and 55 beef suckler farms). Submissions have been received by all of Scotland''s eight Disease Surveillance Centres, though we do not have figures for each centre. Four of the beef farms involved had cases diagnosed in their calves in 2009. ","AnswerDate":"2010-07-28T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-08-13T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Richard Lochhead","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":241899,"EventID":"S3W-35356","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1839,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":3,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2010-07-16T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-07-16T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what research is the Scottish Agricultural College undertaking to identify the potential factors which cause bovine neonatal pancytopaenia (bleeding calf syndrome).","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what research is the Scottish Agricultural College undertaking to identify the potential factors which cause bovine neonatal pancytopaenia (bleeding calf syndrome).","AnswerText":"The Scottish Government is aware that Scottish Agricultural College (SAC) is participating in a GB-wide case-control study. SAC may be involved in other research not known to the Scottish Government; more information may be available by contacting the Scottish Agricultural College directly. Research work is also being undertaken in Scotland by Moredun Research Institute, and notably elsewhere by the Veterinary Laboratories Agency and Pfizer. ","AnswerDate":"2010-07-28T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-08-13T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Richard Lochhead","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":241900,"EventID":"S3W-35357","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1839,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":3,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2010-07-16T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-07-16T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what analysis it has made of the results of the Monitor Farms programme.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what analysis it has made of the results of the Monitor Farms programme.","AnswerText":"The Scottish Government commissioned an independent review of the Scottish Monitor Farm programme in 2008. ADAS, who carried out the review, reported that, overall, the programme was effective in bringing about physical and financial improvements on the farms involved and on farms not actively engaged in the programme. They concluded that, at a conservative estimate, for every £1 of public funding invested in the programme, the farming economy benefited by £6.50. The full report, An Investigation into the Role and Effectiveness of Scottish Monitor Farms, can be found on the Scottish Government website at:
","AnswerDate":"2010-07-28T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-08-13T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Richard Lochhead","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":241901,"EventID":"S3W-35358","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1877,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":70,"ApprovedDate":"2010-07-16T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-07-16T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what financial support (a) it and (b) its agencies have given to offshore wind technologies and their deployment in each year since 2006-07.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what financial support (a) it and (b) its agencies have given to offshore wind technologies and their deployment in each year since 2006-07.","AnswerText":"The following table outlines Scottish Government''s and Scottish Enterprise''s financial support given to offshore wind technologies and their deployment since 2006-07. Please note the question has been interpreted as actual spend rather than committed, additional offers have been made to companies but the offers are still to be drawn down.
2006-07
2007-08
2008-09
2009-10
2010-11
Scottish Government
2,539,336
200,000
1,260,663
1,645,000
Scottish Enterprise
102,772
1,088,645
165,613
525,030
115,514
Total
2,642,108
1,088,645
365,613
1,785,693
1,760,514
Combined Total: 7,642,573.
Scottish Government also provides funding to the Carbon Trust to support its Offshore Wind Accelerator Programme, in 2010-11 the Scottish Government has committed £49,000 towards the project.
","AnswerDate":"2010-08-16T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-08-13T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Jim Mather","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":241902,"EventID":"S3W-35359","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1877,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":70,"ApprovedDate":"2010-07-16T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-07-16T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what financial support (a) it and (b) its agencies have given to wave and tidal technologies and their deployment in each year since 2006-07.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what financial support (a) it and (b) its agencies have given to wave and tidal technologies and their deployment in each year since 2006-07.","AnswerText":"The Scottish Government awarded research and development grants to marine projects and developers in February 2007, under the Wave and Tidal Energy Scheme (WATES). Payments under the scheme have been as follows (based on financial years):
2007-08:
£1,204,355
2008-09:
£573,752
2009-10:
£888,462
Total:
£2,666,569
Some WATES projects are still being developed so further funds are still to be released.
In addition to this, the Scottish Government has also released over £2.5 million during the last two years to help develop the infrastructure needed to accommodate WATES projects located at the European Marine Energy Centre (EMEC) in Orkney.
Scottish Enterprise has also provided financial support for a variety of projects and development of the Marine Energy sector as follows:
2006-07:
£125,000
2007-08:
£234,000
2008-09:
£1,689,752
2009-10
£2,177,260
Total:
£4,226,012
On 6 July this year, the Scottish Government announced £13 million of support to five marine energy projects through the Wave And Tidal Energy: Research, Development and Demonstration Support(WATERS) scheme.
","AnswerDate":"2010-08-16T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-08-13T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Jim Mather","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":241903,"EventID":"S3W-35360","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1877,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":70,"ApprovedDate":"2010-07-16T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-07-16T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive how many combined heat and power plants have been established in Scotland in each year since 2003-04.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive how many combined heat and power plants have been established in Scotland in each year since 2003-04.","AnswerText":"There is currently not a central list of how many combined heat and power plants have been established in Scotland since 2003-04. Collation of this information is planned as part of the actions included in the Energy Efficiency Action Plan due to be published in the autumn. We plan to obtain better data from SEPA on planning and waste management issues with regards to CHP.
However, we have obtained the following information from the Department of Climate Change from data they hold. This provides information on the total number of installations in each year from 2003. It should be noted that where reductions or increases year on year occur this is an aggregate total of schemes opening and closing through the year.
CHP Schemes in Scotland
Number
2008
83
2007
81
2006
75
2005
76
2004
84
2003
87
","AnswerDate":"2010-08-16T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-08-13T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Jim Mather","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":241904,"EventID":"S3W-35361","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1877,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":70,"ApprovedDate":"2010-07-16T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-07-16T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether there is a guaranteed training place for under-18s.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether there is a guaranteed training place for under-18s.","AnswerText":"16+ Learning Choices ensures an offer of a suitable place in post-16 learning for every eligible young person who wants it. This will include staying on at school, entering further or higher education, taking up employment, participating in a National Training Programme, volunteering, or taking part in personal skills development in a community learning and development setting or a third sector organisation.
It is an integral part of Curriculum for Excellence and is central to facilitating delivery of the national indicator for positive and sustained post-16 destinations. By December 2010 16+ Learning Choices will be a universal model for all young people leaving compulsory education or any episode of learning during the senior phase of Curriculum for Excellence.
","AnswerDate":"2010-08-12T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-08-13T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Keith Brown","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":241905,"EventID":"S3W-35362","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1877,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":70,"ApprovedDate":"2010-07-16T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-07-16T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether there is a guaranteed (a) training place or (b) job for 18 to 24-year-olds out of work for more than 6 months.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether there is a guaranteed (a) training place or (b) job for 18 to 24-year-olds out of work for more than 6 months.","AnswerText":"Employment is reserved to the UK Government through the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP). The previous UK Government introduced the Young Persons'' Guarantee (YPG) as a targeted response to the recession''s impact on young people. Through this, the majority of young people in Scotland (18 to 24 and over six months unemployed) currently have the option of either some form of vocational training or a subsidised job.
The YPG offer will end in March 2011. However, young people in Scotland who are over the age of 18 will continue to have access to Training for Work at the three months stage of unemployment. Training for Work is the Scottish Government''s vocational training programme for unemployed adults.
","AnswerDate":"2010-08-04T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-08-13T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Keith Brown","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":241906,"EventID":"S3W-35363","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1783,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":67,"ApprovedDate":"2010-07-19T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-07-19T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what the annual cost to obtain a licensed taxi badge is, broken down by local authority","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what the annual cost to obtain a licensed taxi badge is, broken down by local authority","AnswerText":"This information is not held centrally. Responsibility for setting the level of taxi and private hire car licensing fees for their area is a matter for individual licensing authorities. ","AnswerDate":"2010-08-04T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-08-16T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Stewart Stevenson","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":241907,"EventID":"S3W-35364","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2140,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":55,"ApprovedDate":"2010-07-19T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-07-19T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what the latest cost to date has been of the (a) National Conversation and (b) draft referendum Bill and associated white papers, including the costs for (i) publishing, ","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what the latest cost to date has been of the (a) National Conversation and (b) draft referendum Bill and associated white papers, including the costs for (i) publishing, (ii) consultation, (iii) marketing and advertising and (iv) other","AnswerText":"I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-30747 on 25 February 2010. The latest cost to date of the core programme of Scottish Government National Conversation events and publications, including branding and staging, remains around £400,000. We do not hold the costs broken down into the categories requested.
The total cost of printing and publication of the draft Referendum Bill consultation was around £8,000. This figure includes a Gaelic and a British Sign Language translation.
The member will also be aware of the published costs of approximately £625,000 incurred by the UK Government and the Scottish Parliament to support the work of the Commission on Scottish Devolution.
All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament''s website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/Apps2/Business/PQA/Default.aspx.
","AnswerDate":"2010-09-13T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-08-16T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Bruce Crawford","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":241908,"EventID":"S3W-35365","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2140,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":55,"ApprovedDate":"2010-07-19T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-07-19T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what five subjects were raised most often by members of the public in written correspondence with (a) the First Minister and (b) each cabinet secretary in the last 12 mon","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what five subjects were raised most often by members of the public in written correspondence with (a) the First Minister and (b) each cabinet secretary in the last 12 months, and how many representations were received in respect of each subject","AnswerText":"The Scottish Government replied to 31,181 items of Ministerial correspondence during the period 1 July 2009 to 30 June 2010.
The top five subjects raised most often by members of the public in written correspondence specifically addressed to the First Minister and Cabinet Secretaries in the last 12 months were as follows:
Subject
Number of items addressed to specific Minister or Cabinet Secretary
Total number of items generically addressed to Scottish Ministers
First Minister
Land Use Planning - casework
64
225
Independence Referendum
48
55
Animal Health and Welfare (Scotland) Bill
44
108
National Conversation on Scotland''s Constitutional Future
41
56
Banks
41
74
Cabinet Secretary for Finance and Sustainable Growth
Land Use Planning - Casework
48
225
Banks
23
74
Glasgow Airport Rail Link
21
88
Drinks Industry
20
59
Council Tax
13
62
Cabinet Secretary for Education and Lifelong Learning
Consultation on Schools Clos","AnswerDate":"2010-10-15T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-08-16T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Bruce Crawford","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":241909,"EventID":"S3W-35366","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2866,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":63,"ApprovedDate":"2010-07-19T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-07-19T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what it considers the net borrowing of the United Kingdom should be in 2015, expressed as a percentage of GDP","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what it considers the net borrowing of the United Kingdom should be in 2015, expressed as a percentage of GDP","AnswerText":"The Scottish Government believes that UK public sector net borrowing should be returned to a sustainable level at the earliest opportunity. The management of the public finances by the previous UK Government means that a substantial period of fiscal adjustment is now unavoidable. This adjustment should be achieved by promoting economic growth which will increase tax receipts and reduce welfare spending. In contrast, the austerity measures proposed by the new UK Government risk undermining the recovery and doing further damage to the public finances by cutting public spending too fast and too deeply. This emphasises the urgent need for the Scottish Government to acquire significantly greater fiscal responsibilities, to ensure the planned fiscal consolidation does not damage Scotland''s economic recovery.
","AnswerDate":"2010-07-27T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-08-16T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"John Swinney","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":241910,"EventID":"S3W-35367","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1783,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":67,"ApprovedDate":"2010-07-19T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-07-19T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what funding it has approved for the building of the new Dumbarton Academy","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what funding it has approved for the building of the new Dumbarton Academy","AnswerText":"The Scottish Government will provide a contribution of £12.1 million towards the replacement of Dumbarton Academy from Scotland''s Schools for the Future. ","AnswerDate":"2010-07-23T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-08-16T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Keith Brown","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":241911,"EventID":"S3W-35368","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1783,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":67,"ApprovedDate":"2010-07-19T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-07-19T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive when it anticipates the construction of the new Dumbarton Academy will (a) commence and (b) be completed","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive when it anticipates the construction of the new Dumbarton Academy will (a) commence and (b) be completed","AnswerText":"The construction timetable for Dumbarton Academy has not yet been determined by West Dunbartonshire Council as the procurement process has not been completed for the school. The Scottish Government''s contribution towards Dumbarton Academy will commence in 2011-12. ","AnswerDate":"2010-07-23T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-08-16T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Keith Brown","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":241912,"EventID":"S3W-35369","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1783,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":67,"ApprovedDate":"2010-07-19T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-07-19T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive, in light of school building projects being halted across England and Wales, whether it remains committed to funding building of the new Dumbarton Academy to the previous","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive, in light of school building projects being halted across England and Wales, whether it remains committed to funding building of the new Dumbarton Academy to the previously agreed timetable","AnswerText":"This Government remains committed to Scotland''s Schools for the Future and the Scottish Futures Trust are continuing to work with each council to ensure delivery of their school in line with the timelines which have been confirmed. ","AnswerDate":"2010-07-23T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-08-16T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Keith Brown","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":241913,"EventID":"S3W-35370","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":3815,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":5,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2010-07-19T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-07-19T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive how many patients requiring ambulances to return from Edinburgh hospitals to Fife were provided with them by the (a) East Central and (b) South East Division of the Scott","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive how many patients requiring ambulances to return from Edinburgh hospitals to Fife were provided with them by the (a) East Central and (b) South East Division of the Scottish Ambulance Service in the last year for which information is available","AnswerText":"The information requested is not held centrally. ","AnswerDate":"2010-08-05T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-08-16T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Nicola Sturgeon","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":241914,"EventID":"S3W-35371","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":3815,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":5,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2010-07-19T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-07-19T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what average time was taken by Scottish Ambulance Service ambulances to admit emergency patients to hospital accident and emergency departments in each quarter of the las","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what average time was taken by Scottish Ambulance Service ambulances to admit emergency patients to hospital accident and emergency departments in each quarter of the last two years, broken down by NHS board","AnswerText":"The information requested is not held centrally. ","AnswerDate":"2010-08-05T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-08-16T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Nicola Sturgeon","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":241915,"EventID":"S3W-35372","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":3815,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":5,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2010-07-19T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-07-19T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive (a) how many and (b) what proportion of patients aged 75 and over were readmitted as emergencies within 28 days of discharge in each quarter of the last two years in each","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive (a) how many and (b) what proportion of patients aged 75 and over were readmitted as emergencies within 28 days of discharge in each quarter of the last two years in each NHS board area","AnswerText":"The following tables show the 28-day hospital emergency readmission numbers and rates for patients aged 75 and over in each quarter of the last two years, broken down by NHS board of residence.
Table 1: Number of hospital emergency readmissions within 28 days of discharge for patients aged 75 and over, by NHS board of residence; quarterly figures for January 2008 to December 2009P:
Number of emergency readmissions within 28 days
Mar
08
Jun
08
Sep 08
Dec 08
Mar
09
Jun 09p
Sep 09p
Dec 09p
NHS Ayrshire and Arran
478
547
485
489
510
531
491
612
NHS Borders
149
158
152
154
174
153
174
177
NHS Dumfries and Galloway
171
188
183
210
207
204
201
228
NHS Fife
394
363
347
398
402
357
406
431
NHS Forth Valley
213
212
","AnswerDate":"2010-08-16T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-08-16T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Nicola Sturgeon","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":241916,"EventID":"S3W-35373","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":3815,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":5,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2010-07-19T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-07-19T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive how many Scottish Ambulance Service ambulance hours were lost as a result of delays in admitting a patient to an accident and emergency department in each NHS board area ","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive how many Scottish Ambulance Service ambulance hours were lost as a result of delays in admitting a patient to an accident and emergency department in each NHS board area in each of the last two years","AnswerText":"The information requested is not held centrally. ","AnswerDate":"2010-08-05T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-08-16T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Nicola Sturgeon","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":241917,"EventID":"S3W-35374","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":3815,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":5,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2010-07-19T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-07-19T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what proportion of emergency calls from (a) Dalgety Bay, (b) Cowdenbeath, (c) Lochgelly, (d) Inverkeithing, (e) North Queensferry, (f) Cardenden, (g) Crossgates, (h) Kelt","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what proportion of emergency calls from (a) Dalgety Bay, (b) Cowdenbeath, (c) Lochgelly, (d) Inverkeithing, (e) North Queensferry, (f) Cardenden, (g) Crossgates, (h) Kelty and (i) Ballingry received a response from the Scottish Ambulance Service within the target time in each of the last two years.","AnswerText":"The information requested is not held centrally. ","AnswerDate":"2010-08-05T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-08-16T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Nicola Sturgeon","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":241918,"EventID":"S3W-35375","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":3815,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":5,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2010-07-19T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-07-19T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive in what categories of occupation in the NHS staff are permitted to hold a second job outside the NHS","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive in what categories of occupation in the NHS staff are permitted to hold a second job outside the NHS","AnswerText":"NHS employees have to observe the highest possible standards in both their professional and personal lives.
All NHSScotland boards have in place a Code of Corporate Governance/Standards of Business Conduct or a similar document that specifies requirements relating to employment outside the NHS for all members of staff, regardless of occupation.
All staff in NHSScotland are permitted to hold secondary employment provided they abide by these requirements and ensure that they do not breach European Working Time Regulations.
","AnswerDate":"2010-08-16T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-08-16T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Nicola Sturgeon","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":241919,"EventID":"S3W-35376","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":3815,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":5,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2010-07-19T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-07-19T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what average number of (a) emergency and (b) non-emergency calls was handled by the Scottish Ambulance Service in (i) Fife, (ii) Lothian and (iii) Forth Valley in each of","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what average number of (a) emergency and (b) non-emergency calls was handled by the Scottish Ambulance Service in (i) Fife, (ii) Lothian and (iii) Forth Valley in each of the last two years and what the figures for the last 12 months are expressed per 1,000 of population","AnswerText":"The information requested is not held centrally. ","AnswerDate":"2010-08-05T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-08-16T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Nicola Sturgeon","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":241920,"EventID":"S3W-35377","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":3815,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":5,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2010-07-19T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-07-19T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive how many people appointed to a position in the NHS by the NHS Appointments Commission have declared a party political interest in each of the last two years","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive how many people appointed to a position in the NHS by the NHS Appointments Commission have declared a party political interest in each of the last two years","AnswerText":"NHS appointments in Scotland are made by Scottish ministers. During 2008 and 2009 Scottish ministers approved 53 appointments (28 in 2008, and 25 in 2009). Successful candidates, on taking up post, are asked to declare any party political interests. Ten of the candidates appointed in 2008 and 2009 declared a political interest (five in each year). ","AnswerDate":"2010-08-05T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-08-16T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Nicola Sturgeon","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":241921,"EventID":"S3W-35378","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":4080,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":6,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2010-07-19T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-07-19T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what (a) staff resources and (b) travel costs will be incurred by Transport Scotland in each the next 12 months as a result of its membership of, or involvement in (i) th","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what (a) staff resources and (b) travel costs will be incurred by Transport Scotland in each the next 12 months as a result of its membership of, or involvement in (i) the National Salt Spreading Research Group, (ii) the UK Roads Liaison Group, (iii) The World Road Association (PIARC), (iv) Intelligent Transport Systems UK, (v) STREETWISE and (vi) TEMPO","AnswerText":"The information on staff resources in the next 12 months is provided in the following table. Details of travel costs which will be incurred by Transport Scotland in each of the next 12 months is not available as no decisions have been taken about the attendance by Transport Staff at meetings / events related to these groups. In some instances staff''s participation may be by video or tele-conferencing.
Staff resources August 2010 to July 2011
(i) the National Salt Spreading Research Group
Possible attendance by a member of Transport Scotland staff at steering group meetings.
(ii) the UK Roads Liaison Group
Possible attendance by a member of Transport Scotland staff at meetings of the Steering Group, Network Management Board, Roads Board, Bridges Board and Lighting Board.
(iii) the World Roads Association (PIARC)
Possible attendance by a member of Transport Scotland staff at meetings of the World Roads Association
(iv) Intelligent Transport Systems UK
Possible attendance by a member of Transport Scotland staff at ITS Council meetings.
(v) STEETWISE EASYWAY *
Possible attendance by a member of Transport Scotland staff at 2 Streetwise Steering Committees and Easyway Annual Forum
(vi) TEMPO **
Nil
Notes:
* STREETWISE is a collaboration of the UK and the Republic of Ireland national roads authorities and forms one part of eight Euro regional groupings which makes up the EASYWAY project.
** TEMPO was an earlier European funded project which ended in 2006.
","AnswerDate":"2010-08-20T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-08-16T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Stewart Stevenson","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":241922,"EventID":"S3W-35379","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":4080,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":6,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2010-07-19T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-07-19T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether Transport Scotland will be sending a representative to The World Road Association (PIARC) Congress in Mexico in September 2011, and, if so, how much it expects th","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether Transport Scotland will be sending a representative to The World Road Association (PIARC) Congress in Mexico in September 2011, and, if so, how much it expects this to cost in terms of (i) staff resources and (ii) travel costs","AnswerText":"No decision has been taken about attendance by Transport Scotland staff at the World Road Association (PIARC) Congress in Mexico in September 2011. ","AnswerDate":"2010-08-20T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-08-16T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Stewart Stevenson","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":241923,"EventID":"S3W-35380","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":4080,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":6,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2010-07-19T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-07-19T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what (a) staff resources and (b) travel costs were incurred by Transport Scotland in each of the last 3 years as a result of its membership of, or involvement in (i) the ","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what (a) staff resources and (b) travel costs were incurred by Transport Scotland in each of the last 3 years as a result of its membership of, or involvement in (i) the National Salt Spreading Research Group, (ii) the UK Roads Liaison Group, (iii) The World Road Association (PIARC), (iv) Intelligent Transport Systems UK, (v) STREETWISE and (vi) TEMPO","AnswerText":"The information available is provided in the following tables:
(i) the National Salt Spreading Research Group
2007-08
2008-09
2009-10
(a) Staff resources
Attendance at 2 meetings by a member of Transport Scotland staff
Attendance at 2 meetings by a member of Transport Scotland staff
Attendance at 2 meetings by a member of Transport Scotland staff
(b) Travel costs***
£200
£470
£500
(ii) the UK Roads Liaison Group
2007-08
2008-09
2009-10
(a) Staff resources
Attendance at 11 meetings by Transport Scotland staff (one person in each instance)
Attendance at 10 meetings by Transport Scotland staff (one person in each instance)
Attendance at 11 meetings by Transport Scotland staff (one person in each instance)
(b) Travel costs***
£2,900
£2,600
£1,900
(iii) the World Roads Association (PIARC)
2007-08
2008-09
2009-10
(a) Staff resources
Attendance at a conference by 9 Transport Scotland staff and a meeting by 1 staff member
Attendance at 10 meetings by Transport Scotland staff (one person in each instance)
Attendance at a conference by 2 Transport Scotland staff and 10 meetings (one person in each instance)
(b) Travel costs***
£2,700
£5,500
£6,200
(iv) Intelligent Transport Systems UK
2007-08
The Scottish Government''s role is limited to the approval of strategic development plans, taking decisions on planning applications being appealed and determining planning applications called in by Scottish ministers.
","AnswerDate":"2010-08-11T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-08-17T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Richard Lochhead","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":241925,"EventID":"S3W-35382","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1803,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":58,"ApprovedDate":"2010-08-12T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-08-12T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive how it monitors the effectiveness of residual waste treatment facilities","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive how it monitors the effectiveness of residual waste treatment facilities","AnswerText":"The Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA) has responsibility for ensuring that waste treatment facilities comply with all relevant environmental legislation. Permits issued by SEPA list the conditions under which the facilities must operate, including the categories and quantities of waste permitted to be incinerated, emission limits for a range of air pollutants, combustion temperatures and sampling arrangements. SEPA checks compliance with permits through planned programmes of inspections and by reviewing the monitoring and other data submitted by operators. SEPA will take appropriate enforcement action against any breach of permit conditions. ","AnswerDate":"2010-08-11T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-08-17T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Richard Lochhead","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":241926,"EventID":"S3W-35383","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1803,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":58,"ApprovedDate":"2010-07-20T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-07-20T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what particulates are licensed to be emitted from residual waste treatment facilities and at what level.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what particulates are licensed to be emitted from residual waste treatment facilities and at what level.","AnswerText":"Residual waste treated in energy from waste facilities must comply with the strict emission limit values set out in the EU Waste Incineration Directive, designed to protect human health and the environment. The Directive specifies air emission limits for a range of pollutants, including particulates. While the Directive does not prescribe emission limit values for specific particulate sizes, it does prescribe the total particulate releases that are permitted. These are:
- daily average values not to exceed 10 milligrams per cubic metre, and
- half-hourly average values not to exceed 30 milligrams per cubic metre or 97% of the half-hourly average values over a year not to exceed 10 milligrams per cubic metre.
","AnswerDate":"2010-08-11T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-08-17T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Richard Lochhead","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":241927,"EventID":"S3W-35384","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1803,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":58,"ApprovedDate":"2010-07-20T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-07-20T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive who monitors the particulates emitted from residual waste treatment facilities.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive who monitors the particulates emitted from residual waste treatment facilities.","AnswerText":"Operators have responsibility for monitoring particulate levels from residual waste treatment facilities, in compliance with the conditions set out in permits issued by the Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA). Particulate emissions are measured on a continuous basis. SEPA examines this data and periodically audits operators'' sampling and monitoring procedures to ensure they comply with all permit conditions. This includes unannounced visits or spot checks at facilities and independent testing of emissions. ","AnswerDate":"2010-08-11T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-08-17T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Richard Lochhead","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":241928,"EventID":"S3W-35385","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1837,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":36,"ApprovedDate":"2010-07-20T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-07-20T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what the purchase price and planned cost per unit was for the 41 housing sites acquired by Registered Social Landlords (RSL) that required support in 2009-10 under the Af","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what the purchase price and planned cost per unit was for the 41 housing sites acquired by Registered Social Landlords (RSL) that required support in 2009-10 under the Affordable Housing Investment Programme, broken down by RSL.","AnswerText":"The purchase price per planned unit for the 41 sites acquired by Registered Social Landlords (RSLs) that required support in 2009-10 under the Affordable Housing Investment Programme (AHIP), broken down by RSL are detailed in the following table. The planned cost per unit is not available for all sites due to development of these sites being future dated. Publication of estimated costs where available may prejudice the tender process and can therefore not be shared at this time. Information supplied, therefore, relates to total costs of units which have reached tender approval. Those projects which have not reached tender approval are marked not available - n/a.
RSL
Planned Units at Purchase
Purchase Price
£
Cost for Land Per Planned Unit
£
Total Cost per Unit at Tender Approval
£
Rural Stirling
60
530,000
8,833
n/a
Rural Stirling
6
35,000
5,833
146,139
Rural Stirling
14
130,369
9,312
123,520
Eildon
18
450,000
25,000
n/a
Kingdom
28
0
0
86,430
Kingdom
8
140,000
17,500
149,346
Dunedin Canmore
8
190,000
23,750
129,140
RSL
Planned Units at Purchase
Purchase Price","AnswerDate":"2010-08-16T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-08-17T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Nicola Sturgeon","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":241929,"EventID":"S3W-35386","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2185,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":2,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2010-07-20T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-07-20T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive, in light of its recent case against the Scottish Information Commissioner not reaching court, what the cost was of its action regarding the commissioner's right to see S","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive, in light of its recent case against the Scottish Information Commissioner not reaching court, what the cost was of its action regarding the commissioner's right to see Scottish Government documents.","AnswerText":"The cost to the Scottish Government of legal advice in connection with this appeal against an information notice served by the Scottish Information Commissioner amounted to £37,195.24.
Recipients of an information notice served on them by the Scottish Information Commissioner have a right of appeal to the Court of Session. In this case, the commissioner came to an agreement with the Scottish Government and withdrew his information notice. Consequently, the appeal did not proceed.
","AnswerDate":"2010-09-08T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-08-17T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Bruce Crawford","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":241930,"EventID":"S3W-35387","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1845,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":6,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2010-07-20T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-07-20T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive when it plans to publish its response to the Consultation on the terms of the tenders to be issued for the provision of stoma appliances to NHS Scotland for the period 20","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive when it plans to publish its response to the Consultation on the terms of the tenders to be issued for the provision of stoma appliances to NHS Scotland for the period 2010-12","AnswerText":"I expect to receive advice from officials this month on the outcome of the consultation. The Scottish Government''s response will be published thereafter. ","AnswerDate":"2010-08-09T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-08-17T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Nicola Sturgeon","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":241931,"EventID":"S3W-35388","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1845,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":6,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2010-07-20T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-07-20T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what impact the findings of the Consultation on the terms of the tenders to be issued for the provision of stoma appliances to NHS Scotland for the period 2010-12 will ha","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what impact the findings of the Consultation on the terms of the tenders to be issued for the provision of stoma appliances to NHS Scotland for the period 2010-12 will have on the employment of clinical nurse specialists","AnswerText":"The findings of the consultation on the terms of the tenders to be issued for the provision of stoma appliances to NHS Scotland will have no direct impact on the employment of clinical nurse specialists (CNS) as CNS staff are employees of NHS boards.
","AnswerDate":"2010-08-09T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-08-17T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Nicola Sturgeon","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":241932,"EventID":"S3W-35389","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1845,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":6,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2010-07-20T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-07-20T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive how the role of clinical nurse specialists will change as a result of proposals in the Consultation on the terms of the tenders to be issued for the provision of stoma ap","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive how the role of clinical nurse specialists will change as a result of proposals in the Consultation on the terms of the tenders to be issued for the provision of stoma appliances to NHS Scotland for the period 2010-12","AnswerText":"We do not envisage any changes in the role of clinical nurse specialists (CNS) as a result of proposals in the Consultation on the terms of the tenders to be issued for the provision of stoma appliances as CNS staff are employed directly by NHS boards, who agree their individual workplans. ","AnswerDate":"2010-08-16T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-08-17T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Nicola Sturgeon","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":241933,"EventID":"S3W-35390","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1845,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":6,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2010-07-20T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-07-20T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has evaluated the impact of compensatory discounts as proposed in the Consultation on the terms of the tenders to be issued for the provision of stoma applianc","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has evaluated the impact of compensatory discounts as proposed in the Consultation on the terms of the tenders to be issued for the provision of stoma appliances to NHS Scotland for the period 2010-12 on the choice available to patients for stoma services and care","AnswerText":"The Scottish Government does not consider that there would be any negative impact upon the choice available to patients for stoma services and care arising from the proposals in Consultation on the terms of the tenders to be issued for the provision of stoma appliances to NHS Scotland for the period 2010-12. The service model continues to accommodate multiple suppliers and stoma appliance manufacturers would remain able to respond to the forthcoming tender by pricing their products as they see fit but within a more transparent framework intended to help NHS boards deliver optimal value for money in the provision of this service.
","AnswerDate":"2010-08-09T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-08-17T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Nicola Sturgeon","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":241934,"EventID":"S3W-35391","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1845,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":6,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2010-07-20T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-07-20T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has evaluated the impact of volume discount claw-back scales as proposed in the Consultation on the terms of the tenders to be issued for the provision of stom","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has evaluated the impact of volume discount claw-back scales as proposed in the Consultation on the terms of the tenders to be issued for the provision of stoma appliances to NHS Scotland for the period 2010-12 on the choice available to patients for stoma services and care","AnswerText":"I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-35390 on 9 August 2010. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament''s website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/Apps2/Business/PQA/Default.aspx.
","AnswerDate":"2010-08-09T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-08-17T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Nicola Sturgeon","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":241935,"EventID":"S3W-35392","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1845,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":6,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2010-07-20T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-07-20T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has evaluated the impact of retrospective volume discount schemes as proposed in the Consultation on the terms of the tenders to be issued for the provision of","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has evaluated the impact of retrospective volume discount schemes as proposed in the Consultation on the terms of the tenders to be issued for the provision of stoma appliances to NHS Scotland for the period 2010-12 on the choice available to patients for stoma services and care","AnswerText":"I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-35390 on 9 August 2010. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament''s website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/Apps2/Business/PQA/Default.aspx.
","AnswerDate":"2010-08-09T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-08-17T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Nicola Sturgeon","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":241936,"EventID":"S3W-35393","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1845,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":6,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2010-07-20T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-07-20T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has evaluated the impact of the proposals contained in the Consultation on the terms of the tenders to be issued for the provision of stoma appliances to NHS S","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has evaluated the impact of the proposals contained in the Consultation on the terms of the tenders to be issued for the provision of stoma appliances to NHS Scotland for the period 2010-12 on the commercial viability of stoma appliance manufacturers and suppliers","AnswerText":"The Scottish Government does not consider that there would be any negative impact upon the commercial viability of stoma appliance manufacturers and suppliers arising from the proposals in Consultation on the terms of the tenders to be issued for the provision of stoma appliances to NHS Scotland for the period 2010-12.
There are currently approximately 1,460 stoma service suppliers. It will be for each to consider whether it wishes to continue to provide the service.
","AnswerDate":"2010-08-09T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-08-17T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Nicola Sturgeon","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":241937,"EventID":"S3W-35394","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1845,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":6,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2010-07-20T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-07-20T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive for what reason the Consultation on the terms of the tenders to be issued for the provision of stoma appliances to NHS Scotland for the period 2010-2012 proposes a global","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive for what reason the Consultation on the terms of the tenders to be issued for the provision of stoma appliances to NHS Scotland for the period 2010-2012 proposes a global sum in respect of the remuneration paid to stoma services contractors for appliance dispensing set at 2006-2007 levels","AnswerText":"I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-34658 on 30 June 2010. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament''s website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/Apps2/Business/PQA/Default.aspx. ","AnswerDate":"2010-08-09T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-08-17T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Nicola Sturgeon","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":241938,"EventID":"S3W-35395","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2596,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":7,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2010-07-21T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-07-21T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive in what circumstances being subject to the provisions of the Freedom of Information (Scotland) Act 2002 would lead to an organisation being classified as public for natio","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive in what circumstances being subject to the provisions of the Freedom of Information (Scotland) Act 2002 would lead to an organisation being classified as public for national accounting purposes.","AnswerText":"The classifications of organisations as public under the Freedom of Information (Scotland) Act 2002 and for the UK National Accounts are determined separately.
The Freedom of Information (Scotland) Act 2002 provides a definition of a Scottish public authority as:
(a) any body which, any other person who, or the holder of any office which “
(i) is listed in schedule 1, or
(ii) is designated by order under section 5(1), or
(b) a publicly-owned company, as defined by section 6.
The United Kingdom National Accounts adopts the broad framework and principles for deciding classifications determined by the European System of Accounts 1995 (ESA95). It is a legal requirement of European Union countries to compile statistical returns on the basis of ESA95. The UK National Accounts are produced by the Office for National Statistics (ONS) on this basis. The ONS is the final arbiter of National Accounts classification decisions in the UK.
","AnswerDate":"2010-08-16T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-08-18T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Bruce Crawford","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":241939,"EventID":"S3W-35396","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1832,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":42,"ApprovedDate":"2010-07-21T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-07-21T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what the current transition arrangements are in Fife for transferring young people with epilepsy to adult services for neurological care.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what the current transition arrangements are in Fife for transferring young people with epilepsy to adult services for neurological care.","AnswerText":"There is a close working relationship between the paediatricians and neurologists in NHS Fife and transitions arrangements are supported by an Epilepsy Specialist Nurse (ESN) and an epilepsy fieldworker. NHS Fife has no plans to introduce a transition clinic for people with epilepsy in the immediate future.
The Scottish Paediatric Network (SPEN) has however, developed a transition care process for young people with epilepsy. SPEN is currently considering how the transition process can be taken forward within NHS boards.
There will be some young people with epilepsy where although the condition is not their primary diagnosis, their other health care needs will mean that they will be cared for by the National Managed Clinical Network (NMCN) for children with exceptional healthcare needs. The NMCN is looking specifically at the transition arrangements for young people with complex needs, to ensure adequate and appropriate provision is made.
","AnswerDate":"2010-08-16T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-08-18T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Nicola Sturgeon","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":241940,"EventID":"S3W-35397","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1832,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":42,"ApprovedDate":"2010-07-21T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-07-21T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether it is aware of proposals by NHS Fife to develop local epilepsy transition services. ","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether it is aware of proposals by NHS Fife to develop local epilepsy transition services. ","AnswerText":"I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-35396 on 16 August 2010. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament''s website, the search facility for which can be found at www.scottish.parliament.uk/Apps2/Business/PQA/Default.aspx. ","AnswerDate":"2010-08-16T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-08-18T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Nicola Sturgeon","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":241941,"EventID":"S3W-35398","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1832,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":42,"ApprovedDate":"2010-07-21T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-07-21T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether it is aware of proposals by NHS Fife to direct epilepsy specialist nurses to spend one day or more a week on general ward duties.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether it is aware of proposals by NHS Fife to direct epilepsy specialist nurses to spend one day or more a week on general ward duties.","AnswerText":"NHS Fife have informed me that they have no such proposals in place.
While policies, frameworks and resources are provided by the Scottish Government, it is for each NHS board to decide how to have robust processes in place to ensure the provision of safe, effective and high-quality patient care which is delivered by the right professional at the right time.
","AnswerDate":"2010-08-12T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-08-18T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Nicola Sturgeon","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":241942,"EventID":"S3W-35399","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1826,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":35,"ApprovedDate":"2010-07-21T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-07-21T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive how and with what frequency inspection of home education is carried out.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive how and with what frequency inspection of home education is carried out.","AnswerText":"In December 2007, the Scottish Government published statutory guidance on home education, following consultation. In that guidance it is recommended that local authorities maintain annual contact with home educating families. Precisely how contact is established and followed up if needs be is a matter for the authority. ","AnswerDate":"2010-08-12T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-08-18T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Michael Russell","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":241943,"EventID":"S3W-35400","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1826,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":35,"ApprovedDate":"2010-07-21T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-07-21T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive how many inspections of home education have been used in the past year.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive how many inspections of home education have been used in the past year.","AnswerText":"I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-35399 on 12 August 2010. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament''s website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/Apps2/Business/PQA/Default.aspx. ","AnswerDate":"2010-08-12T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-08-18T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Michael Russell","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":241944,"EventID":"S3W-35401","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1877,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":70,"ApprovedDate":"2010-07-21T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-07-21T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether direct comparisons in attainment at P3, P5, P7 and S2 can be made between the Scottish Survey of Achievement and the results from the 5 - 14 National Tests.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether direct comparisons in attainment at P3, P5, P7 and S2 can be made between the Scottish Survey of Achievement and the results from the 5 - 14 National Tests.","AnswerText":"The National Survey of 5-14 Attainment Levels was implemented in publicly funded primary and secondary schools in Scotland between 1999 and 2004. This survey was specifically designed to measure the progress of individual pupils and the results were derived from a range of class-based assessments, carried out by teachers throughout the school year.
The Scottish Survey of Achievement (SSA) was a sample survey of pupils'' attainment in Scottish primary and secondary schools carried out annually from 2005 until 2009. This survey was designed to provide a picture of attainment across different areas of the curriculum at a national level. The results were derived from a one-off annual assessment of pupils using common assessment materials administered under typical test conditions.
Due to their differing nature, direct comparisons in attainment should not be made between the SSA and the results from the National Survey of 5-14 Attainment Levels. The 5-14 Survey was a performance-related data collection and schools were held accountable for their results. The SSA was designed to provide a low-stakes national attainment monitoring tool, based on a random sample of schools and pupils.
","AnswerDate":"2010-08-17T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-08-18T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Michael Russell","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":241945,"EventID":"S3W-35402","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1877,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":70,"ApprovedDate":"2010-07-21T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-07-21T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether there has been continual comparable data collection on attainment in reading, writing and numeracy at P3, P5, P7 and S2 since 1999.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether there has been continual comparable data collection on attainment in reading, writing and numeracy at P3, P5, P7 and S2 since 1999.","AnswerText":"Data from the National Survey of 5-14 Attainment Levels was collected between 1999 and 2004 for reading, writing and numeracy and these results are comparable over this time period.
From 2005 until 2009, the Scottish Survey of Achievement (SSA) collected data in selected years for reading and numeracy attainment at P3, P5, P7 and S2. Reading data is available for 2005, 2006 and 2009, and for numeracy in 2005, 2006 and 2008. Both sets of SSA data are comparable only over the time periods stated.
Finally, 2001 data from the Assessment of Achievement Programme (AAP) can be used to compare reading attainment to the 2005 SSA results (P7 and S2 only). Similarly, the 2000 AAP numeracy attainment data can be compared with the 2005 SSA results (P7 and S2 only).
However, it should be noted that, due to their differing nature, direct comparisons in attainment should not be made between these three surveys. The 5-14 Survey was a performance-related data collection and schools were held accountable for their results. The SSA was designed to provide a low-stakes national attainment monitoring tool, based on a random sample of schools and pupils.
","AnswerDate":"2010-08-17T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-08-18T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Michael Russell","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":241946,"EventID":"S3W-35403","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1877,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":70,"ApprovedDate":"2010-07-21T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-07-21T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what the trend has been in attainment levels in writing, reading and numeracy at P3, P5, P7 and S2 since 1999.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what the trend has been in attainment levels in writing, reading and numeracy at P3, P5, P7 and S2 since 1999.","AnswerText":"The information requested is given in tables 1-10 of Attainment levels in reading, writing and numeracy in Scotland since 1999, a copy of which has been placed in the Scottish Parliament Information Centre (Bib. number 51460).
It should be noted that, due to their differing nature, direct comparisons in attainment should not be made between the SSA and the results from the National Survey of 5-14 Attainment Levels. The 5-14 Survey was a performance-related data collection and schools were held accountable for their results. The SSA was designed to provide a low-stakes national attainment monitoring tool, based on a random sample of schools and pupils.
","AnswerDate":"2010-08-17T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-08-18T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Michael Russell","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":241947,"EventID":"S3W-35404","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1877,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":70,"ApprovedDate":"2010-07-21T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-07-21T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive how it assesses progress in educational attainment in reading, writing and numeracy over time.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive how it assesses progress in educational attainment in reading, writing and numeracy over time.","AnswerText":"The Scottish Government uses a range of assessment tools to monitor progress in educational attainment over time. In recent years this has included:
- Analysis of common tasks over time using the Scottish Survey of Achievement (SSA).
- Teachers'' judgements collected alongside the SSA.
- Making international comparisons using the Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA).
- Performance in English and Maths using SQA examination results.
- Inspections and reviews carried out by HMIE to monitor quality improvement.
","AnswerDate":"2010-08-17T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-08-18T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Michael Russell","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":241948,"EventID":"S3W-35405","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2059,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":18,"ApprovedDate":"2010-07-21T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-07-21T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive when the National Community Safety Strategic Group was created; how many times the group has met, and on what dates.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive when the National Community Safety Strategic Group was created; how many times the group has met, and on what dates.","AnswerText":"The National Community Safety Strategic Group was formed in February 2008.
It has met five times, on the following dates: 26 February 2008; 4 December 2008; 18 May 2009; 9 November 2009, and 17 May 2010. Minutes of the meetings are available on our website at www.scotland.gov.uk/communitysafety.
","AnswerDate":"2010-08-09T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-08-18T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Fergus Ewing","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":241949,"EventID":"S3W-35406","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2059,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":18,"ApprovedDate":"2010-07-21T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-07-21T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether an implementation group to oversee the delivery of the Promoting Positive Outcomes Implementation Plan has been established and, if so, on what dates it has met.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether an implementation group to oversee the delivery of the Promoting Positive Outcomes Implementation Plan has been established and, if so, on what dates it has met.","AnswerText":"The delivery of the Promoting Positive Outcomes Implementation Plan is overseen by the National Community Safety Strategic Group. This group, which includes a range of strategic partners, including COSLA and ACPOS, meets twice a year and has met on two occasions since publication of the Plan, on 9 November 2009 and 17 May 2010.
Operational groups have also been established to oversee delivery, including the Antisocial Behaviour Communications Steering Group, which has met four times, on 9 September 2009, 23 November 2009, 26 February 2010 and 14 June 2010. A range of practitioner groups from the community safety sector have also been involved.
","AnswerDate":"2010-08-09T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-08-18T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Fergus Ewing","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":241950,"EventID":"S3W-35407","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1845,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":6,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2010-07-21T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-07-21T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive how many countries have booked Scottish-based training facilities for the 2014 Commonwealth Games","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive how many countries have booked Scottish-based training facilities for the 2014 Commonwealth Games","AnswerText":"So far, one country has made a booking, three countries have expressed an interest and discussions are taking place with a further three countries in basing their athletes in pre-games training camps in Scotland for the 2014 Games.
However, at this time, the focus of Commonwealth Games Associations (and those who are also National Olympic/Paralympic Committees) is the Youth Olympics and Delhi Games. It is after then that the nations we are targeting will turn their attention to finalising their plans for future Games. In the interim, we are exploring options for Scottish Enterprise to host an event for Commonwealth Games Associations during the Delhi Games.
","AnswerDate":"2010-08-12T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-08-18T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Nicola Sturgeon","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":241951,"EventID":"S3W-35408","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1845,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":6,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2010-07-21T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-07-21T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive how many countries have expressed an interest in booking Scottish-based training facilities for the 2014 Commonwealth Games","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive how many countries have expressed an interest in booking Scottish-based training facilities for the 2014 Commonwealth Games","AnswerText":"I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-35407 on 12 August 2010. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament''s website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/Apps2/Business/PQA/Default.aspx. ","AnswerDate":"2010-08-12T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-08-18T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Nicola Sturgeon","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":241952,"EventID":"S3W-35409","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1845,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":6,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2010-07-21T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-07-21T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive how many countries have booked Scottish-based training facilities for the 2012 Olympic Games","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive how many countries have booked Scottish-based training facilities for the 2012 Olympic Games","AnswerText":"Three countries have booked Scottish based facilities for their preparations for London 2012 (Zambia, Namibia and the British swimming team). Edinburgh Leisure are also in ongoing discussions with a National Paralympic Committee for the use of the Royal Commonwealth Pool. ","AnswerDate":"2010-08-12T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-08-18T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Nicola Sturgeon","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":241953,"EventID":"S3W-35410","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1845,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":6,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2010-07-21T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-07-21T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive how many countries have expressed an interest in booking Scottish-based training facilities for the 2012 Olympic Games","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive how many countries have expressed an interest in booking Scottish-based training facilities for the 2012 Olympic Games","AnswerText":"Eight countries have expressed an interest in using Scottish facilities as pre-Games training camps in 2012. Through Scotland''s Pre-Games Training Camps Co-ordinator and the venue managers, we continue to engage with those, and other, targeted countries both for the 2012 and 2014 Games. ","AnswerDate":"2010-08-12T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-08-18T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Nicola Sturgeon","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":241954,"EventID":"S3W-35411","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2066,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":3,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2010-07-21T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-07-21T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-25977 by Fiona Hyslop on 13 August 2009, whether further research has been conducted into why there are fewer male, compared with f","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-25977 by Fiona Hyslop on 13 August 2009, whether further research has been conducted into why there are fewer male, compared with female, primary school teachers in Scotland and, if so, what the conclusions have been.","AnswerText":"The Scottish Government has not commissioned any further research into why there are fewer male, compared with female, primary school teachers in Scotland. ","AnswerDate":"2010-08-17T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-08-18T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Michael Russell","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":241955,"EventID":"S3W-35412","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2066,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":3,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2010-07-21T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-07-21T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive how it responds to any evidence that suggests that the absence of male teachers and role models in schools can have a detrimental effect on the education of a child","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive how it responds to any evidence that suggests that the absence of male teachers and role models in schools can have a detrimental effect on the education of a child","AnswerText":"The Scottish Government is aware of the range of evidence about the importance of a male role model in a child''s education. However, it believes that the focus should be on attracting the highest quality and best motivated people into teaching irrespective of their gender. This is consistent with the conclusion drawn by many researchers in this field. ","AnswerDate":"2010-08-17T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-08-18T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Michael Russell","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":241956,"EventID":"S3W-35413","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2066,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":3,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2010-07-21T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-07-21T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-25975 by Fiona Hyslop on 13 August 2009, what further steps it is considering to attract more men into primary and secondary school","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-25975 by Fiona Hyslop on 13 August 2009, what further steps it is considering to attract more men into primary and secondary school teaching","AnswerText":"The Scottish Government continues to promote teaching at careers fairs and takes any opportunities that arise at such events to actively encourage men to consider teaching as a career. However, in the current situation of teacher over‘supply we consider that it would be inappropriate to mount any sort of active campaign related to teacher recruitment. ","AnswerDate":"2010-08-17T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-08-18T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Michael Russell","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":241957,"EventID":"S3W-35414","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2066,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":3,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2010-07-21T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-07-21T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what assessment it has made of the ongoing commitment by the Training and Development Agency for Schools to increase the number of under-represented groups, including men","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what assessment it has made of the ongoing commitment by the Training and Development Agency for Schools to increase the number of under-represented groups, including men, to become teachers in schools in England","AnswerText":"We understand that the latest recruitment figures in England indicate a modest increase in the proportion of men amongst applicants to courses of initial teacher training. However, it is not clear whether this is directly related to actions taken by the Training Development Agency or to wider economic and employment related circumstances. ","AnswerDate":"2010-08-17T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-08-18T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Michael Russell","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":241958,"EventID":"S3W-35415","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2066,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":3,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2010-07-21T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-07-21T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what the most recent figures are on the proportion of (a) primary and (b) secondary schools with no men on the teaching staff","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what the most recent figures are on the proportion of (a) primary and (b) secondary schools with no men on the teaching staff","AnswerText":"In the September 2009 teacher census 35 per cent of publicly funded primary schools, accounting for 25 per cent of pupils, have no men on the teaching staff. This represents a reduction since 2008 in the proportion of primary schools that do not have men among their teaching staff. There are no publicly funded secondary schools without men on the teaching staff. ","AnswerDate":"2010-08-17T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-08-18T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Michael Russell","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":241959,"EventID":"S3W-35416","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2364,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":11,"ApprovedDate":"2010-07-21T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-07-21T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answers to questions S3W-34305 and S3W-34306 by John Swinney on 17 June 2010, when it expects the chief executives of Scottish Enterprise and Skills Devel","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answers to questions S3W-34305 and S3W-34306 by John Swinney on 17 June 2010, when it expects the chief executives of Scottish Enterprise and Skills Development Scotland to provide the information requested.","AnswerText":"I understand that the Chief Executive of Skills Development Scotland wrote to you providing the information requested on 2 August 2010, and I expect the Chief Executive of Scottish Enterprise to write to you shortly. ","AnswerDate":"2010-08-25T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-08-18T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"John Swinney","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":241960,"EventID":"S3W-35417","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2133,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":6,"ApprovedDate":"2010-07-22T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-07-22T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether it plans to extend the Wider Role Fund for a further year.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether it plans to extend the Wider Role Fund for a further year.","AnswerText":"The Wider Role fund for Registered Social Landlords will be considered in the work undertaken on the Scottish Spending Review. ","AnswerDate":"2010-08-06T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-08-19T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Alex Neil","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":241961,"EventID":"S3W-35418","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1839,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":3,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2010-07-22T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-07-22T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what advice is provided to the public regarding the risk of human contact with giant hogweed, as referred to in the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what advice is provided to the public regarding the risk of human contact with giant hogweed, as referred to in the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981.","AnswerText":"Giant hogweed is listed on schedule 9 of the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 which makes it an offence to plant, or cause this plant to grow, in the wild.
Advice on the risk of burning from contact with the sap of giant hogweed is provided on the Scottish Government website (www.scotland.gov.uk/invasivespecies) and within the Horticultural Code of Practice published by the Scottish Executive in 2005 and available at:
Local authorities and other organisations may provide further information in areas where the plant is being controlled. I understand that Highland Council currently consider that there is sufficient general local awareness of the problems caused by giant hogweed since it has had an established presence in the area for some time.
","AnswerDate":"2010-08-02T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-08-19T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Richard Lochhead","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":241962,"EventID":"S3W-35419","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1839,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":3,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2010-07-22T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-07-22T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what action is being taken in Scotland to comply with the Weeds Act 1959 regarding the spread of giant hogweed.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what action is being taken in Scotland to comply with the Weeds Act 1959 regarding the spread of giant hogweed.","AnswerText":"Injurious weeds specified in the Weeds Act 1959 include spear thistle (Cirsium vulgare), creeping or field thistle (Cirsium arvense), curled and broad-leaved docks (Rumex crispus/obtusifolius), and common ragwort (Senecio jacobaea). Giant hogweed is not covered by the provisions of the Weeds Act 1959.
Giant hogweed is listed on schedule 9 of the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 which makes it an offence to plant, or cause this plant to grow, in the wild. The Scottish Government''s Wildlife and Natural Environment Bill, which is currently under consideration by the Scottish Parliament, includes provisions intended to improve the effectiveness of controls applicable to invasive non-native species and which could potentially apply to situations where a local authority or another public body has identified the need to control giant hogweed.
","AnswerDate":"2010-08-02T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-08-19T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Richard Lochhead","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":241963,"EventID":"S3W-35420","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1839,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":3,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2010-07-22T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-07-22T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what measures are being taken to combat the spread of giant hogweed.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what measures are being taken to combat the spread of giant hogweed.","AnswerText":"I refer the member to the answer to questions S3W-33277 and S3W‘33281 on 5 May 2010 and 30 April 2010 respectively. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament''s website, the search facility for which can be found at www.scottish.parliament.uk/Apps2/Business/PQA/Default.aspx. ","AnswerDate":"2010-08-02T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-08-19T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Richard Lochhead","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":241964,"EventID":"S3W-35421","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1831,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":6,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2010-07-22T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-07-22T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what the expenditure on staffing costs in NHS Tayside was in (a) 2008-09 and (b) 2009-10.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what the expenditure on staffing costs in NHS Tayside was in (a) 2008-09 and (b) 2009-10.","AnswerText":"NHS Tayside''s expenditure on staffing costs was £420.587 million in 2008-09 and £435.043 million in 2009-10. ","AnswerDate":"2010-08-16T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-08-19T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Nicola Sturgeon","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":241965,"EventID":"S3W-35422","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1831,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":6,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2010-07-22T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-07-22T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what the expenditure on hospital drugs in NHS Tayside was in (a) 2008-09 and (b) 2009-10.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what the expenditure on hospital drugs in NHS Tayside was in (a) 2008-09 and (b) 2009-10.","AnswerText":"NHS Tayside spent £22.378 million on hospital drugs in 2008-09; information is not yet available for the 2009-10 expenditure. ","AnswerDate":"2010-08-16T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-08-19T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Nicola Sturgeon","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":241966,"EventID":"S3W-35423","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1805,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":1,"ApprovedDate":"2010-08-12T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-08-12T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what role it envisages for private and voluntary nurseries in the delivery of the Early Years Framework.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what role it envisages for private and voluntary nurseries in the delivery of the Early Years Framework.","AnswerText":"Private and voluntary nurseries have an important role to play in implementing the early years framework and improving outcomes for our young children. We are keen to ensure that there are a range of service providers and that high quality and flexible services are available which meet families'' needs.
Decisions on matching services with needs and circumstances are best taken at local level by councils and partner providers in the private and voluntary sectors working together. Scottish Government financial support for local early years services is included within the overall local government settlement to allow councils more flexibility to meet local needs.
\r\n
Matching local service provision with local needs and circumstances is for local authorities and their partners to decide. Scottish Government funding to support early years services is incorporated in the overall local government settlement.
We also work closely with other organisations, including Learning and Teaching Scotland, who have produced a range of materials to help embed the Curriculum for Excellence in the early years. The Care Commission and Her Majesty''s Inspectorate of Education ensure that standards of care and education are maintained and improved in early years settings.
","AnswerDate":"2010-08-12T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-08-19T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Adam Ingram","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":241968,"EventID":"S3W-35425","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1860,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":3,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2010-07-22T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-07-22T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what charities have deregistered in each local authority area since May 2007; which of these were deregistered by the Office of the Scottish Charity Regulator, and how ma","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what charities have deregistered in each local authority area since May 2007; which of these were deregistered by the Office of the Scottish Charity Regulator, and how many deregistered on a voluntary basis","AnswerText":"This information is not held centrally. The Office of the Scottish Charity Regulator is an independent body and the member should approach them directly. ","AnswerDate":"2010-08-09T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-08-19T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Fergus Ewing","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":241969,"EventID":"S3W-35426","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1860,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":3,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2010-07-22T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-07-22T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive which of those charities that have voluntary deregistered since May 2007 were under notice to deregister","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive which of those charities that have voluntary deregistered since May 2007 were under notice to deregister","AnswerText":"This information is not held centrally. The Office of the Scottish Charity Regulator is an independent body and the member should approach them directly. ","AnswerDate":"2010-08-09T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-08-19T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Fergus Ewing","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":241970,"EventID":"S3W-35427","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1860,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":3,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2010-07-22T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-07-22T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what the reasons are for voluntary deregistration of charities","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what the reasons are for voluntary deregistration of charities","AnswerText":"This information is not held centrally. The Office of the Scottish Charity Regulator is an independent body and the member should approach them directly. ","AnswerDate":"2010-08-09T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-08-19T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Fergus Ewing","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":241971,"EventID":"S3W-35428","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1860,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":3,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2010-07-22T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-07-22T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive when it will carry out a review of the role of the Office of the Scottish Charity Regulator","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive when it will carry out a review of the role of the Office of the Scottish Charity Regulator","AnswerText":"The Scottish Government has made a commitment to carry out a fullscale review of the Charities and Trustee (Scotland) Act 2005 within ten years of its commencement date of April 2006. I anticipate this will include a review of the role of the Office of the Scottish Charity Regulator. ","AnswerDate":"2010-08-09T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-08-19T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Fergus Ewing","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":241972,"EventID":"S3W-35429","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1860,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":3,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2010-07-22T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-07-22T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what steps it has taken to simplify charity regulation and registration","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what steps it has taken to simplify charity regulation and registration","AnswerText":"The Scottish Government and the Office of the Scottish Charity Regulator (OSCR) continue to monitor the effectiveness of the Charities and Trustee Investment (Scotland) Act 2005 and regulations under it.
We have recently taken forward, by means of the Public Services Reform (Scotland) Act 2010, a number of OSCR''s recommendations for changes to the Charities and Trustee Investment (Scotland) Act 2005. The Charities Accounts (Scotland) Amendment Regulations 2010, which were laid before Parliament on 27 July 2010, amend the accounting rules for charities, including increasing the threshold for preparation of fully accrued accounts from £100,000 to £250,000. These changes aim to simplify or reduce charity regulation.
OSCR intends to introduce a new integrated reported regime which aims to simplify reporting processes for charities.
","AnswerDate":"2010-08-09T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-08-19T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Fergus Ewing","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":241973,"EventID":"S3W-35430","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1877,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":70,"ApprovedDate":"2010-07-22T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-07-22T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has requested that Lloyds Banking Group or the Royal Bank of Scotland publish their small business lending levels for Scotland","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has requested that Lloyds Banking Group or the Royal Bank of Scotland publish their small business lending levels for Scotland","AnswerText":"We actively monitor credit conditions in Scotland through our Access to Finance surveys, which shows levels of demand and supply of finance (including rejection rates) and the costs of new finance to small businesses in Scotland for all key Banks, including Lloyds Banking Group and the Royal Bank of Scotland. These surveys highlight the situation in Scotland, as currently the published data on lending levels is only available at the UK level.
We welcome the commitment of the current UK Government to disclose regional lending data and we are in discussions with the Department of Business, Innovation and Skills regarding this matter and also with the Banking industry in Scotland through our regular industry (FiSAB) meetings about this issue.
","AnswerDate":"2010-08-16T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-08-19T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Jim Mather","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":241974,"EventID":"S3W-35431","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1877,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":70,"ApprovedDate":"2010-07-22T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-07-22T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive how many public sector employees earn less than £7.15 per hour and in what areas they work","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive how many public sector employees earn less than £7.15 per hour and in what areas they work","AnswerText":"There are no employees working in the Scottish Government core directorates who earn less than £7.15 per hour.
Approximately 4,500 employees in NHS Scotland are expected to earn less than £7.15 per hour in 2010-11. These are staff on the lowest point of the Agenda for Change pay scale which is currently £6.98 per hour.
Pay for local government employees is a matter for local authorities and the appropriate trades unions.
Information is not held centrally about employees in non-departmental public bodies.
","AnswerDate":"2010-09-01T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-08-19T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"John Swinney","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":241975,"EventID":"S3W-35432","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1866,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":30,"ApprovedDate":"2010-07-22T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-07-22T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether its ministers were consulted regarding the proposed abolition of the Sustainable Development Commission by the United Kingdom Government","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether its ministers were consulted regarding the proposed abolition of the Sustainable Development Commission by the United Kingdom Government","AnswerText":"The Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs wrote to the First Minister on 14 July, to inform the Scottish Government that she was planning to announce on 22 July that the UK Government would be withdrawing funding for the Sustainable Development Commission. The Cabinet Secretary for Rural Affairs and Environment replied on 20 July, reserving the Scottish Government''s position. ","AnswerDate":"2010-08-19T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-08-19T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Roseanna Cunningham","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":241976,"EventID":"S3W-35433","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1866,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":30,"ApprovedDate":"2010-07-22T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-07-22T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will retain the Sustainable Development Commission in Scotland","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will retain the Sustainable Development Commission in Scotland","AnswerText":"Scottish ministers are assessing their options with regard to the Sustainable Development Commission in Scotland and its functions, following the UK Government''s decision to withdraw funding from the end of the financial year. ","AnswerDate":"2010-08-19T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-08-19T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Roseanna Cunningham","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":241977,"EventID":"S3W-35434","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1866,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":30,"ApprovedDate":"2010-07-22T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-07-22T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has had discussions with the Welsh Assembly Government and the Northern Ireland Executive regarding the future of the Sustainable Development Commission","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has had discussions with the Welsh Assembly Government and the Northern Ireland Executive regarding the future of the Sustainable Development Commission","AnswerText":"Yes. Discussions are ongoing. ","AnswerDate":"2010-08-19T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-08-19T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Roseanna Cunningham","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":241978,"EventID":"S3W-35435","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1866,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":30,"ApprovedDate":"2010-07-22T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-07-22T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what value it puts on the contribution made by the Sustainable Development Commission to its work in relation to energy, waste reduction, health and transport","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what value it puts on the contribution made by the Sustainable Development Commission to its work in relation to energy, waste reduction, health and transport","AnswerText":"The work of the Sustainable Development Commission has been valuable in informing Scottish Government policy development across a broad range of areas. ","AnswerDate":"2010-08-19T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-08-19T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Roseanna Cunningham","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":241979,"EventID":"S3W-35436","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1866,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":30,"ApprovedDate":"2010-07-22T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-07-22T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what value it puts on the scrutiny of its work that is carried out by the Sustainable Development Commission","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what value it puts on the scrutiny of its work that is carried out by the Sustainable Development Commission","AnswerText":"I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-35435 on the 19 August 2010. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament''s website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/Apps2/Business/PQA/Default.aspx. ","AnswerDate":"2010-08-19T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-08-19T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Roseanna Cunningham","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":241980,"EventID":"S3W-35437","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1866,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":30,"ApprovedDate":"2010-07-22T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-07-22T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what consideration it gives to the reports published by the Sustainable Development Commission","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what consideration it gives to the reports published by the Sustainable Development Commission","AnswerText":"I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-35435 on the 19 August 2010. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament''s website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/Apps2/Business/PQA/Default.aspx. ","AnswerDate":"2010-08-19T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-08-19T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Roseanna Cunningham","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":241981,"EventID":"S3W-35438","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1866,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":30,"ApprovedDate":"2010-07-22T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-07-22T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what analysis it has carried out of the added value to its work arising as a result of its consideration of the Sustainable Development Commission’s reports","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what analysis it has carried out of the added value to its work arising as a result of its consideration of the Sustainable Development Commission’s reports","AnswerText":"I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-35435 on the 19 August 2010. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament''s website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/Apps2/Business/PQA/Default.aspx. ","AnswerDate":"2010-08-19T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-08-19T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Roseanna Cunningham","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":241982,"EventID":"S3W-35439","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1866,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":30,"ApprovedDate":"2010-07-22T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-07-22T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what its position is on the work carried out on its Greener Scotland policy objectives by the Sustainable Development Commission, especially that regarding sustainable de","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what its position is on the work carried out on its Greener Scotland policy objectives by the Sustainable Development Commission, especially that regarding sustainable development and tackling climate change","AnswerText":"I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-35435 on the 19 August 2010. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament''s website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/Apps2/Business/PQA/Default.aspx. ","AnswerDate":"2010-08-19T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-08-19T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Roseanna Cunningham","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":241983,"EventID":"S3W-35440","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1866,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":30,"ApprovedDate":"2010-07-22T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-07-22T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what consideration it has given to the value of the advice and research carried out by the Sustainable Development Commission in relation to NHS Scotland and local author","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what consideration it has given to the value of the advice and research carried out by the Sustainable Development Commission in relation to NHS Scotland and local authorities","AnswerText":"I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-35435 on the 19 August 2010. All answers to written Parliamentary Questions are available on the Parliament''s website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/Apps2/Business/PQA/Default.aspx. ","AnswerDate":"2010-08-19T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-08-19T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Roseanna Cunningham","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":241984,"EventID":"S3W-35441","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1866,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":30,"ApprovedDate":"2010-07-22T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-07-22T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether its ministers were consulted regarding the proposed abolition of the Agricultural Wages Board by the United Kingdom Government","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether its ministers were consulted regarding the proposed abolition of the Agricultural Wages Board by the United Kingdom Government","AnswerText":"The United Kingdom Government did not consult Scottish ministers about the proposed abolition of the English and Welsh Agricultural Wages Board, which has no jurisdiction in Scotland. They did, however, write to Scottish ministers alerting us to their intention shortly before making their announcement. ","AnswerDate":"2010-08-02T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-08-19T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Richard Lochhead","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":241985,"EventID":"S3W-35442","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1866,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":30,"ApprovedDate":"2010-07-22T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-07-22T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will retain the Scottish Agricultural Wages Board","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will retain the Scottish Agricultural Wages Board","AnswerText":"I refer the member to the answer to question S3O-07682 on 3 September 2009. The answer to the oral parliamentary question is available on the Parliament''s website, the official report can be viewed at:
","AnswerDate":"2010-08-02T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-08-19T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Richard Lochhead","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":241986,"EventID":"S3W-35443","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1837,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":36,"ApprovedDate":"2010-07-22T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-07-22T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive how much funding it will contribute to the urban regeneration programme announced on 6 July 2010","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive how much funding it will contribute to the urban regeneration programme announced on 6 July 2010","AnswerText":"The Scottish Government will contribute £26 million to the £50 million JESSICA Holding Fund. The European Commission will contribute the remaining £24 million from the European Regional Development Fund “ Priority 3 (Urban Regeneration) of the Lowland and Uplands Scotland Operational Programme. ","AnswerDate":"2010-08-05T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-08-19T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Alex Neil","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":241987,"EventID":"S3W-35444","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1837,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":36,"ApprovedDate":"2010-07-22T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-07-22T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive from what budget heading will the funding come for the urban regeneration programme it announced on 6 July 2010.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive from what budget heading will the funding come for the urban regeneration programme it announced on 6 July 2010.","AnswerText":"Scottish Government match funding for the JESSICA Holding Fund will feature under the Regeneration Programmes budget heading in future years. ","AnswerDate":"2010-08-05T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-08-19T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Alex Neil","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":241988,"EventID":"S3W-35445","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1837,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":36,"ApprovedDate":"2010-07-22T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-07-22T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive how much funding it anticipates will be contributed by public and private sector partners to the urban regeneration programme announced on 6 July 2010","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive how much funding it anticipates will be contributed by public and private sector partners to the urban regeneration programme announced on 6 July 2010","AnswerText":"The Scottish Government anticipates significant public and private co-investment as part of the JESSICA regeneration programme.
The European Investment Bank will look to make significant co-financing available, subject to their normal lending criteria. Big Lottery Fund are also looking at ways in which they can co-invest alongside the JESSICA Holding Fund, to help secure maximum benefit for local communities. We also expect Urban Development Funds to lever in private co-investment finance from banks or other institutional investors.
","AnswerDate":"2010-08-05T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-08-19T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Alex Neil","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":241989,"EventID":"S3W-35446","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1837,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":36,"ApprovedDate":"2010-07-22T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-07-22T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what interest rate will be charged by the European Investment Bank on funds provided for the urban regeneration programme announced on 6 July 2010","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what interest rate will be charged by the European Investment Bank on funds provided for the urban regeneration programme announced on 6 July 2010","AnswerText":"It is not possible to determine interest rates relating to the JESSICA programme at this stage. Interest rates will be determined by Urban Development Fund managers, and these have not yet been procured. Specifying a target rate of return from the outset is not seen as appropriate, as it could constrain the discretion of the European Investment Bank or Urban Development Funds. ","AnswerDate":"2010-08-05T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-08-19T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Alex Neil","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":241990,"EventID":"S3W-35447","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1837,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":36,"ApprovedDate":"2010-07-22T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-07-22T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what the timescale will be for repayment of loans from the European Investment Bank on funds provided for the urban regeneration programme announced on 6 July 2010","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what the timescale will be for repayment of loans from the European Investment Bank on funds provided for the urban regeneration programme announced on 6 July 2010","AnswerText":"It is not possible to specify repayment timescales until Urban Development Funds are established, and a pipeline of projects has been identified. Decisions on these issues will be taken by the European Investment Bank, in conjunction with the JESSICA Investment Board and Urban Development Fund managers. ","AnswerDate":"2010-08-05T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-08-19T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Alex Neil","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":241991,"EventID":"S3W-35448","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1837,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":36,"ApprovedDate":"2010-07-22T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-07-22T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive which areas of the country will benefit from the urban regeneration programme announced on 6 July 2010","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive which areas of the country will benefit from the urban regeneration programme announced on 6 July 2010","AnswerText":"Projects in 13 areas of the country are eligible for investment from the JESSICA regeneration programme. Eligible areas are Clackmannanshire, Dundee, East Ayrshire, Edinburgh, Fife, Glasgow, Inverclyde, North Ayrshire, North Lanarkshire, Renfrewshire, South Lanarkshire, West Dunbartonshire and West Lothian. ","AnswerDate":"2010-08-05T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-08-19T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Alex Neil","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":241992,"EventID":"S3W-35449","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1837,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":36,"ApprovedDate":"2010-07-22T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-07-22T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what the criteria are for areas being allowed to participate in the urban regeneration programme announced on 6 July 2010","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what the criteria are for areas being allowed to participate in the urban regeneration programme announced on 6 July 2010","AnswerText":"The JESSICA (Joint European Support for Sustainable Investment in City Areas) programme is part-funded through Priority 3 (Urban Regeneration) of the Lowlands and Uplands Scotland ERDF Programme and will operate in the 13 local authority areas targeted in that Priority.
Eligibility is limited to the 10 local authority areas with the highest share of population in the 15% most deprived data-zones, as measured by the Scottish Index of Multiple Deprivation, and the seven areas with the highest concentration of individuals in the NEET (not in education, employment and training) category. There is some overlap, resulting in 13 targeted areas. These areas account for approximately 60% of the region''s population.
","AnswerDate":"2010-08-05T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-08-19T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Alex Neil","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":241993,"EventID":"S3W-35450","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1837,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":36,"ApprovedDate":"2010-07-22T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-07-22T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive how much the average cost of land per housing unit was in the new urban village in the Tillydrone area of Aberdeen","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive how much the average cost of land per housing unit was in the new urban village in the Tillydrone area of Aberdeen","AnswerText":"The average cost of land per housing unit is £29,452. ","AnswerDate":"2010-08-12T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-08-19T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Nicola Sturgeon","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":241994,"EventID":"S3W-35451","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1837,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":36,"ApprovedDate":"2010-07-22T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-07-22T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-34165 by Alex Neil on 11 June 2010, whether any new applications to the Open Market Shared Equity Pilot will be allowed in 2010-11","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-34165 by Alex Neil on 11 June 2010, whether any new applications to the Open Market Shared Equity Pilot will be allowed in 2010-11","AnswerText":"Registered Social Landlords (RSLs) who administer Open Market Shared Equity Pilot (OMSEP) are currently processing all existing applications to the scheme and will shortly provide the Scottish Government with information on the number of people who wish to proceed with purchasing a home. We expect that we will be able to issue some new application forms under the extended OMSEP scheme in due course. ","AnswerDate":"2010-08-05T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-08-19T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Alex Neil","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":241995,"EventID":"S3W-35452","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2345,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":56,"ApprovedDate":"2010-07-22T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-07-22T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what amount and area of productive woodland has been lost through the restructuring process in each of the last five years.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what amount and area of productive woodland has been lost through the restructuring process in each of the last five years.","AnswerText":"A breakdown of these figures into the various categories now requested is not readily available at present.
To satisfy the requirements of felling control legislation, restructuring proposals are only agreed if they are in accordance with the principles of sustainable forest management. However, certain categories of felling (including felling associated with planning permission such as windfarms) are exempt from felling licence requirements, and no central records are held on exempt felling.
Forestry Commission Scotland records show that the total amount of private sector woodland approved for felling over the past five years without a replanting condition was 678 hectares.
Current work on improving the National Forest Inventory and implementing the policy on the Control of Woodland Removal will provide additional information on woodland loss.
","AnswerDate":"2010-08-11T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-08-19T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Richard Lochhead","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":241996,"EventID":"S3W-35453","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2345,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":56,"ApprovedDate":"2010-07-22T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-07-22T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what amount and area of restocked woodland has been put back as productive conifer crop in each of the last five years","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what amount and area of restocked woodland has been put back as productive conifer crop in each of the last five years","AnswerText":"There have been 45,400 hectares of conifers restocked over the last five years. These figures are taken from Forestry Facts and Figures that are available on the Forestry Commission website at http://www.forestry.gov.uk/forestry/infd-7aqknx.
The following table provides details of all restocked woodland areas and includes conifer and broadleaves.
Area of Woodland Restocked (in Hectares)
Year (to 31 March)
Conifer
Broadleaved
Total
2006
7,800
1,200
9,000
2007
10,600
1,800
12,400
2008
10,800
1,800
12,600
2009
8,200
1,400
9,600
*2010
8,000
1,500
9,500
Total
45,400
7,700
53,100
Note: *2010 figure has been compiled from the Woodland Area, Planting and Restocking publication which contains provisional statistics for the year to March 2010.
","AnswerDate":"2010-08-11T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-08-19T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Richard Lochhead","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":241997,"EventID":"S3W-35454","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2345,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":56,"ApprovedDate":"2010-07-22T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-07-22T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what projections it has from (a) public and (b) private sector forest plans for the amount and area of woodland to be restructured that will be re-established in producti","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what projections it has from (a) public and (b) private sector forest plans for the amount and area of woodland to be restructured that will be re-established in productive conifer crop","AnswerText":"The National Forest Estate Strategic Plan (published in 2009) states that the area of broadleaves on the national forest estate will be increased from the current level of 8% to around 20% of woodland cover. While this will mean a reduction in the relative area of productive conifer crop, improved planting stock and silviculture will be used to maximise production of quality timber. It is expected that private owners'' decisions on species choice will, within the overall context of sustainable forest management principles, reflect their individual management objectives. Production forecasts will continue to be published to assist the wood processing industries in making investment decisions based on reliable information about future timber supplies. The next conifer production forecast is due for publication towards the end of 2011. ","AnswerDate":"2010-08-11T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-08-19T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Richard Lochhead","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":241998,"EventID":"S3W-35455","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2345,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":56,"ApprovedDate":"2010-07-22T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-07-22T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to encourage a greater proportion of productive conifer crop in forests.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to encourage a greater proportion of productive conifer crop in forests.","AnswerText":"We recognise the importance of sustaining a predictable and stable supply of good quality timber to encourage continued investment in Scotland''s timber processing industries. To help achieve this, the Scotland Rural Development Programme offers grants for productive conifers; these grants encourage the use of genetically improved planting material. In addition, Forestry Commission Scotland is currently developing a pilot scheme to lease land from farmers for creating new productive woodlands. ","AnswerDate":"2010-08-11T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-08-19T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Richard Lochhead","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":241999,"EventID":"S3W-35456","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2345,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":56,"ApprovedDate":"2010-07-22T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-07-22T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what amount and area of productive woodland has been lost through the creation of windfarms and access roads in each of the last five years.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what amount and area of productive woodland has been lost through the creation of windfarms and access roads in each of the last five years.","AnswerText":"A breakdown of these figures into the various categories now requested is not readily available at present.
To satisfy the requirements of felling control legislation, restructuring proposals are only agreed if they are in accordance with the principles of sustainable forest management. However, certain categories of felling (including felling associated with planning permission such as windfarms) are exempt from felling licence requirements, and no central records are held on exempt felling.
Forestry Commission Scotland records show that the total amount of private sector woodland approved for felling over the past five years without a replanting condition was 678 hectares.
Current work on improving the National Forest Inventory and implementing the policy on the Control of Woodland Removal will provide additional information on woodland loss.
","AnswerDate":"2010-08-11T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-08-19T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Richard Lochhead","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":242000,"EventID":"S3W-35457","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2345,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":56,"ApprovedDate":"2010-07-22T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-07-22T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what amount and area of productive woodland has been lost through habitat restoration in each of the last five years","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what amount and area of productive woodland has been lost through habitat restoration in each of the last five years","AnswerText":"A breakdown of these figures into the various categories now requested is not readily available at present.
To satisfy the requirements of felling control legislation, restructuring proposals are only agreed if they are in accordance with the principles of sustainable forest management. However, certain categories of felling (including felling associated with planning permission such as windfarms) are exempt from felling licence requirements, and no central records are held on exempt felling.
Forestry Commission Scotland records show that the total amount of private sector woodland approved for felling over the past five years without a replanting condition was 678 hectares.
Current work on improving the National Forest Inventory and implementing the policy on the Control of Woodland Removal will provide additional information on woodland loss.
","AnswerDate":"2010-08-11T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-08-19T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Richard Lochhead","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":242001,"EventID":"S3W-35458","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1866,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":30,"ApprovedDate":"2010-07-22T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-07-22T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what value it puts on the work that is carried out by the Sustainable Development Commission in assessing the Scottish Government’s progress on addressing sustainable dev","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what value it puts on the work that is carried out by the Sustainable Development Commission in assessing the Scottish Government’s progress on addressing sustainable development issues.","AnswerText":"I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-35435 on the 19 August 2010. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament''s website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/Apps2/Business/PQA/Default.aspx.
","AnswerDate":"2010-08-19T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-08-19T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Roseanna Cunningham","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":242002,"EventID":"S3W-35459","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2228,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":8,"ApprovedDate":"2010-07-23T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-07-23T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether it can confirm that the Raith Interchange will be completed by 2013, as indicated by the Transport Scotland Programme Update dated published on 31 December 2009","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether it can confirm that the Raith Interchange will be completed by 2013, as indicated by the Transport Scotland Programme Update dated published on 31 December 2009","AnswerText":"We intend to examine the benefits of including the M74 Junction 5, Raith Scheme in the proposed Not for Profit Distribution (NPD) procurement of the M8 Baillieston to Newhouse Scheme. Ministers have announced that should a favourable decision on the M8 Public Local Inquiry be made, a thorough review of the remaining stages of the project will be required. ","AnswerDate":"2010-08-20T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-08-20T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Stewart Stevenson","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":242003,"EventID":"S3W-35460","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2228,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":8,"ApprovedDate":"2010-07-23T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-07-23T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether the delay in progress of the M8 Baillieston to Newhouse Scheme will impact negatively on the programme for the M74 Junction 5, Raith Scheme","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether the delay in progress of the M8 Baillieston to Newhouse Scheme will impact negatively on the programme for the M74 Junction 5, Raith Scheme","AnswerText":"I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-35459 on 20 August 2010. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament''s website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/Apps2/Business/PQA/Default.aspx. ","AnswerDate":"2010-08-20T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-08-20T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Stewart Stevenson","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":242004,"EventID":"S3W-35461","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2123,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":32,"ApprovedDate":"2010-07-23T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-07-23T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether national guidelines will be developed on the management of lymphoedema following breast cancer treatment","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether national guidelines will be developed on the management of lymphoedema following breast cancer treatment","AnswerText":"There are existing SIGN (Scottish Intercollegiate Guidelines Network) Guidelines which cover certain aspects of the treatment and management of lymphoedema. These include Guidelines on the Management of Breast Cancer (No. 84). NHS boards are expected to implement these guidelines through local protocols.
There are no current plans to develop a specific guideline on the management of lymphoedema following breast cancer treatment. However, revision of SIGN Guideline 84 will begin in this financial year. The next date for consideration of submissions for new guidelines is anticipated to be 1 April 2011, and would be subject to the SIGN selection process.
","AnswerDate":"2010-08-16T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-08-20T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Nicola Sturgeon","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":242005,"EventID":"S3W-35462","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2123,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":32,"ApprovedDate":"2010-07-23T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-07-23T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what steps it is taking to ensure that all patients experiencing lymphoedema after breast cancer treatment have equal access to appropriate treatments","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what steps it is taking to ensure that all patients experiencing lymphoedema after breast cancer treatment have equal access to appropriate treatments","AnswerText":"SIGN (Scottish Intercollegiate Guidelines Network), has produced Guidelines on the Management of Breast Cancer (No. 84), which cover certain aspects of the treatment and management of lymphoedema. NHS boards are expected to implement these guidelines consistently, and therefore equitably through local protocols.
The Scottish Government recognises that a comprehensive picture of lymphoedema services would contribute to the improvement of care. The Scottish Medical and Scientific Advisory Committee (SMASAC), has agreed to set up a short-life working group to conduct a scoping exercise of lymphoedema services across Scotland.
In addition, the Scottish Government Health Directorates are represented on the Joint Lymphoedema Working Group, set up by the voluntary sector, to look at how to develop a best model of service and best model of care for people with lymphoedema, including self management, with the overarching aim of contributing to achieving a high quality, equitable service to meet the needs of people with or at risk of lymphoedema.
The Delivery Framework for Adult Rehabilitation sets out an approach to supporting adults with any injury or illness, including cancer, to return to full and active lives or to maintain their quality of life wherever possible, including through equitable access to rehabilitation treatment and services.
It is however, for NHS boards to assess the level of need locally and provide services accordingly, in relation to cancer rehabilitation.
","AnswerDate":"2010-08-16T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-08-20T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Nicola Sturgeon","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":242006,"EventID":"S3W-35463","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2123,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":32,"ApprovedDate":"2010-07-23T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-07-23T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what steps it is taking to ensure that all patients experiencing lymphoedema after breast cancer treatment have access to compression garments where clinically appropriat","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what steps it is taking to ensure that all patients experiencing lymphoedema after breast cancer treatment have access to compression garments where clinically appropriate","AnswerText":"I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-35462 on 16 August 2010. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament''s website, the search facility for which can be found at www.scottish.parliament.uk/Apps2/Business/PQA/Default.aspx. ","AnswerDate":"2010-08-16T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-08-20T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Nicola Sturgeon","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":242007,"EventID":"S3W-35464","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2123,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":32,"ApprovedDate":"2010-07-23T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-07-23T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what steps it is taking to collate figures regarding the number of people who develop lymphoedema, particularly following breast cancer treatment","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what steps it is taking to collate figures regarding the number of people who develop lymphoedema, particularly following breast cancer treatment","AnswerText":"The Scottish Government recognises the concerns expressed around the need for more, and better, data about people who have developed lymphoedema following breast cancer. A study of Edinburgh Breast Unit patients with lymphoedema being undertaken by Queen Margaret University is nearing completion, and this is expected to yield some insights about incidence. The Scottish Government will be taking a keen interest in the study''s findings once they are published.
In addition, the Scottish Government Health Directorates are represented on the Joint Lymphoedema Working Group involving the voluntary sector, which is looking at various aspects of lymphoedema. The group will be looking at the issue of data collection and the Scottish Government will consider its recommendations when they are published.
","AnswerDate":"2010-08-16T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-08-20T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Nicola Sturgeon","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":242008,"EventID":"S3W-35465","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2123,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":32,"ApprovedDate":"2010-07-23T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-07-23T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what steps it is taking to improve referral and treatment pathways for patients experiencing lymphoedema following breast cancer treatment","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what steps it is taking to improve referral and treatment pathways for patients experiencing lymphoedema following breast cancer treatment","AnswerText":"The Scottish Government will be taking a keen interest in the findings of the short-life working group of the Scottish Medical and Scientific Advisory Committee (SMASAC) in scoping lymphoedema services across Scotland, as well as outcomes from the Joint Lymphoedema Working Group which is currently developing a service model for lymphoedema in Scotland.
We are currently developing a National Musculoskeletal (MSK) Programme, which should improve delivery of MSK services, which are relevant to people living with lymphoedema. Implementation will be overseen by a national programme board and a national clinical lead will be appointed to support the programme''s roll-out. Funding for this post has been provided though the Delivery Framework for Adult Rehabilitation, which supports the programme through its emphasis on local, easily accessible services designed to facilitate transition from hospital to community and subsequently aid recovery or long term self-management of conditions.
These developments will build on the work towards developing the International consensus document Best Practice for the Management of Lymphoedema, which was launched at the conference of the British Lymphology Society in October 2006, and includes recommendations in relation to referral and treatment pathways for lymphoedema.
","AnswerDate":"2010-08-17T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-08-20T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Nicola Sturgeon","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":242009,"EventID":"S3W-35466","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1877,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":70,"ApprovedDate":"2010-07-23T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-07-23T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will publish like-for-like updated benefit cost ratios for each major rail project underway or planned, including the Glasgow Airport Rail Link and Paisley cor","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will publish like-for-like updated benefit cost ratios for each major rail project underway or planned, including the Glasgow Airport Rail Link and Paisley corridor improvements","AnswerText":"The benefit-to-cost ratios (BCRs) for current and proposed rail projects, including that for the Glasgow Airport Rail Link (GARL) at the time of cancellation, are as set out in the following table.
Project
BCR
Glasgow Airport Rail Link
1.1
Edinburgh to Glasgow Improvements Programme
1.2*
Airdrie to Bathgate
1.5**
Borders
1.2
Notes:
* This ratio includes costs and benefits for the Shotts part of the programme which is already operational.
** This is currently being revised in light of changes to operating costs. These will be confirmed once the franchise variation for the Airdrie to Bathgate line has been agreed.
Following the cancellation of the GARL project Transport Scotland, in partnership with Network Rail and First Scotrail, is developing a new timetable for the Ayrshire and Inverclyde rail passenger services, to be introduced in May 2012. This timetable information is currently in development and is required to inform the strategic business case for the Paisley Corridor Improvements project in the context of the wider West of Scotland railway investment. It is expected that the revised business case and associated BCR will be available in the autumn of 2010.
","AnswerDate":"2010-08-20T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-08-20T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Stewart Stevenson","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":242010,"EventID":"S3W-35467","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1831,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":6,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2010-07-23T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-07-23T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive how many prescriptions for antidepressants were issued in the (a) Dundee and (b) Angus Community Health Partnership areas in (i) 2008 and (ii) 2009","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive how many prescriptions for antidepressants were issued in the (a) Dundee and (b) Angus Community Health Partnership areas in (i) 2008 and (ii) 2009","AnswerText":"Information on prescriptions issued for antidepressants is not collected but the number of antidepressant items dispensed in 2008 and 2009 for these Partnerships is shown in the following table:
Prescribing Community Health Partnership
Calendar Year 2008
Calendar Year 2009
Angus Community Health Partnership
80,057
85,456
Dundee Community Health Partnership
131,875
139,524
Source: Prescribing Information System, ISD Scotland. IR2010-01887.
It should be noted that prescribing rates can be influenced not only by prevalence and detection rates of depression, but also prescribing practice around the dosage and duration of the prescription “ for example the same people might be staying on antidepressants for longer periods, or they may be receiving a higher dose.
We will ensure those who need antidepressants will continue to receive them in accordance with clinical guidelines, while investing in alternatives that increase choice for clinicians and service users through improved access to evidence based interventions such as psychological therapies.
","AnswerDate":"2010-08-12T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-08-20T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Nicola Sturgeon","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":242011,"EventID":"S3W-35468","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2678,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":8,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2010-07-23T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-07-23T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will provide an update on each project in the Strategic Transport Projects Review, detailing (a) all work done on each project and (b) what action it is taking","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will provide an update on each project in the Strategic Transport Projects Review, detailing (a) all work done on each project and (b) what action it is taking to further develop each project","AnswerText":"I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-35323 on 4 August 2010. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament''s website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/Apps2/Business/PQA/Default.aspx ","AnswerDate":"2010-08-12T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-08-20T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Stewart Stevenson","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":242012,"EventID":"S3W-35469","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2678,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":8,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2010-07-23T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-07-23T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what budget it has allocated to Scotland’s Road Safety Framework to 2020, detailing the amount of resource being allocated to each individual scheme","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what budget it has allocated to Scotland’s Road Safety Framework to 2020, detailing the amount of resource being allocated to each individual scheme","AnswerText":"In addition to the existing budgets for road safety, the Scottish Government has allocated £800,000 to Scotland''s Road Safety Framework for the financial year 2010-11. We will decide on future allocations within the context of the forthcoming spending review.
Money already allocated from the 2010-11 budget is as follows:
Young Driver''s Debate - £60,000
NHS Injury Data Collection Pilot - £7,000
Seatbelt campaign promotional materials - £6,670
Young people safety pilot - £32,500.
","AnswerDate":"2010-08-20T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-08-20T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Stewart Stevenson","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":242013,"EventID":"S3W-35470","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2678,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":8,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2010-07-23T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-07-23T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the comments of Stewart Stevenson on 27 May 2010 (Official Report C. 26681), (a) how it intends to fulfil its commitment to undertake a national debate with y","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the comments of Stewart Stevenson on 27 May 2010 (Official Report C. 26681), (a) how it intends to fulfil its commitment to undertake a national debate with young drivers, their parents and guardians and representative groups to explore young driver issues and concerns, (b) how much it will spend on the initiative (c) how it will identify participants in the debate and (d) what the specific aims of the debate will be","AnswerText":"By the end of this year, a national debate on young drivers'' safety will be conducted across Scotland using various methods of communication, including face to face and social networking, by contractors who have specialist knowledge and experience of conducting public consultations, particularly with young people, on a national scale.
The Scottish Government has approved an expenditure of £60,000 for the initiative.
The invitation to tender will specify the range and geographical spread of the participants but it will be up to the contractor to suggest how these participants will be identified and engaged.
The specific aim of this debate will be:
to identify options to provide greater protection for young drivers, involving youth groups, the police and advanced driving experts in the process.
","AnswerDate":"2010-08-20T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-08-20T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Stewart Stevenson","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":242014,"EventID":"S3W-35471","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2651,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":41,"ApprovedDate":"2010-07-23T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-07-23T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what the extent, in hectares, of St Margaret’s Marsh Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) (a) was when originally designated as an SSSI, (b) is at present and (c) w","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what the extent, in hectares, of St Margaret’s Marsh Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) (a) was when originally designated as an SSSI, (b) is at present and (c) will be if the new Forth Crossing is developed as proposed","AnswerText":"The original extent of St Margaret''s Marsh SSSI was 26.4 hectares. The current extent is 24.0 hectares. If the Forth Replacement Crossing is developed as currently proposed, Scottish Natural Heritage estimate that the SSSI would be reduced to 21.2 hectares. ","AnswerDate":"2010-08-11T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-08-20T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Richard Lochhead","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":242015,"EventID":"S3W-35472","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2651,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":41,"ApprovedDate":"2010-07-23T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-07-23T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what action it is taking to (a) replace land previously denotified at St Margaret's Marsh Site of Special Scientific Interest and (b) ensure that any future loss of land ","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what action it is taking to (a) replace land previously denotified at St Margaret's Marsh Site of Special Scientific Interest and (b) ensure that any future loss of land at St Margaret's Marsh is compensated for by the provision of new or enhanced habitat elsewhere and what the reason is for its position on these matters","AnswerText":"SNH has advised that the part of the site which was denotified in 2009 did not contribute to the special interest for which the site had been notified. There was therefore no justification for seeking to compensate for the effect of the denotification.
SNH and Transport Scotland have considered the options for compensatory measures to balance the loss which would be represented by the use of part of the site for the B981 realignment proposed in connection with the new Forth Crossing. The extent of the land on the St Margaret''s Marsh SSSI which would be lost as a result of this scheme comprises 0.7ha of reedbed (a notified SSSI feature) and 3.1ha of rough grassland and scrub (which is not a notified feature of the SSSI); the reduction of notified habitat therefore represents a small proportion of the total area of the site contributing to the special interest for which it was notified. The saltmarsh habitat (which is the most ecologically significant component of the SSSI) would not be affected.
Compensatory measures would normally constitute either the provision of new habitat elsewhere or improved management of the existing habitats on the SSSI. SNH has assessed the current condition of both the reedbed and saltmarsh habitats as being unfavourable, mainly as a result of restricted ingress of seawater to the site coupled with suspected nutrient enrichment. The preferred option, representing the best approach to sustaining the long term functionality of the notified habitats, is therefore for compensatory measures to take the form of a management plan for the SSSI.
","AnswerDate":"2010-08-11T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-08-20T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Richard Lochhead","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":242016,"EventID":"S3W-35473","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2651,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":41,"ApprovedDate":"2010-07-23T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-07-23T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-34230 by Alex Neil on 16 June 2010, when it expects to receive the report and recommendations from the Fuel Poverty Forum following","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-34230 by Alex Neil on 16 June 2010, when it expects to receive the report and recommendations from the Fuel Poverty Forum following the review of the first year of the Energy Assistance Package.","AnswerText":"The Fuel Poverty Forum published its report on 16 July. This is available at:
","AnswerDate":"2010-08-05T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-08-20T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Alex Neil","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":242017,"EventID":"S3W-35474","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2651,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":41,"ApprovedDate":"2010-07-23T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-07-23T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-34230 by Alex Neil on 16 June 2010, whether it will clarify what progress has been made in discussions with the energy companies to","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-34230 by Alex Neil on 16 June 2010, whether it will clarify what progress has been made in discussions with the energy companies to maximise the impact of the Carbon Emissions Reduction Target expenditure","AnswerText":"The next meeting of the CERT Strategy Group will be arranged shortly.
We have established a CERT Data Group, to take forward a commitment from energy suppliers to gather annual data for Scottish CERT activity and provide it to the Scottish Government.
I have recently met with one national energy company and the future of CERT and the CERT Data group was discussed.
We are also engaging with the UK Government on the forthcoming UK Energy Bill, in particular to work towards ensuring that Green Deal Financing or alternatives to this can be delivered in Scotland. An official from the Scottish Government''s Energy Efficiency Unit is currently working part time at Westminster in the Department for Energy and Climate Change with the team designing the new schemes, including any future energy company obligation, with the aim of ensuring that Scottish specific considerations are built into the design of the schemes from the outset.
","AnswerDate":"2010-08-05T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-08-20T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Alex Neil","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":242018,"EventID":"S3W-35475","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":3763,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":8,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2010-07-26T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-07-26T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive how many people have been convicted of motoring offences in each of the last five years, broken down by sheriff court","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive how many people have been convicted of motoring offences in each of the last five years, broken down by sheriff court","AnswerText":"The available information on persons convicted in Scottish courts is given in the following tables. Following the summary justice reforms introduced in December 2007 there has been an increase in cases involving motor vehicle offences being dealt with by district courts rather than sheriff courts.
Persons with a Charge Proved in Scottish Courts for Motoring Offences1, 2004-05 to 2008-09
Court
2004-05
2005-06
2006-07
2007-08
2008-09
High Court
6
9
8
14
5
Sheriff Court 2
24,793
22,132
21,965
21,136
14,278
District/JP Court 3
22,716
23,062
23,091
24,164
30,392
Scotland 4
47,515
45,203
45,065
45,314
44,680
Notes:
1. Where main offence.
2. Includes Sheriff Solemn, Sheriff Summary and Sheriff Summary Youth Courts.
3. Includes District, Justice of the Peace and Stipendiary Magistrates.
4. A small number of court types are unknown
Persons with a Charge Proved in Sheriff Courts for Motoring Offences1, 2004-05 to 2008-09
Sheriff Court
2004-05
2005-06
2006-07
2007-08
2008-09
Aberdeen
1,576
<","AnswerDate":"2010-08-17T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-08-23T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Kenny MacAskill","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":242019,"EventID":"S3W-35476","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":3763,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":8,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2010-07-26T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-07-26T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive how many people have been convicted of not having motor insurance when driving in each of the last five years, broken down by sheriff court","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive how many people have been convicted of not having motor insurance when driving in each of the last five years, broken down by sheriff court","AnswerText":"The available information is given in the following tables. Following the summary justice reforms introduced in 2007 there has been an increase in motor insurance offences being dealt with by district courts rather than sheriff courts.
Persons Convicted for motor Insurance Offences1 in 2004-05 to 2008-09 by Sheriff Court2
Sheriff Court
2004-05
2005-06
2006-07
2007-08
2008-09
Aberdeen
366
263
261
190
103
Airdrie
140
77
91
135
55
Alloa
88
90
92
61
26
Arbroath
106
76
70
39
18
Ayr
220
172
205
182
51
Banff
42
19
22
12
7
Campbeltown
17
13
6
","AnswerDate":"2010-08-17T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-08-23T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Kenny MacAskill","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":242020,"EventID":"S3W-35477","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":3763,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":8,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2010-07-26T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-07-26T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive how many people have been convicted more than once of not having motor insurance when driving in each of the last five years, broken down by sheriff court","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive how many people have been convicted more than once of not having motor insurance when driving in each of the last five years, broken down by sheriff court","AnswerText":"The available information is given in the following tables. Following the summary justice reforms introduced in 2007 there has been an increase in cases being dealt with by district courts rather than sheriff courts.
The following four tables present results on two bases, for both sheriff and district/JP courts; the first table for each court type presents the number of persons having a previous conviction for the same offence within the previous ten years; the second table for each court type presents the number of persons having a previous conviction for the same offence within the same financial year.
Persons convicted for motor insurance offence1 in 2004-05 to 2008-09 by sheriff court2 with at least one conviction for a previous motor insurance offence (in any court) within the previous ten years:
Sheriff Court
2004-05
2005-06
2006-07
2007-08
2008-09
Aberdeen
113
98
114
89
51
Airdrie
39
23
24
39
10
Alloa
22
26
30
16
5
Arbroath
35
24
21
15
7
Ayr
43
34
34
59
15
Banff
12
8
10
5
1
Campbeltown
1
2
1<","AnswerDate":"2010-08-17T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-08-23T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Kenny MacAskill","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":242021,"EventID":"S3W-35478","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1837,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":36,"ApprovedDate":"2010-07-26T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-07-26T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive how the £500,000 Scottish Housing Options funding will be allocated.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive how the £500,000 Scottish Housing Options funding will be allocated.","AnswerText":"The Housing Options funding will be allocated via hubs of local authorities who will work together, and with others, to progress locally agreed priorities. Each hub will produce an action plan which will consider the key actions required to develop and refocus services around the Housing Options model to the prevention of homelessness. This process will be assisted by the use of peer review/support models, a Housing Options Toolkit and an awareness of local circumstances. It is for local authority partners to agree priorities, however it is envisaged that funding will be used for training and service development.
","AnswerDate":"2010-08-05T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-08-23T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Alex Neil","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":242022,"EventID":"S3W-35479","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1837,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":36,"ApprovedDate":"2010-07-26T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-07-26T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what guidance has been given to local authorities regarding the use of the Scottish Housing Options funding.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what guidance has been given to local authorities regarding the use of the Scottish Housing Options funding.","AnswerText":"Guidance appears on the Scottish Government''s homelessness website pages which explain how the fund is to be used. Funding will be distributed via hubs of local authorities working together to implement locally agreed priorities. This process is initiated via a series of regional seminars arranged in August and September hosted by local authorities which will explore the Housing Options approach, consider practice examples and produce an action plan for the hub. ","AnswerDate":"2010-08-05T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-08-23T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Alex Neil","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":242023,"EventID":"S3W-35480","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1837,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":36,"ApprovedDate":"2010-07-26T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-07-26T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive in what ways the use of the Scottish Housing Options funding will be monitored.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive in what ways the use of the Scottish Housing Options funding will be monitored.","AnswerText":"The Scottish Housing Options funding will be monitored by an evaluation process which will examine the benefits of implementing the Housing Options approach to the prevention of homelessness and how this impacts on progress towards the 2012 homelessness target. A full evaluation strategy is currently being developed. ","AnswerDate":"2010-08-05T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-08-23T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Alex Neil","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":242024,"EventID":"S3W-35481","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1831,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":6,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2010-07-27T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-07-27T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive how many (a) hospital microbiologists are employed and (b) vacancies there are for such posts in NHS Tayside, expressed as (i) headcount and (ii) whole-time equivalent.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive how many (a) hospital microbiologists are employed and (b) vacancies there are for such posts in NHS Tayside, expressed as (i) headcount and (ii) whole-time equivalent.","AnswerText":"(a) Information on hospital microbiologists employed in NHS Scotland is not specifically held. However, information showing headcount and whole time equivalent for medical microbiology and virology staff in post is collected and published by NHS Services Scotland Information Services Division (ISD) Scotland. Latest data as at 30 September 2009 is available at:
(b) Information on vacancies for hospital microbiologists in NHS Scotland is not specifically held. However, information on consultant vacancies for medical microbiology and virology is collected. Latest vacancies as at 30 September 2009 are available at:
","AnswerDate":"2010-08-18T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-08-24T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Nicola Sturgeon","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":242025,"EventID":"S3W-35482","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2080,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":17,"ApprovedDate":"2010-07-27T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-07-27T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-34957 by John Swinney on 23 July 2010, what steps are being taken to establish whether a requirement to have a living wage clause i","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-34957 by John Swinney on 23 July 2010, what steps are being taken to establish whether a requirement to have a living wage clause in procurement contracts would breach article 56 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union.","AnswerText":"The issue of procurement contracts and article 56 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union was the subject of a judgement from the European Court of Justice in the case of Ruffert v Land Niedersachsen [C-346/06]. A copy of the judgement can be found on the Curia website (http://curia.europa.eu/jcms/jcms/j_6/). ","AnswerDate":"2010-08-25T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-08-24T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"John Swinney","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":242026,"EventID":"S3W-35483","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2080,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":17,"ApprovedDate":"2010-07-27T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-07-27T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-34944 by Alex Neil on 23 July 2010, whether it will publish the reviews by its officials of the annual reports on single outcome ag","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-34944 by Alex Neil on 23 July 2010, whether it will publish the reviews by its officials of the annual reports on single outcome agreements on the extent to which they are tackling multiple disadvantage.","AnswerText":"Decisions have yet to be taken on how to report on the review of the annual reports on single outcome agreements and the extent to which they show progress in tackling multiple disadvantage. ","AnswerDate":"2010-08-17T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-08-24T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Nicola Sturgeon","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":242027,"EventID":"S3W-35484","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2080,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":17,"ApprovedDate":"2010-07-27T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-07-27T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what organisations it is consulting in preparing the child poverty strategy.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what organisations it is consulting in preparing the child poverty strategy.","AnswerText":"In preparing the Scottish child poverty strategy, Scottish Government intend to consult with a wide range of stakeholders, these include, but are not limited to: local authorities and associations of local authorities, children and organisations working with or representing children; parents and organisations working with or representing parents. Early development of the strategy has already been informed by regular contact with stakeholders, in particular with COSLA and the End Child Poverty coalition in Scotland.
Scottish Government will be consulting more widely from autumn 2010. A consultation event to feed into the formation of the strategy will take place on 29 September, as part of the Holyrood Tackling Poverty in Scotland conference. A formal public consultation will be launched later in the autumn, and will be accompanied with further consultation activities which are still in the process of being developed.
","AnswerDate":"2010-08-05T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-08-24T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Alex Neil","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":242028,"EventID":"S3W-35485","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2223,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":26,"ApprovedDate":"2010-07-27T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-07-27T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what instructions it has given to the Crofters Commission regarding applications to install a wind turbine on land held under crofting tenure where the proposed installat","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what instructions it has given to the Crofters Commission regarding applications to install a wind turbine on land held under crofting tenure where the proposed installation has been granted planning permission by the local authority.","AnswerText":"The Scottish Government has given the Crofters Commission no instructions regarding applications to install a wind turbine on land held under crofting tenure. The Crofters Commission has made available, since May 2008, a leaflet on its website on wind farm development on croft land and common grazing.
","AnswerDate":"2010-08-20T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-08-24T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Stewart Stevenson","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":242029,"EventID":"S3W-35486","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2678,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":8,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2010-07-27T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-07-27T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive how much has been received in speed camera fines in each year since 1997, expressed in (a) cash and (b) real terms, also broken down by local authority. ","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive how much has been received in speed camera fines in each year since 1997, expressed in (a) cash and (b) real terms, also broken down by local authority. ","AnswerText":"The information requested is not available by local authority area. Safety (speed and red light) cameras are operated by the eight local Safety Camera Partnerships that deliver the Scottish Safety Camera Programme, which has been operating in police force areas since 2000. Drivers caught speeding or failing to obey a red traffic signal are issued with a conditional offer fixed penalty notice (COPFN) of three penalty points and a £60 fine. The total amounts received from payment of fines in each partnership area expressed in cash and real terms are listed in the following tables:
Cash Terms
Total of £60 Conditional Offer Fines Paid by Drivers Speeding or Failing to Obey a Red Traffic Signal by Cameras
COFPN Paid
Strathclyde (£)
Fife (£)
North East (£)
Dumfries and Galloway (£)
Lothian and Borders (£)
Tayside (£)
Northern (£)
Central (£)
Total (£)
2000-01
1,122,000
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
1,122,000
2001-02
1,738,920
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
1,738,920
2002-03
1,670,160
421,740
277,860
-
-
-
-
-
2,369,760
2003-04
Table 1: Total Number of Speed Cameras and Road Accidents Since 1997
Year
Number of Cameras
Year
Number of Accidents
1997-98
0
1997
16,646
1998-99
0
1998
16,519
1999-2000
0
1999
15,415
2000-01
29
2000
15,131
2001-02
29
2001
14,723
2002-03
206
2002
14,343
2003-04
403
2003
13,918
2004-05
483
2004
13,919
2005-06
499
2005
13,438
2006-07
509
2006
13,110
2007-08
507
2007
12,506
According to the 2008-09 accounts which were prepared under UKGAP accounting standards:
(a) VisitScotland''s other operating costs for 2008-09 were £10.7million.
(b) VisitScotland''s commercial marketing activities costs for 2008-09 were £28.8million.
The published accounts for 2008-09 give more detail and are available at:
","AnswerDate":"2010-08-26T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-08-25T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Jim Mather","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":242032,"EventID":"S3W-35489","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2866,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":63,"ApprovedDate":"2010-07-28T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-07-28T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-35366 by John Swinney on 28 July 2010, what it considers to be a sustainable level of UK public sector net borrowing, expressed as ","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-35366 by John Swinney on 28 July 2010, what it considers to be a sustainable level of UK public sector net borrowing, expressed as a percentage of GDP.","AnswerText":"I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-35491 on 2 September 2010. The sustainable level of UK public sector net borrowing, expressed as a percentage of GDP, will vary throughout the economic cycle. However, over the long term, the sustainable level of public sector net borrowing will be determined by a number of factors including the country''s long-term economic performance, the existing stock of public sector debt, and the cost of financing additional borrowing.
","AnswerDate":"2010-09-01T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-08-25T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"John Swinney","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":242033,"EventID":"S3W-35490","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2866,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":63,"ApprovedDate":"2010-07-28T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-07-28T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-35366 by John Swinney on 28 July 2010, what timeframe it considers to be the earliest opportunity for UK public sector net borrowin","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-35366 by John Swinney on 28 July 2010, what timeframe it considers to be the earliest opportunity for UK public sector net borrowing to be returned to a sustainable level.","AnswerText":"I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-35366 on 27 July 2010. The Scottish Government believes UK public sector net borrowing should be returned to a sustainable level at the earliest opportunity. The timeframe over which this should be achieved will depend on the strength and speed of the economic recovery. All tiers of government should therefore be focussed on supporting the recovery and promoting economic growth. This is the most effective means of ensuring that public sector borrowing can be returned to pre crisis levels. In contrast, the austerity measures proposed by the new UK Government risk undermining the recovery and doing further damage to the public finances by cutting public spending too fast and too deeply.
","AnswerDate":"2010-09-01T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-08-25T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"John Swinney","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":242034,"EventID":"S3W-35491","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2866,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":63,"ApprovedDate":"2010-07-28T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-07-28T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-35366 by John Swinney on 28 July 2010, how it defines a sustainable level of UK public sector net borrowing.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-35366 by John Swinney on 28 July 2010, how it defines a sustainable level of UK public sector net borrowing.","AnswerText":"The long-term level of sustainable public sector net borrowing depends on a number of factors including the country''s long-term economic performance, the existing stock of public sector debt, and the cost of financing additional borrowing. It is important to consider all three of these factors when considering fiscal policy and long-term sustainability. For example, net borrowing will vary throughout the economic cycle with borrowing rising in response to economic downturns and subsequently falling once the economy has recovered. Balancing these trends over the economic cycle ensures that the stock of debt remains at a sustainable level. Given the uncertain economic outlook, there is a real risk that the new UK Government''s plans for fiscal consolidation will cut public spending too fast and too deeply. This may undermine the recovery and do further damage to the public finances in the long term. ","AnswerDate":"2010-09-01T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-08-25T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"John Swinney","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":242035,"EventID":"S3W-35492","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":3758,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":1,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2010-07-28T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-07-28T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-32727 by Alex Neil on 24 March 2010, whether a local authority is not considered to be a relevant Scottish authority under the powe","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-32727 by Alex Neil on 24 March 2010, whether a local authority is not considered to be a relevant Scottish authority under the powers invested in the Scottish Ministers by section 49D(3) of the Disability Discrimination Act 2005.","AnswerText":"A local authority is considered to be a relevant Scottish Authority under the powers invested in the Scottish Ministers by section 49D(3) of the Disability Discrimination Act 2005. Scottish ministers have used their powers to impose specific duties on Scottish local authorities. ","AnswerDate":"2010-08-20T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-08-25T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Nicola Sturgeon","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":242036,"EventID":"S3W-35493","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":3758,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":1,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2010-07-28T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-07-28T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what are considered to be relevant Scottish authorities as referred to in section 49D(3) of the Disability Discrimination Act 2005","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what are considered to be relevant Scottish authorities as referred to in section 49D(3) of the Disability Discrimination Act 2005","AnswerText":"For the purposes of section 49D(3) and as defined in section 49D(10) of the Disability Discrimination Act 2005, a relevant Scottish authority means:
(a) a member of the Scottish executive or a junior Scottish minister;
(b) the Registrar General of Births, Deaths and Marriages for Scotland, the Keeper of the Registers of Scotland or the Keeper of the Records of Scotland;
(c) any office of a description specified in an Order in Council under section 126(8)(b) of the Scotland Act 1998 (other non-ministerial office in the Scottish Administration), or
(d) a public body, public office or holder of a public office”
(i) which (or who) is not a cross-border authority or the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body;
(ii) whose functions are exercisable only in or as regards Scotland, and
(iii) some at least of whose functions do not (within the meaning of the Scotland Act 1998) relate to reserved matters;
cross-border authority means a cross-border public authority within the meaning given by section 88(5) of the Scotland Act 1998;
Scottish functions means functions which are exercisable in or as regards Scotland and which do not (within the meaning of the Scotland Act 1998) relate to reserved matters.
","AnswerDate":"2010-08-20T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-08-25T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Nicola Sturgeon","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":242037,"EventID":"S3W-35494","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2080,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":17,"ApprovedDate":"2010-07-29T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-07-29T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive to what extent it uses the requirement to pay the living wage as a community benefit clause in its procurement processes.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive to what extent it uses the requirement to pay the living wage as a community benefit clause in its procurement processes.","AnswerText":"Community Benefit clauses are one of a range of social clauses that can be included in contracts. They have been used to achieve targeted recruitment and training, small and medium-sized social enterprise development and community engagement.
The setting of a level of wage in excess of that of the National Minimum Wage Act 1998 as a pre-requisite of a public contract may amount to a restriction of freedom to provide services and could therefore be in breach of EU law. Consequently, we do not envisage that Community Benefit clauses will be used to set a living wage as part of Scottish Government contracts.
","AnswerDate":"2010-08-25T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-08-26T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"John Swinney","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":242038,"EventID":"S3W-35495","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":3806,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":3,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2010-07-29T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-07-29T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive when it will make a decision on the future of the pilot Road Equivalent Tariff scheme.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive when it will make a decision on the future of the pilot Road Equivalent Tariff scheme.","AnswerText":"I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-35496 on 20 August 2010. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament''s website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/Apps2/Business/PQA/Default.aspx. ","AnswerDate":"2010-08-20T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-08-26T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Stewart Stevenson","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":242039,"EventID":"S3W-35496","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":3806,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":3,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2010-07-29T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-07-29T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will make an early announcement on the future of the pilot Road Equivalent Tariff scheme to ensure that CalMac and local island communities are able to prepare","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will make an early announcement on the future of the pilot Road Equivalent Tariff scheme to ensure that CalMac and local island communities are able to prepare effectively for summer 2011.","AnswerText":"We are committed to ensuring that remote and fragile communities have direct links to the wider Scottish economy. We launched the Road Equivalent Tariff (RET) pilot to consider the most effective and sustainable way to improve the affordability of ferry services to our islands. Since the launch of the pilot there has been a significant increase in the number of people and businesses using the Western Isles ferry services and visiting the area. We are currently reviewing the initial success of the RET pilot and will make an announcement in due course. ","AnswerDate":"2010-08-20T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-08-26T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Stewart Stevenson","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":242040,"EventID":"S3W-35497","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":3896,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":25,"ApprovedDate":"2010-07-29T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-07-29T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether, when assessing fish stocks and preparing advice for future stock management, the Fisheries Research Services Marine Laboratory takes into account the Marine Clim","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether, when assessing fish stocks and preparing advice for future stock management, the Fisheries Research Services Marine Laboratory takes into account the Marine Climate Change Impacts Partnership’s research, which shows that climate change is causing the distribution of some fish species to move north, which suggests that all stock reductions cannot be attributed to fishing effort alone.","AnswerText":"Marine Scotland Science (formerly Fisheries Research Services) is fully aware of the work of the Marine Climate Change Impact Partnership (MCCIP) research and contributes to this research. Stock assessment methodologies are designed to be robust and can accommodate small changes in fish stock distributions. The impacts of climate change are considered when advice is formulated. ","AnswerDate":"2010-08-24T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-08-26T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Richard Lochhead","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":242041,"EventID":"S3W-35498","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":3896,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":25,"ApprovedDate":"2010-07-29T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-07-29T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive, given the Marine Climate Change Impacts Partnership’s research, which shows that climate change is causing the distribution of some fish species to move north and which ","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive, given the Marine Climate Change Impacts Partnership’s research, which shows that climate change is causing the distribution of some fish species to move north and which may make the collection of thorough comparative fish stock data more difficult, whether the Fisheries Research Services Marine Laboratory will increase its use of data collected by fishing boats so that it makes use of all available fish stock data.","AnswerText":"Marine Scotland Science (formerly Fisheries Research Services) is fully aware of the work of the Marine Climate Change Impact Partnership (MCCIP) research and contributes to this research. Stock assessment methodologies, including survey design and sampling strategies, are designed to be robust and can accommodate small changes in fish stock distributions. However, Marine Scotland Science continues to work with the fishing industry to collect relevant accurate data on the health and status of Scottish fish stocks. ","AnswerDate":"2010-08-24T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-08-26T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Richard Lochhead","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":242042,"EventID":"S3W-35499","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":3896,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":25,"ApprovedDate":"2010-07-29T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-07-29T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether it ensures that the European Commission (EC) is kept fully aware of the results of the Marine Climate Change Impacts Partnership’s research, which shows that clim","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether it ensures that the European Commission (EC) is kept fully aware of the results of the Marine Climate Change Impacts Partnership’s research, which shows that climate change is causing the distribution of some fish species to move north, so that, when the EC makes recommendations for fish quotas, quotas in the northern parts of a fish species’ distribution are not cut because of climate change-induced reductions in its southern parts.","AnswerText":"The Marine Climate Change Impact Partnership (MCCIP) is responsible for the publication and dissemination of its results. Marine Scotland Science scientists highlight these results at meetings of the International Council for the Exploration of the Sea (ICES) and of the European Commission''s Scientific, Technical and Economic Committee for Fisheries (STECF) when appropriate. ","AnswerDate":"2010-08-24T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-08-26T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Richard Lochhead","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":242043,"EventID":"S3W-35500","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":4016,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":64,"ApprovedDate":"2010-07-29T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-07-29T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive how it is tackling homelessness in Roxburgh and Berwickshire and when it expects everyone in the Scottish Borders to be adequately housed.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive how it is tackling homelessness in Roxburgh and Berwickshire and when it expects everyone in the Scottish Borders to be adequately housed.","AnswerText":"The Scottish Government remains committed to the target of ensuring that all unintentionally homeless households have the right to access settled accommodation by the end of 2012. At the last statistical count published in March 2010, it is evident that Scottish Borders Council still have some way to go to meet the national 2012 target on the abolition of the priority need test. However, the Scottish Government regularly meets with our partners in COSLA via the 2012 Joint Steering Group to discuss progress in this area, and to assist local authorities in achieving this target
One of the key aims of the 2012 Joint Steering Group is to facilitate greater access to existing housing stock. In this context, a Scottish Government official met with officials of Scottish Borders Council in March 2010 to discuss how recently introduced legislation pertaining to greater access to the private rented sector could assist the council''s progress towards the target. Scottish Borders Council has also indicated that it intends to participate in our forthcoming regional seminars on the Housing Options approach to homeless prevention, another key aim of the steering group.
","AnswerDate":"2010-08-05T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-08-26T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Alex Neil","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":242044,"EventID":"S3W-35501","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2182,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":5,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2010-07-29T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-07-29T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive when it expects the World Health Organization’s Night Noise Guidelines for Europe to come into effect","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive when it expects the World Health Organization’s Night Noise Guidelines for Europe to come into effect","AnswerText":"TheWHO Night Noise Guidelines for Europe were published in 2009. They build on the earlier 1999 WHO Guidelines for community noise and aim to provide scientific advice to the member states for the development of future legislation and policy action in the assessment and control of night noise exposure.
The guidelines support the European Union Directive 2002/49/EC relating to the assessment and management of environmental noise (known as the END Directive). One of the obligations of the END is for member states to produce noise maps and data about night exposure from mid-2007. The Scottish Government has, in implementing the END, met all its obligations on time, including publishing Noise Action Plans which seek to manage noise on a prioritised basis.
","AnswerDate":"2010-08-24T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-08-26T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Richard Lochhead","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":242045,"EventID":"S3W-35502","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2223,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":26,"ApprovedDate":"2010-07-29T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-07-29T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what procedures are in place to help probationer teachers obtain a probationary post in a local authority area of their choice and what role it or any of its agencies pla","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what procedures are in place to help probationer teachers obtain a probationary post in a local authority area of their choice and what role it or any of its agencies play in the setting up and supervision of any such procedures.","AnswerText":"Student teachers are invited to indicate the five local authorities in which they would prefer to serve their probationary year and are subsequently allocated to one of those authorities. Alternatively they can select the ˜preference waiver'' option (and receive financial recompense for so doing) in which case they will be allocated to any Scottish local authority.
The allocation process is jointly administered by the Scottish Government and the General Teaching Council for Scotland.
","AnswerDate":"2010-08-20T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-08-26T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Michael Russell","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":242046,"EventID":"S3W-35503","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2223,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":26,"ApprovedDate":"2010-07-29T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-07-29T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what funding Shetland Islands Council bid for or has bid for to fund probationer teaching posts in (a) 2008-09, (b) 2009-10 and (c) 2010-11 and how many posts this would ","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what funding Shetland Islands Council bid for or has bid for to fund probationer teaching posts in (a) 2008-09, (b) 2009-10 and (c) 2010-11 and how many posts this would have fully funded in each of those years.","AnswerText":"Rather than bid for specific levels of funding in relation to the teacher induction scheme, local authorities offer teaching posts that are suitable for probationer teachers. The following table shows the number of probationer posts that Shetland Islands Council offered in each of the relevant years. Not all posts offered by local authorities are filled by the allocation process.
2008-09
2009-10
2010-11
Vacant primary posts
7
7
5
Fully funded primary posts
11
3
10
Vacant secondary posts
4
5
3
Fully funded secondary posts
2
6
8
The amount of funding that local authorities receive depends upon the number of probationers that are allocated to the posts offered in May and subsequently take up their allocations in August.
","AnswerDate":"2010-08-20T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-08-26T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Michael Russell","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":242047,"EventID":"S3W-35504","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2223,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":26,"ApprovedDate":"2010-07-29T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-07-29T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what funding it provided or has provided to Shetland Islands Council for probationer teaching posts in (a) 2008-09, (b) 2009-10 and (c) 2010-11 and how many posts this al","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what funding it provided or has provided to Shetland Islands Council for probationer teaching posts in (a) 2008-09, (b) 2009-10 and (c) 2010-11 and how many posts this allocation has fully funded or will fully fund.","AnswerText":"The following table shows the numbers of probationer teachers working in Shetland Islands Council''s schools and the amount of funding distributed to the council in the relevant academic years.
2008-09
2009-10
2010-11
Primary probationers
10 (including 3 on a fully funded basis)
14 (including 7 on a fully funded basis)
tbc
Secondary probationers
5 (including 2 on a fully funded basis)
6 (including 2 on a fully funded basis)
tbc
Funding (including ˜preference waiver'' and ˜distant islands'' payments
£170,194
£380,518
tbc
Tbc = to be confirmed - probationer numbers will be confirmed once term has started and funding will be calculated thereafter.
","AnswerDate":"2010-08-20T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-08-26T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Michael Russell","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":242048,"EventID":"S3W-35505","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2182,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":5,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2010-07-29T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-07-29T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive when it will report on the outcome and process measures of the Enhanced Tobacco Sales Enforcement Programme.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive when it will report on the outcome and process measures of the Enhanced Tobacco Sales Enforcement Programme.","AnswerText":"The Society of Chief Officers of Trading Standards in Scotland (SCOTSS) is expected to publish a report on the progress made under the Enhanced Tobacco Sales Enforcement Programme within the next couple of months. We will inform you when the report is available. ","AnswerDate":"2010-08-24T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-08-26T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Shona Robison","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":242049,"EventID":"S3W-35506","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2182,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":5,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2010-07-29T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-07-29T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive which local authorities have reached the agreed minimum target of carrying out test purchasing exercises in 10% of tobacco retailers in their area per annum.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive which local authorities have reached the agreed minimum target of carrying out test purchasing exercises in 10% of tobacco retailers in their area per annum.","AnswerText":"I am pleased to report that good progress is being made, with 20 authorities having reached the agreed target in 2009-10, namely Aberdeen City, Angus, Argyll & Bute, Scottish Borders, Dumfries and Galloway, East Ayrshire, East Dunbartonshire, East Renfrewshire, City of Edinburgh, Fife, Glasgow, Moray, North Ayrshire, North Lanarkshire, Renfrewshire, Shetland, South Ayrshire, South Lanarkshire, West Dunbartonshire and West Lothian. In 2009-10, test purchasing visits were carried out in 10.9% of tobacco retail premises, exceeding the national target of 10%. ","AnswerDate":"2010-08-24T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-08-26T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Shona Robison","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":242050,"EventID":"S3W-35507","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2182,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":5,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2010-07-29T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-07-29T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive which local authorities have reached the agreed minimum target of carrying out visits providing advice and support to 20% of tobacco retailers in their area per annum.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive which local authorities have reached the agreed minimum target of carrying out visits providing advice and support to 20% of tobacco retailers in their area per annum.","AnswerText":"I am pleased to report that good progress is being made, with 19 authorities having reached the agreed target in 2009-10, namely Aberdeenshire, Angus, Scottish Borders, Clackmannanshire, Dumfries and Galloway, East Dunbartonshire, Falkirk, Fife, Midlothian, North Ayrshire, North Lanarkshire, Orkney, Renfrewshire, Shetland, South Ayrshire, Stirling, West Dunbartonshire, Western Isles and west Lothian. In 2009-10, visits to provide advice and support were made to 25.1% of tobacco retailers, exceeding the national target of 20%. ","AnswerDate":"2010-08-24T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-08-26T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Shona Robison","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":242051,"EventID":"S3W-35508","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2182,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":5,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2010-07-29T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-07-29T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether the noise levels on the Stirling-Alloa-Kincardine rail line comply with the World Health Organization’s Night Noise Guidelines for Europe and, if not, how the cos","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether the noise levels on the Stirling-Alloa-Kincardine rail line comply with the World Health Organization’s Night Noise Guidelines for Europe and, if not, how the costs will be met to achieve compliance.","AnswerText":"The Stirling-Alloa-Kincardine rail line noise assessments were undertaken prior to publication of the World Health Organization''s Night Noise Guidelines for Europe. However, mitigation threshold levels are in line with the World Health Organization''s Night Noise Guidelines for Europe. ","AnswerDate":"2010-08-20T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-08-26T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Stewart Stevenson","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":242052,"EventID":"S3W-35509","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":3061,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":1,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2010-07-29T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-07-29T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive how many cases of cryptosporidiosis have been identified in each NHS board area in each year since 2005","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive how many cases of cryptosporidiosis have been identified in each NHS board area in each year since 2005","AnswerText":"The following table shows incidence of cryptosporidiosis by board area. In Tayside in 2005 there was an outbreak of cryptosporidiosis linked to Auchingarrich Wildlife Centre in Perthshire which increased the figures. Greater Glasgow and Argyll and Clyde health boards merged in 2006 and therefore 2005 and 2006 figures have been amalgamated from both health boards.
2005
2006
2007
2008
2009
Ayrshire and Arran
8
25
29
34
50
Borders
28
23
16
24
27
Dumfries and Galloway
32
22
39
51
47
Fife
37
41
18
20
20
Forth Valley
34
25
29
17
21
Grampian
102
60
77
96
102
Greater Glasgow and Clyde
99*
141*
82
81
94
","AnswerDate":"2010-08-09T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-08-26T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Nicola Sturgeon","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":242053,"EventID":"S3W-35510","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":3061,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":1,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2010-07-29T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-07-29T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what guidelines it is aware of on measures that should be taken to reduce the incidence of cryptosporidiosis in public facilities such as swimming pools","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what guidelines it is aware of on measures that should be taken to reduce the incidence of cryptosporidiosis in public facilities such as swimming pools","AnswerText":"The Health and Safety Executive has produced guidance entitled Managing health and safety in swimming pools. The guidance provides details on filtration, disinfection and hygiene standards which should be observed in order to reduce cryptosporidiosis incidence in pools.
In addition to the Health and Safety Executive guidance, the Pool Water Treatment Advisory Group (PWTAG) is an independent group with membership from various statutory, voluntary and professional organisations with an interest in pool water treatment and pool users. PWTAG have also published guidance entitled Swimming Pool Water, treatment and quality standards for pools and spas. This document is a good practice guide used by pool operators and others and contains information on the reduction of cryptosporidiosis.
","AnswerDate":"2010-08-09T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-08-26T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Shona Robison","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":242054,"EventID":"S3W-35511","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2182,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":5,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2010-07-30T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-07-30T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive for what reason the cost of an MRI scan increased by approximately 54%, from £150 in 2006 to £232 in 2009, as shown in the Scottish Health Service Costs, year ended 31st ","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive for what reason the cost of an MRI scan increased by approximately 54%, from £150 in 2006 to £232 in 2009, as shown in the Scottish Health Service Costs, year ended 31st March 2009.","AnswerText":"Information in the Scottish Health Service Costs publication is mainly derived from financial and statistical data compiled by Scottish Health Boards.
Some of the larger NHS boards such as NHS Lothian and NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde, which have a significant impact on the national average cost, have changed their costing methodology since 2006 to better reflect the true, fully absorbed cost of providing radiology services. This change, while providing more accurate figures, means current figures are less comparable with earlier years.
","AnswerDate":"2010-08-20T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-08-27T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Nicola Sturgeon","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":242055,"EventID":"S3W-35512","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1860,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":3,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2010-07-30T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-07-30T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive how many NHS boards transfer laboratory results electronically.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive how many NHS boards transfer laboratory results electronically.","AnswerText":"All NHS boards electronically transfer laboratory results from their various laboratory test systems to a single IT repository, to which authorised clinicians have online look-up access. From that repository there are various examples of onward transfer, for example to infection control databases. ","AnswerDate":"2010-08-17T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-08-27T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Nicola Sturgeon","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":242056,"EventID":"S3W-35513","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1860,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":3,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2010-07-30T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-07-30T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what assistance is available to NHS boards that wish to upgrade their systems to allow for electronic transfer of laboratory results.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what assistance is available to NHS boards that wish to upgrade their systems to allow for electronic transfer of laboratory results.","AnswerText":"Scottish Government funds the single IT repository for test results, known as SCI Store, plus the standards and electronic interface to allow further transfer of test results. Scottish Government has also recently announced a programme to establish comprehensive IT support for infection control, and this will include electronic transfer of test results where this is not already in place. Further examples being delivered by the eHealth Strategy are a new IT system for GPs and a Patient Management System for hospitals. These major procurements have the capacity to receive laboratory results electronically. ","AnswerDate":"2010-08-17T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-08-27T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Nicola Sturgeon","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":242057,"EventID":"S3W-35514","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1860,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":3,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2010-07-30T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-07-30T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what the Scottish Ambulance Service response times are for each ambulance station and how many of these were first attended by (a) a British Association for Immediate Car","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what the Scottish Ambulance Service response times are for each ambulance station and how many of these were first attended by (a) a British Association for Immediate Care (BASICS) GP, (b) a single-crewed ambulance, (c) an ambulance crewed by two technicians and (d) an ambulance crewed by a paramedic and a technician.","AnswerText":"The information requested is not held centrally. ","AnswerDate":"2010-08-05T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-08-27T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Nicola Sturgeon","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":242058,"EventID":"S3W-35515","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2085,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":27,"ApprovedDate":"2010-07-30T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-07-30T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has had discussions with the UK Government regarding the provision of financial support to people affected by contaminated blood and blood products.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has had discussions with the UK Government regarding the provision of financial support to people affected by contaminated blood and blood products.","AnswerText":"The Scottish Government is in regular contact with the UK Government on a wide range of issues including the provision of financial support to people affected by contaminated blood and blood products.
In late March 2010, I agreed with plans of the then UK Government, to bring forward a review of the UK Skipton Fund which had originally been scheduled for 2014. The Fund was set up in 2004 to make ex gratia payments to those similarly infected with hepatitis C. I understand that the new Parliamentary Under-Secretary for Public Health at the Department of Health, Anne Milton, MP, is currently considering this matter. The Scottish Government will play a part of any review of the Skipton Fund.
I will ensure that any such work will sit alongside that of the current Penrose Public Inquiry which is looking into the circumstances of hepatitis C/HIV acquired infection from NHS treatment in Scotland with blood and blood products.
","AnswerDate":"2010-08-24T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-08-27T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Shona Robison","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":242059,"EventID":"S3W-35516","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1783,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":67,"ApprovedDate":"2010-07-30T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-07-30T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether it considers that the employment of two locums to fill vacancies for consultant acute care physicians at the Vale of Leven Hospital is sustainable and, if so, for","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether it considers that the employment of two locums to fill vacancies for consultant acute care physicians at the Vale of Leven Hospital is sustainable and, if so, for how long.","AnswerText":"NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde advise that the acute physician appointments are to supplement the team of physicians based at the Royal Alexandria Hospital who will be providing acute care at the Vale of Leven Hospital on a rotational basis. The NHS board point out that these appointments are therefore not as locums to the Vale; the clinicians will play their part as members of the overall consultant team providing acute care at the Vale. The board has assured us that these arrangements are sustainable whilst the full complement of staff is put in place in a planned way to deliver the Vision for the Vale of Leven Hospital. ","AnswerDate":"2010-08-23T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-08-27T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Nicola Sturgeon","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":242060,"EventID":"S3W-35517","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1783,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":67,"ApprovedDate":"2010-07-30T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-07-30T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive when it considers that substantive appointments will be made to the posts of consultant acute care physicians at the Vale of Leven Hospital.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive when it considers that substantive appointments will be made to the posts of consultant acute care physicians at the Vale of Leven Hospital.","AnswerText":"NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde advise that, based on the likely dates of completion of training, they expect that substantive appointments to these posts will take place by the middle of next year. ","AnswerDate":"2010-08-23T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-08-27T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Nicola Sturgeon","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":242061,"EventID":"S3W-35518","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1783,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":67,"ApprovedDate":"2010-07-30T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-07-30T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what recent discussions have been held with NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde regarding the Christie ward at the Vale of Leven Hospital.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what recent discussions have been held with NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde regarding the Christie ward at the Vale of Leven Hospital.","AnswerText":"Scottish ministers and officials regularly meet with NHS boards to discuss matters of importance to local people.
I was very concerned to learn of the fire at the Christie ward on 11 July 2010. I wrote to the ward staff shortly afterwards to pay tribute to their calm but rapid actions which I understand were instrumental in avoiding potentially very serious consequences, and ensured the safety of local patients.
I understand that NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde will fully brief the Vale of Monitoring Group on the position in respect of inpatient mental health services and the possible next steps at its meeting on 30 August 2010.
","AnswerDate":"2010-08-23T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-08-27T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Nicola Sturgeon","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":242062,"EventID":"S3W-35519","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1783,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":67,"ApprovedDate":"2010-07-30T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-07-30T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive how many people from the (a) G81, (b) G82, (c) G83 and (d) G84 postcode areas have been admitted as mental health inpatients to (i) the Christie ward at the Vale of Leven","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive how many people from the (a) G81, (b) G82, (c) G83 and (d) G84 postcode areas have been admitted as mental health inpatients to (i) the Christie ward at the Vale of Leven Hospital and (ii) any other inpatient mental health facility in each year since April 2006.","AnswerText":"The information requested is presented in the following table, as provided by NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde and NHS Highland.
Postcode
Location
2006-07
2007-08
2008-09
2009-10
(a) G81
(i) Christie Ward
*
*
*
*
(ii) Other GG&C
131
134
137
126
(ii) Other Highland
*
*
*
*
(b) G82
(i) Christie Ward
51
55
60
46
(ii) Other GG&C
18
33
23
36
(ii) Other Highland
9
*
*
*
(c) G83
(i) Christie Ward
36
30
45
31
(ii) Other GG&C
12
11
19
6
(ii) Other Highland
*
*
*
*
(d) G84
(i) Christie Ward
48
42
","AnswerDate":"2010-08-23T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-08-27T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Nicola Sturgeon","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":242063,"EventID":"S3W-35520","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1783,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":67,"ApprovedDate":"2010-07-30T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-07-30T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what the (a) timetable and (b) process is for considering the future of the Christie ward at the Vale of Leven Hospital by (i) NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde and (ii) the ","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what the (a) timetable and (b) process is for considering the future of the Christie ward at the Vale of Leven Hospital by (i) NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde and (ii) the Cabinet Secretary for Health and Wellbeing.","AnswerText":"I understand that this will be discussed at the next Vale of Leven Monitoring Group on 30 August 2010. NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde should be prepared to discuss all reasonable options with the Group in the first instance.
The fact that the ward is no longer operational will clearly affect the way both NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde and the monitoring group take forward their roles in relation to providing ministers with a further report on local demand for inpatient mental health services.
I am aware that the board has been sharing data on the local demand for inpatient mental health services with the monitoring group since its inception. My view is that it is reasonable for the group to expect that the local demand for inpatient beds continues to be monitored over a longer period in order to establish a meaningful trend. I also think such an extended period, of around eight to 10 months, would allow the group to monitor the efficacy of the enhanced community-based services put in place by the board.
The monitoring group''s conclusions will ultimately inform consideration of future service proposals at Greater Glasgow and Clyde NHS Board. Following a board decision, Scottish ministers will take all the available information into account in coming to a final view on the future of local inpatient mental health services.
","AnswerDate":"2010-08-23T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-08-27T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Nicola Sturgeon","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":242064,"EventID":"S3W-35521","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1783,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":67,"ApprovedDate":"2010-07-30T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-07-30T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive how it will involve the Vale of Leven Monitoring Group in the consideration of the future of the Christie ward at the Vale of Leven Hospital.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive how it will involve the Vale of Leven Monitoring Group in the consideration of the future of the Christie ward at the Vale of Leven Hospital.","AnswerText":"Having made this a specific requirement in the monitoring group''s remit, and having ensured there is relevant representation on the group for mental health service users and carers, I expect NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde to ensure that the group continues to be fully involved in the consideration of the future of local inpatient mental health services. ","AnswerDate":"2010-08-23T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-08-27T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Nicola Sturgeon","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":242065,"EventID":"S3W-35522","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1783,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":67,"ApprovedDate":"2010-07-30T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-07-30T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what action it is taking to promote intermediate models of care, such as at the Mid Argyll Community Hospital and Integrated Care Centre, in rural areas.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what action it is taking to promote intermediate models of care, such as at the Mid Argyll Community Hospital and Integrated Care Centre, in rural areas.","AnswerText":"The Joint Improvement Team has funded five demonstrator sites to identify the contribution of intermediate care to a managed shift in the balance of care in order to achieve the outcome of increased independence at home.
We are currently engaging with stakeholders to draft a national framework for intermediate care services in Scotland. As well as building on the emerging evidence from the demonstrator sites, the framework will incorporate examples of good practice, including those from rural and remote areas. The framework will be published early next year.
","AnswerDate":"2010-08-24T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-08-27T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Shona Robison","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":242066,"EventID":"S3W-35523","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1783,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":67,"ApprovedDate":"2010-07-30T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-07-30T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what action it is taking to include intermediate care in the General Medical Services curriculum.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what action it is taking to include intermediate care in the General Medical Services curriculum.","AnswerText":"The content, standards and competencies required within the GP training curriculum are specified by the General Medical Council, in consultation with the Royal College and educational providers. It is a competency-based curriculum which, over several years, is designed to ensure a GP gains a diverse range of experiences and specialist knowledge in practice settings in order to practice effectively and safely.
While intermediate care is not a specific element within the GP curriculum, its many facets are covered within some of the core and essential skills a GP will need to demonstrate in order to satisfy the standards and behaviours prescribed by the GMC.
","AnswerDate":"2010-08-24T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-08-27T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Shona Robison","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":242067,"EventID":"S3W-35524","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1783,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":67,"ApprovedDate":"2010-07-30T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-07-30T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what health services can be expected to be delivered from intermediate care centres.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what health services can be expected to be delivered from intermediate care centres.","AnswerText":"Intermediate care is a range of enabling rehabilitative and treatment services delivered through an integrated approach in community settings to shift the balance of care from hospital to the community. It will include a wide range of services that help prevent avoidable acute hospital admissions and facilitate early discharge. The actual services provided will be a matter for local decision making and be based on local needs. ","AnswerDate":"2010-08-24T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-08-27T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Shona Robison","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":242068,"EventID":"S3W-35525","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1832,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":42,"ApprovedDate":"2010-07-30T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-07-30T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what the budget has been for employing locums in Fife hospitals in each of the last five years.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what the budget has been for employing locums in Fife hospitals in each of the last five years.","AnswerText":"The information requested is not specifically held. However, expenditure on medical locums by NHS Fife is available and is shown in the following table:
2005-06
2006-07
2007-08
2008-09
2009-10
£2.475 million
£2.632 million
£2.548 million
£3.352 million
£3.300 million
Source: NHS Fife.
","AnswerDate":"2010-08-23T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-08-27T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Nicola Sturgeon","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":242069,"EventID":"S3W-35526","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1832,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":42,"ApprovedDate":"2010-07-30T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-07-30T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what action it is taking to ensure that Fife receives a fair allocation of junior doctors to alleviate any problems with staffing in hospitals.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what action it is taking to ensure that Fife receives a fair allocation of junior doctors to alleviate any problems with staffing in hospitals.","AnswerText":"The allocation of junior doctor training places is a matter for NHS Education for Scotland (NES) who are responsible for the Scottish Medical Training annual recruitment and selection process. On this basis, NES are working in partnership with NHS Fife to ensure the appropriate allocation of junior doctors in their board. ","AnswerDate":"2010-08-23T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-08-27T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Nicola Sturgeon","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":242070,"EventID":"S3W-35527","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1832,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":42,"ApprovedDate":"2010-07-30T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-07-30T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what action it will take to ensure that there are sufficient ambulances on duty to respond to emergencies while accident and emergency services in Kirkcaldy are closed an","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what action it will take to ensure that there are sufficient ambulances on duty to respond to emergencies while accident and emergency services in Kirkcaldy are closed and NHS Fife is implementing its contingency plan to transport patients to other hospitals.","AnswerText":"NHS Fife is responsible for working with the Scottish Ambulance Service to ensure that appropriate ambulance cover is in place. The NHS board has worked closely with the ambulance service on arrangements during the temporary overnight reductions in accident and emergency services at Victoria Hospital on the occasions when it has been necessary for the board to implement its contingency plan. NHS Fife has made funding available for additional resources at the appropriate times to allow for extra distances travelled. These arrangements, which will continue in the future if the need arises, have ensured that there has been no adverse impact on ambulance services or response times in Fife. ","AnswerDate":"2010-08-20T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-08-27T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Nicola Sturgeon","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":242071,"EventID":"S3W-35528","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":3896,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":25,"ApprovedDate":"2010-07-30T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-07-30T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executiveon what date it will publish its Energy Efficiency Action Plan for Scotland. ","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executiveon what date it will publish its Energy Efficiency Action Plan for Scotland. ","AnswerText":"The Energy Efficiency Action Plan for Scotland will be published this autumn. ","AnswerDate":"2010-09-01T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-08-27T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Jim Mather","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":242072,"EventID":"S3W-35529","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":3896,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":25,"ApprovedDate":"2010-07-30T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-07-30T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive how many times the publication of its Energy Efficiency Action Plan for Scotland has been delayed and what the reasons were for each delay.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive how many times the publication of its Energy Efficiency Action Plan for Scotland has been delayed and what the reasons were for each delay.","AnswerText":"The Scottish Government originally intended to publish an Energy Efficiency Action Plan (EEAP) for Scotland in 2008. However, a mandatory commitment to publish an EEAP, and set and report on energy efficiency targets, was subsequently included in the Climate Change (Scotland) Bill in late 2008, with the intention that the EEAP would be developed once the bill was enacted. This provided the statutory reporting framework which we believe energy efficiency requires.
Due to the requirement to undertake a full and active consultation on the plan, and subsequently analyse responses, it was not possible to meet a further intended publication date of 2009 after the Climate Change (Scotland) Act came into force.
It was anticipated that the final plan would be published in late spring 2010 and a draft document was developed accordingly. However, in light of the establishment of the Short Life Working Group on Annual Emissions Targets, and given the role which energy efficiency will play in meeting these targets, it was considered inappropriate to publish the plan until new targets have been agreed.
In the meantime, several actions within the draft document are already being taken forward.
","AnswerDate":"2010-09-01T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-08-27T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Jim Mather","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":242073,"EventID":"S3W-35530","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":3896,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":25,"ApprovedDate":"2010-07-30T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-07-30T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether it considers that the delay in the publication of its Energy Efficiency Action Plan for Scotland has adversely affected the take-up of energy efficiency measures","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether it considers that the delay in the publication of its Energy Efficiency Action Plan for Scotland has adversely affected the take-up of energy efficiency measures across Scotland","AnswerText":"No. The delay in publishing the Energy Efficiency Action Plan has not adversely affected the take-up of energy efficiency measures across Scotland.
An increased level of emissions savings have been reported in 2009-10 by both the Energy Saving Trust and the Carbon Trust, who between them provide energy efficiency support to the domestic, business and public sector in Scotland.
Many of the actions outlined within the draft EEAP are already being progressed, to ensure that we continue to build upon our wide range of existing policies and programmes prior to publication of the plan.
","AnswerDate":"2010-09-01T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-08-27T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Jim Mather","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":242074,"EventID":"S3W-35531","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":3896,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":25,"ApprovedDate":"2010-07-30T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-07-30T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what action it will take to prepare and inform relevant stakeholders ahead of the publication of the Energy Efficiency Action Plan for Scotland","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what action it will take to prepare and inform relevant stakeholders ahead of the publication of the Energy Efficiency Action Plan for Scotland","AnswerText":"We will continue to engage with key stakeholders across all sectors prior to the publication of the Energy Efficiency Action Plan (EEAP) for Scotland. This has been our approach throughout the process of developing the Conserve and Save consultation and the draft EEAP itself. ","AnswerDate":"2010-09-01T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-08-27T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Jim Mather","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":242075,"EventID":"S3W-35532","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":3896,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":25,"ApprovedDate":"2010-07-30T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-07-30T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive how many times its proposed Energy Efficiency Action Plan for Scotland has been mentioned in its (a) press releases, (b) consultations and (c) public documents since May ","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive how many times its proposed Energy Efficiency Action Plan for Scotland has been mentioned in its (a) press releases, (b) consultations and (c) public documents since May 2007.","AnswerText":"This information is not held centrally. Publications by the Scottish Government can be found online at:
","AnswerDate":"2010-09-01T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-08-27T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Jim Mather","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":242076,"EventID":"S3W-35533","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2364,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":11,"ApprovedDate":"2010-08-02T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-08-02T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive how many of the 1,000 volunteering opportunities for school leavers announced by the Minister for Skills and Lifelong Learning on 17 June 2010 (Official Report c. 27425) ","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive how many of the 1,000 volunteering opportunities for school leavers announced by the Minister for Skills and Lifelong Learning on 17 June 2010 (Official Report c. 27425) had been delivered by 30 July 2010, broken down by local authority.","AnswerText":"The Scottish Government is in the process of working with stakeholders to determine the best process for supporting young people into volunteering opportunities. ","AnswerDate":"2010-08-30T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-08-30T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Keith Brown","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":242077,"EventID":"S3W-35534","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2364,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":11,"ApprovedDate":"2010-08-02T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-08-02T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the announcement by the Minister for Skills and Lifelong Learning on 17 June 2010 (Official Report c. 27425), how many employers had taken on a “Modern Appren","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the announcement by the Minister for Skills and Lifelong Learning on 17 June 2010 (Official Report c. 27425), how many employers had taken on a “Modern Apprentice who is a care leaver or other young person who might otherwise struggle to get such an opportunity” as of 30 July 2010, broken down by local authority area.","AnswerText":"The Scottish Government does not hold this information centrally. I will ask the Chief Executive of Skills Development Scotland to write to you with the information you have requested. ","AnswerDate":"2010-08-23T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-08-30T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Keith Brown","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":242078,"EventID":"S3W-35535","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2364,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":11,"ApprovedDate":"2010-08-02T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-08-02T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the announcement by the Minister for Skills and Lifelong Learning on 17 June 2010 (Official Report c. 27425), how much it has paid to employers taking on a “M","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the announcement by the Minister for Skills and Lifelong Learning on 17 June 2010 (Official Report c. 27425), how much it has paid to employers taking on a “Modern Apprentice who is a care leaver or other young person who might otherwise struggle to get such an opportunity”, broken down by local authority area.","AnswerText":"The Scottish Government does not hold this information centrally. I will ask the Chief Executive of Skills Development Scotland to write to you with the information you have requested. ","AnswerDate":"2010-08-23T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-08-30T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Keith Brown","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":242079,"EventID":"S3W-35536","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":4086,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":7,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2010-08-02T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-08-02T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what guidance it has given to local authority planning departments on the measures available to deal with the processing of waste in the context of the Zero Waste Plan.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what guidance it has given to local authority planning departments on the measures available to deal with the processing of waste in the context of the Zero Waste Plan.","AnswerText":"Scottish Government published its Zero Waste Plan on the 9 June 2010. Annex B of the plan sets out guidance for local authority planning departments on the role of the land-use planning system in delivering waste management facilities. Scottish Government planning officials are working closely with all planning authorities in the preparation of their development plans including matters in relation to waste management. A wide range of stakeholders including planning authorities and Convention of Scottish Local Authorities have been engaged in the current review of Planning Advice Note 63 “ Waste Management Planning.
In addition, Scottish Government will shortly be giving further guidance to local authorities on the use of energy from waste treatment. Zero Waste Scotland and Scottish Futures Trust also provide local authorities with advice and support on procurement and achieving value for money in relation to waste management infrastructure.
","AnswerDate":"2010-08-24T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-08-30T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Richard Lochhead","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":242080,"EventID":"S3W-35537","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":4086,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":7,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2010-08-02T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-08-02T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what guidance it has given to local authorities on how to achieve the waste reduction and recycling targets outlined in the Zero Waste Plan.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what guidance it has given to local authorities on how to achieve the waste reduction and recycling targets outlined in the Zero Waste Plan.","AnswerText":"The Scottish Government has established the Zero Waste Scotland delivery programme to support the implementation of Scotland''s Zero Waste Plan. The delivery programme provides advice and guidance to all stakeholders involved in achieving a zero waste society, including local authorities. ","AnswerDate":"2010-08-24T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-08-30T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Richard Lochhead","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":242081,"EventID":"S3W-35538","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2678,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":8,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2010-08-02T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-08-02T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive how much has been spent on improving the cycle network in both (a) cash and (b) real terms and how many bicycle journeys have been undertaken in each year since 1997.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive how much has been spent on improving the cycle network in both (a) cash and (b) real terms and how many bicycle journeys have been undertaken in each year since 1997.","AnswerText":"1. Financial Information for 1997-98 to 1998-1999 was not recorded in the level of detail which was used from 1999-2000. Table 11.1 of the Scottish Transport Statistics: No 27 - 2008 Edition provides details of the expenditure on transport within the Scottish ministers'' responsibility, and expenditure on transport controlled by local authorities. The latter gives a figure which includes Cycling Walking and Safer streets expenditure but does not break it down further. The publication is available to view on the Scottish Government website:
2. The following tables provide figures on capital spending on improving the cycle network from 1999-2000 to 2010-11 in both (a) cash and (b) real terms (Table 1) and how many bicycle journeys (measured in millions of kilometres) have been undertaken in each year since 1997 (Table 2).
Table 1. Capital Spending on Improving the Cycle Network from 1999-2000 to 2010-11
Year
Cash Total
(£ million)
Real Terms
(£ million at 2009-10 prices)#
1999-2000
0.60
0.77
2000-01
1.04
1.31
2001-02
0.75
0.92
2002-03
2.49
2.97
2003-04
4.17
4.84
2004-05
5.14
5.80
2005-06
5.33
5.91
2006-07
5.92
6.35
2007-08
8.22
8.57
2008-09
7.65
7.77
2009-10
9.13
9.13
2010-11
12.21
For journeys on official business undertaken by bicycle the rate payable is £0.20 per mile. The travel and subsistence system only holds expenses data since 2005. Details of amounts paid in bicycle allowance for staff employed by different public bodies since 2005 are as follows:
Scottish Government Core
£847.00
Crofters Commission
£2.80
Deer Commission of Scotland
£73.60
Scottish Building Standards Agency
£6.00
HM Inspectorate of Education
£0.20
Disclosure Scotland
£13.20
Student Awards Agency for Scotland
£6.40
Transport Scotland
£22.40
Mental Health Tribunal
£6.40
Scottish Housing Regulator
£3.00
General Register Office for Scotland
£60.40
Total
£1,041.40
Information about the rates paid by other publicly funded bodies is not held centrally.
","AnswerDate":"2010-08-25T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-08-30T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"John Swinney","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":242083,"EventID":"S3W-35540","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2678,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":8,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2010-08-02T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-08-02T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive how much in (a) cash and (b) real terms has been spent on improving (i) the road network and (ii) public transport networks and how many journeys have been undertaken via","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive how much in (a) cash and (b) real terms has been spent on improving (i) the road network and (ii) public transport networks and how many journeys have been undertaken via each method in each year since 1997.","AnswerText":"The amount spent on improving the road network since 1997 is shown in the following table:
Improving the Road Network (£ Million)
1998-99
1999-2000
2000-01
2001-02
2002-03
2003-04
2004-05
(a) Cash
174.00
165.31
164.90
155.82
112.08
138.87
147.10
(b) Real Terms
226.35
210.90
207.65
191.92
133.74
161.16
166.09
Improving the Road Network (£ Million)
2005-06
2006-07
2007-08
2008-09
2009-10
(a) Cash
105.45
177.30
171.70
176.60
284.50
b) Real Terms
116.94
190.24
179.10
179.26
284.50
Note: * Construction on the M74 commenced in 2008-09 (due for completion 2011-12).
The amount spent on improving public transport networks since 1997 is shown in the following table:
Improving Public Transport Networks (£ Million)
1998-99
1999-2000
2000-01
http://www.snh.gov.uk.
The information requested on electricity generation from wind farms is not held centrally in the format requested. Scottish renewable electricity statistics for wind and wave power from 2000 onwards are collated by the UK Government Department of Energy and Climate Change and detailed in the following table. These statistics are also available from the Scottish Government website at http://www.scotland.gov.uk.
Wind and Wave Generated Electricity as a Percentage of Total Generation
Year
2000
0.4
2001
0.5
2002
0.8
2003
0.9
2004
1.7
2005
2.6
2006
3.9
2007
5.5
2008
6.7
Total generation is the amount of electricity generated in Scotland by the major power producers and other generators. It includes generation from nuclear fuel, coal, oil, gas, hydro and other renewables (for example, landfill gas and wind power). Wind and wave statistics cannot be published in a disaggregated form because to do so could disclose data that relate to individual companies.
","AnswerDate":"2010-08-17T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-08-30T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Jim Mather","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":242085,"EventID":"S3W-35542","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":4016,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":64,"ApprovedDate":"2010-08-02T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-08-02T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive how many prisoners were prescribed methadone in each prison in each of the last 10 years.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive how many prisoners were prescribed methadone in each prison in each of the last 10 years.","AnswerText":"I have asked John Ewing, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service, to respond. His response is as follows:
This information is not available.
However, the SPS has undertaken prison-wide snapshot audits across all Scottish prisons since 2006 of prisoners being prescribed methadone on a given day. On 8 December 2006, 1,228 prisoners were prescribed methadone, being 17.1% of the prisoner population on that day. These audits have demonstrated a 1% annual increase in the number of prisoners being prescribed methadone.
The latest audit in respect of prisoners held in custody on 23 July 2010 shows that 1,679 prisoners were prescribed methadone, being 21.5% of the prisoner population on that day. The majority, approximately 85%, are the continuation of prescriptions commenced in the community.
Results for the last five years are given in the following table:
Snapshot Audit of Methadone Prescribing in Prison: Highest No. in Each Year
Year
Date of Audit
No. of Prisoners Receiving Methadone
Population that Day
% of Population in Receipt of Methadone
2006
8 December
1,228
7,174
17.1
2007
14 December
1,354
7,240
18.7
2008
22 August
1,497
7,956
18.8
2009
28 August
1,609
8,027
20
2010
23 July
1,679
7,807
21.5
","AnswerDate":"2010-08-25T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-08-30T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Kenny MacAskill","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":242086,"EventID":"S3W-35543","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":4016,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":64,"ApprovedDate":"2010-08-02T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-08-02T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what maximum number of prisoners was on a methadone prescription in each prison in each of the last 10 years.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what maximum number of prisoners was on a methadone prescription in each prison in each of the last 10 years.","AnswerText":"I have asked John Ewing, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service, to respond. His response is as follows:
The SPS has undertaken snapshot audits across all Scottish prisons since 2006 of prisoners being prescribed methadone on a given day, two to three times per year.
Results of the last five years are given in the following table:
Snapshot Audit of Methadone Prescribing in Prison: Highest No. in Each Year
Year
Date of audit
No. of Prisoners Receiving Methadone
Population that Day
% of Population in Receipt of Methadone
2006
8 December
1,228
7,174
17.1
2007
14 December
1,354
7,240
18.7
2008
22 August
1,497
7,956
18.8
2009
28 August
1,609
8,027
20
2010
23 July
1,679
7,807
21.5
","AnswerDate":"2010-08-25T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-08-30T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Kenny MacAskill","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":242087,"EventID":"S3W-35544","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":4016,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":64,"ApprovedDate":"2010-08-02T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-08-02T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive how many prisoners are on a methadone reduction plan, broken down by prison.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive how many prisoners are on a methadone reduction plan, broken down by prison.","AnswerText":"I have asked John Ewing, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service, to respond. His response is as follows:
The Prisoner Survey captures data from prisoners reporting to be in receipt of a methadone prescription and whether they are receiving a reducing dose.
The following table is an extract from the Prisoner Survey 2009. The survey was conducted between 15 May and 10 July 2009. The overall response rate was 62%. Column (a) records the number within the establishment that responded to the survey; column (b) records the number reporting being prescribed methadone, and column (c) records the number who report they are in receipt of a reducing dose.
Establishment
(a)
% and number of prisoners responding to overall Survey
(b)
% and number of respondents reporting being prescribed methadone
(c)
Number of respondents reporting that prescription to be a reducing dose
Aberdeen
55% (n=115)
32% (n=34)
n=8
Addiewell
51% (n=348)
22% (n=67)
n=10
Barlinnie
79% (n=786)
26% (n=183)
n=43
Cornton Vale
65% (n=194)
32% (n=51)
n=11
Dumfries
88% (n=144)
20% (n=20)
n=5
Edinburgh
45% (n=346)
21% (n=66)
n=11
Glenochil
44% (n=292)
27% (n=73)
n=18
Greenock
68% (n=176)
18% (n=29)
n=6
Inverness
55% (n=79)
9% (n=6)
n=1
Kilmarnock
68% (n=346)
Operating Company Area
2005-06
2006-07
2007-08
2008-09
2009-10
North East Unit
0.507
1.576
1.372
0.858
0.837
North West Unit
0.737
1.778
2.149
1.118
1.387
South East Unit
1.385
1.284
0.933
0.954
0.963
South West Unit
1.653
2.051
1.623
1.186
1.160
Total
4.282
6.689
6.077
4.116
4.347
","AnswerDate":"2010-08-26T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-08-30T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Stewart Stevenson","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":242089,"EventID":"S3W-35546","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2066,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":3,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2010-08-02T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-08-02T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what it is doing to ensure that GPs are suitably equipped to (a) diagnose and (b) speedily refer patients with rare forms of cancer.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what it is doing to ensure that GPs are suitably equipped to (a) diagnose and (b) speedily refer patients with rare forms of cancer.","AnswerText":"Better Cancer Care recognised that early detection of cancer is crucial to increase the chance of a positive outcome for the patient. Through the Scottish Cancer Taskforce, the Scottish Government is working to improve awareness of possible symptoms of all cancers amongst the public and medical staff. This activity includes supporting the wider sharing of GP data and best practice on cancer diagnosis as this will contribute to more effective and efficient primary care pathways, increasing the possibility for earlier detection.
Medical training includes the ability to diagnose a range of conditions, both common and rare, from the signs and symptoms presented by patients. For GPs in training, the new Royal College of General Practitioners (RCGP) curriculum includes as one of its key competencies, managing primary care contact with patients dealing with unselected problems. The curriculum recognises that doctors cannot be experts in everything but do need to know where to access information in order to make appropriate and speedy referrals.
Furthermore, to support GPs to refer patients with suspected cancer as early as possible, referral guidance was published in 2007, called the Scottish Executive Health Department Letter (2007) 9: Scottish Referral Guidelines for Suspected Cancer. In early 2009, the guidelines were shortened into a user-friendly version for quick reference. All GPs across NHS Scotland have been sent a copy of this guidance, which is also available on the Scottish Government website:
","AnswerDate":"2010-08-12T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-08-30T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Nicola Sturgeon","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":242090,"EventID":"S3W-35547","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2066,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":3,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2010-08-02T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-08-02T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what assessment it has made of patient access to ultra-orphan treatments for rare forms of cancer.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what assessment it has made of patient access to ultra-orphan treatments for rare forms of cancer.","AnswerText":"NHS boards in Scotland are responsible for the planning and provision of NHS services in accordance with national and local priorities and in line with the health needs of the population. Decisions regarding the care of individual patients are a matter of professional judgement for the clinician responsible for the patient''s care.
The arrangements in place for assessing new drugs and treatments for use in the NHS are through bodies such as the Scottish Medicines Consortium (SMC) and NHS Quality Improvement Scotland (NHS QIS). Further information about these processes can be obtained from their websites: www.scottishmedicines.org.uk and www.nhshealthquality.org.
The process for accessing orphan medicines as defined by the European Medicines Agency as a medicine licensed to treat or prevent life-threatening rare diseases affecting fewer than five in 10,000 people in the European Union, is the same as it is for all medicines. However, in addition to the usual assessment of clinical and cost effectiveness, SMC may consider additional factors such as whether the medicine substantially increases life expectancy and/or quality of life; can reverse, rather than stabilise the condition; or bridges a gap to definitive therapy. The list of SMC modifiers has been published on the SMC website.
Where a medicine has been recommended by the SMC, it is expected that NHS Boards will make it or its equivalent available on an equitable basis within NHSScotland.
Comprehensive guidance for NHS boards in the form of CEL 17 (2010) on the introduction and availability of new medicines in the NHS in Scotland was published on 17 May 2010. A link to the guidance is attached http://www.sehd.scot.nhs.uk/mels/CEL2010_17.pdf.
","AnswerDate":"2010-08-24T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-08-30T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Nicola Sturgeon","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":242091,"EventID":"S3W-35548","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2066,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":3,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2010-08-02T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-08-02T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what the average life expectancy is for a child in Scotland undergoing conventional treatments for osteosarcoma.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what the average life expectancy is for a child in Scotland undergoing conventional treatments for osteosarcoma.","AnswerText":"It is not possible to generate an estimate of life expectancy for children undergoing conventional treatments for osteosarcoma in Scotland. A measurable indicator of outcome is the percentage of children diagnosed with osteosarcoma who remain alive 10 years after their original diagnosis (10-year survival). For children aged 0-14 years, diagnosed with osteosarcoma while resident in Scotland during 1998-2002 (14 cases), 50% of them survived to at least 10 years after diagnosis. ","AnswerDate":"2010-08-24T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-08-30T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Shona Robison","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":242092,"EventID":"S3W-35549","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2080,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":17,"ApprovedDate":"2010-08-02T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-08-02T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-33775 by Nicola Sturgeon on 7 June 2010, when a report of the meeting with the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions will be mad","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-33775 by Nicola Sturgeon on 7 June 2010, when a report of the meeting with the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions will be made to the Parliament.","AnswerText":"I have not yet met the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions but arrangements are in place to organise an opportunity to meet while Mr Duncan Smith is in Edinburgh to attend the Welfare to Work Scotland 2010 conference on 22 September 2010. ","AnswerDate":"2010-08-26T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-08-30T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Nicola Sturgeon","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":242093,"EventID":"S3W-35550","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":4086,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":7,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2010-08-02T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-08-02T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to amend the Civic Government (Scotland) Act 1982 to provide further exemptions in respect of the licensing of sporting weapons under the Criminal Justi","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to amend the Civic Government (Scotland) Act 1982 to provide further exemptions in respect of the licensing of sporting weapons under the Criminal Justice and Licensing (Scotland) Bill.","AnswerText":"As I indicated during the stage 3 debate on the Criminal Justice and Licensing (Scotland) Bill on 30 June, the Scottish Government will bring forward in the near future appropriate legislation to assist sports that may be affected adversely by the introduction of the Knife Dealers Licensing Scheme. ","AnswerDate":"2010-08-20T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-08-30T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Fergus Ewing","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":242094,"EventID":"S3W-35551","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2066,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":3,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2010-08-02T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-08-02T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what action it is taking to protect red deer on the mainland from hybridisation with sika deer.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what action it is taking to protect red deer on the mainland from hybridisation with sika deer.","AnswerText":"It is an offence under the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 deliberately or accidentally to release sika deer or their hybrids into the wild.
Sika deer are sufficiently well established in many parts of Scotland such that their eradication would be virtually impossible and it is likely that hybridisation in these areas has already occurred. Where there is local consensus about the need for control measures in an area where sika are not present or are attempting to colonise, Scottish Natural Heritage will be able to provide information, advice and support to deer managers to help with efforts to slow or halt the spread of sika deer, provided that control measures are carried out within the law.
","AnswerDate":"2010-08-25T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-08-30T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Roseanna Cunningham","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":242095,"EventID":"S3W-35552","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2066,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":3,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2010-08-02T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-08-02T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive how many sika deer have been culled in each of the last five years in order to reduce hybridisation with native red deer.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive how many sika deer have been culled in each of the last five years in order to reduce hybridisation with native red deer.","AnswerText":"The Scottish Government does not hold any comprehensive data on the purpose for which deer are culled. Total numbers of sika deer culled as reported to the Deer Commission for Scotland for the last five years are:
2005-06
5,110
2006-07
5,765
2007-08
5,167
2008-09
5,465
2009-10
5,650
","AnswerDate":"2010-08-25T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-08-30T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Roseanna Cunningham","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":242096,"EventID":"S3W-35553","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2066,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":3,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2010-08-02T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-08-02T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether its aim is to (a) exterminate, (b) reduce, (c) retain the current level of or (d) increase the current level of the sika deer population.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether its aim is to (a) exterminate, (b) reduce, (c) retain the current level of or (d) increase the current level of the sika deer population.","AnswerText":"Scottish Natural Heritage has a duty under Section 1(1)(a)of the Deer (Scotland) Act1996, as amended by the Public Services Reform (Scotland) Act 2010, to further the conservation, control and sustainable management of deer. The 1996 act applies to red deer, roe deer, fallow deer and sika deer and any hybrids of those species. The Scottish Government recognises that sika are now a well-established species in mainland Scotland and that their eradication is not practicable. Decisions about sika deer management will be taken by local land managers to reflect their particular deer management objectives balanced with other needs, for example in relation to agriculture, forestry and public safety. ","AnswerDate":"2010-08-25T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-08-30T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Roseanna Cunningham","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":242097,"EventID":"S3W-35554","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2066,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":3,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2010-08-02T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-08-02T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive how many (a) sika deer and (b) red-sika hybrids were present in Scotland (i) 15 years ago and (ii) in the last year for which figures are available.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive how many (a) sika deer and (b) red-sika hybrids were present in Scotland (i) 15 years ago and (ii) in the last year for which figures are available.","AnswerText":"The Scottish Government does not hold data recording the number of sika or sika hybrids in Scotland.
The most recent studies show little change in the composition of hybridising populations over a 15 year timescale. Ongoing research by the University of Edinburgh, working in partnership with Scottish Natural Heritage, will continue to quantify the extent to which hybridisation has taken place.
","AnswerDate":"2010-08-25T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-08-30T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Roseanna Cunningham","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":242098,"EventID":"S3W-35555","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2066,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":3,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2010-08-02T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-08-02T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether Scottish Natural Heritage, in assuming the powers of the Deer Commission for Scotland, will have a statutory responsibility to conserve the number of sika deer.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether Scottish Natural Heritage, in assuming the powers of the Deer Commission for Scotland, will have a statutory responsibility to conserve the number of sika deer.","AnswerText":"I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-35553 on 25 August 2010. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament''s website, the search facility for which can be found at:
","AnswerDate":"2010-08-25T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-08-30T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Roseanna Cunningham","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":242099,"EventID":"S3W-35556","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2223,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":26,"ApprovedDate":"2010-08-02T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-08-02T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what action it is taking to persuade the Government of Iceland to drop its plans to catch 130,000 tonnes of North Atlantic mackerel in 2010.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what action it is taking to persuade the Government of Iceland to drop its plans to catch 130,000 tonnes of North Atlantic mackerel in 2010.","AnswerText":"The actions of Iceland and Faeroes in setting unilateral total allowable catches (TACs) for mackerel in the North East Atlantic are irresponsible and risk the future sustainability of the stock, which in turn could have serious impacts for the Scottish Pelagic Fleet. I have written twice to Commissioner Damanaki asking her to take a strong stand against the Faroese and Icelanders, and in particular to keep the issue at the fore during Iceland''s EU accession negotiations. Following my first letter, the Commissioner wrote to Commissioner Fule (Enlargement) highlighting the problems and asking him to ensure it was discussed during the accession negotiations.
My second letter was in response to the Faeroese decision to set a TAC far in excess of their previous share. Following this, the Commissioner made a statement condemning the action and outlining possible further action that would be taken against the Faeroes if they did not reconsider their approach during the next round of negotiations. I have now followed up the letters with a phone conversation during which Commissioner Damanaki assured me of her commitment to resolving the issue and that she would work closely with the Scottish and UK Governments.
The Scottish Government will continue to work with the UK, the European Commission and other key European member states to identify how best we can ensure Iceland and Faeroes come back to the negotiating table in order to secure a deal that is fair for Scotland and protects the mackerel stock. Marine Scotland has also made an objection to the Marine Stewardship Council certification of the Faroese mackerel stock. The objection has been accepted by the independent adjudicator and the outcome of her review is awaited.
","AnswerDate":"2010-08-26T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-08-30T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Richard Lochhead","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":242100,"EventID":"S3W-35557","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2223,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":26,"ApprovedDate":"2010-08-02T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-08-02T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what action it is taking to persuade the Government of the Faroe Islands to drop its plans to catch 85,000 tonnes of North Atlantic mackerel in 2010.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what action it is taking to persuade the Government of the Faroe Islands to drop its plans to catch 85,000 tonnes of North Atlantic mackerel in 2010.","AnswerText":"I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-35556 on 26 August 2010. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament''s website, the search facility for which can be found at www.scottish.parliament.uk/Apps2/Business/PQA/Default.aspx. ","AnswerDate":"2010-08-26T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-08-30T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Richard Lochhead","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":242101,"EventID":"S3W-35558","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1961,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":33,"ApprovedDate":"2010-08-02T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-08-02T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what (a) the housing debt has been, (b) new housing debt has been contracted, (c) old debt has been repaid, (d) receipts have been derived from right-to-buy sales and (d)","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what (a) the housing debt has been, (b) new housing debt has been contracted, (c) old debt has been repaid, (d) receipts have been derived from right-to-buy sales and (d) the housing stock has been in each local authority in each year since 1999.","AnswerText":"Information on housing debt, new housing debt contracted, repayment of old debt and receipts derived from right-to-buy sales is shown by local authority area in tables 1 to 4, respectively (overleaf).
For tables 1 to 3 information is available for the years 1999-2000 to 2008-09. For table 4 on right-to-buy receipts data is available for 2007-08 and 2008-09 only.
Further statistics on right-to-buy, including numbers of sales and average selling prices, are available on the Scottish Government website Although these figures do not match up exactly with sales receipts, they provide an indication of the trend over a longer time period. http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Topics/Statistics/Browse/Housing-Regeneration/HSfS/Sales.
HRA Gross Capital receipts are published annually in the Local Authority Housing Income and Expenditure Publication:
Table 1: Housing Revenue Account, Capital Debt Outstanding at Financial Year End (£000)
1999-2000
2000-01
2001-02
2002-03
2003-04
Scotland
3,755,900
3,652,666
3,426,804
2,375,335
2,125,626
Aberdeen City
127,001
121,774
103,423
98,827
94,801
Aberdeenshire
152,975
151,854
146,590
142,279
139,862
Angus
32,916
The principles within Equity and Excellence: Liberating the NHS echo the Scottish Government''s commitment to healthcare services free at the point of use for those who need them, and to our ambition to make NHSScotland a world leader in healthcare quality, which is set out in our recently published Healthcare Quality Strategy. However, some of the structural issues are of less relevance in Scotland and some aspects of the UK Government''s proposed approach are very different from the mutual NHS to which we are committed in Scotland. We will continue to consider whether there are any aspects of the UK proposals which might help us deliver the kind of world class services we have set out in our Quality Strategy.
","AnswerDate":"2010-08-23T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-08-30T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Nicola Sturgeon","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":242103,"EventID":"S3W-35560","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2133,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":6,"ApprovedDate":"2010-08-02T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-08-02T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive Executive what assessment it has made of the changes to the NHS proposed by the UK Government and the impact that they might have on spending in Scotland through the appl","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive Executive what assessment it has made of the changes to the NHS proposed by the UK Government and the impact that they might have on spending in Scotland through the application of Barnett consequentials.","AnswerText":"The Barnett consequentials of any changes to the health budget in England will become known when the Chancellor announces the outcome of Whitehall''s Comprehensive Spending Review on 20 October 2010.
Scottish ministers have consistently maintained that these consequentials will be applied to the Health budget in Scotland and have responded to the Independent Budget Review in these terms.
","AnswerDate":"2010-08-23T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-08-30T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Nicola Sturgeon","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":242104,"EventID":"S3W-35561","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":4086,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":7,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2010-08-03T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-08-03T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what measures it is taking in conjunction with public agencies and the retail sector to reduce and prevent unnecessary packaging of goods.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what measures it is taking in conjunction with public agencies and the retail sector to reduce and prevent unnecessary packaging of goods.","AnswerText":"The Scottish Government works closely with the Scottish Environmental Protection Agency (SEPA) to implement producer responsibility regulations in line with EC Directives on Packaging and Packaging Waste. The producer responsibility regulations obligate producers and suppliers who have a market share of more than £2 million and produce more than 50 tons of waste a year to pay towards recycling the waste they produce. By placing this obligation on producers the regulations provide an economic incentive to reduce and prevent unnecessary packaging waste. More details can be found on SEPA''s website:
The Zero Waste Scotland (ZWS) delivery programme, created to support Scotland''s Zero Waste Plan, provides advice and support to all stakeholders involved in achieving a zero waste society. ZWS works with public agencies on the issue of reducing packaging of goods and supports the UK-wide Courtauld Commitment. Administered by the Waste and Resources Action Programme (WRAP), the Courtauld Commitment is a voluntary agreement aimed at improving resource efficiency and reducing the carbon and wider environmental impact of the grocery retail sector.
The Courtauld Commitment (Phase 1) was launched in 2005 and had 42 signatories representing many key retailers and suppliers. This phase achieved the target of zero growth in packaging by 2008. Courtauld 2 was launched in March 2010 and moves away from solely weight-based targets, aiming to achieve more sustainable use of resources over the entire lifecycle of products, including their packaging. 29 major retailers and brand owners committed to Phase 2. Discussions about the shape of Phase 3 have commenced.
Further details on the Courtauld Commitment can be found here:
","AnswerDate":"2010-08-24T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-08-31T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Richard Lochhead","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":242105,"EventID":"S3W-35562","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2223,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":26,"ApprovedDate":"2010-08-03T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-08-03T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what its (a) revenue and (b) capital budget allocation to Highlands and Islands Airports Limited was for (i) 2009-10 and (ii) 2010-11 and what the proposed equivalent bud","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what its (a) revenue and (b) capital budget allocation to Highlands and Islands Airports Limited was for (i) 2009-10 and (ii) 2010-11 and what the proposed equivalent budget allocations are for 2011-12. ","AnswerText":"The figures requested are as follows:
Financial Year
Revenue
Capital
2009-10
£19.2 million
£7 million
2010-11
£18.1 million
£7 million
The budget allocation for 2011-12 has yet to be determined.
","AnswerDate":"2010-08-20T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-08-31T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Stewart Stevenson","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":242106,"EventID":"S3W-35563","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2223,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":26,"ApprovedDate":"2010-08-03T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-08-03T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what savings in net operational costs it has instructed Highlands and Islands Airports Limited to make in (a) 2010-11 and (b) 2011-12.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what savings in net operational costs it has instructed Highlands and Islands Airports Limited to make in (a) 2010-11 and (b) 2011-12.","AnswerText":"Details of the efficiencies identified for Highlands and Islands Airports Ltd as part of the 2007 Spending Review (2008-11) are published on the Efficient Government pages of the Scottish Government''s website as follows:
","AnswerDate":"2010-08-20T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-08-31T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Stewart Stevenson","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":242107,"EventID":"S3W-35564","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2223,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":26,"ApprovedDate":"2010-08-03T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-08-03T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what its estimates are of the cost savings of each of the options for cutting the operational costs of NorthLink Ferries Ltd, showing the impact on the net estimated cost","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what its estimates are of the cost savings of each of the options for cutting the operational costs of NorthLink Ferries Ltd, showing the impact on the net estimated cost saving of the changes in (a) fuel costs, (b) staff costs, (c) passenger and accompanied vehicle revenue, (d) freight revenue and (e) any other costs of a value greater than 10% of the total estimated net cost saving.","AnswerText":"This information is currently being collated as part of the Northern Isles Study process and will be made available in due course. ","AnswerDate":"2010-09-01T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-08-31T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Stewart Stevenson","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":242108,"EventID":"S3W-35565","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2223,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":26,"ApprovedDate":"2010-08-03T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-08-03T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will detail its assessment of the impact on (a) passenger, numbers, (b) accompanied vehicle numbers and (c) freights tonnages of each of its options for cuttin","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will detail its assessment of the impact on (a) passenger, numbers, (b) accompanied vehicle numbers and (c) freights tonnages of each of its options for cutting the operational costs of NorthLink Ferries Ltd, broken down according to the routes between (i) Lerwick and Aberdeen, (ii) Lerwick and Kirkwall, (iii) Kirkwall and Aberdeen and (iv) Stromness and Scrabster.","AnswerText":"This information is currently being collated as part of the Northern Isles Study process and will be made available in due course. ","AnswerDate":"2010-09-01T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-08-31T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Stewart Stevenson","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":242109,"EventID":"S3W-35566","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1820,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":12,"ApprovedDate":"2010-08-03T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-08-03T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive how many prisoners on average were or have been released on temporary licence per week in (a) 2007, (b) 2008, (c) 2009 and (d) 2010.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive how many prisoners on average were or have been released on temporary licence per week in (a) 2007, (b) 2008, (c) 2009 and (d) 2010.","AnswerText":"I have asked John Ewing, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service, to respond. His response is as follows:
The following table gives the weekly average number of prisoners temporarily released on licence for home leave from 2007 to 11 August 2010.
Average Number of Prisoners Per Week
Year
2007
93
2008
77
2009
60
2010
54
","AnswerDate":"2010-08-20T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-08-31T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Kenny MacAskill","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":242110,"EventID":"S3W-35567","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1820,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":12,"ApprovedDate":"2010-08-03T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-08-03T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what the procedure is for notifying local police forces of prisoners released on temporary licence in their areas.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what the procedure is for notifying local police forces of prisoners released on temporary licence in their areas.","AnswerText":"I have asked John Ewing, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service, to respond. His response is as follows:
The local police forces are notified of all prisoners who are due to be going on temporary licence to their particular area. This is achieved through an email from the SPS establishment releasing the prisoner to the central contact point within that force area.
","AnswerDate":"2010-08-26T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-08-31T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Kenny MacAskill","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":242111,"EventID":"S3W-35568","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1820,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":12,"ApprovedDate":"2010-08-03T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-08-03T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive who must be informed of a prisoner’s release; whether this is laid out in statute, and how many times it was not complied with in (a) 2007, (b) 2008 and (c) 2009 and has ","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive who must be informed of a prisoner’s release; whether this is laid out in statute, and how many times it was not complied with in (a) 2007, (b) 2008 and (c) 2009 and has not been complied with in 2010.","AnswerText":"I have asked John Ewing, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service, to respond. His response is as follows:
There are arrangements in place with other Justice Sector colleagues for sharing information on a prisoner''s release, but none are specifically related to statute. Consequently the question of compliance is not appropriate.
The Criminal Justice (Scotland) Act 2003 part 16 lays out the notification arrangements for victims of crime. This allows victims or an eligible family member the right to receive information about the release from prison of the offender who committed the crime against them and also their eligibility in certain circumstances, for unescorted temporary release. This covers, for example, short periods of home leave, pre-release leave, day release to visit ill relatives and temporary release to attend work or educational placements.
","AnswerDate":"2010-08-26T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-08-31T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Kenny MacAskill","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":242112,"EventID":"S3W-35569","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1820,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":12,"ApprovedDate":"2010-08-03T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-08-03T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive how many complaints have been received regarding the failure of adequate notification of a prisoner’s release in each year since 1999.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive how many complaints have been received regarding the failure of adequate notification of a prisoner’s release in each year since 1999.","AnswerText":"I have asked John Ewing, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service, to respond. His response is as follows:
The Scottish Prison Service do not record the information requested.
","AnswerDate":"2010-08-26T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-08-31T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Kenny MacAskill","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":242113,"EventID":"S3W-35570","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1820,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":12,"ApprovedDate":"2010-08-03T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-08-03T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what body is responsible for monitoring the behaviour of prisoners on temporary release.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what body is responsible for monitoring the behaviour of prisoners on temporary release.","AnswerText":"I have asked John Ewing, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service, to respond. His response is as follows:
The conduct of prisoners on temporary release is governed by licence conditions, set by the Scottish Prison Service. Any breaches of these conditions which are brought to the attention of the Prison Service may result in the revocation of the licence.
","AnswerDate":"2010-08-26T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-08-31T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Kenny MacAskill","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":242114,"EventID":"S3W-35571","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1820,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":12,"ApprovedDate":"2010-08-03T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-08-03T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive how many prisoners on temporary release (a) failed or have failed to return to prison or (b) committed or have committed an offence while on release in (i) 2007, (ii) 200","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive how many prisoners on temporary release (a) failed or have failed to return to prison or (b) committed or have committed an offence while on release in (i) 2007, (ii) 2008, (iii) 2009 and (iv) 2010. ","AnswerText":"I have asked John Ewing, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service, to respond. His response is as follows:
(a) The table below gives the number of prisoners who have failed to return to prison following temporary release:
Year
Number of Prisoners
2007
35
2008
19
2009
10
2010
The information
requested is not yet available
(b) The information requested is not available.
","AnswerDate":"2010-08-26T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-08-31T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Kenny MacAskill","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":242115,"EventID":"S3W-35572","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2167,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":3,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2010-08-03T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-08-03T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what the position is regarding the monitoring of the (a) European and (b) American foulbrood outbreak in the bee population in Scotland.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what the position is regarding the monitoring of the (a) European and (b) American foulbrood outbreak in the bee population in Scotland.","AnswerText":"The monitoring of European foulbrood (EFB) consists of a European Foulbrood 2010 Control Plan, which was drawn up and agreed with beekeeping stakeholders. All apiaries where EFB was confirmed in 2009 were re-inspected and any cases were removed to quarantine apiaries where they were treated using the Shook Swarm method. Re-inspections are currently taking place in the quarantine apiaries.
The monitoring of American foulbrood (AFB) consists of re-visiting all beekeepers whose bees were diagnosed as having AFB in 2009 and responding to beekeepers concerns. Any cases of AFB are destroyed.
","AnswerDate":"2010-08-24T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-08-31T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Richard Lochhead","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":242116,"EventID":"S3W-35573","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2167,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":3,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2010-08-03T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-08-03T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether any new outbreaks of (a) European and (b) American foulbrood disease have been found in Scotland since the start of 2010 and, if so, in what areas.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether any new outbreaks of (a) European and (b) American foulbrood disease have been found in Scotland since the start of 2010 and, if so, in what areas.","AnswerText":"Ten colonies in five apiaries were found positive with European foulbrood (EFB) in West Lothian in July 2010.
Two colonies from one apiary were found positive with American foulbrood (AFB) in February and April 2010 in the Stranraer area and two colonies from two apiaries were found positive in July 2010 in West Lothian.
Additional cases of EFB and AFB were confirmed, however, these were in areas where the diseases had previously been confirmed in 2009.
","AnswerDate":"2010-08-24T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-08-31T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Richard Lochhead","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":242117,"EventID":"S3W-35574","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2167,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":3,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2010-08-03T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-08-03T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether the National Standing Committee on Farm Animal Genetic Resources now has responsibility for the ongoing welfare of bees and, if so, when this change took place.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether the National Standing Committee on Farm Animal Genetic Resources now has responsibility for the ongoing welfare of bees and, if so, when this change took place.","AnswerText":"Representatives of the National Standing Committee (NSC) on Farm Animal Genetic Resources (FAnGR) responded to a request from the Scottish Government for advice on conservation of honeybees, in line with their role.
Policy responsibility for honey bee health in Scotland rests with the Scottish Government.
","AnswerDate":"2010-08-24T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-08-31T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Richard Lochhead","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":242118,"EventID":"S3W-35575","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":3811,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":4,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2010-08-03T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-08-03T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive how many prisoners have sued the Scottish Prison Service since May 2007 and what the outcome has been in each case.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive how many prisoners have sued the Scottish Prison Service since May 2007 and what the outcome has been in each case.","AnswerText":"I have asked John Ewing, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service, to respond. His response is as follows:
Approximately, 2,036 prisoners have raised proceedings against the SPS in the sheriff courts or Court of Session since May 2007. A prisoner may raise actions in respect of more than one matter, and the total number of actions raised is 2,080. The outcome of those actions can be found in the following table:
Total
Number dismissed following settlement or otherwise
190
Number sisted
1,887
Number under offer
3
The majority of these actions relate to detention in slopping out conditions.
","AnswerDate":"2010-08-26T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-08-31T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Kenny MacAskill","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":242119,"EventID":"S3W-35576","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":3811,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":4,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2010-08-03T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-08-03T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what the total output of all wind generators in Scotland was and what percentage of the total electricity demand this represented in each month of 2009.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what the total output of all wind generators in Scotland was and what percentage of the total electricity demand this represented in each month of 2009.","AnswerText":"The information requested is not held centrally in the format requested. Annual figures for electricity generated by renewables in Scotland are published on the Scottish Government''s website at the following link:
In 2008, the last year for which figures are available, wind and wave power supplied 3330 gigawatt hours which is the equivalent of 8.1% of Scotland''s total electricity demand.
","AnswerDate":"2010-09-01T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-08-31T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Jim Mather","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":242120,"EventID":"S3W-35577","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":3811,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":4,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2010-08-03T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-08-03T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what the output was of (a) Hunterston and (b) Torness nuclear power station and what percentage of total Scottish electricity output it represented in each month of 2009.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what the output was of (a) Hunterston and (b) Torness nuclear power station and what percentage of total Scottish electricity output it represented in each month of 2009.","AnswerText":"The information requested is not held centrally. However, annual figures for electricity generated by each energy source in Scotland are published online at:
In 2008, the last year for which figures are available, nuclear provided 30.2% of Scotland''s total electricity generation.
","AnswerDate":"2010-09-01T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-08-31T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Jim Mather","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":242121,"EventID":"S3W-35578","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":3811,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":4,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2010-08-03T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-08-03T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-35089 by John Swinney on 27 July 2010, what the annual net saving is and how many jobs have been lost as a result of winding up the","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-35089 by John Swinney on 27 July 2010, what the annual net saving is and how many jobs have been lost as a result of winding up these bodies.","AnswerText":"The abolition of the eight public bodies listed in my answer to question S3W-35089 on 27 July 2010 will deliver estimated net savings of around £1.4 million by 2013 and recurring net savings of around £1.5 million per annum thereafter. A detailed breakdown of the costs and savings for each body is set out in the Financial Memorandum to the Public Services Reform (Scotland) Act 2010 which is available at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/s3/bills/26-PubSerRef/index.htm.
Creative Scotland expects that there will be 33 fewer posts as a result of the merger of the Scottish Arts Council and Scottish Screen. There are no staffing implications for the other six public bodies abolished on 1 August 2010.
","AnswerDate":"2010-08-26T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-08-31T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"John Swinney","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":242122,"EventID":"S3W-35579","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2633,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":5,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2010-08-03T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-08-03T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive how many additional full-time equivalent (a) college and (b) university places were funded by the £20 million announced for education and lifelong learning by the Cabinet","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive how many additional full-time equivalent (a) college and (b) university places were funded by the £20 million announced for education and lifelong learning by the Cabinet Secretary for Finance and Sustainable Growth in the budget (Official Report c. 23368).","AnswerText":"We have been working with the Scottish Funding Council and the Students Award Agency for Scotland to determine how best to allocate this funding. The number of higher education places being funded by the Scottish Funding Council in both the college and university sectors has been decided for the academic year 2010-11. While the admissions process for academic year 2010-11 is not yet complete, it is clear that there is a strong demand for higher education courses. We wish to ensure that there is adequate support for the students who take up the offer of a place, while meeting the commitment we gave to provide student support for an additional 7,500 students in academic year 2009-10, many of whom will continue their studies in academic year 2010-11.
As a result, the £20 million announced by the Cabinet Secretary for Finance and Sustainable Growth will be transferred to the Students Award Agency for Scotland as part of the Autumn Budget Revision process, to help meet this demand in academic year 2010-11.
","AnswerDate":"2010-08-26T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-08-31T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Michael Russell","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":242123,"EventID":"S3W-35580","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2633,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":5,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2010-08-03T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-08-03T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive how many students have entered each Scottish university in each year from 2008-9, broken down by domicile of student","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive how many students have entered each Scottish university in each year from 2008-9, broken down by domicile of student","AnswerText":"This information is produced by the Higher Education Statistics Agency and is available for year 2008-09, but has not yet been published for year 2009-10.
Entrants to Scottish Higher Education Institutions by Domicile - 2008-09
All Domiciles
Scotland
England
Wales
Northern Ireland
All
106,115
75,105
7,465
225
1,400
Edinburgh College of Art
520
250
105
5
15
Glasgow Caledonian University
9,200
7,370
460
15
100
Glasgow School of Art
600
215
120
5
15
Heriot-Watt University
3,940
1,420
450
10
110
Napier University
6,595
4,020
300
5
105
Queen Margaret University, Edinburgh
2,105
1,375
155
Table 1: Scottish Students Enrolled at Scottish Colleges and HEIs in the UK by Local Authority
Scottish Colleges
HEIs in the UK
2007-08
2008-09
2007-08
2008-09
All
457,375
451,305
173,145
174,885
Aberdeen City
16,620
15,735
8,490
8,630
Aberdeenshire
28,750
27,800
8,900
8,915
Angus
14,485
15,775
3,410
3,420
Argyll & Bute
6,985
7,930
3,040
3,045
City of Edinburgh
27,030
26,585
8,020
18,235
Clackmannanshire
3,905
3,700
1,385
1,265
Dumfries & Galloway
15,280
14,215
4,370
<","AnswerDate":"2010-08-30T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-08-31T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Keith Brown","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":242125,"EventID":"S3W-35582","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2633,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":5,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2010-08-03T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-08-03T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive how many full-time equivalent university places it has funded for 2010-11.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive how many full-time equivalent university places it has funded for 2010-11.","AnswerText":"We have funded a total of 129,733.1 full-time equivalent under-graduate and post-graduate university places for 2010-11. ","AnswerDate":"2010-08-26T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-08-31T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Michael Russell","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":242126,"EventID":"S3W-35583","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2633,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":5,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2010-08-03T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-08-03T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what the drop-out rate has been in each higher education institution in each year since 2007.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what the drop-out rate has been in each higher education institution in each year since 2007.","AnswerText":"Non-continuation rates are calculated by the Higher Education Statistics Agency (HESA) for full-time first degree entrants. These are shown for each Scottish Higher Education Institution for academic years 2007-08 and 2008-09, the most recent years available.
Non-Continuation Rates following Year of Entry: Full-Time First Degree Entrants
2007-08 (%)
2008-09 (%)
Total Scotland
10.6
9.9
The University of Aberdeen
8.3
8.6
University of Abertay Dundee
7.6
6.6
The University of Dundee
8.2
8.1
Edinburgh College of Art
6.5
7.0
Edinburgh Napier University (#)
16.9
16.4
The University of Edinburgh
5.0
4.4
Glasgow Caledonian University
13.2
10.5
Glasgow School of Art
2.6
2.1
The University of Glasgow
8.9
8.0
Heriot-Watt University
10.1
9.0
Queen Margaret University, Edinburgh
10.4
14.0
The Robert Gordon University
","AnswerDate":"2010-09-07T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-08-31T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Michael Russell","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":242127,"EventID":"S3W-35584","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2633,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":5,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2010-08-03T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-08-03T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what the drop-out rate has been in each college in each year since 2007.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what the drop-out rate has been in each college in each year since 2007.","AnswerText":"The Scottish Funding Council has overall responsibility for the performance of colleges, one element of which is the retention of students. I have asked the chief executive of the funding council to write to the member ","AnswerDate":"2010-08-26T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-08-31T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Keith Brown","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":242128,"EventID":"S3W-35585","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2633,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":5,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2010-08-03T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-08-03T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what percentage of graduates from each Scottish university has found employment in Scotland as a first destination in each year since 2007.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what percentage of graduates from each Scottish university has found employment in Scotland as a first destination in each year since 2007.","AnswerText":"This information is produced by the Higher Education Statistics Agency and is available for year 2007-08, but has not yet been published for year 2008-09.
Qualifiers from HE courses at Scottish Higher Education Institutions in Employment in Scotland Six Months After Graduating - 2007-08
% in Employment in Scotland
Number in Employment in Scotland
Total Qualifiers
Total
58.1%
24,775
42,650
Edinburgh College of Art
41.9%
105
250
Glasgow Caledonian University
70.8%
2,630
3,715
Glasgow School of Art
37.8%
145
385
Heriot-Watt University
41.0%
745
1,815
Napier University
57.5%
1,500
2,605
Queen Margaret University, Edinburgh
64.4%
575
895
Scottish Agricultural College
35.7%
110
315
The Open University
61.7%
565
915
The Robert Gordon University
71.9%
1,720
2,390
The Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama
51.4%
90
175
The University of Aberdeen
60.7%
1,725
2,845
The University of Dundee
Therefore the estimated additional costs for each sector across the Scottish public sector are in the order of £18 million for NHS, £26 million for local government, £5 million for the police and fire services and £0.5 million for the Scottish Government Administration Budget.
","AnswerDate":"2010-08-26T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-08-17T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"John Swinney","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":242130,"EventID":"S3W-35587","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":3901,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":53,"ApprovedDate":"2010-08-03T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-08-03T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what estimates have been made of the impact on the Scottish economy of the Chancellor of the Exchequer’s decision to continue with the increase in employers’ national ins","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what estimates have been made of the impact on the Scottish economy of the Chancellor of the Exchequer’s decision to continue with the increase in employers’ national insurance contributions by 0.5% from 2011 and how much this is expected to remove from the Scottish economy. ","AnswerText":"The UK Government''s plans will increase the overall UK tax burden by £18 billion in 2011-12. This includes increasing both employee and employer national insurance contribution rates by 1%. Whilst the impact on employers will be partly offset by the accompanying increase in the employer national insurance threshold, the rise is still projected to cost the Scottish public sector £50 million next year. By raising staff costs for firms across Scotland the higher contribution rate could threaten jobs at a time when the Scottish labour market and the economic recovery remain fragile. ","AnswerDate":"2010-08-26T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-08-31T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"John Swinney","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":242131,"EventID":"S3W-35588","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2182,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":5,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2010-08-03T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-08-03T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what the (a) start and (b) end date is for the pharmacy supply contract for the Scottish Prison Service.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what the (a) start and (b) end date is for the pharmacy supply contract for the Scottish Prison Service.","AnswerText":"I have asked John Ewing, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service, to respond. His response is as follows:
The SPS recently awarded a three year contract, with options to extend, for the provision of pharmaceutical goods and professional services to its directly managed prisons.
The contract commenced on 1 April 2010 and the initial three year period will cease on 31 March 2013.
","AnswerDate":"2010-08-26T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-08-31T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Kenny MacAskill","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":242132,"EventID":"S3W-35589","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2182,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":5,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2010-08-03T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-08-03T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether pharmacists and dispensing assistants will be transferred from the Scottish Prison Service to the NHS with the transferral of medical services in autumn 2011.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether pharmacists and dispensing assistants will be transferred from the Scottish Prison Service to the NHS with the transferral of medical services in autumn 2011.","AnswerText":"I have asked John Ewing, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service, to respond. His response is as follows:
The SPS currently employs directly one pharmacist and no dispensing assistants. Substantive prison healthcare staff will be transferring to the NHS as part of the National Programme for Prisoner Healthcare, scheduled to take place in autumn 2011. Pharmacists and dispensing assistants employed by the contracted pharmacy service provider may also have TUPE rights on transfer of services to the NHS.
","AnswerDate":"2010-08-20T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-08-31T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Kenny MacAskill","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":242133,"EventID":"S3W-35590","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2182,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":5,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2010-08-03T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-08-03T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether nurses and other health staff will be transferred from the Scottish Prison Service to NHS with the transfer of medical services in autumn 2011","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether nurses and other health staff will be transferred from the Scottish Prison Service to NHS with the transfer of medical services in autumn 2011","AnswerText":"I have asked John Ewing, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service, to respond. His response is as follows:
Prison healthcare staff in substantive posts will be transferring to the NHS as part of the National Programme for Prisoner Healthcare, scheduled to take place in autumn 2011.
","AnswerDate":"2010-08-20T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-08-31T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Kenny MacAskill","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":242134,"EventID":"S3W-35591","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2182,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":5,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2010-08-03T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-08-03T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what funding transfer has been agreed on the transfer of medical services from the Scottish Prison Service to the NHS for (a) Scotland and (b) each NHS board in autumn 20","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what funding transfer has been agreed on the transfer of medical services from the Scottish Prison Service to the NHS for (a) Scotland and (b) each NHS board in autumn 2011. ","AnswerText":"I have asked John Ewing, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service, to respond. His response is as follows:
It has been agreed, in principle, that all current funding for healthcare provision in Scottish prisons will be transferred to NHS boards as part of the National Programme for Prisoner Healthcare, scheduled to take place in autumn 2011. The allocation of this funding, to each NHS board, is currently being reviewed as part of the National Programmes'' Financial Workstream.
","AnswerDate":"2010-08-20T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-08-31T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Kenny MacAskill","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":242135,"EventID":"S3W-35592","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2182,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":5,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2010-08-03T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-08-03T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether the pharmacy budget will be transferred to the NHS from the Scottish Prison Service as part of the transfer of medical services in autumn 2011","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether the pharmacy budget will be transferred to the NHS from the Scottish Prison Service as part of the transfer of medical services in autumn 2011","AnswerText":"I have asked John Ewing, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service, to respond. His response is as follows:
Responsibility for pharmacy services and, with it, the pharmacy budget will be transferred from the Scottish Prison Service to NHS boards as part of the National Programme for Prisoner Healthcare, scheduled to take place in autumn 2011.
","AnswerDate":"2010-08-20T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-08-31T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Kenny MacAskill","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":242136,"EventID":"S3W-35593","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":3811,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":4,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2010-08-03T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-08-03T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-35085 by Stewart Stevenson on 26 July 2010, from what sources the money will come to finance the Borders railway line; what the exp","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-35085 by Stewart Stevenson on 26 July 2010, from what sources the money will come to finance the Borders railway line; what the expected rate of interest is on the borrowing; what recourse there will be to private finance; how much public money will be used, and from what sources.","AnswerText":"The successful Design, Build, Finance and Maintenance (DBFM) Contractor is required to obtain appropriate private finance to fund the activities of the DBFM Contract. The cost of capital will form part of each consortium''s bid, and therefore the expected cost of capital is commercially confidential. The DBFM contract is the principal source of finance for the project, and will be managed using Not for Profit Distributing principles. DBFM payments will be made by the Scottish Government over a thirty year period following the opening of the railway. In addition, the Scottish Government has spent to date £52 million on land purchase, advanced works and development costs. The City of Edinburgh, Midlothian and Scottish Borders Councils will also make a capped financial contribution worth in total £30 million. ","AnswerDate":"2010-09-01T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-08-31T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Stewart Stevenson","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":242137,"EventID":"S3W-35594","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":3811,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":4,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2010-08-03T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-08-03T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-35084 by Stewart Stevenson on 26 July 2010, what savings would be made if the final tranche of compulsory purchase orders for the B","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-35084 by Stewart Stevenson on 26 July 2010, what savings would be made if the final tranche of compulsory purchase orders for the Borders railway project were abandoned. ","AnswerText":"It is estimated that if the final tranche of compulsory purchase orders in relation to land/access rights required to maintain the Borders Railway were not served, savings would be in the region of £170,000 - £200,000. ","AnswerDate":"2010-09-01T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-08-31T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Stewart Stevenson","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":242138,"EventID":"S3W-35595","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":3811,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":4,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2010-08-03T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-08-03T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-34716 by Shona Robison on 16 July 2010, whether it can confirm that the City of Glasgow is the official host of the 2014 Commonweal","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-34716 by Shona Robison on 16 July 2010, whether it can confirm that the City of Glasgow is the official host of the 2014 Commonwealth Games.","AnswerText":"Glasgow is the official host city of the 2014 Commonwealth Games supported fully by the Scottish Government. ","AnswerDate":"2010-08-12T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-08-31T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Shona Robison","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":242139,"EventID":"S3W-35596","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":3811,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":4,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2010-08-03T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-08-03T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-34781 by Shona Robison on 16 July 2010, what request has been made regarding transport for the First Minister while in Delhi for th","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-34781 by Shona Robison on 16 July 2010, what request has been made regarding transport for the First Minister while in Delhi for the 2010 Commonwealth Games. ","AnswerText":"None. ","AnswerDate":"2010-08-24T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-08-31T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Shona Robison","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":242140,"EventID":"S3W-35597","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":3811,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":4,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2010-08-03T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-08-03T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-34733 by Jim Mather on 16 July 2010, for what reason the accountable officer for Homecoming Scotland 2009 is different to the accou","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-34733 by Jim Mather on 16 July 2010, for what reason the accountable officer for Homecoming Scotland 2009 is different to the accountable officer for The Gathering 2009. ","AnswerText":"The accountable officer reflects the different Scottish Government budget lines which supported Homecoming Scotland 2009 and The Gathering 2009. ","AnswerDate":"2010-08-26T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-08-31T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Jim Mather","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":242141,"EventID":"S3W-35599","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1866,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":30,"ApprovedDate":"2010-08-04T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-08-04T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-33962 by Roseanna Cunningham on 9 June 2010, what discussions it has had with the UK Government in relation to the consultation on ","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-33962 by Roseanna Cunningham on 9 June 2010, what discussions it has had with the UK Government in relation to the consultation on the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs’ (DEFRA) white paper, An invitation to shape the Nature of England.","AnswerText":"The UK Government has kept the Scottish Government informed of its proposals. The UK Government and the Scottish Government together with the Welsh Assembly Government and the Northern Ireland Executive are discussing options for a joint position statement on high-level principles for nature conservation. ","AnswerDate":"2010-08-31T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-09-01T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Roseanna Cunningham","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":242142,"EventID":"S3W-35600","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1866,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":30,"ApprovedDate":"2010-08-04T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-08-04T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-33962 by Roseanna Cunningham on 9 June 2010, whether any matter in the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs’ (DEFRA) ","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-33962 by Roseanna Cunningham on 9 June 2010, whether any matter in the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs’ (DEFRA) white paper, An invitation to shape the Nature of England, will affect Scotland.","AnswerText":"I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-35599 on 31 August 2010. The natural environment crosses national boundaries and An invitation to shape the Nature of England recognises that the UK Government and the Devolved Administrations will need to work together for a strong UK position in EU negotiations over environmental policy. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament''s website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/Apps2/Business/PQA/Default.aspx. ","AnswerDate":"2010-08-31T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-09-01T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Roseanna Cunningham","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":242143,"EventID":"S3W-35601","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1866,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":30,"ApprovedDate":"2010-08-04T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-08-04T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-33962 by Roseanna Cunningham on 9 June 2010, what plans it has to (a) consult stakeholders in Scotland in relation to and (b) respo","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-33962 by Roseanna Cunningham on 9 June 2010, what plans it has to (a) consult stakeholders in Scotland in relation to and (b) respond to the consultation on the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs’ (DEFRA) white paper, An invitation to shape the Nature of England.","AnswerText":"The Scottish Government will not be responding to or promoting the consultation. Stakeholders in Scotland are free to respond if they wish to do so. ","AnswerDate":"2010-08-31T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-09-01T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Roseanna Cunningham","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":242144,"EventID":"S3W-35602","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2188,"Party":"Scottish Green Party","RegionID":4,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2010-08-04T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-08-04T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will respond to the Department for Transport’s review of the Merchant Shipping (Ship-to-Ship Transfers) Regulations (SI 2010/1228).","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will respond to the Department for Transport’s review of the Merchant Shipping (Ship-to-Ship Transfers) Regulations (SI 2010/1228).","AnswerText":"Earlier this year I wrote to the UK Government, in response to the consultation on the draft Merchant Shipping (Ship-to-Ship Transfers) Regulations 2010, welcoming the proposals to make regulations covering the ship-to-ship transfer of oil cargoes within the United Kingdom''s internal waters and territorial seas.
I plan to respond to the recently announced review of the regulations, reiterating my support for regulations to control ship-to-ship transfers of oil as cargo. I also plan to seek reassurances that Scottish interests are taken into account in this review.
A copy of the Scottish Government''s response (Bib. number 51560) a copy of which will be placed in the Scottish Parliament Information Centre.
","AnswerDate":"2010-09-01T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-09-01T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Richard Lochhead","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":242145,"EventID":"S3W-35603","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":3806,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":3,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2010-08-04T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-08-04T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether an operator of last resort is identified in the new tendering document for running services on the Gourock to Dunoon ferry route in the event of default or failur","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether an operator of last resort is identified in the new tendering document for running services on the Gourock to Dunoon ferry route in the event of default or failure in the winning tender","AnswerText":" The tender documents for the Gourock to Dunoon ferry service have not yet been issued. It would therefore be inappropriate at this stage to comment on the content of these documents. ","AnswerDate":"2010-08-23T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-09-01T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Stewart Stevenson","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":242146,"EventID":"S3W-35604","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":3806,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":3,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2010-08-04T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-08-04T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive who the operator of last resort is for (a) Caledonian MacBrayne and (b) NorthLink ferry services.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive who the operator of last resort is for (a) Caledonian MacBrayne and (b) NorthLink ferry services.","AnswerText":" There is no operator of last resort in respect of these ferry services. ","AnswerDate":"2010-08-23T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-09-01T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Stewart Stevenson","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":242147,"EventID":"S3W-35605","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":3806,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":3,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2010-08-04T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-08-04T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive who the operator of last resort is for rail services.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive who the operator of last resort is for rail services.","AnswerText":"Section 30 of the Railways Act 1993 as amended makes the relevant franchising authority responsible for securing passenger rail services in the absence of a franchise. Scottish Ministers are the relevant franchising authority for the services provided under the ScotRail franchise agreement. The Secretary of State is the relevant franchising authority for any other franchise agreement. ","AnswerDate":"2010-09-01T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-09-01T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Stewart Stevenson","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":242148,"EventID":"S3W-35606","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":3806,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":3,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2010-08-04T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-08-04T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive who the operator of last resort is for air services that are provided under public service obligations.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive who the operator of last resort is for air services that are provided under public service obligations.","AnswerText":" There is no operator of last resort for air services provided under public service obligations (PSOs). In the case of any interruption of a PSO air service, a different community air carrier may be selected to operate the service for a period of up to seven months under Regulation (EC) No 1008/2008 on common rules for the operation of air services in the community. ","AnswerDate":"2010-08-23T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-09-01T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Stewart Stevenson","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":242149,"EventID":"S3W-35607","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":3806,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":3,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2010-08-04T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-08-04T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what contingency plans are in place in the event that the consortium that has been invited to bid for the Forth Crossing contract falls from two to one.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what contingency plans are in place in the event that the consortium that has been invited to bid for the Forth Crossing contract falls from two to one.","AnswerText":"In the event that only one bid was received, then subject to competition having been maintained, it would be considered on whether or not it represented value for money. ","AnswerDate":"2010-09-01T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-09-01T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Stewart Stevenson","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":242150,"EventID":"S3W-35608","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":3806,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":3,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2010-08-04T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-08-04T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what the estimated total cost is of the Forth Crossing project.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what the estimated total cost is of the Forth Crossing project.","AnswerText":"As I announced in the chamber on 10 December 2008, the estimated cost of the Forth Replacement crossing is £1.7 - £2.3 billion (total outturn costs in 2016). ","AnswerDate":"2010-09-01T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-09-01T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Stewart Stevenson","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":242151,"EventID":"S3W-35609","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2223,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":26,"ApprovedDate":"2010-08-04T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-08-04T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive when discussions between its officials and the Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA) to formalise the provision of advice by SEPA on wind farm developers’ carbon ","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive when discussions between its officials and the Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA) to formalise the provision of advice by SEPA on wind farm developers’ carbon impacts calculations will be concluded.","AnswerText":"Discussions are ongoing between the Scottish Government and SEPA as to SEPA''s role in validating information supplied by developers from their use of the carbon calculator in onshore wind farm planning applications under Section 36 of the Electricity Act (1989). ","AnswerDate":"2010-09-01T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-09-01T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Jim Mather","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":242152,"EventID":"S3W-35610","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2223,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":26,"ApprovedDate":"2010-08-04T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-08-04T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will provide the dates for the various stages of the research project, Carbon implications of Wind Farms located in peatlands – update of the web-based SG carb","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will provide the dates for the various stages of the research project, Carbon implications of Wind Farms located in peatlands – update of the web-based SG carbon calculator tool, including the (a) award of the contract to undertake the work, (b) completion of the research project, (c) publication of the results and (d) completion of any updating of the carbon calculator tool.","AnswerText":"The Scottish Government is currently evaluating tenders received for work to update the carbon calculator tool and hopes to award the contract in the next month. If this is the case, the research project should be completed before the end of the year and publication of results, along with updating of the tool, would take place in January 2011. ","AnswerDate":"2010-09-01T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-09-01T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Jim Mather","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":242153,"EventID":"S3W-35611","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2223,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":26,"ApprovedDate":"2010-08-04T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-08-04T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what areas of Scotland have been or are to be assessed under the goose policy review being undertaken by a consortium led by the British Trust for Ornithology Scotland.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what areas of Scotland have been or are to be assessed under the goose policy review being undertaken by a consortium led by the British Trust for Ornithology Scotland.","AnswerText":"The review is intended to make recommendations on the national goose policy framework. Therefore, the British Trust for Ornithology Scotland will assess the suitability of the goose policy framework across the whole of Scotland. ","AnswerDate":"2010-08-24T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-09-01T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Richard Lochhead","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":242154,"EventID":"S3W-35612","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":3129,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":2,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2010-08-04T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-08-04T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive how much it would have cost to keep Abdelbaset Ali Mohmed Al Megrahi under supervision (a) in a hospice and (b) at home since his release from prison.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive how much it would have cost to keep Abdelbaset Ali Mohmed Al Megrahi under supervision (a) in a hospice and (b) at home since his release from prison.","AnswerText":"Advice from Strathclyde police, at the time of Mr Al-Megrahi''s release, indicated that, if Mr Al Megrahi had been released to his home in Newton Mearns, the cost of maintaining the appropriate level of protection would have been in the region of £100,000 a week. This estimate does not include the additional protection costs which would have been incurred by trips to hospital or if his family had been residing in the home.
Had Mr Al Megrahi been released to a hospice, the expectation would be that the security costs would be at least at this level, and quite probably higher if a larger premises had to be secured.
Given that the variable cost of patient care (including accommodation costs and medical treatment which is patient specific) among hospices it has not been possible to determine accurately the additional costs that would have been incurred on these.
","AnswerDate":"2010-08-26T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-09-01T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Kenny MacAskill","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":242155,"EventID":"S3W-35613","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2345,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":56,"ApprovedDate":"2010-08-04T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-08-04T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive how many cloned (a) sheep and (b) cattle have entered the human food chain in Scotland.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive how many cloned (a) sheep and (b) cattle have entered the human food chain in Scotland.","AnswerText":"
(a) Sheep:
The Food Standards Agency (FSA) have advised me that there is no evidence of the current presence of any cloned sheep in the UK, nor the offspring of such animals.
They have also advised me that there is no evidence of meat from any cloned sheep, or the offspring of cloned sheep having entered the food chain in Scotland.
(b) Cattle:
The FSA have advised me that there is no evidence of the presence of any cloned cattle in the UK, only the offspring of such animals and that there is no evidence of meat from any cloned cattle having entered the food chain in Scotland.
They have also advised me that the meat from one bull, the offspring of a cloned cow, entered the food chain in Scotland in July 2009. The meat from this animal was supplied as part of a larger batch of meat from a number of animals to four butchers in Scotland and one in northern England.
","AnswerDate":"2010-09-01T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-09-01T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Richard Lochhead","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":242156,"EventID":"S3W-35614","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2345,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":56,"ApprovedDate":"2010-08-04T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-08-04T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether milk from cloned dairy cattle is entering the human food chain and, if so, whether authorisation is required for this.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether milk from cloned dairy cattle is entering the human food chain and, if so, whether authorisation is required for this.","AnswerText":"The Food Standards Agency (FSA) have advised me that there is no evidence of the presence of any cloned cattle in the UK, only the offspring of such animals, and that therefore no milk from cloned cattle has entered the food chain.
They have also advised me that they have received written assurance from all the farmers who have offspring of cloned cattle which are currently/or have been capable of producing milk, that no milk entered the food chain. Milk from these animals was disposed of in on farm slurry pits.
The FSA have advised me that their interpretation of the Novel Food Regulations is that milk from the offspring of cloned cattle, and any subsequent generations of offspring is covered by the regulations and would require authorisation before being placed on the market.
The FSA is reviewing its handling of the recent incident involving cloned cattle in order to learn lessons.
","AnswerDate":"2010-09-01T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-09-01T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Richard Lochhead","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":242157,"EventID":"S3W-35615","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2610,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":1,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2010-08-04T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-08-04T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will provide a breakdown of the nationality of the civil servants employed by it.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will provide a breakdown of the nationality of the civil servants employed by it.","AnswerText":"The following table provides a breakdown of the disclosed nationalities of the civil servants employed by the Scottish Government.
Nationality
Percentage of Employees
British
26%
English
4%
Irish
1%
Not Known/Refused to Say
11%
Other Commonwealth Nationals
0%
Other EU Nationals
1%
Other Nationalities
0%
Scottish
57%
Welsh
0%
All
100%
This covers all permanent and fixed-term appointment staff. Rounding means that three categories show 0%; all three categories contain between 0.2% and 0.3% of staff.
","AnswerDate":"2010-09-01T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-09-01T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"John Swinney","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":242158,"EventID":"S3W-35616","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2610,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":1,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2010-08-04T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-08-04T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive how many civil servants are directly employed by it.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive how many civil servants are directly employed by it.","AnswerText":"Data on the number of Core Scottish Government employees is available within the National Statistics publication Public Sector Employment in Scotland. This can be accessed via the Scottish Government website at the following address (table 8a and 8b):
","AnswerDate":"2010-09-01T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-09-01T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"John Swinney","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":242159,"EventID":"S3W-35617","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2610,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":1,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2010-08-04T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-08-04T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive how many civil servants who work in its directorates are employed by the UK Government.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive how many civil servants who work in its directorates are employed by the UK Government.","AnswerText":"Six civil servants who work in Scottish Government directorates are employed by the UK Government. One is on a secondment and the remaining five are on loan. ","AnswerDate":"2010-09-01T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-09-01T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"John Swinney","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":242160,"EventID":"S3W-35618","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2610,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":1,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2010-08-04T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-08-04T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive how many private property developers were awarded funding grants in 2008-09.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive how many private property developers were awarded funding grants in 2008-09.","AnswerText":"Under the Affordable Housing Investment Programme (AHIP) seven private developers received grant funding monies in 2008-09. ","AnswerDate":"2010-08-26T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-09-01T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Nicola Sturgeon","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":242161,"EventID":"S3W-35619","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":8,"MSPID":2610,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":1,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2010-08-04T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-08-04T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body what the estimated cost is of the 2010 Festival of Politics.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body what the estimated cost is of the 2010 Festival of Politics.","AnswerText":" The estimated direct cost to the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body for the 2010 Festival of Politics, once estimated income from ticket sales and sponsorship has been taken into account is between £40,000 and £45,000. Once approved by auditors, the total direct costs to the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body will be published. ","AnswerDate":"2010-08-26T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-09-01T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Tricia Marwick","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":242162,"EventID":"S3W-35620","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2610,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":1,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2010-08-04T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-08-04T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions have taken place with COSLA to ensure that indicators of poverty are included in single outcome agreements for (a) local authorities and (b) community pl","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions have taken place with COSLA to ensure that indicators of poverty are included in single outcome agreements for (a) local authorities and (b) community planning partnerships.","AnswerText":"Community Planning Partnerships choose indicators they deem appropriate for their local priority outcomes. These are established within the context of the National Performance Framework that sets out the Scottish Government''s approach to tackling poverty. ","AnswerDate":"2010-09-01T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-09-01T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"John Swinney","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":242163,"EventID":"S3W-35621","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2610,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":1,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2010-08-04T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-08-04T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether there are plans to review single outcome agreements with a view to ensuring that indicators of poverty are included in future planning.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether there are plans to review single outcome agreements with a view to ensuring that indicators of poverty are included in future planning.","AnswerText":"The National Performance Framework sets out the Scottish Government''s approach to tackling poverty and this provides the necessary framework within which single outcome agreements are set. ","AnswerDate":"2010-09-06T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-09-01T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"John Swinney","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":242164,"EventID":"S3W-35622","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2610,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":1,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2010-08-04T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-08-04T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what the average waiting time is for an appointment with a urology clinician in Lanarkshire.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what the average waiting time is for an appointment with a urology clinician in Lanarkshire.","AnswerText":"The median wait for a first outpatient consultation at a consultant-led urology clinic in NHS Lanarkshire was 27 days for the year ending 31 March 2010. ","AnswerDate":"2010-08-26T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-09-01T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Nicola Sturgeon","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":242165,"EventID":"S3W-35623","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2610,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":1,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2010-08-04T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-08-04T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what is being done to improve the timescale between a GP referral and assessment of a patient by a urology clinician.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what is being done to improve the timescale between a GP referral and assessment of a patient by a urology clinician.","AnswerText":"The Scottish Government Health Directorate''s Improvement Support Team are working with NHS boards across Scotland to redesign and transform services, including urology, as part of delivery of the 18 weeks referral to treatment target which is due to be delivered by end December 2011. The Scottish Governments has also made substantial resources of £230 million over the three years to 2010-11 to increase NHS capacity and ensure sustainable improvements in waiting times for the benefit of patients across Scotland including those requiring access to urology.
This has seen waiting times for first outpatient consultation reduce from 26 weeks at 31 March 2007 to 12 weeks at 31 March 2009. The 12 weeks waiting time for first outpatient consultation, including the speciality of urology, has effectively been delivered throughout 2009-10.
","AnswerDate":"2010-08-26T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-09-01T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Nicola Sturgeon","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":242166,"EventID":"S3W-35624","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2394,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":5,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2010-08-04T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-08-04T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether impact on the natural environment, including on birds of prey, is a material consideration when assessing applications for planning consent","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether impact on the natural environment, including on birds of prey, is a material consideration when assessing applications for planning consent","AnswerText":"Planning legislation requires decisions on planning applications to be made in accordance with the development plan unless material considerations indicate otherwise. It is in the first instance for the decision maker, and ultimately for the courts, to decide if a consideration is material to a particular application. ","AnswerDate":"2010-08-26T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-09-01T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Stewart Stevenson","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":242167,"EventID":"S3W-35625","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2394,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":5,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2010-08-04T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-08-04T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive how it considers the effects of ill-treatment of birds of prey when assessing applications for (a) wind farm developments and (b) any other types of development and what ","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive how it considers the effects of ill-treatment of birds of prey when assessing applications for (a) wind farm developments and (b) any other types of development and what the reason is for its position on this matter.","AnswerText":"Applications for planning and other development consent which come before ministers must be considered on their own merit, and are therefore considered on a case-by-case basis. ","AnswerDate":"2010-08-26T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-09-01T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Stewart Stevenson","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":242168,"EventID":"S3W-35626","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2394,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":5,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2010-08-04T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-08-04T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has provided, or intends to provide, advice to planning authorities on how they should take into account the effects of ill-treatment of birds of prey in asses","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has provided, or intends to provide, advice to planning authorities on how they should take into account the effects of ill-treatment of birds of prey in assessing applications for (a) wind farm development and (b) any other type of development and what the reason is for its position on this matter.","AnswerText":"The Scottish Government is unaware of any evidence of widespread or significant links between the systematic ill-treatment of birds of prey and applications for wind farm or other developments. Consequently, the government has no plans to issue such advice.ªªª ","AnswerDate":"2010-08-26T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-09-01T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Stewart Stevenson","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":242169,"EventID":"S3W-35627","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2394,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":5,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2010-08-04T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-08-04T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive, when considering applications for development consent, how it considers the possible implications of the development on birds of prey when their numbers are artificially","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive, when considering applications for development consent, how it considers the possible implications of the development on birds of prey when their numbers are artificially low as a result of ill-treatment and what the reason is for its position on this matter. ","AnswerText":"I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-35625 on 26 August 2010 All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament''s website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/Apps2/Business/PQA/Default.aspx. ","AnswerDate":"2010-08-26T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-09-01T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Stewart Stevenson","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":242170,"EventID":"S3W-35628","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2394,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":5,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2010-08-04T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-08-04T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether the absence of birds of prey from a development site as a result of ill-treatment would be a material consideration in determining applications for development co","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether the absence of birds of prey from a development site as a result of ill-treatment would be a material consideration in determining applications for development consent and what the reason is for its position on this matter.","AnswerText":"I refer the member to the answers to questions S3W-35624 and S3W-35625 on 26 August 2010. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament''s website, the search facility for which can be found at:
","AnswerDate":"2010-08-26T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-09-01T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Stewart Stevenson","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":242171,"EventID":"S3W-35629","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2394,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":5,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2010-08-04T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-08-04T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether evidence that disturbance to birds had taken place, thereby reducing the apparent importance of a site for birds, would be a material consideration in assessing a","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether evidence that disturbance to birds had taken place, thereby reducing the apparent importance of a site for birds, would be a material consideration in assessing applications for development consent and what the reason is for its position on this matter.","AnswerText":"I refer the member to the answers to questions S3W-35624 and S3W-35625 on 26 August 2010. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament''s website, the search facility for which can be found at:
","AnswerDate":"2010-08-26T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-09-01T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Stewart Stevenson","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":242172,"EventID":"S3W-35630","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2345,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":56,"ApprovedDate":"2010-08-05T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-08-05T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what estimates it has made of the additional cost to Scottish sheep farmers of electronic tagging of slaughter lambs compared with the cost in England and Wales.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what estimates it has made of the additional cost to Scottish sheep farmers of electronic tagging of slaughter lambs compared with the cost in England and Wales.","AnswerText":"It is extremely difficult to make any direct comparison between the cost in Scotland and the cost in England and Wales due to different ways in which EID has been implemented by the different administrations.
A full Regulatory Impact Assessment (RIA) was prepared by the Scottish Government as part of the public consultation and regulatory process that introduced the Sheep and Goat (Records, Identification and Movements) (Scotland) Order 2009 (the sheep EID Regulations). Full cost estimates of all implementation options for Scotland, including those associated with the slaughter derogation, are provided within the RIA.
The decision to electronically identify slaughter animals in Scotland was made in agreement with the majority of Scottish stakeholders as it provided a simple and efficient system for Scotland that maintained traditional market patterns. To assist with this decision I committed a further £1 million to the £3 million EID research pilot which all sheep farmers in Scotland can join as a partner farm and receive £0.40 per animal which can assist with the cost of electronic tags. This research pilot is unique within the UK.
","AnswerDate":"2010-08-24T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-09-02T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Richard Lochhead","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":242173,"EventID":"S3W-35631","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2876,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":8,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2010-08-05T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-08-05T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive when the Registrar General will publish his annual report for 2009.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive when the Registrar General will publish his annual report for 2009.","AnswerText":"Scotland''s Population 2009 is published today. The report contains information about births, deaths and marriages during the year, together with other demographic information. A copy of the report is available in the Scottish Parliament Information Centre (Bib. number 51130), or from the Registrar General''s website at www.gro-scotland.gov.uk. ","AnswerDate":"2010-08-06T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-09-02T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Jim Mather","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":242174,"EventID":"S3W-35632","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":3811,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":4,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2010-08-05T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-08-05T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-35088 by Keith Brown on 27 July 2010, whether it will consider asking the Scottish Funding Council to look at university and colleg","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-35088 by Keith Brown on 27 July 2010, whether it will consider asking the Scottish Funding Council to look at university and college mergers to help achieve savings.","AnswerText":"In ministerial guidance issued to the Scottish Funding Council on 25 February 2010 we asked the council to maintain its focus on making efficiencies. While the council has no powers to direct universities or colleges to merge, our guidance made clear that we expect the council to seek efficiencies in both its core funding for institutions and through strategic interventions. Where the council considers that the resources it distributes might deliver greater benefit through merged institutions, we would expect the council to engage appropriately with those institutions. ","AnswerDate":"2010-09-08T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-09-02T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Keith Brown","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":242175,"EventID":"S3W-35633","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":3811,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":4,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2010-08-05T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-08-05T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive which members of the Scottish Funding Council have experience in accountancy or allied professions.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive which members of the Scottish Funding Council have experience in accountancy or allied professions.","AnswerText":"Three of the present members of the Scottish Funding Council are qualified accountants. They are John McClelland (Chair), Ian Adam and Robin Crawford. ","AnswerDate":"2010-08-26T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-09-02T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Keith Brown","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":242176,"EventID":"S3W-35634","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":3811,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":4,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2010-08-05T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-08-05T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will ask the Office of the Scottish Charity Regulator to consider carrying out a public benefit appraisal of high-fee-charging healthcare charities.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will ask the Office of the Scottish Charity Regulator to consider carrying out a public benefit appraisal of high-fee-charging healthcare charities.","AnswerText":"This is a matter for the Office of the Scottish Charity Regulator (OSCR), a body operationally independent from Scottish ministers. ","AnswerDate":"2010-08-30T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-09-02T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Fergus Ewing","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":242177,"EventID":"S3W-35635","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":3811,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":4,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2010-08-05T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-08-05T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether Glasgow or Scotland is the official host of the 2014 Commonwealth Games.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether Glasgow or Scotland is the official host of the 2014 Commonwealth Games.","AnswerText":"I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-35595 on 12 August 2010. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament''s website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/Apps2/Business/PQA/Default.aspx. ","AnswerDate":"2010-08-12T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-09-02T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Shona Robison","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":242178,"EventID":"S3W-35636","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":3811,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":4,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2010-08-05T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-08-05T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-35093 by Jim Mather on 4 August 2010, with what potential investors the Scottish Investment Bank is in discussions.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-35093 by Jim Mather on 4 August 2010, with what potential investors the Scottish Investment Bank is in discussions.","AnswerText":"Commercial discussions with potential investors are on a commercially confidential basis and as such it would not be appropriate at this point to provide further details. The process of securing substantial private sector investment rightly requires careful consideration of a range of issues by all parties concerned and we are working hard to bring these discussions to a positive conclusion as soon as possible. ","AnswerDate":"2010-08-17T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-09-02T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Jim Mather","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":242179,"EventID":"S3W-35637","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":3811,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":4,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2010-08-05T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-08-05T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-35083 by Stewart Stevenson on 4 August 2010, whether it will list the consultancy services provided by (a) Weber Shandwick, (b) Ern","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-35083 by Stewart Stevenson on 4 August 2010, whether it will list the consultancy services provided by (a) Weber Shandwick, (b) Ernst and Young and (c) Dundas and Wilson.","AnswerText":"Major infrastructure projects by their nature require lengthy development periods and this often requires specialist external expertise to support the core Transport Scotland team''s work in delivering the project efficiently and effectively.
Weber Shandwick have supported the in-house Transport Scotland communications team by providing services such as design and production of procurement documents and corporate material such as exhibition stands. They were also involved in newsletter production and providing briefings for directly affected communities and wider stakeholders, along with the production of industry events and information to introduce the project to the contracting industry.
Ernst & Young provided the appropriate financial advice required to develop the procurement strategy, including financial modelling and commercial and strategic advice.
Dundas & Wilson have provided thorough and detailed legal advice to the project including contract drafting, and advice on appropriate risk allocation.
","AnswerDate":"2010-09-01T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-09-02T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Stewart Stevenson","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":242180,"EventID":"S3W-35638","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":3811,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":4,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2010-08-05T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-08-05T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-34712 by John Swinney on 4 August 2010, whether it will consider reducing the ministerial car pool as part of its cost-saving exerc","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-34712 by John Swinney on 4 August 2010, whether it will consider reducing the ministerial car pool as part of its cost-saving exercise.","AnswerText":"The Scottish Government will continue to look at all aspects of operation of the Government Car Service to ensure efficiency. ","AnswerDate":"2010-08-26T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-09-02T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"John Swinney","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":242181,"EventID":"S3W-35639","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2182,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":5,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2010-08-05T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-08-05T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what steps it is taking to examine the state of NHS websites and whether it has had access to the UK Department of Health’s digital communications review, circulated inte","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what steps it is taking to examine the state of NHS websites and whether it has had access to the UK Department of Health’s digital communications review, circulated internally in June 2010, and, if so, what action it will take to ensure that NHSScotland websites do not contain any deficiencies identified in the review.","AnswerText":"We have not had access to the Department of Health''s digital communications review and are therefore unable to comment on the contents.
NHS National Services Scotland (NSS) is currently reviewing the provision of web-based information within NHSScotland, looking specifically at those sites that are hosted within the Scottish Health On the Web (SHOW) website hosting service.
NHS boards are responsible for updating their own websites and ensuring that they are fit for purpose.
","AnswerDate":"2010-08-26T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-09-02T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Nicola Sturgeon","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":242182,"EventID":"S3W-35640","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2188,"Party":"Scottish Green Party","RegionID":4,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2010-08-06T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-08-06T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what its position is on elective home education.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what its position is on elective home education.","AnswerText":"The Scottish Government considers home education to be a key aspect of parental choice in determining how their children are educated. We recognise the legitimacy of that choice and that home educating parents make that choice in the best interests of their children.
In our statutory guidance on home education, as well as setting out the legislative framework, we offer advice on the roles and responsibilities of local authorities and home educating parents and encourage home educators and authorities to work together to develop trust, mutual respect and a positive relationship.
","AnswerDate":"2010-09-01T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-09-03T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Michael Russell","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":242183,"EventID":"S3W-35641","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2188,"Party":"Scottish Green Party","RegionID":4,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2010-08-06T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-08-06T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether it plans to review the statutory guidance on home education that was issued in 2008.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether it plans to review the statutory guidance on home education that was issued in 2008.","AnswerText":"The guidance has been well received by both local authorities and home educating organisations. We routinely keep all such guidance under regular review to ensure that it is accurate and up to date. However, we have no plans toreview or revise it in any significant way. ","AnswerDate":"2010-09-01T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-09-03T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Michael Russell","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":242184,"EventID":"S3W-35642","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2188,"Party":"Scottish Green Party","RegionID":4,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2010-08-06T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-08-06T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what steps it will take to remind local authorities that they should have regard to the statutory guidance on home education when formulating local policies and procedure","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what steps it will take to remind local authorities that they should have regard to the statutory guidance on home education when formulating local policies and procedures so that accurate information for parents and details of named contacts in relation to home education are included in council literature and easily accessible on council websites.","AnswerText":"Authorities should be well aware of this statutory guidance, section 5 of which focuses on the importance of good practice in terms of the provision of clear contact information. General reminders are perhaps less effective than more targeted ones in circumstances where it comes to our attention that practice may need to be improved. As a general principle we expect local authorities to be constructive, courteous and open when dealing with home educators as with all other individuals and groups. ","AnswerDate":"2010-09-01T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-09-03T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Michael Russell","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":242185,"EventID":"S3W-35643","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2029,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":71,"ApprovedDate":"2010-08-06T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-08-06T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether every prisoner would be considered for compassionate release in the event of a diagnosis of a terminal illness.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether every prisoner would be considered for compassionate release in the event of a diagnosis of a terminal illness.","AnswerText":"I have asked John Ewing, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service, to respond. His response is as follows:
I can confirm that all convicted prisoners irrespective of sentence length, or when they were sentenced, are eligible to be considered for early release on licence on compassionate grounds if diagnosed as suffering from a terminal illness and provided they fulfil the other required criteria.
","AnswerDate":"2010-08-23T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-09-03T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Kenny MacAskill","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":242186,"EventID":"S3W-35644","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":3538,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":13,"ApprovedDate":"2010-08-06T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-08-06T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what the average cost of reimbursement to transport operators is per kilometre travelled for journeys made by passengers eligible under the national free bus travel schem","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what the average cost of reimbursement to transport operators is per kilometre travelled for journeys made by passengers eligible under the national free bus travel scheme in each year since the scheme commenced.","AnswerText":" The reimbursement paid to bus operators under the scheme is based on the revenue foregone for each journey, i.e. the fare that would have been paid in the absence of the scheme. Although these fares derive from fare tables submitted by the bus operators, journey distance is not recorded, and as such it is not possible to report on the average cost per kilometre travelled. ","AnswerDate":"2010-08-23T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-09-03T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Stewart Stevenson","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":242187,"EventID":"S3W-35645","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1877,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":70,"ApprovedDate":"2010-08-06T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-08-06T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether there is formal monitoring of local authorities’ progress toward delivering the Scottish Government’s commitment on free school meals.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether there is formal monitoring of local authorities’ progress toward delivering the Scottish Government’s commitment on free school meals.","AnswerText":"Uptake of free school lunches by virtue of tax credit system is formally monitored through the annual School Meals in Scotland Survey. Results from the last one were published in June 2010 and can be accessed through the following link:
We do not have a single process planned for monitoring the P1 to P3 free school meal commitment. Councils have been invited to decide how best they will meet the additional targeted 20% progress towards this commitment. That progress may be achieved in a number of different ways as suits local circumstances. COSLA and the Scottish Government are currently working with local authorities to establish a suitable means of assessing authorities'' progress in this area in the context of their delivery across the package of commitments agreed with COSLA earlier this year, including progress on class sizes.
","AnswerDate":"2010-09-01T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-09-03T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Adam Ingram","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":242188,"EventID":"S3W-35646","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":3901,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":53,"ApprovedDate":"2010-08-06T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-08-06T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what the total cost was of the (a) recent Independent Budget Review Panel chaired by Crawford Beveridge and (b) Independent Budget Review Group chaired by Bill Howat and ","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what the total cost was of the (a) recent Independent Budget Review Panel chaired by Crawford Beveridge and (b) Independent Budget Review Group chaired by Bill Howat and how much was paid in (i) remuneration and (ii) expenses to the members of each.","AnswerText":"The estimated total cost of the Independent Budget Review Panel, chaired by Crawford W Beveridge CBE, which published its report on 29 July 2010, was as follows:
£
Members'' remuneration:
NIL
Members'' expenses:
approximately £2,000
Costs of design, printing, publication, launch and media support:
approximately £22,000
Total:
approximately £24,000
Note: final costs have yet to be processed, and the figures provided represent a best estimate as at the date of this answer.
The total cost of the Budget Review Group, chaired by Bill Howat, of which the report was released on 24 May 2007, was as follows:
£
Members'' remuneration:
£124,629.60
Members'' expenses:
£9,676.92
Costs of design, printing, publication, launch and media support:
NIL
Total cost:
£134,306.52
Note: No printing, publication or launch costs were incurred. The report of the Budget Review Group, completed in July 2006, was released following the change of administration in May 2007 as a web-only publication.
In the case of each review, all Scottish Government staff costs were met from within existing resources. Time incurred by Scottish Government staff in providing secretariat and technical support for each of the two review process was not separately quantified.
","AnswerDate":"2010-08-26T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-09-03T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"John Swinney","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":242189,"EventID":"S3W-35647","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1845,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":6,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2010-08-06T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-08-06T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive when it will review and update Scottish Intercollegiate Guidelines Network (SIGN) Guideline 71, Management of Osteoporosis.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive when it will review and update Scottish Intercollegiate Guidelines Network (SIGN) Guideline 71, Management of Osteoporosis.","AnswerText":"The Scottish Intercollegiate Guidelines Network (SIGN) is in the process of reviewing Guideline 71 on the management of osteoporosis. SIGN plans to publish the revised guideline in the summer of 2012. ","AnswerDate":"2010-08-26T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-09-03T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Shona Robison","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":242190,"EventID":"S3W-35648","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1754,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":5,"ApprovedDate":"2010-08-06T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-08-06T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-34738 by Shona Robison on 16 July 2010, what consideration has been given to the merits of using the enriched culture medium method","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-34738 by Shona Robison on 16 July 2010, what consideration has been given to the merits of using the enriched culture medium method for testing pregnant women for group B streptococcus carriage as compared with those of the standard swab/culture method used widely in the NHS.","AnswerText":"The UK National Screening Committee (UK NSC) has considered the evidence for screening based on the use of the Enriched Culture Medium (ECM) test to detect carriage of group B streptococcus (GBS) in pregnancy.
Health professionals are concerned that, whilst the ECM test''s detection rate appears to be very high, it cannot identify the very small number of women whose babies will be affected. This could lead to unnecessary anxiety and over prescribing of antibiotics during labour.
","AnswerDate":"2010-08-17T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-09-03T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Shona Robison","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":242191,"EventID":"S3W-35649","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1754,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":5,"ApprovedDate":"2010-08-06T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-08-06T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive how many (a) deaths and (b) group B streptococcal infections were recorded in neonates in each of the last three years, also broken down by rates per live birth.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive how many (a) deaths and (b) group B streptococcal infections were recorded in neonates in each of the last three years, also broken down by rates per live birth.","AnswerText":"(a) The number of neonatal deaths and rates per 1,000 live births are published annually by the General Register Office for Scotland (GROS) and can be accessed via the following link:
GROS have also confirmed the number of neonatal deaths for which group B streptococcus or group B streptococcal was mentioned on the death certificate to be as follows:
Year
Cause of Death
Underlying
Contributory
2007
1
1
2008
2
0
2009
2
2
(b) Health Protection Scotland (HPS) have confirmed the number of group B streptococcal infections recorded in neonates in each of the last three years, as detailed in the following table. HPS also advise that any apparent variation in data should be interpreted with caution, given improvements in the reporting of these infections over recent years.
Year
Number of Group B Streptococcal Infection Reports in Neonates
Rate per 1,000
Live Births
2007
148
2.6
2008
240
4.0
2009
322
5.5
","AnswerDate":"2010-09-01T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-09-03T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Shona Robison","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":242192,"EventID":"S3W-35650","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1768,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":25,"ApprovedDate":"2010-08-09T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-08-09T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether it issues guidance to NHS boards regarding the provision of bariatric surgery.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether it issues guidance to NHS boards regarding the provision of bariatric surgery.","AnswerText":"The Scottish Government''s role is to provide policies, frameworks and resources to NHS boards to enable clinicians and service planners to deliver high quality, safe and sustainable services to local communities. It is a matter for NHS boards to plan for and provide services to meet the assessed needs of their resident population, irrespective of age or clinical condition. This applies to management of obesity, including the provision of bariatric surgery.
Recent initiatives and reports issued to support NHS boards and clinicians to deliver effective care for overweight and obese adults and children include: Preventing Overweight and Obesity in Scotland: A Route Map Towards Healthy Weight; the SIGN guideline on Management of Obesity, and the national roll out of the Counterweight Programme approach to managing weight in primary care.
","AnswerDate":"2010-09-01T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-09-06T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Shona Robison","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":242193,"EventID":"S3W-35651","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1768,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":60,"ApprovedDate":"2010-08-09T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-08-09T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive how many (a) primary and (b) secondary schools in each local authority area have entrances opening onto roads with a speed limit of 60 mph.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive how many (a) primary and (b) secondary schools in each local authority area have entrances opening onto roads with a speed limit of 60 mph.","AnswerText":"The information requested is not held centrally. A request for the information has been made to local authorities. I will write to the member after the responses have been received and will arrange for a copy of the reply to be placed in the Scottish Parliament Information Centre (Bib. number 51608). ","AnswerDate":"2010-09-06T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-09-06T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Stewart Stevenson","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":242194,"EventID":"S3W-35652","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":4080,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":6,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2010-08-09T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-08-09T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what public events organised by Waste Aware Scotland have taken place in the last 12 months and what the (a) cost and (b) attendance was in each case.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what public events organised by Waste Aware Scotland have taken place in the last 12 months and what the (a) cost and (b) attendance was in each case.","AnswerText":"The following table lists the public events organised by Waste Aware Scotland from August 2009 to 29January 2010 when it became a part of Zero Waste Scotland. The tables includes costs and attendance or interactions at the events.
Event
Campaign
Dates
Interactions/
Attendance
Cost
Glasgow Buchanan Galleries stall, as part of European Week for Waste Reduction 2009
Furniture Reuse
12-13-14 September 2009
1,300
Free
Dundee Overgate shopping centre stall
Love Food Hate Waste
25November 2009
800
£544
Dundee University Accommodation Fayre
Furniture Reuse
22 January 2010
750
£288
Glasgow Braehead Shopping Centre stall
Furniture Reuse
23 January 2010
1,000
£100
Total:
3,850
£932
","AnswerDate":"2010-09-08T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-09-06T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Richard Lochhead","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":242195,"EventID":"S3W-35653","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":4080,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":6,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2010-08-09T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-08-09T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what public events organised by Zero Waste Scotland have taken place in the last six months and what the (a) cost and (b) attendance was in each case.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what public events organised by Zero Waste Scotland have taken place in the last six months and what the (a) cost and (b) attendance was in each case.","AnswerText":"The following table lists the events organised by Zero Waste Scotland in the last six months, including costs and attendance or interactions at the events.
Event
Campaign
Date
Interactions/
Attendance
Cost
Behaviour change for a More Sustainable Business (Edinburgh)
Business Resource Efficiency
16 February 2010
60
£4,400
Journey through Zero Waste (Aberdeen)
Business Resource Efficiency
18 February 2010
60
£1,400
Progressing your Environmental Management System (Glasgow)
Business Resource Efficiency
25 May 2010
68
£4,400
The True Cost of Water (Edinburgh)
Business Resource Efficiency
02 June 2010
56
£3,700
Behaviour Change for a More Sustainable Business (Dundee)
Business Resource Efficiency
22 June 2010
61
£4,800
Synergy Workshop (Cumbernauld)
Industrial symbiosis
23 June 2010
62
£1,630
Total
367
£20,330
","AnswerDate":"2010-09-08T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-09-06T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Richard Lochhead","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":242196,"EventID":"S3W-35654","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":4080,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":6,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2010-08-09T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-08-09T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether it considers that the public events organised by Waste Aware Scotland represent an effective means of public engagement.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether it considers that the public events organised by Waste Aware Scotland represent an effective means of public engagement.","AnswerText":"The Scottish Government considers the events organised by the former Waste Aware Scotland programme to have been an effective means of public engagement. ","AnswerDate":"2010-09-08T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-09-06T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Richard Lochhead","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":242197,"EventID":"S3W-35655","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":4080,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":6,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2010-08-09T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-08-09T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether it considers that the public events organised by Waste Aware Scotland represent good value for money.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether it considers that the public events organised by Waste Aware Scotland represent good value for money.","AnswerText":"The Scottish Government considers the public events organised by Waste Aware Scotland to have represented good value for money. ","AnswerDate":"2010-09-08T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-09-06T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Richard Lochhead","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":242198,"EventID":"S3W-35656","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":4080,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":6,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2010-08-09T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-08-09T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether it considers that the public events organised by Zero Waste Scotland represent an effective means of public engagement.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether it considers that the public events organised by Zero Waste Scotland represent an effective means of public engagement.","AnswerText":"The Scottish Government considers the events organised by Zero Waste Scotland (ZWS) to be both an effective means of public engagement and cost effective. ZWS includes elements of the former Waste Aware Scotland programme, and has built upon its successes. The ZWS programme also benefits from synergies between the work of Waste Aware Scotland and that of the other programmes unified under the ZWS banner. ","AnswerDate":"2010-09-08T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-09-06T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Richard Lochhead","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":242199,"EventID":"S3W-35657","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":4080,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":6,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2010-08-09T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-08-09T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether it considers that the public events organised by Zero Waste Scotland represent good value for money.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether it considers that the public events organised by Zero Waste Scotland represent good value for money.","AnswerText":"I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-35656 on 8 September 2010. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament''s website, the search facility for which can be found at:
","AnswerDate":"2010-09-08T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-09-06T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Richard Lochhead","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":242200,"EventID":"S3W-35658","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1862,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":37,"ApprovedDate":"2010-08-10T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-08-10T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive how many fires in private rented properties were the result of faults in electrical installations and products in 2009.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive how many fires in private rented properties were the result of faults in electrical installations and products in 2009.","AnswerText":" This information is not held centrally. The latest national statistics are contained in the Scottish Government Statistical Bulletin, Fire Statistics Scotland, 2007, which was published in August 2009. I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-35292 on 30 July 2010. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament''s website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/Apps2/Business/PQA/Default.aspx. ","AnswerDate":"2010-08-23T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-09-07T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Fergus Ewing","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":242201,"EventID":"S3W-35659","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2185,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":2,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2010-08-10T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-08-10T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive how many households foster for each local authority.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive how many households foster for each local authority.","AnswerText":"This information is not held centrally. ","AnswerDate":"2010-09-01T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-09-07T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Adam Ingram","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":242202,"EventID":"S3W-35660","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2185,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":2,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2010-08-10T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-08-10T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive how many children are in foster care organised by each local authority.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive how many children are in foster care organised by each local authority.","AnswerText":"The information requested is given in table number 3.3 of Children Looked After Statistics 2008-09 published by the Scottish Government on 24 February 2010, a copy of which is available in the Scottish Parliament Information Centre (Bib. number 50379). ","AnswerDate":"2010-09-01T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-09-07T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Adam Ingram","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":242203,"EventID":"S3W-35661","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2185,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":2,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2010-08-10T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-08-10T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive how many households foster for independent agencies, broken down by the local authority area of the household.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive how many households foster for independent agencies, broken down by the local authority area of the household.","AnswerText":"This information is not held centrally. ","AnswerDate":"2010-09-01T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-09-07T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Adam Ingram","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":242204,"EventID":"S3W-35662","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2185,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":2,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2010-08-10T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-08-10T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive how many children are in foster care organised by independent agencies, broken down by the local authority of origin of the child.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive how many children are in foster care organised by independent agencies, broken down by the local authority of origin of the child.","AnswerText":"The number of children with foster carers purchased by local authorities is given in table number 3.3 of Children Looked After Statistics 2008-09 published by the Scottish Government on 24 February 2010, a copy of which is available in the Scottish Parliament Information Centre (Bib. number 50379).
It is not possible however to identify whether these purchased foster care placements were with independent agencies from these figures (for example, a local authority may have purchased a foster care placement from another local authority but this cannot be identified from the collected statistics).
","AnswerDate":"2010-09-01T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-09-07T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Adam Ingram","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":242205,"EventID":"S3W-35663","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1853,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":16,"ApprovedDate":"2010-08-10T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-08-10T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive when its officials last discussed with representatives of Glasgow City Council the subject of support for pupils with English as an additional language and what the outco","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive when its officials last discussed with representatives of Glasgow City Council the subject of support for pupils with English as an additional language and what the outcome was of any such discussions.","AnswerText":"Scottish Government officials meet regularly with Glasgow City Council to discuss a wide range of issues. Officials have not met representatives specifically on the subject of pupils with English as an additional language, however, there is a meeting scheduled to take place on 13 October 2010, which will include a discussion on English as an additional language. ","AnswerDate":"2010-09-07T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-09-07T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Adam Ingram","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":242206,"EventID":"S3W-35664","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1853,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":16,"ApprovedDate":"2010-08-10T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-08-10T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive when ministers last discussed with representatives of Glasgow City Council the subject of support for pupils with English as an additional language and what the outcome w","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive when ministers last discussed with representatives of Glasgow City Council the subject of support for pupils with English as an additional language and what the outcome was of any such discussions.","AnswerText":"Scottish ministers meet regularly with Glasgow City Council to discuss a wide range of issues. While there have been no meetings specifically on the subject of English as an additional language, officials are due to meet representatives of Glasgow City Council on 13 October 2010, which will include discussion on English as an additional language. ","AnswerDate":"2010-09-07T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-09-07T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Adam Ingram","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":242207,"EventID":"S3W-35665","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1853,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":16,"ApprovedDate":"2010-08-10T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-08-10T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive when it will announce the outcome of the consultation on regulations to reduce P1 classes to a maximum of 25 pupils.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive when it will announce the outcome of the consultation on regulations to reduce P1 classes to a maximum of 25 pupils.","AnswerText":"Shortly. ","AnswerDate":"2010-09-07T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-09-07T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Michael Russell","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":242208,"EventID":"S3W-35666","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1853,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":16,"ApprovedDate":"2010-08-10T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-08-10T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether it plans to introduce a class size limit in Gaelic-medium schools that is lower than the limit in mainstream schools.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether it plans to introduce a class size limit in Gaelic-medium schools that is lower than the limit in mainstream schools.","AnswerText":"The Scottish Government recognises that the matter of the size of bilingual class is worthy of individual consideration and included a question about this in a recent wider ranging consultation exercise on class sizes. Responses to the consultation are currently under consideration and an announcement will be made shortly. ","AnswerDate":"2010-09-07T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-09-07T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Michael Russell","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":242209,"EventID":"S3W-35667","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1853,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":16,"ApprovedDate":"2010-08-10T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-08-10T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether it acknowledges additional responsibilities faced by teachers working in those schools in which a large number of pupils have English as an additional language an","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether it acknowledges additional responsibilities faced by teachers working in those schools in which a large number of pupils have English as an additional language and, if so, how it plans to recognise these.","AnswerText":"All teachers in Scotland are required to effectively identify and respond appropriately to pupils with difficulties in, or barriers to, learning and seek advice in relation to their child protection and additional support needs which may include English as an additional language. This is reflected in The Standard for Full Registration (the baseline professional standard which applies to all teachers registered with the General Teaching Council for Scotland).
Count Us In published September 2009, an HM Inspectorate of Education report into the educational experiences of New Scots, looked at the impact of the numbers of newly-arrived children and young people from migrant families on education services. The task involved a survey of all 32 local authorities and direct fieldwork with 12 local authorities and identified areas of particular challenge and examples of good practice.
Learning in 2+ :languages was produced by SEALCC and the Centre for Education of Racial Equality in Scotland (CERES) to help all staff in educational establishments better to understand the strengths and development needs of bilingual learners and to address them more effectively within the mainstream classroom.
","AnswerDate":"2010-09-07T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-09-07T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Adam Ingram","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":242210,"EventID":"S3W-35668","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1853,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":16,"ApprovedDate":"2010-08-10T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-08-10T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether any future regulations regarding primary class sizes will recognise additional responsibilities faced by teachers working in those schools in which a large number","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether any future regulations regarding primary class sizes will recognise additional responsibilities faced by teachers working in those schools in which a large number of pupils have English as an additional language.","AnswerText":"While the issue of English as an additional language was not part of the recent consultation on whether regulations should be introduced to set a statutory maximum of 25 for P1 classes it was raised by some respondents. The Scottish Government is currently considering all the responses to the consultation exercise and an announcement will be made shortly. ","AnswerDate":"2010-09-07T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-09-07T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Michael Russell","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":242211,"EventID":"S3W-35669","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2651,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":41,"ApprovedDate":"2010-08-10T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-08-10T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive how many (a) drug and (b) alcohol-related accident and emergency admissions there were at (i) Queen Margaret Hospital in Dunfermline and (ii) Victoria Hospital in Kirkcal","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive how many (a) drug and (b) alcohol-related accident and emergency admissions there were at (i) Queen Margaret Hospital in Dunfermline and (ii) Victoria Hospital in Kirkcaldy in each of the last five years.","AnswerText":"It is not possible from centrally held information to identify patients that were admitted to hospital after first attending an accident and emergency department.
Information on discharges from acute non-obstetric, non-psychiatric hospitals is available from the Scottish Morbidity Record, SMR01.
","AnswerDate":"2010-09-06T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-09-07T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Shona Robison","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":242212,"EventID":"S3W-35670","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2651,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":41,"ApprovedDate":"2010-08-10T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-08-10T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what percentage of (a) drug and (b) alcohol-related accident and emergency admissions at (i) Queen Margaret Hospital in Dunfermline and (b) Victoria Hospital in Kirkcaldy","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what percentage of (a) drug and (b) alcohol-related accident and emergency admissions at (i) Queen Margaret Hospital in Dunfermline and (b) Victoria Hospital in Kirkcaldy represented repeat admissions in each of the last five years.","AnswerText":"I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-35669 on 6 September 2010. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament''s website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/Apps2/Business/PQA/Default.aspx. ","AnswerDate":"2010-09-07T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-09-07T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Shona Robison","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":242213,"EventID":"S3W-35671","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2651,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":41,"ApprovedDate":"2010-08-10T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-08-10T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive how many patients aged (a) under 16, (b) 16 to 24, (c) 25 to 39, (d) 40 to 59 and (e) 60 and over attended accident and emergency departments at (i) Queen Margaret Hospit","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive how many patients aged (a) under 16, (b) 16 to 24, (c) 25 to 39, (d) 40 to 59 and (e) 60 and over attended accident and emergency departments at (i) Queen Margaret Hospital in Dunfermline and (ii) Victoria Hospital in Kirkcaldy in each of the last five years.","AnswerText":"It is not possible to provide centrally collected accident and emergency attendance data for specific age groups in each of the last five years. Detailed information has been collected since July 2007, however, patient age information for NHS Fife locations commenced in June 2009 and is known to be incomplete.
The total numbers of accident and emergency attendances for the period 1June 2009 to 31March 2010 for Queen Margaret Hospital, Dunfermline and Victoria Hospital, Kirkcaldy are given in the following table. The numbers in each age group (for those records where age can be determined) are also provided.
Number of Accident and Emergency Attendances1 by Age Group “ 1 June 2009 to 31 March 2010
Victoria Hospital, Kirkcaldy
Queen Margaret Hospital, Dunfermline
Total Attendances
34,693
33,319
Attendances Where Age Can Be Determined
23,603
22,534
Under 16s
5,257
4,037
16 to 24 Years
3,807
3,497
25 to 39 Years
4,650
4,470
40 to 59 Years
5,363
5,316
60 Plus
4,526
5,214
Note:
1. Includes new, planned return and unplanned return attendances.
Source: ISD A&E Datamart
","AnswerDate":"2010-09-01T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-09-07T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Nicola Sturgeon","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":242214,"EventID":"S3W-35672","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2651,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":41,"ApprovedDate":"2010-08-10T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-08-10T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive how many patients attended accident and emergency departments at (a) Queen Margaret Hospital in Dunfermline and (b) Victoria Hospital in Kirkcaldy (i) on weekdays and (ii","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive how many patients attended accident and emergency departments at (a) Queen Margaret Hospital in Dunfermline and (b) Victoria Hospital in Kirkcaldy (i) on weekdays and (ii) at the weekend in each of the last five years.","AnswerText":"It is not possible to provide centrally collected accident and emergency attendance data for specific days over the last five years as the collection of detailed accident and emergency information commenced in July 2007. The numbers of accident and emergency attendances for each financial year from 2007-08 to 2009-10 for Queen Margaret Hospital, Dunfermline and Victoria Hospital, Kirkcaldy are given in the following table, split by weekday and weekend attendances.
Number of Accident and Emergency Attendances1 by Financial Year
Victoria Hospital, Kirkcaldy
Queen Margaret Hospital, Dunfermline
Year
Weekdays
Weekends
Weekdays
Weekends
00:00 Monday to 23:59 Friday
00:00 Saturday to 23:59 Sunday
12:00 Monday to 23:59 Friday
00:00 Saturday to 23:59 Sunday
2007-082
31769
12935
29520
11335
2008-09
30519
12687
27889
11359
2009-10
29678
12370
28478
11822
Notes:
1. Includes new, planned return and unplanned return attendances.
2. Includes pro-rata estimates for the period 01 April 2007 to 30 June 2007.
Source: ISD A&E Datamart
Limited data prior to July 2007 on the number of attendances per month at each hospital is available centrally but this cannot be broken down into week days and weekends. The early data is published on ISD Scotland''s Acute Activity website at:
http://www.isdscotland.org/isd/4156.html.
","AnswerDate":"2010-09-01T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-09-07T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Nicola Sturgeon","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":242215,"EventID":"S3W-35673","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2182,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":5,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2010-08-10T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-08-10T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what rights patients have to access medicines approved by the Scottish Medicines Consortium and whether any rights will be embodied in the Patient Rights (Scotland) Bill.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what rights patients have to access medicines approved by the Scottish Medicines Consortium and whether any rights will be embodied in the Patient Rights (Scotland) Bill.","AnswerText":"The Scottish Medicines Consortium (SMC) assesses newly licensed medicines for clinical and cost-effectiveness and provides advice to NHS Boards. Where the SMC has accepted a newly licensed medicine, NHS boards are expected to make it (or its equivalent) available in accordance with the clinical needs of patients.
The majority of medicines reviewed by the SMC are medicines for conditions where alternative treatments already exist. Whilst NHS boards are expected to follow SMC advice, the implementation of these SMC accepted medicines is subject to local NHS board decision.
There is the facility for the SMC to designate an innovative medicine for a condition where there are no other treatment options as unique. In the event that a unique medicine was accepted by SMC, NHS boards would be required to introduce it to an agreed national programme.
Guidance setting out the policy framework with regard to the introduction and availability of newly licensed medicines in the NHS in Scotland was issued to NHS boards on 17 May 2010. A link to the guidance is attached:
The Patients Rights Bill will not embody a right to access a certain treatment or medicine. The bill deals with general principles about how healthcare should be delivered. It does not give rights to specific treatments or medicines, or for specific conditions.
","AnswerDate":"2010-09-01T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-09-07T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Shona Robison","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":242216,"EventID":"S3W-35674","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2182,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":5,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2010-08-10T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-08-10T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what role the Patient Rights Officers proposed in the Patient Rights (Scotland) Bill will have in cases where compensation is being sought.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what role the Patient Rights Officers proposed in the Patient Rights (Scotland) Bill will have in cases where compensation is being sought.","AnswerText":"The role of Patient Rights Officers as set out in provision 16 of the Patient Rights (Scotland) Bill includes providing advice and support to individuals to make a complaint under the NHS Complaints procedure. Patient Rights Officers will not be involved with claims by patients for financial compensation. They will have no role in cases where compensation is being sought other than perhaps to offer signposting advice. ","AnswerDate":"2010-08-31T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-09-07T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Nicola Sturgeon","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":242217,"EventID":"S3W-35675","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2182,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":5,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2010-08-10T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-08-10T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive who will act as an advocate for vulnerable and other patients in relation to any complaints made under the Patient Rights (Scotland) Bill.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive who will act as an advocate for vulnerable and other patients in relation to any complaints made under the Patient Rights (Scotland) Bill.","AnswerText":"I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-35684 on 31 August 2010. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament''s website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/Apps2/Business/PQA/Default.aspx. ","AnswerDate":"2010-08-31T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-09-07T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Nicola Sturgeon","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":242218,"EventID":"S3W-35676","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2182,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":5,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2010-08-10T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-08-10T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive how the Patient Rights Officers proposed in the Patient Rights (Scotland) Bill will (a) differ from the present complaints system and (b) be independent of the NHS board ","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive how the Patient Rights Officers proposed in the Patient Rights (Scotland) Bill will (a) differ from the present complaints system and (b) be independent of the NHS board about which a complaint is being made.","AnswerText":"Patient Rights Officers (PROs) will deliver the functions of the Patient Advice and Support Service (PASS) set out in the Patient Rights (Scotland) Bill at provision 15(2).
The Common Services Agency (CSA) will secure the provision of the PASS, which will not be provided by either a health board, special health board or the CSA.
The PASS will operate independently of NHS boards and NHS Complaints Officers and will provide advice and support in relation to patient rights. PASS will not investigate complaints but will provide advice and support to people who want to make a complaint about the healthcare they have received. PASS will also provide advice in relation to other support services such as advocacy.
","AnswerDate":"2010-08-31T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-09-07T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Nicola Sturgeon","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":242219,"EventID":"S3W-35677","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2182,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":5,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2010-08-10T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-08-10T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive how many staff in each NHS board are employed to deal with complaints and how much this costs.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive how many staff in each NHS board are employed to deal with complaints and how much this costs.","AnswerText":"The information requested is not held centrally. ","AnswerDate":"2010-08-26T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-09-07T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Nicola Sturgeon","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":242220,"EventID":"S3W-35678","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2182,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":5,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2010-08-10T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-08-10T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what services are not proposed to be part of the 12-week guaranteed maximum waiting time contained in the Patient Rights (Scotland) Bill; what guarantees will be for a sh","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what services are not proposed to be part of the 12-week guaranteed maximum waiting time contained in the Patient Rights (Scotland) Bill; what guarantees will be for a shorter period than 12 weeks, and for what provisions.","AnswerText":"The Patient Rights (Scotland) Bill was introduced to the Scottish Parliament on 17 March 2010. The policy content of the bill is set out in the Policy Memorandum. The bill is now going through the parliamentary process and the final shape of the bill will be a matter for Parliament.
The current waiting time standards and targets which are less than 12 weeks are access to the GP practice team, key diagnostic tests, cancer, accident and emergency, drug rehabilitation. The Scottish Government expects NHS boards to deliver on these standards and targets as well as implementing recommendations on access contained in clinical guidelines.
","AnswerDate":"2010-09-03T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-09-07T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Nicola Sturgeon","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":242221,"EventID":"S3W-35679","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2182,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":5,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2010-08-10T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-08-10T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether, under the Patient Rights (Scotland) Bill, it will retain a waiting time guarantee for diagnostic procedures as at present or have a specific guarantee included u","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether, under the Patient Rights (Scotland) Bill, it will retain a waiting time guarantee for diagnostic procedures as at present or have a specific guarantee included under the overall referral to treatment guarantee.","AnswerText":"The Patient Rights (Scotland) Bill was introduced to the Scottish Parliament on 17 March 2010. The policy content of the bill is set out in the Policy Memorandum. The bill is now going through the parliamentary process and the final shape of the bill will be a matter for Parliament.
The current waiting time standard of six weeks for key diagnostic tests is a milestone target towards delivery of the 18 weeks referral to treatment target. Recently published waiting time statistics for 30 June 2010, showed that NHSScotland effectively delivered a four week wait for the key diagnostic tests.
It is intended that by late Spring next year to publish data showing NHSScotland''s performance against the 18 weeks referral to treatment time target. We will however continue to publish stage of treatment waiting times, including waits for key diagnostic tests to ensure that all patients are accessing these services quickly.
","AnswerDate":"2010-09-03T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-09-07T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Nicola Sturgeon","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":242222,"EventID":"S3W-35680","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2182,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":5,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2010-08-10T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-08-10T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what rights patients have in respect of (a) waiting time for a diagnostic CT scan, (b) waiting time for thrombolysis and (c) admission within 24 hours to a specific unit ","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what rights patients have in respect of (a) waiting time for a diagnostic CT scan, (b) waiting time for thrombolysis and (c) admission within 24 hours to a specific unit for stroke treatment and rehabilitation.","AnswerText":"The national waiting time standard for a CT scan is six weeks. This is a maximum waiting time. Latest waiting time statistics published on 31 August showed that no patient had waited more than four weeks for a CT scan.
Most stroke patients will require to be admitted to hospital immediately and will not wait for the start of their treatment. Stroke is a clinical priority for NHSScotland. NHS Quality Improvement Scotland (NHS QIS) has published updated clinical standards for stroke which include standards for access to a specialist stroke unit, CT scanning and the administration of thrombolysis. We expect NHS boards to implement the stroke standards with a view to improving the standard of stroke care for all patients.
The National Advisory Committee for Stroke (NACS) will continue to closely monitor NHS boards'' performance with implementing stroke standards through the Scottish Stroke Care Audit and will draw boards'' attention to those aspects of services where good progress has been made and those where improvements are required.
","AnswerDate":"2010-09-01T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-09-07T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Nicola Sturgeon","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":242223,"EventID":"S3W-35681","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2182,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":5,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2010-08-10T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-08-10T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive how the Patient Rights (Scotland) Bill differs from the patients’ charter in respect of the provision of compensation.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive how the Patient Rights (Scotland) Bill differs from the patients’ charter in respect of the provision of compensation.","AnswerText":"The Patient Rights (Scotland) Bill was introduced to the Scottish Parliament on 17 March 2010. The policy content of the bill is set out in the Policy Memorandum. The bill is now going through the parliamentary process and the final shape of the bill will be a matter for Parliament. ","AnswerDate":"2010-09-03T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-09-07T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Nicola Sturgeon","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":242224,"EventID":"S3W-35682","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2182,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":5,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2010-08-10T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-08-10T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what rights will be given to children under the Patient Rights (Scotland) Bill and whether they will be given a guarantee of access to appropriate education if they are a","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what rights will be given to children under the Patient Rights (Scotland) Bill and whether they will be given a guarantee of access to appropriate education if they are an inpatient for a specific length of time.","AnswerText":"The Patient Rights (Scotland) Bill was introduced to the Scottish Parliament on 17 March 2010. The policy content of the Bill is set out in the Policy Memorandum. The bill is now going through the parliamentary process and the final shape of the bill will be a matter for Parliament. ","AnswerDate":"2010-09-03T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-09-07T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Nicola Sturgeon","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":242225,"EventID":"S3W-35683","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2182,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":5,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2010-08-10T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-08-10T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what consultation it carried out with children and young people regarding the Patient Rights (Scotland) Bill.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what consultation it carried out with children and young people regarding the Patient Rights (Scotland) Bill.","AnswerText":"A written consultation about proposals for a patient rights bill ran from September 2008 to January 2009. Several written responses were received from organisations working with children and young people, including Scotland''s Commissioner for Children and Young People, Action for Sick Children (Scotland) and Children in Scotland. In addition, a children and young people''s focus group was held on 25 November 2008. There were 11 participants, with an age range between 11 and 17 years. Further consideration about the Bill and how it might impact on children and young people can be found in the Equality Impact Assessment at:
Prior to the launch of the consultation, I also met with a group of young people who were patients at Yorkhill Children''s Hospital. I discussed with them how they have been involved in influencing health services and discussed patients'' rights and the consultation, and encouraged their input into the consultation process.
Since the Patient Rights (Scotland) Bill has been introduced, the Scottish Executive has met with representatives from organisations working with children and young people to discuss the implementation of the Bill and how this can be done in ways that meet the needs of children and young people. Officials will also shortly be meeting with the office of Scotland''s Commissioner for Children and Young People to discuss similar issues.
","AnswerDate":"2010-09-01T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-09-07T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Nicola Sturgeon","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":242226,"EventID":"S3W-35684","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2182,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":5,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2010-08-10T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-08-10T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what advocacy service is proposed for young people to ensure that their rights are protected under the Patient Rights (Scotland) Bill.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what advocacy service is proposed for young people to ensure that their rights are protected under the Patient Rights (Scotland) Bill.","AnswerText":"The provision in the Patient Rights (Scotland) Bill at 16(d) (ii) states that a function of the Patient Rights Officers is to direct people ˜to persons providing representation or advocacy services'' and this applies to all patients, irrespective of age. The Explanatory Notes, which accompanied the bill, explain that new funding will be made available to cover the potential impact of this provision.
NHS boards, working with partner organisations, should provide access to independent advocacy services to all users of NHS services (including the NHS complaints process) who need this support. The Scottish Independent Advocacy Alliance (SIAA) will work with NHS boards during 2010-11 to undertake a needs assessment and develop advocacy plans to ensure that any gaps in provision are addressed. The Principles and Standards for Independent Advocacy produced by the SIAA identifies the special considerations needed in relation to the provision of advocacy services for children and young people.
Advocacy Makes You Feel Brave: Advocacy support for children and young people in Scotland commissioned by the Scottish Executive was published in January 2010. The report makes a number of recommendations and dedicated work with relevant stakeholders is being forward on this.
The Mental Health (Care and Treatment) (Scotland) Act 2003 provides for everyone, including young people, with a mental disorder in Scotland “ not just those who are subject to compulsory measures “ to have a right of access to independent advocacy.
","AnswerDate":"2010-08-31T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-09-07T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Nicola Sturgeon","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":242227,"EventID":"S3W-35685","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2182,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":5,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2010-08-10T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-08-10T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether the Patient Rights (Scotland) Bill will ensure that every patient for whom an insulin pump is deemed appropriate will receive it as well as education and support ","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether the Patient Rights (Scotland) Bill will ensure that every patient for whom an insulin pump is deemed appropriate will receive it as well as education and support for its effective use.","AnswerText":"The Patient Rights (Scotland) Bill was introduced to the Scottish Parliament on 17 March 2010. The policy content of the Bill is set out in the Policy Memorandum. The bill is now going through the parliamentary process and the final shape of the bill will be a matter for Parliament. ","AnswerDate":"2010-09-03T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-09-07T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Nicola Sturgeon","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":242228,"EventID":"S3W-35686","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2202,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":8,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2010-08-11T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-08-11T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what action it is taking to improve early identification of individuals with atrial fibrillation.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what action it is taking to improve early identification of individuals with atrial fibrillation.","AnswerText":"GPs are incentivised to improve the quality of healthcare through the Quality and Outcomes Framework (QOF) which was introduced as part of the General Medical Services contract in 2004. Atrial fibrillation is one of the disease areas contained in the clinical domain of the QOF. ","AnswerDate":"2010-08-18T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-09-08T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Nicola Sturgeon","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":242229,"EventID":"S3W-35687","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2202,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":8,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2010-08-11T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-08-11T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether preventative initiatives, such as the Keep Well programme and the new heart MOT health check, include pulse checks to identify people with atrial fibrillation.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether preventative initiatives, such as the Keep Well programme and the new heart MOT health check, include pulse checks to identify people with atrial fibrillation.","AnswerText":"The health checks delivered under the Keep Well anticipatory care programme may include pulse checks which would identify atrial fibrillation and other arrhythmias, but this is not undertaken in all cases. When detected, appropriate follow-up and treatment are arranged.
The content of the new heart MOT health check is still to be agreed.
","AnswerDate":"2010-09-01T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-09-08T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Shona Robison","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":242230,"EventID":"S3W-35688","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1768,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":60,"ApprovedDate":"2010-08-11T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-08-11T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive how many Sites of Special Scientific Interest have been (a) notified and (b) denotified for biological features and what the cumulative total area of notified land has be","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive how many Sites of Special Scientific Interest have been (a) notified and (b) denotified for biological features and what the cumulative total area of notified land has been in each year since 2000.","AnswerText":"There are 1,135 Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSIs) in Scotland where the list of notified features include biological features. To date four SSSIs have been completely denotified.
Year
Total Number of New SSSI
Cumulative Total Area (Ha) of SSSIs
Total Number of Denotified SSSIs
Including Partial Denotification
Total Area of Denotified SSSI
2000
15
911,014
0
0
2001
10
970,629
0
0
2002
2
970,716
0
0
2003
1
970,799
0
0
2004
0
970,799
0
0
2005
1
979,742
0
0
2006
3
996,946
0
0
2007
2
1,002,092
0
0
2008
1
1,002,717
1
2
2009
0
1,002,270
2
447
","AnswerDate":"2010-09-06T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-09-08T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Richard Lochhead","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":242231,"EventID":"S3W-35689","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1831,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":6,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2010-08-11T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-08-11T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what (a) annual average number and (b) percentage of people in Dundee has claimed unemployment-related benefits in each of the last three years for which information is a","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what (a) annual average number and (b) percentage of people in Dundee has claimed unemployment-related benefits in each of the last three years for which information is available.","AnswerText":"The claimant count is a measure of those claiming unemployment related benefits in Scotland. Table 1 gives the number and proportion of people claiming unemployment related benefits in Dundee City for those aged 16-64 in 2007-09.
Table 1: Claimant Count Levels and Rates for those aged 16-64, Dundee City, 2007-09
Level
Rate (%)
2007
3,489
3.8
2008
3,481
3.7
2009
4,738
5.0
Source: Office for National Statistics
","AnswerDate":"2010-09-06T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-09-08T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"John Swinney","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":242232,"EventID":"S3W-35690","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1831,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":6,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2010-08-11T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-08-11T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what the annual average number of people in Dundee claiming unemployment-related benefits has been in each of the last three years for which information is available, bro","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what the annual average number of people in Dundee claiming unemployment-related benefits has been in each of the last three years for which information is available, broken down by (a) age group and (b) duration of unemployment. ","AnswerText":"The claimant count is a measure of those claiming unemployment related benefits in Scotland. Table 1 gives the claimant count for Dundee City, broken down by age and table 2 gives the claimant count for Dundee City, broken down by duration of claim.
Table 1: Claimant Count in Dundee City Council by age, Annual Average 2007-09
18 to 24
25 to 49
50+
2007
990
1,830
550
2008
1,015
1,875
490
2009
1,410
2,570
670
Note: Levels have been rounded to the nearest five.
Source: Office for National Statistics.
Table 2: Claimant Count in Dundee City Council by duration, Annual Average 2007-09
Claiming for up to 6 Months
Claiming for More than 6 Months and up to 12 Months
Claiming for More than 12 Months
2007
2,290
630
565
2008
2,490
590
400
2009
3,240
975
525
Note: Levels have been rounded to the nearest five.
Source: Office for National Statistics
","AnswerDate":"2010-09-06T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-09-08T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"John Swinney","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":242233,"EventID":"S3W-35691","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1831,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":6,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2010-08-11T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-08-11T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive how many people were claiming unemployment-related benefits in each Dundee City Council ward at the most recent date for which information is available, broken down by ge","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive how many people were claiming unemployment-related benefits in each Dundee City Council ward at the most recent date for which information is available, broken down by gender. ","AnswerText":"The claimant count is a measure of those claiming unemployment related benefits. Claimant counts are not yet available for the new wards as used in the 2007 Scottish Parliamentary Elections. However, data is available for the 2003 Census Area Statistics (CAS) wards. Table 1 contains claimant counts for each ward within Dundee City.
Table 1: Claimant Count in Each Dundee City Council Ward by Gender, July 2010
Male
Female
All People
Dundee City Council
3,728
1,366
5,094
Ardler
106
46
152
Balgay
90
35
125
Balgillo
69
18
87
Balgowan
144
48
192
Barnhill
38
20
58
Baxter Park
142
50
192
Bowbridge
166
46
212
Brackens
128
46
174
Broughty Ferry
48
20
68
Camperdown
177
73
<","AnswerDate":"2010-09-06T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-09-08T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"John Swinney","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":242234,"EventID":"S3W-35692","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1831,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":6,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2010-08-11T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-08-11T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what total amount of Regional Selective Assistance has been given to indigenous firms in Dundee in each of the last four years for which information is available.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what total amount of Regional Selective Assistance has been given to indigenous firms in Dundee in each of the last four years for which information is available.","AnswerText":"The Scottish Executive has, since April 2002, routinely published information on Regional Selective Assistance (RSA). Scottish Enterprise assumed operational responsibility for making new offers of RSA from 1 October 2009 and continues to publish information on new RSA offers. Information on accepted offers, payments and recoveries can be found in the report section of the Scottish Business Grants website at http://www.scottishbusinessgrants.gov.uk/rsa/208.html. ","AnswerDate":"2010-09-01T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-09-08T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Jim Mather","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":242235,"EventID":"S3W-35693","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1831,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":6,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2010-08-11T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-08-11T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what the average value has been of offers of Regional Selective Assistance to indigenous firms in Dundee in each of the last four years for which information is available","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what the average value has been of offers of Regional Selective Assistance to indigenous firms in Dundee in each of the last four years for which information is available.","AnswerText":"The average value of Regional Selective Assistance (RSA) offers made by the Scottish Executive, during the last four full years in which it operated the RSA scheme, to indigenous firms in Dundee is as follows:
Year
Amount
2008-09
£159,000
2007-08
£350,333
2006-07
£442,143
2005-06
£143,250
From 1 October 2009 Scottish Enterprise assumed responsibility for making new offers of RSA. Information on RSA can be found on the Scottish Business Grants website at:
","AnswerDate":"2010-09-01T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-09-08T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Jim Mather","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":242236,"EventID":"S3W-35694","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1831,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":6,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2010-08-11T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-08-11T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive how many jobs were (a) created and (b) safeguarded in Dundee through Regional Selective Assistance in each of the last four years for which information is available.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive how many jobs were (a) created and (b) safeguarded in Dundee through Regional Selective Assistance in each of the last four years for which information is available.","AnswerText":"Regional Selective Assistance projects involve the creation and / or safeguarding of a specified number of jobs over the duration of the grant contract. This includes a specified period after the final payment has been made when the project jobs have to be maintained. Typically, projects can be undertaken over a number of years. Records are not maintained of jobs created or safeguarded by financial year as it is the overall number of jobs created or safeguarded over the duration of the grant contract which is important.
Information on accepted offers and the associated planned job creation and job safeguarding can be found within the report section of the Scottish Business Grants website at:
\r\n ","AnswerDate":"2010-09-01T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-09-08T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Jim Mather","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":242237,"EventID":"S3W-35695","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1831,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":6,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2010-08-11T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-08-11T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what the most recent job density value is for (a) Dundee, (b) Angus and (c) Scotland.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what the most recent job density value is for (a) Dundee, (b) Angus and (c) Scotland.","AnswerText":"Job density value is defined as the number of employee jobs in an area divided by the working age population (males aged 16 to 64 and females aged 16 to 59) residing in the area. The official source for employee jobs in Scotland is the annual business inquiry. Table 1 shows the most recent job density value for Scotland, Dundee City and Angus.
Table 1: Job Density Value for Scotland, Dundee City and Angus, 2008
Rate (%)
Angus
53.6
Dundee City
82.6
Scotland
74.8
Source: Annual business inquiry, 2008 and mid-year population estimates, 2008.
","AnswerDate":"2010-09-06T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-09-08T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"John Swinney","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":242238,"EventID":"S3W-35696","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1831,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":6,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2010-08-11T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-08-11T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive how many economically active people in Dundee in each of the last three years (a) were qualified at level (i) NVQ4 and above, (ii) NVQ3, (iii) NVQ2 and (iv) NVQ1, (b) had","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive how many economically active people in Dundee in each of the last three years (a) were qualified at level (i) NVQ4 and above, (ii) NVQ3, (iii) NVQ2 and (iv) NVQ1, (b) had another qualification or (c) were on a trade apprenticeship, also expressed as a percentage, and how this compares with the figures for Scotland.","AnswerText":"The Annual Population Survey (APS) is the official source for data on people who are economically active. Table 1 shows the latest estimates from the APS, covering each year since 2007, of the number of economically active people in Dundee City Council of working age (16 to 64 for males and 16 to 59 for females) by level of qualification. Table 2 shows the same for Scotland. Table 3 shows the latest estimates from the APS, covering each year since 2007, of the number of economically active people in Dundee City Council of working age (16 to 64 for males and 16 to 59 for females) who have completed a trade apprenticeship. Table 4 shows the same for Scotland.
Table 1: Economically Active Working Age people by Highest NVQ Level, Dundee City Council, 2007-09, Dundee City
NVQ4 and above
NVQ3 and equivalent
NVQ2 and equivalent
Level
Rate (%)
Level
Rate (%)
Level
Rate (%)
2007
27,000
39.5%
17,200
25.1%
11,100
16.2%
2008
25,900
38.6%
18,700
27.9%
9,900
14.7%
2009
26,400
39.0%
17,800
26.3%
10,500
15.5%
NVQ1 and equivalent
No Qualifications
Other Qualification
Level
Rate (%)
","AnswerDate":"2010-09-08T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-09-08T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Keith Brown","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":242239,"EventID":"S3W-35697","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1877,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":70,"ApprovedDate":"2010-08-11T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-08-11T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what progress it has made on delivering the More Choices, More Chances strategy and what objectives are outstanding.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what progress it has made on delivering the More Choices, More Chances strategy and what objectives are outstanding.","AnswerText":"More Choices More Chances continues to be a high priority which is why we have the national indicator on positive and sustained school leaver destinations.
Action by this government is ensuring all young Scots have the training and support they need to gain employment. We have delivered more than 20,000 Modern Apprenticeships; supported 7,500 additional university places and more than 4,000 additional college places. We are rolling-out 16+ Learning Choices by December 2010 to ensure an offer of a place in post-16 learning or training for every young person in Scotland. We are also piloting Activity Agreements in 10 local authority areas, offering tailored packages of learning and support for our most vulnerable 16 and 17-year-olds.
","AnswerDate":"2010-09-08T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-09-08T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Keith Brown","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":242240,"EventID":"S3W-35698","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":4086,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":7,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2010-08-12T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-08-12T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive how the proposed replacement of almost all electric trains by diesel units on the line between Edinburgh and Glasgow Central via Carstairs will impact on its aim of signi","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive how the proposed replacement of almost all electric trains by diesel units on the line between Edinburgh and Glasgow Central via Carstairs will impact on its aim of significantly decarbonising Scotland’s public transport.","AnswerText":"The decision to replace the majority of East Coast services between Glasgow and Edinburgh with services operated by Arriva Cross Country is directed by the Department for Transport.
Further to this, the decision is to replace some of the most energy efficient electric trains on the UK network with some of the most polluting diesel trains, as measured by CO2 per passenger kilometre.
It is unclear at this stage what the environmental impact of these changes will be. However, these services account for only a very small percentage of overall train movements in Scotland. In the context of published figures showing that rail transport accounts for less than 1% of overall emissions in Scotland, I see that the transfer from electric to diesel rolling stock over this route could only have a marginal impact on our plans for decarbonising public transport.
It is important to emphasise that regardless of power source, rail remains the most environmentally sustainable mode of powered transport. This is why we are working to encourage modal shift to rail from more polluting modes of transport.
","AnswerDate":"2010-09-08T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-09-09T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Stewart Stevenson","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":242241,"EventID":"S3W-35699","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1877,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":70,"ApprovedDate":"2010-08-12T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-08-12T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive when it will roll out an integrated employment and skills service.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive when it will roll out an integrated employment and skills service.","AnswerText":"As of the end of August, the integrated employment and skills service, involving closer working between Jobcentre Plus and Skills Development Scotland, has been rolled out to all Jobcentres in Scotland. ","AnswerDate":"2010-09-08T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-09-09T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Keith Brown","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":242242,"EventID":"S3W-35700","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1877,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":70,"ApprovedDate":"2010-08-12T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-08-12T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what role it has had in the administration or operation of the Future Jobs Fund in Scotland.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what role it has had in the administration or operation of the Future Jobs Fund in Scotland.","AnswerText":"The Scottish Government was a member of the Scottish Moderating Group, which considered new bids to the Future Jobs Fund, and also the Scottish Decision Making Group, which made recommendation on Scottish bids to the GB level board. It has had no involvement in the post decision making administration or operation of the fund which, as a wholly reserved matter, is managed in Scotland by Jobcentre Plus. ","AnswerDate":"2010-08-30T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-09-09T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Keith Brown","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":242243,"EventID":"S3W-35701","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1783,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":67,"ApprovedDate":"2010-08-12T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-08-12T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what caused all three ambulance control rooms to not function on 21 July 2010.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what caused all three ambulance control rooms to not function on 21 July 2010.","AnswerText":"The Scottish Ambulance Service has advised that the Cardonald telephone system is the main Hub for the three Emergency Medical Dispatch Centres in Scotland and controls the operation of the local telephone systems at the other sites. An initial fault on the Inverness telephone system caused the corruption of the processor memory at Cardonald and this subsequently affected the telephony systems at all sites. ","AnswerDate":"2010-09-16T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-09-09T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Nicola Sturgeon","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":242244,"EventID":"S3W-35702","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1783,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":67,"ApprovedDate":"2010-08-12T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-08-12T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive for how long all three ambulance control rooms were out of operation on 21 July 2010.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive for how long all three ambulance control rooms were out of operation on 21 July 2010.","AnswerText":"The Scottish Ambulance Service experienced disruption in their normal call handling operations on 21 July and there was a period of 50 minutes when all three Emergency Medical Dispatch Centres (EMDCs) were out of operation while a controlled close down and restart was carried out.
The Scottish Ambulance Service has advised that their normal call handling operations were impacted as follows:
Inverness EMDC between 01:05 and 14:55.
Cardonald EMDC between 09:56 and 14:00.
Norseman EMDC between 09:42 and 15:30.
This means that there was a period of just over four hours when all three centres were experiencing difficulty. The controlled close down and restart took place between 13:10 and 14:00.
During the overall period some calls continued to be answered by the Scottish EMDCs in the usual way, some were routed by BT to mobile telephones in the three Scottish EMDCs and, where necessary, some were routed to be answered by the Northern Ireland Ambulance Service or the North West Ambulance Service. These contingency arrangements are part of the established resilience procedures that are in place to deal with a scenario such as the one experienced on 21 July.
The Scottish Ambulance Service has advised that during the times of 01:05 to 15:45, the Northern Ireland Ambulance Service dealt with 121 calls and the North West Ambulance Service dealt with 28 calls, less than 10% of the incidents dealt with by the ambulance service that day. Of these, some calls were found to be duplicates, therefore 125 patients had their details taken and then passed back to Scotland for an ambulance to be dispatched.
","AnswerDate":"2010-09-16T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-09-09T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Nicola Sturgeon","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":242245,"EventID":"S3W-35703","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1783,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":67,"ApprovedDate":"2010-08-12T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-08-12T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive when (a) civil servants, (b) the Cabinet Secretary for Health and Wellbeing or (c) the Minister for Public Health were notified that all three ambulance control rooms wer","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive when (a) civil servants, (b) the Cabinet Secretary for Health and Wellbeing or (c) the Minister for Public Health were notified that all three ambulance control rooms were out of operation on 21 July 2010.","AnswerText":"The Scottish Ambulance Service experienced disruption in their normal call handling operations on 21 July and there was a period of 50 minutes when all three Emergency Medical Dispatch Centres (EMDCs) were out of operation while a controlled close down and restart was carried out.
My officials were first notified of the problems being experienced in the call handling operations of the Scottish Ambulance Service at around 12:25 on 21 July 2010 and ministers offices were notified around 15 minutes later. We were then kept updated during the course of the day until normal operations were resumed.
","AnswerDate":"2010-09-16T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-09-09T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Nicola Sturgeon","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":242246,"EventID":"S3W-35704","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1783,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":67,"ApprovedDate":"2010-08-12T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-08-12T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has concerns that no ambulance control room was operating on 21 July 2010.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has concerns that no ambulance control room was operating on 21 July 2010.","AnswerText":"It is not the case that no ambulance control room was operating on 21 July 2010. The Scottish Ambulance Service experienced disruption in their normal call handling operations on 21 July and there was a period of 50 minutes when all three Emergency Medical Dispatch Centres (EMDCs) were out of operation while a controlled close down and restart was carried out.
The Scottish Ambulance Service swiftly put in place contingency plans to support 999 calls while the operation of the EMDCs was compromised. However, any compromise of the call handling operations of the Scottish Ambulance Service is of concern and the Scottish Ambulance Service therefore instructed BT to undertake a full review of the resilience of the telephony system.
The Scottish Ambulance Service have been undertaking a thorough investigation in to the incident on 21 July. This has included reviewing the sequence of events on the day, considering how the contingency arrangements worked, understanding what the impact was on service delivery and, most importantly, auditing the clinical outcomes for patients. The ambulance service have been focussing on learning lessons and identifying actions that need to be taken forward by the service and others.
As part of their investigation, the Scottish Ambulance Service have undertaken a clinical audit that has reviewed every 999 call on the day, as well as all of those patients for whom an ambulance was requested within one hour or two hours by their GP, with particular focus on the 125 patients who were routed outside of Scotland for their calls to be answered. Dr George Crooks, Medical Director of the Scottish Ambulance Service, has informed me that the clinical case mix and outcomes achieved on 21 July reflected those experienced when the service is working as normal and that there were no adverse outcomes attributable to the delays associated with the buddy system.
","AnswerDate":"2010-09-16T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-09-09T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Nicola Sturgeon","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":242247,"EventID":"S3W-35705","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1783,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":67,"ApprovedDate":"2010-08-12T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-08-12T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what its position is on the resilience in the provision of ambulance control and how it will ensure that the resilience is improved.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what its position is on the resilience in the provision of ambulance control and how it will ensure that the resilience is improved.","AnswerText":"BT were instructed to undertake a full review of resilience of the system and the findings of that will be factored into future contingency arrangements.
The Scottish Ambulance Service have been undertaking a thorough investigation in to the incident on 21 July 2010. This has included reviewing the sequence of events on the day, considering how the contingency arrangements worked, understanding what the impact was on service delivery and, most importantly, auditing the clinical outcomes for patients. The ambulance service have been focussing on learning lessons and identifying actions that need to be taken forward by the service and others.
","AnswerDate":"2010-09-16T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-09-09T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Nicola Sturgeon","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":242248,"EventID":"S3W-35706","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1783,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":67,"ApprovedDate":"2010-08-12T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-08-12T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether the Northern Ireland Ambulance Service assisted in dealing with all 999 ambulance calls from Scotland on 21 July 2010.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether the Northern Ireland Ambulance Service assisted in dealing with all 999 ambulance calls from Scotland on 21 July 2010.","AnswerText":"In line with contingency planning arrangements that are in place for the Scottish Ambulance Service, both the Northern Ireland Ambulance Service and the North West Ambulance Service in England assisted in dealing with calls from Scotland on 21 July 2010.
The Scottish Ambulance Service has advised that during the times of 01:05 to 15:45, the Northern Ireland Ambulance Service dealt with 121 calls and the North West Ambulance Service dealt with 28 calls, less than 10% of the incidents dealt with by the ambulance service that day. Of these, some calls were found to be duplicates, therefore 125 patients had their details taken and then passed back to Scotland for an ambulance to be dispatched.
","AnswerDate":"2010-09-16T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-09-09T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Nicola Sturgeon","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":242249,"EventID":"S3W-35707","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1783,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":67,"ApprovedDate":"2010-08-12T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-08-12T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive for what reason it has not publicly reported the failure that caused all three ambulance control rooms to cease functioning on 21 July 2010.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive for what reason it has not publicly reported the failure that caused all three ambulance control rooms to cease functioning on 21 July 2010.","AnswerText":"The contingency arrangements were activated, the fault was resolved quickly, and BT has confirmed that all 999 calls were answered. None of the information available to the Scottish Government indicated that it was necessary to make an announcement. However, a full investigation into the events of 21 July 2010 is being conducted and a report will be published. ","AnswerDate":"2010-09-16T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-09-09T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Nicola Sturgeon","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":242250,"EventID":"S3W-35708","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2185,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":2,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2010-08-12T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-08-12T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether it plans to support further hydro-electric developments in Scotland.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether it plans to support further hydro-electric developments in Scotland.","AnswerText":"The Scottish Government will continue to support sustainable hydro-electric development, large and small, in order to tackle climate change and contribute to economic growth.
Emphasis is being placed on supporting developments which can make a significant contribution to Scotland''s renewables targets whilst minimising any adverse impacts on the water environment.
","AnswerDate":"2010-09-06T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-09-09T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Jim Mather","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":242251,"EventID":"S3W-35709","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2185,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":2,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2010-08-12T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-08-12T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what part increased hydro-electric development plays in its energy strategy.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what part increased hydro-electric development plays in its energy strategy.","AnswerText":"The Scottish Government is determined to optimise Scotland''s untapped hydro-electric resource, which a recent study put at approximately 1.2 GW.
Emphasis is being placed on supporting hydropower developments which can make a significant contribution to Scotland''s renewables targets whilst minimising any adverse impacts on the water environment.
","AnswerDate":"2010-09-06T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-09-09T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Jim Mather","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":242252,"EventID":"S3W-35710","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":3758,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":1,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2010-08-12T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-08-12T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether individuals can lose access rights as set out under the terms of the Land Reform (Scotland) Act 2003.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether individuals can lose access rights as set out under the terms of the Land Reform (Scotland) Act 2003.","AnswerText":"Yes.
It is a condition under the Land Reform (Scotland) Act 2003 that access rights are only available if those taking access act responsibly. Guidance on what constitutes responsible access is set out in the Scottish Outdoor Access Code.
An individual who does not exercise access rights responsibly can be asked to modify their behaviour and, if irresponsible behaviour continues, be asked to leave the land. If irresponsible behaviour persists for a period of time, an interdict could be sought against the individual.
","AnswerDate":"2010-09-08T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-09-09T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Roseanna Cunningham","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":242253,"EventID":"S3W-35711","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":3758,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":1,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2010-08-12T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-08-12T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether a failure to notify neighbouring properties of a planning application constitutes a breach of planning regulations.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether a failure to notify neighbouring properties of a planning application constitutes a breach of planning regulations.","AnswerText":"Failure to comply with the requirements on neighbour notification, as set out in the Town and Country Planning (Development Management Procedure) (Scotland) Regulations 2008, would be a breach of planning regulations.
Neighbouring land within the Regulations means an area or plot of land which, or part of which, is within 20 metres of the boundary of the land for which development is proposed. Planning authorities are required to send a notice to neighbouring land if suitable premises are situated on the neighbouring land. Where there are no premises to which a notice can be sent, then the planning authority is required to publish a notice in a newspaper circulated in the locality in which the neighbouring land is situated.
","AnswerDate":"2010-09-01T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-09-09T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"John Swinney","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":242254,"EventID":"S3W-35712","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1877,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":70,"ApprovedDate":"2010-08-12T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-08-12T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether the planned joint procurement of the A8 upgrade, M74 Raith Interchange and M8/M73/M74 network improvement projects has led to delays in the delivery of the three ","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether the planned joint procurement of the A8 upgrade, M74 Raith Interchange and M8/M73/M74 network improvement projects has led to delays in the delivery of the three projects and, if so, for what reason.","AnswerText":" We intend to examine the benefits of including the M74 Junction 5, Raith and M8/M73/M74 Network Improvement schemes in the proposed not for profit distribution procurement of the M8 Baillieston to Newhouse scheme. Ministers have announced that should a favourable decision on the M8 public local inquiry be made, a thorough review of the remaining stages of the project will be required. The date of completion of all three projects will depend on the procurement mechanism established as a result of that review. ","AnswerDate":"2010-09-06T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-09-09T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Stewart Stevenson","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":242255,"EventID":"S3W-35713","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1877,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":70,"ApprovedDate":"2010-08-12T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-08-12T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has responded to the reporter’s report on the A8 received by ministers in October 2008 and, if not, for what reason.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has responded to the reporter’s report on the A8 received by ministers in October 2008 and, if not, for what reason.","AnswerText":" It is expected that a decision will be issued in the near future. ","AnswerDate":"2010-08-23T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-09-09T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"John Swinney","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":242256,"EventID":"S3W-35714","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1877,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":70,"ApprovedDate":"2010-08-12T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-08-12T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has responded to the reporter’s report on the M8/M73/M74 Network Improvements Scheme received by ministers in July 2009 and, if not, for what reason. ","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has responded to the reporter’s report on the M8/M73/M74 Network Improvements Scheme received by ministers in July 2009 and, if not, for what reason. ","AnswerText":" Yes. A decision was issued on 11 January 2010. ","AnswerDate":"2010-08-23T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-09-09T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Stewart Stevenson","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":242257,"EventID":"S3W-35715","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1877,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":70,"ApprovedDate":"2010-08-12T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-08-12T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what projects have been procured by the Scottish Futures Trust using the Non-Profit Distributing model.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what projects have been procured by the Scottish Futures Trust using the Non-Profit Distributing model.","AnswerText":"I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-33243 on 7 May 2010. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament''s website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/Apps2/Business/PQA/Default.aspx. ","AnswerDate":"2010-09-01T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-09-09T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"John Swinney","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":242258,"EventID":"S3W-35716","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1877,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":70,"ApprovedDate":"2010-08-12T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-08-12T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive how much of the £1.25 billion schools building programme announced in 2009 has been procured using non-traditional procurement so far.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive how much of the £1.25 billion schools building programme announced in 2009 has been procured using non-traditional procurement so far.","AnswerText":"East Renfrewshire and Midlothian Councils are currently undertaking an innovative joint procurement initiative to procure two secondary schools as the pilot project for the Scotland''s Schools for the Future programme. This will be the first time two local authorities have collaborated to jointly procure new schools. ","AnswerDate":"2010-09-09T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-09-09T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Keith Brown","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":242259,"EventID":"S3W-35717","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1877,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":70,"ApprovedDate":"2010-08-12T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-08-12T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive how much of the £1.25 billion schools building programme announced in 2009 will use non-traditional procurement methods; whether it will itemise the projects involved, an","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive how much of the £1.25 billion schools building programme announced in 2009 will use non-traditional procurement methods; whether it will itemise the projects involved, and what their estimated capital value is.","AnswerText":"The procurement methods for the schools in the Scotland''s Schools for the Future programme will be determined on a case-by-case basis, allowing local councils to make decisions which are best for them. Some schools, for example East Lothian Council''s primary school project, will be procured through the Hub programme, whilst others will be procured through joint procurement projects, such as the pilot programme involving Midlothian and East Renfrewshire Councils.
We have asked the Scottish Futures Trust to consider and advise on funding models for future phases.
","AnswerDate":"2010-09-09T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-09-09T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Keith Brown","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":242260,"EventID":"S3W-35718","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2394,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":5,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2010-08-12T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-08-12T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive when it will make a decision on the Muthill Conservation Area Rationalisation Scheme relating to the Beauly to Denny power line.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive when it will make a decision on the Muthill Conservation Area Rationalisation Scheme relating to the Beauly to Denny power line.","AnswerText":"Views from consultees on the various Beauly to Denny rationalisation schemes have been sought and received. A decision on the Muthill Conservation Area Rationalisation Scheme will follow shortly. ","AnswerDate":"2010-09-06T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-09-09T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Jim Mather","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":242261,"EventID":"S3W-35719","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2394,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":5,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2010-08-12T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-08-12T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive how it will ensure that the views of the local community are taken into account when reaching a decision on the Muthill Conservation Area Rationalisation Scheme.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive how it will ensure that the views of the local community are taken into account when reaching a decision on the Muthill Conservation Area Rationalisation Scheme.","AnswerText":"SSE submitted the Muthill rationalisation scheme to Scottish Ministers on 29 April 2010. Since then it has been subject to consultation with Perth and Kinross Council, and their response to me also reflects the views of all community councils in those areas relevant to the rationalisation scheme.
I will consider the consultation responses before I take a final decision.
","AnswerDate":"2010-09-10T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-09-09T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Jim Mather","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":242262,"EventID":"S3W-35720","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2610,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":1,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2010-08-12T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-08-12T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive how many developments throughout Lanarkshire have been funded by the New Supply Shared Equity scheme since the fund was established and whether it will list these.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive how many developments throughout Lanarkshire have been funded by the New Supply Shared Equity scheme since the fund was established and whether it will list these.","AnswerText":"Since the New Supply Shared Equity scheme was established, a total of five developments have been funded in Lanarkshire. These are as follows:
1. Antonine Grange, Cumbernauld
2. Castlehill Road, Gowkthrapple, Wishaw
3. Sikeside Place, Kirkshaws, Coatbridge
4. Cedar Drive, East Kilbride
5. Tobermory Road, Cathkin.
","AnswerDate":"2010-09-06T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-09-09T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Alex Neil","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":242263,"EventID":"S3W-35721","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2610,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":1,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2010-08-12T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-08-12T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive how many jobs it has advertised (a) externally and (b) internally since May 2003.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive how many jobs it has advertised (a) externally and (b) internally since May 2003.","AnswerText":"The Scottish Government retains information on recruitment exercises for 12 months.
Between 26 August 2009 and 25August 2010 there have been 728 jobs advertised internally and 73 jobs advertised externally.
","AnswerDate":"2010-09-01T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-09-09T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"John Swinney","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":242264,"EventID":"S3W-35722","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2610,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":1,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2010-08-12T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-08-12T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what its policy is regarding the recruitment process for its civil servants.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what its policy is regarding the recruitment process for its civil servants.","AnswerText":"Copies of the main Resourcing Policy which covers recruitment to Scottish Government posts (other than those in the Senior Civil Service) are available from the Scottish Parliament Information Centre (Bib. number 51565). Senior Civil Service recruitment is carried out in line with guidance from the Cabinet Office and the Civil Service Commissioners Recruitment Principles. Further information is available at www.work-for-scotland.org. ","AnswerDate":"2010-09-01T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-09-09T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"John Swinney","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":242265,"EventID":"S3W-35723","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2610,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":1,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2010-08-12T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-08-12T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions it has had with the Department of Work and Pensions regarding changes to the Independent Living Fund.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions it has had with the Department of Work and Pensions regarding changes to the Independent Living Fund.","AnswerText":"Scottish Government officials have had a number of telephone discussions and a teleconference with officials in the Department of Work and Pensions regarding changes to the Independent Living Fund.
The Minister for Housing and Communities raised this issue when he met with the Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for Disabled Peple, Maria Miller on 29 July 2010.
I have also written to Maria Miller, explaining the Scottish Government''s concerns and we are due to discuss this matter on 16 September 2010.
","AnswerDate":"2010-09-01T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-09-09T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Shona Robison","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":242266,"EventID":"S3W-35724","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2610,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":1,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2010-08-12T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-08-12T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions it has had with the Department of Work and Pensions regarding the proposals by the UK Government to review the housing benefits system.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions it has had with the Department of Work and Pensions regarding the proposals by the UK Government to review the housing benefits system.","AnswerText":"The Scottish Government is considering the impact of the proposed changes to housing benefit and their impact on vulnerable households and our policy objectives, including 2012 homelessness commitments. Officials are in regular contact with colleagues in the Department for Work and Pensions. I have raised with UK Ministers the importance of consultation on welfare reform proposals, most recently at a meeting on 29 July with the UK Minister for Disabled People. ","AnswerDate":"2010-09-09T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-09-09T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Alex Neil","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":242267,"EventID":"S3W-35725","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1820,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":12,"ApprovedDate":"2010-08-12T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-08-12T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether it plans to increase funding to local authorities given the statutory requirement to increase the pre-school education entitlement for every eligible child from 4","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether it plans to increase funding to local authorities given the statutory requirement to increase the pre-school education entitlement for every eligible child from 474 to 570 hours per year.","AnswerText":"Funding to support expansion of pre-school education in line with the concordat commitments was included in the current Spending Review settlement for local government. Future funding for local government, including support for pre-school education, will be dependent on the outcomes from the next Spending Review. There is no statutory requirement on councils to expand entitlement to free pre-school education to 570 hours, although we are aware that some local authorities are already providing this level of provision.
We are working with COSLA and the Association of Directors of Education in Scotland on the implementation of the Framework for Education, which includes further action on pre-school expansion. The framework document can be found at:
","AnswerDate":"2010-09-01T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-09-09T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Adam Ingram","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":242268,"EventID":"S3W-35726","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1783,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":67,"ApprovedDate":"2010-08-12T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-08-12T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether the timetable for the Vale of Leven Hospital Inquiry has been altered.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether the timetable for the Vale of Leven Hospital Inquiry has been altered.","AnswerText":"I refer the member to the answer to question S3W 37527 on 30 August 2010. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament''s website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/Apps2/Business/PQA/Default.aspx. ","AnswerDate":"2010-08-30T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-09-09T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Nicola Sturgeon","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":242269,"EventID":"S3W-35727","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1783,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":67,"ApprovedDate":"2010-08-12T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-08-12T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether the delay in the Vale of Leven Hospital Inquiry reconvening to take further oral evidence will have an impact on the overall timetable.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether the delay in the Vale of Leven Hospital Inquiry reconvening to take further oral evidence will have an impact on the overall timetable.","AnswerText":"The Vale of Leven Hospital Inquiry is an independent inquiry. The procedure and conduct of an Inquiry is determined by the inquiry''s chairman in accordance with his/her duties under the Inquiries Act 2005. Under the terms of reference the inquiry is due to report to me by May 2011. For further information please contact the secretary of the Vale of Leven Hospital Inquiry Team at information@valeoflevenhospitalinquiry.org. ","AnswerDate":"2010-08-30T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-09-09T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Nicola Sturgeon","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":242270,"EventID":"S3W-35728","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1783,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":67,"ApprovedDate":"2010-08-12T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-08-12T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what the reason is for the delay in the Vale of Leven Hospital Inquiry reconvening to take further oral evidence.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what the reason is for the delay in the Vale of Leven Hospital Inquiry reconvening to take further oral evidence.","AnswerText":"The Vale of Leven Hospital Inquiry is an independent inquiry. The procedure and conduct of an inquiry is determined by the inquiry''s chairman in accordance with his/her duties under the Inquiries Act 2005. Scottish ministers are therefore unable to comment as to the reasons for the delay in reconvening oral hearings. For further information please contact the secretary of the Vale of Leven Hospital Inquiry Team at information@valeoflevenhospitalinquiry.org. ","AnswerDate":"2010-08-30T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-09-09T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Nicola Sturgeon","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":242271,"EventID":"S3W-35729","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1783,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":67,"ApprovedDate":"2010-08-12T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-08-12T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether the C. diff Justice Group was consulted in advance of the decision to delay the reconvening of the Vale of Leven Hospital Inquiry to take further oral evidence.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether the C. diff Justice Group was consulted in advance of the decision to delay the reconvening of the Vale of Leven Hospital Inquiry to take further oral evidence.","AnswerText":"The Vale of Leven Hospital Inquiry is an independent inquiry and any decision about the reconvening of oral hearings is a matter for the inquiry. For further information please contact the Secretary of the Vale of Leven Hospital Inquiry Team at information@valeoflevenhospitalinquiry.org. ","AnswerDate":"2010-08-30T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-09-09T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Nicola Sturgeon","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":242272,"EventID":"S3W-35730","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2675,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":3,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2010-08-13T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-08-13T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will publish advice, in the form of public documents or private correspondence, given to farmers regarding the importation of cloned embryos or selling the pro","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will publish advice, in the form of public documents or private correspondence, given to farmers regarding the importation of cloned embryos or selling the products from clones and their offspring into the food chain, including that given by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs and the Food Standards Agency, since 2006.","AnswerText":"The Scottish Government has not issued any advice to farmers regarding importing embryos or placing products from clones or their offspring on the market.
Guidance on the rules for the importation of bovine embryos is on the Defra website. This guidance relates to EU legislation which applies to the whole of the UK. There are no particular Scottish dimensions.
Food products such as meat, milk and eggs from cloned animals are subject to a safety evaluation and approval by all EU Member States as a novel food before they can be legally marketed.
In the UK, the Food Standards Agency (FSA) is the responsible food assessment body for the EU Novel Foods Regulation (EC) 258/97. In 2007, it advised that food produced from cloned animals and their offspring would require a premarket safety evaluation under the terms of this Regulation. This advice is published on the agency''s website.
","AnswerDate":"2010-09-09T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-09-10T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Richard Lochhead","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":242273,"EventID":"S3W-35731","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":4014,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":5,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2010-08-13T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-08-13T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will consider asking Scottish Hydro Electric Transmission Ltd (SHETL) to accept Muthill and Tullibardine Community Council’s proposal to underground the Beauly","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will consider asking Scottish Hydro Electric Transmission Ltd (SHETL) to accept Muthill and Tullibardine Community Council’s proposal to underground the Beauly to Denny power line in the vicinity of Muthill.","AnswerText":"I granted consent for an overhead line in the Muthill area following full and careful consideration of all the objections and representations received, the evidence produced to and submissions made at the inquiry and the inquiry report. The reporter''s report concluded that alternative routeing and/or undergrounding a section or sections of the proposed line in the Perth and Kinross area has not been justified (para 9.5.17, Vol 4). ","AnswerDate":"2010-09-10T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-09-10T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Jim Mather","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":242274,"EventID":"S3W-35732","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":4014,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":5,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2010-08-13T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-08-13T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive when the Minister for Enterprise, Energy and Tourism will reply to the letter sent to him by Muthill and Tullibardine Community Council on 25 May 2010 in relation to the ","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive when the Minister for Enterprise, Energy and Tourism will reply to the letter sent to him by Muthill and Tullibardine Community Council on 25 May 2010 in relation to the Beauly to Denny power line.","AnswerText":"Since the letter of 25 May 2010, my officials have met with representatives of Muthill and Tullibardine Community Council and further supporting information has been presented by them. This is currently being considered and a reply will be issued shortly. ","AnswerDate":"2010-09-10T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-09-10T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Jim Mather","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":242275,"EventID":"S3W-35733","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1783,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":67,"ApprovedDate":"2010-08-13T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-08-13T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what funding it has provided for Breathing Space in (a) 2007-08, (b) 2008-09 and (c) 2009-10 and what the anticipated budget is for 2010-11.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what funding it has provided for Breathing Space in (a) 2007-08, (b) 2008-09 and (c) 2009-10 and what the anticipated budget is for 2010-11.","AnswerText":"Annual funding provided to Breathing Space is as follows:
2007-08
£905,000 total funding received:
£680,000 Scottish Government funding allocation for Breathing Space
£225,000 NHS 24 funding (internal allocation).
2008-09
£1,025,000 total funding received:
£800,000 Scottish Government funding allocation for Breathing Space
£225,000 NHS 24 funding (internal allocation).
2009-10
£1,061,000 total funding received:
£825, 000 Scottish Government funding allocation for Breathing Space
£10,000 Scottish Government funding allocation for the Deaf Connections British Sign Language programme
£226,000 NHS 24 funding (internal allocation).
2010-11
£1,043,000 total funding received:
£825,000 Scottish Government funding allocation for Breathing Space
£218,000 NHS 24 funding (internal allocation).
","AnswerDate":"2010-09-01T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-09-10T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Shona Robison","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":242276,"EventID":"S3W-35734","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1783,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":67,"ApprovedDate":"2010-08-13T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-08-13T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive how many staff were employed by Breathing Space in (a) 2007-08, (b) 2008-09 and (c) 2009-10.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive how many staff were employed by Breathing Space in (a) 2007-08, (b) 2008-09 and (c) 2009-10.","AnswerText":"The number of Breathing Space staff employed in each of the years (a) 2007-08, (b) 2008-09 and (c) 2009-10 is listed in the following table:
March 2007
March 2008
Skillset
Head Count
Whole-Time Equivalent (WTE)
Head Count
WTE
Special Helpline Advisors
22
10.35
32
13.03
Breathing Space Service Operations Supervisors
3
2.81
3
2.71
Breathing Space Service Manager
1
1
1
1.00
Breathing Space Development Officer
0
0
1
1.00
Breathing Space National Coordinator
1
1
1
1.00
Breathing Space Support Officer
1
1
1
1.00
British Sign Language workers
-
-
-
-
Total
28
16.16
39
19.74
March 2009
March 2010
Skillset
Head Count
WTE
Head Count
Skillset
Headcount
Whole-Time Equivalent
(WTE)
Special Helpline Advisors
30
11.48
Breathing Space Service Operations Supervisors
3
2.81
Breathing Space Service Manager
1
1
Breathing Space Development Officer
1
1
Breathing Space National Coordinator
1
1
Breathing Space Support Officer
1
1
Total
37
18.29
Plus: 2 (0.4 WTE) British Sign Language (BSL) workers for Deaf pilot ending in November 2010.
","AnswerDate":"2010-09-01T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-09-10T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Shona Robison","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":242278,"EventID":"S3W-35736","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1783,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":67,"ApprovedDate":"2010-08-13T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-08-13T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what percentage of calls to Breathing Space are unanswered in an average week.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what percentage of calls to Breathing Space are unanswered in an average week.","AnswerText":"Currently an average of 7% of calls to Breathing Space are unanswered due to the caller hanging up. ","AnswerDate":"2010-09-10T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-09-10T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Shona Robison","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":242279,"EventID":"S3W-35737","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1783,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":67,"ApprovedDate":"2010-08-13T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-08-13T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether it considers that a reduction in staffing at Breathing Space has led to fewer calls being answered.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether it considers that a reduction in staffing at Breathing Space has led to fewer calls being answered.","AnswerText":"Breathing Space is currently receiving and answering significantly morecalls than this time last year. For example, in July 2010 Breathing Space answered 5,885 calls compared to 3,341 in July 2009, which is a 76% increase.
At the end of 2009, some Breathing Space Staff left, which temporarily reduced capacity available. Shift patterns of the remaining staff were reviewed to ensure that resource was aligned to incoming call demand patterns. This combined with Supervisors also taking calls contributed to more calls being answered.
A recruitment campaign took place in March 2010 to recruit a further 2.4 whole-time equivalent to bring the service back to previous staffing levels. Those staff started in June 2010. NHS24/Breathing Space continually reviews its workforce and capacity planning, and is now considering how the service needs to adapt to any increase in call demand approaching the winter season.
","AnswerDate":"2010-09-07T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-09-10T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Shona Robison","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":242280,"EventID":"S3W-35738","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2345,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":56,"ApprovedDate":"2010-08-13T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-08-13T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what the names and addresses are of the outlets where sales of the meat from cloned cattle or the progeny of cloned cattle took place; what quantity of meat was sold, and","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what the names and addresses are of the outlets where sales of the meat from cloned cattle or the progeny of cloned cattle took place; what quantity of meat was sold, and on what dates this meat was sold.","AnswerText":"In the course of its investigations the Food Standards Agency (FSA) traced eight animals born in the UK from eight imported embryos which were produced by a cloned cow in the USA. The cloned cow itself remains in the USA.
As part of this investigation the FSA has established that, in total, meat from three of these animals has entered the food chain without authorisation under the EU Novel Foods Regulations.
Regarding the names and addresses of the retail outlets, the agency is minded not to place this information in the public domain and has issued a public statement explaining the reasons for not doing so. A copy of this statement is attached:
The Agency has considered whether and, if so, to what extent it should reveal the identities of individuals and businesses involved in the recent investigation conducted by the Agency into the alleged sale of meat and milk from offspring of cloned animals.
The FSA is an organisation whose essential purpose is to protect the interests of consumers in relation to food and food safety. We are committed to openness as a way of gaining and maintaining consumers'' confidence. Although the Agency is satisfied that there has been no risk to human health as a result of the circumstances revealed through its investigation, we would normally wish to reveal the details of those individuals and businesses who have been involved in that investigation, recognising that these details may be of interest to some consumers.
However, in this case there are a number of other relevant factors:
some of those involved in the investigation were not aware, and could not reasonably be expected to have been aware, that the animals in question were the offspring of clones
it can be argued that a case such as this, where there has been no evidence of risk to human health, differs from other investigations conducted by the agency
in this case, some have given information to the agency with the expectation that their details will remain confidential and the agency must consider whether, in future, third parties will be less likely to co-operate with investigations if such understandings are not adhered to.
In light of the above, the Agency has decided to contact all those whose identity might be revealed following the recent investigation to tell them that, consistent with its usual practice and values, the agency is minded to disclose their identities. We will invite comments on that proposal and decide, in the light of comments received, whether, and if so to what extent, to disclose this information.
","AnswerDate":"2010-09-09T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-09-10T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Richard Lochhead","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":242281,"EventID":"S3W-35739","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1805,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":1,"ApprovedDate":"2010-08-13T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-08-13T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether its Energy Efficiency Action Plan will include a home loans scheme and, if so, how much money will be made available.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether its Energy Efficiency Action Plan will include a home loans scheme and, if so, how much money will be made available.","AnswerText":"The specific contents of the Energy Efficiency Action Plan will be disclosed when it is published this autumn.
However, we are currently evaluating the Energy Saving Scotland home loans pilot which ran from October 2009 until June 2010. The outcome of this evaluation will help to inform future policies targeted at reducing fuel bills for Scottish households, reduced emissions, reduced fuel poverty and a strong energy efficiency industry in Scotland.
\r\n
However, we are currently evaluating the Energy Saving Scotland home loans pilot which ran from October 2009 until June 2010. The outcome of this evaluation will help to inform future policies targeted at reducing fuel bills for Scottish households, reduced emissions, reduced fuel poverty and a strong energy efficiency industry in Scotland.
","AnswerDate":"2010-09-01T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-09-10T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Jim Mather","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":242283,"EventID":"S3W-35741","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1805,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":1,"ApprovedDate":"2010-08-13T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-08-13T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether it plans to re-introduce the Energy Saving Scotland home loans pathfinder scheme on a permanent basis and, if so, how much money will be put into the scheme.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether it plans to re-introduce the Energy Saving Scotland home loans pathfinder scheme on a permanent basis and, if so, how much money will be put into the scheme.","AnswerText":"We are currently evaluating the Energy Saving Scotland home loans pathfinder which ran from October 2009 until June 2010. The outcome of this evaluation will help to inform future policies targeted at reducing fuel bills for Scottish households, reduced emissions, reduced fuel poverty and a strong energy efficiency industry in Scotland. ","AnswerDate":"2010-09-01T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-09-10T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Jim Mather","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":242284,"EventID":"S3W-35742","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":3538,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":13,"ApprovedDate":"2010-08-13T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-08-13T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether it is committed to the continuing provision of a masters level postgraduate qualifying social work course in Glasgow.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether it is committed to the continuing provision of a masters level postgraduate qualifying social work course in Glasgow.","AnswerText":"This is a matter for Glasgow University and the Glasgow School of Social Work. Universities are autonomous institutions, and the decisions on the courses they provide, and the number of students they admit are theirs, and will be based on the student and employers'' needs. However, Scottish Government officials have been in discussion with the Scottish Funding Council about the current situation, and we are confident that there is sufficient provision in the West of Scotland to meet the need for these courses.
Social work plays a key role in supporting the most vulnerable in our communities. The Scottish Government is committed to ensuring that we have a confident, competent and valued workforce.
","AnswerDate":"2010-09-07T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-09-10T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Michael Russell","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":242285,"EventID":"S3W-35743","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2117,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":47,"ApprovedDate":"2010-08-16T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-08-16T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will list those applications for new hydro energy developments received since 7 December 2007 which have been determined under section 36 of the Electricity Ac","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will list those applications for new hydro energy developments received since 7 December 2007 which have been determined under section 36 of the Electricity Act 1989, giving the name of the project, the date of the application and the mega watt capacity of the development.","AnswerText":"Since 7 December 2007, applications were received and determined by Scottish ministers under Section 36 of the Electricity Act 1989 for the following hydro energy developments:
Name
Date of Application
Mega Watt Capacity
Rannoch Hydro
31 July 2008
1.5 MW
Allt Fionn 2009
21 July 2009
2.1 MW
Ben Glas
21 July 2009
1.6 MW
Derry Darroch
21 July 2009
2.0 MW
Upper Falloch
21 July 2009
1.0 MW
Cia Aig
4 September 2009
3.0 MW
","AnswerDate":"2010-09-06T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-09-13T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Jim Mather","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":242286,"EventID":"S3W-35744","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2117,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":47,"ApprovedDate":"2010-08-16T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-08-16T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will list those applications for new hydro energy developments received since 7 December 2007 which have been referred to a public local inquiry, giving the na","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will list those applications for new hydro energy developments received since 7 December 2007 which have been referred to a public local inquiry, giving the name of the project, the date of the application and the mega watt capacity of the development.","AnswerText":"No applications for consent under Section 36 of the Electricity Act 1989 for hydro energy developments received since 7 December 2007 have been referred to a public local inquiry.
Applications for hydro developments of under 1 MW are dealt with by local planning authorities and the information is not held centrally.
","AnswerDate":"2010-09-06T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-09-13T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Jim Mather","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":242287,"EventID":"S3W-35745","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2117,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":47,"ApprovedDate":"2010-08-16T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-08-16T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will list those applications for new hydro energy developments received since 7 December 2007 which have been neither referred to a public local inquiry nor de","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will list those applications for new hydro energy developments received since 7 December 2007 which have been neither referred to a public local inquiry nor determined, giving the name of the project, the date of the application and the mega watt capacity of the development.","AnswerText":"Applications for consent under section 36 of the Electricity Act 1989 received for hydro energy developments since 7 December 2007, that have been neither referred to a public local inquiry nor determined by Scottish ministers are:
Name
Date of Application
Mega Watt Capacity
Allt Fionn Hydro 2008
4 August 2008
2.4 MW
Sloy Pumping Station
4 September 2008
0*
Ederline
22 April 2009
1.7 MW
Maldie Burn
11 June 2009
4.5 MW
Kildermorie
15 December 2009
7.5 MW
Loch Eilde Mor
19 December 2009
7.0 MW
Note: *The application for Sloy Pumping station is to extend and convert the existing power generating station to a pumping station. The current capacity of 152.5 MW would not change.
Applications for hydro developments under 1 MW are dealt with by local planning authorities and the information is not held centrally.
","AnswerDate":"2010-09-06T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-09-13T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Jim Mather","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":242288,"EventID":"S3W-35746","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2117,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":47,"ApprovedDate":"2010-08-16T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-08-16T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will list those applications for extensions to existing hydro energy developments received since 7 December 2007 which have been determined under section 36 of","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will list those applications for extensions to existing hydro energy developments received since 7 December 2007 which have been determined under section 36 of the Electricity Act 1989, giving the name of the project, the date of the application and the mega watt capacity of the development.","AnswerText":"No applications received since 7 December 2007 for consent to extend existing hydro energy developments have been determined under Section 36 of the Electricity Act 1989. ","AnswerDate":"2010-09-06T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-09-13T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Jim Mather","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":242289,"EventID":"S3W-35747","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2117,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":47,"ApprovedDate":"2010-08-16T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-08-16T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will list those applications for extensions to existing hydro energy developments received since 7 December 2007 which have been referred to a public local inq","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will list those applications for extensions to existing hydro energy developments received since 7 December 2007 which have been referred to a public local inquiry, giving the name of the project, the date of the application and the mega watt capacity of the development.","AnswerText":"No applications received since 7 December 2007 for consent to extend existing hydro energy developments, under Section 36 of the Electricity Act 1989, have been referred to a public local inquiry. ","AnswerDate":"2010-09-06T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-09-13T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Jim Mather","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":242290,"EventID":"S3W-35748","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2117,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":47,"ApprovedDate":"2010-08-16T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-08-16T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will list those applications for extensions to existing hydro energy developments received since 7 December 2007 which have been neither referred to a public l","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will list those applications for extensions to existing hydro energy developments received since 7 December 2007 which have been neither referred to a public local inquiry nor determined, giving the name of the project, the date of the application and the mega watt capacity of the development.","AnswerText":"One application which has not been referred to public local inquiry and is yet to be determined has been received since 7 December 2007 for consent under Section 36 of the Electricity act. This application is for:
Name
Date of Application
Mega Watt Capacity
Sloy Pumping Station
4 September 2009
152.5 MW
The application for Sloy pumping station is to extend and convert the existing power generating station to a pumping station. The current capacity of 152.5 MW would not change.
","AnswerDate":"2010-09-06T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-09-13T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Jim Mather","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":242291,"EventID":"S3W-35749","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2117,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":47,"ApprovedDate":"2010-08-16T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-08-16T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will list those applications for new wind energy developments received since 7 December 2007 which have been determined under section 36 of the Electricity Act","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will list those applications for new wind energy developments received since 7 December 2007 which have been determined under section 36 of the Electricity Act 1989, giving the name of the project, the date of the application and the mega watt capacity of the development.","AnswerText":"No applications for new wind energy developments received since 7 December 2007 have been determined under Section 36 of the Electricity Act 1989. ","AnswerDate":"2010-09-06T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-09-13T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Jim Mather","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":242292,"EventID":"S3W-35750","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2117,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":47,"ApprovedDate":"2010-08-16T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-08-16T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will list those applications for new wind energy developments received since 7 December 2007 which have been neither referred to a public local inquiry nor det","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will list those applications for new wind energy developments received since 7 December 2007 which have been neither referred to a public local inquiry nor determined, giving the name of the project, the date of the application and the mega watt capacity of the development.","AnswerText":"Applications for consent under section 36 of the Electricity Act 1989 received for new wind energy developments since 7 December 2007 that have been neither referred to a public local inquiry nor determined by Scottish ministers are:
Name
Date of Application
Mega Watt Capacity
Earlshaugh
25 June 2008
108 MW
Harelaw
19 May 2009
120 MW
Viking
19 May 2009
550 MW
Wester Dodd
7 September 2009
79.2 MW
Rowantree
3 February 2010
69 MW
Kilgallioch
16 March 2010
396 MW
Galawhistle
22 March 2010
55 MW
Applications for wind energy developments under 50 MW are dealt with by local planning authorities and the information is not held centrally.
","AnswerDate":"2010-09-06T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-09-13T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Jim Mather","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":242293,"EventID":"S3W-35751","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2117,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":47,"ApprovedDate":"2010-08-16T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-08-16T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will list those applications for extensions to existing wind energy developments received since 7 December 2007 which have been determined under section 36 of ","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will list those applications for extensions to existing wind energy developments received since 7 December 2007 which have been determined under section 36 of the Electricity Act 1989, giving the name of the project, the date of the application and the mega watt capacity of the development.","AnswerText":"Applications that have been received since 7 December 2007 for consent under Section 36 of the Electricity act 1989, to extend existing wind energy developments and that have been determined by Scottish ministers are:
Name
Date of Application
Mega watt capacity
Rothes wind farm Extension
27 December 2007
37 MW
Whitelee wind farm Extension
23 April 2008
130 MW
Millenium wind farm Extension
6 January 2009
15 MW
Kilbraur wind farm Extension
13 March 2009
20 MW
Whitelee wind farm Extension phase 2
30 May 2009
162 MW
","AnswerDate":"2010-09-06T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-09-13T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Jim Mather","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":242294,"EventID":"S3W-35752","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2117,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":47,"ApprovedDate":"2010-08-16T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-08-16T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will list those applications for extensions to existing wind energy developments received since 7 December 2007 which have been referred to a public local inqu","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will list those applications for extensions to existing wind energy developments received since 7 December 2007 which have been referred to a public local inquiry, giving the name of the project, the date of the application and the mega watt capacity of the development.","AnswerText":"No applications received after 7 December 2007 for consent under Section 36 of the Electricity Act 1989 to extend existing wind energy developments have been referred to a public local inquiry. ","AnswerDate":"2010-09-06T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-09-13T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Jim Mather","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":242295,"EventID":"S3W-35753","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2117,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":47,"ApprovedDate":"2010-08-16T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-08-16T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will list those applications for extensions to existing wind energy developments received since 7 December 2007 which have been neither referred to a public lo","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will list those applications for extensions to existing wind energy developments received since 7 December 2007 which have been neither referred to a public local inquiry nor determined, giving the name of the project, the date of the application and the mega watt capacity of the development.","AnswerText":"Applications for consent under section 36 of the Electricity Act 1989 received for extensions to existing wind energy developments since 7 December 2007, that have been neither referred to a public local inquiry nor determined by Scottish ministers are:
Name
Date of Application
Mega Watt Capacity
Black Law wind farm Extension
25 January 2008
90 MW
","AnswerDate":"2010-09-06T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-09-13T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Jim Mather","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":242296,"EventID":"S3W-35754","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2117,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":47,"ApprovedDate":"2010-08-16T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-08-16T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will list those applications for new wave and tidal energy developments received since 7 December 2007 which have been determined under section 36 of the Elect","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will list those applications for new wave and tidal energy developments received since 7 December 2007 which have been determined under section 36 of the Electricity Act 1989, giving the name of the project, the date of the application and the mega watt capacity of the development.","AnswerText":"Since 7 December 2007, applications were received and determined by Scottish Ministers under Section 36 of the Electricity Act 1989 for the following wave and tidal energy developments:
Name
Date of Application
Mega Watt Capacity
Siadar Wave Energy Generating Scheme
21 July 2008
4 MW
From April 2010 all new Section 36 applications for offshore developments will be processed by Marine Scotland.
","AnswerDate":"2010-09-06T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-09-13T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Jim Mather","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":242297,"EventID":"S3W-35755","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2117,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":47,"ApprovedDate":"2010-08-16T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-08-16T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will list those applications for new wave and tidal energy developments received since 7 December 2007 which have been referred to a public local inquiry, givi","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will list those applications for new wave and tidal energy developments received since 7 December 2007 which have been referred to a public local inquiry, giving the name of the project, the date of the application and the mega watt capacity of the development.","AnswerText":"No applications for consent under Section 36 of the Electricity Act 1989 for new wave and tidal energy developments received since 7 December 2007 have been referred to a public local inquiry.
Since April 2010, all new Section 36 applications for offshore developments will be processed by Marine Scotland.
","AnswerDate":"2010-09-06T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-09-13T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Jim Mather","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":242298,"EventID":"S3W-35756","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2117,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":47,"ApprovedDate":"2010-08-16T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-08-16T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will list those applications for new wave and tidal energy developments received since 7 December 2007 which have been referred to a public local inquiry, givi","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will list those applications for new wave and tidal energy developments received since 7 December 2007 which have been referred to a public local inquiry, giving the name of the project, the date of the application and the mega watt capacity of the development.","AnswerText":"I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-35755 on 6 September 2010. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament''s website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/Apps2/Business/PQA/Default.aspx. ","AnswerDate":"2010-09-06T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-09-13T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Jim Mather","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":242299,"EventID":"S3W-35757","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2117,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":47,"ApprovedDate":"2010-08-16T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-08-16T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will list those applications for new wave and tidal energy developments received since 7 December 2007 which have been neither referred to a public local inqui","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will list those applications for new wave and tidal energy developments received since 7 December 2007 which have been neither referred to a public local inquiry nor determined, giving the name of the project, the date of the application and the mega watt capacity of the development.","AnswerText":"No applications have been received since 7 December 2007, for consent under Section 36 of the Electricity Act 1989, for new wave and tidal energy developments that have neither been referred to a local public inquiry nor determined.
From April 2010, all new Section 36 applications for offshore developments will be processed by Marine Scotland.
","AnswerDate":"2010-09-06T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-09-13T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Jim Mather","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":242300,"EventID":"S3W-35758","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2117,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":47,"ApprovedDate":"2010-08-16T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-08-16T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will list those applications for new renewable energy developments received since 7 December 2007, other than wind, hydro and marine, which have been determine","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will list those applications for new renewable energy developments received since 7 December 2007, other than wind, hydro and marine, which have been determined under section 36 of the Electricity Act 1989, giving the name of the project, the date of the application and the mega watt capacity of the development.","AnswerText":"No applications received since 7 December 2007 for consent to develop new renewable energy developments other than wind, hydro and marine, have been determined under Section 36 of the Electricity Act 1989. ","AnswerDate":"2010-09-06T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-09-13T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Jim Mather","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":242301,"EventID":"S3W-35759","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2117,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":47,"ApprovedDate":"2010-08-16T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-08-16T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will list those applications for new renewable energy developments received since 7 December 2007, other than wind, hydro and marine, which have been referred ","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will list those applications for new renewable energy developments received since 7 December 2007, other than wind, hydro and marine, which have been referred to a public local inquiry, giving the name of the project, the date of the application and the mega watt capacity of the development.","AnswerText":"No applications received since 7 December 2007 for consent to develop new renewable energy developments other than wind, hydro and marine under Section 36 of the Electricity Act 1989, have been referred to a public local inquiry. ","AnswerDate":"2010-09-06T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-09-13T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Jim Mather","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":242302,"EventID":"S3W-35760","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2117,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":47,"ApprovedDate":"2010-08-16T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-08-16T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will list those applications for new renewable energy developments received since 7 December 2007, other than wind, hydro and marine, which have been neither r","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will list those applications for new renewable energy developments received since 7 December 2007, other than wind, hydro and marine, which have been neither referred to a public local inquiry nor determined, giving the name of the project, the date of the application and the mega watt capacity of the development.","AnswerText":"Applications for consent under Section 36 of the Electricity Act 1989 for new renewable energy developments other that wind, hydro and marine, received since 7 December 2007, that have been neither referred to a public local inquiry nor determined are:
Name
Date of Application
Mega watt capacity
Dundee Biomass
17 August 2010
120MW
","AnswerDate":"2010-09-06T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-09-13T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Jim Mather","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":242303,"EventID":"S3W-35761","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":3538,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":13,"ApprovedDate":"2010-08-17T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-08-17T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-34737 by Alex Neil on 16 July 2010, when it will report the findings of the interim review of the Home Report to the Parliament","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-34737 by Alex Neil on 16 July 2010, when it will report the findings of the interim review of the Home Report to the Parliament","AnswerText":"The report of the interim review of the Home Report, which has looked at its implementation and operation over the first 12 months, is due to be published by the end of September. ","AnswerDate":"2010-09-06T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-09-14T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Alex Neil","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":242304,"EventID":"S3W-35762","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1877,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":70,"ApprovedDate":"2010-08-17T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-08-17T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether there is any performance measurement and published data on the performance of local planning departments","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether there is any performance measurement and published data on the performance of local planning departments","AnswerText":"The most recent data on planning authority performance was published by the Scottish Government on 13 August 2010 and can be accessed on the Scottish Government''s website at:
","AnswerDate":"2010-09-15T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-09-14T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"John Swinney","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":242305,"EventID":"S3W-35763","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2068,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":22,"ApprovedDate":"2010-08-17T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-08-17T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive how many cases against suspected drug dealers in the Easter Ross area have been dropped since June 2010","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive how many cases against suspected drug dealers in the Easter Ross area have been dropped since June 2010","AnswerText":"Since June 2010, one case with a charge under the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971 relating to supply of drugs has been deserted as a result of the absence of an essential prosecution witness. The said witness could not be traced despite the endeavours of the police. ","AnswerDate":"2010-09-01T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-09-14T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Frank Mulholland","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":242306,"EventID":"S3W-35764","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1752,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":57,"ApprovedDate":"2010-08-17T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-08-17T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive many applications were made to the Energy Saving Trust (Scotland) for the Energy Saving Scotland home loan scheme","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive many applications were made to the Energy Saving Trust (Scotland) for the Energy Saving Scotland home loan scheme","AnswerText":"The Energy Saving Trust have received 1,262 applications under the Energy Saving Scotland home loan scheme. ","AnswerDate":"2010-09-10T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-09-14T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Jim Mather","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":242307,"EventID":"S3W-35765","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1752,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":57,"ApprovedDate":"2010-08-17T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-08-17T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive how many applications made to the Energy Saving Trust (Scotland) for the Energy Saving Scotland home loan scheme were (a) granted and (b) rejected","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive how many applications made to the Energy Saving Trust (Scotland) for the Energy Saving Scotland home loan scheme were (a) granted and (b) rejected","AnswerText":"At close of business on 27 August 2010, 818 loans had been offered and 185 applications had been rejected. A further 186 applications are currently being processed and 73 applications have been withdrawn by the applicant. ","AnswerDate":"2010-09-10T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-09-14T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Jim Mather","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":242308,"EventID":"S3W-35766","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1752,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":57,"ApprovedDate":"2010-08-18T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-08-18T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions it has had with representatives of (a) South Ayrshire Council and (b) the Forestry Commission regarding the proposed energy-from-waste incinerator plant ","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions it has had with representatives of (a) South Ayrshire Council and (b) the Forestry Commission regarding the proposed energy-from-waste incinerator plant in Arecleoch Forest.","AnswerText":"We have had no discussion with South Ayrshire Council about this energy from waste plant, which is being proposed on land managed by Forestry Commission Scotland. The commission wants to encourage development of a railhead on this site to help take timber traffic off public roads and has proposed that ancillary developments, such as the energy to waste plant, be allowed to help improve the economic viability of the project. Such a development would of course be subject to securing necessary land-use planning consent from the local authority and environmental permit from the Scottish Environment Protection Agency. ","AnswerDate":"2010-09-09T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-09-15T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Richard Lochhead","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":242309,"EventID":"S3W-35767","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2059,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":18,"ApprovedDate":"2010-08-18T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-08-18T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive how many work programme places for prisoners were available in each of the last five years, broken down by prison.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive how many work programme places for prisoners were available in each of the last five years, broken down by prison.","AnswerText":"I have asked John Ewing, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service, to respond. His response is as follows:
Historically, Prison work programme places are managed locally in each establishment and the information is not collated centrally so it would not be possible to provide such information without disproportionate cost. However, a database is currently under development to co-ordinate this information in the future.
","AnswerDate":"2010-09-09T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-09-15T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Kenny MacAskill","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":242310,"EventID":"S3W-35768","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2059,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":18,"ApprovedDate":"2010-08-18T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-08-18T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive how many educational programme places for prisoners were available in each of the last five years, broken down by prison.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive how many educational programme places for prisoners were available in each of the last five years, broken down by prison.","AnswerText":"I have asked John Ewing, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service, to respond. His response is as follows:
The total number of educational programme spaces for prisoners in each of the last five years by prisons is:
Prison
2006
2007
2008
2009
2010
Aberdeen
34
34
34
34
34
Barlinnie
38
38
38
38
38
Cornton Vale
17
17
17
25
33
Dumfries
34
34
34
34
34
Edinburgh
40
40
40
40
40
Glenochil
38
38
38
38
24
Greenock
26
26
26
26
26
Inverness
28
28
28
28
28
Kilmarnock
60
60
60
60
60
Open Estate
25
30
30
30
34
Perth
","AnswerDate":"2010-09-09T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-09-15T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Nicola Sturgeon","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":242312,"EventID":"S3W-35770","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":3896,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":25,"ApprovedDate":"2010-08-19T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-08-19T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what representations it has made to the UK Government regarding the proposal by the governments of Iceland and Faroe to increase their fishermen’s quotas of mackerel.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what representations it has made to the UK Government regarding the proposal by the governments of Iceland and Faroe to increase their fishermen’s quotas of mackerel.","AnswerText":"The actions of Iceland and Faeroes in setting unilateral total allowable catches (TACs) for mackerel in the North East Atlantic are irresponsible and risk the future sustainability of the stock, which in turn could have serious impacts for the Scottish Pelagic Fleet. The Scottish Government has received representations from the Scottish Pelagic Fishermen''s Association welcoming the positive action we have taken to address the issue; as well as concerns expressed by some Scottish fish processors that any action we take should not deprive them of raw material for their production.
Marine Scotland has objected to the Marine Stewardship Council certification of the Faroese mackerel stock. The objection has been accepted by the independent adjudicator and the outcome of her review is awaited. The Scottish Government has also written to the Government of Faeroes in response to complaints that the Faeroese vessel Jupiter was prevented from landing mackerel at Peterhead, encouraging the Faeroese Government to return to the negotiating table.
I have written twice to Commissioner Damanaki asking her to take a strong stand against the Faroese and Icelanders, and in particular to keep the issue at the fore during Iceland''s EU accession negotiations. Following my first letter, the Commissioner wrote to Commissioner Fule (Enlargement) highlighting the problems and asking him to ensure it was discussed during the accession negotiations.
My second letter was in response to the Faeroese decision to set a TAC far in excess of their previous share. Following this, the Commissioner made a statement condemning the action and outlining possible further action that would be taken against the Faeroes if they did not reconsider their approach during the next round of negotiations. I followed up the letters with a phone conversation during which Commissioner Damanaki assured me of her commitment to resolving the issue and that she would work closely with the Scottish and UK Governments.
I have maintained close contact throughout with the UK Fisheries Minister, Richard Benyon MP. He too has made parallel representations to the Commission. I have also encouraged the UK Government to explore the scope for wider diplomatic pressure to be brought to bear.
The Scottish Government will continue to work with the UK, the European Commission and other key European member states to identify how best we can ensure Iceland and Faeroes come back to the negotiating table in order to secure a deal that is fair for Scotland and protects the mackerel stock.
","AnswerDate":"2010-09-09T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-09-16T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Richard Lochhead","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":242313,"EventID":"S3W-35771","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":3896,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":25,"ApprovedDate":"2010-08-19T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-08-19T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what representations it has made to the European Commission regarding the proposal by the governments of Iceland and Faroe to increase their fishermen’s quotas of mackere","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what representations it has made to the European Commission regarding the proposal by the governments of Iceland and Faroe to increase their fishermen’s quotas of mackerel.","AnswerText":"I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-35770 on 9 September 2010. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament''s website, the search facility for which can be found at www.scottish.parliament.uk/Apps2/Business/PQA/Default.aspx. ","AnswerDate":"2010-09-09T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-09-16T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Richard Lochhead","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":242314,"EventID":"S3W-35772","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":3896,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":25,"ApprovedDate":"2010-08-19T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-08-19T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what representations it has received regarding the proposal by the governments of Iceland and Faroe to increase their fishermen’s quotas of mackerel.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what representations it has received regarding the proposal by the governments of Iceland and Faroe to increase their fishermen’s quotas of mackerel.","AnswerText":"I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-35770 on 9 September 2010. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament''s website, the search facility for which can be found at www.scottish.parliament.uk/Apps2/Business/PQA/Default.aspx. ","AnswerDate":"2010-09-09T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-09-16T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Richard Lochhead","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":242315,"EventID":"S3W-35773","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":3896,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":25,"ApprovedDate":"2010-08-19T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-08-19T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what representations it has made to the government of Faroe regarding its proposal to increase quotas of mackerel for Faroese fishermen.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what representations it has made to the government of Faroe regarding its proposal to increase quotas of mackerel for Faroese fishermen.","AnswerText":"I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-35770 on 9 September 2010. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament''s website, the search facility for which can be found at www.scottish.parliament.uk/Apps2/Business/PQA/Default.aspx. ","AnswerDate":"2010-09-09T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-09-16T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Richard Lochhead","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":242316,"EventID":"S3W-35774","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":3896,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":25,"ApprovedDate":"2010-08-19T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-08-19T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what representations it has made to the government of Iceland regarding its proposal to increase quotas of mackerel for Icelandic fishermen.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what representations it has made to the government of Iceland regarding its proposal to increase quotas of mackerel for Icelandic fishermen.","AnswerText":"I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-35770 on 9 September 2010. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament''s website, the search facility for which can be found at www.scottish.parliament.uk/Apps2/Business/PQA/Default.aspx. ","AnswerDate":"2010-09-09T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-09-16T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Richard Lochhead","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":242317,"EventID":"S3W-35775","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1769,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":2,"ApprovedDate":"2010-08-19T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-08-19T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether there is European legislation that prevents it or Transport Scotland directly and permanently operating ScotRail services once the current franchise expires and, ","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether there is European legislation that prevents it or Transport Scotland directly and permanently operating ScotRail services once the current franchise expires and, if so, what that legislation is.","AnswerText":"The provision of rail passenger services in Scotland is regulated by UK and European legislation. A primary aim of the legislation is to ensure that the right to provide such services is open to competition. Scottish Ministers as franchising authority must therefore invite tenders under the UK Railways Act 1993.
That Act prevents a range of public bodies, including Scottish Ministers and their Executive Agency Transport Scotland, from being the franchisee and also prevents such bodies operating the franchise through a company controlled by them.
Section 30 of the Railways Act makes Scottish Ministers responsible for securing ScotRail services in the absence of a franchisee, until a replacement can be secured.
","AnswerDate":"2010-09-13T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-09-16T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Stewart Stevenson","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":242318,"EventID":"S3W-35776","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1769,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":2,"ApprovedDate":"2010-08-19T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-08-19T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether there is European legislation that prevents an arm’s length publicly owned company from directly and permanently operating ScotRail services once the current fran","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether there is European legislation that prevents an arm’s length publicly owned company from directly and permanently operating ScotRail services once the current franchise expires and, if so, what that legislation is.","AnswerText":"I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-35775 on 13 September 2010. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament''s website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/Apps2/Business/PQA/Default.aspx. ","AnswerDate":"2010-09-13T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-09-16T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Stewart Stevenson","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":242319,"EventID":"S3W-35777","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1769,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":2,"ApprovedDate":"2010-08-19T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-08-19T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether there is UK legislation that prevents it or Transport Scotland directly and permanently operating ScotRail services once the current franchise expires and, if so,","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether there is UK legislation that prevents it or Transport Scotland directly and permanently operating ScotRail services once the current franchise expires and, if so, what that legislation is.","AnswerText":"I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-35775 on 13 September 2010. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament''s website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/Apps2/Business/PQA/Default.aspx. ","AnswerDate":"2010-09-13T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-09-16T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Stewart Stevenson","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":242320,"EventID":"S3W-35778","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1769,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":2,"ApprovedDate":"2010-08-19T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-08-19T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether there is UK legislation that prevents an arm’s length publicly owned company from directly and permanently operating ScotRail services once the current franchise ","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether there is UK legislation that prevents an arm’s length publicly owned company from directly and permanently operating ScotRail services once the current franchise expires and, if so, what that legislation is.","AnswerText":"I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-35775 on 13 September 2010. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament''s website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/Apps2/Business/PQA/Default.aspx. ","AnswerDate":"2010-09-13T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-09-16T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Stewart Stevenson","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":242321,"EventID":"S3W-35779","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1769,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":2,"ApprovedDate":"2010-08-19T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-08-19T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether there is Scottish legislation that prevents it or Transport Scotland directly and permanently operating ScotRail services once the current franchise expires and, ","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether there is Scottish legislation that prevents it or Transport Scotland directly and permanently operating ScotRail services once the current franchise expires and, if so, what that legislation is.","AnswerText":"I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-35775 on 13 September 2010. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament''s website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/Apps2/Business/PQA/Default.aspx. ","AnswerDate":"2010-09-13T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-09-16T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Stewart Stevenson","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":242322,"EventID":"S3W-35780","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1769,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":2,"ApprovedDate":"2010-08-19T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-08-19T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether there is Scottish legislation that prevents an arm’s length publicly owned company from directly and permanently operating ScotRail services once the current fran","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether there is Scottish legislation that prevents an arm’s length publicly owned company from directly and permanently operating ScotRail services once the current franchise expires and, if so what that legislation is.","AnswerText":"I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-35775 on 13 September 2010. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament''s website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/Apps2/Business/PQA/Default.aspx. ","AnswerDate":"2010-09-13T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-09-16T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Stewart Stevenson","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":242323,"EventID":"S3W-35781","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2202,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":8,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2010-08-19T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-08-19T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive how many deaths there were in cases where pressure ulcers or sores were listed on the death certificate as a contributory cause in each of the last five years, broken dow","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive how many deaths there were in cases where pressure ulcers or sores were listed on the death certificate as a contributory cause in each of the last five years, broken down by NHS board.","AnswerText":"The information requested is shown in the following table, which shows the numbers of deaths where pressure ulcers or sores were the underlying cause.
Table 1: Deaths where Pressure Ulcers or Sores1 were the Underlying Cause, by NHS Board of Residence, for Each of the Last Five Years
NHS Board
2005
2006
2007
2008
2009
Ayrshire and Arran
3
5
2
1
0
Borders
1
0
0
0
0
Dumfries and Galloway
0
0
1
1
0
Fife
0
0
2
0
3
Forth Valley
1
0
0
0
0
Grampian
1
1
2
3
0
Greater Glasgow and Clyde
2
2
3
2
3
Highland
Table 1: Deaths where Pressure Ulcers or Sores1 were Mentioned on the Death Certificate Either as the Underlying Cause or as a Contributory Factor, by NHS Board of Residence, for Each of the Last Five Years
NHS Board Area
2005
2006
2007
2008
2009
Ayrshire and Arran
11
8
10
6
4
Borders
1
1
5
1
0
Dumfries and Galloway
3
1
4
5
0
Fife
6
9
5
8
8
Forth Valley
3
5
4
5
5
Grampian
14
8
7
8
11
Greater Glasgow and Clyde
28
20
32
29
42
NHS Board
2009-10
2008-09
2007-08
2006-07
2005-06
NHS Dumfries and Galloway
1
NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde
3
1
1
1
NHS Highland
1
NHS Lanarkshire
1
NHS Tayside
1*
Data provided by Central Legal Office. The data may not be comprehensive due to the classification of the complaint.
Notes:
All other NHS boards have not had a claim made against them specifically relating to pressure ulcers or sores.
*In one case payment of £20,560.66 was made by the board in relation to pressure sores. The board paid the sum as damages for alleged negligence - the total includes the award to the claimant and his legal expenses. In civil claims, as in this instance, guilt does not arise - it only arises in criminal proceedings where the Procurator Fiscal charges you with an offence. No other payments have been made by NHS boards in respect of pressure ulcers or sores.
No other payments have been made by NHS boards
","AnswerDate":"2010-09-08T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-09-16T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Nicola Sturgeon","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":242326,"EventID":"S3W-35784","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":3759,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":1,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2010-08-19T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-08-19T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether consideration has been given to providing Mohs surgery for patients with dermatological cancers in the NHS Lothian and Borders areas.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether consideration has been given to providing Mohs surgery for patients with dermatological cancers in the NHS Lothian and Borders areas.","AnswerText":"All patients within the region covered by the South East Scotland Cancer Network (SCAN) have access to Mohs surgery for dermatological cancers, and this includes patients in the NHS Lothian and NHS Borders areas.
NHS Lothian are currently looking to employ a Surgical Dermatologist who will be trained in Mohs micrographic surgery, which will allow the Mohs service to be further developed and offered locally.
","AnswerDate":"2010-09-09T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-09-16T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Nicola Sturgeon","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":242327,"EventID":"S3W-35785","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1837,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":36,"ApprovedDate":"2010-08-19T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-08-19T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether the National Housing Trust initiative will produce guidance on how houses for mid-market rent will be physically integrated with other social rented housing in ho","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether the National Housing Trust initiative will produce guidance on how houses for mid-market rent will be physically integrated with other social rented housing in housing developments. ","AnswerText":"The purpose of the National Housing Trust initiative (NHT) is to make additional private rented housing available at intermediate rent levels. It is not aimed at providing social rented homes. In some cases NHT homes may be provided on sites where there is social housing, but in others there may not be any social housing on the site. Proposed sites will be assessed by local authorities and the Scottish Futures Trust on the basis of the suitability and location of the homes for NHT and so guidance will not be required on physical integration of NHT homes with social rented housing. ","AnswerDate":"2010-09-14T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-09-16T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Alex Neil","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":242328,"EventID":"S3W-35786","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1837,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":36,"ApprovedDate":"2010-08-19T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-08-19T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether the National Housing Trust initiative will produce guidance on how to achieve the numerical balance between houses for mid-market rent and other social rented hou","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether the National Housing Trust initiative will produce guidance on how to achieve the numerical balance between houses for mid-market rent and other social rented houses in housing developments.","AnswerText":"It is for participating local authorities, in discussion with the Scottish Government (SG), to lead on and determine the appropriate balance between the provision of intermediate rented homes through the National Housing Trust initiative (NHT) and the provisions of social rented housing throughout their area, based on evidence from their Housing Need and Demand Assessments (HNDAs).The SG does not feel that guidance is required in relation to this, beyond the guidance already provided to local authorities by the SG on the preparation of Local Housing Strategies and HNDAs. This guidance is available on the SG website at http://www.scotland.gov.uk. ","AnswerDate":"2010-09-14T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-09-16T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Alex Neil","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":242329,"EventID":"S3W-35787","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1837,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":36,"ApprovedDate":"2010-08-19T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-08-19T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether the National Housing Trust initiative will produce guidance on the level of specification for houses designated as being for mid-market rent in housing developmen","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether the National Housing Trust initiative will produce guidance on the level of specification for houses designated as being for mid-market rent in housing developments.","AnswerText":"The 2007 building regulations will be the minimum standard that all local authorities will expect developers to meet. However, it is envisaged that during the bid evaluation process the quality of the houses will be taken into account. ","AnswerDate":"2010-09-14T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-09-16T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Alex Neil","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":242330,"EventID":"S3W-35788","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1837,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":36,"ApprovedDate":"2010-08-19T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-08-19T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether the National Housing Trust initiative will produce guidance on the conditions under which a mid-market rent for a householder would be terminated.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether the National Housing Trust initiative will produce guidance on the conditions under which a mid-market rent for a householder would be terminated.","AnswerText":"A short assured tenancy agreement and tenants'' handbook are being prepared for the National Housing Trust initiative (NHT). These will make clear to tenants the circumstances under which their tenancy would be terminated. ","AnswerDate":"2010-09-14T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-09-16T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Alex Neil","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":242331,"EventID":"S3W-35789","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1837,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":36,"ApprovedDate":"2010-08-19T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-08-19T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether there has been progress in defining how the hub model for distribution of funding will operate under the Housing Options programme.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether there has been progress in defining how the hub model for distribution of funding will operate under the Housing Options programme.","AnswerText":"The members of each local authority grouping (or hub) will identify and cost their own priorities and submit an action plan which will be considered by the Scottish Government/COSLA 2012 Steering Group.
Initial discussions on how the hubs will proceed will take place at five regional seminars organised for this purpose. These are jointly facilitated by Scottish Government and those local authorities who have indicated their willingness to consider being a lead authority within the hub.
The five seminars are scheduled to take place in North Ayrshire, Highland, Perth and Kinross, East Dunbartonshire and City of Edinburgh over August and September.
","AnswerDate":"2010-08-30T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-09-16T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Alex Neil","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":242332,"EventID":"S3W-35790","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":3811,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":4,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2010-08-19T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-08-19T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what the (a) projected estimate and (b) actual amount was of income generated for the economy of (i) Scotland and (ii) Edinburgh by The Gathering 2009.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what the (a) projected estimate and (b) actual amount was of income generated for the economy of (i) Scotland and (ii) Edinburgh by The Gathering 2009.","AnswerText":"There was no projected estimate in terms of income generated for the economy by The Gathering event. The event was part of the Homecoming Scotland 2009 programme of events and the target for return on investment for Homecoming Scotland 2009 was an 8:1 return.
The economic impact assessment of The Gathering conducted by the leading economic and social development consultancy, EKOS, showed that the event generated net additional impact of £8.8 million in Edinburgh and £10.4 million in Scotland. This represents a return on investment of 18:1 at the Edinburgh level and 21:1 at the Scottish level.
","AnswerDate":"2010-09-10T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-09-16T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Jim Mather","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":242333,"EventID":"S3W-35791","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":3811,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":4,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2010-08-19T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-08-19T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what the (a) projected estimate and (b) actual amount was of income generated for the economy of (i) Scotland and (ii) Edinburgh by Homecoming Scotland 2009.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what the (a) projected estimate and (b) actual amount was of income generated for the economy of (i) Scotland and (ii) Edinburgh by Homecoming Scotland 2009.","AnswerText":"The target for Homecoming Scotland 2009 was to deliver an 8:1 return on the core investment of £5.5 million.
Independent research conducted by the leading economic and social development consultancy, EKOS, published on 21 May 2010 showed that Homecoming Scotland 2009 generated £53.7 million of additional tourism revenue for Scotland. This represents a return on investment of close to 10:1, 22 percent above the target set for the year.
We do not have figures at an Edinburgh level.
","AnswerDate":"2010-09-10T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-09-16T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Jim Mather","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":242334,"EventID":"S3W-35792","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2117,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":47,"ApprovedDate":"2010-08-19T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-08-19T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive, in light of the disbanding of the Marine Energy Group of the Forum for Renewable Energy Development in Scotland, what external body will provide ministers with advice on","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive, in light of the disbanding of the Marine Energy Group of the Forum for Renewable Energy Development in Scotland, what external body will provide ministers with advice on marine energy outwith the Pentland Forth and Orkney Waters.","AnswerText":"Issues related to offshore and marine energy developments are discussed at the Offshore Energy Programme Board, the Marine Strategy Forum, the Scottish Coastal Forum and the Offshore Wind Industry Group. The Marine Energy Group has completed its remit, although an offshoot group is continuing work on the Pentland Firth.
Marine Scotland is also holding consultation events with marine sectors, NGOs, planning authorities and the public through a set of meetings and regional workshops for the offshore wind strategic environmental assessment and draft plan. We will undertake the same open and transparent process for marine renewables development.
","AnswerDate":"2010-09-09T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-09-16T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Richard Lochhead","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":242335,"EventID":"S3W-35793","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2117,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":47,"ApprovedDate":"2010-08-19T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-08-19T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive, in light of the commitment to publish the Energy Storage Study in summer 2010 as detailed in the renewables action plan update of 28 July 2010, when it expects the study","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive, in light of the commitment to publish the Energy Storage Study in summer 2010 as detailed in the renewables action plan update of 28 July 2010, when it expects the study to be published.","AnswerText":"We expect the Energy Storage and Management Study to be published during October 2010. ","AnswerDate":"2010-09-15T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-09-16T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Jim Mather","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":242336,"EventID":"S3W-35794","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2117,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":47,"ApprovedDate":"2010-08-19T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-08-19T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether it plans to enter into discussions with the relevant UK bodies to review the threshold for installed capacity for applications for offshore wind farms and generat","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether it plans to enter into discussions with the relevant UK bodies to review the threshold for installed capacity for applications for offshore wind farms and generating stations wholly or mainly driven by water, such as hydroelectric, wave or tidal generating stations, as laid out under section 36 of the Electricity Act 1989.","AnswerText":"On 8 September 2010 the Scottish Government launched a consultation seeking views on its proposal to raise the Section 36 Consents threshold for onshore hydropower schemes from over 1 Megawatt (MW) to over 50 MW. The consultation welcomes views from a wide range of stakeholders and is open until 1 December 2010.
There is currently no intention to review the threshold for offshore wind farms or marine (wave and tidal) applications.
","AnswerDate":"2010-09-15T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-09-16T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Jim Mather","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":242337,"EventID":"S3W-35795","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2049,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":4,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2010-08-19T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-08-19T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what impact it expects the proposed reforms of the NHS in England to have in Scotland.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what impact it expects the proposed reforms of the NHS in England to have in Scotland.","AnswerText":"I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-35559 on 23 August 2010. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament''s website, the search facility for which can be found at www.scottish.parliament.uk/Apps2/Business/PQA/Default.aspx. ","AnswerDate":"2010-08-26T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-09-16T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Nicola Sturgeon","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":242338,"EventID":"S3W-35796","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2049,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":4,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2010-08-19T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-08-19T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what it expects the financial consequences for Scotland will be as a result of the proposed reforms of the NHS in England.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what it expects the financial consequences for Scotland will be as a result of the proposed reforms of the NHS in England.","AnswerText":"Health is a devolved matter and therefore changes proposed by the UK Government to NHS services in England do not have a direct impact on NHSScotland, however we are working with colleagues in the Department of Health to keep in touch with ongoing developments. ","AnswerDate":"2010-09-15T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-09-16T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Nicola Sturgeon","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":242339,"EventID":"S3W-35797","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":3061,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":1,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2010-08-20T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-08-20T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive how much of the £9 million awarded in 2008 for the development of carer information strategies was allocated in (a) 2008-09 and (b) 2009-10, broken down by NHS board. ","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive how much of the £9 million awarded in 2008 for the development of carer information strategies was allocated in (a) 2008-09 and (b) 2009-10, broken down by NHS board. ","AnswerText":"The allocation of funding to NHS boards and to the Scottish Ambulance Service for the development of carer information strategies in 2008-09 and in 2009-10 is set out in the following table.
NHS Board
2008-09
£000
2009-10
£000
NHS Ayrshire and Arran
77,000
231,000
NHS Borders
22,000
68,000
NHS Dumfries and Galloway
32,000
97,000
NHS Fife
69,000
206,000
NHS Forth Valley
53,000
159,000
NHS Grampian
91,000
274,000
NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde
245,000
734,000
NHS Highland
65,000
195,000
NHS Lanarkshire
108,000
323,000
NHS Lothian
136,000
408,000
NHS Orkney
6,000
17,000
NHS Shetland
6,000
18,000
NHS Tayside
79,000
237,000
NHS Western Isles
8,000
24,000
Scottish Ambulance Service
","AnswerDate":"2010-09-14T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-09-17T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Shona Robison","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":242341,"EventID":"S3W-35799","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":3061,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":1,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2010-08-20T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-08-20T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive how much of the £9 million awarded in 2008 for the development of carer information strategies has been spent on carer information sessions, broken down by NHS board","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive how much of the £9 million awarded in 2008 for the development of carer information strategies has been spent on carer information sessions, broken down by NHS board","AnswerText":"I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-35798 on 14 September 2010. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament''s website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/Apps2/Business/PQA/Default.aspx. ","AnswerDate":"2010-09-14T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-09-17T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Shona Robison","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":242342,"EventID":"S3W-35800","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":3061,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":1,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2010-08-20T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-08-20T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive how much of the £9 million awarded in 2008 for the development of carer information strategies has been spent on training for carers, broken down by NHS board","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive how much of the £9 million awarded in 2008 for the development of carer information strategies has been spent on training for carers, broken down by NHS board","AnswerText":"I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-35798 on 14 September 2010. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament''s website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/Apps2/Business/PQA/Default.aspx. ","AnswerDate":"2010-09-14T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-09-17T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Shona Robison","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":242343,"EventID":"S3W-35801","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":3061,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":1,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2010-08-20T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-08-20T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive how much of the £9 million awarded in 2008 for the development of carer information strategies has been spent on NHS operating systems, broken down by NHS board","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive how much of the £9 million awarded in 2008 for the development of carer information strategies has been spent on NHS operating systems, broken down by NHS board","AnswerText":"I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-35798 on 14 September 2010. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament''s website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/Apps2/Business/PQA/Default.aspx. ","AnswerDate":"2010-09-14T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-09-17T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Shona Robison","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":242344,"EventID":"S3W-35802","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2140,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":55,"ApprovedDate":"2010-08-20T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-08-20T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has any plans to reduce the number of undergraduate dental students","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has any plans to reduce the number of undergraduate dental students","AnswerText":"A review of the dental workforce began in June 2009 and the final report is due to be published in autumn 2010. Evidence from this review will be used to determine future student intake numbers. ","AnswerDate":"2010-09-14T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-09-17T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Shona Robison","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":242345,"EventID":"S3W-35803","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2140,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":55,"ApprovedDate":"2010-08-20T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-08-20T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has any plans to abolish the NHS Dental Bursary Scheme","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has any plans to abolish the NHS Dental Bursary Scheme","AnswerText":"There are no current plans to abolish the NHS Dental Bursary. ","AnswerDate":"2010-09-06T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-09-17T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Shona Robison","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":242346,"EventID":"S3W-35804","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2610,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":1,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2010-08-20T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-08-20T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive how many subcontractors have been employed by Scottish Water since May 2006","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive how many subcontractors have been employed by Scottish Water since May 2006","AnswerText":"This information is not held centrally and I have asked the Chief Executive of Scottish Water to reply to you. ","AnswerDate":"2010-09-08T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-09-17T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"John Swinney","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":242347,"EventID":"S3W-35805","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2610,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":1,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2010-08-20T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-08-20T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what the total value is of all subcontracted operations led by Scottish Water since May 2006","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what the total value is of all subcontracted operations led by Scottish Water since May 2006","AnswerText":"This information is not held centrally and I have asked the Chief Executive of Scottish Water to reply to you. ","AnswerDate":"2010-09-08T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-09-17T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"John Swinney","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":242348,"EventID":"S3W-35806","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2610,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":1,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2010-08-20T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-08-20T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will list the subcontractors currently employed by Scottish Water","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will list the subcontractors currently employed by Scottish Water","AnswerText":"This information is not held centrally and I have asked the Chief Executive of Scottish Water to reply to you. ","AnswerDate":"2010-09-08T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-09-17T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"John Swinney","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":242349,"EventID":"S3W-35807","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2223,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":26,"ApprovedDate":"2010-08-20T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-08-20T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what target cost savings it has asked the study by BM Consulting and Reference Economic Consultants into cost reduction measures on the Northern Isles ferry services to a","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what target cost savings it has asked the study by BM Consulting and Reference Economic Consultants into cost reduction measures on the Northern Isles ferry services to achieve and how the target was determined.","AnswerText":"No target cost savings were set as part of this exercise. The consultants were simply tasked with assessing the potential impacts a number of cost reductions measures, if implemented, would have in Orkney and Shetland. ","AnswerDate":"2010-09-13T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-09-17T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Stewart Stevenson","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":242350,"EventID":"S3W-35808","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2223,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":26,"ApprovedDate":"2010-08-20T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-08-20T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what the cost is of the study by BM Consulting and Reference Economic Consultants into potential cost reduction measures on the Northern Isles ferry services, broken down","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what the cost is of the study by BM Consulting and Reference Economic Consultants into potential cost reduction measures on the Northern Isles ferry services, broken down by (a) consultants’ fees, (b) internal staff costs and (c) other costs.","AnswerText":" The costs to engage the consultants to undertake the study will be about £25,000. No specific budget for internal staff costs was set aside, as this task fell within normal ferry contract management activities and ongoing engagement with the local communities served. No other costs have been identified. ","AnswerDate":"2010-09-21T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-09-17T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Stewart Stevenson","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":242351,"EventID":"S3W-35809","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":3129,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":2,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2010-08-20T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-08-20T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive how many people aged 60 to 65 receive the winter fuel allowance.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive how many people aged 60 to 65 receive the winter fuel allowance.","AnswerText":"DWP have informed the Scottish Government that for winter 2008-09 (the latest period for which figures are available) there were 3,282,870 winter fuel payment recipients aged between 60 and 64 in Great Britain as a whole and 289,030 in Scotland. They expect the figures to be similar for winter 2009-10. (Figures are available in five year age bands for people between 60 and 79 and for all over 80s.) ","AnswerDate":"2010-09-14T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-09-17T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Alex Neil","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":242352,"EventID":"S3W-35810","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":3129,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":2,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2010-08-20T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-08-20T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what impact it considers raising the age threshold for receipt of the winter fuel allowance to 66 will have on fuel poverty","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what impact it considers raising the age threshold for receipt of the winter fuel allowance to 66 will have on fuel poverty","AnswerText":"The Winter Fuel Payment is included in the annual household income which is used to calculate fuel poverty. If this is deducted from the income of all 60 to 65 year olds approximately 1,100 more households would be in fuel poverty. ","AnswerDate":"2010-09-14T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-09-17T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Alex Neil","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":242353,"EventID":"S3W-35811","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":3129,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":2,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2010-08-20T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-08-20T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive how many people aged 60 to 65 are in fuel poverty.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive how many people aged 60 to 65 are in fuel poverty.","AnswerText":"In 2008 (the most recent year for which figures are available), there were approximately 137,000 people aged between 60 and 65 (inclusive) living in fuel poverty. ","AnswerDate":"2010-09-14T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-09-17T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Alex Neil","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":242354,"EventID":"S3W-35812","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":3129,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":2,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2010-08-20T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-08-20T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will ask the fuel poverty forum what impact the removal of winter fuel allowance from people aged 60 to 65 would have on fuel poverty.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will ask the fuel poverty forum what impact the removal of winter fuel allowance from people aged 60 to 65 would have on fuel poverty.","AnswerText":"The Scottish Fuel Poverty Forum has considered the issue of the winter fuel allowance. In its report published in October 2008 it recommended that the Westminster Government carry out a thorough review of both Winter Fuel Payments and Cold Weather Payments to ensure a better fit with fuel poverty. This was reinforced in the findings of its first annual report published in July this year.
The Scottish Fuel Poverty Forum will keep this issue under review as one of the outstanding recommendations from its Towards 2016 report.
","AnswerDate":"2010-09-14T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-09-17T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Alex Neil","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":242355,"EventID":"S3W-35813","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1837,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":36,"ApprovedDate":"2010-08-20T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-08-20T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-32230 by Alex Neil on 16 March 2010, when the method of recording housing support data will be published","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-32230 by Alex Neil on 16 March 2010, when the method of recording housing support data will be published","AnswerText":"The methodology to be used will be published once this has been agreed by the short-life working group. At its April meeting members of the working group asked Scottish Government statisticians to consult with the Care Commission to identify whether the Care Commission annual statistical return could be used to gather the information needed. The working group will consider a report back on these discussions at its next meeting at the end of September or early October. Other options are also being considered. The minutes of meetings of the working group and papers providing detailed discussions on the merits of different options are available on the Scottish Government website at:
","AnswerDate":"2010-09-14T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-09-17T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Alex Neil","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":242356,"EventID":"S3W-35814","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1837,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":36,"ApprovedDate":"2010-08-20T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-08-20T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what the rent arrears in each local authority was in (a) 2008-09 and (b) 2009-10.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what the rent arrears in each local authority was in (a) 2008-09 and (b) 2009-10.","AnswerText":"The rent arrears in each local authority are given as part of the official statistics publication, Local authority housing income and expenditure: 1997-98 to 2009-10. The publication and associated tables can be accessed at:
Details of rent arrears in each local authority are available on the Excel tables accessible through this link.
","AnswerDate":"2010-09-15T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-09-17T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Alex Neil","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":242357,"EventID":"S3W-35815","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1837,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":36,"ApprovedDate":"2010-08-20T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-08-20T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what the rent arrears in each housing association was in (a) 2008-09 and (b) 2009-10","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what the rent arrears in each housing association was in (a) 2008-09 and (b) 2009-10","AnswerText":"I have asked Michael Cameron, Acting Chief Executive of the Scottish Housing Regulator to respond.
His response is as follows:
The information relating to rent arrears in registered housing associations for 2008/09 is available from tables published on our website:
Table A4a covers gross rent arrears for both current and former tenants by housing association.
The information relating to 2009-10 is due for publication at the end of September and will be available through the link.
","AnswerDate":"2010-09-09T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-09-17T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Alex Neil","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":242358,"EventID":"S3W-35816","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1751,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":3,"ApprovedDate":"2010-08-20T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-08-20T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive when the Cabinet Secretary for Justice last discussed the case of Mr Abdelbaset Ali Mohmed Al Megrahi with other cabinet ministers.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive when the Cabinet Secretary for Justice last discussed the case of Mr Abdelbaset Ali Mohmed Al Megrahi with other cabinet ministers.","AnswerText":"I have discussed the case of Mr Al-Megrahi with the First Minister and Deputy First Minister on various occasions in recent weeks, most recently with the First Minister on 9 September 2010. ","AnswerDate":"2010-09-10T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-09-17T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Kenny MacAskill","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":242359,"EventID":"S3W-35817","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1751,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":3,"ApprovedDate":"2010-08-20T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-08-20T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive when the Cabinet Secretary for Justice was last briefed on the health condition of Mr Abdelbaset Ali Mohmed Al Megrahi","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive when the Cabinet Secretary for Justice was last briefed on the health condition of Mr Abdelbaset Ali Mohmed Al Megrahi","AnswerText":"Officials forward to me a copy of the monthly medical report, which they receive from East Renfrewshire Council. The most recent report was sent to me on 2 September 2010. ","AnswerDate":"2010-09-08T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-09-17T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Kenny MacAskill","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":242360,"EventID":"S3W-35818","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1751,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":3,"ApprovedDate":"2010-08-20T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-08-20T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive when the Cabinet Secretary for Justice last had a briefing on the case of Mr Abdelbaset Ali Mohmed Al Megrahi from East Renfrewshire Council","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive when the Cabinet Secretary for Justice last had a briefing on the case of Mr Abdelbaset Ali Mohmed Al Megrahi from East Renfrewshire Council","AnswerText":"There is regular contact between officials of the Scottish Government and East Renfrewshire Council. I have never had a briefing directly from East Renfrewshire Council on the case of Mr Al-Megrahi. ","AnswerDate":"2010-09-10T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-09-17T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Kenny MacAskill","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":242361,"EventID":"S3W-35819","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1751,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":3,"ApprovedDate":"2010-08-20T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-08-20T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive how regularly the Cabinet Secretary for Justice is briefed on the case of Mr Abdelbaset Ali Mohmed Al Megrahi","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive how regularly the Cabinet Secretary for Justice is briefed on the case of Mr Abdelbaset Ali Mohmed Al Megrahi","AnswerText":"Ministers receive weekly briefings during the parliamentary session and at various times during recess, depending on developments. ","AnswerDate":"2010-09-10T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-09-17T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Kenny MacAskill","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":242362,"EventID":"S3W-35820","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1751,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":3,"ApprovedDate":"2010-08-20T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-08-20T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive who briefs the Cabinet Secretary for Justice on the case of Mr Abdelbaset Ali Mohmed Al Megrahi and who attends these briefings","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive who briefs the Cabinet Secretary for Justice on the case of Mr Abdelbaset Ali Mohmed Al Megrahi and who attends these briefings","AnswerText":"A range of policy and communications officials contribute to the briefing of ministers on this issue. ","AnswerDate":"2010-09-10T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-09-17T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Kenny MacAskill","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":242363,"EventID":"S3W-35821","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1752,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":57,"ApprovedDate":"2010-08-20T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-08-20T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-35004 by Kenny MacAskill on 21 July 2010, whether it will outline the different ways in which HMP Kilmarnock and HMP Addiewell are ","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-35004 by Kenny MacAskill on 21 July 2010, whether it will outline the different ways in which HMP Kilmarnock and HMP Addiewell are seeking to reduce reoffending","AnswerText":"I have asked John Ewing, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service, to respond. His response is as follows:
Both HMP Kilmarnock and HMP Addiewell contribute to the reduction of re-offending by offering a range of programmes aimed at reducing offending by prisoners. At Kilmarnock this is based on a more traditional industrial and occupational model, whereas Addiewell provides a more educational based regime, operating as a learning prison with all purposeful activity designed to have a learning element.
","AnswerDate":"2010-09-13T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-09-17T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Kenny MacAskill","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":242364,"EventID":"S3W-35822","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1752,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":57,"ApprovedDate":"2010-08-20T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-08-20T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-35004 by Kenny MacAskill on 21 July 2010, whether it will outline the different ways in which HMP Kilmarnock and HMP Addiewell offe","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-35004 by Kenny MacAskill on 21 July 2010, whether it will outline the different ways in which HMP Kilmarnock and HMP Addiewell offer value for money","AnswerText":"I have asked John Ewing, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service, to respond. His response is as follows:
Both HMP Kilmarnock and HMP Addiewell contracts have been drawn up to deliver value for money and the performance measurement system for each ensures that this is achieved in respect of actual performance.
","AnswerDate":"2010-09-13T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-09-17T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Kenny MacAskill","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":242365,"EventID":"S3W-35823","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1752,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":57,"ApprovedDate":"2010-08-20T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-08-20T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-35004 by Kenny MacAskill on 21 July 2010, whether it plans to assess the differences between the contracts for operation of HMP Kil","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-35004 by Kenny MacAskill on 21 July 2010, whether it plans to assess the differences between the contracts for operation of HMP Kilmarnock and HMP Addiewell regarding (a) value for money and (b) reduction in reoffending","AnswerText":"I have asked John Ewing, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service, to respond. His response is as follows:
The Scottish Prison Service has no plans to assess the differences between the contracts for HMP Kilmarnock and HMP Addiewell. The service specification for both prison contracts is output based and contractors are assessed with regard to value for money and reduction of re-offending in measuring performance against the contract requirements for each prison.
","AnswerDate":"2010-09-13T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-09-17T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Kenny MacAskill","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":242366,"EventID":"S3W-35824","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1752,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":57,"ApprovedDate":"2010-08-20T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-08-20T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive when the Cabinet Secretary for Justice last met the Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service and what issues were discussed","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive when the Cabinet Secretary for Justice last met the Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service and what issues were discussed","AnswerText":"I regularly meet with the Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service to discuss matters affecting the service. My last such meeting was on 12 August 2010. ","AnswerDate":"2010-09-09T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-09-17T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Kenny MacAskill","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":242367,"EventID":"S3W-35825","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1752,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":57,"ApprovedDate":"2010-08-20T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-08-20T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive when the Cabinet Secretary for Justice last met the Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service to discuss the performance of HMP Kilmarnock","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive when the Cabinet Secretary for Justice last met the Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service to discuss the performance of HMP Kilmarnock","AnswerText":"I have asked John Ewing, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service, to respond. His response is as follows:
It is the responsibility of the Scottish Prison Service to monitor the performance of HMP Kilmarnock. That performance has been satisfactory and I have no cause to discuss the matter at my regular meetings with the Cabinet Secretary.
","AnswerDate":"2010-09-13T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-09-17T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Kenny MacAskill","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":242368,"EventID":"S3W-35826","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1752,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":57,"ApprovedDate":"2010-08-20T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-08-20T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive when the Cabinet Secretary for Justice last met the Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service to discuss the performance of HMP Addiewell","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive when the Cabinet Secretary for Justice last met the Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service to discuss the performance of HMP Addiewell","AnswerText":"I have asked John Ewing, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service, to respond. His response is as follows:
It is the responsibility of the Scottish Prison Service to monitor the performance of HMP Addiewell. That performance has been satisfactory and I have had no cause to discuss the matter at my regular meetings with the Cabinet Secretary.
","AnswerDate":"2010-09-13T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-09-17T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Kenny MacAskill","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":242369,"EventID":"S3W-35827","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1877,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":70,"ApprovedDate":"2010-08-23T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-08-23T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-35361 by Keith Brown on 16 July 2010, how it reconciles the offer of the 16+ Learning Choices with the most recent figure for those","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-35361 by Keith Brown on 16 July 2010, how it reconciles the offer of the 16+ Learning Choices with the most recent figure for those not being in employment, education or training (NEET).","AnswerText":"The latest school leaver destination statistics, published in June 2010, show that around 85% of young people who left school last year were in a positive destination nine months after leaving. This represents a small increase on the previous year and a positive performance in very challenging circumstances.
The fact is that even although we have officially moved out of recession its effects are still being clearly felt on the labour market, with more limited job opportunities available to young people when they finish their courses. Nevertheless, 61.3% of Scotland''s young people aged 18 to 24 are employed, higher than the UK average of 57.8% (LFS April to June 2010).
Local authorities, Skills Development Scotland, further education colleges and their partners are on track to deliver 16+ learning choices to all young people from December 2010. We are confident that this, together with the raft of new opportunities we have put in place, more college and university places, more Modern Apprenticeships and training programmes, Activity Agreements and volunteering, will drive further improvements and help more to achieve a positive and sustained destination.
","AnswerDate":"2010-09-14T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-09-20T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Keith Brown","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":242370,"EventID":"S3W-35828","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1877,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":70,"ApprovedDate":"2010-08-23T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-08-23T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what the total of non-consolidated bonus payments was for the public sector in 2009-10 and what the estimate is for 2010-11.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what the total of non-consolidated bonus payments was for the public sector in 2009-10 and what the estimate is for 2010-11.","AnswerText":"The total amount of non-consolidated performance related payments made in the public sector in Scotland in 2009-10 is currently unavailable. This is due to differences in the timing of organisational pay remits and because final financial returns have yet to be submitted.
No estimate is therefore available for 2010-11 but we are committed to significantly reducing non-consolidated performance payments in the public sector.
","AnswerDate":"2010-09-22T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-09-20T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"John Swinney","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":242371,"EventID":"S3W-35829","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1877,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":70,"ApprovedDate":"2010-08-23T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-08-23T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether it is bound by the Senior Salaries Review Body recommendations on pay and non-consolidated bonus pay for senior civil servants.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether it is bound by the Senior Salaries Review Body recommendations on pay and non-consolidated bonus pay for senior civil servants.","AnswerText":"Senior Civil Servants (SCS) pay is reserved to the UK Government. The SCS Pay and Performance Management framework is provided each year by the Cabinet Office following recommendations from the Senior Salaries Review Body. ","AnswerDate":"2010-09-06T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-09-20T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"John Swinney","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":242372,"EventID":"S3W-35830","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1877,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":70,"ApprovedDate":"2010-08-23T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-08-23T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will seek to obtain and publish up-to-date financial information on non-consolidated bonus payments (a) in local government and (b) for senior police officers.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will seek to obtain and publish up-to-date financial information on non-consolidated bonus payments (a) in local government and (b) for senior police officers.","AnswerText":"The Scottish Government is currently consulting on proposals which will require local authorities, including police boards, to make disclosures on senior officer remuneration. The disclosures include bonus payments made to senior officers. ","AnswerDate":"2010-09-06T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-09-20T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"John Swinney","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":242373,"EventID":"S3W-35831","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2167,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":3,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2010-08-23T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-08-23T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what improvements to the A95 are planned in 2010-11.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what improvements to the A95 are planned in 2010-11.","AnswerText":"Structural maintenance works were completed at A95 Poppin Brae, Craigellachie during May 2010. These works, to the value of £0.36 million, were necessary to address a geotechnical failure of the carriageway foundations and earthwork slopes.
Improvements to the signing, safety barriers and upgrading of large sign poles are also planned, with the aim of improving safety along the route.
","AnswerDate":"2010-09-13T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-09-20T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Stewart Stevenson","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":242374,"EventID":"S3W-35832","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2167,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":3,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2010-08-23T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-08-23T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what improvements to the A95 are planned in (a) 2011-12 and (b) 2012-13.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what improvements to the A95 are planned in (a) 2011-12 and (b) 2012-13.","AnswerText":"A carriageway realignment scheme is proposed for Lackghie, east of Drumuillie. The scheme consists of the widening, horizontal and vertical realignment of 2km of single carriageway, bringing it up to current design standards through the investment of £3.2 million.
There are proposals to undertake structural maintenance works at A95 Craigellachie to Wester Gauldwell and drainage improvements at A95 Ben Aigan.
Funding for road improvements beyond the current financial year will be determined from the forthcoming spending review.
","AnswerDate":"2010-09-13T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-09-20T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Stewart Stevenson","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":242375,"EventID":"S3W-35833","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2167,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":3,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2010-08-23T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-08-23T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive how many (a) fatal, (b) serious and (c) non-fatal casualties occurred on the A95 in (i) 2009 and (ii) 2010.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive how many (a) fatal, (b) serious and (c) non-fatal casualties occurred on the A95 in (i) 2009 and (ii) 2010.","AnswerText":"The following table shows a summary of the information requested:
A95 Casualties by Year and Severity
Trunk Road (Granish to Keith)
Local road (Keith to Macduff)
Year
Fatal
Serious
Slight
Total
Fatal
Serious
Slight
Total
2009
3
5
23
31
0
1
2
3
2010*
0
0
4
4
0
0
5
5
Total
3
5
27
35
0
1
7
8
Note: *Provisional figures from 1 January 2010 to 29 June 2010.
","AnswerDate":"2010-09-15T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-09-20T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Stewart Stevenson","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":242376,"EventID":"S3W-35834","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2167,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":3,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2010-08-24T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-08-24T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what grant incentives are available for forestry planting in order to provide a source for local wood burning for climate change reasons, and whether it is satisfied enou","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what grant incentives are available for forestry planting in order to provide a source for local wood burning for climate change reasons, and whether it is satisfied enough is being done to encourage a switch to wood burning technology.","AnswerText":"Grant incentives for forestry planting for local wood burning are available through the Scotland Rural Development Programme (SRDP). These include the woodland creation option of rural priorities and the option for establishment of short rotation coppice crops of willow or poplar.
The Scottish Government is encouraging a switch to wood burning technology, with the priority to encourage heat or combined heat power (CHP) plants sized appropriately for the local resource. In particular, it has offered capital grants for woodfuel heating systems under the Scottish Biomass Support Scheme, the subsequent Scottish Biomass Heat Scheme, the Community and Renewable Energy Scheme and the SRDP. Grants are still available under the SRDP and the recent energy statement by the UK Government indicated there would be ongoing support for renewable heat. We are working closely with the Department of Energy and Climate Change to expedite the proposed Renewable Heat Incentive, which would provide long-term support for wood burning technology.
","AnswerDate":"2010-09-14T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-09-21T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Roseanna Cunningham","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":242377,"EventID":"S3W-35835","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2167,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":3,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2010-08-24T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-08-24T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what support is available to assist communities with the costs of the infrastructure necessary to allow the extraction of local timber supplies.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what support is available to assist communities with the costs of the infrastructure necessary to allow the extraction of local timber supplies.","AnswerText":"Grant incentives to assist communities for the support of forestry infrastructure are available through the Scotland Rural Development Programme (SRDP) and the Strategic Timber Transport Scheme.
The options available through SRDP include the Provision and Upgrading of Infrastructure option in Rural Priorities and the option under Land Managers Access Creation for Sustainable Forest Management. These mechanisms may provide support for community land based businesses seeking to develop infrastructure to access forest land.
The Strategic Timber Transport Scheme could also provide communities with co-funding provided the proposal meets the criteria of the scheme.
","AnswerDate":"2010-09-17T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-09-21T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Richard Lochhead","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":242378,"EventID":"S3W-35836","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2167,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":3,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2010-08-24T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-08-24T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether it plans to incentivise individuals to invest in non fossil fuel dependent heating systems.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether it plans to incentivise individuals to invest in non fossil fuel dependent heating systems.","AnswerText":"The Scottish Government has already supported over 4,600 individuals to invest in non fossil fuel dependent heating systems through its Energy Saving Scotland home renewables grant scheme. Demand for this hugely successful scheme has been such, that all funding has now been fully allocated.
Furthermore, we are committed to helping to secure at least a fair share of the UK Government''s Clean Energy Cashback schemes, the Feed-In Tariff and the forthcoming Renewable Heat Incentive, for Scotland.
","AnswerDate":"2010-09-23T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-09-21T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Jim Mather","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":242379,"EventID":"S3W-35837","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2167,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":3,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2010-08-24T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-08-24T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will support island communities facing challenges of cost in the disposal of sewerage sludge from septic tanks.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will support island communities facing challenges of cost in the disposal of sewerage sludge from septic tanks.","AnswerText":"Scottish Water is required to provide a septic tank emptying service to island communities. The charges for this are calculated on a Scotland-wide basis, with the full costs of providing this service recovered from customer charges.
Those living in island communities pay the same charge as those on the mainland, and there are currently no plans to further support island communities in paying septic tank emptying charges.
","AnswerDate":"2010-09-09T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-09-21T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Richard Lochhead","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":242380,"EventID":"S3W-35838","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2167,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":3,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2010-08-24T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-08-24T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what progress has been made in the targeted rate relief scheme announced in February 2010 to assist renewable energy generators.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what progress has been made in the targeted rate relief scheme announced in February 2010 to assist renewable energy generators.","AnswerText":"The renewable energy generators business rate relief scheme was implemented on 1 April 2010 and welcomed by the industry. The introduction of the new scheme has been widely publicised by the Scottish Government and any business who considers it may be eligible for the relief should contact their local authority in the first instance.
Take-up of the new relief will be available after the end of the current financial year.
","AnswerDate":"2010-09-06T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-09-21T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"John Swinney","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":242381,"EventID":"S3W-35839","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2167,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":3,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2010-08-24T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-08-24T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether it plans to continue or develop the Rural Homes for Rent scheme.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether it plans to continue or develop the Rural Homes for Rent scheme.","AnswerText":"The Scottish Government intends to continue its Rural Homes for Rent Pilot Scheme by moving to a second bidding round. This further round will be expanded to permit landowners in rural areas to develop proposals for the renovation of empty properties as well as the development of new build houses. It will also provide an opportunity for community landowners who were unable to participate in the first round to prepare and submit bids.
The timescale and level of funding for this second round will be dependent upon the overall level of resources that will be available for social housing in future years.
Full details of the pilot scheme, including applications received and those projects being supported, have been published on the Scottish Government''s website at:
","AnswerDate":"2010-09-14T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-09-21T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Alex Neil","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":242382,"EventID":"S3W-35840","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1768,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":60,"ApprovedDate":"2010-08-24T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-08-24T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive how many inpatient beds there were in (a) NHS Dumfries and Galloway and (b) Dumfries and Galloway Royal Infirmary in (i) 2007-08, (ii) 2008-09 and (iii) 2009-10.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive how many inpatient beds there were in (a) NHS Dumfries and Galloway and (b) Dumfries and Galloway Royal Infirmary in (i) 2007-08, (ii) 2008-09 and (iii) 2009-10.","AnswerText":"The requested information is shown in the following table.
Average Available Staffed Beds in NHS Dumfries and Galloway and Dumfries and Galloway Royal Infirmary: Years Ending 31 March 2008-10
2008
2009
2010p
NHS Dumfries and Galloway
754
769
759
Dumfries and Galloway Royal Infirmary
347
365
366
Source: ISD Scotland [ISD(S)1].
PProvisional.
Notes:
1. The table shows information on average available staffed beds. This indicates the average daily number of beds, which were staffed and were available for the reception of inpatients and day cases.
2. The figures presented in the table include beds for use by NHS patients that are located in non-NHS locations e.g. joint-user and contractual hospitals.
","AnswerDate":"2010-09-21T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-09-21T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Nicola Sturgeon","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":242383,"EventID":"S3W-35841","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1754,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":5,"ApprovedDate":"2010-08-24T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-08-24T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what financial support has been provided to the operators of the Rosyth-Zeebrugge ferry.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what financial support has been provided to the operators of the Rosyth-Zeebrugge ferry.","AnswerText":"Waterborne freight grant of £520,000 was paid to Superfast Ferries in 2005. Direct marketing assistance was provided from Scottish Enterprise totalling £2,852,054, and approximately £3.9 millionin marketing support for inbound passengers was contributed by VisitScotland.
Norfolkline/DFDS was awarded ‚¬2,000,000 in waterborne freight grant, of which ‚¬1,000,000 has been paid to date. The company has also benefited from £333,300 in marketing support from VisitScotland.
","AnswerDate":"2010-09-21T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-09-21T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Stewart Stevenson","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":242384,"EventID":"S3W-35842","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1754,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":5,"ApprovedDate":"2010-08-24T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-08-24T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what meetings it has had with representatives of Norfolkline and DFDS since they took over as the operators of the Rosyth-Zeebrugge ferry and what issues were discussed. ","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what meetings it has had with representatives of Norfolkline and DFDS since they took over as the operators of the Rosyth-Zeebrugge ferry and what issues were discussed. ","AnswerText":"We have had frequent meetings with Norfolkline/DFDS since they re-launched the route in May 2009. Official meetings have been conducted through a steering group and two sub-groups covering freight and passenger issues. ","AnswerDate":"2010-09-15T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-09-21T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Stewart Stevenson","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":242385,"EventID":"S3W-35843","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1754,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":5,"ApprovedDate":"2010-08-24T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-08-24T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive how many sea passenger movements on the Rosyth-Zeebrugge route were recorded in each month since January 2008.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive how many sea passenger movements on the Rosyth-Zeebrugge route were recorded in each month since January 2008.","AnswerText":"The information requested is shown in the following table:
","AnswerDate":"2010-09-16T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-09-21T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Kenny MacAskill","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":242387,"EventID":"S3W-35845","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":3811,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":4,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2010-08-24T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-08-24T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive when it expects to receive the report of the Fingerprint Inquiry examining the Shirley McKie case.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive when it expects to receive the report of the Fingerprint Inquiry examining the Shirley McKie case.","AnswerText":"Ministers have not yet received the report of the Fingerprint Inquiry, nor been notified of a date for its publication. The Inquiry Chairman is understood to be considering the evidence and preparing a report.
The conduct of a public inquiry under the 2005 Inquiries Act is for the Chairman of the Inquiry to determine.
","AnswerDate":"2010-08-27T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-09-21T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Kenny MacAskill","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":242388,"EventID":"S3W-35846","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":3811,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":4,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2010-08-24T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-08-24T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-21273 by Michael Russell on 24 February 2009, what the current position is regarding ministerial visits to Qatar.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-21273 by Michael Russell on 24 February 2009, what the current position is regarding ministerial visits to Qatar.","AnswerText":"There are currently no plans for ministers to visit Qatar. ","AnswerDate":"2010-09-15T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-09-21T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Fiona Hyslop","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":242389,"EventID":"S3W-35847","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":3811,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":4,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2010-08-24T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-08-24T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what the current position is regarding the National Conversation.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what the current position is regarding the National Conversation.","AnswerText":"I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-35364 on 13 September 2010. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament''s website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/Apps2/Business/PQA/Default.aspx. ","AnswerDate":"2010-09-15T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-09-21T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Bruce Crawford","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":242390,"EventID":"S3W-35848","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":3811,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":4,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2010-08-24T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-08-24T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-21423 by Bruce Crawford on 9 March 2009, for what reason none of the three topics have been debated in its time for debate in the P","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-21423 by Bruce Crawford on 9 March 2009, for what reason none of the three topics have been debated in its time for debate in the Parliament in the past year.","AnswerText":"Over the past year, when proposing the Business Programme to the Parliamentary Bureau, following consultation with business managers, the Scottish Government put forward matters for debate that reflected the issues of interest and importance to the Parliament and the people of Scotland. ","AnswerDate":"2010-09-21T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-09-21T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Bruce Crawford","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":242391,"EventID":"S3W-35849","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":3811,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":4,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2010-08-24T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-08-24T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will state its current position with regard to proposed action regarding a referendum on independence.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will state its current position with regard to proposed action regarding a referendum on independence.","AnswerText":"The proposed Referendum (Scotland) Bill will be published shortly, and will focus the debate in Scotland on the need for economic and financial powers for the Scottish Parliament and Government as the only possible alternative to a decade or more of Westminster imposed cuts. ","AnswerDate":"2010-09-15T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-09-21T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Bruce Crawford","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":242392,"EventID":"S3W-35850","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":3811,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":4,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2010-08-24T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-08-24T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what meetings have taken place between ministers and officials of the Scottish Islamic Foundation in 2010.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what meetings have taken place between ministers and officials of the Scottish Islamic Foundation in 2010.","AnswerText":"No meetings have taken place between Scottish Government ministers and officials of the Scottish Islamic Foundation in 2010. ","AnswerDate":"2010-09-06T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-09-21T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Alex Neil","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":242393,"EventID":"S3W-35851","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":3811,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":4,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2010-08-24T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-08-24T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive how much was spent by its core departments on consultants in 2009-10.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive how much was spent by its core departments on consultants in 2009-10.","AnswerText":"I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-33896 on 8 June 2010. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament''s website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/Apps2/Business/PQA/Default.aspx. ","AnswerDate":"2010-09-01T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-09-21T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"John Swinney","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":242394,"EventID":"S3W-35852","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":3811,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":4,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2010-08-24T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-08-24T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what plans there are for visits by ministers and officials to the (a) Maldives and (b) Delhi Commonwealth Games.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what plans there are for visits by ministers and officials to the (a) Maldives and (b) Delhi Commonwealth Games.","AnswerText":"There are no plans for either Ministers or officials to visit the Maldives. The First Minister and I will represent the interests of the Scottish Government by attending the 2010 Commonwealth Games in Delhi to support Team Scotland and undertake other Scottish Government business. We will be supported by the appropriate officials. ","AnswerDate":"2010-09-15T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-09-21T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Shona Robison","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":242395,"EventID":"S3W-35853","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":3811,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":4,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2010-08-24T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-08-24T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what board meetings of Transport Scotland have taken place in 2010 and what subjects were discussed at each meeting.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what board meetings of Transport Scotland have taken place in 2010 and what subjects were discussed at each meeting.","AnswerText":"There have been six meetings of the Transport Scotland Board to date in 2010. Approved minutes of the meetings from February to June, showing the subjects discussed can be accessed at http://www.transportscotland.gov.uk/about-us/board/meetings. The minutes of the August board meeting will be published once approved by the board. ","AnswerDate":"2010-09-06T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-09-21T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Stewart Stevenson","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":242396,"EventID":"S3W-35854","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":3811,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":4,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2010-08-24T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-08-24T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what action it has taken arising from the findings of the report of the Scottish Broadcasting Commission.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what action it has taken arising from the findings of the report of the Scottish Broadcasting Commission.","AnswerText":"As indicated in my statement to the Parliament on Wednesday 29 September 2010 the Scottish Government''s Second Annual Report on Progress on implementing the Scottish Broadcasting Commission''s recommendations has now been published.
The report can be found on the Scottish Government''s website at:
","AnswerDate":"2010-10-04T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-09-21T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Fiona Hyslop","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":242397,"EventID":"S3W-35855","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":3811,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":4,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2010-08-24T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-08-24T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive when it expects to report to the Parliament on progress of the implementation of the recommendations of the Scottish Broadcasting Commission.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive when it expects to report to the Parliament on progress of the implementation of the recommendations of the Scottish Broadcasting Commission.","AnswerText":"I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-35854 on 4 October 2010. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament''s website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/Apps2/Business/PQA/Default.aspx. ","AnswerDate":"2010-10-04T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-09-21T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Fiona Hyslop","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":242398,"EventID":"S3W-35856","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1768,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":60,"ApprovedDate":"2010-08-24T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-08-24T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether it intends to review its trunk road and motorway tourist signposting policy.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether it intends to review its trunk road and motorway tourist signposting policy.","AnswerText":"There is no proposal to formally review the current policy. The last policy review was in 2006 when the current Trunk Road and Motorway Tourist Signposting Policy and Guidance document was published by Transport Scotland. ","AnswerDate":"2010-09-15T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-09-21T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Stewart Stevenson","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":242399,"EventID":"S3W-35857","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2610,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":1,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2010-08-24T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-08-24T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what the individual contract value figure has been for each subcontractor procured by Scottish Water, since May 2006.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what the individual contract value figure has been for each subcontractor procured by Scottish Water, since May 2006.","AnswerText":"This information is not held centrally and I have asked the Chief Executive of Scottish Water to reply to you. ","AnswerDate":"2010-09-08T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-09-21T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"John Swinney","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":242400,"EventID":"S3W-35858","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2234,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":2,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2010-08-25T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-08-25T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what the average length is of time taken for applications made for a certificate to Disclosure Scotland to be processed.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what the average length is of time taken for applications made for a certificate to Disclosure Scotland to be processed.","AnswerText":"Disclosure Scotland operates to a public performance target of issuing 90% of all types of disclosure applications within 14 calendar days. This is measured from the date the fully and correctly completed application is received by Disclosure Scotland to the date of dispatch and excludes any time an application spends in exception. Examples of exception time include where an enquiry has been sent to a police force and the application is put on hold until the force responds, and where the application is put on hold while further information is requested from the applicant.
In August 2010, 93% of the fully and correctly completed applications were processed within the 14 day target with an average processing time of 5.8 days.
","AnswerDate":"2010-09-17T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-09-22T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Adam Ingram","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":242401,"EventID":"S3W-35859","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":3811,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":4,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2010-08-25T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-08-25T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-23585 by John Swinney on 14 May 2010, what progress it has made in reducing its business travel related emissions by 20%.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-23585 by John Swinney on 14 May 2010, what progress it has made in reducing its business travel related emissions by 20%.","AnswerText":"The Scottish Government reports business travel emissions yearly and the latest Environmental Annual Report 2008-09 was published on 21 May 2010 (Bib. number 50874). This highlighted that business related travel emission had reduced by 3% from 2005-06. Whilst we recognise we have some way to go to achieve 20% we are actively promoting various initiatives that include:
Signing up to participate in the WWF One in Five Challenge “ to reduce the number of business flights by 20% over a five year period;
Aligning our business travel targets with our Carbon Management Plan;
Introducing and promoting portable video conferencing units;
Promotion of teleconferencing;
Internal communications promoting more sustainable modes of travel including more effective use of cycling, walking and public transport when travelling for business, and
The promotion of the travel hierarchy.
","AnswerDate":"2010-12-16T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-09-22T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"John Swinney","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":242402,"EventID":"S3W-35860","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1908,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":4,"ApprovedDate":"2010-08-25T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-08-25T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what the (a) date and (b) location was of each ministerial visit to the East Kilbride parliamentary constituency since May 2007.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what the (a) date and (b) location was of each ministerial visit to the East Kilbride parliamentary constituency since May 2007.","AnswerText":"The detailed information requested is currently being collated and I will write to the member as soon as this is available. A copy of the response will be placed in the Scottish Parliament Information Centre (Bib. number 51698). ","AnswerDate":"2010-09-22T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-09-22T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"John Swinney","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":242403,"EventID":"S3W-35861","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":3811,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":4,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2010-08-25T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-08-25T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive when it expects to respond to the recommendations of the Report of Scotland's Independent Budget Review Panel.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive when it expects to respond to the recommendations of the Report of Scotland's Independent Budget Review Panel.","AnswerText":"The Scottish Government has given extensive responses to the contents of the Independent Budget Review, particularly in the parliamentary debate on 9 September 2010.
Until the comprehensive spending review reports on 20 October, we will not know what Scotland''s budget settlement for 2011-12 and the years beyond will be. Within four weeks of that we will present the draft budget, setting out our spending plans for the years ahead, taking into consideration the options in the Independent Budget Review''s report and the views of civic Scotland.
","AnswerDate":"2010-09-22T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-09-22T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"John Swinney","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":242404,"EventID":"S3W-35862","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":3811,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":4,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2010-08-25T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-08-25T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive which ministers have met Lord Jamie Sempill; on what dates, and what subjects were discussed.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive which ministers have met Lord Jamie Sempill; on what dates, and what subjects were discussed.","AnswerText":"The detailed information requested is currently being collated and I will write to the member as soon as this is available. A copy of the response will be placed in the Scottish Parliament Information Centre (Bib. number 51704). ","AnswerDate":"2010-09-22T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-09-22T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"John Swinney","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":242405,"EventID":"S3W-35863","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":3811,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":4,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2010-08-25T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-08-25T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-23575 by Jim Mather on 20 May 2009, what response it has received to its request to the Working Group on Scotland Without Nuclear W","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-23575 by Jim Mather on 20 May 2009, what response it has received to its request to the Working Group on Scotland Without Nuclear Weapons from HM Naval Base Clyde.","AnswerText":"The Working Group on Scotland Without Nuclear Weapons published its report in August 2009. The report can be accessed at:
","AnswerDate":"2010-09-23T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-09-22T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Bruce Crawford","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":242406,"EventID":"S3W-35864","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":3811,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":4,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2010-08-25T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-08-25T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has made submissions to the UK Government in relation to the proposal to hold a referendum on adopting the alternative vote system for UK elections on the same","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has made submissions to the UK Government in relation to the proposal to hold a referendum on adopting the alternative vote system for UK elections on the same day as the 2011 Scottish Parliament election and, if so, what response it has received.","AnswerText":"Scottish ministers have written to the UK Government on a number of occasions to express concern about the proposal to hold the alternative vote referendum on the same day as next year''s elections to the Scottish Parliament. Scottish ministers and ministers for the other devolved administrations have also raised the issue at the Joint Ministerial Committee and will continue to do so.
The responses received so far from the UK Government have not answered the substantive points made by ministers.
","AnswerDate":"2010-09-22T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-09-22T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Bruce Crawford","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":242407,"EventID":"S3W-35865","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":3811,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":4,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2010-08-25T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-08-25T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will consider legislating to prevent the UK Government from holding a referendum on the same day as the 2011 Scottish Parliament election.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will consider legislating to prevent the UK Government from holding a referendum on the same day as the 2011 Scottish Parliament election.","AnswerText":"The Scottish Government is opposed to holding the proposed Alternative Vote referendum on the same day as elections to the Scottish Parliament.
The timing of the Scottish Parliament elections is set out in the Scotland (Act) 1998. The date of the proposed referendum will be set by the UK Government''s Parliamentary Voting System and Constituencies Bill. Neither the Scottish Government nor the Scottish Parliament has the power to change the date of Scottish Parliament elections or the proposed UK referendum. This is one reason why we will continue to press the UK Government to devolve legislative responsibility for elections to the Scottish Parliament.
","AnswerDate":"2010-09-21T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-09-22T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Bruce Crawford","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":242408,"EventID":"S3W-35866","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":3811,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":4,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2010-08-25T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-08-25T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has given consideration to the difference in franchise between a UK referendum and a Scottish Parliament election and, if so, what action it proposes to take.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has given consideration to the difference in franchise between a UK referendum and a Scottish Parliament election and, if so, what action it proposes to take.","AnswerText":"The Scottish Government is opposed to holding the proposed Alternative Vote referendum on the same day as elections to the Scottish Parliament. The referendum and the Scottish Parliament elections will be held under different franchises and we are concerned that this may cause confusion around the eligibility to vote.
The franchise for the referendum and the Scottish Parliament elections is a matter for the UK Government.
","AnswerDate":"2010-09-22T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-09-22T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Bruce Crawford","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":242409,"EventID":"S3W-35867","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":3811,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":4,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2010-08-25T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-08-25T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive how many public inquires are ongoing and when each is expected to report to ministers.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive how many public inquires are ongoing and when each is expected to report to ministers.","AnswerText":"Three public inquiries for which a report has not yet been received have been established by the Scottish Ministers under the Inquiries Act 2005: the Fingerprint Inquiry established to investigate the steps taken to verify the fingerprints associated with the case of H.M Advocate v McKie in 1999 and related matters, the Penrose Inquiry established to investigate Hepatitis C/HIV acquired infection from NHS treatment in Scotland with blood and blood products, and the Vale of Leven Hospital Inquiry established to investigate the occurrence of C. difficile infection at the Vale of Leven Hospital from 1 January 2007 onwards.
On 16 December 2009 Sir Anthony Campbell announced that the Fingerprint Inquiry now enters a new phase of work in which the chairman will consider the evidence and begin drafting his report. The chairman intends to give any individual or organisation who might be the subject of criticism in the report an opportunity to respond to that potential criticism. Where he plans to make recommendations, he also intends to give any individual or organisation likely to be affected by those recommendations an opportunity to comment on them. It will therefore be some time before the Inquiry report is finalised and published; Lord Penrose stated in the February 2010 Penrose Inquiry bulletin that We are currently in the first phase of our work and this phase will culminate with the publication of my preliminary report. I intend to publish my preliminary report during 2010. We will then seek a response to its findings before proceeding to hold public hearings into the issues that have been identified as requiring further investigation; the Vale of Leven Hospital Inquiry website reports under ˜frequently asked questions'' that The Inquiry is required to make recommendations to the Cabinet Secretary for Health and Wellbeing by 31 May 2011. An extension may be granted by the Cabinet Secretary.
Regular progress reports for each Inquiry are available on the Inquiry websites, which may be found respectively at:
","AnswerDate":"2010-08-27T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-09-22T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Kenny MacAskill","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":242410,"EventID":"S3W-35868","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":3811,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":4,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2010-08-25T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-08-25T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what the current estimated cost is of the Fingerprint Inquiry examining the Shirley McKie case.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what the current estimated cost is of the Fingerprint Inquiry examining the Shirley McKie case.","AnswerText":"I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-32942 on 9 April 2010. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament''s website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/Apps2/Business/PQA/Default.aspx. ","AnswerDate":"2010-08-27T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-09-22T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Kenny MacAskill","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":242411,"EventID":"S3W-35869","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2182,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":5,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2010-08-25T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-08-25T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive which cancers are not audited for the purpose of determining whether they meet the cancer waiting times targets, broken down by (a) regional cancer network and (b) NHS bo","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive which cancers are not audited for the purpose of determining whether they meet the cancer waiting times targets, broken down by (a) regional cancer network and (b) NHS board.","AnswerText":"In answer to this question we will note which cancers are audited. There are no regional or NHS board differences, so the following are valid across NHSScotland. All monitoring is for new diagnoses only, not recurrent disease. The cohorts are applicable for patients treated from 1 July 2010.
There are three different cohorts monitored against cancer waiting times targets:
1. All patients with a diagnosis of acute myeloid leukaemia or acute lymphoblastic leukaemia, biphenotypic or bilineal acute leukaemia are audited against a target of one month (31 days) from referral to treatment.
2. All patients aged under 16 diagnosed with cancer (ICD-10 C00-C96, excluding C44 M-809 (basal cell carcinoma)) are audited against a target of one month (31 days) from referral to treatment.
3. The following cancer types are monitored against the two targets announced in Better Cancer Care, namely 62 days from urgent referral with a suspicion of cancer to first treatment and 31 days from decision to treat to treatment:
Tumour Type
ICD-10 Codes Included
Breast
C50, D05
Colorectal
C18-20
Head and Neck
C00-14, C30-32, C76.0
Lung
C33-34
Lymphoma
C81-85
Melanoma
New primary invasive (i.e. Clark level > 1) melanoma of any site except eye. Includes C43 (Skin)
Proven secondary melanoma where the origin of the primary lesion has never been identified.
Gynaecological
C53, C56, C48 (only if ovarian type), D39.1
Upper gastro-intestinal
C15-16, C17.0, C22-25
Urology
C60-68
","AnswerDate":"2010-09-13T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-09-22T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Nicola Sturgeon","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":242412,"EventID":"S3W-35870","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1754,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":5,"ApprovedDate":"2010-08-25T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-08-25T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive how many under-19s have been diagnosed with hepatitis C in (a) Scotland and (b) each NHS board area.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive how many under-19s have been diagnosed with hepatitis C in (a) Scotland and (b) each NHS board area.","AnswerText":"The following table details the number of under 19''s that have been diagnosed with hepatisis C by NHS board area and a total for Scotland as at 31 March 2010.
Area
Number of persons diagnosed with hepatitis C and aged less than 19 at the time of diagnosis
Number of persons diagnosed with hepatitis C, currently less than 19 and alive
Scotland
555
70
Ayrshire and Arran
33
3
Borders
3
2
Dumfries and Galloway
22
1
Fife
20
0
Forth Valley
31
4
Grampian
131
11
Greater Glasgow and Clyde
171
30
Highland
13
0
Lanarkshire
36
5
Lothian
58
6
Orkney
0
0
Shetland
1
0
Tayside
35
8
Western Isles
1
0
","AnswerDate":"2010-09-09T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-09-22T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Shona Robison","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":242413,"EventID":"S3W-35871","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1754,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":5,"ApprovedDate":"2010-08-25T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-08-25T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what estimate it has made of the number of under-19s infected with hepatitis C.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what estimate it has made of the number of under-19s infected with hepatitis C.","AnswerText":"Health Protection Scotland estimates that 150-200 people under the age of 19 are infected with hepatitis C in Scotland. Fifty-seven of these under 19s have been diagnosed and are currently alive and chronically infected. ","AnswerDate":"2010-09-09T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-09-22T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Shona Robison","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":242414,"EventID":"S3W-35872","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1754,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":5,"ApprovedDate":"2010-08-25T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-08-25T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what estimate it has made of the number of babies born with hepatitis C in each of the last 10 years. ","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what estimate it has made of the number of babies born with hepatitis C in each of the last 10 years. ","AnswerText":"It is estimated that approximately 10 hepatitis c infected babies are born in Scotland annually. Therefore it is estimated that approximately 100 babies infected with hepatitis C have been born in Scotland over the last ten years. ","AnswerDate":"2010-09-09T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-09-22T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Shona Robison","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":242415,"EventID":"S3W-35873","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2117,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":47,"ApprovedDate":"2010-08-25T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-08-25T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive how many businesses appealed their business rate valuation in each year since 2005-06.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive how many businesses appealed their business rate valuation in each year since 2005-06.","AnswerText":"In total 57,752 appeals were lodged in relation to rateable values for business properties following the 2005 business rates revaluation (covering the period between then and the latest 2010 revaluation). ","AnswerDate":"2010-10-07T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-09-22T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"John Swinney","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":242416,"EventID":"S3W-35874","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2117,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":47,"ApprovedDate":"2010-08-25T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-08-25T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive how many businesses have appealed their business rate revaluation since 1 April 2010.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive how many businesses have appealed their business rate revaluation since 1 April 2010.","AnswerText":"I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-35877 on 7 October 2010. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament''s website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/Apps2/Business/PQA/Default.aspx. ","AnswerDate":"2010-10-07T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-09-22T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"John Swinney","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":242417,"EventID":"S3W-35875","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2117,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":47,"ApprovedDate":"2010-08-25T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-08-25T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive how many businesses successfully appealed their business rate revaluation in each year since 2005-06.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive how many businesses successfully appealed their business rate revaluation in each year since 2005-06.","AnswerText":"Information on the number of successful appeals is not held centrally. ","AnswerDate":"2010-10-07T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-09-22T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"John Swinney","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":242418,"EventID":"S3W-35877","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2117,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":47,"ApprovedDate":"2010-08-25T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-08-25T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive how many rates revaluation appeals since 1 April 2010 have been concluded and how many have been successful.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive how many rates revaluation appeals since 1 April 2010 have been concluded and how many have been successful.","AnswerText":"Businesses have until 30 September to lodge an appeal against the rateable value determined by the assessor at the 2010 revaluation and final numbers of appeals will not be known until after that date.
As at 30 June 2010, 9,744 appeals had been lodged and 95 had been settled. As a result of successful appeals the rateable values of those properties were reduced by £0.8 million.
","AnswerDate":"2010-10-07T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-09-22T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"John Swinney","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":242419,"EventID":"S3W-35878","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2117,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":47,"ApprovedDate":"2010-08-25T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-08-25T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive how many businesses in each local authority area have faced an increase in their business rate because of rates revaluation from 1 April 2010.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive how many businesses in each local authority area have faced an increase in their business rate because of rates revaluation from 1 April 2010.","AnswerText":"I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-35879 on 6 September 2010. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament''s website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/Apps2/Business/PQA/Default.aspx. ","AnswerDate":"2010-09-06T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-09-22T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"John Swinney","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":242420,"EventID":"S3W-35879","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2117,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":47,"ApprovedDate":"2010-08-25T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-08-25T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive how many businesses in each local authority area have faced a decrease in their business rate because of rates revaluation from 1 April 2010.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive how many businesses in each local authority area have faced a decrease in their business rate because of rates revaluation from 1 April 2010.","AnswerText":"The following table shows the number and percentage of ratepayers who saw bills fall or stay the same and those who saw bills rise in each local authority area, following the 2010 revaluation.
These figures are before the impact of relief or appeals, both of which will significantly increase the number of properties which see a bill decrease.
Local Authority
Bill Decrease/ Stay the Same
Bill Increase
Total Number
Number
% of Ratepayers
Number
% of Ratepayers
Aberdeen City
4,105
49.8
4,137
50.2
8,242
Aberdeenshire
5,144
47.7
5,637
52.3
10,781
Angus
3,072
64.0
1,725
36.0
4,797
Argyll and Bute
4,102
54.2
3,470
45.8
7,572
Clackmannanshire
955
62.1
583
37.9
1,538
Dumfries and Galloway
5,439
61.4
3,415
38.6
8,854
Dundee City
","AnswerDate":"2010-09-06T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-09-22T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"John Swinney","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":242421,"EventID":"S3W-35880","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2117,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":47,"ApprovedDate":"2010-08-25T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-08-25T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive how many small businesses in each local authority area were eligible for rates relief of (a) 100%, (b) 50% and (c) 25% under the small business bonus scheme in (i) 2008-0","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive how many small businesses in each local authority area were eligible for rates relief of (a) 100%, (b) 50% and (c) 25% under the small business bonus scheme in (i) 2008-09 and (ii) 2009-10.","AnswerText":"An estimate of the number of properties eligible for Small Business Bonus Scheme (SBBS) in each local authority area for 2009-10 is shown in the following table. Equivalent data for 2008-09 is not held centrally.
The Scheme has been widely promoted and it is estimated that 85% of eligible small properties now benefit from relief. The Scottish Government is aware that a number of businesses eligible for SBBS have not yet applied for the scheme and efforts will continue to encourage take-up among that group.
Estimated Number of Properties Eligible for Relief
Aberdeen City
3,536
Aberdeenshire
6,855
Angus
3,298
Argyll and Bute
5,755
Clackmannanshire
848
Dumfries and Galloway
6,368
Dundee City
3,026
East Ayrshire
2,377
East Dunbartonshire
1,350
East Lothian
2,261
East Renfrewshire
1,004
Edinburgh, City Of
8,861
Eilean Siar
1,715
Falkirk
2,568
Fife
7,759
Glasgow City
12,736
Highland
12,161
Inverclyde
1,414
Midlothian
1,640
Moray
3,337
North Ayrshire
3,228
North Lanarkshire
5,265
Orkney Islands
","AnswerDate":"2010-10-07T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-09-22T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"John Swinney","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":242422,"EventID":"S3W-35881","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2117,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":47,"ApprovedDate":"2010-08-25T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-08-25T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive how many small businesses in each local authority area received rates relief of (a) 100%, (b) 50% and (c) 25% under the small business bonus scheme in (i) 2008-09 and (ii","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive how many small businesses in each local authority area received rates relief of (a) 100%, (b) 50% and (c) 25% under the small business bonus scheme in (i) 2008-09 and (ii) 2009-10.","AnswerText":"Take-up of relief among eligible small business properties in 2008-09 is published at:
","AnswerDate":"2010-10-07T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-09-22T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"John Swinney","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":242423,"EventID":"S3W-35882","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2117,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":47,"ApprovedDate":"2010-08-25T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-08-25T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive how many small businesses in each local authority area are eligible for rates relief of (a) 100%, (b) 50% and (c) 25% under the small business bonus scheme in 2010-11.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive how many small businesses in each local authority area are eligible for rates relief of (a) 100%, (b) 50% and (c) 25% under the small business bonus scheme in 2010-11.","AnswerText":"Latest figures show that 74,000 business properties in Scotland received a discount on their bill through Small Business Bonus, and 64,000 of those paid no rates at all.
However, there are a number of properties which are eligible, but have not claimed. In the coming weeks, the Scottish Government will write to businesses to encourage those who are eligible for the scheme, but have not yet claimed, to apply for the relief under the Small Business Bonus Scheme.
Figures on actual take-up for 2010-11 will be published later in 2011, which will include a breakdown by local authority area.
","AnswerDate":"2010-10-07T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-09-22T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"John Swinney","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":242424,"EventID":"S3W-35883","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2117,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":47,"ApprovedDate":"2010-08-25T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-08-25T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive how many small businesses in each local authority area it expects to receive rates relief of (a) 100%, (b) 50% and (c) 25% under the small business bonus scheme in 2010-1","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive how many small businesses in each local authority area it expects to receive rates relief of (a) 100%, (b) 50% and (c) 25% under the small business bonus scheme in 2010-11.","AnswerText":"I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-35882 on 7 October 2010. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament''s website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/Apps2/Business/PQA/Default.aspx. ","AnswerDate":"2010-10-07T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-09-22T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"John Swinney","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":242425,"EventID":"S3W-35884","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2345,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":56,"ApprovedDate":"2010-08-25T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-08-25T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether it plans to raise with the EU Commissioner for Agriculture and Rural Development, Dacian Ciolos, the possibility of eggs being imported into the United Kingdom th","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether it plans to raise with the EU Commissioner for Agriculture and Rural Development, Dacian Ciolos, the possibility of eggs being imported into the United Kingdom that have been produced to a lower welfare standard than those from Scotland and the rest of the UK from 1 January 2012.","AnswerText":"There is no need to raise this issue at Commissioner level as the European Commission have made it clear that they have no intention of allowing any member state to keep laying hens in conventional cages after 1 January 2012. However, my officials are keeping the position under review and should it appear that any member state may be allowed to retain conventional cages for egg production after January 2012, I shall raise the issue of a ban on intra-Community trade in these eggs with the Commissioner.
Eggs produced from hens kept in cages in non-European Union Countries which do not meet the current minimum EU standards or will not meet the new standards can be imported into the UK and EU. It is not possible to ban the importation of these eggs or egg products on welfare grounds as such a ban would be a breach of World Trade Organization rules.
","AnswerDate":"2010-09-09T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-09-22T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Richard Lochhead","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":242426,"EventID":"S3W-35885","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1877,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":70,"ApprovedDate":"2010-08-26T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-08-26T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive for what reason its 2010-11 guidance on bonus payments to non-departmental public body chief executive officers allows for the payment of a bonus equivalent to 10% of sal","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive for what reason its 2010-11 guidance on bonus payments to non-departmental public body chief executive officers allows for the payment of a bonus equivalent to 10% of salary.","AnswerText":"Public Sector Pay Policy for Senior Appointments 2010-11, published on 5 May 2010, sets out the Scottish Government''s policy for public sector pay for chief executives of NDPBs and public corporations:
The guidance makes clear that where a contractual entitlement exists, a non consolidated performance related pay may be proposed in recognition of exceptional performance; that any such proposals must include robust supporting evidence; and must be approved by the Scottish Government before any payment is made.
Since May 2007, we have consistently borne down on both the scale and the coverage of non-consolidated performance-related payments for senior public sector staff. We have reduced the total number of chief executives who have a contractual entitlement for non consolidated performance related pay through changed terms of employment on appointment.
In addition, in 2009-10 and again this year, we have asked the chairs of non-departmental public bodies and public corporations to invite their chief executives to waive part or all of any bonus to which they may be entitled.
In the tough financial climate facing us we will continue to restrain the pay and reward packages of senior public sector leaders.
","AnswerDate":"2010-09-21T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-09-23T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"John Swinney","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":242427,"EventID":"S3W-35886","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1877,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":70,"ApprovedDate":"2010-08-26T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-08-26T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will publish the current salaries of the chief executive officers who are eligible for a bonus payment equivalent to 10% of salary under its guidance for such ","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will publish the current salaries of the chief executive officers who are eligible for a bonus payment equivalent to 10% of salary under its guidance for such payments in 2010-11.","AnswerText":"The Scottish Government''s public sector pay policy for senior appointments limits the maximum potential non-consolidated performance payment to 10%. However, 10 of the 36 chief executives covered by the pay policy do not benefit from any non-consolidated performance pay provision, and a number have a maximum potential non-consolidated performance payment of less than 10%. Only those chief executives performing at a demonstrably outstanding level, and who are eligible for consideration for a non-consolidated performance payment, can expect to be offered the full percentage award. ","AnswerDate":"2010-09-22T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-09-23T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"John Swinney","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":242428,"EventID":"S3W-35887","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1877,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":70,"ApprovedDate":"2010-08-26T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-08-26T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will publish its 2010-11 guidance on bonus payments to non-departmental public body chief executive officers.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will publish its 2010-11 guidance on bonus payments to non-departmental public body chief executive officers.","AnswerText":"I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-35885 on 21 September 2010. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament''s website, the search facility for which can be found at www.scottish.parliament.uk/Apps2/Business/PQA/Default.aspx. ","AnswerDate":"2010-09-21T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-09-23T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"John Swinney","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":242429,"EventID":"S3W-35888","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1877,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":70,"ApprovedDate":"2010-08-26T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-08-26T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what its position is on the appropriateness of bonus payments for non-departmental public body chief executive officers in 2010-11.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what its position is on the appropriateness of bonus payments for non-departmental public body chief executive officers in 2010-11.","AnswerText":"I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-35885 on 21 September 2010. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament''s website, the search facility for which can be found at www.scottish.parliament.uk/Apps2/Business/PQA/Default.aspx. ","AnswerDate":"2010-09-21T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-09-23T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"John Swinney","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":242430,"EventID":"S3W-35889","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1768,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":60,"ApprovedDate":"2010-08-26T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-08-26T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what organisations will be eligible to bid for the biodiversity fund announced by the Cabinet Secretary for Rural Affairs and the Environment at the Scottish Biodiversity","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what organisations will be eligible to bid for the biodiversity fund announced by the Cabinet Secretary for Rural Affairs and the Environment at the Scottish Biodiversity Forum Conference on 25 August 2010.","AnswerText":"Voluntary or community groups, schools, health bodies and community councils. Eligibility criteria are available on BIG Lottery''s website at:
","AnswerDate":"2010-09-22T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-09-23T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Roseanna Cunningham","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":242431,"EventID":"S3W-35890","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1768,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":60,"ApprovedDate":"2010-08-26T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-08-26T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive when the biodiversity fund announced by the Cabinet Secretary for Rural Affairs and the Environment at the Scottish Biodiversity Forum Conference on 25 August 2010 will b","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive when the biodiversity fund announced by the Cabinet Secretary for Rural Affairs and the Environment at the Scottish Biodiversity Forum Conference on 25 August 2010 will become available.","AnswerText":"Scottish Natural Heritage has contributed £250,000 to the BIG Lottery programme "Community Wildlife" to double the funding available in Scotland for community projects that support biodiversity. Applications are invited for the 24 November 2010 deadline. ","AnswerDate":"2010-09-22T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-09-23T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Roseanna Cunningham","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":242432,"EventID":"S3W-35891","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1768,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":60,"ApprovedDate":"2010-08-26T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-08-26T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what the (a) maximum and (b) minimum grant will be for applications from the biodiversity fund announced by the Cabinet Secretary for Rural Affairs and the Environment at","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what the (a) maximum and (b) minimum grant will be for applications from the biodiversity fund announced by the Cabinet Secretary for Rural Affairs and the Environment at the Scottish Biodiversity Forum Conference on 25 August 2010.","AnswerText":"The maximum grant is £10,000 and the minimum is £300. ","AnswerDate":"2010-09-23T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-09-23T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Roseanna Cunningham","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":242433,"EventID":"S3W-35892","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1768,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":60,"ApprovedDate":"2010-08-26T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-08-26T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether applications to the biodiversity fund announced by the Cabinet Secretary for Rural Affairs and the Environment at the Scottish Biodiversity Forum Conference on 25","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether applications to the biodiversity fund announced by the Cabinet Secretary for Rural Affairs and the Environment at the Scottish Biodiversity Forum Conference on 25 August 2010 will require to be match funded.","AnswerText":"There is no requirement for match funding. ","AnswerDate":"2010-09-22T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-09-23T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Roseanna Cunningham","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":242434,"EventID":"S3W-35893","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2117,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":47,"ApprovedDate":"2010-08-26T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-08-26T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive, in light of its commitment to develop National Occupational Standards (NOS) to support the range of renewable technologies via Sector Skills Council’s NOS development pl","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive, in light of its commitment to develop National Occupational Standards (NOS) to support the range of renewable technologies via Sector Skills Council’s NOS development plans, whether the safety competences developed by OPITO for the offshore oil and gas industry should be applied to the offshore renewables sector.","AnswerText":"As the lead trade and professional body for the UK wind and marine renewables industries, RenewableUK have held initial discussions with OPITO regarding safety competencies.
Following on from those discussions RenewableUK have taken responsibility for the health and safety training standards and approvals protocols for the wind energy and marine renewables sector in the UK.
The Scottish Government continues to be in close engagement with RenewableUK in order to ensure this critical issue is taken forward in Scotland.
","AnswerDate":"2010-09-17T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-09-23T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Jim Mather","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":242435,"EventID":"S3W-35894","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2117,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":47,"ApprovedDate":"2010-08-26T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-08-26T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive when it initially planned to establish a pilot project to develop a national data-sharing centre to improve the co-ordination of scientific work in relation to consents a","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive when it initially planned to establish a pilot project to develop a national data-sharing centre to improve the co-ordination of scientific work in relation to consents and planning for renewable energy projects and what the timetable for this was.","AnswerText":"The Scottish Government has not planned to establish such a pilot project. ","AnswerDate":"2010-09-17T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-09-23T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Richard Lochhead","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":242436,"EventID":"S3W-35895","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2117,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":47,"ApprovedDate":"2010-08-26T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-08-26T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive when it was informed by Scottish Natural Heritage that it could not fund the pilot project to develop a national data-sharing centre.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive when it was informed by Scottish Natural Heritage that it could not fund the pilot project to develop a national data-sharing centre.","AnswerText":"Scottish Natural Heritage informed Scottish Government officials on 2 September 2010 that it would not be able to fund the data sharing project submitted by Aberdeen University. ","AnswerDate":"2010-09-17T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-09-23T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Richard Lochhead","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":242437,"EventID":"S3W-35896","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2117,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":47,"ApprovedDate":"2010-08-26T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-08-26T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive how it intends to fund the pilot project to develop a national data-sharing centre to improve the co-ordination of scientific work in relation to consents and planning.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive how it intends to fund the pilot project to develop a national data-sharing centre to improve the co-ordination of scientific work in relation to consents and planning.","AnswerText":"The Scottish Government has no current plans to fund such a project. ","AnswerDate":"2010-09-17T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-09-23T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Richard Lochhead","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":242438,"EventID":"S3W-35897","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2117,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":47,"ApprovedDate":"2010-08-26T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-08-26T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive, in light of the closure of the Community and Renewable Energy Scheme to new applications, when it intends to publish the remit of the feasibility study it has commission","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive, in light of the closure of the Community and Renewable Energy Scheme to new applications, when it intends to publish the remit of the feasibility study it has commissioned to look into early stage financing for renewables’ projects.","AnswerText":"The Scottish Government has already commissioned a feasibility study whose summarised remit is to investigate the need and demand for a loan fund to be used by community groups and landowners to finance renewable energy projects. The study will also explore the benefits that such a fund could bring to Scotland. The full remit will be available on the latest news section of the Scottish Government''s energy website on 23 September 2010, found at the following link
","AnswerDate":"2010-09-21T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-09-23T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Jim Mather","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":242439,"EventID":"S3W-35898","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2117,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":47,"ApprovedDate":"2010-08-26T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-08-26T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive, in light of the publication of the report Building a roadmap for heat - 2050 scenarios and heat delivery in the UK, what role it envisages for heat-grids to help manage ","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive, in light of the publication of the report Building a roadmap for heat - 2050 scenarios and heat delivery in the UK, what role it envisages for heat-grids to help manage the matching of electricity demand and supply in future updates to the Renewable Action Plan.","AnswerText":"The Scottish Government recognises the potential role of renewable electricity for heating, and has already supported community owned wind to heat small scale projects in more remote areas of Scotland.
District heating is a new focus in our policy development and actions relating to this will be highlighted in the forthcoming energy efficiency action plan.
In addition, the Scottish Government is funding a heat mapping pilot in the Highland Council area. The data collected will incorporate heat demand and supply as well as skills and services. The map will be a useful tool to help identify opportunities to maximise the use of renewable heat within all planned new developments (industrial, commercial and domestic) and refurbishment projects.
","AnswerDate":"2010-09-21T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-09-23T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Jim Mather","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":242440,"EventID":"S3W-35899","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1752,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":57,"ApprovedDate":"2010-08-26T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-08-26T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what action it is taking to improve clinical psychology services in Ayrshire","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what action it is taking to improve clinical psychology services in Ayrshire","AnswerText":"Provision of quality clinical psychology services which meets the needs of the local population is primarily a matter for NHS Ayrshire and Arran and its planning partners to deliver, within the context of the Scottish Government''s strategic commitment to work with NHS boards and NHS Education for Scotland to improve access to psychology services and evidence based psychological therapies across Scotland.
Ongoing work to support service change includes:
· The commitment to develop an access target for psychological therapies for inclusion in HEAT in 2011-12;
· Improving the range and availability of training to increase the current workforce''s capacity and competency to deliver evidence based psychological therapies;
· Roll out of NHS NES competence-based psychological therapies supervision training;
· Reviewing and updating the matrix guide to delivering evidence based psychological therapies;
· Funding the NHS NES Psychological Interventions Team to co-ordinate the strategic planning and development of psychological therapies across Scotland;
· Establishing local integrated care pathways for depression in line with national standards, and
· Priority attention to increasing the number of psychologists working in specialist child and adolescent mental health services (CAMHS) with £6.5 million available over three years to NHS boards to support delivery of the CAMHS HEAT target.
","AnswerDate":"2010-09-16T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-09-23T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Shona Robison","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":242441,"EventID":"S3W-35900","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1752,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":57,"ApprovedDate":"2010-08-26T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-08-26T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what the average waiting time to access clinical psychology services in Ayrshire was in each of the last five years.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what the average waiting time to access clinical psychology services in Ayrshire was in each of the last five years.","AnswerText":"The information is not held centrally.
We are developing an access target for psychological therapies for inclusion in HEAT in 2011-12 which will allow us to measure the referral to treatment times for psychological therapies.
","AnswerDate":"2010-09-16T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-09-23T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Shona Robison","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":242442,"EventID":"S3W-35901","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1752,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":57,"ApprovedDate":"2010-08-26T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-08-26T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive how many patients were waiting for a first appointment within Adult Psychological Therapies in each of the last 36 months.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive how many patients were waiting for a first appointment within Adult Psychological Therapies in each of the last 36 months.","AnswerText":"The information is not held centrally.
We are developing an access target for psychological therapies for inclusion in HEAT in 2011-12 which will allow us to measure the referral to treatment times for psychological therapies.
","AnswerDate":"2010-09-16T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-09-23T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Shona Robison","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":242443,"EventID":"S3W-35902","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1752,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":57,"ApprovedDate":"2010-08-26T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-08-26T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive how many people have Huntington’s disease, broken down by (a) local authority area and (b) NHS board.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive how many people have Huntington’s disease, broken down by (a) local authority area and (b) NHS board.","AnswerText":"The information requested is not held centrally.
We are aware the Scottish Huntington''s Association believes there are between 600 and 900 people in Scotland with the disease. The upper end of that range would suggest a prevalence higher than the internationally accepted figure of 1 in 10,000. Because of the inherited nature of the condition, prevalence will not be uniform across the country.
\r\nst","AnswerDate":"2010-09-21T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-09-12T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Shona Robison","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":242444,"EventID":"S3W-35903","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1752,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":57,"ApprovedDate":"2010-08-26T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-08-26T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive when it last met the Scottish Huntington’s Association and what issues were discussed. ","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive when it last met the Scottish Huntington’s Association and what issues were discussed. ","AnswerText":"The Cabinet Secretary for Health and Wellbeing spoke at the Scottish Huntington''s Association annual family conference on 2 November 2009, and met a small group of families living with Huntington''s disease immediately before the conference. The event gave the Cabinet Secretary a further opportunity of discussing at first hand the issues raised by living with Huntington''s disease or caring for someone with the condition. ","AnswerDate":"2010-09-21T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-09-23T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Shona Robison","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":242445,"EventID":"S3W-35904","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1752,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":57,"ApprovedDate":"2010-08-26T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-08-26T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what support services are available to people with Huntington's disease in South West Scotland. ","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what support services are available to people with Huntington's disease in South West Scotland. ","AnswerText":"In NHS Ayrshire and Arran, a Huntington''s disease (HD) management clinic is led by a consultant liaison psychiatrist, and a HD specialist nurse service is provided by the Scottish Huntington''s Association. The board has developed a care pathway for those with HD, as a result of which specialist services are thought to be well integrated with other health and social work agencies.
In NHS Dumfries and Galloway, people living with HD are supported by the single gene complex needs service. The project is funded by the Scottish Government, and one of its main roles is to provide direct support to families living with single gene conditions, such as HD, that cause complex physical, cognitive and/or psychiatric change.
","AnswerDate":"2010-09-21T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-09-23T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Shona Robison","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":242446,"EventID":"S3W-35905","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1752,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":57,"ApprovedDate":"2010-08-26T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-08-26T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what action it is taking to improve services for people with Huntington's disease in South West Scotland.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what action it is taking to improve services for people with Huntington's disease in South West Scotland.","AnswerText":"We have indicated our strong support for the implementation of NHS Quality Improvement Scotland''s clinical standards for neurological health services, published in January. To encourage that process, we are offering funding of around £550,000 in total to the territorial NHS boards to help them develop neurological managed clinical networks as the main vehicle for driving local improvements in services for all neurological conditions, including Huntington''s disease. ","AnswerDate":"2010-09-21T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-09-23T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Shona Robison","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":242447,"EventID":"S3W-35906","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1752,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":57,"ApprovedDate":"2010-08-26T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-08-26T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether it intends to discuss improving the services available to people with Huntington's disease in South West Scotland with (a) NHS Ayrshire and Arran, (b) South Ayrsh","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether it intends to discuss improving the services available to people with Huntington's disease in South West Scotland with (a) NHS Ayrshire and Arran, (b) South Ayrshire Council and (c) East Ayrshire Council and, if so, when it expects hold these discussions.","AnswerText":"No such meetings are scheduled at present, but the Cabinet Secretary for Health and Wellbeing has indicated to the Scottish Huntington''s Association her continued interest in issues relating to Huntington''s disease.
The Scottish Government Health Directorates are represented on the group set up by NHS Quality Improvement Scotland to take forward its neurological services improvement programme. The action on NHS boards in our long-term conditions action plan relating to the development of neurological managed clinical networks is monitored through our long term conditions programme board.
Implementation of the standards should lead to improvements in services for those living with Huntington''s disease and their families and carers.
","AnswerDate":"2010-09-21T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-09-23T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Shona Robison","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":242448,"EventID":"S3W-35907","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2188,"Party":"Scottish Green Party","RegionID":4,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2010-08-26T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-08-26T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-35264 by Richard Lochhead on 28 July 2010, what role will Scottish Natural Heritage (SNH) play in the development of statutory guid","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-35264 by Richard Lochhead on 28 July 2010, what role will Scottish Natural Heritage (SNH) play in the development of statutory guidance for disturbance of marine European protected species.","AnswerText":"Marine Scotland will consult Scottish Natural Heritage on the development of statutory guidance for disturbance of marine European protected species. ","AnswerDate":"2010-09-17T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-09-23T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Richard Lochhead","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":242449,"EventID":"S3W-35908","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2188,"Party":"Scottish Green Party","RegionID":4,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2010-08-26T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-08-26T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether Marine Scotland will consult Scottish Natural Heritage (SNH) before granting any licence under section 44 of the Conservation (Natural Habitats, &c.) Regulations ","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether Marine Scotland will consult Scottish Natural Heritage (SNH) before granting any licence under section 44 of the Conservation (Natural Habitats, &c.) Regulations 1994.","AnswerText":"The Scottish Government will take account of Scottish Natural Heritage views before granting any licence under section 44 of the Conservation (Natural Habitats, &c.) Regulations 1994. ","AnswerDate":"2010-09-17T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-09-23T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Richard Lochhead","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":242450,"EventID":"S3W-35909","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":3811,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":4,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2010-08-26T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-08-26T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-35638 by John Swinney on 26 August 2010, whether the aspects of the operation of the Government Car Service that it will be looking","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-35638 by John Swinney on 26 August 2010, whether the aspects of the operation of the Government Car Service that it will be looking at will include a significant reduction in its car pool provision.","AnswerText":"We will continue to look at all aspects of operation of the Government Car Service to ensure efficiency. ","AnswerDate":"2010-09-15T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-09-23T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"John Swinney","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":242451,"EventID":"S3W-35910","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":3811,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":4,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2010-08-26T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-08-26T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-35575 by Kenny MacAskill on 26 August 2010, what the estimated is cost of (a) legal aid for those prisoners who have raised proceed","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-35575 by Kenny MacAskill on 26 August 2010, what the estimated is cost of (a) legal aid for those prisoners who have raised proceedings, (b) defending the proceedings and (c) all payments made to successful litigants.","AnswerText":"I have asked John Ewing, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service (SPS), to respond. His response is as follows:
(a) The total net cost on the legal aid fund legal aid for those prisoners who have raised proceedings is £376,014. This cost includes the payment of some final accounts. A large part of this cost is made up of cases where the case has not been concluded and the solicitor has been paid on account. These cases are where an action has been raised and sisted whilst a few test cases are pursued. Depending on the outcome of the test cases much of this cost may end up being paid under judicial expenses and therefore will not be a cost on the legal aid fund.
(b) The estimated cost of defending the proceedings since May 2007 can only be obtained at disproportionate cost. The Scottish Government Legal Directorate represents the Scottish ministers in most of the actions raised since May 2007. As in-house solicitors, their costs are not charged directly to SPS. SPS records from April 2008 show the cost for defending proceedings has been £217,067. These are largely counsel costs. In addition each case is likely to have incurred the following court costs:
Notification of Intention to Defend: approximately £80
Motion to sist: approximately £40
This would give an additional indicative cost of approximately £249,600 for the 2,080 actions.
(c) The cost of payment in compensation to successful litigants to September 2010 is £297,500.
","AnswerDate":"2010-09-21T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-09-23T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Kenny MacAskill","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":242452,"EventID":"S3W-35911","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":4086,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":7,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2010-08-26T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-08-26T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what the recycling rate for (a) domestic and (b) municipal waste was in 2009-10, broken down by local authority, also showing the national average compared with the natio","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what the recycling rate for (a) domestic and (b) municipal waste was in 2009-10, broken down by local authority, also showing the national average compared with the national target.","AnswerText":"The Scottish Government does not hold 2009-10 domestic recycling rate data. The Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA) is not expected to publish this data until the spring of 2011.
The table below contains the 2009-10 recycling rates for municipal waste collected by local authorities.
Local Authority
MSW Arisings (tonnes)
MSW Landfilled (tonnes)
MSW Incinerated (tonnes)
MSW Other Treatment (tonnes)
MSW Recycled / Composted (tonnes)
% MSW Recycled / Composted
BMW landfilled (tonnes)
Clackmannanshire
32,017
17,295
0
0
14,722
46.0
11,804
Fife
246,462
135,197
0
0
111,265
45.1
85,140
South Ayrshire
86,118
47,305
0
0
38,813
45.1
26,034
North Lanarkshire
221,470
125,610
0
0
95,860
43.3
71,158
West Lothian
108,781
62,034
67
0
46,680
42.9
33,591
Moray
65,144
37,267
","AnswerDate":"2010-09-17T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-09-23T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Richard Lochhead","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":242453,"EventID":"S3W-35912","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":4086,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":7,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2010-08-26T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-08-26T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions it has had with representatives of South Lanarkshire Council and Scotgen (South Lanarkshire) Ltd regarding the proposed energy-from-waste incinerator pla","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions it has had with representatives of South Lanarkshire Council and Scotgen (South Lanarkshire) Ltd regarding the proposed energy-from-waste incinerator plant on Dovesdale Farm, Stonehouse.","AnswerText":"The Scottish Government has had no discussions with representatives of South Lanarkshire Council or with Scotgen regarding the proposed energy-from-waste plant at Dovesdale Farm. ","AnswerDate":"2010-09-23T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-09-23T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Richard Lochhead","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":242454,"EventID":"S3W-35913","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":3811,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":4,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2010-08-26T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-08-26T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive, in light of its guidance to non-departmental public bodies on bonus payments in 2009-10, whether it was made aware of the planned bonus to the current Chief Executive of","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive, in light of its guidance to non-departmental public bodies on bonus payments in 2009-10, whether it was made aware of the planned bonus to the current Chief Executive of Scottish Enterprise for 2009-10 and what action it took.","AnswerText":"The Cabinet Secretary for Finance and Sustainable Growth wrote to the chairs of non-departmental public bodies in April 2010 asking them to invite their chief executives to consider waiving, on a voluntary basis, some or all of any bonus they might be offered in 2010-11 (in respect of exceptional performance in 2009-10). The bonus payment to the current Chief Executive of Scottish Enterprise (Lena Wilson) in respect of her performance in 2009-10 was awarded to her in respect of her performance as Chief Operating Officer of Scottish Enterprise and Chief Executive Officer of Scottish Development International, during the period 1 April to 3 November 2009. The payment of such a bonus was an operational matter for Scottish Enterprise. Ms Wilson took up post as Chief Executive of Scottish Enterprise on 4 November 2009. She was not considered for a bonus in respect of her performance in that role during the period ended 31 March 2010. Ms Wilson and the other members of Scottish Enterprise''s Executive Leadership Team have indicated that they will not accept a bonus in respect of their performance in the year to 31 March 2011. ","AnswerDate":"2010-09-21T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-09-23T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Jim Mather","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":242455,"EventID":"S3W-35914","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":3811,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":4,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2010-08-26T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-08-26T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive who recommended a payment of £115,219 paid in lieu of notice to the former Chief Executive of Scottish Enterprise.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive who recommended a payment of £115,219 paid in lieu of notice to the former Chief Executive of Scottish Enterprise.","AnswerText":"Jack Perry formally resigned as Chief Executive of Scottish Enterprise on 28 May 2009. His contract of employment provided for a 12 month notice period and Scottish Enterprise decided that it would hold him to that whilst it recruited a new chief executive and negotiated a start date. Filling a senior appointment like that can often take up to 12 months as a result of the notice period to be served by the successful candidate on his/her existing employer.
In the event, the successful candidate was an internal candidate, Lena Wilson. She was able to start more or less immediately and Scottish Enterprise decided that she should take up her new post on 4 November 2009. As a consequence, Jack Perry''s notice period was terminated early and he left at that time.
Decisions on how best to manage the transition were operational matters for Scottish Enterprise. In making those decisions it sought to act in the best interests of the organisation. The final payments made to Jack Perry were no more than was required under his contract.
As operational matters, decisions on the handling of the transition did not require Scottish Government approval. Ministers and officials were however advised at the time of Scottish Enterprise''s plans. They did not seek to intervene.
As the post that Lena Wilson had occupied (i.e. the post of Chief Operating Officer) was not backfilled, this meant that Scottish Enterprise was able to reduce its overall salary bill by around £180,000 per annum “ and that saving started to accrue as soon as her appointment as Chief Executive took effect.
","AnswerDate":"2010-09-21T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-09-23T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Jim Mather","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":242456,"EventID":"S3W-35915","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":3811,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":4,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2010-08-26T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-08-26T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether its officials were made aware of a planned payment of £115,219 in lieu of notice to the former Chief Executive of Scottish Enterprise and, if so, whether they rai","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether its officials were made aware of a planned payment of £115,219 in lieu of notice to the former Chief Executive of Scottish Enterprise and, if so, whether they raised objections.","AnswerText":"I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-35914 on 21 September 2010 All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament''s website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/Apps2/Business/PQA/Default.aspx. ","AnswerDate":"2010-09-21T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-09-23T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Jim Mather","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":242457,"EventID":"S3W-35916","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":3811,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":4,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2010-08-26T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-08-26T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether its ministers were made aware of the planned £115,219 payment in lieu of notice to the former Chief Executive of Scottish Enterprise and, if so, whether they lodg","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether its ministers were made aware of the planned £115,219 payment in lieu of notice to the former Chief Executive of Scottish Enterprise and, if so, whether they lodged any objections with the chair, board or remuneration committee of Scottish Enterprise.","AnswerText":"I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-35914 on 21 September 2010 All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament''s website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/Apps2/Business/PQA/Default.aspx. ","AnswerDate":"2010-09-21T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-09-23T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Jim Mather","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":242458,"EventID":"S3W-35917","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":3811,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":4,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2010-08-26T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-08-26T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive how the core terms of the Scottish Enterprise final salary pension scheme by which Scottish Enterprise contributes 20% of employees’ pensionable salary and provides benef","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive how the core terms of the Scottish Enterprise final salary pension scheme by which Scottish Enterprise contributes 20% of employees’ pensionable salary and provides benefits at a normal retirement age of 60 for staff who joined prior to December 2006 compare with the Scottish Government’s scheme for its own employees.","AnswerText":"The Scottish Enterprise Pension and Life Assurance Scheme is a funded final salary pension scheme which was originally set up in 1951 as the Scottish Industrial Estates Limited Pension Scheme
The following table provides a comparison between it and the schemes currently in operation in the Scottish Government.
Scottish Enterprise
Name of Scheme
Scottish Enterprise Pension and Life Assurance Scheme
Key Features
A taxable pension based on final pensionable salary and pensionable service, plus a tax free lump sum equivalent to three times the annual pension
Provides benefits at a retirement age of 60 to members of staff who joined before 1 December 2006, and at 65 for members who joined after 1 December 2006.
Scope of Scheme
Open to all staff in Scottish Enterprise
Employer Contributions
All staff
20%
Salary up to £21,000
-
Salary from £21,001 to £43,000
-
Salary from £43,001 to £74,000
-
Salary of £74,001 and over
-
Employee contributions
6%
Scottish Government
Name of Scheme
Classic
Classic Plus
Premium
Nuvos
Key Features
A taxable pension based on best salary in last three tax years divided by 80 and multiplied by reckonable service.
Plus a tax free lump sum of three times the annual pension
A taxable pension based on best salary in last three tax years divided by 80 and multiplied by number of years service in the scheme before 1 October 2002 (classic) and divided by 60 for reckonable service in the scheme from 1 October 2002 (premium).
Plus a tax free lump sum relatin","AnswerDate":"2010-10-06T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-09-23T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Jim Mather","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":242459,"EventID":"S3W-35918","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2117,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":47,"ApprovedDate":"2010-08-26T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-08-26T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive, given its conclusion that the Energy from Waste Potential in Scotland report showed that “heat-only plants could meet 6% of Scotland’s existing heat needs”, what proport","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive, given its conclusion that the Energy from Waste Potential in Scotland report showed that “heat-only plants could meet 6% of Scotland’s existing heat needs”, what proportion of this 6% does it estimate will come from (a) thermal-only output from waste-streams identified as potentially suitable for combustion and (b) anaerobic digestion.","AnswerText":"The Energy from Waste Potential in Scotland report did not identify the heat potential split between combustion and anaerobic digestion processes and the Scottish Government does not hold this information.
","AnswerDate":"2010-09-23T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-09-23T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Richard Lochhead","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":242460,"EventID":"S3W-35919","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":4014,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":5,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2010-08-26T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-08-26T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive how many children have received extra-curricular music tuition in each year since 1999, broken down by local authority.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive how many children have received extra-curricular music tuition in each year since 1999, broken down by local authority.","AnswerText":"This information is not collected centrally. ","AnswerDate":"2010-09-09T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-09-23T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Michael Russell","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":242461,"EventID":"S3W-35920","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":4014,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":5,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2010-08-26T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-08-26T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive how many music teachers have been in post in each year since 1999, broken down by local authority.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive how many music teachers have been in post in each year since 1999, broken down by local authority.","AnswerText":"The following table shows the number of teachers who recorded their main subject taught as music, broken by local authority for years 2003-09. The information on the subject taught is not available until 2003.
The figures are the total for primary, secondary and special sector, and, since 2006 only, centrally employed music teachers. They exclude head teacher posts in primary and special sector, and head teacher and depute head teacher in secondary schools. This is due to their relatively low class contact time.
Music Teachers by Local Authority1,2, 2003-09
2003
2004
2005
2006
20073
2008
2009
Aberdeen City
38
35
33
35
38
35
34
Aberdeenshire
31
42
43
41
44
48
53
Angus
27
21
23
26
25
23
26
Argyll and Bute
19
16
18
20
17
19
19
Clackmannanshire
8
8
7
","AnswerDate":"2010-09-13T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-09-23T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Jim Mather","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":242463,"EventID":"S3W-35922","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1877,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":70,"ApprovedDate":"2010-08-26T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-08-26T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive how many of the planned 700 jobs at Hewlett-Packard arising as a result of the award of £7 million in Regional Selective Assistance support are primarily related to call ","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive how many of the planned 700 jobs at Hewlett-Packard arising as a result of the award of £7 million in Regional Selective Assistance support are primarily related to call centre activity.","AnswerText":"None of the planned jobs at Hewlett-Packard are related to call centre activity. ","AnswerDate":"2010-09-13T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-09-23T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Jim Mather","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":242464,"EventID":"S3W-35923","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1877,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":70,"ApprovedDate":"2010-08-26T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-08-26T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive over what period will the planned 700 jobs at Hewlett-Packard arising as a result of the award of £7 million in Regional Selective Assistance support will be created.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive over what period will the planned 700 jobs at Hewlett-Packard arising as a result of the award of £7 million in Regional Selective Assistance support will be created.","AnswerText":"For large RSA projects of this size, jobs are typically created over a four to five year period. ","AnswerDate":"2010-09-13T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-09-23T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Jim Mather","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":242465,"EventID":"S3W-35924","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1877,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":70,"ApprovedDate":"2010-08-26T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-08-26T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether the award to Hewlett-Packard of £7 million in Regional Selective Assistance support will be given in step with the promised 700 jobs being created.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether the award to Hewlett-Packard of £7 million in Regional Selective Assistance support will be given in step with the promised 700 jobs being created.","AnswerText":"Regional Selective Assistance payments to Hewlett-Packard will be made in instalments as progress is made towards their overall job target. ","AnswerDate":"2010-09-13T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-09-23T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Jim Mather","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":242466,"EventID":"S3W-35925","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1845,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":6,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2010-08-27T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-08-27T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what the average waiting time is to see a hearing specialist, broken down by NHS board.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what the average waiting time is to see a hearing specialist, broken down by NHS board.","AnswerText":"The median wait for a first assessment with an audiologist for the quarter ending 30 June 2010, by NHS board is as follows.
Information on waiting times to see an audiologist is published by ISD Scotland as data under development. The quality and accuracy of the data are continuing to be monitored and ISD Scotland is actively working with NHS boards to improve consistency, completeness and timeliness of audiology data.
The Scottish Government has included audiology services in the 18 weeks referral to treatment time target, which is due for delivery by end December 2011. This is the first time that patients requiring audiology services will be covered by a waiting time target. NHS boards are now actively working to reduce waits for this service.
Median Wait for a First Assessment with an Audiologist by NHS Board: Quarter Ending 30 June 2010
NHS Board
Median Waits (Weeks)
Ayrshire and Arran
7
Borders
6
Dumfries and Galloway
3
Fife
8
Forth Valley
*
Grampian
7
Greater Glasgow and Clyde
5
Highland
11
Lanarkshire
1
Lothian
*
Orkney
2
Shetland
4
Tayside
24
Western Isles
*
Source: ISD Scotland.
Note: *Data not available due to system issues.
","AnswerDate":"2010-09-21T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-09-24T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Nicola Sturgeon","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":242467,"EventID":"S3W-35926","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1845,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":6,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2010-08-27T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-08-27T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what the average waiting time is for a patient to receive a hearing aid, broken down by NHS board.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what the average waiting time is for a patient to receive a hearing aid, broken down by NHS board.","AnswerText":"The median wait from assessment to the fitting of a hearing aid for the quarter ending 30 June 2010, by NHS board is as follows.
Information on waiting times for the fitting of a hearing aid from assessment is published by ISD Scotland as data under development. The quality and accuracy of the data are continuing to be monitored and ISD Scotland are actively working with NHS boards to improve consistency, completeness and timeliness of audiology data.
The Scottish Government has included audiology services in the 18 weeks referral to treatment time target, which is due for delivery by end December 2011. This is the first time that patients requiring audiology services will be covered by a waiting time target. NHS boards are now actively working to reduce waits for this service.
Median Wait for from Assessment to Fitting of a Hearing Aid by NHS Board: Quarter Ending 30 June 2010
NHS Board
Median Waits (Weeks)
Ayrshire and Arran
6
Borders
6
Dumfries and Galloway
12
Fife
0
Forth Valley
*
Grampian
8
Greater Glasgow and Clyde
5
Highland
6
Lanarkshire
2
Lothian
*
Orkney
3
Shetland
4
Tayside
6
Western Isles
*
Source: ISD Scotland.
Note: *Data not available due to system issues.
","AnswerDate":"2010-09-21T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-09-24T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Nicola Sturgeon","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":242468,"EventID":"S3W-35927","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1845,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":6,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2010-08-27T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-08-27T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive how many patients have not received treatment following a GP referral after 18 weeks, broken down by NHS board.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive how many patients have not received treatment following a GP referral after 18 weeks, broken down by NHS board.","AnswerText":"The Scottish Government''s challenging target of 18 weeks from referral to treatment is not due for delivery until end December 2011. ISD Scotland has started to collect data on the 18 weeks referral to treatment time, but it is at an early stage of development. ISD is currently assessing the quality and the reliability of the data ahead of any publication. They hope to announce plans for publication of this new data in the near future.
We continue to monitor the milestone stage of treatment time standards set as part of the delivery of the 18 weeks referral to treatment time target. The latest published figure for 30 June 2010, showed that NHS Scotland effectively delivered a 12 week wait for a first outpatient consultation and nine weeks for inpatient and day case treatment “ three weeks earlier than the current waiting time standard. In addition, 99.8% of patients received one of the eight key diagnostic tests within four weeks “ two weeks earlier than the current standard. This excellent performance clearly indicates that NHS Scotland is well on track to deliver the 18 weeks referral to treatment time target.
","AnswerDate":"2010-09-21T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-09-24T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Nicola Sturgeon","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":242469,"EventID":"S3W-35928","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1845,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":6,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2010-08-27T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-08-27T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive how many NHS physiotherapists there have been in post in each year since 2007, broken down by NHS board.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive how many NHS physiotherapists there have been in post in each year since 2007, broken down by NHS board.","AnswerText":"I refer the member to the answer to the question S3W-34365 on 21 June 2010. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament''s website, the search facility for which can be found at www.scottish.parliament.uk/Apps2/Business/PQA/Default.aspx. ","AnswerDate":"2010-09-15T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-09-24T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Nicola Sturgeon","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":242470,"EventID":"S3W-35929","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1845,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":6,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2010-08-27T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-08-27T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive how many independent sexual health information advice service centres there have been since 2007, broken down by NHS board.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive how many independent sexual health information advice service centres there have been since 2007, broken down by NHS board.","AnswerText":"In line with our manifesto commitment, the Scottish Government has increased access to sexual health information and advice services across Scotland. Additional funding of £1 million over the years 2008-09 to 2009-10 was provided to help achieve this. As agreed with stakeholders, half of the additional funding for 2008-09 was allocated to NHS boards to assist them to increase access to accurate sexual health information, particularly in rural areas. This funding has been used to create or update local websites and service information, improve public access to sexual health websites and support the provision of information by voluntary organisations.
Last year the Scottish Government launched the Sexual Health Scotland website, which provides information, help and advice. This can be accessed at http://www.sexualhealthscotland.co.uk.
In addition, the availability of local drop-in services for young people, offering general health advice, chlamydia testing, pregnancy testing and condoms has increased in line with our National Outcomes 2008-11.
Each year the Scottish Government also provides funding to a number of voluntary organisations throughout Scotland who provide independent sexual health information and advice services.
","AnswerDate":"2010-09-15T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-09-24T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Shona Robison","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":242471,"EventID":"S3W-35930","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1845,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":6,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2010-08-27T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-08-27T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive how many children have had treatment under the school-based dental service since 2007, broken down by NHS board and expressed as a percentage of eligible children.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive how many children have had treatment under the school-based dental service since 2007, broken down by NHS board and expressed as a percentage of eligible children.","AnswerText":"The Childsmile School programme provides twice-yearly fluoride varnish (FV) applications as a preventive treatment for children who are identified as living in the areas of highest need. Tables 1, 2 and 3 show, by NHS board of delivery and by school year, the number of children who received at least one fluoride varnish application, expressed also as a percentage of the number of eligible children.
The ChildsmileSchool programme is at various stages of implementation in all 14 NHS board areas. Three NHS boards; Dumfries and Galloway, Orkney and Western Isles are implementing in school year 2010 -11; no data available currently.
Table 1: Number of Children in P1 and P2 Treated Under the Childsmile School Programme in School Year 2007-08
NHS Board of Delivery
Number of Children who Received Treatment
Proportion of Eligible Children who Received Treatment
Ayrshire and Arran
81
5.55%
Borders
187
40.67%
Fife
924
62.42%
Tayside
636
40.88%
Table 2: Number of Children in P1 and P2 Treated Under the Childsmile School Programme in School Year 2008-09
NHS Board of Delivery
Number of Children who Received Treatment
Proportion of Eligible Children who Received Treatment
Ayrshire and Arran
396
26.88%
Borders
448
99.69%
Fife
1395
93.88%
Forth Valley
500
41.40%
Highland
60
4.92%
Lothian
1353
44.87%
Shetland
77
78.09%
Tayside
Number of Care Home Places Available, by NHS Board, at 31 March 2010
NHS Board
2007
2008
2009
NHS Ayrshire and Arran
3,007
3,187
3,176
NHS Borders
964
886
895
NHS Fife
2,742
2,786
2,906
NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde
9,662
9,661
10,002
NHS Highland
3,120
3,029
3,073
NHS Lanarkshire
4,560
4,684
4,738
NHS Grampian
4,816
4,900
5,103
NHS Orkney
138
137
144
NHS Lothian
5,774
5,725
5,840
NHS Tayside
3,984
4,055
4,075
NHS Forth Valley
2,156
2,215
2,234
NHS Western Isles
<","AnswerDate":"2010-09-21T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-09-24T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Shona Robison","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":242473,"EventID":"S3W-35932","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1845,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":6,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2010-08-27T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-08-27T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive how many school nurses there have been in each year since 2007, broken down by NHS board.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive how many school nurses there have been in each year since 2007, broken down by NHS board.","AnswerText":"NHS workforce data is published by National Services Scotland, Information Services Division Scotland annually, as at 30 September. Data on school nurses by NHS board at 30 September 2007 to 2009 is available at:
","AnswerDate":"2010-09-15T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-09-24T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Nicola Sturgeon","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":242474,"EventID":"S3W-35933","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1845,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":6,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2010-08-27T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-08-27T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive how many health and fitness checks have been carried out in (a) primary and (b) secondary schools, broken down by local authority and expressed as a percentage of eligibl","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive how many health and fitness checks have been carried out in (a) primary and (b) secondary schools, broken down by local authority and expressed as a percentage of eligible children.","AnswerText":"The information requested is not held centrally.
All NHS boards in Scotland provide a child health programme. As part of the universal programme, all children are offered a Primary 1 health review and some boards may also offer reviews at other stages.
","AnswerDate":"2010-09-17T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-09-24T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Adam Ingram","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":242475,"EventID":"S3W-35934","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1845,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":6,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2010-08-27T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-08-27T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive how many health and fitness checks have been carried out on those of 40 years of age delivered through GP surgeries or local health centres, broken down by NHS board.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive how many health and fitness checks have been carried out on those of 40 years of age delivered through GP surgeries or local health centres, broken down by NHS board.","AnswerText":"The Scottish Government has developed a programme of web based health checks for people when they reach 40 in association with NHS 24. The Life Begins at 40 pilot service was launched in Grampian in May 2010. To the first week in September, 212 people have accessed the system.
Keep Well currently delivers inequalities targeted health checks to individuals in the most deprived communities across Scotland. These are targeted at those aged 45 to 64 and individuals outwith this age range may also receive a check if they are considered to be particularly vulnerable or at risk. Around 85,000 checks have been undertaken around Scotland. A record of those checked at 40 years of age is not maintained.
Pilots to introduce universal health checks for all Scots aged 40 to 74 are due to begin in 2011.
","AnswerDate":"2010-09-23T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-09-24T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Nicola Sturgeon","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":242476,"EventID":"S3W-35935","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1845,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":6,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2010-08-27T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-08-27T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive how many direct financial payments have been made to support sports clubs and sports governing bodies to improve club facilities in each year since 2007.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive how many direct financial payments have been made to support sports clubs and sports governing bodies to improve club facilities in each year since 2007.","AnswerText":"The information requested is not held centrally by the Scottish Government as no direct payments are made to either sports clubs or sports governing bodies to improve club facilities. However, the Scottish Government funds sportscotland, which in turn provides financial support and I have therefore asked the chief executive of sportscotland to write to the member providing the detailed operational information. ","AnswerDate":"2010-09-14T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-09-24T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Shona Robison","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":242477,"EventID":"S3W-35936","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2029,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":71,"ApprovedDate":"2010-08-27T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-08-27T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive how many recommendations for secure accommodation by a children’s panel have been rejected, overturned, or commuted by the chief social work officer since June 2010, brok","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive how many recommendations for secure accommodation by a children’s panel have been rejected, overturned, or commuted by the chief social work officer since June 2010, broken down by local authority.","AnswerText":"The Scottish Government does not collect this information. ","AnswerDate":"2010-09-14T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-09-24T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Fergus Ewing","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":242478,"EventID":"S3W-35937","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2029,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":71,"ApprovedDate":"2010-08-27T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-08-27T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive how much financial help, in whatever form, has been given to expand the availability of secure accommodation since 2003.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive how much financial help, in whatever form, has been given to expand the availability of secure accommodation since 2003.","AnswerText":"The Scottish Government committed to completing the previous administration''s redevelopment programme and has provided over £20 million to the secure estate since 2002. This, along with financial spend from the secure estate, increased the number and geographical spread of places; improved specialist provision, and saw the creation of a dedicated unit for girls and young women. ","AnswerDate":"2010-09-16T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-09-24T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Fergus Ewing","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":242479,"EventID":"S3W-35938","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1752,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":57,"ApprovedDate":"2010-08-27T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-08-27T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what the average waiting time is for an MRI scan, broken down by NHS board area.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what the average waiting time is for an MRI scan, broken down by NHS board area.","AnswerText":"The information requested is not collected centrally. Latest published figures for 30 June 2010, showed that no patient had waited more than four weeks for a MRI scan, two weeks shorter than the current waiting time standard. ","AnswerDate":"2010-09-24T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-09-24T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Nicola Sturgeon","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":242480,"EventID":"S3W-35939","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1768,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":60,"ApprovedDate":"2010-08-27T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-08-27T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what the cost has been to Scottish Natural Heritage of implementing control orders on estates under section 7 of the Deer (Scotland) Act 1996 in each of the last five yea","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what the cost has been to Scottish Natural Heritage of implementing control orders on estates under section 7 of the Deer (Scotland) Act 1996 in each of the last five years.","AnswerText":"The costs of implementing control agreements made under Section 7 of The Deer Scotland Act 1996, including a profiled estimate for 2010, are set out in the following table:
>
Habitat Assessment Costs (£)
Deer Census (£)
DCS staff costs
Total (£)
2006
18,000
33,000
104,459
155,459
2007
71,030
35,800
104,459
211,289
2008
126,725
78,944
104,459
310,128
2009
74,000
76,000
104,459
254,459
2010
25,500
76,000
104,459
205,959
In addition, £160,000 of assistance was provided under section 12 of the Deer (Scotland) Act 1996 over two culling seasons in 2005-06 and 2006-07 in support of a Section 7 control agreement. These figures do not include the cost of any emergency measures taken under section 10 of the act.
","AnswerDate":"2010-09-14T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-09-24T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Roseanna Cunningham","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":242481,"EventID":"S3W-35940","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1768,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":60,"ApprovedDate":"2010-08-27T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-08-27T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether there have been any objections, or issues raised, by consultees to the Wildlife and Natural Environment Bill consultation regarding the previous recommendation by","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether there have been any objections, or issues raised, by consultees to the Wildlife and Natural Environment Bill consultation regarding the previous recommendation by the Deer Commission Scotland that a duty of sustainable deer management should be placed on individual land managers as opposed to the recommendation by the Scottish Government that this duty should apply to public bodies. ","AnswerText":"Following the formal consultation, we received written representations from one organisation in support of the recommendation from the Deer Commission that a duty of sustainable deer management should be placed on individual land managers. The issue has also been discussed in meetings with a number of stakeholders where support has been expressed both for the Deer Commission recommendation and for the proposals in the Wildlife and Natural Environment Bill. ","AnswerDate":"2010-09-08T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-09-24T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Roseanna Cunningham","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":242482,"EventID":"S3W-35941","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1756,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":7,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2010-08-27T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-08-27T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether the decision by United States senators in 2008, to support the amendment to the Foreign Sovereign Immunities Act that prevented the relatives of victims of Pan Am","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether the decision by United States senators in 2008, to support the amendment to the Foreign Sovereign Immunities Act that prevented the relatives of victims of Pan Am 103 suing US companies who had established trade relations with Libya from securing compensation for the loss of their loved ones, has any impact on the families of Scottish victims seeking compensation from US companies with operations in Scotland, via the Scottish Courts.","AnswerText":"Legal advice on the impact of foreign legislation is not a matter for the Scottish Government. ","AnswerDate":"2010-09-21T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-09-24T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Kenny MacAskill","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":242483,"EventID":"S3W-35942","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1756,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":7,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2010-08-27T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-08-27T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will publish any information it holds related to payments reportedly made by US authorities to key witnesses either before or after the trial of Mr Abdelbaset ","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will publish any information it holds related to payments reportedly made by US authorities to key witnesses either before or after the trial of Mr Abdelbaset Ali Mohmed Al Megrahi, specifically payments to Tony Gauci, in relation to evidence he gave into the bombing of Pan Am Flight 103 over Lockerbie.","AnswerText":"The only forum in which the Scottish Government or the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service (COPFS) can make public any information connected to witnesses involved in the investigation and prosecution of the Lockerbie bombing is in judicial proceedings in Scotland. ","AnswerDate":"2010-09-24T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-09-24T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Elish Angiolini","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":242484,"EventID":"S3W-35943","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1756,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":7,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2010-08-27T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-08-27T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether it is aware of comments by the former Lord Advocate, Lord Fraser of Carmyllie, who has stated publicly in a television interview for Dutch television in 2009 that","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether it is aware of comments by the former Lord Advocate, Lord Fraser of Carmyllie, who has stated publicly in a television interview for Dutch television in 2009 that he was not aware that the timer fragment known as PT35 was sent to the United States of America for examination by FBI officials and that he would have opposed such transportation of this fragment on the basis of concerns that it might be lost in transit or provoke accusations that it had been tampered with.","AnswerText":"I am aware of comments reported to have been made by my predecessor, Lord Fraser of Carmyllie.
The fragment of electronic timer recovered from the wreckage of flight Pan Am 103, known as PT35, was taken to the United States of America by Scottish police officers and a British forensic scientist in June 1990 as part of the investigation into the Lockerbie bombing. The fragment remained in the custody and control of the Scottish police officers and the British forensic scientist during the visit to the United States and was subsequently identified as having come from an electronic timer manufactured by a Swiss company, MEBO, to the order of the Libyan intelligence service.
","AnswerDate":"2010-09-24T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-09-24T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Elish Angiolini","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":242485,"EventID":"S3W-35944","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1756,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":7,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2010-08-27T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-08-27T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether it is aware of the reported comments of former FBI scientist Frederic Whitehurst implying that the FBI laboratory in Washington DC may constitute an additional cr","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether it is aware of the reported comments of former FBI scientist Frederic Whitehurst implying that the FBI laboratory in Washington DC may constitute an additional crime scene with regard to the bombing of Pan Am Flight 103 over Lockerbie.","AnswerText":"There is no evidence of any criminal act having been carried out in relation to any of the forensic evidence in the Lockerbie investigation.
A fragment of electronic timer recovered from the wreckage of flight Pan Am 103, known as PT35, was taken to the FBI laboratory in Washington DC by Scottish police officers and a British forensic scientist in June 1990 as part of the investigation into the Lockerbie bombing. The fragment remained in the custody and control of the Scottish police officers and the British forensic scientist during the visit to the United States and was subsequently identified as having come from an electronic timer manufactured by a Swiss company, MEBO, to the order of the Libyan intelligence service.
","AnswerDate":"2010-09-24T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-09-24T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Elish Angiolini","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":242486,"EventID":"S3W-35946","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1783,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":67,"ApprovedDate":"2010-08-30T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-08-30T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive how many NHS psychiatric patients are being cared for in the private sector.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive how many NHS psychiatric patients are being cared for in the private sector.","AnswerText":"The information requested is not held centrally. ","AnswerDate":"2010-09-24T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-09-27T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Shona Robison","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":242487,"EventID":"S3W-35947","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1783,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":67,"ApprovedDate":"2010-08-30T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-08-30T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive how many psychiatric patients are receiving either NHS or private treatment outwith Scotland.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive how many psychiatric patients are receiving either NHS or private treatment outwith Scotland.","AnswerText":"The information requested is not centrally available. ","AnswerDate":"2010-09-24T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-09-27T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Shona Robison","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":242488,"EventID":"S3W-35948","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1805,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":1,"ApprovedDate":"2010-08-30T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-08-30T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive how many inpatient beds there were in NHS Lanarkshire in (a) 2007-08, (b) 2008-09 and (c) 2009-10, broken down by (i) specialism and (ii) hospital.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive how many inpatient beds there were in NHS Lanarkshire in (a) 2007-08, (b) 2008-09 and (c) 2009-10, broken down by (i) specialism and (ii) hospital.","AnswerText":"The requested information is shown in the following table.
Average available staffed beds in NHS Lanarkshire by location and specialty: years ending 31 March 2008-10:
","AnswerDate":"2010-09-21T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-09-27T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Nicola Sturgeon","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":242490,"EventID":"S3W-35950","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1805,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":1,"ApprovedDate":"2010-08-30T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-08-30T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what plans NHS Lanarkshire has to provide for a WestMARC satellite clinic in Lanarkshire.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what plans NHS Lanarkshire has to provide for a WestMARC satellite clinic in Lanarkshire.","AnswerText":"NHS Lanarkshire is working closely with NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde in order to take forward the development of a new wheelchair facility and clinic in Wishaw with the additional funding that is being provided by the Scottish Government for wheelchair services modernisation. ","AnswerDate":"2010-09-15T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-09-27T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Shona Robison","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":242491,"EventID":"S3W-35951","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1845,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":6,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2010-08-30T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-08-30T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive how many suicides there have been among farmers in each year since 1999. ","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive how many suicides there have been among farmers in each year since 1999. ","AnswerText":"The General Register Office for Scotland (GROS) publishes statistics of the numbers of probable suicides in Scotland. A suicide is a death which has been classified as either an event of intentional self-harm or an event of undetermined intent, and it is thought that most of the latter type are likely to be suicides. Further information about statistics of probable suicides is available on the GROS website http://www.gro-scotland.gov.uk/statistics/deaths/suicides/index.html.
The following table gives the numbers of probable suicides registered in each year where the occupation of the deceased was simply described on the death certificate as farmer.
Table 1. Probable Suicides of Farmers1 in Scotland 1999-2009
Registration Year
Not a Retired Farmer
Possibly2 Retired Farmer
Retired Farmer
Total
1999
7
0
1
8
2000
7
1
1
9
2001
2
0
2
4
2002
5
0
1
6
2003
2
0
1
3
2004
7
1
4
12
2005
3
1
1
5
","AnswerDate":"2010-09-14T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-09-27T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Shona Robison","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":242493,"EventID":"S3W-35953","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1845,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":6,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2010-08-30T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-08-30T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what advice it provides to farmers and their families to address depression.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what advice it provides to farmers and their families to address depression.","AnswerText":"Responding better to depression, anxiety and stress is a key priority for the Scottish Government and we are working with our partners to provide appropriate care and treatment for all those who suffer from depression, including farmers and those in remote and rural areas, in line with national clinical guidelines.
Our approach is supported by an ambitious programme to put in place integrated care pathways for depression that meet the standards established by NHS Quality Improvement Scotland; the commitment to increase access to evidence-based psychological therapies in Scotland including the access target to be included in HEAT in 2011-12; screening for depression for those with coronary heart disease and diabetes and appropriate treatment; access to online and telephone based cognitive behavioural therapy and self-help for depression; promotion of physical activity as both a treatment for, and to reduce the risk of developing depression.
The Institute of Rural Health also recognises, and is encouraged by, the service provided by Breathing Space, the free confidential out of hours telephone advice and signposting service for people experiencing low mood, depression or anxiety, particularly for the advice it can offer to those in rural and more isolated areas.
","AnswerDate":"2010-09-22T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-09-27T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Shona Robison","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":242494,"EventID":"S3W-35954","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1768,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":60,"ApprovedDate":"2010-08-30T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-08-30T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether individuals who are on probation in Scotland can arrange to complete their probation in other parts of the United Kingdom and, if so, how this can be arranged.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether individuals who are on probation in Scotland can arrange to complete their probation in other parts of the United Kingdom and, if so, how this can be arranged.","AnswerText":"Section 234 of the Criminal Procedure (Scotland) Act 1995 provides for Scottish courts to transfer probation orders where the offender has attained the age of 16 years and resides or will reside in England and Wales. The offender makes an application for transfer to the court which made the probation order. If the court is satisfied that arrangements for supervision of the offender can be made by a probation officer, appointed for or assigned to the petty sessions area in which the offender resides or will reside, it will amend the order accordingly. No such provision exists for the transfer of probation orders to Northern Ireland. ","AnswerDate":"2010-09-01T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-09-27T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Kenny MacAskill","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":242495,"EventID":"S3W-35955","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":3811,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":4,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2010-08-30T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-08-30T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what financial assistance Pedian Services has received from the Scottish Government or any of its agencies since May 2007","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what financial assistance Pedian Services has received from the Scottish Government or any of its agencies since May 2007","AnswerText":"The Scottish Government or its agencies have given no financial assistance to Pedian Services since May 2007. ","AnswerDate":"2010-09-21T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-09-27T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"John Swinney","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":242496,"EventID":"S3W-35956","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":3811,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":4,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2010-08-30T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-08-30T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what financial assistance Remote Data Services has received from the Scottish Government or any of its agencies since May 2007","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what financial assistance Remote Data Services has received from the Scottish Government or any of its agencies since May 2007","AnswerText":"The Scottish Government or its agencies have given no financial assistance to Remote Data Services since May 2007. ","AnswerDate":"2010-09-29T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-09-27T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"John Swinney","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":242497,"EventID":"S3W-35957","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":3811,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":4,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2010-08-30T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-08-30T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what financial assistance the Les Taylor Group has received from the Scottish Government or any of its agencies since May 2007","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what financial assistance the Les Taylor Group has received from the Scottish Government or any of its agencies since May 2007","AnswerText":"The Scottish Government or its agencies have given no financial assistance to the Les Taylor Group since May 2007. ","AnswerDate":"2010-09-21T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-09-27T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"John Swinney","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":242498,"EventID":"S3W-35958","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":3811,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":4,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2010-08-30T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-08-30T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what financial assistance Dualchas Building Design has received from the Scottish Government or any of its agencies since May 2007","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what financial assistance Dualchas Building Design has received from the Scottish Government or any of its agencies since May 2007","AnswerText":"The Scottish Government or its agencies have given no financial assistance to Dualchas Building Design since May 2007. ","AnswerDate":"2010-09-21T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-09-27T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"John Swinney","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":242499,"EventID":"S3W-35959","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":3811,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":4,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2010-08-30T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-08-30T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what financial assistance ICU Europe Technologies Limited has received from the Scottish Government or any of its agencies since May 2007","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what financial assistance ICU Europe Technologies Limited has received from the Scottish Government or any of its agencies since May 2007","AnswerText":"The Scottish Government or its agencies have given no financial assistance to ICU Europe Technologies Limited since May 2007. ","AnswerDate":"2010-09-21T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-09-27T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"John Swinney","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":242500,"EventID":"S3W-35960","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":3811,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":4,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2010-08-30T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-08-30T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what financial assistance Tom Heron Priority Management (Scotland) has received from the Scottish Government or any of its agencies since May 2007","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what financial assistance Tom Heron Priority Management (Scotland) has received from the Scottish Government or any of its agencies since May 2007","AnswerText":"The Scottish Government or its agencies have given no financial assistance to Tom Heron Priority Management (Scotland) since May 2007. ","AnswerDate":"2010-09-21T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-09-27T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"John Swinney","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":242501,"EventID":"S3W-35961","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":3811,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":4,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2010-08-30T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-08-30T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what financial assistance A Tavern Joinery has received from the Scottish Government or any of its agencies since May 2007","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what financial assistance A Tavern Joinery has received from the Scottish Government or any of its agencies since May 2007","AnswerText":"The Scottish Government or its agencies have given no financial assistance to A Tavern Joinery since May 2007. ","AnswerDate":"2010-09-21T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-09-27T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"John Swinney","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":242502,"EventID":"S3W-35962","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":3811,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":4,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2010-08-30T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-08-30T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what financial assistance Ann Buchan Management Systems Support Ltd has received from the Scottish Government or any of its agencies since May 2007","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what financial assistance Ann Buchan Management Systems Support Ltd has received from the Scottish Government or any of its agencies since May 2007","AnswerText":"The Scottish Government or its agencies have given no financial assistance to Ann Buchan Management Systems Support Ltd since May 2007. ","AnswerDate":"2010-09-21T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-09-27T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"John Swinney","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":242503,"EventID":"S3W-35963","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":3811,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":4,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2010-08-30T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-08-30T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what financial assistance Cullen Building Products has received from the Scottish Government or any of its agencies since May 2007","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what financial assistance Cullen Building Products has received from the Scottish Government or any of its agencies since May 2007","AnswerText":"The Scottish Government or its agencies have given no financial assistance to Cullen Building Products since May 2007.
Scottish Enterprise has given financial assistance to Cullen Building Products within this period of time. This is an operational matter for Scottish Enterprise and I will ask its Chief Executive to write to you in this regard.
","AnswerDate":"2010-09-21T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-09-27T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"John Swinney","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":242504,"EventID":"S3W-35964","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":3811,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":4,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2010-08-30T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-08-30T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what financial assistance MacKellar Sub-Sea Ltd has received from the Scottish Government or any of its agencies since May 2007","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what financial assistance MacKellar Sub-Sea Ltd has received from the Scottish Government or any of its agencies since May 2007","AnswerText":"The Scottish Government or its agencies gave no financial assistance to MacKellar Sub-Sea Ltd since May 2007.
Highlands and Islands Enterprise has given financial assistance to MacKellar Sub-Sea Ltd within this period of time. This is an operational matter for Highlands and Islands Enterprise and I will ask its Chief Executive to write to you in this regard.
","AnswerDate":"2010-09-21T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-09-27T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"John Swinney","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":242505,"EventID":"S3W-35965","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":3811,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":4,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2010-08-30T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-08-30T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what financial assistance scottishquality.com has received from the Scottish Government or any of its agencies since May 2007","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what financial assistance scottishquality.com has received from the Scottish Government or any of its agencies since May 2007","AnswerText":"The Scottish Government or its agencies has given no financial assistance to scottishquality.com since May 2007. ","AnswerDate":"2010-09-21T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-09-27T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"John Swinney","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":242506,"EventID":"S3W-35966","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":3811,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":4,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2010-08-30T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-08-30T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-35845 by Kenny MacAskill on 27 August 2010, whether it will request Sir Anthony Campbell to publish the report of his Fingerprint I","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-35845 by Kenny MacAskill on 27 August 2010, whether it will request Sir Anthony Campbell to publish the report of his Fingerprint Inquiry before March 2011. ","AnswerText":"No. There is no reason to believe that such a request will be necessary. The terms of reference of the Inquiry do not include a timeframe in which the chairman is expected to report and such a request would not be in keeping with the statutory provision that the conduct of the Fingerprint Inquiry is for the chairman to direct. ","AnswerDate":"2010-09-01T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-09-27T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Kenny MacAskill","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":242507,"EventID":"S3W-35967","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":3811,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":4,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2010-08-30T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-08-30T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-35868 by Kenny MacAskill on 27 August 2010, whether there has been any further projected increase in the cost of the Fingerprint In","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-35868 by Kenny MacAskill on 27 August 2010, whether there has been any further projected increase in the cost of the Fingerprint Inquiry since April 2010.","AnswerText":"There have been no further projected increases in the cost of the Fingerprint Inquiry since April 2010. ","AnswerDate":"2010-09-01T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-09-27T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Kenny MacAskill","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":242508,"EventID":"S3W-35968","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":3811,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":4,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2010-08-30T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-08-30T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what ministerial consideration is given to the potential cost of public inquiries before setting them up; which ministers were involved in the decision to set up the Fing","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what ministerial consideration is given to the potential cost of public inquiries before setting them up; which ministers were involved in the decision to set up the Fingerprint Inquiry, and what projected cost was given to them when making their decision.","AnswerText":"Ministerial considerations of cost or any other relevant matter will differ substantially in accordance with the nature and specific characteristics of the circumstances for which public inquiries are under consideration.
For Inquiries established under the Inquiries Act 2005, considerations will include the provisions of Section 17, which require that the proceedings and conduct of an Inquiry are for the chairman to determine, and that in making any decision as to the procedure or conduct of an inquiry the chairman must act with regard also to the need to avoid any unnecessary cost. Further ministerial considerations of the potential cost will be associated with any decisions to issue determinations under Sections 39 and 40 of the 2005 act.
In relation to the Fingerprint Inquiry, the Cabinet Secretary for Justice considered the key preliminary matters including the Inquiry''s terms of reference and the appointment of a Chairman in June 2007, following the commitment to establish a judicial public inquiry, made by the Scottish National Party in May 2007 in the published document It''s time to look forward - the first 100 days of an SNP government.
Following preparatory work, the Fingerprint Inquiry was established on 14 March 2008, on which date the terms of reference and Sir Anthony Campbell''s chairmanship were announced.
In relation to the projected costs of the Inquiry, I refer the member to the answers to questions S3W-11621 on 15 April 2008 and S3W-11870 on 24 April 2008. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament''s website, the search facility for which can be found at:
A ministerial determination under Section 40(4) of the 2005 Act was announced on 5 June 2008, following which a provisional budget estimate of £3.5 million was provided to ministers by the Inquiry team in October 2008. The final estimated cost of just over £4 million was announced in April 2010, following completion of the public hearings.
","AnswerDate":"2010-09-01T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-09-27T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Kenny MacAskill","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":242509,"EventID":"S3W-35969","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":4014,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":5,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2010-08-30T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-08-30T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions have taken place between it and UCAS over the status of the Scottish Baccalaureate compared with other qualifications when it comes to university entranc","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions have taken place between it and UCAS over the status of the Scottish Baccalaureate compared with other qualifications when it comes to university entrance.","AnswerText":"The Scottish Government has regular discussions with UCAS about national qualifications including the Scottish Baccalaureates. In addition, the Scottish Government is represented on the UCAS Scottish Qualifications Progression Group which provides a forum for university admissions staff to discuss new national qualifications and the implications for university recruitment and admission policies.
We are pleased that the value of the Baccalaureate has been recognised through the UCAS points tariff and inclusion in university prospectuses.
","AnswerDate":"2010-09-22T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-09-27T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Michael Russell","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":242510,"EventID":"S3W-35970","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":4014,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":5,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2010-08-30T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-08-30T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive how many university places for 2010-11 were made conditional to success in the Scottish Baccalaureate in the May 2010 SQA diet of examinations.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive how many university places for 2010-11 were made conditional to success in the Scottish Baccalaureate in the May 2010 SQA diet of examinations.","AnswerText":"Four applicants received offers of university entry in 2010 conditional on achieving a Scottish Baccalaureate qualification in 2009-10.
A number of universities are now including Scottish Baccalaureates as an entry route in their prospectuses, for example in enabling advanced standing for entry to the second year of university or to an accelerated three-year honours degree.
","AnswerDate":"2010-09-22T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-09-27T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Michael Russell","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":242511,"EventID":"S3W-35971","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":4014,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":5,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2010-08-30T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-08-30T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what progress has been made in offering the Scottish Baccalaureate in arts and social sciences. ","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what progress has been made in offering the Scottish Baccalaureate in arts and social sciences. ","AnswerText":"The Scottish Qualifications Authority is currently conducting a scoping exercise which is considering both the potential to broaden the current Scottish Baccalaureates in sciences and languages to incorporate other related subjects and whether Baccalaureates in other subject areas should be developed. It is expected that decisions on these issues will be announced in the New Year. ","AnswerDate":"2010-09-22T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-09-27T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Michael Russell","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":242512,"EventID":"S3W-35972","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1877,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":70,"ApprovedDate":"2010-08-30T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-08-30T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive how many employees of it and its agencies are paid (a) £100,000 to £150,000, (b) £150,001 to £200,000 and (c) more than £200,000.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive how many employees of it and its agencies are paid (a) £100,000 to £150,000, (b) £150,001 to £200,000 and (c) more than £200,000.","AnswerText":"There are currently 20 permanent employees* of the Scottish Government and associated agencies who are paid an annual basic salary of above £100,000. These are split into the following salary brackets:-
(a) 17 people currently paid between £100,000 and £150,000;
(b) three people currently paid between £150,001 and £200,000; and
(c) none paid more than £200,000.
The list of 172 senior civil servants in central government departments and senior staff in non departmental public bodies who earn more than £150,000 each year was published on the Cabinet Office website on 31 May 2010. Details are available at:
Note: *excludes employees on outward loan/secondment
","AnswerDate":"2010-10-19T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-09-27T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"John Swinney","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":242513,"EventID":"S3W-35973","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1877,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":70,"ApprovedDate":"2010-08-30T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-08-30T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive how many employees of non-departmental public bodies, public corporations and other public bodies not covered by agency status are paid (a) £100,000 to £150,000, (b) £150","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive how many employees of non-departmental public bodies, public corporations and other public bodies not covered by agency status are paid (a) £100,000 to £150,000, (b) £150,001 to £200,000 and (c) more than £200,000.","AnswerText":"Some of this information is already in the public domain.
Employees of non-departmental public bodies and public corporations in Scotland earning more than £150,000 per year are listed on the Scottish Government website at:
Information requested about those earning between £100,000 and £150,000 is not held centrally and could only be collected at disproportionate cost.
The Scottish Government has asked non-departmental public bodies and public corporations to publish salary information for those employees considered to be part of their senior leadership team. This information should be available shortly.
","AnswerDate":"2010-09-21T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-09-27T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"John Swinney","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":242514,"EventID":"S3W-35974","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1877,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":70,"ApprovedDate":"2010-08-30T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-08-30T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive how many local authority employees are paid (a) £100,000 to £150,000, (b) £150,001 to £200,000 and (c) more than £200,000.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive how many local authority employees are paid (a) £100,000 to £150,000, (b) £150,001 to £200,000 and (c) more than £200,000.","AnswerText":"Information at this level of detail is not held centrally. The pay of local authority employees is a matter for local authorities as independent corporate bodies. ","AnswerDate":"2010-09-10T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-09-27T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"John Swinney","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":242515,"EventID":"S3W-35975","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1877,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":70,"ApprovedDate":"2010-08-30T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-08-30T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive how many NHS employees are paid (a) £100,000 to £150,000, (b) £150,001 to £200,000 and (c) more than £200,000.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive how many NHS employees are paid (a) £100,000 to £150,000, (b) £150,001 to £200,000 and (c) more than £200,000.","AnswerText":"Individual salary information for NHS staff is not held centrally. However, tables showing the numbers of staff earning £50,000 and over (in bands of £10,000) is available from NHS boards'' annual accounts which are published on NHS boards'' individual websites. The respective websites are listed at:
http://www.show.scot.nhs.uk/.
","AnswerDate":"2010-09-23T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-09-27T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Nicola Sturgeon","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":242516,"EventID":"S3W-35976","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2066,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":3,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2010-08-30T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-08-30T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what cost savings will be achieved in each of the next three years as a result of the merger of the Deer Commission for Scotland and Scottish Natural Heritage.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what cost savings will be achieved in each of the next three years as a result of the merger of the Deer Commission for Scotland and Scottish Natural Heritage.","AnswerText":"The estimated breakdown of cost savings as a result of the merger of the Deer Commission for Scotland (DCS) and Scottish Natural Heritage (SNH) is set out in the Financial Memorandum to the Public Services Reform (Scotland) Act 2010 which is available at:
Scottish Government plans to lay before the Parliament a progress report detailing how DCS has been integrated into SNH and evaluating the success of the merger. This is in response to the Rural and Environment Committee''s recommendation arising from its scrutiny of the merger proposals in the Public Service Reform (Scotland) Bill. A report which will include an assessment of efficiency savings achieved as a result of the merger will be laid before the Parliament by 2012.
","AnswerDate":"2010-09-22T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-09-27T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Roseanna Cunningham","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":242517,"EventID":"S3W-35977","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2066,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":3,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2010-08-30T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-08-30T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what the reduction of full-time equivalent posts will be as a result of the merger of the Deer Commission for Scotland and Scottish Natural Heritage.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what the reduction of full-time equivalent posts will be as a result of the merger of the Deer Commission for Scotland and Scottish Natural Heritage.","AnswerText":"There has been a reduction of two permanent full-time equivalent posts as a result of the merger of Deer Commission for Scotland (DCS) and Scottish Natural Heritage (SNH). Both posts were within the former DCS. In one case the individual concerned took voluntary retirement and in the other the individual concerned was redeployed to fill a vacant post within SNH. ","AnswerDate":"2010-09-22T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-09-27T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Roseanna Cunningham","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":242518,"EventID":"S3W-35978","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1845,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":6,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2010-08-30T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-08-30T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive how many veterans have received mental healthcare in Scottish hospitals in each year since 1999.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive how many veterans have received mental healthcare in Scottish hospitals in each year since 1999.","AnswerText":"This information is not held centrally. Data from primary care and psychiatric hospital activity does not separately identify veterans. ","AnswerDate":"2010-09-16T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-09-27T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Shona Robison","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":242519,"EventID":"S3W-35979","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1845,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":6,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2010-08-30T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-08-30T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what action it has taken to improve mental healthcare for veterans.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what action it has taken to improve mental healthcare for veterans.","AnswerText":"All NHS boards continue to work with their partners towards improved access to services and outcomes for veterans, their carers and families based on prevention, appropriate intervention and sustained recovery.
These principles are at the heart of new arrangements and investment in place since April 2009 for improved access to specialist and community based metal health services for Veterans and their families.
In partnership with NHSScotland, we have made £1.2 million available each year to fund new arrangements through Combat Stress, the ex-services mental health welfare charity, to provide specialist mental health services for Veterans in Scotland at Hollybush House in Ayr. A range of specialist evidence based treatments, therapies and rehabilitation are available based on comprehensive individual needs assessment. The new arrangements represents almost double the previous annual investment.
We are also funding Combat Stress to provide two Regional multi-disciplinary teams to cover the East and West of Scotland to improve access to community outreach services at nearly £560,000 over three years to 2011. The Teams seek to ensure Veterans with service related mental ill health are appropriately assessed, supported and treated in order that they can maintain their place in the local community and achieve their full potential. We are currently considering arrangements beyond 2011.
In partnership with NHS Lothian we are also investing £930,000 to 2011 for the Veterans First Point pilot in central Edinburgh. Operational since April last year, the community-based service provides a One Stop Shop for assistance to Veterans and their families no matter what that need might be. Over 300 veterans have used the service to date. The pilot will be evaluated and the outcome will inform the further development of improved mental health services for Veterans across Scotland.
","AnswerDate":"2010-09-16T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-09-27T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Shona Robison","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":242520,"EventID":"S3W-35980","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2029,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":71,"ApprovedDate":"2010-08-30T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-08-30T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will list the schools that have been closed, including nursery schools, since May 2007","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will list the schools that have been closed, including nursery schools, since May 2007","AnswerText":"The decision to close a publicly funded school is entirely a matter for the relevant local authority within the legislative framework.
Information is routinely published on changes to the school estate which local authorities have chosen to make. This can be found viewed at:
","AnswerDate":"2010-09-29T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-09-27T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Keith Brown","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":242521,"EventID":"S3W-35981","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2029,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":71,"ApprovedDate":"2010-08-30T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-08-30T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will list the schools for which closure was called in by the Cabinet Secretary for Education and Lifelong Learning since May 2007, broken down by local authori","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will list the schools for which closure was called in by the Cabinet Secretary for Education and Lifelong Learning since May 2007, broken down by local authority area","AnswerText":"The legislative power for Scottish Ministers to call in school closure decisions has existed since 5 April 2010, with the enactment of the Schools (Consultation) (Scotland) Act 2010.
Since enactment, Scottish ministers have called in three local authority school closure decisions, as follows:
Local Authority
School
Glasgow City Council
St Aidan''s School
Glasgow City Council
St Joan of Arc School
Glasgow City Council
Stonedyke Primary School
","AnswerDate":"2010-09-27T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-09-27T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Keith Brown","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":242522,"EventID":"S3W-35982","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1768,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":60,"ApprovedDate":"2010-08-31T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-08-31T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executivewhether it considers that the guga hunt on Sula Sgeir is in contravention of the Animal Health and Welfare (Scotland ) Act 2006. ","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executivewhether it considers that the guga hunt on Sula Sgeir is in contravention of the Animal Health and Welfare (Scotland ) Act 2006. ","AnswerText":"Gannets are protected under the provisions of the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981, but section 16 (2) of that act specifically exempts the taking of gannets on the island of Sula Sgeir for the purpose of providing food for human consumption from the provisions of Section 1 and orders under Section 3, if it is done under and in accordance with the terms of a license granted by the appropriate authority.
Section 19 of the Animal Health and Welfare (Scotland) Act 2006 creates the offence of causing unnecessary suffering to a protected animal, but subsection (4), states that in considering whether the suffering was necessary regard needs to be given as to whether the conduct was in compliance with any relevant enactment or any relevant provisions of a licence or code of practice issued under an enactment. Subsection (5) of the act allows the destruction of a protected animal in an appropriate and humane manner.
During the guga hunt on Sula Sgeir the gannets killed are by a single blow to the head. Where more than one blow is required, it is likely that the first blow will render the bird unconscious. If the birds are killed by a competent person the birds will not suffer and no offence will have been committed under the Animal Health and Welfare (Scotland) Act 2006.
","AnswerDate":"2010-09-09T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-09-28T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Roseanna Cunningham","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":242523,"EventID":"S3W-35983","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2610,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":1,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2010-09-01T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-09-01T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive who authorised the former Chief Executive of Scottish Enterprise to accept a non-executive directorship with Robert Wiseman Dairies and what consideration was given to th","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive who authorised the former Chief Executive of Scottish Enterprise to accept a non-executive directorship with Robert Wiseman Dairies and what consideration was given to the lieu of notice payment.","AnswerText":"The former Chief Executive''s employment contract contained provisions requiring him to obtain written consent from Scottish Enterprise if, within 12 months of the date of termination of his employment, he wished to become engaged, interested or concerned in any business which is or was contractually connected with Scottish Enterprise. Mr Perry sought and obtained consent from Scottish Enterprise to take up appointment as a non-executive director of Robert Wiseman Diaries PLC. The granting of such consent was an operational matter for Scottish Enterprise.
With regard to the payment that the former Chief Executive received in lieu of notice, I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-35914 on 21 September 2010. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/Apps2/Business/PQA/Default.aspx.
","AnswerDate":"2010-09-23T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-09-29T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Jim Mather","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":242524,"EventID":"S3W-35984","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1837,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":36,"ApprovedDate":"2010-08-31T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-08-31T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive how many of the 8,092 units completed under the Affordable Housing Investment Programme in 2009-10 were off-the-shelf purchases from private developers.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive how many of the 8,092 units completed under the Affordable Housing Investment Programme in 2009-10 were off-the-shelf purchases from private developers.","AnswerText":"Of the 8,092 units completed under the Affordable Housing Investment Programme (AHIP) in 2009-10 1,658 were off the shelf purchases from private developers.
Time series tables showing all AHIP activity since the programme began in 2000-01 are published on the Scottish Government''s website:
","AnswerDate":"2010-09-06T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-09-28T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Alex Neil","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":242525,"EventID":"S3W-35985","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1837,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":36,"ApprovedDate":"2010-08-31T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-08-31T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive how many of the 8,092 units completed under the Affordable Housing Investment Programme in 2009-10 were refurbishments","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive how many of the 8,092 units completed under the Affordable Housing Investment Programme in 2009-10 were refurbishments","AnswerText":"Of the 8,092 units completed under the Affordable Housing Investment Programme (AHIP) in 2009-10 442 were rehabilitations.
Time series tables showing all AHIP activity since the programme began in 2000-01 are published on the Scottish Government''s website:
","AnswerDate":"2010-09-06T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-09-28T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Alex Neil","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":242526,"EventID":"S3W-35986","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1826,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":35,"ApprovedDate":"2010-09-01T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-09-01T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what (a) number and (b) percentage of students withdrew from (i) HNC and (ii) HND courses before completion in each of the last five years.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what (a) number and (b) percentage of students withdrew from (i) HNC and (ii) HND courses before completion in each of the last five years.","AnswerText":"This is a matter for the Higher Education Statistics Agency (HESA) and the Scottish Funding Council (SFC). This information is not held centrally.
HESA produce performance indicators for UK higher education institutions which include non-continuation rates, though these are not broken down to the level of detail required to answer this question. The HESA performance indicators can be accessed at the following web address:
SFC calculate retention rates as part of their college performance indicators, again not at the level required to answer this question. SFC performance indicators can be accessed at the following web address:
","AnswerDate":"2010-09-29T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-09-29T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Keith Brown","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":242527,"EventID":"S3W-35987","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1826,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":35,"ApprovedDate":"2010-09-01T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-09-01T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what the estimated cost is incurred by each individual drop-out from an (a) undergraduate degree, (b) HNC and (c) HND course.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what the estimated cost is incurred by each individual drop-out from an (a) undergraduate degree, (b) HNC and (c) HND course.","AnswerText":"This is a matter for individual colleges and higher education institutions in Scotland. The information requested is not held centrally.
The cost associated with each individual drop-out from particular courses would depend on a number of factors including: the individual''s personal circumstances, the funding applied to each individual course, the level of resourcing applied to teaching each individual course at each institution and the level of funding and resourcing that had been applied by the point at which each individual drops out of the course.
","AnswerDate":"2010-09-23T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-09-29T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Michael Russell","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":242528,"EventID":"S3W-35988","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1826,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":35,"ApprovedDate":"2010-09-01T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-09-01T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what amount of college weighted student units of measurement (WSUM) were funded in terms of teaching grant in each of the last five years and what the year-on-year change","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what amount of college weighted student units of measurement (WSUM) were funded in terms of teaching grant in each of the last five years and what the year-on-year change was in real terms in each year.","AnswerText":"This is an operational matter for the Scottish Funding Council (SFC) and I will ask the Chief Executive to write to the member ","AnswerDate":"2010-09-29T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-09-29T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Keith Brown","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":242529,"EventID":"S3W-35989","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1826,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":35,"ApprovedDate":"2010-09-01T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-09-01T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive how much was spent on college teaching funding in each of the last five years and what the year-on-year change was in real terms in each year.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive how much was spent on college teaching funding in each of the last five years and what the year-on-year change was in real terms in each year.","AnswerText":"Decisions on the allocation of resources to colleges, including the amount distributed as teaching funding, are a matter for the Scottish Funding Council (SFC). I have asked the Chief Executive of the SFC to write to the member. ","AnswerDate":"2010-09-29T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-09-29T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Keith Brown","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":242530,"EventID":"S3W-35990","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1826,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":35,"ApprovedDate":"2010-09-01T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-09-01T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive how much was invested in student support for further education students in each of the last five years and what the year-on-year change was in real terms in each year.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive how much was invested in student support for further education students in each of the last five years and what the year-on-year change was in real terms in each year.","AnswerText":"The following table details the amounts invested in student support from 2006-07 to 2010-11 including the real terms change in each year. A comparison of initial allocations to student support over the last five years shows an increase, in real terms, of over 12%.
Year
2006-07
2007-08
2008-09
2009-10
2010-11
Initial Allocation
£67.2 million
£69 million
£72.3 million
£79 million
£83.8 million
Initial Allocation Real Terms (2010-11 Prices)
£74.3 million
£74.1 million
£75.6 million
£81.4 million
£83.8 million
Annual Real Terms Change
-
-£134,505
£1.4 million
£5.8 million
£2.4 million
Annual Real Terms % Change
-0.20%
2.00%
7.60%
3.00%
Total Following In-Year Distribution
£71.3 million
£75.3 million
£82.7 million
£90.9 million
-
Total Following In-Year Distribution Real Terms (2010-11 Prices)
£78.8 million
£80.9 million
£86.5 million
£93.6 million
-
Annual Real Terms Change
-
£2.1 million
£5.6 million
£7.2 million
-
Annual Real Terms % Change
2.70%
6.90%
8.30%
-
Note: figures adjusted for inflation using HMT GDP Deflators dated 12 July 2010.
","AnswerDate":"2010-09-29T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-09-29T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Keith Brown","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":242531,"EventID":"S3W-35991","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1826,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":35,"ApprovedDate":"2010-09-01T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-09-01T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive how much was invested in providing (a) Education Maintenance Allowance (EMA) weekly payments and (b) EMA bonuses to college students in each of the last five years.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive how much was invested in providing (a) Education Maintenance Allowance (EMA) weekly payments and (b) EMA bonuses to college students in each of the last five years.","AnswerText":"The table below details the amounts invested in providing Education Maintenance Allowance (EMA) in (a) weekly payments and (b) bonuses to college students over the last five academic years for which published figures are available.
Year
Budget £ million
Weekly Payments
Bonus Payments
Total
2004-05
20.1
£2,040,260
£615,000
£2,655,260
2005-06
29.4
£5,632,040
£897,450
£6,529,490
2006-07
37.1
£7,455,005
£2,054,700
£9,509,705
2007-08
31.5
£7,602,690
£2,200,650
£9,803,340
2008-09
36.7
£8,782,940
£2,476,200
£11,259,140
Notes:
1. The method of collecting and collating EMA data has been improved continually over the years of operation of the scheme. Care must therefore be taken when making comparisons between data from the first two years of operation (2004-05 and 2005-06) and that from later years.
2. The academic year 2008-09 is the latest complete academic year for which published information on EMA is available. Statistics for academic year 2009-10 will be published at the end of the year.
","AnswerDate":"2010-10-11T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-09-29T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Keith Brown","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":242532,"EventID":"S3W-35992","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1826,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":35,"ApprovedDate":"2010-09-01T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-09-01T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive how much was invested in higher education places at (a) higher national, (b) undergraduate and (c) postgraduate level in each of the last five years and what the year-on-","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive how much was invested in higher education places at (a) higher national, (b) undergraduate and (c) postgraduate level in each of the last five years and what the year-on-year change was in real terms in each year.","AnswerText":"This is a matter for individual colleges and higher education institutions in Scotland. The information requested is not held centrally.
While the Scottish government grants funding for a proportion of higher education activity at Scottish institutions, through funds administered by the Scottish Funding Council, it is the responsibility of each institution to decide how to allocate the funding they have been awarded.
Information on the amount of funds administered to institutions through the Scottish Funding Council can be found on the Scottish Funding Council website at:
","AnswerDate":"2010-09-23T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-09-29T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Michael Russell","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":242533,"EventID":"S3W-35993","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1826,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":35,"ApprovedDate":"2010-09-01T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-09-01T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive how much was invested in higher education teaching funds in (a) colleges and (b) universities in each of the last five years and what the year-on-year change was in real ","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive how much was invested in higher education teaching funds in (a) colleges and (b) universities in each of the last five years and what the year-on-year change was in real terms in each year.","AnswerText":"Decisions on the allocation of resources to colleges, including the amount distributed as teaching funding, are a matter for the Scottish Funding Council. ","AnswerDate":"2010-09-28T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-09-29T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Michael Russell","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":242534,"EventID":"S3W-35994","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1826,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":35,"ApprovedDate":"2010-09-01T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-09-01T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive how much was invested in (a) undergraduate and (b) postgraduate student support in each of the last five years and what the year-on-year change was in real terms in each ","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive how much was invested in (a) undergraduate and (b) postgraduate student support in each of the last five years and what the year-on-year change was in real terms in each year.","AnswerText":"Tables 1 and 2 show total student support paid by the Student Awards Agency for Scotland (SAAS) to undergraduate and postgraduate students for the five latest academic years. This has also been split into fee payments, grants/bursaries and loans. Information for the 2009-10 academic year will be published on the 27 October 2010 and will include a real terms measure of change over previous years. The measure shown in the following tables is based on nominal expenditure (i.e. not adjusted for inflation).
Table 1: Undergraduate Student Support from Academic Year 2004-05 to 2008-09 (£000)
Academic Year
Fees
Grants / Bursaries (Awards)
Loans
Total Support
Percentage Change on Previous Year
2004-05
121,050
75,391
202,033
398,474
-5.8
2005-06
123,256
94,282
183,342
400,880
0.6
2006-07
141,390
96,966
177,832
416,188
3.8
2007-08
158,980
98,667
177,431
435,078
4.5
2008-09
179,554
98,616
179,587
457,757
5.2
Table 2: Postgraduate Student Support from Academic Year 2004-05 to 2008-09 (£000)
Academic Year
Fees
Grants / Bursaries (Awards)
Loans
Qualifiers from Scottish Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) by Domicile - 2003-04 to 2007-08
Academic Year
Total
Scotland
Rest of the UK
EU Excluding UK
Non-EU
2003-04
50,620
35,615
6,320
3,300
5,265
2004-05
57,745
40,865
6,745
3,650
6,485
2005-06
59,000
40,865
6,470
4,030
7,635
2006-07
60,910
41,730
6,445
4,385
8,345
2007-08
62,130
40,930
6,640
4,680
9,765
Notes:
Data supplied by the Higher Education Statistics Agency (HESA).
Qualifiers include all postgraduate and undergraduate level Higher Education (HE) qualifiers from Scottish HEIs.
Values have been rounded to the nearest five.
","AnswerDate":"2010-09-24T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-09-29T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Michael Russell","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":242536,"EventID":"S3W-35996","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1826,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":35,"ApprovedDate":"2010-09-01T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-09-01T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what rate of population of Scotland are estimated to be degree graduates (a) currently and (b) in each of the last five years.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what rate of population of Scotland are estimated to be degree graduates (a) currently and (b) in each of the last five years.","AnswerText":"The following table shows the number and proportion of working age people (excluding those aged under 20) who hold a degree-level qualification. This information is drawn from the Annual Population Survey, for which the latest data covers January to December 2009.
Table 1: Number and Proportion of People Aged 20 to 59/64 with a Degree-level Qualification in Scotland (2005-09)
Year
Number of People Aged 20 to 59/64 with a Degree Level Qualification
Number of People Aged 20 to 59/64 with a Degree Level Qualification as a Proportion of Population2
2005
563,800
17.80%
2006
600,100
18.80%
2007
630,500
19.70%
2008
650,200
20.20%
2009
671,200
20.80%
Source: Annual Population Survey (APS).
Notes:
1. Estimates from the APS are rounded to the nearest 100.
2. Proportion estimates use the total number of people aged 20 to 59/64 in Scotland as the denominator. Between 2005 and 2009 working age was classified as 16 to 59 for females and 16 to 64 for males.
3. Those aged under 20 have been excluded from the data as a negligible number will have a degree-level qualification at such an early age.
4. The information includes all those whose highest qualification includes a Higher Degree, NVQ Level 5, First Degree/Foundation Degree or Other Degree.
","AnswerDate":"2010-09-10T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-09-29T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Michael Russell","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":242537,"EventID":"S3W-35997","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2651,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":41,"ApprovedDate":"2010-09-02T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-09-02T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-35472 by Richard Lochhead on 11 August 2010, for what reason the part of St Margaret's Marsh Site of Special Scientific Interest (S","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-35472 by Richard Lochhead on 11 August 2010, for what reason the part of St Margaret's Marsh Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) that was denotified in 2009 was originally designated as an SSSI","AnswerText":"SSSI boundaries are defined using suitable features on the ground and it is not uncommon for marginal areas of SSSIs to contain small areas of habitat that are not an essential component of the site.
In this case it was established that a section of the SSSI contained areas of scrub and rough grassland, which had little ecological or hydrological connectivity with the notified reedbed and saltmarsh habitats. Discussion between Scottish Natural Heritage and the landowner resulted in agreement for the establishment of a new boundary fence and the removal of 2.4 hectares from the SSSI.
","AnswerDate":"2010-09-23T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-09-30T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Richard Lochhead","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":242538,"EventID":"S3W-35998","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2651,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":41,"ApprovedDate":"2010-09-02T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-09-02T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-35472 by Richard Lochhead on 11 August 2010, what action has already been taken to attempt to improve the reedbed and saltmarsh hab","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-35472 by Richard Lochhead on 11 August 2010, what action has already been taken to attempt to improve the reedbed and saltmarsh habitats of St Margaret’s Marsh Site of Special Scientific Interest that is assessed as unfavourable","AnswerText":"Scottish Natural Heritage (SNH) advises that it entered into a management agreement with the landowner in 2003 for the installation and operation of a sluice gate to seek to improve the condition of the reedbed and saltmarsh habitats of the SSSI. However, this has only been partially successful; SNH believes that additional measures are required as set out in the currently proposed management plan and that this plan represents the best means of securing the interests of the site in the long term. ","AnswerDate":"2010-09-23T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-09-30T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Richard Lochhead","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":242539,"EventID":"S3W-35999","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2394,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":5,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2010-09-01T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-09-01T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what steps it has taken to promote Roman history in Scotland.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what steps it has taken to promote Roman history in Scotland.","AnswerText":"Scottish ministers promote the Romans in Scotland in a variety of ways. Recognising the importance of the monuments themselves, through Historic Scotland, they have scheduled 238 Roman sites in Scotland as nationally important, 18 of which are currently in the care of Scottish Ministers and are open to the public and promoted as places to visit. Historic Scotland is also currently assessing all Roman forts and camps in Scotland to ensure that the most important sites are preserved for future generations and to celebrate Scotland''s unique Roman heritage.
Following the recognition of the Antonine Wall by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site in 2008, Historic Scotland has worked with the five local authorities and other partners, including the Forestry Commission, British Waterways and the Royal Commission on Ancient and Historical Monuments, to establish processes and projects aimed at delivering the actions listed in the World Heritage Site Management Plan. A number of projects and events have already taken place. In order to bring a consistent approach to the understanding and promotion of the wall the partners have commissioned (through Historic Scotland Interpretation Unit) an interpretation plan for the Antonine Wall which will be issued for comment in October 2010. It will include a plan for the partner organisations to provide interpretive and educational material relating to the Antonine Wall and the wider story of the Romans in Scotland both on and off site. It will be followed by plans to bring the same consistency to access and marketing all aimed at increasing access to and an understanding of the Romans in Scotland and within the Empire, making it relevant to visitors and local communities alike.
Learning and Teaching Scotland''s Scotland''s History website hosts a section on Caledonians, Picts and Romans that gives access to extensive materials which promote Roman history in Scotland. These include background information, audio and video clips, games and teachers'' resource packs as well as links to the collections databases of National Museums of Scotland, Royal Commission on the Ancient and Historical Monuments of Scotland, the Hunterian Museum and the British Museum. There are also direct links to other relevant websites such as Historic Scotland, the BBC''s Scotland''s History, Channel 4 History, Archaeology Scotland and the Antonine Guard.
There are a wide variety of Roman heritage based events and educational activities which have taken place across Scotland in 2010 involving a number of key partners who share a common interest in the promotion of Roman heritage. Historic Scotland also recently provided grant support for the International Limes Congress, part of which included a tour for international experts of Roman sites in Scotland.
","AnswerDate":"2010-09-30T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-09-29T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Fiona Hyslop","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":242540,"EventID":"S3W-36000","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2394,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":5,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2010-09-01T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-09-01T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will draw up a list of possible sites for a National Roman Centre.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will draw up a list of possible sites for a National Roman Centre.","AnswerText":"The Scottish Government currently has no plans to create a National Roman Centre nor has it plans to commission the research that would be needed to support the development of such a list. The current priority is to work, through Historic Scotland, with local authorities and other partnership organisations to deliver the management plan outcomes agreed with UNESCO in 2008 for the Antonine Wall World Heritage Site.
There are many important collections of Roman artefacts dispersed around Scotland in both national and local museums. Such collections already provide an invaluable resource for the study and interpretation of Roman Scotland.
","AnswerDate":"2010-09-30T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-09-29T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Fiona Hyslop","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":242541,"EventID":"S3W-36001","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2182,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":5,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2010-09-01T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-09-01T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive which ministers have visited the Raploch area in Stirling since May 2007 and on what dates.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive which ministers have visited the Raploch area in Stirling since May 2007 and on what dates.","AnswerText":"The detailed information requested is currently being collated and I will write to the member as soon as this is available. A copy of the response will be placed in the Scottish Parliament Information Centre (Bib. number 51764). ","AnswerDate":"2010-09-29T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-09-29T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"John Swinney","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":242542,"EventID":"S3W-36002","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2182,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":5,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2010-09-01T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-09-01T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive which ministers have visited Stirling district since 2007; on what dates, and for what purpose.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive which ministers have visited Stirling district since 2007; on what dates, and for what purpose.","AnswerText":"The detailed information requested is currently being collated and I will write to the member as soon as this is available. A copy of the response will be placed in the Scottish Parliament Information Centre (Bib. number 51765). ","AnswerDate":"2010-09-29T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-09-29T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"John Swinney","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":242543,"EventID":"S3W-36003","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2182,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":5,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2010-09-01T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-09-01T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether it regards the current plan for reductions of 1,523 nursing, 68 doctor and 230 allied health professional posts as sufficient for any or all NHS boards to require","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether it regards the current plan for reductions of 1,523 nursing, 68 doctor and 230 allied health professional posts as sufficient for any or all NHS boards to require to implement the Partnership Information Network (PIN) Redeployment guideline for boards to have a substantive post dealing specifically with redeployment rather than a designated redeployment co-ordinator.","AnswerText":"Scottish Ministers have made clear their expectation that NHS boards will work towards compliance with Partnership Information Network (PIN) policies. All NHS boards have a designated redeployment co-ordinator as specified in the Redeployment PIN guideline. It is for individual boards to consider at what stage it would be appropriate to make an explicit redeployment co-ordinator appointment in response to any predicted substantial period of change. ","AnswerDate":"2010-09-23T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-09-29T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Nicola Sturgeon","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":242544,"EventID":"S3W-36004","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2182,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":5,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2010-09-01T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-09-01T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive how many posts in the NHS are currently advertised on the national website as being available for redeployment.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive how many posts in the NHS are currently advertised on the national website as being available for redeployment.","AnswerText":"Advertising and filling vacancies through redeployment is a matter for NHSScotland NHS boards as employers. The data requested is not held centrally. \r\n sì»!","AnswerDate":"2010-09-27T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-09-29T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Nicola Sturgeon","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":242545,"EventID":"S3W-36005","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2182,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":5,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2010-09-01T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-09-01T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what reports it has received in the last 12 months from any part of the NHS that have evaluated success in redeployment measured as (a) turnover post-redeployment compare","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what reports it has received in the last 12 months from any part of the NHS that have evaluated success in redeployment measured as (a) turnover post-redeployment compared with pre-redeployment and (b) number of staff successfully redeployed.","AnswerText":"The redeployment of staff forms part of individual NHS boards'' workforce management arrangements. NHS boards are responsible locally for monitoring the effectiveness of those arrangements, including redeployment. As set out in the Redeployment Partnership Information Network guideline, the monitoring arrangements may include the evaluation of pre- and post-redeployment turnover and the number of staff successfully redeployed.
The Scottish Government has not carried out any national evaluation of the effectiveness of NHS boards'' redeployment processes. However, local redeployment issues are, where necessary, considered in partnership with staff side representatives. In addition, it will be open to the national scrutiny group to consider whether any wider issues are raised by the operation of redeployment processes.
","AnswerDate":"2010-09-23T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-09-29T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Nicola Sturgeon","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":242546,"EventID":"S3W-36006","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2182,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":5,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2010-09-01T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-09-01T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what analysis it has made of the use by NHS boards of returns of Redeployment Assessment Forms as outlined in Appendix 3.2 of the Partnership Information Network (PIN) gu","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what analysis it has made of the use by NHS boards of returns of Redeployment Assessment Forms as outlined in Appendix 3.2 of the Partnership Information Network (PIN) guideline on redeployment.","AnswerText":"The redeployment of staff forms part of individual NHS boards'' workforce management arrangements. NHS boards are responsible locally for monitoring the effectiveness of those arrangements, including redeployment. As set out in the Redeployment Partnership Information Network (PIN) guideline, the monitoring arrangements may include analysis of the redeployment assessment forms that are outlined in Appendix 3.2 of the Redeployment PIN.
The Scottish Government has not carried out any national evaluation of the effectiveness of NHS boards'' redeployment processes. However, local redeployment issues are, where necessary, considered in partnership with staff side representatives. In addition, it will be open to the national scrutiny group to consider whether any wider issues are raised by the operation of redeployment processes.
","AnswerDate":"2010-09-23T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-09-29T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Nicola Sturgeon","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":242547,"EventID":"S3W-36007","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2182,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":5,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2010-09-01T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-09-01T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-34309 by Nicola Sturgeon on 21 June 2010, whether as part of its review of the appendix 3.1 Model freedom of speech in the Partners","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-34309 by Nicola Sturgeon on 21 June 2010, whether as part of its review of the appendix 3.1 Model freedom of speech in the Partnership Information Network (PIN) guideline, Dealing with employee concerns, the revised model will ensure that concerns that employees may have, and that are not being responded to by management, about (a) reductions in posts being inappropriate, (b) vacancy management creating undue stress on other team members, (c) voluntary redundancies resulting in the loss of staff key to service delivery or (d) any other changes that they consider might harm patient care can be conveyed to their MSP or MP as a matter of right.","AnswerText":"The Dealing with Employee Concerns Partnership Information Network (PIN) guideline, which contains the model freedom of speech policy, is currently under review. As part of this process, the review group will consider and include the provisions of the Public Interest Disclosure Act (PIDA) which gives workers automatic protection for raising a matter internally and the right to make disclosures to prescribed regulators.
The review group, consisting of representatives from employers and trade unions, will consider all aspects of PIDA, including current provision for disclosures to MPs and MSPs in certain circumstances. The revised PIN will be published in early 2011.
","AnswerDate":"2010-09-23T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-09-29T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Nicola Sturgeon","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":242548,"EventID":"S3W-36008","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2182,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":5,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2010-09-01T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-09-01T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-15371 by Adam Ingram on 27 August 2008, for what reason it did not provide the necessary matched funding to allow it to take up the","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-15371 by Adam Ingram on 27 August 2008, for what reason it did not provide the necessary matched funding to allow it to take up the European Commission grant for the provision of free fruit and vegetable scheme.","AnswerText":"There was no need for the Scottish Government to provide match funding in order to participate in the EU school fruit scheme. The regulations associated with the EU scheme allow Scotland to claim up to 100% of eligible costs of an extension, up to the value of 50% of the overall scheme value for each participating local authority, in lieu of the fact that Scotland already funds a free school fruit scheme.
However, despite being successful in our bid for EU funding, Scotland is unable to gain any real benefit from participation in the scheme due to UK Treasury rules requiring 72p in every pound claimed from the EU under this scheme to be immediately repaid to the UK Treasury.
","AnswerDate":"2010-09-23T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-09-29T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Adam Ingram","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":242549,"EventID":"S3W-36009","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2182,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":5,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2010-09-01T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-09-01T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what the (a) average, (b) median and (c) longest delays are in courts hearing applications for all forms of guardianship under the Adults with Incapacity (Scotland) Act 2","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what the (a) average, (b) median and (c) longest delays are in courts hearing applications for all forms of guardianship under the Adults with Incapacity (Scotland) Act 2000 in each of the last three years","AnswerText":"This question relates to operational matters that are the responsibility of the Scottish Court Service (SCS) corporate body. The question has been passed to the Chief Executive of the SCS who will reply in writing. ","AnswerDate":"2010-09-09T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-09-29T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Kenny MacAskill","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":242550,"EventID":"S3W-36010","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":3907,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":10,"ApprovedDate":"2010-09-01T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-09-01T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive how many compulsory purchases of land to enable the construction of the Floak to Fenwick extension of the M77 were (a) required, (b) outstanding at the date of completion","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive how many compulsory purchases of land to enable the construction of the Floak to Fenwick extension of the M77 were (a) required, (b) outstanding at the date of completion of the works and (c) still outstanding on 1 August 2010.","AnswerText":"(a) The compulsory purchase order linked to the M77 Fenwick to Floak special roads scheme required various plots of land from 34 landowners in order to build the scheme.
(b) At the date of completion of the works, final settlement of land compensation payments was still to be reached with all 34 affected parties
(c) On 1 August 2010, final settlement of land compensation was still outstanding in the case of 11 affected parties.
","AnswerDate":"2010-09-24T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-09-29T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Stewart Stevenson","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":242551,"EventID":"S3W-36011","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":3907,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":10,"ApprovedDate":"2010-09-01T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-09-01T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive when is the estimated date for completion of the final account for the construction of the Floak to Fenwick extension of the M77, including settlement of all associated c","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive when is the estimated date for completion of the final account for the construction of the Floak to Fenwick extension of the M77, including settlement of all associated compulsory purchases of land.","AnswerText":"It is not possible to provide an estimated date for completion of the final account as this is dependent on the satisfactory conclusion of negotiations which are still continuing between the District Valuer and affected parties and/or their agents. ","AnswerDate":"2010-09-24T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-09-29T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Stewart Stevenson","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":242552,"EventID":"S3W-36012","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":3907,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":10,"ApprovedDate":"2010-09-01T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-09-01T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what the cost is of land acquisition for the construction of the Floak to Fenwick extension of the M77, including fees and other costs, (a) as estimated at project approv","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what the cost is of land acquisition for the construction of the Floak to Fenwick extension of the M77, including fees and other costs, (a) as estimated at project approval, (b) incurred to 1 August 2010 and (c) estimated for inclusion in the final account.","AnswerText":"It is not possible to provide an exact figure for costs relating to land acquisition for the M77 Fenwick to Floak special roads scheme as all figures relating to the scheme were combined into a single project with the M77 Fenwick to Malletsheugh scheme. Records which show the estimated costs at the project approval stage no longer exist. However, land acquisition costs for the combined scheme are as follows:
(a) In 2002, the estimated costs were approx. £2.1 million
(b) The actual spend to date is approx. £3.2 million
(c) The current estimated final cost of land acquisition and land compensation is £3.3 million.
","AnswerDate":"2010-09-24T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-09-29T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Stewart Stevenson","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":242553,"EventID":"S3W-36013","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2892,"Party":"Scottish Green Party","RegionID":2,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2010-09-01T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-09-01T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether it plans to consult on the future use of the additional capacity in the rail network between Glasgow and Paisley.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether it plans to consult on the future use of the additional capacity in the rail network between Glasgow and Paisley.","AnswerText":"We can confirm that there will be consultation on the revisions to the Ayrshire and Inverclyde rail passenger timetables, brought about as a consequence of the additional capacity arising from the Paisley Corridor Improvements project. This process has not yet commenced although it is envisaged that this will happen late autumn 2010 to enable implementation during the course of the winter 2011 timetable revision. As you will be aware there is a requirement for timetable options to have been worked up to a sufficient level of detail to demonstrate that they are: operationally and economically viable; and in the case of timetables for the Scotrail franchise, that they accord with the wider aspirations of the Scottish Government in delivering its overarching purpose, to increase sustainable economic growth, before they are taken to consultation.
The consultation process referred to is the standard industry process related to the development and implementation of changes / revisions to passenger rail services. As is industry practice the consultation will involve key industry stakeholders (e.g. Network Rail, Regional Transport Partnerships (RTP) etc) and rail user groups (e.g. Passenger Focus). These stakeholders do have the rail user''s interests at the foremost of their minds and due to their composition, e.g. as RTPs have local councillors sitting on their various committees, they are generally seen as representing the views of local constituents.
","AnswerDate":"2010-09-13T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-09-29T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Stewart Stevenson","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":242554,"EventID":"S3W-36014","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2892,"Party":"Scottish Green Party","RegionID":2,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2010-09-01T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-09-01T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether the proposed rail timetable for Ayrshire and Inverclyde passenger services will require changes to the Glasgow Airport Rail Link Act 2007.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether the proposed rail timetable for Ayrshire and Inverclyde passenger services will require changes to the Glasgow Airport Rail Link Act 2007.","AnswerText":"No. The Glasgow Airport Rail Link Act (2007) authorises the construction and subsequent maintenance of certain specified authorised works associated with railway infrastructure. Operational railway timetables are a matter for Network Rail Infrastructure Limited under the network code. ","AnswerDate":"2010-09-13T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-09-29T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Stewart Stevenson","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":242555,"EventID":"S3W-36015","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1752,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":57,"ApprovedDate":"2010-09-01T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-09-01T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive how many teaching graduates qualified from Scottish institutions in each of the last five years","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive how many teaching graduates qualified from Scottish institutions in each of the last five years","AnswerText":"The following table shows how many people at Scottish higher education institutions qualified from teaching courses that lead to qualified teacher status (QTS) or to registration as a school teacher with the General Teaching Council for Scotland in each of the last five academic years.
HE Qualifiers who Gained QTS from Scottish HEIs, by Sector of Teaching Qualification: 2004-05 to 2008-09
Figures in this table have been rounded to the nearest 5. 0, 1, 2 are rounded to 0.
While there were students studying teaching courses intended for the further and higher education sectors in 2008-09, none of these led to qualified teacher status.
","AnswerDate":"2010-09-22T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-09-29T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Michael Russell","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":242556,"EventID":"S3W-36016","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2110,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":66,"ApprovedDate":"2010-09-03T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-09-03T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive how many (a) objections and (b) expressions of support had been received by 1 September 2010 regarding the application to construct and operate a new coal-fired power sta","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive how many (a) objections and (b) expressions of support had been received by 1 September 2010 regarding the application to construct and operate a new coal-fired power station at Hunterston.","AnswerText":"By 1 September 2010, 13 expressions of support had been received alongside approximately 15,500 objections to the Hunterston proposal. ","AnswerDate":"2010-09-15T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-10-01T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Jim Mather","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":242557,"EventID":"S3W-36017","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2066,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":3,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2010-09-02T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-09-02T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether it intends to revoke the ban on the tail docking of working dogs and, if so, when.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether it intends to revoke the ban on the tail docking of working dogs and, if so, when.","AnswerText":"The report on tail injuries in dogs by the Royal Veterinary College and Bristol University was sent to a number of organisations and individuals who were asked to comment on the findings. The points and comments raised by the respondents are presently being analysed. The report, other evidence which has been submitted and the views of respondents will be carefully considered by the Scottish Government on whether any change to the present ban on the tail docking of working dogs could be justified.
If such a change in policy were proposed, it would be a requirement to issue a formal consultation, as it would be necessary to amend the Prohibited Procedures on Protected Animals (Exemptions) (Scotland) Regulations 2007 and the amendment would need to be agreed by the Parliament.
","AnswerDate":"2010-09-17T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-09-30T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Richard Lochhead","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":242558,"EventID":"S3W-36018","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1783,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":67,"ApprovedDate":"2010-09-02T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-09-02T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive how many children are home-schooled.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive how many children are home-schooled.","AnswerText":"The information is given in the Scottish Government Statistics Publication, Children Educated Outwith School 2009, copies of which are available in the Scottish Parliament Information Centre (Bib. number 50387). ","AnswerDate":"2010-09-14T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-09-30T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Michael Russell","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":242559,"EventID":"S3W-36019","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1783,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":67,"ApprovedDate":"2010-09-02T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-09-02T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what duties are required for parents to inform the local authority that a child is to be home-schooled.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what duties are required for parents to inform the local authority that a child is to be home-schooled.","AnswerText":"Section 30 of the Education (Scotland) Act 1980 places a fundamental duty on the parent of every child of school age to provide education for them, either by their attendance at a public school or by other means.
Section 35 of the same act requires parents to seek the consent of the local authority if they propose to withdraw a child from a local authority school and home educate them. Section 37 places a duty, this time on the local authority, to take action in respect of any child which is being home educated, where they are not satisfied that the parent is providing suitable education.
","AnswerDate":"2010-09-14T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-09-30T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Michael Russell","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":242560,"EventID":"S3W-36020","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1783,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":67,"ApprovedDate":"2010-09-02T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-09-02T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what monitoring arrangements are in place for children who are home-schooled.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what monitoring arrangements are in place for children who are home-schooled.","AnswerText":"I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-35399 on 12 August 2010. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament''s website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/Apps2/Business/PQA/Default.aspx. ","AnswerDate":"2010-09-14T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-09-30T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Michael Russell","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":242561,"EventID":"S3W-36021","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1783,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":67,"ApprovedDate":"2010-09-02T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-09-02T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what the scale is of private fostering of children.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what the scale is of private fostering of children.","AnswerText":"During the 2008-09 inspection period, the Care Commission found that there were 16 known private foster arrangements across Scotland. This number is likely to understate the true number of children in private fostering arrangements.
The Care Commission report Private Fostering “ the unknown arrangement? makes a number of recommendations which are intended to raise awareness of what private fostering covers and the duty on parents and carers to notify local authorities. The Scottish Government and local authorities are now taking these recommendations forward.
","AnswerDate":"2010-09-23T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-09-30T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Adam Ingram","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":242562,"EventID":"S3W-36022","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1783,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":67,"ApprovedDate":"2010-09-02T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-09-02T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what duties are placed on those engaged in private fostering to register with a local authority.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what duties are placed on those engaged in private fostering to register with a local authority.","AnswerText":"There is no requirement to register with a local authority. Both parents and proposed carers have a duty to notify private fostering arrangements to the local authority in which the child will be living at least two weeks before the child is placed. In an emergency, where this is not possible, the local authority should be notified of the placement within one week of the placement.
These duties and the information to be provided to the local authority are set out in The Foster Children (Scotland) Act 1984 and The Foster Children (Private Fostering) (Scotland) Regulations 1985.
","AnswerDate":"2010-09-23T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-09-30T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Adam Ingram","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":242563,"EventID":"S3W-36023","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1783,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":67,"ApprovedDate":"2010-09-02T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-09-02T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what monitoring arrangements are in place for children who are privately fostered.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what monitoring arrangements are in place for children who are privately fostered.","AnswerText":"When a local authority is notified of a private fostering arrangement there are a number of duties which must be undertaken (a) prior to the placement, to determine whether it is appropriate for the child''s needs and (b), afterwards, to supervise the child''s welfare. These duties are set out in full in the Foster Children (Scotland) Act 1984 and the Foster Children (Private Fostering) (Scotland) Regulations 1985.
Under the Regulation of Care (Scotland) Act 2001, the Care Commission has a duty to inspect how the local authority meet their obligations and responsibilities with regard to private fostering in their area.
","AnswerDate":"2010-09-23T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-09-30T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Adam Ingram","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":242564,"EventID":"S3W-36024","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1783,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":67,"ApprovedDate":"2010-09-02T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-09-02T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive when it last considered significant case reviews and whether the findings were published.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive when it last considered significant case reviews and whether the findings were published.","AnswerText":"A review of significant case review (SCRs) is currently underway. A working group of key multi-agency professionals was established in November 2009 to consider the SCR process in the light of recent research and practice, and in the context of the current review of the national child protection guidance. The key aims are to make recommendations to help improve consistency and practice, and to help child protection committees(CPCs) build confidence and capacity in undertaking SCRs.
The group''s report was presented to the Scottish Government in July 2010 and is now in the public domain. The recommendations for action are currently being considered jointly by the Scottish Government and CPCs, and a response will be published later this autumn.
","AnswerDate":"2010-09-23T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-09-30T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Adam Ingram","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":242565,"EventID":"S3W-36025","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1783,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":67,"ApprovedDate":"2010-09-02T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-09-02T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether the results of individual significant case reviews are published.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether the results of individual significant case reviews are published.","AnswerText":"The key considerations and responsibilities for clearing and publishing the report of the significant case review (SCR) are outlined in the interim guidance for child protection committees (CPCs) for conducting SCRs published in March 2007. This is available on the Scottish Government website at:
Further clarification on publication and dissemination was issued by the Scottish Government in October 2007.
It is for Chief Officers to decide how to publish the SCR based on this guidance and individual circumstances. However, as set out in the guidance, the executive summary and recommendations from each SCR should be published and made publicly available to provide an overview and analysis of the case.
Chief Officers should select from a range of dissemination options available to them, including the option of publication aimed at the general public, that best serves the public interest and the purpose of improving service delivery.
The issues around publication and dissemination have been considered by the SCR working group, and are reflected in its report. The Scottish Government is considering how to take this work forward and will set out its plans later this autumn. Further detail can be found in the answer to question S3W-36024 on 23 September 2010.
All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament''s website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/Apps2/Business/PQA/Default.aspx.
","AnswerDate":"2010-09-23T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-09-30T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Adam Ingram","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":242566,"EventID":"S3W-36026","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1783,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":67,"ApprovedDate":"2010-09-02T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-09-02T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive who is responsible for overseeing the outcome of significant case reviews to ensure that lessons are learned.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive who is responsible for overseeing the outcome of significant case reviews to ensure that lessons are learned.","AnswerText":"Ultimately, Chief Officers across Scotland are responsible for the leadership, direction and scrutiny of their respective child protection services. However, Child Protection Committees (CPCs) work on behalf of the Chief Officers in their area and their responsibilities include putting in place robust mechanisms for the identification, consideration and management of significant case reviews (SCRs). This includes the need for processes to be in place to promote good practice, maximise learning, respond to conclusions and disseminate the lessons learned. The Scottish Government has published guidance for CPCs which makes clear their role in the SCR process.
HM Inspectorate of Education (HMIE) is currently undertaking its second round of inspections of services to protect children. Every local authority area in Scotland will be visited, and as part of the inspection process, HMIE look at all significant case reviews undertaken in the previous 12 months.
The findings of SCRs and how services have responded to the conclusions and recommendations should be reflected in local improvement plans and formally considered as part of annual child protection reviews by CPCs. CPCs have responsibility for the development and implementation of inter-agency self‘evaluation, quality assurance and continuous improvement mechanisms.
","AnswerDate":"2010-09-23T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-09-30T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Adam Ingram","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":242567,"EventID":"S3W-36027","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1783,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":67,"ApprovedDate":"2010-09-02T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-09-02T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive how it ensures consistency in the quality of significant case reviews.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive how it ensures consistency in the quality of significant case reviews.","AnswerText":"The aim of the current guidance Interim Guidance For Child Protection Committees (CPCs) for Conducting Significant Case Reviews published in March 2007 is to provide more clarity and consistency on what should be done and how best to act on lessons learned from a significant case review (SCR) both locally and across Scotland.
The SCR Working Group outlined in the answer to question S3W-36024 on 23 September 2010 has looked specifically at the issue of consistency and quality assurance. The Scottish Government is considering how to take this work forward with CPCs and will set out its plans later this autumn.
A national conference will be held in November 2010 for professionals to explore the conduct and use of SCRs. The key aims are to promote best practice and consistency of approach across Scotland. It is being jointly organised by the government funded Multi-Agency Resource Centre (MARS) and the Scottish Child Care and Protection Network (SCCPN), and independently funded Centre for Learning in Child Protection (CLiCP).
","AnswerDate":"2010-09-23T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-09-30T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Adam Ingram","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":242568,"EventID":"S3W-36028","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2185,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":2,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2010-09-02T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-09-02T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what the current position is regarding the Paisley Corridor Improvement (PCI) works.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what the current position is regarding the Paisley Corridor Improvement (PCI) works.","AnswerText":"Works on the PCI project continue on schedule and budget. Key delivery milestones which have been reached are:
1. The commissioning and bringing in to use of two new platforms (platforms 12 and 13) at Glasgow Central Station in May 2010. The introduction of these two new platforms had an immediate positive impact upon reliability and capacity at what is Scotland''s busiest railway station.
2. Award of the three main contracts for the delivery of the PCI project by Network Rail:
a. Invensys “ signalling and telecommunications
b. Balfour Beatty “ main line design and build
c. Invensys “ signalling controls.
","AnswerDate":"2010-09-13T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-09-30T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Stewart Stevenson","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":242569,"EventID":"S3W-36029","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2185,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":2,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2010-09-02T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-09-02T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has undertaken, or plans to undertake in the near future, the consultation on the future use of the new third track between Glasgow and Paisley as the major pa","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has undertaken, or plans to undertake in the near future, the consultation on the future use of the new third track between Glasgow and Paisley as the major part of the Paisley Corridor Improvement (PCI) works, as reported in The Herald on 15 March 2010 and, if not, for what reason.","AnswerText":"I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-36013 on 13 September 2010. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament''s website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/Apps2/Business/PQA/Default.aspx. ","AnswerDate":"2010-09-13T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-09-30T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Stewart Stevenson","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":242570,"EventID":"S3W-36030","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2185,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":2,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2010-09-02T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-09-02T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether it is aware of Transport Scotland’s plans to use the powers of the Office of the Rail Regulator to change the statutory documents relating to the Paisley Corridor","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether it is aware of Transport Scotland’s plans to use the powers of the Office of the Rail Regulator to change the statutory documents relating to the Paisley Corridor Improvement (PCI) works.","AnswerText":"The PCI project is being delivered by Network Rail Infrastructure Limited in accordance with the rights and obligations conferred by the Glasgow Airport Rail Link Act (2007) and its supporting documentation.
Transport Scotland has no plans to change the Act, any proposed changes being a matter for the Parliament.
However for clarification, should there at any time in the future be a change to the Act or its supporting documents, e.g. Code of Construction Practice (CoCP), then the cost and schedule implications on the PCI project would be considered and quantified under the Office of Rail Regulations Change Control Process. Noting that in the case of the CoCP, the Act sets out at Schedule 9, the mechanism by which that document may be amended from time to time.
","AnswerDate":"2010-09-13T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-09-30T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Stewart Stevenson","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":242571,"EventID":"S3W-36031","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2185,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":2,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2010-09-02T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-09-02T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what its position is on asking a UK authority to circumvent the decisions made by the Scottish Parliament in the Glasgow Airport Rail Link Act 2007 by amending the statut","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what its position is on asking a UK authority to circumvent the decisions made by the Scottish Parliament in the Glasgow Airport Rail Link Act 2007 by amending the statutory documents relating to the Paisley Corridor Improvement (PCI) works and, if so, whether it considers that this has constitutional implications. ","AnswerText":"I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-36030 on 13 September 2010. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament''s website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/Apps2/Business/PQA/Default.aspx. ","AnswerDate":"2010-09-13T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-09-30T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Stewart Stevenson","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":242572,"EventID":"S3W-36032","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2185,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":2,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2010-09-02T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-09-02T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will provide greater detail on the likely capacity of the third Paisley Corridor Improvement (PCI) track, in light of claims that it is likely to have an extra","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will provide greater detail on the likely capacity of the third Paisley Corridor Improvement (PCI) track, in light of claims that it is likely to have an extra four trains per hour in comparison with the original Glasgow Airport Rail Link’s (GARL) proposal of an extra 6 trains per hour.","AnswerText":"The original proposal for the GARL passenger service, as envisaged in the Glasgow Airport Rail Link Bill - Promoters Memorandum was as follows:
DETAILS OF THE PROPOSED SCHEME
14. The proposed scheme is shown schematically in Figure 1. The scheme (referred to hereafter as GARL) will provide a new rail service between Glasgow Central Station and a new station to be provided at Glasgow Airport. This will allow air passengers, airport employees and other travellers to reach the airport in a fast (16 minute journey time), frequent (4 trains per hour), reliable, high capacity and modern service. It will bring the airport within 1 interchange stop of 143 rail stations in west Scotland and via Glasgow Central and Paisley Gilmour Street bring the benefit of good airport accessibility and related economic benefit to the whole region.
The winter 2011 timetable revisions resulting from the West of Scotland railway investment programme, which includes the PCI project, will future proof the Paisley corridor in terms of capacity provision. The extent to which that additional capacity will be utilised incrementally over the coming years forms part of the current timetable development activity.
","AnswerDate":"2010-09-13T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-09-30T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Stewart Stevenson","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":242573,"EventID":"S3W-36033","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2185,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":2,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2010-09-02T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-09-02T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has plans to ensure the future of Stow College in light of the creation of the new City of Glasgow College.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has plans to ensure the future of Stow College in light of the creation of the new City of Glasgow College.","AnswerText":"The funding of individual colleges is a matter for the Scottish Funding Council (SFC) rather than ministers. I have asked the Chief Executive of the SFC to write to the member. ","AnswerDate":"2010-09-30T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-09-30T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Keith Brown","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":242574,"EventID":"S3W-36034","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2185,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":2,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2010-09-02T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-09-02T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what its position is on the place of engineering and science specialities in the new City of Glasgow College.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what its position is on the place of engineering and science specialities in the new City of Glasgow College.","AnswerText":"The responsibility to fund a coherent system of high quality college education lies with the Scottish Funding Council (SFC), rather than with Ministers. I have asked the Chief Executive of the SFC to write to the member to outline its approach to the future funding of colleges in Glasgow, including the new City of Glasgow College. ","AnswerDate":"2010-09-30T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-09-30T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Keith Brown","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":242575,"EventID":"S3W-36035","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2185,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":2,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2010-09-02T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-09-02T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has approved the curriculum proposals for the City of Glasgow College and, if so, whether these have implications for other colleges.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has approved the curriculum proposals for the City of Glasgow College and, if so, whether these have implications for other colleges.","AnswerText":"It is not a requirement that ministers approve the curriculum delivered by individual colleges. The activity for which colleges may be funded is a matter for the Scottish Funding Council (SFC). I have asked the Chief Executive of the SFC to write to the member to outline its proposals to fund the City of Glasgow College and any implications of these for other colleges. ","AnswerDate":"2010-09-30T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-09-30T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Keith Brown","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":242576,"EventID":"S3W-36036","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2185,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":2,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2010-09-02T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-09-02T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what implications the merger between the central Glasgow colleges is likely to have on existing jobs within the colleges and what measures are being put in place to reduc","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what implications the merger between the central Glasgow colleges is likely to have on existing jobs within the colleges and what measures are being put in place to reduce any negative impact that might arise.","AnswerText":"Employment issues within colleges are a matter for the institution and its recognised trade unions, rather than ministers. We have been encouraged however to learn of the intention of the new City of Glasgow College that there should be no compulsory redundancies as a direct result of the merger. ","AnswerDate":"2010-09-30T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-09-30T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Keith Brown","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":242577,"EventID":"S3W-36037","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2185,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":2,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2010-09-02T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-09-02T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what capital funding has been made, or is to be made available, to support the newly created City of Glasgow College.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what capital funding has been made, or is to be made available, to support the newly created City of Glasgow College.","AnswerText":"The provision of capital funding to individual colleges is a matter for the Scottish Funding Council (SFC) rather than ministers. The SFC will take a decision on capital funding in relation to the newly created City of Glasgow College once a business case has been received from the college. ","AnswerDate":"2010-09-30T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-09-30T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Keith Brown","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":242578,"EventID":"S3W-36038","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2185,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":2,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2010-09-02T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-09-02T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what role it foresees for Stow College within the wider college sector in Glasgow.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what role it foresees for Stow College within the wider college sector in Glasgow.","AnswerText":"Stow College has made a significant contribution over many decades to the delivery of vocational education and training within Glasgow. The Scottish Funding Council (SFC) has indicated that it wishes to ensure the continued viability of Stow College. I have asked the Chief Executive of the SFC to write to the member on this matter. ","AnswerDate":"2010-09-30T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-09-30T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Keith Brown","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":242579,"EventID":"S3W-36039","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2185,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":2,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2010-09-02T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-09-02T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether any engagement has taken place between the proposed City of Glasgow College and trade unions with a view to agreeing the harmonisation of pay and conditions and, ","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether any engagement has taken place between the proposed City of Glasgow College and trade unions with a view to agreeing the harmonisation of pay and conditions and, if so, what outcomes have emerged.","AnswerText":"Negotiations on pay and conditions are a matter for individual colleges and their recognised trade unions. In giving approval to the merger, Ministers indicated their strong expectation that the City of Glasgow College will engage genuinely and productively with the trade unions with a view to resolving outstanding issues on harmonisation. ","AnswerDate":"2010-09-30T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-09-30T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Keith Brown","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":242580,"EventID":"S3W-36040","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2185,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":2,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2010-09-02T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-09-02T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what the role and remit of the Scottish Funding Council is in overseeing the implementation of the City of Glasgow College merger and when the first progress report on th","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what the role and remit of the Scottish Funding Council is in overseeing the implementation of the City of Glasgow College merger and when the first progress report on the college’s development will be made.","AnswerText":"In line with good practice, the Scottish Funding Council (SFC) reviews the progress of all mergers. With specific regard to City of Glasgow College, Ministers have asked the SFC to work with the college to develop the exceptional leadership and management which ministers believe the college will require.
Ministers have also asked the SFC to oversee the delivery of their expectations in relation to the avoidance of compulsory redundancies at the college; the establishment with the trade unions of mechanisms to identify and resolve conflicts; the delivery of the financial benefits of the merger; the production of a revised business case for the redevelopment of the college estate; and future partnerships and rationalisation involving other colleges.
Ministers will expect to be regularly apprised by the SFC of progress on these issues, reflecting the close interest of ministers in the development of the new college.
","AnswerDate":"2010-09-30T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-09-30T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Keith Brown","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":242581,"EventID":"S3W-36041","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2185,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":2,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2010-09-02T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-09-02T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether it considers that the Scottish Funding Council is sufficiently independent of the merger decision process to enable it to report satisfactorily to the Parliament ","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether it considers that the Scottish Funding Council is sufficiently independent of the merger decision process to enable it to report satisfactorily to the Parliament and ministers on the development and implementation of the new City of Glasgow College plan.","AnswerText":"The role of the Scottish Funding Council (SFC) is set out in statute. It includes the provision of advice to ministers, and the duty to secure the coherent provision of further and higher education. Ministers do not consider that the provision of advice on the merger proposal conflicts in any way with the SFC''s involvement in the implementation of the merger, or on the manner in which the SFC reports on progress.
Ministers will expect to be regularly apprised by the SFC on progress, reflecting the close interest of ministers in the development of the new college.
","AnswerDate":"2010-09-30T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-09-30T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Keith Brown","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":242582,"EventID":"S3W-36042","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2185,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":2,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2010-09-02T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-09-02T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive, given an absence of citation of the evidence underpinning it, whether it is satisfied that the Scottish Funding Council’s consultation process on the Glasgow college mer","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive, given an absence of citation of the evidence underpinning it, whether it is satisfied that the Scottish Funding Council’s consultation process on the Glasgow college merger was sufficiently transparent.","AnswerText":"I understand that the Scottish Funding Council (SFC) consulted on the future curriculum which might be delivered by Glasgow colleges. However, it was the Scottish Government, and the colleges themselves, which consulted on the merger proposal. I am unaware of any separate consultation on the merger undertaken by the SFC.
In general, ministers would expect all public bodies to consult on significant propositions, and to apply their judgment on the organisations and individuals which might be involved.
","AnswerDate":"2010-09-30T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-09-30T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Keith Brown","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":242583,"EventID":"S3W-36043","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2185,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":2,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2010-09-02T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-09-02T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what educational rationale supporting the proposed merger of the three central Glasgow colleges underpinned its advice to ministers to approve the merger.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what educational rationale supporting the proposed merger of the three central Glasgow colleges underpinned its advice to ministers to approve the merger.","AnswerText":"Ministers have now published the main evidence on which the decision to approve the merger was based. That evidence includes the educational rationale for the merger cited jointly by the three merging colleges, and the advice provided to ministers by the Scottish Funding Council which also highlighted the benefits of merger. The relevant documents can be viewed on the Scottish Government''s website at:
","AnswerDate":"2010-09-30T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-09-30T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Keith Brown","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":242584,"EventID":"S3W-36044","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2185,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":2,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2010-09-02T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-09-02T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive, in view of recent findings on the loss and theft of personal data by public bodies, when it expects to publish its guidelines on identity management and privacy principl","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive, in view of recent findings on the loss and theft of personal data by public bodies, when it expects to publish its guidelines on identity management and privacy principles.","AnswerText":"The analysis report for the consultation of the draft identity management and privacy principles is due to be published in September 2010. After considering the analysis report, we expect to publish the final text during autumn 2010.
It remains the responsibility of individual police forces, local authorities and NHS boards to ensure that personal or sensitive information is stored securely and they are bound by legal requirements set out in the Data Protection Act and the Human Rights Act.
","AnswerDate":"2010-09-15T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-09-30T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"John Swinney","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":242585,"EventID":"S3W-36045","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2185,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":2,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2010-09-02T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-09-02T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether any new review of data protection protocols will include an assessment of existing databases and IT system procedures with a view to addressing existing flaws and","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether any new review of data protection protocols will include an assessment of existing databases and IT system procedures with a view to addressing existing flaws and areas of non-compliance.","AnswerText":"The Scottish Government continues to be absolutely committed to compliance with the Data Protection Act of 1998 and this is reflected in the protocols and procedures we have put in place to ensure consistent and robust standards for the processing, security and integrity of data.
We have an ongoing programme of system reviews and audits which should serve to ensure that databases and IT system procedures are compliant across core Scottish Government and its agencies. Our work on implementing information asset registers has also contributed to this task by recording details about the data held and information about the systems and databases in which it resides. Finally, we have ensured that each business area has an identified information asset owner responsible for ensuring that the content of databases and systems is compliant with regulations and that the appropriate standards are being applied to the handling and care of data.
","AnswerDate":"2010-09-30T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-09-30T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"John Swinney","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":242586,"EventID":"S3W-36046","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2185,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":2,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2010-09-02T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-09-02T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what timescale it has in place for its prospective review of data handling procedures in public bodies.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what timescale it has in place for its prospective review of data handling procedures in public bodies.","AnswerText":"The Scottish Government is responsible for data handling across central government in Scotland. As a result of the 2008 Data Handling Review we have put in place a number of measures across core Scottish Government, agencies and non-departmental public bodies which set robust standards for the storage, processing and transmission of data. We monitor progress and compliance across these organisations annually by the completion of Security Policy Framework (SPF) returns.
Across the wider public sector, however, it remains the responsibility of individual police forces, local authorities and health boards to ensure that personal or sensitive information is stored securely and handled appropriately. We have worked with them to disseminate guidance material and provide information and advice about good practice.
","AnswerDate":"2010-09-28T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-09-30T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"John Swinney","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":242587,"EventID":"S3W-36047","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1782,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":59,"ApprovedDate":"2010-09-02T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-09-02T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what guidance it has issued to NHS boards regarding waiting times for treating older patients with a hip fracture.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what guidance it has issued to NHS boards regarding waiting times for treating older patients with a hip fracture.","AnswerText":"The Scottish Government has set a waiting time standard that 98% of patients admitted to a specialist unit for hip surgery following a fracture should undergo surgery within 24 hours, subject to the patient''s medical fitness and during safe operating hours. This standard has been in place since 31 December 2007. ","AnswerDate":"2010-09-27T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-09-30T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Nicola Sturgeon","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":242588,"EventID":"S3W-36048","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1782,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":59,"ApprovedDate":"2010-09-02T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-09-02T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what percentage of older patients with a hip fracture received surgery within 48 hours of hospital admission in each of the last five years, broken down by (a) NHS board ","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what percentage of older patients with a hip fracture received surgery within 48 hours of hospital admission in each of the last five years, broken down by (a) NHS board and (b) hospital.","AnswerText":"The specific information requested is not available centrally.
The current waiting time standard is for 98% compliance with the national maximum wait of 24 hours from admission to a specialist unit for hip surgery following fracture, subject to medical fitness and during safe operating hours. The standard came into effect from 31 December 2007.
Performance on delivery of the 24 hour standard was compiled from the Scottish Hip Fracture Audit at NHS hospital level. The table below provides performance against the standard by NHS board for the period 2006-07, 2007-08 and 1 April to November 2008 and for the last reported month of 31 December 2008.
NHS Scotland delivered the hip fracture target in December 2007 and maintained it throughout 2008. Due to this excellent performance by NHS Scotland it was decided to stop the Scottish Hip Fracture Audit and re-invest the funding into a service where there was a need for significant improvement in access to treatment.
From 2009, NHS boards should be monitoring performance against the waiting time standard locally to ensure continuing delivery.
NHS Hospital
2006-07
2007-08*
1 April to 30 November 2008
December 2008
% Meeting Standard
% Meeting Standard
%
Meeting
Standard
%
Meeting Standard
Ayrshire and Arran
Crosshouse
92.3
94.6
99.3
90.0
Ayr
100
98.8
99.0
100
Borders
Borders General
98.2
93.3
92.8
93.3
Dumfries and Galloway
Dumfries and Galloway Royal","AnswerDate":"2010-09-27T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-09-30T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Nicola Sturgeon","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":242589,"EventID":"S3W-36049","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1782,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":59,"ApprovedDate":"2010-09-02T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-09-02T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive how many older patients required treatment for a hip fracture in each of the last five years, broken down by NHS board, and how many were treated within 48 hours of admis","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive how many older patients required treatment for a hip fracture in each of the last five years, broken down by NHS board, and how many were treated within 48 hours of admission to hospital.","AnswerText":"The number of hospital admissions with hip fractures in patients aged 50 or more in Scotland between 2005 and 2009 by NHS board is provided in the following table.
In relation to how many patients were treated within 48 hours of admission to hospital, I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-36048 on 27 September 2010. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament''s website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/Apps2/Business/PQA/Default.aspx
NHS Scotland: Number of Hospital Admissions with Hip Fracture* in Patients Aged 50 or Over for the Years 2005 To 2009
NHS Board
2005
2006
2007
2008
2009
Ayrshire and Arran
524
497
512
541
563
Borders
162
143
169
161
161
Dumfries and Galloway
263
225
199
234
250
Fife
425
397
403
394
394
Forth Valley
372
336
345
382
367
Grampian
716
692
690
698
747
Greater Glasgow and Clyde
1,859
1,835
1,934
1,828
1,776
Highland
378
338
","AnswerDate":"2010-09-27T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-09-30T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Nicola Sturgeon","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":242591,"EventID":"S3W-36051","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1782,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":59,"ApprovedDate":"2010-09-02T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-09-02T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what importance it places on exercise and nutrition in assisting older people from fracturing hips.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what importance it places on exercise and nutrition in assisting older people from fracturing hips.","AnswerText":"I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-36050 on 27 September 2010. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament''s website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/Apps2/Business/PQA/Default.aspx. ","AnswerDate":"2010-09-27T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-09-30T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Nicola Sturgeon","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":242592,"EventID":"S3W-36052","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2059,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":18,"ApprovedDate":"2010-09-02T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-09-02T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive how many police officers were seconded to the Scottish Crime and Drug Enforcement Agency as of 1 September 2010, broken down by police force.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive how many police officers were seconded to the Scottish Crime and Drug Enforcement Agency as of 1 September 2010, broken down by police force.","AnswerText":"On 1 September 2010 there were 205 police officers on secondment at the Scottish Crime and Drug Enforcement Agency. The following table breaks down these secondees by their home police force.
Police Force
Number of Secondees at SCDEA
Central
6
Dumfries and Galloway
9
Fife
9
Grampian
17
Lothian and Borders
39
Northern
6
Strathclyde
107
Tayside
9
British Transport Police
3
Total
205
","AnswerDate":"2010-09-16T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-09-30T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Kenny MacAskill","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":242593,"EventID":"S3W-36053","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2108,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":68,"ApprovedDate":"2010-09-02T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-09-02T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether the fingerprint service now operates without a Verification Unit, following recent reforms within the Scottish Police Services Authority (SPSA).","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether the fingerprint service now operates without a Verification Unit, following recent reforms within the Scottish Police Services Authority (SPSA).","AnswerText":"Following a Scientific Advisory Group (Managers) meeting in June 2010, there are now no verification units within the Scottish Police Services Authority. ","AnswerDate":"2010-09-28T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-09-30T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Kenny MacAskill","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":242594,"EventID":"S3W-36054","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2108,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":68,"ApprovedDate":"2010-09-02T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-09-02T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether the procedure for verifying fingerprint identifications now requires a second or third check to be carried out by an examiner with more experience than the initia","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether the procedure for verifying fingerprint identifications now requires a second or third check to be carried out by an examiner with more experience than the initial examiner, following recent reforms within the Scottish Police Services Authority (SPSA).","AnswerText":"Fingerprint identifications are carried out using the Analysis, Comparison, Evaluation “ Verification (ACE-V) methodology. No check is required by an examiner with more experience but each identification is checked by two other qualified experts. ","AnswerDate":"2010-09-28T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-09-30T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Kenny MacAskill","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":242595,"EventID":"S3W-36055","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2108,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":68,"ApprovedDate":"2010-09-02T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-09-02T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether the procedure for verifying fingerprint identifications requires the anonymity of the initial examiner to be maintained, following recent reforms within the Scott","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether the procedure for verifying fingerprint identifications requires the anonymity of the initial examiner to be maintained, following recent reforms within the Scottish Police Services Authority (SPSA).","AnswerText":"No anonymity is required for those carrying out fingerprint identifications. Fingerprint identifications are carried out using the Analysis, Comparison, Evaluation “ Verification (ACE-V) methodology and each identification is checked by two other qualified experts. ","AnswerDate":"2010-09-28T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-09-30T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Kenny MacAskill","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":242596,"EventID":"S3W-36056","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2108,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":68,"ApprovedDate":"2010-09-02T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-09-02T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether the 2009 Scottish Police Services Authority (SPSA) staff survey has been published, and if not, when it expects it will be.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether the 2009 Scottish Police Services Authority (SPSA) staff survey has been published, and if not, when it expects it will be.","AnswerText":"The Scottish Police Services Authority did not carry out a staff survey in 2009. ","AnswerDate":"2010-09-16T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-09-30T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Kenny MacAskill","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":242597,"EventID":"S3W-36057","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1877,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":70,"ApprovedDate":"2010-09-03T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-09-03T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive for what reason the (a) M74/A725 North Junction, (b) M8 associated network improvements and (c) M8 Baillieston to Newhouse non-profit distributing model did not meet the ","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive for what reason the (a) M74/A725 North Junction, (b) M8 associated network improvements and (c) M8 Baillieston to Newhouse non-profit distributing model did not meet the financial close date of February 2010 currently posted on its website.","AnswerText":"For the latest position on these three road schemes, I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-35712 on 6 September 2010. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament''s website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/Apps2/Business/PQA/Default.aspx. ","AnswerDate":"2010-09-27T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-10-01T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Stewart Stevenson","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":242598,"EventID":"S3W-36058","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1877,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":70,"ApprovedDate":"2010-09-03T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-09-03T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive for what reason the A9 Aberdeen Western Peripheral Route non-profit distributing model has no estimated financial close date on its website.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive for what reason the A9 Aberdeen Western Peripheral Route non-profit distributing model has no estimated financial close date on its website.","AnswerText":"The A90 Aberdeen Western Peripheral Route is currently the subject of legal challenges. These challenges will delay the construction of the Aberdeen Western Peripheral Route until they are heard in the Court of Session and resolved. It is therefore not possible to provide an estimated date for financial close. ","AnswerDate":"2010-09-27T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-10-01T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Stewart Stevenson","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":242599,"EventID":"S3W-36059","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":3896,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":25,"ApprovedDate":"2010-09-03T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-09-03T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will list all public bodies, including local authorities, it consulted during the period when it was considering extending the pilot of Road Equivalent Tariff ","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will list all public bodies, including local authorities, it consulted during the period when it was considering extending the pilot of Road Equivalent Tariff fares on the ferry services to the Western Isles.","AnswerText":"The Scottish Government has regular ongoing contact about ferry services in Scotland with a range of public bodies, including local authorities, VisitScotland, Regional Transport Partnerships, Public Corporations such as David MacBrayne Ltd and Caledonian Maritime Assets Ltd, Highlands and Islands Enterprise, as well as individuals. Recently this has included engagement through working groups and some 45 events, including 33 public meetings, as part of the Scottish Ferries Review, as well as Road Equivalent Tariff stakeholder meetings. ","AnswerDate":"2010-09-30T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-10-01T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Stewart Stevenson","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":242600,"EventID":"S3W-36060","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":3896,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":25,"ApprovedDate":"2010-09-03T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-09-03T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will list all public bodies, businesses, organisations and individuals that made representations to it in support of an extension to the pilot of Road Equivale","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will list all public bodies, businesses, organisations and individuals that made representations to it in support of an extension to the pilot of Road Equivalent Tariff fares on the ferry services to the Western Isles beyond spring 2011.","AnswerText":"I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-36059 on 30 September 2010. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament''s website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/Apps2/Business/PQA/Default.aspx. ","AnswerDate":"2010-09-30T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-10-01T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Stewart Stevenson","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":242601,"EventID":"S3W-36061","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":3896,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":25,"ApprovedDate":"2010-09-03T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-09-03T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will detail the outcome of the studies made of the social and economic impact on Scottish Islands other than the Western Isles of an extension to the pilot of ","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will detail the outcome of the studies made of the social and economic impact on Scottish Islands other than the Western Isles of an extension to the pilot of Road Equivalent Tariff fares on the ferry services to the Western Isles beyond spring 2011 before a decision was made to extent the pilot by one year.","AnswerText":"I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-36067 on 30 September 2010. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament''s website, the search facility for which can be found at:
","AnswerDate":"2010-09-30T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-10-01T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Stewart Stevenson","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":242602,"EventID":"S3W-36062","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":3896,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":25,"ApprovedDate":"2010-09-03T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-09-03T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will detail the outcome of the assessment undertaken of the legality of an extension to the pilot of Road Equivalent Tariff fares on the ferry services to the ","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will detail the outcome of the assessment undertaken of the legality of an extension to the pilot of Road Equivalent Tariff fares on the ferry services to the Western Isles beyond spring 2011 before a decision was made to extent the pilot by one year.","AnswerText":"It is the Scottish Government''s view that the Road Equivalent Tariff (RET) scheme is compliant with EU law. This view is not affected by our recent decision to extend the RET pilot to spring 2012. ","AnswerDate":"2010-09-30T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-10-01T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Stewart Stevenson","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":242603,"EventID":"S3W-36063","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":3896,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":25,"ApprovedDate":"2010-09-03T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-09-03T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive to detail the outcome of the assessment made of the cost of an extension to the pilot of Road Equivalent Tariff fares on the ferry services to the Western Isles beyond sp","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive to detail the outcome of the assessment made of the cost of an extension to the pilot of Road Equivalent Tariff fares on the ferry services to the Western Isles beyond spring 2011 before a decision was made to extent the pilot by one year.","AnswerText":"The estimated additional cost of extending the Road Equivalent Tariff pilot to spring 2012 is £6.5 million. ","AnswerDate":"2010-09-30T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-10-01T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Stewart Stevenson","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":242604,"EventID":"S3W-36064","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":3896,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":25,"ApprovedDate":"2010-09-03T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-09-03T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive when it began its consideration of an extension to the pilot of Road Equivalent Tariff fares on the ferry services to the Western Isles beyond spring 2011.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive when it began its consideration of an extension to the pilot of Road Equivalent Tariff fares on the ferry services to the Western Isles beyond spring 2011.","AnswerText":"It would have been premature to end the pilot before the final evaluation study had been completed and fully considered. This decision was taken within the context of ongoing consultation and engagement as set out in the answer to question S3W-36059 on 30 September 2010.
All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament''s website, the search facility for which can be found at:
","AnswerDate":"2010-09-30T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-10-01T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Stewart Stevenson","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":242605,"EventID":"S3W-36065","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":3896,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":25,"ApprovedDate":"2010-09-03T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-09-03T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has considered extending the pilot of Road Equivalent Tariff fares on the ferry services to the Western Isles to cover additional ferry routes to islands other","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has considered extending the pilot of Road Equivalent Tariff fares on the ferry services to the Western Isles to cover additional ferry routes to islands other than the Western Isles.","AnswerText":"The possible extension of the Road Equivalent Tariff (RET) pilot has been under consideration since the pilot was initiated. The impacts of the current pilot scheme are being closely monitored to allow ministers to make informed decisions on a possible wider roll-out of RET once the final evaluation report is completed next year. ","AnswerDate":"2010-09-30T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-10-01T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Stewart Stevenson","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":242606,"EventID":"S3W-36066","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":3896,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":25,"ApprovedDate":"2010-09-03T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-09-03T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions took place with (a) Orkney Islands Council and (b) Shetland Islands Council regarding its plan to extend the Road Equivalent Tariff pilot on the Western ","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions took place with (a) Orkney Islands Council and (b) Shetland Islands Council regarding its plan to extend the Road Equivalent Tariff pilot on the Western Isles routes for a further 12 months prior to that decision being (i) taken and (ii) announced.","AnswerText":"The decision to extend the Road Equivalent Tariff(RET) pilot was taken on the basis of consultation and engagement as set out in the answer to question S3W-36059 on 30 September 2010. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament''s website, the search facility for which can be found at:
\r\nstyl","AnswerDate":"2010-09-30T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-10-01T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Stewart Stevenson","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":242607,"EventID":"S3W-36067","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":3896,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":25,"ApprovedDate":"2010-09-03T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-09-03T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what assessment it has been made of the displacement of traffic from other island routes as a result of the Road Equivalent Tariff pilot on the Western Isles routes.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what assessment it has been made of the displacement of traffic from other island routes as a result of the Road Equivalent Tariff pilot on the Western Isles routes.","AnswerText":"The evaluation of the Road Equivalent Tariff (RET) pilot will be completed in early 2011 and the final evaluation report will be published thereafter. Initial findings indicate that there has been no significant displacement of traffic as a result of RET. The interim evaluation report and other relevant documents are available on the Scottish Government website:
The final report on the RET pilot will take into account all of the impacts of the scheme, including any possible displacement of traffic, as well as consideration of the social and economic impacts.
","AnswerDate":"2010-09-30T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-10-01T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Stewart Stevenson","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":242608,"EventID":"S3W-36068","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":3896,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":25,"ApprovedDate":"2010-09-03T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-09-03T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions took place with (a) VisitOrkney and (b) VisitShetland regarding its plan to extend the Road Equivalent Tariff pilot on the Western Isles routes for a fur","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions took place with (a) VisitOrkney and (b) VisitShetland regarding its plan to extend the Road Equivalent Tariff pilot on the Western Isles routes for a further 12 months prior to that decision being (i) taken and (ii) announced.","AnswerText":"The decision to extend the Road Equivalent Tariff pilot was taken on the basis of consultation and engagement as set out in the answer to question S3W-36059 on 30 September 2010. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament''s website, the search facility for which can be found at:
","AnswerDate":"2010-09-30T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-10-01T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Stewart Stevenson","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":242609,"EventID":"S3W-36069","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":3815,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":5,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2010-09-03T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-09-03T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether it regards the losses of livestock due to severe weather experienced on some farms during March 2010 as an animal welfare problem","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether it regards the losses of livestock due to severe weather experienced on some farms during March 2010 as an animal welfare problem","AnswerText":"The death of livestock due to severe weather is of concern. Both for the animals that died and because those that survived may have been exposed to extreme cold or lack of feed and water because of disruption to supplies. ","AnswerDate":"2010-09-17T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-10-01T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Richard Lochhead","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":242610,"EventID":"S3W-36070","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":3815,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":5,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2010-09-03T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-09-03T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what direct and specific assistance it made available to prevent animals suffering during severe weather in 2010","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what direct and specific assistance it made available to prevent animals suffering during severe weather in 2010","AnswerText":"The Scottish Government established a severe weather grant to provide livestock keepers with financial assistance towards the costs of providing alternative accommodation for livestock in the interests of animal welfare. 76 applicants received a total of just under £233,000. ","AnswerDate":"2010-09-17T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-10-01T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Richard Lochhead","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":242611,"EventID":"S3W-36071","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":3815,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":5,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2010-09-03T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-09-03T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what measures, not available in March 2010, it will introduce to prevent heavy losses of livestock during severe weather conditions","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what measures, not available in March 2010, it will introduce to prevent heavy losses of livestock during severe weather conditions","AnswerText":"The Scottish Government does not intend to introduce any new measures to prevent heavy losses of livestock during severe weather conditions.
The responsibility for farm animal welfare rests with livestock keepers who have a duty to protect them from the effects of adverse weather in accordance with good practice. The statutory codes of recommendations for the welfare of livestock recommend that farmers should make plans for dealing with emergencies such as the disruption of supplies. Advice is also available from the Scottish Agricultural College.
","AnswerDate":"2010-09-17T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-10-01T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Richard Lochhead","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":242612,"EventID":"S3W-36072","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":3815,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":5,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2010-09-03T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-09-03T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has identified farmers who lost animals during severe weather in 2010 and how many animals were lost in each case","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has identified farmers who lost animals during severe weather in 2010 and how many animals were lost in each case","AnswerText":"The Scottish Government has not identified individual farmers who lost animals during the severe weather in 2010 nor how many animals were lost. ","AnswerDate":"2010-09-17T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-10-01T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Richard Lochhead","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":242613,"EventID":"S3W-36073","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":3815,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":5,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2010-09-03T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-09-03T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has determined and recorded whether farmers who lost animals during severe weather in 2010 had implemented the advice and support that were available to them.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has determined and recorded whether farmers who lost animals during severe weather in 2010 had implemented the advice and support that were available to them.","AnswerText":"No assessment has been undertaken to check whether livestock keepers who lost stock during the severe weather in 2010 implemented advice and support available to them. ","AnswerDate":"2010-09-17T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-10-01T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Richard Lochhead","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":242614,"EventID":"S3W-36074","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":3815,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":5,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2010-09-03T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-09-03T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether it regards the powers available to inspectors in the Animal Health and Welfare (Scotland) Act 2006 as sufficient to inspect, investigate and instigate a prosecuti","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether it regards the powers available to inspectors in the Animal Health and Welfare (Scotland) Act 2006 as sufficient to inspect, investigate and instigate a prosecution where a farmer is suspected of having failed to ensure the welfare of animals","AnswerText":"The Animal Health and Welfare (Scotland) Act 2006 empowers inspectors to enter and inspect any premises, with the exception of domestic premises, without a warrant if they have reason to believe that animal welfare offences have been committed.
A warrant from a sheriff or justice of the peace is required to allow an inspector to enter domestic premises or to carry out a search of the premises, except where the delay in obtaining a warrant would frustrate the purpose for the search.
These provisions are satisfactory to allow entry, inspection and investigation for inspectors and the need to obtain a warrant in certain circumstances provide appropriate safeguards for the public.
","AnswerDate":"2010-09-21T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-10-01T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Richard Lochhead","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":242615,"EventID":"S3W-36075","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":3815,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":5,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2010-09-03T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-09-03T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive how many people have been issued with statutory improvement notices under the Animal Health and Welfare (Scotland) Act 2006 in relation to farm livestock in each year sin","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive how many people have been issued with statutory improvement notices under the Animal Health and Welfare (Scotland) Act 2006 in relation to farm livestock in each year since 2006 and which agencies issued these notices","AnswerText":"Animal health are unable to identify the number of statutory improvement notices issued under the Animal Health and Welfare (Scotland) Act 2006 from Regulation 10 notices issued under the Welfare of Farmed Animals (Scotland) Regulations 2000. Therefore, the combined total of statutory improvement notices issued by animal health in relation to farmed livestock were:
2006: 19
2007: 46
2008: 18
2009: 18
The Scottish Government does not hold records for the number of statutory improvement notices issued by local authorities, the Scottish SPCA or other enforcement bodies.
","AnswerDate":"2010-09-21T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-10-01T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Richard Lochhead","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":242616,"EventID":"S3W-36076","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":3815,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":5,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2010-09-03T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-09-03T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive how many prosecutions there have been under the Animal Health and Welfare (Scotland) Act 2006 in relation to farm livestock in each year since 2006 and how many of these ","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive how many prosecutions there have been under the Animal Health and Welfare (Scotland) Act 2006 in relation to farm livestock in each year since 2006 and how many of these offences were reported in the first instance by (a) Animal Health and (b) local authority officials","AnswerText":"The number of prosecutions brought under animal welfare offences in the Animal Health and Welfare (Scotland) Act 2006 were:
2006-07: 3
2007-08: 71
2008-09: 102
It is not possible to state which prosecutions related to farm livestock, nor whether the offences were reported by animal health, local authorities or other enforcement agencies, such as the police or the Scottish Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals.
","AnswerDate":"2010-09-21T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-10-01T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Richard Lochhead","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":242617,"EventID":"S3W-36077","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":3815,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":5,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2010-09-03T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-09-03T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive how many people have been convicted under the Animal Health and Welfare (Scotland) Act 2006 in relation to farm livestock in each year since 2006 and how many of these of","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive how many people have been convicted under the Animal Health and Welfare (Scotland) Act 2006 in relation to farm livestock in each year since 2006 and how many of these offences were reported in the first instance by (a) Animal Health and (b) local authority officials","AnswerText":"The number of people convicted of animal welfare offences under the Animal Health and Welfare (Scotland) Act 2006 were:
2006-07: 3
2007-08: 60
2008-09: 80
It is not possible to state which convictions related to farm livestock, nor whether the offences were reported by animal health, local authorities or other enforcement agencies, such as the police or the Scottish Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals.
","AnswerDate":"2010-09-21T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-10-01T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Richard Lochhead","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":242618,"EventID":"S3W-36078","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":3815,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":5,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2010-09-03T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-09-03T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive how many people have been sentenced to serve prison terms under the Animal Health and Welfare (Scotland) Act 2006 in relation to farm livestock in each year since 2006 an","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive how many people have been sentenced to serve prison terms under the Animal Health and Welfare (Scotland) Act 2006 in relation to farm livestock in each year since 2006 and how many of these offences were reported in the first instance by (a) Animal Health and (b) local authority officials","AnswerText":"The number of people sentenced to serve prison terms for animal welfare offences committed under Animal Health and Welfare (Scotland) Act 2006 were:
2006-07: 0
2007-08: 2
2008-09: 4
It is not possible to state whether the offences related to farm livestock, nor whether the offences were reported by animal health, local authorities or other enforcement agencies, such as the police or the Scottish Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals.
","AnswerDate":"2010-09-21T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-10-01T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Richard Lochhead","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":242619,"EventID":"S3W-36079","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":3815,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":5,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2010-09-03T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-09-03T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive how many people have been fined under the Animal Health and Welfare (Scotland) Act 2006 in relation to farm livestock in each year since 2006 and how many of these offenc","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive how many people have been fined under the Animal Health and Welfare (Scotland) Act 2006 in relation to farm livestock in each year since 2006 and how many of these offences were reported in the first instance by (a) Animal Health and (b) local authority officials","AnswerText":"The number of people fined for animal welfare offences committed under Animal Health and Welfare (Scotland) Act 2006 were:
2006-07: 2
2007-08: 46
2008-09: 56
It is not possible to state whether the offences related to farm livestock, nor whether the offences were reported by animal health, local authorities or other enforcement agencies, such as the police or the Scottish Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals.
","AnswerDate":"2010-09-21T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-10-01T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Richard Lochhead","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":242620,"EventID":"S3W-36080","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":3815,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":5,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2010-09-03T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-09-03T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive how many people have been fined under the Animal Health and Welfare (Scotland) Act 2006 in relation to farm livestock in each of year since 2006 and how many of these off","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive how many people have been fined under the Animal Health and Welfare (Scotland) Act 2006 in relation to farm livestock in each of year since 2006 and how many of these offences were reported in the first instance by (a) Animal Health and (b) local authority officials","AnswerText":"I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-36079 on 21 September 2010. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament''s website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/Apps2/Business/PQA/Default.aspx. ","AnswerDate":"2010-09-21T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-10-01T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Richard Lochhead","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":242621,"EventID":"S3W-36081","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":3815,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":5,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2010-09-03T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-09-03T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether it is currently conducting or planning to commission research into how many animals died during severe weather in March 2010 and, if so, where this research is be","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether it is currently conducting or planning to commission research into how many animals died during severe weather in March 2010 and, if so, where this research is being undertaken; who is carrying it out, and what the cost is","AnswerText":"The Scottish Government is not conducting nor planning to commission research into how many animals died during the severe weather earlier this year. ","AnswerDate":"2010-09-21T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-10-01T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Richard Lochhead","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":242622,"EventID":"S3W-36082","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":3815,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":5,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2010-09-03T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-09-03T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has carried out research or intends to instruct research into the causes of livestock fatalities due to severe weather.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has carried out research or intends to instruct research into the causes of livestock fatalities due to severe weather.","AnswerText":"No specific research has been conducted or is planned into the causes of livestock fatalities due to the severe weather earlier this year.
However, research looking into the husbandry challenges, economics and sustainability of extensively managed hill sheep farms has been carried out collaboratively between the Scottish Agricultural College (SAC), ADAS and the Macaulay Land Use Research Institute (MLURI). This research was funded by Defra.
The Scottish Government also supports a range of research providing evidence and advice on best practices for extensive livestock systems in Scotland at SAC and MLURI. One example is the investigation of the potential for using genetic factors to improve lamb survival and development.
","AnswerDate":"2010-09-21T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-10-01T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Richard Lochhead","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":242623,"EventID":"S3W-36083","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":3815,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":5,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2010-09-03T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-09-03T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has sought advice from the Farm Animal Welfare Council in relation to livestock fatalities due to severe weather and, if so, what advice it received","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has sought advice from the Farm Animal Welfare Council in relation to livestock fatalities due to severe weather and, if so, what advice it received","AnswerText":"The Scottish Government has not sought such advice from the Farm Animal Welfare Council, nor has any advice been received from them.
However, the Scottish Government receives reports from the Scottish Agricultural College on a range of animal welfare issues including the implications of extreme weather at regular meetings and SAC provides information to farmers in the form of technical notes or press articles on such issues.
","AnswerDate":"2010-09-21T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-10-01T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Richard Lochhead","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":242624,"EventID":"S3W-36084","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":3815,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":5,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2010-09-03T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-09-03T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether it intends to implement recommendations to government included in the forthcoming Farm Animal Welfare Council contingency planning report due for publication earl","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether it intends to implement recommendations to government included in the forthcoming Farm Animal Welfare Council contingency planning report due for publication early in 2011, in particular in relation to severe weather","AnswerText":"The Scottish Government will give full consideration to the recommendations from the Farm Animal Welfare Council when there report is received. No commitment can be given to implement recommendations before they have been received. ","AnswerDate":"2010-09-21T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-10-01T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Richard Lochhead","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":242625,"EventID":"S3W-36085","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":3815,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":5,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2010-09-03T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-09-03T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive how many (a) pig, (b) sheep, (c) dairy cattle, (d) beef cattle, (e) poultry including broiler chickens, ducks and turkeys, (f) laying hens and (g) other farmed animal uni","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive how many (a) pig, (b) sheep, (c) dairy cattle, (d) beef cattle, (e) poultry including broiler chickens, ducks and turkeys, (f) laying hens and (g) other farmed animal units underwent farm animal welfare inspections by (i) animal health or (ii) local authorities in 2009, also expressed as a percentage of each category","AnswerText":"The Scottish Government does not hold records on animal welfare inspection undertaken by local authorities. However, the number of on farm animal welfare inspections undertaken by animal health in 2009 were:
Enterprise
Number
Percentage
Pigs
113
6.3
Sheep
344
19.1
Dairy Cattle
85
4.7
Beef Cattle
402
22.3
Other Cattle
743
41.3
Poultry
44
2.4
Laying Hens
27
1.5
Other Farmed Animals
43
2.4
Total
1801
100
Notes:
Other Cattle includes calf and growing cattle units.
Poultry includes broiler and breeders, turkeys, ducks and geese.
Other Farmed Animals includes goats, ratites, deer and horses.
","AnswerDate":"2010-09-22T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-10-01T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Richard Lochhead","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":242626,"EventID":"S3W-36086","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":3815,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":5,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2010-09-03T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-09-03T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive how many farm animal welfare inspections undertaken by Animal Health or by local authorities in 2009 on (a) pig, (b) sheep, (c) dairy cattle, (d) beef cattle, (e) poultry","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive how many farm animal welfare inspections undertaken by Animal Health or by local authorities in 2009 on (a) pig, (b) sheep, (c) dairy cattle, (d) beef cattle, (e) poultry including broiler chickens, ducks and turkeys, (f) laying hens and (g) other farmed animal units were for (i) monitoring compliance with EU animal welfare regulations, (ii) assessing cross-compliance for single farm payments, (iii) investigating complaints about animal welfare and (iv) any other purpose","AnswerText":"The Scottish Government does not hold records on animal welfare inspection undertaken by local authorities. All animal health visits and inspections for farmed animals are to monitor compliance against EU legislation. The number of on farm animal welfare inspections undertaken by animal health in 2009 are shown in the following table:
Enterprise
Cross Compliance
Complaints
Targeted
Programmed
Other
Pigs
20
9
64
5
15
Sheep
118
56
163
3
4
Dairy Cattle
40
7
36
1
1
Beef
Cattle
163
42
184
8
5
Other Cattle
338
53
336
9
7
Poultry
2
6
6
4
26
Laying Hens
7
4
11
2
3
Other Farmed Animals
1
7
10
10
15
Caring Together, published in July this year, contains a range of actions that take account of the needs of older carers. ","AnswerDate":"2010-09-30T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-10-01T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Nicola Sturgeon","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":242628,"EventID":"S3W-36088","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2080,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":17,"ApprovedDate":"2010-09-03T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-09-03T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive how much of the funding that it gave to the Scottish Islamic Foundation in the last year has been spent on salaries and expenses of officers.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive how much of the funding that it gave to the Scottish Islamic Foundation in the last year has been spent on salaries and expenses of officers.","AnswerText":"Since October 2009, £14,437 of the funding provided to the Scottish Islamic Foundation by the Scottish Government has been spent on officers'' salaries. ","AnswerDate":"2010-09-14T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-10-01T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Alex Neil","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":242629,"EventID":"S3W-36089","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2080,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":17,"ApprovedDate":"2010-09-03T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-09-03T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive how much of the funding that it gave to the Scottish Islamic Foundation in the last year has been spent on overseas visits by members.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive how much of the funding that it gave to the Scottish Islamic Foundation in the last year has been spent on overseas visits by members.","AnswerText":"No funding provided to the Scottish Islamic Foundation by the Scottish Government in the last year has been spent on overseas visits by members of that organisation. ","AnswerDate":"2010-09-14T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-10-01T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Alex Neil","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":242630,"EventID":"S3W-36090","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2059,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":18,"ApprovedDate":"2010-09-03T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-09-03T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive when it will publish the first annual report on the implementation of the Antisocial Behaviour Framework.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive when it will publish the first annual report on the implementation of the Antisocial Behaviour Framework.","AnswerText":"I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-33882 on 9 June 2010. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament''s website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/Apps2/Business/PQA/Default.aspx. ","AnswerDate":"2010-09-14T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-10-01T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Fergus Ewing","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":242631,"EventID":"S3W-36091","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2182,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":5,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2010-09-03T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-09-03T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what the provision of whole-time equivalent nurse specialists is for each cancer network that is specifically working in (a) breast, (b) colorectal, (c) lung, (d) urologi","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what the provision of whole-time equivalent nurse specialists is for each cancer network that is specifically working in (a) breast, (b) colorectal, (c) lung, (d) urological, (e) gynaecological, (f) upper gastrointestinal and (g) haematological cancer.","AnswerText":"The information requested is not held centrally.
However, information showing the number of clinical nurse specialists by their specialty and NHS health board at 30 September 2009 is available at:
","AnswerDate":"2010-09-29T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-10-01T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Nicola Sturgeon","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":242632,"EventID":"S3W-36092","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2182,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":5,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2010-09-03T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-09-03T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive how many newly diagnosed patients each nurse specialist will be responsible for on an annual basis in (a) breast, (b) colorectal, (c) lung, (d) urological, (e) gynaecolog","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive how many newly diagnosed patients each nurse specialist will be responsible for on an annual basis in (a) breast, (b) colorectal, (c) lung, (d) urological, (e) gynaecological, (f) upper gastrointestinal and (g) haematological cancer.","AnswerText":"Information on the number of newly diagnosed patients each nurse specialist will be responsible for on an annual basis is not collected centrally. The number of nurse specialists in breast, colorectal, lung, urological, gynaecological, upper gastrointestinal, and haematological cancer is available and is included in the answer to question S3W-36091 on 29 September 2010. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament''s website, the search facility for which can be found at:
Information on the number of newly diagnosed cases of cancer, for the years 1985 to 2007, is available on the NHS Information Services Division (ISD) website under Cancer Incidence: http://www.isdscotland.org/isd/183.html.
","AnswerDate":"2010-09-29T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-10-01T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Nicola Sturgeon","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":242633,"EventID":"S3W-36093","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1837,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":36,"ApprovedDate":"2010-09-03T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-09-03T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions have taken place between it and COSLA regarding the UK Government’s proposed changes to Housing Benefit.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions have taken place between it and COSLA regarding the UK Government’s proposed changes to Housing Benefit.","AnswerText":"We have real concerns about the impact these proposals might have and are taking steps to ensure that the views of the people of Scotland are heard in London. It is essential that any changes do not affect the most vulnerable households, who simply cannot afford a reduction in housing benefit. Officials have been in contact with a broad range of key Scottish stakeholders, including COSLA, to discuss the implications of the UK Government''s proposals and to ensure that their views and concerns are reflected in our discussions with Whitehall. ","AnswerDate":"2010-09-27T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-10-01T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Alex Neil","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":242634,"EventID":"S3W-36094","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1837,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":36,"ApprovedDate":"2010-09-03T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-09-03T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether it intends to produce an evaluation of the Wider Role Fund","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether it intends to produce an evaluation of the Wider Role Fund","AnswerText":"There are currently no plans to produce an evaluation of the Wider Role Fund. ","AnswerDate":"2010-09-21T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-10-01T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Alex Neil","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":242635,"EventID":"S3W-36095","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1837,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":36,"ApprovedDate":"2010-09-03T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-09-03T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what procedures are in place to monitor the implementation of the Wider Role Fund","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what procedures are in place to monitor the implementation of the Wider Role Fund","AnswerText":"Implementation of the Wider Role Fund is administered by officials within the Housing and Regeneration Directorate. Current monitoring procedures are as follows:
Each grant award letter contains a schedule listing activities, outputs and outcomes the project intends to achieve.
At quarterly intervals RSLs provide monitoring information for their projects. This sets out progress compared to that anticipated in the grant award letter.
Monitoring visits are made to randomly selected projects.
Informal monitoring of project progress is undertaken through regular contact with RSLs.
The fund is subject to standard Scottish Government financial monitoring and reporting systems.
Selected projects are written up as case studies and published online by the Scottish Centre for Regeneration''s Learning Networks.
","AnswerDate":"2010-09-21T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-10-01T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Alex Neil","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":242636,"EventID":"S3W-36096","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2108,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":68,"ApprovedDate":"2010-09-03T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-09-03T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive how many officers are employed in Strathclyde Police’s road policing unit.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive how many officers are employed in Strathclyde Police’s road policing unit.","AnswerText":"Road policing in Strathclyde is an operational matter for Strathclyde Police so this information is not held centrally. ","AnswerDate":"2010-09-16T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-10-01T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Kenny MacAskill","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":242637,"EventID":"S3W-36097","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2108,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":68,"ApprovedDate":"2010-09-03T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-09-03T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether ministers are aware of plans to reduce the number of officers in Strathclyde Police’s road policing unit and, if so, by how much.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether ministers are aware of plans to reduce the number of officers in Strathclyde Police’s road policing unit and, if so, by how much.","AnswerText":"Road policing in Strathclyde is an operational matter for Strathclyde Police so this information is not held centrally. ","AnswerDate":"2010-09-16T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-10-01T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Kenny MacAskill","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":242638,"EventID":"S3W-36098","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2108,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":68,"ApprovedDate":"2010-09-03T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-09-03T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether an assessment has been carried out on the effect of reducing the size of Strathclyde Police’s road policing unit.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether an assessment has been carried out on the effect of reducing the size of Strathclyde Police’s road policing unit.","AnswerText":"Road policing in Strathclyde is an operational matter for Strathclyde Police so this information is not held centrally. ","AnswerDate":"2010-09-16T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-10-01T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Kenny MacAskill","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":242639,"EventID":"S3W-36099","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1926,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":48,"ApprovedDate":"2010-09-06T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-09-06T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what its performance was in answering ministerial correspondence in the first quarter of 2010.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what its performance was in answering ministerial correspondence in the first quarter of 2010.","AnswerText":"In the quarter January to March 2010, 8,008 letters were received by ministers and 97% received a reply within our target of 20 working days. ","AnswerDate":"2010-09-07T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-09-20T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Bruce Crawford","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":242640,"EventID":"S3W-36100","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1768,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":60,"ApprovedDate":"2010-09-06T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-09-06T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what conditions need to be fulfilled for a student to be exempt from paying council tax.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what conditions need to be fulfilled for a student to be exempt from paying council tax.","AnswerText":"The qualifying conditions for a student to be exempt from paying council tax are contained within The Local Government Finance Act 1992, and associated regulations. A summary can be found in The Scottish Government''s publication Council Tax in Scotland: A Guide for Students which can be obtained via the following link www.scotland.gov.uk/library3/localgov/ctst-00.asp. ","AnswerDate":"2010-09-08T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-09-20T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"John Swinney","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":242641,"EventID":"S3W-36101","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1768,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":60,"ApprovedDate":"2010-09-06T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-09-06T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what legislation applies to student exemption from council tax.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what legislation applies to student exemption from council tax.","AnswerText":"The legislation governing student exemption from council tax is contained within The Local Government Finance Act 1992, and associated regulations. ","AnswerDate":"2010-09-08T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-09-20T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"John Swinney","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":242642,"EventID":"S3W-36102","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":3759,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":1,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2010-09-06T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-09-06T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what the average saving has been for businesses in each savings band as a result of the introduction of the small business bonus in each of the last three years, broken d","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what the average saving has been for businesses in each savings band as a result of the introduction of the small business bonus in each of the last three years, broken down by local authority area.","AnswerText":"Average savings under the small business bonus scheme (SBBS) in each local authority by savings band is shown in the following tables for the first two years of the scheme, 2008-09 and 2009-10. Figures for 2010-11 will be available after the end of the current financial year.
SBBS Average Saving by SBBS Band and Local Authority, 2008-09 in £
2008-09
RV Less Than 8,000- 80% Relief
RV Between £8,000 and £10,000 40% Relief
RV Between £10,000 and £15,000 20% Relief
Average Saving Over All Bands
Aberdeen City
1,333
1,462
1,078
1,312
Aberdeenshire
805
1,529
1,098
853
Angus
915
1,518
1,055
948
Argyll and Bute
655
1,550
1,080
686
Clackmannanshire
1,058
1,455
1,099
1,080
Dumfries and Galloway
753
1,503
1,086
791
Dundee City
1,213
1,509
1,089
1,222
East Ayrshire
","AnswerDate":"2010-09-10T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-09-20T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Fergus Ewing","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":242644,"EventID":"S3W-36104","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1783,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":67,"ApprovedDate":"2010-09-06T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-09-06T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-34826 by Nicola Sturgeon on 12 July 2010, what the detailed remit and operation are of the national scrutiny group announced on 3 J","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-34826 by Nicola Sturgeon on 12 July 2010, what the detailed remit and operation are of the national scrutiny group announced on 3 June 2010.","AnswerText":"The National Scrutiny Group met for the first time on 4 August 2010 under my chairmanship. I have placed copies of the agenda for that meeting, the supporting papers (which include remit and membership) and the minutes of the meeting in the Scottish Parliament Information Centre (Bib. number 51640).
The second meeting was held on 9 September 2010 and among other things agreed to develop a process to facilitate the flow of commentaries on individual NHS boards'' workforce plans from local Area Partnership Forums to the National Scrutiny Group. I will make the papers for that meeting available in the Scottish Parliament Information Centre (under the above Bib. number) in due course, once the minutes have been circulated to group members. The next meeting is likely to be in early November.
","AnswerDate":"2010-09-15T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-09-20T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Nicola Sturgeon","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":242645,"EventID":"S3W-36105","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1783,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":67,"ApprovedDate":"2010-09-06T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-09-06T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-34827 by Nicola Sturgeon on 12 July 2010, who is represented on the national scrutiny group announced on 3 June 2010.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-34827 by Nicola Sturgeon on 12 July 2010, who is represented on the national scrutiny group announced on 3 June 2010.","AnswerText":"I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-36104 on 15 September 2010. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament''s website, the search facility for which can be found at www.scottish.parliament.uk/Apps2/Business/PQA/Default.aspx. ","AnswerDate":"2010-09-15T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-09-20T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Nicola Sturgeon","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":242646,"EventID":"S3W-36106","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1783,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":67,"ApprovedDate":"2010-09-06T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-09-06T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-34828 by Nicola Sturgeon on 12 July 2010, what issues were discussed by the national scrutiny group at its meeting on 4 August 2010","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-34828 by Nicola Sturgeon on 12 July 2010, what issues were discussed by the national scrutiny group at its meeting on 4 August 2010.","AnswerText":"I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-36104 on 15 September 2010. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament''s website, the search facility for which can be found at www.scottish.parliament.uk/Apps2/Business/PQA/Default.aspx. ","AnswerDate":"2010-09-15T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-09-20T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Nicola Sturgeon","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":242647,"EventID":"S3W-36107","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1783,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":67,"ApprovedDate":"2010-09-06T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-09-06T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will specify what workforce plans have been considered and were approved by the national scrutiny group at its meeting on 4 August 2010.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will specify what workforce plans have been considered and were approved by the national scrutiny group at its meeting on 4 August 2010.","AnswerText":"The National Scrutiny Group was not established to approve NHS boards workforce plans as that responsibility properly rests with each individual NHS board. The National Scrutiny Group will monitor workforce plans to ensure they are the result of genuine partnership working and that the implementation of any changes described in those plans does not impact on the quality of patient care. I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-36104 on 15 September 2010 which gave details of the remit and membership of the National Scrutiny All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament''s website, the search facility for which can be found at www.scottish.parliament.uk/Apps2/Business/PQA/Default.aspx. ","AnswerDate":"2010-09-15T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-09-20T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Nicola Sturgeon","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":242648,"EventID":"S3W-36108","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2059,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":18,"ApprovedDate":"2010-09-06T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-09-06T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive how many remand prisoners there have been in each year since 1999.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive how many remand prisoners there have been in each year since 1999.","AnswerText":"I have asked John Ewing,Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service, to respond. His response is as follows:
The information requested is shown in the following table. This is based on the most recent published information and information for 2009 will be available once the 2009-10 data are published later this year.
Number of Remand Admissions to Scottish Prisons: 1999 to 2008
1999
11,207
2000
10,620
2001
12,145
2002
13,904
2003
13,948
2004
14,044
2005
14,610
2006
17,120
2007
16,517
2008
16,262
Source: Scottish Government Justice Analytical Services
Notes
1. Figures are based on remand admissions during the period and will differ from published figures on the number of remand receptions.
2. An admission is defined as an individual spending a period in custody without being liberated into the community, whereas a reception is registered every time there is a change of custodial status. For instance, the case of an individual coming in on remand who then receives a custodial sentence is counted as one admission, but two receptions. An individual coming in on remand on two separate occasions counts as two admissions.
3. Data are extracted from a live management information system and updated on an on-going basis. The information presented here may therefore differ slightly from information shown previously.
","AnswerDate":"2010-09-16T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-09-20T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Kenny MacAskill","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":242649,"EventID":"S3W-36109","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2059,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":18,"ApprovedDate":"2010-09-06T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-09-06T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what percentage of remand prisoners has received a custodial disposal in each year since 1999.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what percentage of remand prisoners has received a custodial disposal in each year since 1999.","AnswerText":"I have asked John Ewing, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service, to respond. His response is as follows:
The information requested is shown in the following table. This is based on the most recent published information and information for 2009 will be available once the 2009-10 data are published later this year.
Percentage of Remand Admissions followed by a Custodial Disposal in Scottish Prisons: 1999 to 2008
1999
38
2000
39
2001
36
2002
36
2003
36
2004
37
2005
37
2006
37
2007
39
2008
39
Source: Scottish Government Justice Analytical Services
Notes
1. About 10% of cases resulted in a cross-border transfer, transfer to medical facility, release on bail or were terminated due to the death of the accused. Figures also include a small number of recall cases.
2. Data are extracted from a live management information system and updated on an on-going basis. The information presented here may therefore differ slightly from information shown previously.
","AnswerDate":"2010-09-16T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-09-20T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Kenny MacAskill","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":242650,"EventID":"S3W-36110","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2059,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":18,"ApprovedDate":"2010-09-06T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-09-06T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive how many people have received a custodial sentence for fine default in each year since 1999.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive how many people have received a custodial sentence for fine default in each year since 1999.","AnswerText":"I have asked John Ewing, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service, to respond. His response is as follows:
The number of fine defaulters receiving custodial sentences has dropped markedly falling from a figure of 8,358 in 1999-2000 to 1,506 in 2008-09.
1999-2000
2000-01
2001-02
2002-03
2003-04
8,358
7,566
6,991
7,097
6,888
2004-05
2005-06
2006-07
2007-08
2008-09
6,098
6,213
5,963
3,610
1,506
The information requested is given in table 16 in Prison statistics Scotland: 2008-09. This is available online through the Scottish Government website at:
","AnswerDate":"2010-09-16T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-09-20T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Kenny MacAskill","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":242651,"EventID":"S3W-36111","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2059,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":18,"ApprovedDate":"2010-09-06T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-09-06T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what the average length of sentence has been for people given a custodial disposal for fine default in each year since 1999.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what the average length of sentence has been for people given a custodial disposal for fine default in each year since 1999.","AnswerText":"I have asked John Ewing, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service, to respond. His response is as follows:
The average length of sentence for people given a custodial disposal for fine default was 11 days in each year until 2007-08 when the average length of sentence rose to 12 days. That remained the average figure in 2008-09.
The information requested is given in Table 16 in Prison statistics Scotland: 2008-09. This is available on-line through the Scottish Government website at:
","AnswerDate":"2010-09-16T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-09-20T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Kenny MacAskill","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":242652,"EventID":"S3W-36112","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2059,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":18,"ApprovedDate":"2010-09-06T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-09-06T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what the average value was of the outstanding fine in cases in which fine defaulters have been subject to a custodial sentence in each year since 1999.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what the average value was of the outstanding fine in cases in which fine defaulters have been subject to a custodial sentence in each year since 1999.","AnswerText":"The average value of the outstanding fine in cases in which fine defaulters have been subject to a custodial sentence is as follows:
","AnswerDate":"2010-09-16T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-09-20T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Kenny MacAskill","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":242653,"EventID":"S3W-36113","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2202,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":8,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2010-09-06T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-09-06T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether the environmental effects outwith Scotland of a proposed development could be a material consideration in determining an application for development consent and w","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether the environmental effects outwith Scotland of a proposed development could be a material consideration in determining an application for development consent and what the reason is for its position on this matter.","AnswerText":"The determination of Section 36 applications is not easy or straight forward and ministers must strike the right balance in their decision making between developing and delivering Scotland''s energy future and the protection of environmental, cultural heritage, economic and community issues. Likewise, environmental effects outwith Scotland can also be a material consideration, although it would of course depend on the individual circumstances of an application.
In a situation where an EIA development in Scotland appears to the Scottish Ministers to be likely to have significant effects on the environment in another European state, there is a requirement to send the EEA state in question certain information in relation to the EIA. The requirement to give that information also exists where the other state requests it and both are set out at regulation 12 of the Electricity Works (Environmental Impact Assessment) (Scotland) Regulations 2000.
","AnswerDate":"2010-09-23T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-09-20T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Jim Mather","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":242654,"EventID":"S3W-36114","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2202,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":8,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2010-09-06T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-09-06T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive, given the regulatory regime for carbon capture and storage (CCS), whether work is being undertaken to determine the potential future liabilities of the Scottish Governme","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive, given the regulatory regime for carbon capture and storage (CCS), whether work is being undertaken to determine the potential future liabilities of the Scottish Government should consent be given for a new coal-fired power station and CCS turn out not to be technically feasible.","AnswerText":"The Scottish Government has a clear commitment to decarbonise the electricity generation sector by 2030 and strongly supports the early demonstration of CCS at commercial scale. As stated in our Roadmap published in March 2010, the role of Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS) in this process will be subject to a rolling review of its technical and economic viability.
That review process will also take place in conjunction with the knowledge gained from UK and EU CCS demonstration programmes. Should CCS be deemed not to be technically feasible, it will be important to ensure that any future liabilities are fully understood and effectively addressed.
In such a circumstance, we would expect other market interventions, such as revisions to the EU Emissions Trading Scheme and the proposed UK-wide Emissions Performance Standard would be used to ensure decarbonisation of electricity generation by 2030, whilst maintaining security of supply.
","AnswerDate":"2010-09-21T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-09-20T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Jim Mather","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":242655,"EventID":"S3W-36115","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2364,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":11,"ApprovedDate":"2010-09-06T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-09-06T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-33896 by John Swinney on 8 June 2010, how much it paid to consultancy firms during 2009-10, broken down by firm.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-33896 by John Swinney on 8 June 2010, how much it paid to consultancy firms during 2009-10, broken down by firm.","AnswerText":"We are examining the available information and will write to the member as soon as possible. A copy will also be placed in the Scottish Parliament Information Centre (Bib. number 51647). ","AnswerDate":"2010-09-21T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-09-20T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"John Swinney","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":242656,"EventID":"S3W-36116","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1783,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":67,"ApprovedDate":"2010-09-06T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-09-06T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what its position is on the importance of stipulating that when public authorities let major contracts, such as the New South Glasgow Hospitals Project, they specify that","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what its position is on the importance of stipulating that when public authorities let major contracts, such as the New South Glasgow Hospitals Project, they specify that successful contractors make use of and apply the national collective agreements that exist in the electrical and mechanical sectors, which are committed to and support apprentice/adult trainee recruitment, skills and competence training, direct employment, a modern employee reward and benefits package and high standards of health and safety.","AnswerText":"At a national level, Scottish Government attaches high importance to supporting Scottish businesses and individuals through the financial support it gives to apprenticeship schemes. One of Scottish Government''s national outcomes is to realize our full economic potential with more and better employment opportunities for our people. Our commitment to the New South Glasgow Hospital project and the employment opportunities it will bring is well documented.
The preferred bidder, Brookfield, has an agreed position on the National Code of Conduct with the Union of Construction, Allied Trades and technicians (UCATT) and will formally enter into an agreement for the New Southern General Hospital Project following approval of the Full Business Case. UCATT will have a full time convener on site and Brookfield will support UCATT in seeking to ensure that the recommendations of the Construction Industry Joint Council (CIJC), with respect to pay and holidays, are adopted on the site.
More generally within NHS Scotland, the Frameworks Scotland national construction framework is used to support major public capital funded projects. Issues such as involvement of local businesses, skills and competence training employment and health and safety were factors taken in to account in the selection of the Principal Supply Chain Partners in the Framework.
","AnswerDate":"2010-09-15T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-09-20T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Nicola Sturgeon","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":242657,"EventID":"S3W-36117","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":3775,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":7,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2010-09-06T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-09-06T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what speed restrictions are in place for trains passing through Carstairs railway station and Carstairs junction and for what reasons.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what speed restrictions are in place for trains passing through Carstairs railway station and Carstairs junction and for what reasons.","AnswerText":"The Scottish Executive is aware that there are permanent speed restrictions for trains operating in both directions between Carstairs Station Junction and Carstairs East Junction. These restrictions comprise of 15 mph for a distance of 27 chains (543 metres) and 30 mph for 26 chains (523 metres). For clarity, this is only applicable on the route between Carstairs station and the Edinburgh line. The west coast route from Glasgow to Carlisle is operated at a much higher speed through the Carstairs area.
Specific details of the reasons for operational and engineering speed restrictions on the rail network are the responsibility of Network Rail.
","AnswerDate":"2010-09-17T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-09-20T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Stewart Stevenson","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":242658,"EventID":"S3W-36118","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":3775,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":7,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2010-09-06T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-09-06T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what impact speed restrictions on trains passing through Carstairs railway station and Carstairs junction have on timetabling decisions on the west coast main line betwee","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what impact speed restrictions on trains passing through Carstairs railway station and Carstairs junction have on timetabling decisions on the west coast main line between Glasgow and Edinburgh.","AnswerText":"Speed restrictions are taken into account in the calculation of Sectional Running Times (SRTs) upon which timetables are constructed. Due to the tight curve radius and adverse camber at Carstairs junction, the line speed is restricted to 15mph. ","AnswerDate":"2010-09-15T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-09-20T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Stewart Stevenson","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":242659,"EventID":"S3W-36119","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2117,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":47,"ApprovedDate":"2010-09-06T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-09-06T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-35879 by John Swinney on 6 September 2010, how many businesses in each local authority area have had (a) a decrease and (b) no chan","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-35879 by John Swinney on 6 September 2010, how many businesses in each local authority area have had (a) a decrease and (b) no change in their business rate as a result of rates revaluation from 1 April 2010.","AnswerText":"A full breakdown of bill changes following the 2010 revaluation by local authority area, including the number of ratepayers who saw their bills decrease and those whose bills did not change, is shown in the following table. The figures given are before the impact of reliefs or appeals, both of which will significantly increase the number of properties who will see their bills decrease.
Local Authority
Ratepayers with Bill Decrease
Ratepayers with no
Change to Bill
Ratepayers with
Bill Increase - up to 12.5%
Ratepayers with Bill Increase - over 12.5%
Number
%
Number
%
Number
%
Number
%
Aberdeen City
3,428
41.6
677
8.2
2,203
26.7
1,934
23.5
Aberdeenshire
2,224
20.6
2,920
27.1
1,789
16.6
3,848
35.7
Angus
2,009
41.9
1,063
22.2
1,034
21.6
691
14.4
Argyll and Bute
2,726
36.0
","AnswerDate":"2010-09-15T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-09-21T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Stewart Stevenson","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":242661,"EventID":"S3W-36121","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2610,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":1,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2010-09-07T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-09-07T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-29917 by John Swinney on 21 December 2009, how many of its staff are seconded to the Improvement Service.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-29917 by John Swinney on 21 December 2009, how many of its staff are seconded to the Improvement Service.","AnswerText":"No members of the Scottish Government staff are seconded to the Improvement Service. ","AnswerDate":"2010-09-15T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-09-21T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"John Swinney","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":242662,"EventID":"S3W-36122","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2610,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":1,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2010-09-07T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-09-07T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-19966 by John Swinney on 27 January 2009, what level of funding it provided to the Improvement Service for 2009-10.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-19966 by John Swinney on 27 January 2009, what level of funding it provided to the Improvement Service for 2009-10.","AnswerText":"The Scottish Government provided £1.5 million in grant funding to the Improvement Service for 2009-10 for specific projects. These are Shared Services, Customer First, the Planning Development Programme and an Outcome Related Capacity Building Pilot for Community Planning Partnerships. ","AnswerDate":"2010-09-15T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-09-21T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"John Swinney","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":242663,"EventID":"S3W-36123","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2610,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":1,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2010-09-07T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-09-07T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether the Improvement Service is subject to the Freedom of Information (Scotland) Act 2002.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether the Improvement Service is subject to the Freedom of Information (Scotland) Act 2002.","AnswerText":"The Improvement Service is not subject to the Freedom of Information (Scotland) Act 2002, which applies to Scottish public authorities. A list of the relevant authorities is available on the website of the Scottish Information Commissioner:
","AnswerDate":"2010-09-15T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-09-21T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"John Swinney","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":242664,"EventID":"S3W-36124","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2610,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":1,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2010-09-07T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-09-07T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive how many councillors the Improvement Service has dealt with directly as part of its role in promoting local government.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive how many councillors the Improvement Service has dealt with directly as part of its role in promoting local government.","AnswerText":"This is a matter for the Improvement Service and individual local authorities. The information requested is not held centrally. ","AnswerDate":"2010-09-15T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-09-21T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"John Swinney","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":242665,"EventID":"S3W-36125","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2185,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":2,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2010-09-07T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-09-07T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what the annual cost of reoffending is to the criminal justice system.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what the annual cost of reoffending is to the criminal justice system.","AnswerText":"Precise cost estimates for Scotland are not currently available. Estimating such costs is not straightforward, as it is not possible to directly attribute all crimes and offences to individual offenders or reoffenders.
However, a social exclusion unit report on Reducing reoffending by ex-prisoners (2002) noted that:
It is possible to estimate the cost of re-offending by ex-prisoners from the overall costs of crime calculated by the Home Office:
· this analysis looked at notifiable offences “ a subset of crime that excludes some crimes such as drug trafficking and possession, handling stolen goods, public order offences, low level disorder, fare evasion, motoring offences, and other summary offences;
· it put the total costs of these crimes at around £60 billion, counting costs incurred in anticipation of crime (for example, insurance), costs as a consequence of crime (for example, health services, repairing damage) and the costs of the criminal justice system, and
· it is estimated that re-offending by recent ex-prisoners accounts for at least 18 per cent of total crime, so at least £10.8 billion, and probably much more.
Scottish Government officials are in the process of developing similar estimates for Scotland.
","AnswerDate":"2010-09-16T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-09-21T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Kenny MacAskill","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":242666,"EventID":"S3W-36126","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2185,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":2,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2010-09-07T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-09-07T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what the average cost is to the criminal justice system of each incident of reoffending that leads to reconviction.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what the average cost is to the criminal justice system of each incident of reoffending that leads to reconviction.","AnswerText":"Precise cost estimates for Scotland are not currently available. Estimating such costs is not straightforward, as it is not possible to directly attribute all crimes and offences to individual offenders or reoffenders.
However, a social exclusion unit report on Reducing reoffending by ex-prisoners (2002) noted that:
Home Office researchers estimate that each offence leading to reconviction costs the criminal justice system on average £13,000. It is also estimated that fiverecorded offences are committed for each reconviction, meaning that, during their time at liberty, a re-offending ex-prisoner is likely to be responsible for crime costing the criminal justice system an average of £65,000.
Scottish Government officials are in the process of developing similar estimates for Scotland.
","AnswerDate":"2010-09-16T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-09-21T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Kenny MacAskill","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":242667,"EventID":"S3W-36127","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2185,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":2,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2010-09-07T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-09-07T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what percentage of crime is committed by offenders who have previous convictions.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what percentage of crime is committed by offenders who have previous convictions.","AnswerText":"It is not possible to directly measure the proportion of crime committed by repeat offenders. However, of the 90,049 unique individual offenders who were convicted of an offence in 2008-09, 59 per cent (53,208 individuals) had a conviction for a previous offence within the last 10 years. ","AnswerDate":"2010-09-16T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-09-21T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Kenny MacAskill","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":242668,"EventID":"S3W-36128","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2185,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":2,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2010-09-07T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-09-07T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what the average cost is of processing an offender on (a) arrival and (b) release from prison.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what the average cost is of processing an offender on (a) arrival and (b) release from prison.","AnswerText":"I have asked John Ewing, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service (SPS), to respond. His response is as follows:
The SPS does not record the average cost of processing an offender on (a) arrival and (b) release from prison.
","AnswerDate":"2010-09-16T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-09-21T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Kenny MacAskill","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":242669,"EventID":"S3W-36129","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2651,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":41,"ApprovedDate":"2010-09-07T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-09-07T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what action it is taking to promote the Rosyth-Zeebrugge ferry link in continental Europe.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what action it is taking to promote the Rosyth-Zeebrugge ferry link in continental Europe.","AnswerText":"VisitScotland is continuing to work closely with DFDS on joint marketing campaigns. ","AnswerDate":"2010-09-15T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-09-21T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Stewart Stevenson","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":242670,"EventID":"S3W-36130","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2651,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":41,"ApprovedDate":"2010-09-07T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-09-07T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive how much it has allocated to promote the Rosyth-Zeebrugge ferry link in continental Europe in 2010-11, broken down by method of promotion, and how this compares with the ","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive how much it has allocated to promote the Rosyth-Zeebrugge ferry link in continental Europe in 2010-11, broken down by method of promotion, and how this compares with the overall budget allocated to promote the Scottish tourism sector in continental Europe over the same time period.","AnswerText":"VisitScotland is providing £98,800 of marketing support to the Rosyth to Zeebrugge ferry service in 2010-11. VisitScotland''s overall European Campaign spend for the same period is £1,000,000 and the total European Marketing spend is £2,218,975.
Activities supported by this expenditure include listing on VisitScotland.com and in the main VisitScotland overseas guide, coverage in direct mail and in inserts, online coverage, tactical advertisements, press/PR activity and coverage at exhibitions.
","AnswerDate":"2010-09-15T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-09-21T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Stewart Stevenson","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":242671,"EventID":"S3W-36131","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2651,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":41,"ApprovedDate":"2010-09-07T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-09-07T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what action it took in (a) 2007-08, (b) 2008-09 and (c) 2009-10 to promote the Rosyth-Zeebrugge ferry link in continental Europe.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what action it took in (a) 2007-08, (b) 2008-09 and (c) 2009-10 to promote the Rosyth-Zeebrugge ferry link in continental Europe.","AnswerText":"I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-36132 on 21 September 2010. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament''s website, the search facility for which can be found at:
","AnswerDate":"2010-09-21T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-09-21T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Stewart Stevenson","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":242672,"EventID":"S3W-36132","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2651,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":41,"ApprovedDate":"2010-09-07T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-09-07T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive how much it spent promoting the Rosyth-Zeebrugge ferry link in continental Europe in (a) 2007-08, (b) 2008-09 and (c) 2009-10, broken down by method of promotion, and how","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive how much it spent promoting the Rosyth-Zeebrugge ferry link in continental Europe in (a) 2007-08, (b) 2008-09 and (c) 2009-10, broken down by method of promotion, and how each figure compares to the overall budget allocated to promote the Scottish tourism sector in continental Europe over the same period.","AnswerText":"VisitScotland has worked closely with the operators of the Rosyth to Zeebrugge ferry to help them increase the number of passengers who use the service.
Activities supported by this expenditure include listing on VisitScotland.com and in the main VisitScotland overseas guide, coverage in direct mail and in inserts, online coverage, tactical advertisements, press/PR activity and coverage at exhibitions.
The following table summarises the financial information requested. The 2007-08 funding was provided to Superfast who previously operated the service. All funding in following years was provided to DFDS/Norfolkline;
Year
Spend on Route Promotion
European Campaign1
Total European Marketing Spend2
2007-08
£128,500
£1,700,000
£2,003,724
2008-09
£85,500
£1,030,000
£2,113,273
2009-10
£149,000
£1,250,000
£2,205,966
Notes:
1. European Campaign Spend: denotes VisitScotland''s spend on all campaign activity across Europe, primarily delivered through the European Touring campaign. The Zeebrugge-Rosyth route will have benefited indirectly from this activity in addition to benefiting directly on the route specific promotion.
2. Total European Marketing Spend: denotes VisitScotland''s budget for marketing within Europe. In addition to the campaign activity, this overall spend covers agency fees, web development, trade marketing activities, PR activity, fulfilment and translation fees.
","AnswerDate":"2010-09-21T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-09-21T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Stewart Stevenson","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":242673,"EventID":"S3W-36133","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":4014,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":5,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2010-09-07T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-09-07T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what procedures are in place to ensure that local authorities adhere to the guidelines set out on the Scottish Executive’s website regarding the operation of nursery part","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what procedures are in place to ensure that local authorities adhere to the guidelines set out on the Scottish Executive’s website regarding the operation of nursery partnerships.","AnswerText":"The Scottish Government guidance on commissioning pre-school education partnersis advisory and we do not monitor local implementation. It is for local authorities to decide how best to meet local needs and circumstances, including commissioning services from partner providers. ","AnswerDate":"2010-09-17T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-09-21T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Adam Ingram","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":242674,"EventID":"S3W-36134","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":4014,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":5,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2010-09-07T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-09-07T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what consultations have taken place between it and local authorities regarding the allocation of grant aided expenditure to the provision of places in partnership nurseri","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what consultations have taken place between it and local authorities regarding the allocation of grant aided expenditure to the provision of places in partnership nurseries. ","AnswerText":"No specific consultations have taken place between the Scottish Government and local authorities regarding the allocation of grant aided expenditure to the provision of places in partnership nurseries. Funding decisions on the provision of local nursery services are for local authorities. ","AnswerDate":"2010-09-17T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-09-21T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Adam Ingram","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":242675,"EventID":"S3W-36135","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":4014,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":5,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2010-09-07T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-09-07T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what action it has taken to establish how many parents of nursery-age children are content with the nursery placements that their children have received since 2007.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what action it has taken to establish how many parents of nursery-age children are content with the nursery placements that their children have received since 2007.","AnswerText":"All nurseries which offer both funded pre-school education and care are subject to integrated inspections by HMIE and Care Commission under the Regulation of Care (Scotland) Act 2001. These inspections include seeking the views of parents on the quality and levels of satisfaction with their local services. ","AnswerDate":"2010-09-17T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-09-21T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Adam Ingram","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":242676,"EventID":"S3W-36136","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1752,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":57,"ApprovedDate":"2010-09-07T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-09-07T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive when all prison health services will be transferred to the NHS.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive when all prison health services will be transferred to the NHS.","AnswerText":"I have asked John Ewing, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service, to respond. His response is as follows:
The National Programme Board for Prisoners'' Healthcare are preparing for the transfer which is scheduled for autumn 2011.
","AnswerDate":"2010-09-16T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-09-21T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Kenny MacAskill","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":242677,"EventID":"S3W-36137","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2167,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":3,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2010-09-08T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-09-08T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether there have been any cases of colony collapse disorder reported with regard to Scotland’s bee population since 1999","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether there have been any cases of colony collapse disorder reported with regard to Scotland’s bee population since 1999","AnswerText":"No cases of colony collapse disorder have been reported in Scotland''s bee population since 1999. ","AnswerDate":"2010-09-17T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-09-22T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Richard Lochhead","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":242678,"EventID":"S3W-36138","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2167,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":3,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2010-09-08T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-09-08T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether it considers that colony collapse disorder is a threat to Scotland’s bee population","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether it considers that colony collapse disorder is a threat to Scotland’s bee population","AnswerText":"Colony collapse disorder describes a number of symptoms rather than a disease with a single defined cause such as virus or bacterium. With our current limited understanding of colony collapse disorder in other countries we cannot say that it is a threat to Scotland''s bee population. However, we cannot be complacent, bee keepers should maintain vigilance for disease symptoms and report any suspicion of disease to Scottish Government bee inspectors. ","AnswerDate":"2010-09-17T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-09-22T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Richard Lochhead","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":242679,"EventID":"S3W-36139","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2364,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":11,"ApprovedDate":"2010-09-08T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-09-08T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to questions S3W-35534 and S3W-35535 by Keith Brown on 23 August 2010, when it expects the chief executive of Skills Development Scotland to respon","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to questions S3W-35534 and S3W-35535 by Keith Brown on 23 August 2010, when it expects the chief executive of Skills Development Scotland to respond","AnswerText":"I understand that the Chief Executive of Skills Development Scotland has now sent you the information you requested. ","AnswerDate":"2010-09-22T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-09-22T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Keith Brown","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":242680,"EventID":"S3W-36141","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2364,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":11,"ApprovedDate":"2010-09-08T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-09-08T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive, further to its press release of 19 August 2010 on funding from Museums Galleries Scotland, how many Recognised Collections awards have been made, broken down by (a) date","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive, further to its press release of 19 August 2010 on funding from Museums Galleries Scotland, how many Recognised Collections awards have been made, broken down by (a) date and (b) the body to which the award was made.","AnswerText":"This is a matter for Museums Galleries Scotland. I have asked Joanne Orr, the Chief Executive, to write directly to the member with the information requested. ","AnswerDate":"2010-09-16T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-09-22T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Fiona Hyslop","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":242681,"EventID":"S3W-36142","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1820,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":12,"ApprovedDate":"2010-09-08T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-09-08T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-35568 by Kenny MacAskill on 26 August 2010, who the other justice sector colleagues are, with whom arrangements exist for sharing i","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-35568 by Kenny MacAskill on 26 August 2010, who the other justice sector colleagues are, with whom arrangements exist for sharing information on a prisoner's release.","AnswerText":"I have asked John Ewing, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service, to respond. His response is as follows:
The Scottish Prison Service shares information with community-based social work and police colleagues in relation to throughcare and risk management upon a prisoner''s release. The Management of Offenders etc (Scotland) Act 2005 describes in particular joint arrangements for the management of high risk sex offenders. Section 10 and 11 of this act describes the arrangements for assessing and managing risks posed by certain offenders. These are known as Multi Agency Public Protection Arrangements. (MAPPA). There is however, no statute stating who must be informed of a prisoner''s release.
","AnswerDate":"2010-09-16T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-09-22T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Kenny MacAskill","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":242682,"EventID":"S3W-36143","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1820,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":12,"ApprovedDate":"2010-09-08T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-09-08T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-35567 by Kenny MacAskill on 26 August 2010, how long prior to the release of a prisoner on temporary licence a local police force w","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-35567 by Kenny MacAskill on 26 August 2010, how long prior to the release of a prisoner on temporary licence a local police force will be informed.","AnswerText":"I have asked John Ewing, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service, to respond. His response is as follows:
There is no prescribed timescale for the passing of this information. On average local police are notified 24 to 48 hours in advance of temporary release.
","AnswerDate":"2010-09-16T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-09-22T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Kenny MacAskill","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":242683,"EventID":"S3W-36144","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1820,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":12,"ApprovedDate":"2010-09-08T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-09-08T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what the homelessness figures are for (a) Scotland, (b) the Glasgow City Council area and (c) Glasgow Baillieston.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what the homelessness figures are for (a) Scotland, (b) the Glasgow City Council area and (c) Glasgow Baillieston.","AnswerText":"Homelessness figures are collected and published only at a local authority and Scotland level. The figures for Glasgow City and Scotland are available on the reference tables on Scottish Government website through the following link:
","AnswerDate":"2010-09-16T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-09-22T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Alex Neil","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":242684,"EventID":"S3W-36145","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1820,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":12,"ApprovedDate":"2010-09-08T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-09-08T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions it has had with the UK Government regarding issues arising from the changes in housing benefit proposed in the UK Budget in June 2010.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions it has had with the UK Government regarding issues arising from the changes in housing benefit proposed in the UK Budget in June 2010.","AnswerText":"The Scottish Government is considering the possible impact of the changes to housing benefit proposed by the UK Government. It is essential that the effects of these changes are fully understood, particularly with regard to vulnerable households and critical policy objectives such as the 2012 homelessness commitments. Officials are in regular contact with their counterparts in the Department for Work and Pensions and I have stressed to UK ministers the importance of genuine and extensive consultation on their welfare reform proposals, both in correspondence and during a meeting on 29 July 2010 with the UK Minister for Disabled People. ","AnswerDate":"2010-09-16T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-09-22T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Alex Neil","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":242685,"EventID":"S3W-36146","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1820,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":12,"ApprovedDate":"2010-09-08T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-09-08T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has taken measures to address homelessness in Scotland since the announcement of the UK Budget in June 2010 or is planning to do so.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has taken measures to address homelessness in Scotland since the announcement of the UK Budget in June 2010 or is planning to do so.","AnswerText":"The joint Scottish Government/COSLA 2012 steering group met in June and September 2010. The meeting in September 2010 discussed measures to assist local authorities in maintaining progress towards the 2012 homelessness target and the potential implications of housing benefit changes proposed in the UK budget for those experiencing homelessness.
Additionally, a prevention of homelessness event was held for local authorities in June 2010 to explore the benefits of a housing options approach, with practice highlighted from Scotland and England. At this event, I announced funding for local authorities to work together in taking forward this approach. A series of regional seminars have been held during August and September 2010 to develop action plans in this regard.
","AnswerDate":"2010-09-16T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-09-22T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Alex Neil","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":242686,"EventID":"S3W-36147","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2108,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":68,"ApprovedDate":"2010-09-08T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-09-08T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive how many meetings ministers have had with the management of Scottish Opera to discuss proposals to put members of the orchestra on a part-time, 26-week contract.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive how many meetings ministers have had with the management of Scottish Opera to discuss proposals to put members of the orchestra on a part-time, 26-week contract.","AnswerText":"I met with Scottish Opera as one of a series of meetings with National Companies and discussed their proposals on contract changes at that time. ","AnswerDate":"2010-09-22T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-09-22T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Fiona Hyslop","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":242687,"EventID":"S3W-36148","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2108,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":68,"ApprovedDate":"2010-09-08T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-09-08T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether ministers plan to meet members of the orchestra of Scottish Opera to hear their concerns regarding proposed changes to their contracts.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether ministers plan to meet members of the orchestra of Scottish Opera to hear their concerns regarding proposed changes to their contracts.","AnswerText":"I understand the genuine concerns raised by the orchestra members during the consultation process on changes to their contracts. It is not, however, the role of ministers to intervene in the operational management of an independent company. I have made it clear that I expect Scottish Opera to consult with unions and staff about the proposals in accordance with due process. ","AnswerDate":"2010-09-22T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-09-22T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Fiona Hyslop","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":242688,"EventID":"S3W-36149","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2108,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":68,"ApprovedDate":"2010-09-08T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-09-08T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what its position is on plans by Scottish Opera to move members of its orchestra from full-time employment to a 26-week contract.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what its position is on plans by Scottish Opera to move members of its orchestra from full-time employment to a 26-week contract.","AnswerText":"Scottish Opera has a responsibility to look at ways to make best use of its resources. How this is achieved is a matter for Scottish Opera''s management and board, in full consultation with staff and unions. Protecting the world-class work of the company is a key objective for Scottish Opera in making these decisions. In accordance with the criteria set for all national performing companies, the Scottish Government will continue to take a close interest in how Scottish Opera delivers opera and its other activities to a high standard; with the best possible use of public subsidy. ","AnswerDate":"2010-09-22T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-09-22T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Fiona Hyslop","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":242689,"EventID":"S3W-36150","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2188,"Party":"Scottish Green Party","RegionID":4,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2010-09-08T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-09-08T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive how much is spent per head of population on sport, fitness and leisure access, broken down by local authority, and how these compare with the Scottish and UK averages.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive how much is spent per head of population on sport, fitness and leisure access, broken down by local authority, and how these compare with the Scottish and UK averages.","AnswerText":"This information is not held centrally by the Scottish Government. Sport, fitness and leisure opportunities are available through a range of providers in the public, private and third sectors. The report published by Audit Scotland in 2008 entitled A Performance Overview of Sport in Scotland (Bib. number 45497) provides details of the net revenue spend by Councils per head of population. In addition to this sportscotland invests government and lottery funding in a range of sports programmes and activities. Information on sportscotland''s investment can be found on its website at www.sportscotland.org.uk. ","AnswerDate":"2010-09-16T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-09-22T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Shona Robison","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":242690,"EventID":"S3W-36151","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2188,"Party":"Scottish Green Party","RegionID":4,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2010-09-08T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-09-08T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive how much is raised through the provision of leisure services, broken down by local authority, and how these services might be provided through the use of arms length serv","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive how much is raised through the provision of leisure services, broken down by local authority, and how these services might be provided through the use of arms length service providers (ALSPs).","AnswerText":"This information is not held centrally by the Scottish Government. The level of income raised through the provision of leisure services is a matter for the individual provider. It is for each provider to determine how best to meet demand for its services whilst achieving best value. ","AnswerDate":"2010-09-16T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-09-22T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Shona Robison","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":242691,"EventID":"S3W-36152","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2167,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":3,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2010-09-09T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-09-09T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive when it expects to make a decision on the applications by the Pairc Trust to buy land and an associated lease on the Pairc estate under Part 3 of the Land Reform (Scotlan","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive when it expects to make a decision on the applications by the Pairc Trust to buy land and an associated lease on the Pairc estate under Part 3 of the Land Reform (Scotland) Act 2003.","AnswerText":"The legislation prescribes a timetable for the right to buy process. In accordance with that timetablem ministers cannot make a decision on the applications submitted by Pairc Trust until 29 October 2010. ","AnswerDate":"2010-09-16T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-09-23T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Roseanna Cunningham","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":242692,"EventID":"S3W-36153","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2167,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":3,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2010-09-09T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-09-09T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what the (a) minimum and (b) maximum average daily flow of vehicles was on the A95 in (i) 2000-01, (ii) 2001-02, (iii) 2002-03, (iv) 2003-04, (v) 2004-05, (vi) 2005-06, (","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what the (a) minimum and (b) maximum average daily flow of vehicles was on the A95 in (i) 2000-01, (ii) 2001-02, (iii) 2002-03, (iv) 2003-04, (v) 2004-05, (vi) 2005-06, (vii) 2006-07, (viii) 2007-08, (ix) 2008-09 and has been in 2010.","AnswerText":"The following table shows a summary of the information requested for the trunk road section of the A95 (Granish to Keith). Information for the non-trunk section from Keith to Macduff is a matter for the Moray and Aberdeenshire Councils. The figures have been extracted from the Scottish Roads Traffic Database from 2000 to 2010. The figures show two-way flows (i.e. northbound and southbound flows combined) and are taken from automatic traffic counters at eleven sites along the route.
Average Annual Daily Flow
Year
Minimum
Maximum
2000
1,665
4,872
2001
1,752
4,746
2002
1,504
5,028
2003
1,447
5,158
2004
1,855
5,959
2005
1,494
5,542
2006
1,787
5,693
2007
1,817
5,823
2008
1,826
5,702
2009
2,005
5,912
2010 (incomplete)
2,088
6,142
Traffic flow data for the trunk road network is published on the Transport Scotland website at www.transportscotland.gov.uk.
","AnswerDate":"2010-09-21T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-09-23T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Stewart Stevenson","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":242693,"EventID":"S3W-36154","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2167,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":3,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2010-09-09T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-09-09T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-33871 by Roseanna Cunningham on 2 June 2010, whether the draft report into the Infectious Salmon Anaemia outbreak in Shetland has b","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-33871 by Roseanna Cunningham on 2 June 2010, whether the draft report into the Infectious Salmon Anaemia outbreak in Shetland has been published and, if not, when it will be published.","AnswerText":"The Report into the epidemiology and control of an outbreak of infections salmon anaemia in the Shetland Isles, Scotland was published on 13 August 2010 and is available at:
","AnswerDate":"2010-09-14T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-09-23T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Roseanna Cunningham","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":242694,"EventID":"S3W-36155","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2167,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":3,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2010-09-09T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-09-09T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-34479 by Richard Lochhead on 28 June 2010, whether it considers that the protected geographical indication regulation on Scottish f","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-34479 by Richard Lochhead on 28 June 2010, whether it considers that the protected geographical indication regulation on Scottish farmed salmon must be read with and comply with the fundamental regulation, Council Regulation (EC) No 510/2006, and, if so, whether it will clarify the steps that it is taking to remove the discrepancies between the single document and the specification.","AnswerText":"A valid specification has been granted in relation to Scottish Farmed Salmon and it is this document that defines the terms of the PGI. This was done in compliance with Council Regulation (EC) No 510/2006 which lays down the rules on the protection of designations of origin and geographical indications for the agricultural products and foodstuffs, as read with the detailed rules for its implementation laid down in Commission Regulation (EC) No 1898/2006. ","AnswerDate":"2010-09-17T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-09-23T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Richard Lochhead","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":242695,"EventID":"S3W-36156","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2167,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":3,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2010-09-09T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-09-09T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-34479 by Richard Lochhead on 28 June 2010, whether it considers that, since the qualifying activity for the Scottish farmed salmon ","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-34479 by Richard Lochhead on 28 June 2010, whether it considers that, since the qualifying activity for the Scottish farmed salmon protected geographical indication (PGI) is the production of fresh fish, every stage of such PGI salmon production from parent fish to slaughter is required to be done in a designated area as per Council Regulation (EC) No 510/2006, article 2.1(b).","AnswerText":"The current specification of the PGI for Scottish Farmed Salmon is consistent with Council Regulation (EC) No 510/2006 which does not require that all stages of the production process must take place in the geographical area. ","AnswerDate":"2010-09-17T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-09-23T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Richard Lochhead","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":242696,"EventID":"S3W-36157","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2167,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":3,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2010-09-09T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-09-09T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-34479 by Richard Lochhead on 28 June 2010, whether it considers the protected geographical indication regulation on Scottish farmed","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-34479 by Richard Lochhead on 28 June 2010, whether it considers the protected geographical indication regulation on Scottish farmed salmon to cover only the seawater phase of salmon production and not the freshwater phase.","AnswerText":"The specification for the Scottish Farmed Salmon PGI applies to the production of the fish from harvesting of the eggs up to distribution stage. The full specification can be viewed at: http://www.defra.gov.uk/foodfarm/food/industry/regional/foodname/products/registered/index.htm#5. ","AnswerDate":"2010-09-17T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-09-23T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Richard Lochhead","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":242697,"EventID":"S3W-36158","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2167,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":3,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2010-09-09T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-09-09T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-34479 by Richard Lochhead on 28 June 2010, what its assessment is of the impact on the long-term reputation of Scottish farmed salm","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-34479 by Richard Lochhead on 28 June 2010, what its assessment is of the impact on the long-term reputation of Scottish farmed salmon if the whole lifecycle of the salmon is not covered by a protected geographical indication designation that guarantees the provenance of the product.","AnswerText":"Scottish Farmed Salmon has PGI status as approved by European Commission Regulation (EC) No 1195/2008. There is no indication that the reputation of Scottish Farmed Salmon has been negatively affected by this specification as approved by the European Commission. ","AnswerDate":"2010-09-17T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-09-23T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Richard Lochhead","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":242698,"EventID":"S3W-36159","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1783,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":67,"ApprovedDate":"2010-09-09T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-09-09T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what its response is to the interim report from the Infertility Network Scotland.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what its response is to the interim report from the Infertility Network Scotland.","AnswerText":"The National Infertility Group has been asked to look at the issues raised in the interim report from Infertility Network Scotland. The group will deliver its first report to ministers by the end of 2010. ","AnswerDate":"2010-09-23T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-09-23T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Shona Robison","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":242699,"EventID":"S3W-36160","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1783,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":67,"ApprovedDate":"2010-09-09T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-09-09T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive when the National Infertility Group will next meet.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive when the National Infertility Group will next meet.","AnswerText":"The National Infertility Group met on 21 September 2010. ","AnswerDate":"2010-09-21T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-09-23T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Shona Robison","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":242700,"EventID":"S3W-36161","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1783,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":67,"ApprovedDate":"2010-09-09T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-09-09T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what action the National Infertility Group will take on the interim report from the Infertility Network Scotland.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what action the National Infertility Group will take on the interim report from the Infertility Network Scotland.","AnswerText":"The National Infertility Group considered the interim report from Infertility Network Scotland at its last meeting. The group will deliver its first report to ministers by the end of 2010. ","AnswerDate":"2010-09-21T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-09-23T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Shona Robison","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":242701,"EventID":"S3W-36162","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1783,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":67,"ApprovedDate":"2010-09-09T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-09-09T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what the cost is of one cycle of IVF treatment in each NHS board.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what the cost is of one cycle of IVF treatment in each NHS board.","AnswerText":"This information is currently being collected and will be analysed by the National Infertility Group at a future meeting. ","AnswerDate":"2010-09-21T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-09-23T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Shona Robison","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":242702,"EventID":"S3W-36163","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1783,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":67,"ApprovedDate":"2010-09-09T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-09-09T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-34556 by Shona Robison on 23 June 2010, whether it will define one cycle of treatment of IVF services.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-34556 by Shona Robison on 23 June 2010, whether it will define one cycle of treatment of IVF services.","AnswerText":"This is one of a number of issues currently being considered by the National Infertility Group. ","AnswerDate":"2010-09-21T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-09-23T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Shona Robison","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":242703,"EventID":"S3W-36164","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1783,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":67,"ApprovedDate":"2010-09-09T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-09-09T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether further work has been undertaken on identifying a national tariff for IVF treatment.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether further work has been undertaken on identifying a national tariff for IVF treatment.","AnswerText":"This is one of a number of issues currently being considered by the National Infertility Group. ","AnswerDate":"2010-09-21T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-09-23T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Shona Robison","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":242704,"EventID":"S3W-36165","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1831,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":6,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2010-09-09T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-09-09T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive (a) how many and (b) what percentage of jobs in Dundee are classified as being in knowledge-intensive services.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive (a) how many and (b) what percentage of jobs in Dundee are classified as being in knowledge-intensive services.","AnswerText":"Information on the number of employee jobs by industry is collected each year from the annual business inquiry (ABI). Table 1 shows the number and percentage of employee jobs in the knowledge-intensive services industry, in Dundee City. The most recent year for which data is available is 2008. The ABI does not include self-employed jobs.
Table 1: Employee jobs in the Knowledge-Intensive Services Industry in Dundee City, 2008
Industry
Number of Jobs
Percentage of Total Jobs
Knowledge-Intensive Services
8,700
11.8%
Source: Annual Business Inquiry 2008.
Notes:
1. In line with Eurostat/OECD definitions the SIC (2003) codes used are:
knowledge-intensive services “ 61, 62, 64, 72, 74
2. These data are based on employee jobs rather than people in employment i.e. one person may have more than one job. Self-employed jobs are not included.
3. Data are rounded to the nearest hundred.
","AnswerDate":"2010-09-17T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-09-23T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"John Swinney","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":242705,"EventID":"S3W-36166","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1831,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":6,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2010-09-09T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-09-09T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive how many jobs in Dundee are classified as (a) medium and (b) high-tech manufacturing and what percentage of all manufacturing jobs in the city this represents.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive how many jobs in Dundee are classified as (a) medium and (b) high-tech manufacturing and what percentage of all manufacturing jobs in the city this represents.","AnswerText":"Information on the number of employee jobs by industry is collected each year from the Annual Business Inquiry (ABI). Table 1 shows the number of employee jobs in the high-tech and medium-high-tech manufacturing industries, and the percentage of all manufacturing jobs each industry represents, in Dundee City. The most recent year for which data is available is 2008.
Table 1: Employee Jobs in the High-Tech and Medium-High-Tech Manufacturing Industries in Dundee City, 2008
Industry
Number of Jobs
Percentage of Total Manufacturing
High-Tech Manufacturing
1,500
20.6%
Medium-High-Tech Manufacturing
900
12.6%
Source: Annual Business Inquiry 2008.
Notes:
1. In line with Eurostat/OECD definitions the SIC (2003) codes used for each industry are:
2. These data are based on employee jobs rather than people in employment i.e. one person may have more than one job. Self-employed jobs are not included.
3. Data are rounded to the nearest hundred.
","AnswerDate":"2010-09-17T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-09-23T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"John Swinney","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":242706,"EventID":"S3W-36167","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1831,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":6,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2010-09-09T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-09-09T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive how many (a) temporary and (b) permanent jobs have been created in Dundee as a result of Homecoming Scotland 2009 events.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive how many (a) temporary and (b) permanent jobs have been created in Dundee as a result of Homecoming Scotland 2009 events.","AnswerText":"An independent evaluation of the economic impact of Homecoming Scotland 2009 was done by Glasgow-based EKOS Ltd, a leading independent UK consultancy specialising in economic and social development. In terms of net additional employment, EKOS concluded that Homecoming generated an additional 1,536.4 full-time equivalent. The evaluation did not breakdown this impact on a regional basis. ","AnswerDate":"2010-09-21T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-09-23T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Jim Mather","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":242707,"EventID":"S3W-36168","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1831,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":6,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2010-09-09T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-09-09T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what the estimated financial benefit to the local economy in Dundee has been from Homecoming Scotland 2009 events.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what the estimated financial benefit to the local economy in Dundee has been from Homecoming Scotland 2009 events.","AnswerText":"An independent evaluation of the economic impact of Homecoming Scotland 2009 was done by Glasgow-based EKOS Ltd, a leading independent UK consultancy specialising in economic and social development. EKOS concluded that Homecoming Scotland 2009 generated net additional expenditure for Scotland of £53.7 million. The evaluation did not breakdown this impact on a regional basis. ","AnswerDate":"2010-09-21T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-09-23T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Jim Mather","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":242708,"EventID":"S3W-36169","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":3061,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":1,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2010-09-09T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-09-09T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive how many Schedule 1 offenders have been incarcerated in HMP Cornton Vale in each year since 2006, broken down by offence.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive how many Schedule 1 offenders have been incarcerated in HMP Cornton Vale in each year since 2006, broken down by offence.","AnswerText":"I have asked John Ewing, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service, to respond. His response is as follows:
In total there have been 44 Schedule 1 Offenders (i.e. those who have a history of offending against children as set out in Schedule 1 of the Criminal Procedure (Scotland Act 1995)) incarcerated in HMP Cornton Vale since 2006 the breakdown, by year, is as follows.
Year
No. of Offenders
2006
8
2007
13
2008
7
2009
8
2010
8
The breakdown by offence, associated to the court disposal, is as follows:
2006
4 X Children and Young Persons (Scotland) Act 1937,S12(1)
1 X Assault To Injury
1 X Assault To Injury And Disfigurement
1 X Culpable Homicide
1 X Rape.
2007
7 X Children and Young Persons (Scotland) Act 1937,S12(1)
1 X Children and Young Persons (Scotland) Act 1937
1 X Con Police (Scotland) Act 1967, Section 41(1)(A)
1 X Attempted Murder Or Alt Culpable And Reckless Conduct
1 X Assault To Injury
1 X Rape
1 X Warrant Independent.
2008
4 X Children and Young Persons (Scotland) Act 1937,S12(1)
1 X Children And Young Persons (Scotland) Act 1937, Section 12(1) Or Alt Breach Of The Peace
1 X Assault And Robbery
1 X Assault To Injury And Danger Of Life.
2009
2 X Children and Young Persons (Scotland) Act 1937,S12(1)
2 X Culpable And Reckless Conduct
1 X Children And Young Persons (Scotland) Act 1937 Or Alt Civic Government (Scotland) Act 1982
1 X Lewd, Indecent and Libidinous Practices and Behaviour
1 X Assault To Injury
1 X Warrant Independent.
2010
3 X Children and Young Persons (Scotland) Act 1937,S12(1)
3 X Assault To Injury
1 X Assault To Severe Injury, Permanent Disfigurement and Danger Of Life
1 X Children (Scotland) Act 1995,S83(A/B/C).
","AnswerDate":"2010-09-21T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-09-23T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Kenny MacAskill","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":242709,"EventID":"S3W-36170","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2364,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":11,"ApprovedDate":"2010-09-09T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-09-09T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-35045 by Fiona Hyslop on 23 July 2010, when it will publish the recommendations of its working group on future museum strategy.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-35045 by Fiona Hyslop on 23 July 2010, when it will publish the recommendations of its working group on future museum strategy.","AnswerText":"I had a positive meeting with the think tank on 12 August 2010. The report and recommendations are currently being finalised and will be published as soon as possible. I intend the Scottish Government to respond soon thereafter. ","AnswerDate":"2010-09-16T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-09-23T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Fiona Hyslop","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":242710,"EventID":"S3W-36171","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1854,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":72,"ApprovedDate":"2010-09-09T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-09-09T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what recent discussions have taken place with representatives of the Scottish Fisheries Protection Agency anent a reduction in the number of fisheries protection vessels.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what recent discussions have taken place with representatives of the Scottish Fisheries Protection Agency anent a reduction in the number of fisheries protection vessels.","AnswerText":"The Scottish Fisheries Protection Agency (SFPA) was wound up on 31 March 2009. The functions and resources of SFPA were incorporated into Marine Scotland which was launched on 1 April 2009.
There have been internal discussions within Marine Scotland regarding the surveillance capability and other resources required for future operational tasking.
","AnswerDate":"2010-09-21T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-09-23T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Richard Lochhead","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":242711,"EventID":"S3W-36172","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1854,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":72,"ApprovedDate":"2010-09-09T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-09-09T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether ministerial approval has been given for a reduction in the number of fisheries protection vessels operated by the Scottish Fisheries Protection Agency.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether ministerial approval has been given for a reduction in the number of fisheries protection vessels operated by the Scottish Fisheries Protection Agency.","AnswerText":"The Scottish Fisheries Protection Agency (SFPA) was wound up on 31 March 2009. The functions and resources of SFPA were incorporated into Marine Scotland which was launched on 1 April 2009.
Ministerial consent is not considered necessary or appropriate for what are essentially operational decisions. Ministers are, however, routinely kept informed of developments.
","AnswerDate":"2010-09-21T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-09-23T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Richard Lochhead","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":242712,"EventID":"S3W-36173","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1854,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":72,"ApprovedDate":"2010-09-09T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-09-09T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what recent discussions have taken place with representatives of the Scottish Fisheries Protection Agency and other interested parties anent the effective surveillance of","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what recent discussions have taken place with representatives of the Scottish Fisheries Protection Agency and other interested parties anent the effective surveillance of UK and non-UK-registered fishing vessels in Scottish fishing grounds with a reduced number of fisheries protection vessels.","AnswerText":"The Scottish Fisheries Protection Agency (SFPA) was wound up on 31 March 2009. The functions and resources of SFPA were incorporated into Marine Scotland which was launched on 1 April 2009.
In the last decade the increasing use of real time satellite surveillance has meant that Marine Scotland is able to use this information, along with conventional aerial surveillance, to determine where fishing vessels are. Although this information is of immense value it is still essential to have Marine Protection Vessels to maintain a credible deterrent to illegal incursions and provide an essential reaction capability to any issues detected using satellite or aircraft information. However, they are no longer the primary means of providing surveillance capability within the waters around Scotland. The changes in the sources, importance and use of the surveillance data led Marine Scotland to consider the fleet requirements for the future which would provide the most cost effective solutions.
It was determined that aerial and satellite surveillance, along with risk based tasking and the adoption of new technology such as remote electronic monitoring using closed circuit television cameras and the use of electronic statutory returns (e-logbooks) will enable similar or improved levels of outputs from three Marine Protection Vessels (MPVs) to that previously provided by four.
","AnswerDate":"2010-09-23T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-09-23T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Richard Lochhead","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":242713,"EventID":"S3W-36174","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1854,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":72,"ApprovedDate":"2010-09-09T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-09-09T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether recent discussions have taken place anent a reduction in the number of fisheries protection vessels and, if so, what the implications are for the replacement of o","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether recent discussions have taken place anent a reduction in the number of fisheries protection vessels and, if so, what the implications are for the replacement of older vessels.","AnswerText":"There have been internal discussions within Marine Scotland regarding the surveillance capability and other resources required for future operational tasking.
Marine Scotland is required to operate in a manner which provides best value for the taxpayer. Risk based deployment and the adoption of new technology should enable similar or improved levels of outputs from three offshore patrol vessels as was achieved previously with four.
The remaining patrol vessels in the Marine Scotland fleet are relatively new (two to seven years old) and would not normally be expected to be replaced until they are 20 to 25 years old.
","AnswerDate":"2010-09-21T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-09-23T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Richard Lochhead","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":242714,"EventID":"S3W-36175","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1854,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":72,"ApprovedDate":"2010-09-09T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-09-09T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether there has been a reduction in the number of Scottish Fisheries Protection Agency vessels and, if so, whether the affected crew members have been given alternative","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether there has been a reduction in the number of Scottish Fisheries Protection Agency vessels and, if so, whether the affected crew members have been given alternative employment.","AnswerText":"The Scottish Fisheries Protection Agency (SFPA) was wound up on 31 March 2009. The functions and resources of SFPA were incorporated into Marine Scotland which was launched on 1 April 2009.
The oldest vessel in the Marine Scotland compliance fleet, Marine Protection Vessel Norna (launched in 1987), is being decommissioned. Norna''s crews will be re-deployed throughout the rest of the Marine Scotland fleet.
","AnswerDate":"2010-09-21T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-09-23T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Richard Lochhead","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":242715,"EventID":"S3W-36176","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1854,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":72,"ApprovedDate":"2010-09-09T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-09-09T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether, if the number of Scottish Fisheries Protection Agency vessels were to be reduced, assistance would be requested from the Royal Navy to ensure compliance with the","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether, if the number of Scottish Fisheries Protection Agency vessels were to be reduced, assistance would be requested from the Royal Navy to ensure compliance with the regulations governing the trawling of Scottish fishing grounds.","AnswerText":"The Scottish Fisheries Protection Agency (SFPA) was wound up on 31 March 2009. The functions and resources of SFPA were incorporated into Marine Scotland which was launched on 1 April 2009.
It is very unlikely that Marine Scotland''s compliance monitoring capability will prove to be insufficient for current or anticipated future tasks. In extreme circumstances, and if absolutely necessary, short-term issues can be dealt with by Marine Scotland chartering a suitable vessel and placing its own enforcement officers on board. This is not an unusual practice in many other countries. Marine Scotland do not anticipate requesting assistance from the Royal Navy.
","AnswerDate":"2010-09-21T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-09-23T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Richard Lochhead","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":242716,"EventID":"S3W-36177","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1854,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":72,"ApprovedDate":"2010-09-09T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-09-09T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether a cost-reduction analysis is underway anent the range of maritime activities and functions that it funds and, if so, what information has been given to the approp","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether a cost-reduction analysis is underway anent the range of maritime activities and functions that it funds and, if so, what information has been given to the appropriate trade unions.","AnswerText":"No cost-reduction analysis across the full range of maritime activities and functions funded by the Scottish Government has been under-taken. However, within Marine Scotland, some consideration has been given to the opportunity to reduce costs as part of a review of their surveillance capability and the other resources required for future operational tasking. Documentation relating to that process was shared with the trade unions. ","AnswerDate":"2010-09-21T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-09-23T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Richard Lochhead","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":242717,"EventID":"S3W-36178","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1845,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":6,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2010-09-09T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-09-09T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will make publicly available all documentation relating to its review of the personal expenses allowance for residents in care homes for older people, as refer","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will make publicly available all documentation relating to its review of the personal expenses allowance for residents in care homes for older people, as referred to by the Convener of the Public Petitions Committee (Official Report c. 1721).","AnswerText":"In response to enquiries from the Clerk of the Petitions Committee, the Scottish Government replied on 3 March 2009 to say that a feasibility study had been undertaken in spring 2009 into the operation and levels of the Personal Expenses Allowance (PEA). The study revealed that there was limited primary evidence about how residents receive and make use of the PEA, and it set out options and methodologies for undertaking further research about the PEA. The letter went on to explain that any decisions about research on the PEA would feed into the wide ranging review of long-term care funding and delivery in Scotland, and that engagement with stakeholders would be a key part of the long term review.
Since the date of that letter, many programmes are underway, including our Reshaping Care for Older People Programme, both in Scotland and across the UK, looking at all aspects of the future shape and delivery of long term care for older people including how that care is funded. As this work progresses it would be unhelpful to focus attention narrowly on the value of the PEA. The financial implications of any increase in the PEA would need to be considered within the context of other pressures and priorities for the social care budget.
The PEA feasibility study took the form of desk-based research relying on evidence and research already in the public domain, and a literature search of published data and reports was undertaken and reviewed. The feasibility study can be accessed on the Scottish Government website at:
","AnswerDate":"2010-09-21T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-09-23T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Shona Robison","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":242718,"EventID":"S3W-36179","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1845,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":6,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2010-09-09T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-09-09T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what organisations it consulted as part of its review of the personal expenses allowance for residents in care homes for older people, as referred to by the Convener of t","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what organisations it consulted as part of its review of the personal expenses allowance for residents in care homes for older people, as referred to by the Convener of the Public Petitions Committee (Official Report c. 1721).","AnswerText":"I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-36178 on 21 September 2010. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament''s website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/Apps2/Business/PQA/Default.aspx. ","AnswerDate":"2010-09-22T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-09-23T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Shona Robison","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":242719,"EventID":"S3W-36180","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1845,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":6,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2010-09-09T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-09-09T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what representations it received as part of its review of the personal expenses allowance for residents in care homes for older people, as referred to by the Convener of ","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what representations it received as part of its review of the personal expenses allowance for residents in care homes for older people, as referred to by the Convener of the Public Petitions Committee (Official Report c. 1721).","AnswerText":"I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-36178 on 21 September 2010. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament''s website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/Apps2/Business/PQA/Default.aspx. ","AnswerDate":"2010-09-21T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-09-23T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Shona Robison","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":242720,"EventID":"S3W-36181","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1845,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":6,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2010-09-09T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-09-09T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive over what time period it reviewed the personal expenses allowance for residents in care homes for older people, as referred to by the Convener of the Public Petitions Com","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive over what time period it reviewed the personal expenses allowance for residents in care homes for older people, as referred to by the Convener of the Public Petitions Committee (Official Report c. 1721). ","AnswerText":"I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-36178 on 21 September 2010. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament''s website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/Apps2/Business/PQA/Default.aspx. ","AnswerDate":"2010-09-21T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-09-23T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Shona Robison","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":242721,"EventID":"S3W-36182","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1845,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":6,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2010-09-09T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-09-09T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will publish the findings of its review of the personal expenses allowance for residents in care homes for older people, as referred to by the Convener of the ","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will publish the findings of its review of the personal expenses allowance for residents in care homes for older people, as referred to by the Convener of the Public Petitions Committee (Official Report c. 1721).","AnswerText":"I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-36178 on 21 September 2010. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament''s website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/Apps2/Business/PQA/Default.aspx. ","AnswerDate":"2010-09-21T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-09-23T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Shona Robison","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":242722,"EventID":"S3W-36183","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1751,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":3,"ApprovedDate":"2010-09-09T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-09-09T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what annual fees per pupil are charged to local authorities by each grant-aided special school.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what annual fees per pupil are charged to local authorities by each grant-aided special school.","AnswerText":"The Special Schools (Scotland) Grant Regulations 1990 require that grant-aided special schools'' fee levels for local authority pupil placements are approved by Scottish Ministers. The grant-aided special schools provide a range of services to local authorities and their fee structures reflect that diversity. For the financial year 2010-11, Scottish Ministers approved the following fee levels:
Stanmore
School Weekly Rate
£786.68
Residential 4 Day Rate
£454.22
Residential Weekend 3 Day Rate
£340.67
Corseford
School Weekly Rate
£742.06
Weekly School Education Rate (with 2 activities)
£796.85
Weekly School Education Rate (with transport)
£807.48
Residential 4 Day Rate
£404.17
Residential Weekend 3 Day Rate
£728.16
Weekly Holiday Rate
£1699.36
Respite Nightly Care
£421.23
Royal Blind School
Craigmillar Park Campus “ weekly (38 weeks)
Day education
£595.17
Day residential
£472.26
Day education with enhanced support
£1,024.08
Day residential with enhanced support
£652.80
Pupils per night (part time weekday residential)
£156
Canaan Lane Campus “ weekly (38 weeks)
Day education with enhanced support
£1,024.08
Day Residential with enhanced support
£717.06
Pupils with enhanced support per night (part time weekday residential)
£208
","AnswerDate":"2010-09-17T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-09-23T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Richard Lochhead","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":242724,"EventID":"S3W-36185","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2345,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":56,"ApprovedDate":"2010-09-09T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-09-09T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive, in light of the unilateral increase of their mackerel quotas by Iceland and the Faroe Islands, whether it has made representations to the European Commission to prevent ","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive, in light of the unilateral increase of their mackerel quotas by Iceland and the Faroe Islands, whether it has made representations to the European Commission to prevent those countries carrying out their declared intention to catch these quotas in EU waters.","AnswerText":"The Icelandic and Faroese unilateral quotas are for catches in their respective waters. Any attempt to catch these quotas in EU waters would be in contravention of international law. There is no indication that either party has or will attempt to fish its unilateral quota in EU waters. ","AnswerDate":"2010-09-17T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-09-23T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Richard Lochhead","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":242725,"EventID":"S3W-36186","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2345,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":56,"ApprovedDate":"2010-09-09T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-09-09T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what action it is taking to preserve the rights of Scottish scallop fishermen in the Isle of Man area.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what action it is taking to preserve the rights of Scottish scallop fishermen in the Isle of Man area.","AnswerText":"Scottish Government officials are in ongoing discussions with representatives of the Isle of Man and UK Fisheries Administrations about proposals by the Isle of Man Government for scallop management measures in the Isle of Man 3 to 12 nautical mile zone. Scottish scallop fishermen have an established and long-standing interest in the conduct of the fishery, in which they are important participants.
The Scottish Government shares the Isle of Man authorities'' desire for effective management of the scallop stocks in the long-term interests of all those participating in the fishery. Our aim is to ensure that any conservation measures which may be put in place in Isle of Man waters should be non-discriminatory and take full account of the interests of the Scottish industry.
","AnswerDate":"2010-09-17T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-09-23T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Richard Lochhead","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":242726,"EventID":"S3W-36187","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2345,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":56,"ApprovedDate":"2010-09-09T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-09-09T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive, following the reduction of quotas and days at sea, what action it is taking to maintain the viability of the demersal fishing sector and associated downstream industries","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive, following the reduction of quotas and days at sea, what action it is taking to maintain the viability of the demersal fishing sector and associated downstream industries.","AnswerText":"On 14 September 2010 the Scottish Fisheries Council endorsed the broad lines of a comprehensive four pillar fisheries management plan put forward by the Scottish Government. The plan will be refined in the light of discussion at the council and is designed to help secure the future of the Scottish fishing industry.
More than £12 million is now in place to support the new plan, which includes funding for a licence parking scheme, fleet modernisation and work to maximise the value of the catch. At its heart, the plan offers actions to weather current economic conditions, prepare for the future prosperity of the fishing industry and promote Scottish priorities within Europe.
Full details of the plan can be found on the Scottish Government website at:
","AnswerDate":"2010-09-17T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-09-23T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Richard Lochhead","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":242727,"EventID":"S3W-36188","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2202,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":8,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2010-09-09T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-09-09T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-29215 by Nicola Sturgeon on 1 December 2009 and in light of Lord Penrose’s statement that the inquiry’s terms of reference did not ","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-29215 by Nicola Sturgeon on 1 December 2009 and in light of Lord Penrose’s statement that the inquiry’s terms of reference did not enable him to consider compensation, whether its position on the matter has changed and, if so, whether it will reconsider the issue once the inquiry has made its final recommendations.","AnswerText":"The Scottish Government has not changed its position on this matter. We have set up the Penrose Inquiry to investigate the circumstances in which patients treated by the NHS in Scotland were infected with hepatitis C or HIV following treatment with blood or blood products.
On 8 September 2010, Lord Penrose published his preliminary report. In it, he sets out the facts on the questions which he is investigating, including evidence from scientific progress being made during the 1970s and 1980s. He sets out a number of draft issues for further investigation during the public hearings. He invites comments on these draft issues, and any proposed additions to his list. Further information is available on the website www.penroseinquiry.org.uk .
It would be inappropriate to comment further on the issue in advance of the conclusion of the inquiry.
","AnswerDate":"2010-09-22T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-09-23T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Nicola Sturgeon","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":242728,"EventID":"S3W-36189","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2202,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":8,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2010-09-09T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-09-09T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has considered the cost of implementing the recommendations on compensation made by Lord Archer’s independent public inquiry on contaminated blood and blood pr","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has considered the cost of implementing the recommendations on compensation made by Lord Archer’s independent public inquiry on contaminated blood and blood products.","AnswerText":"The Scottish Government has set up the Penrose Inquiry to investigate the circumstances in which patients in Scotland were infected with hepatitis C or HIV following treatment with blood or blood products.
Lord Archer made recommendations on a range of issues some of which relate to issues which the Penrose Inquiry is looking at. The Scottish Government will wish to consider the findings and recommendations of Lord Penrose before reaching any final view.
","AnswerDate":"2010-09-22T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-09-23T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Nicola Sturgeon","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":242729,"EventID":"S3W-36190","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2202,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":8,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2010-09-09T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-09-09T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will consider implementing the recommendations on compensation made by Lord Archer’s independent public inquiry on contaminated blood and blood products.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will consider implementing the recommendations on compensation made by Lord Archer’s independent public inquiry on contaminated blood and blood products.","AnswerText":"I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-36189 on 22 September 2010. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament''s website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/Apps2/Business/PQA/Default.aspx. \r\n<","AnswerDate":"2010-09-22T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-09-23T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Nicola Sturgeon","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":242730,"EventID":"S3W-36191","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2202,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":8,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2010-09-09T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-09-09T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether it plans to involve patients and carers in the procurement process for the purchasing of clotting factor products.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether it plans to involve patients and carers in the procurement process for the purchasing of clotting factor products.","AnswerText":"The current round of procurement was carried out on a UK basis and included patient involvement.
We recognise the part that patient and carer involvement can play in these areas. For example, in the 2009-10 procurement round for blood clotting factors in Scotland, patients were consulted on their views on the home delivery service and packaging and labelling of products for home use.
","AnswerDate":"2010-09-27T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-09-23T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Nicola Sturgeon","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":242731,"EventID":"S3W-36192","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2603,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":6,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2010-09-09T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-09-09T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive how many prisoners were estimated to be illiterate in each of the last three years, broken down by prison.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive how many prisoners were estimated to be illiterate in each of the last three years, broken down by prison.","AnswerText":"I have asked John Ewing, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service, to respond. His response is as follows:
I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-29870 on 11 January 2010. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament''s website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/Apps2/Business/PQA/Default.aspx.
","AnswerDate":"2010-09-21T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-09-23T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Kenny MacAskill","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":242732,"EventID":"S3W-36193","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1837,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":36,"ApprovedDate":"2010-09-09T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-09-09T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-30126 by Alex Neil on 15 January 2010, what further progress there has been in establishing a housing investment bank.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-30126 by Alex Neil on 15 January 2010, what further progress there has been in establishing a housing investment bank.","AnswerText":"A housing investment bank is one of the ideas about how to fund investment in affordable housing which was included in this summer''s wide-ranging debate on how we meet the challenges facing housing over the next five years and beyond. Officials have also been working on access to pension funds and other forms of institutional investment. A policy paper on housing priorities will be published this winter which will reflect the views heard this summer and the outcome from the forthcoming spending review. ","AnswerDate":"2010-09-21T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-09-23T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Alex Neil","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":242733,"EventID":"S3W-36194","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":4086,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":7,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2010-09-09T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-09-09T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether it plans to schedule direct talks with the governments of Iceland and the Faroe Islands to discuss the total allowable catch quotas for mackerel set by Iceland an","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether it plans to schedule direct talks with the governments of Iceland and the Faroe Islands to discuss the total allowable catch quotas for mackerel set by Iceland and the Faroe Islands.","AnswerText":"Scottish Officials have been part of an EU delegation that has had direct talks with the Governments of Faroes (9 to 10 September) and Iceland (21 September) on the issue of the unilateral total allowable catches set by these countries. The EU has the lead responsibility for negotiations with external parties on fisheries issues and I have been liaising closely with Commissioner Damanaki to identify how best we can get Iceland and Faroes back to the negotiating table and agree a multilateral deal that is fair for Scotland and protects the long-term sustainability of the stock. ","AnswerDate":"2010-09-21T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-09-23T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Richard Lochhead","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":242734,"EventID":"S3W-36195","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":4086,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":7,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2010-09-09T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-09-09T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what financial support it will offer to individuals, businesses or fishing communities affected by the total allowable catch quotas for mackerel set by Iceland and the Fa","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what financial support it will offer to individuals, businesses or fishing communities affected by the total allowable catch quotas for mackerel set by Iceland and the Faroe Islands.","AnswerText":"The taking of mackerel by Icelandic and Faeroese fishermen has no immediate effect on Scottish individuals, businesses or fishing communities. However, the Scottish Government is doing everything possible to avoid the negative medium-term economic consequences that overfishing of the mackerel stock might entail. ","AnswerDate":"2010-09-17T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-09-23T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Richard Lochhead","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":242735,"EventID":"S3W-36196","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":4086,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":7,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2010-09-09T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-09-09T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive how much was awarded in funding through the European Fisheries Fund programme in 2008-09.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive how much was awarded in funding through the European Fisheries Fund programme in 2008-09.","AnswerText":"The Scottish Government awarded £10.8 million in funding through the European Fisheries Fund programme in 2008-09. ","AnswerDate":"2010-09-17T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-09-23T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Richard Lochhead","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":242736,"EventID":"S3W-36197","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":4086,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":7,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2010-09-09T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-09-09T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive how much was awarded in funding through the European Fisheries Fund programme in 2009-10.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive how much was awarded in funding through the European Fisheries Fund programme in 2009-10.","AnswerText":"The Scottish Government made awards amounting to £13.8 million through the European Fisheries Fund programme in 2009-10. ","AnswerDate":"2010-09-17T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-09-23T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Richard Lochhead","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":242737,"EventID":"S3W-36198","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":4086,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":7,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2010-09-09T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-09-09T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive how much it expects to award in funding through the European Fisheries Fund programme in September 2010.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive how much it expects to award in funding through the European Fisheries Fund programme in September 2010.","AnswerText":"The Scottish Government will award £17.8 million through the European Fisheries Fund in September 2010. ","AnswerDate":"2010-09-17T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-09-23T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Richard Lochhead","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":242738,"EventID":"S3W-36199","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":4086,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":7,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2010-09-09T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-09-09T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether contingencies are in place to increase the money available to the European Fisheries Fund programme to meet any increase in demand.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether contingencies are in place to increase the money available to the European Fisheries Fund programme to meet any increase in demand.","AnswerText":"The Scottish Government awarded £17.8 million in funding through European Fisheries Fund programme in September 2010. Future funding levels will be considered in the forthcoming spending review. ","AnswerDate":"2010-09-17T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-09-23T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Richard Lochhead","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":242739,"EventID":"S3W-36200","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1862,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":37,"ApprovedDate":"2010-09-09T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-09-09T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what work has been undertaken on the Borders Railway in 2010 and when the line will open to passenger train services.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what work has been undertaken on the Borders Railway in 2010 and when the line will open to passenger train services.","AnswerText":"A number of very significant items of work have been undertaken on the Borders Railway in 2010, the most notable being procurement and utilities work.
Transport Scotland commenced formal procurement with the publication of a Contract Notice in the Official Journal of the European Union (OJEU) in late December 2009. A Market Day held in January 2010 to promote the contract was attended by over 55 UK and European companies, resulting in a strong response with five formal expressions of interest received. The five organisations that submitted an expression of interest, comprising a total of 12 construction and financial companies, submitted pre-qualification questionnaires in March 2010. A rigorous and robust evaluation was then undertaken by Transport Scotland to identify the preferred organisations to be invited to participate in the next stage of procurement. Three successful organisations were announced in June 2010 and are currently participating in a period of competitive dialogue with Transport Scotland, set to continue over the next year, to discuss their proposals for delivering the railway and associated infrastructure.
On 3 March 2010, ancillary works started on site at Galashiels. This package of works includes the movement or protection of a large number of utilities along the route, as well as additional environmental work. These utilities works triggered a clause in the Waverley Railway (Scotland) Act 2006 which states that once work has begun on the railway, the Scottish Government must finish it in its entirety from Edinburgh to Tweedbank.
With reference to when the line will open to passenger train services, I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-27487 on 25 September 2009. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament''s website, the search facility for which can be found at:
","AnswerDate":"2010-09-21T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-09-23T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Stewart Stevenson","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":242740,"EventID":"S3W-36201","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2394,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":5,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2010-09-10T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-09-10T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether it plans to take forward an initiative similar to that announced by the UK Government of a cancer drugs fund aimed at giving patients access to new medicines.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether it plans to take forward an initiative similar to that announced by the UK Government of a cancer drugs fund aimed at giving patients access to new medicines.","AnswerText":"The Scottish Government is aware that the Department of Health plans to publish later in the year, a consultation on establishing a cancer drugs fund from April 2011 and that interim funding will be made available for cancer drugs via clinically led panels in October 2010. The Scottish Government will give due consideration to the consultation and its proposals when further details are made available following the Comprehensive Spending Review.
However, the extant guidance on the introduction and availability of newly licensed medicines published on 17 May 2010 provides a robust, equitable and transparent framework for NHS boards to make decisions about all newly licensed medicines and not just those to treat cancer. The guidance includes specific advice in relation to making such decisions for individual patients. These arrangements are intended to ensure that, where there are demonstrable benefits, NHS patients in all parts of Scotland are able to access newly licensed medicines in accordance with their particular needs.
","AnswerDate":"2010-09-21T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-09-24T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Nicola Sturgeon","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":242741,"EventID":"S3W-36202","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2866,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":63,"ApprovedDate":"2010-09-10T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-09-10T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive how the First Minister arrived at the figure of almost £900 million stated on 8 September 2010 (Official Report c. 28246) in relation to his assessment of the fall in Sco","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive how the First Minister arrived at the figure of almost £900 million stated on 8 September 2010 (Official Report c. 28246) in relation to his assessment of the fall in Scottish income tax receipts that would have resulted if the Calman Commission on Scottish Devolution’s income tax proposals had been introduced for the start of the last spending review.","AnswerText":"The data sources and methodology used to estimate the impact of the Calman Commission''s income tax proposals on the Scottish Government''s Budget during the current Spending Review period are set out in the paper Scottish Government Budget: Calman Commission Proposals. The paper is available from the Scottish Parliament Information Centre (Bib. number 51636).
The analysis shows that had the Calman Commission''s income tax proposals been introduced in 2007-08, the Scottish Government''s budget would have been £500 million lower in 2008-09 and £900 million lower in 2009-10 than under the current funding framework.
","AnswerDate":"2010-09-21T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-09-24T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"John Swinney","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":242742,"EventID":"S3W-36203","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2866,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":63,"ApprovedDate":"2010-09-10T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-09-10T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what timescale is referred to by the First Minister’s figure of almost £900 million stated on 8 September 2010 (Official Report c. 28246) in relation to his assessment of","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what timescale is referred to by the First Minister’s figure of almost £900 million stated on 8 September 2010 (Official Report c. 28246) in relation to his assessment of the fall in Scottish income tax receipts that would have resulted if the Calman Commission on Scottish Devolution’s income tax proposals had been introduced for the start of the last spending review.","AnswerText":"Had the Calman Commission''s income tax proposals been introduced in 2007-08, they are estimated to have resulted in the Scottish Government''s Budget in 2009-10 being £900 million lower than under the current funding framework. This would follow an estimated shortfall of £500 million in 2008-09. Further information on this analysis is provided in the paper Scottish Government Budget: Calman Commission Proposals which is available from the Scottish Parliament Information Centre (Bib. number 51636). ","AnswerDate":"2010-09-21T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-09-24T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"John Swinney","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":242743,"EventID":"S3W-36204","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2866,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":63,"ApprovedDate":"2010-09-10T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-09-10T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether the information is publicly available that was used to calculate the First Minister’s figure of almost £900 million stated on 8 September 2010 (Official Report c.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether the information is publicly available that was used to calculate the First Minister’s figure of almost £900 million stated on 8 September 2010 (Official Report c. 28246) in relation to his assessment of the fall in Scottish income tax receipts that would have resulted if the Calman Commission on Scottish Devolution’s income tax proposals had been introduced for the start of the last spending review and, if so, where.","AnswerText":"The data sources and methodology used to estimate the impact of the Calman Commission''s income tax proposals on the Scottish Government''s Budget during the current Spending Review period are set out in the paper Scottish Government Budget: Calman Commission Proposals. The paper is available from the Scottish Parliament Information Centre (Bib. number 51636). ","AnswerDate":"2010-09-21T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-09-24T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"John Swinney","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":242744,"EventID":"S3W-36205","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2866,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":63,"ApprovedDate":"2010-09-10T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-09-10T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has calculated the change in Scotland’s total tax receipts since the start of the last spending review and, if so, to what date and whether this information is","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has calculated the change in Scotland’s total tax receipts since the start of the last spending review and, if so, to what date and whether this information is publicly available.","AnswerText":"The most recent edition of Government Expenditure and Revenue Scotland (GERS) provides estimates of Scottish tax receipts from 2004-05 to 2008-09. Between 2007-08 and 2008-09, GERS estimates that, including an illustrative geographical share of North Sea revenue, total Scottish tax revenue increased by £2.8 billion (5.4%). Over the same period UK tax revenue is estimated to have fallen by £14.9 billion (2.7%).
Government Expenditure and Revenue Scotland 2008-09 is available from:
","AnswerDate":"2010-09-21T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-09-24T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"John Swinney","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":242745,"EventID":"S3W-36206","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2866,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":63,"ApprovedDate":"2010-09-10T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-09-10T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has calculated or estimated by how much Scotland’s receipts from (a) corporation tax including from the North Sea oil and gas industry, (b) corporation tax exc","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has calculated or estimated by how much Scotland’s receipts from (a) corporation tax including from the North Sea oil and gas industry, (b) corporation tax excluding from the North Sea oil and gas industry, (c) capital gains tax, (d) national insurance contributions and (e) VAT have changed since the start of the last spending review and whether this information is publicly available.","AnswerText":"Estimates of the tax revenue raised in Scotland are available in Government Expenditure and Revenue Scotland (GERS) 2008-09. The report is available from http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Publications/2010/06/22160331/0. ","AnswerDate":"2010-09-29T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-09-24T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"John Swinney","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":242746,"EventID":"S3W-36207","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2866,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":63,"ApprovedDate":"2010-09-10T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-09-10T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has calculated or estimated by how much Scotland’s receipts from (a) corporation tax including from the North Sea oil and gas industry, (b) corporation tax exc","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has calculated or estimated by how much Scotland’s receipts from (a) corporation tax including from the North Sea oil and gas industry, (b) corporation tax excluding from the North Sea oil and gas industry, (c) capital gains tax, (d) national insurance contributions, (e) VAT and (f) income tax would have changed since the start of the last spending review if Scotland had been independent and, if so, whether this information is publicly available.","AnswerText":"Estimates of the tax revenue which could have been raised during this period had Scotland been independent are not available. ","AnswerDate":"2010-09-21T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-09-24T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"John Swinney","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":242747,"EventID":"S3W-36208","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2866,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":63,"ApprovedDate":"2010-09-10T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-09-10T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether it considers that income tax receipts would have risen or fallen since the start of the last spending review if Scotland had been an independent country.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether it considers that income tax receipts would have risen or fallen since the start of the last spending review if Scotland had been an independent country.","AnswerText":"Estimates of the tax revenue which could have been raised during this period had Scotland been independent are not available. ","AnswerDate":"2010-09-21T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-09-24T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"John Swinney","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":242748,"EventID":"S3W-36209","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2866,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":63,"ApprovedDate":"2010-09-10T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-09-10T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether it considers that Scotland’s corporation tax receipts would have risen or fallen since the start of the last spending review if Scotland had been an independent c","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether it considers that Scotland’s corporation tax receipts would have risen or fallen since the start of the last spending review if Scotland had been an independent country.","AnswerText":"Estimates of the tax revenue which could have been raised during this period had Scotland been independent are not available. ","AnswerDate":"2010-09-21T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-09-24T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"John Swinney","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":242749,"EventID":"S3W-36210","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2866,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":63,"ApprovedDate":"2010-09-10T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-09-10T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what assessment it has made of the change in Scotland’s corporation tax receipts if Scotland had been an independent country at the time of the UK Government’s bail-out o","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what assessment it has made of the change in Scotland’s corporation tax receipts if Scotland had been an independent country at the time of the UK Government’s bail-out of the Royal Bank of Scotland and Lloyds TSB/HBOS.","AnswerText":"Estimates of the tax revenue which could have been raised during this period had Scotland been independent are not available. ","AnswerDate":"2010-09-21T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-09-24T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"John Swinney","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":242750,"EventID":"S3W-36211","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2866,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":63,"ApprovedDate":"2010-09-10T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-09-10T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what its position is on the recommendations by the Capital Strategy Group on the future handling of capital resources across NHSScotland.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what its position is on the recommendations by the Capital Strategy Group on the future handling of capital resources across NHSScotland.","AnswerText":"The Scottish Government has accepted the recommendations of the Capital Strategy Group regarding the future handling of capital resources across NHSScotland. ","AnswerDate":"2010-09-22T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-09-24T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Nicola Sturgeon","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":242751,"EventID":"S3W-36212","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2866,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":63,"ApprovedDate":"2010-09-10T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-09-10T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive how the membership of the Capital Strategy Group on the future handling of capital resources across NHSScotland was decided.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive how the membership of the Capital Strategy Group on the future handling of capital resources across NHSScotland was decided.","AnswerText":"The membership of the Capital Strategy Group was decided by the Scottish Government following engagement with NHSScotland Chief Executives, Directors of Finance and the NHSScotland Strategic Facilities Group. ","AnswerDate":"2010-09-22T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-09-24T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Nicola Sturgeon","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":242752,"EventID":"S3W-36213","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2866,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":63,"ApprovedDate":"2010-09-10T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-09-10T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive when NHS boards were informed of the conclusions of the Capital Strategy Group on the future handling of capital resources across NHSScotland.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive when NHS boards were informed of the conclusions of the Capital Strategy Group on the future handling of capital resources across NHSScotland.","AnswerText":"NHSScotland Directors of Finance were briefed on the Capital Strategy Group recommendations on 12 August 2010. NHSScotland Chief Executives received a briefing on 18 August 2010 with formal guidance issued via Chief Executive Letter CEL (32) 2010 on 19 August 2010. ","AnswerDate":"2010-09-21T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-09-24T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Nicola Sturgeon","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":242753,"EventID":"S3W-36214","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2866,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":63,"ApprovedDate":"2010-09-10T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-09-10T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive how much each NHS board has received in capital allocation in 2010-11.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive how much each NHS board has received in capital allocation in 2010-11.","AnswerText":"I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-32579 on 22 March 2010. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament''s website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/Apps2/Business/PQA/Default.aspx. ","AnswerDate":"2010-09-21T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-09-24T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Nicola Sturgeon","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":242754,"EventID":"S3W-36215","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2866,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":63,"ApprovedDate":"2010-09-10T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-09-10T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether it estimates that capital allocations to NHS boards are likely to increase or decrease in moving from an Arbuthnott-based to an NHSScotland Resource Allocation Co","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether it estimates that capital allocations to NHS boards are likely to increase or decrease in moving from an Arbuthnott-based to an NHSScotland Resource Allocation Committee-based formula.","AnswerText":"The overall level of resources allocated will not be affected by the changed basis of the formula. The recommendations of the Capital Strategy Group simply update the basis on which a defined level of resource is allocated to NHS boards. There will be minor variations in the proportion of the total received by individual NHS boards as a result of the change in formula. ","AnswerDate":"2010-09-21T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-09-24T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Nicola Sturgeon","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":242755,"EventID":"S3W-36216","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2866,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":63,"ApprovedDate":"2010-09-10T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-09-10T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what projections it has prepared on the future levels of capital resources available to each NHS board under the recommendations made by the Capital Strategy Group on the","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what projections it has prepared on the future levels of capital resources available to each NHS board under the recommendations made by the Capital Strategy Group on the future handling of capital resources across NHSScotland.","AnswerText":"The future level of capital resources available will be dependant on the outcome of the spending review. ","AnswerDate":"2010-09-21T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-09-24T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Nicola Sturgeon","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":242756,"EventID":"S3W-36217","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2866,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":63,"ApprovedDate":"2010-09-10T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-09-10T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what estimates it has made of how much it is likely to accrue through the return of the capital element of receipts from NHS boards, as recommended by the Capital Strateg","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what estimates it has made of how much it is likely to accrue through the return of the capital element of receipts from NHS boards, as recommended by the Capital Strategy Group on the future handling of capital resources across NHSScotland.","AnswerText":"Capital receipts are typically around £10 million per annum but can vary depending on the nature of surplus assets to be sold. The recommendations of the Capital Strategy Group will not have any short-term effect on NHS boards as they fully recognise that those receipts already factored into NHS board capital plans will be retained by NHS boards locally. ","AnswerDate":"2010-09-21T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-09-24T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Nicola Sturgeon","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":242757,"EventID":"S3W-36218","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2866,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":63,"ApprovedDate":"2010-09-10T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-09-10T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what its position is on the use of new private finance mechanisms for capital investment by NHS boards, as recommended by the Capital Strategy Group on the future handlin","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what its position is on the use of new private finance mechanisms for capital investment by NHS boards, as recommended by the Capital Strategy Group on the future handling of capital resources across NHSScotland.","AnswerText":"The recommendations of the Capital Strategy Group do not change the Scottish Government''s position on the use of private finance. The Scottish Government has applied the Non Profit Distributing model and will continue to do so where value for money is demonstrated.
Extant guidance contained within the Scottish Capital Investment Manual (SCIM) issued to NHS boards on 1 May 2009 already requires NHS boards to test all new build projects over £20 million for private finance.
The Scottish Government is supporting the development of the hub initiative, a new joint venture delivery vehicle being taken forward by the Scottish Futures Trust. This will support the delivery of community based facilities for public sector bodies and will utilise both public and private finance. NHS boards will be expected to test private finance for projects delivered through the hub initiative. The application of private finance is predicated on the demonstration of value for money.
","AnswerDate":"2010-09-21T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-09-24T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Nicola Sturgeon","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":242758,"EventID":"S3W-36219","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2866,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":63,"ApprovedDate":"2010-09-10T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-09-10T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether it considers that the recommendations made by the Capital Strategy Group on the future handling of capital resources across NHSScotland are indicative of a return","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether it considers that the recommendations made by the Capital Strategy Group on the future handling of capital resources across NHSScotland are indicative of a return to private sector capital investment in the health service.","AnswerText":"The recommendations of the Capital Strategy Group do not change the Scottish Government''s position on the use of private finance.
The Scottish Government has successfully applied the Non Profit Distributing model within NHSScotland and will continue to do so where value for money is demonstrated.
The hub initiative being taken forward by the Scottish Futures Trust is supporting collaborative planning and procurement of community based facilities across public sector bodies. This model will utilise both public and private finance where appropriate.
","AnswerDate":"2010-09-21T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-09-24T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Nicola Sturgeon","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":242759,"EventID":"S3W-36220","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2866,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":63,"ApprovedDate":"2010-09-10T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-09-10T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what its position is on NHS boards using private finance in new capital investment.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what its position is on NHS boards using private finance in new capital investment.","AnswerText":"The Scottish Government considers that the use of private finance should only be considered where value for money can be demonstrated. The Scottish Government believes that the Non Profit Distributing model demonstrates best value to the tax payer by capping private sector returns. ","AnswerDate":"2010-09-21T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-09-24T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Nicola Sturgeon","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":242760,"EventID":"S3W-36221","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2866,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":63,"ApprovedDate":"2010-09-10T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-09-10T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive how many new capital investment projects by NHS boards it considers would benefit from the use of private finance.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive how many new capital investment projects by NHS boards it considers would benefit from the use of private finance.","AnswerText":"I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-36226 on 21 September 2010. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament''s website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/Apps2/Business/PQA/Default.aspx. ","AnswerDate":"2010-09-21T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-09-24T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Nicola Sturgeon","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":242761,"EventID":"S3W-36222","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2866,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":63,"ApprovedDate":"2010-09-10T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-09-10T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive which new capital investment projects by NHS boards it considers would benefit from the use of private finance.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive which new capital investment projects by NHS boards it considers would benefit from the use of private finance.","AnswerText":"I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-36226 on 21 September 2010. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament''s website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/Apps2/Business/PQA/Default.aspx. ","AnswerDate":"2010-09-21T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-09-24T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Nicola Sturgeon","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":242762,"EventID":"S3W-36223","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2866,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":63,"ApprovedDate":"2010-09-10T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-09-10T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will task the Scottish Futures Trust with advising NHS boards on the use of private finance for new capital investment projects.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will task the Scottish Futures Trust with advising NHS boards on the use of private finance for new capital investment projects.","AnswerText":"The Scottish Futures Trust (SFT) is advising a number of NHS boards regarding future capital projects. Such advice includes, but is not limited to, issues regarding the use of private finance. For example, SFT is leading on the delivery of the hub Initiative which will deliver community facilities for a range of public sector bodies and for which public capital and private finance can be applied. ","AnswerDate":"2010-09-21T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-09-24T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"John Swinney","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":242763,"EventID":"S3W-36224","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2866,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":63,"ApprovedDate":"2010-09-10T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-09-10T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether the Scottish Futures Trust has the expertise to advise on maximising benefit from new capital investment projects that use private finance.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether the Scottish Futures Trust has the expertise to advise on maximising benefit from new capital investment projects that use private finance.","AnswerText":"Yes. Staff at Scottish Futures Trust have experience in both the private and public sector of delivering capital investment projects using private finance. This experience is demonstrated by SFT''s delivery £111 million of net savings and benefits for the taxpayer during 2009-10, its full year of operation. \r\n 20","AnswerDate":"2010-09-21T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-09-24T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"John Swinney","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":242764,"EventID":"S3W-36225","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2866,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":63,"ApprovedDate":"2010-09-10T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-09-10T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive how many new private finance projects it anticipates will be tested by NHS boards under the recommendations made by the Capital Strategy Group on the future handling of c","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive how many new private finance projects it anticipates will be tested by NHS boards under the recommendations made by the Capital Strategy Group on the future handling of capital resources across NHSScotland.","AnswerText":"I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-36226 on 21 September 2010. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament''s website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/Apps2/Business/PQA/Default.aspx. ","AnswerDate":"2010-09-21T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-09-24T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Nicola Sturgeon","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":242765,"EventID":"S3W-36226","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2866,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":63,"ApprovedDate":"2010-09-10T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-09-10T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive how many new private finance projects it wants to be tested by NHS boards under the recommendations made by the Capital Strategy Group on the future handling of capital r","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive how many new private finance projects it wants to be tested by NHS boards under the recommendations made by the Capital Strategy Group on the future handling of capital resources across NHSScotland.","AnswerText":"The recommendations of the Capital Strategy Group do not impact on extant guidance contained within the Scottish Capital Investment Manual (SCIM) issued to NHS boards on 1 May 2009.
Arrangements are currently being developed to support the development of projects under the hub initiative. Again such arrangements will make reference to extant guidance on testing private finance for value for money.
","AnswerDate":"2010-09-21T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-09-24T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Nicola Sturgeon","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":242766,"EventID":"S3W-36227","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2866,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":63,"ApprovedDate":"2010-09-10T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-09-10T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether the Scottish Futures Trust will be involved in the use of private finance for capital investment by NHS boards as recommended by the Capital Strategy Group on the","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether the Scottish Futures Trust will be involved in the use of private finance for capital investment by NHS boards as recommended by the Capital Strategy Group on the future handling of capital resources across NHSScotland.","AnswerText":"The Scottish Futures Trust (SFT) is and will be involved in supporting NHSScotland on the use of private finance.
SFT has already supported NHS Tayside on the Mental Health Project which recently reached financial close using the Non Profit Distributing model. NHS Lothian and NHS Borders have also been supported by SFT in the formation of the first hub Company in Scotland, which is a joint venture between the public and private sectors which will deliver a range of community based facilities for the public sector in South East Scotland.
All NHS boards in Scotland will become involved in hub companies in their areas as other companies come on stream; hub North is expected to be established in December 2010 while hub East Central is due to go into procurement by the end of September 2010 with hub West and Hub South West to follow shortly afterwards.
","AnswerDate":"2010-09-21T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-09-24T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"John Swinney","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":242767,"EventID":"S3W-36228","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":3763,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":8,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2010-09-10T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-09-10T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will provide a breakdown by (a) type of crime and (b) police board area of reported crimes listed as handling of an offensive weapon in each of the last 10 yea","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will provide a breakdown by (a) type of crime and (b) police board area of reported crimes listed as handling of an offensive weapon in each of the last 10 years.","AnswerText":"A table which includes the number of offensive weapons crimes reported to the police in the last 10 years has been prepared and a copy of this table will be placed in the Scottish Parliament Information Centre (Bib. number 51671). ","AnswerDate":"2010-09-24T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-09-24T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Kenny MacAskill","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":242768,"EventID":"S3W-36229","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2133,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":6,"ApprovedDate":"2010-09-10T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-09-10T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what the estimated cost of alcohol abuse is to each NHS board.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what the estimated cost of alcohol abuse is to each NHS board.","AnswerText":"The total costs to healthcare services in Scotland of alcohol misuse was estimated by the York Health Economics Consortium, University of York, to be £267.8 million (mid-point) in 2007, however, this figure is not broken down by NHS board.
The following is the original answer (published on 23 September 2010); see below.
The total costs to healthcare services in Scotland of alcohol misuse was estimated by the York Health Economics Consortium, University of York, to be £268.8 million (mid-point) in 2007, however, this figure is not broken down by NHS board.
","AnswerDate":"2010-10-20T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-09-24T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Shona Robison","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":242769,"EventID":"S3W-36230","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2080,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":17,"ApprovedDate":"2010-09-10T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-09-10T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has sought information on how many children of asylum seekers were detained at Dungavel Immigration Removal Centre between January and August 2010 and, if so, ","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has sought information on how many children of asylum seekers were detained at Dungavel Immigration Removal Centre between January and August 2010 and, if so, what response it received.","AnswerText":"Unfortunately, the UK Border Agency does not provide statistical information on a month-by-month basis. However, it has published reports for the first two quarters of 2010 which are available on the UKBA website at:
According to these reports a total of 25 children entered Dungavel detention centre before the end to the overnight detention of children in May 2010. However, they do not specify if the children were those of asylum seeking families.
Quarter (Period of Report)
Number of Children Entered Dungavel
1 (January 2010 to March 2010)
20
2 (April 201 to June 2010)
5
Total
25
These figures are not subject to independent checks and therefore may not be wholly accurate. Some detainees may be recorded more than once, for example the person may have been detained on more than one separate occasion in the time period shown, such as a person who has left detention, but has subsequently been re-detained.
","AnswerDate":"2010-09-24T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-09-24T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Michael Russell","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":242770,"EventID":"S3W-36231","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2080,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":17,"ApprovedDate":"2010-09-10T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-09-10T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has sought information on how many children of asylum seekers initially registered in Scotland were detained in removal centres in England between January and ","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has sought information on how many children of asylum seekers initially registered in Scotland were detained in removal centres in England between January and August 2010 and, if so, what response it received.","AnswerText":"This information is not collected by the UK Border Agency. ","AnswerDate":"2010-09-24T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-09-24T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Michael Russell","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":242771,"EventID":"S3W-36232","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2080,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":17,"ApprovedDate":"2010-09-10T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-09-10T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions it has had with the Department of Work and Pensions regarding the pilot scheme on changes to incapacity benefit that is being introduced in Aberdeen and ","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions it has had with the Department of Work and Pensions regarding the pilot scheme on changes to incapacity benefit that is being introduced in Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire.","AnswerText":"My officials are in regular contact with colleagues in the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) and Jobcentre Plus about the arrangements for the reassessment of customers in receipt of incapacity benefits. Discussions are continuing around the ongoing developments including the trial of the process which will commence in Aberdeen and Burnley on 11 October. Officials are also monitoring developments in relation to DWP''s review of the Work Capability Assessment (WCA) which it will use to support the reassessment of incapacity benefit. Copies of a DWP briefing pack on reassessing customers in receipt of incapacity benefits are available from the Scottish Parliament Information Centre (Bib. number 51313). ","AnswerDate":"2010-09-24T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-09-24T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Keith Brown","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":242772,"EventID":"S3W-36233","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2080,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":17,"ApprovedDate":"2010-09-10T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-09-10T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what briefings have been made available to it regarding the pilot scheme on changes to incapacity benefit that is being introduced in Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what briefings have been made available to it regarding the pilot scheme on changes to incapacity benefit that is being introduced in Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire.","AnswerText":"I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-36232 on 24 September 2010. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament''s website, the search facility for which can be found at www.scottish.parliament.uk/Apps2/Business/PQA/Default.aspx. ","AnswerDate":"2010-09-24T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-09-24T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Keith Brown","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":242773,"EventID":"S3W-36234","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2080,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":17,"ApprovedDate":"2010-09-10T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-09-10T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions it has had with Jobcentre Plus regarding the pilot scheme on changes to incapacity benefit that is being introduced in Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions it has had with Jobcentre Plus regarding the pilot scheme on changes to incapacity benefit that is being introduced in Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire.","AnswerText":"I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-36232 on 24 September 2010. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament''s website, the search facility for which can be found at www.scottish.parliament.uk/Apps2/Business/PQA/Default.aspx. ","AnswerDate":"2010-09-24T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-09-24T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Keith Brown","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":242774,"EventID":"S3W-36235","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2080,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":17,"ApprovedDate":"2010-09-10T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-09-10T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what arrangements have been made to ensure that it will be kept informed of the implementation of the pilot scheme on changes to incapacity benefit that is being introduc","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what arrangements have been made to ensure that it will be kept informed of the implementation of the pilot scheme on changes to incapacity benefit that is being introduced in Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire.","AnswerText":"I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-36232 on 24 September 2010. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament''s website, the search facility for which can be found at www.scottish.parliament.uk/Apps2/Business/PQA/Default.aspx. ","AnswerDate":"2010-09-24T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-09-24T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Keith Brown","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":242775,"EventID":"S3W-36236","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2080,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":17,"ApprovedDate":"2010-09-10T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-09-10T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will keep the Parliament informed of the implementation of the pilot scheme on changes to incapacity benefit that is being introduced in Aberdeen and Aberdeens","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will keep the Parliament informed of the implementation of the pilot scheme on changes to incapacity benefit that is being introduced in Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire.","AnswerText":"I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-36232 on 24 September 2010. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament''s website, the search facility for which can be found at www.scottish.parliament.uk/Apps2/Business/PQA/Default.aspx. ","AnswerDate":"2010-09-24T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-09-24T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Keith Brown","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":242776,"EventID":"S3W-36237","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2080,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":17,"ApprovedDate":"2010-09-10T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-09-10T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether it plans to make briefing packs available for MSPs on the pilot scheme on changes to incapacity benefit that is being introduced in Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether it plans to make briefing packs available for MSPs on the pilot scheme on changes to incapacity benefit that is being introduced in Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire.","AnswerText":"I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-36232 on 24 September 2010. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament''s website, the search facility for which can be found at www.scottish.parliament.uk/Apps2/Business/PQA/Default.aspx. ","AnswerDate":"2010-09-24T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-09-24T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Keith Brown","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":242777,"EventID":"S3W-36238","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1845,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":6,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2010-09-13T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-09-13T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive how many children receive football training in each local authority area.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive how many children receive football training in each local authority area.","AnswerText":"This information is not held centrally by the Scottish Government. As the independent and recognised sports governing body for football the Scottish Football Association is responsible for the development of football in Scotland and the member may wish to contact them directly for this information:
\r\n\t{mar","AnswerDate":"2010-09-24T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-09-27T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Shona Robison","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":242778,"EventID":"S3W-36239","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1845,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":6,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2010-09-13T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-09-13T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive how many football coaches are involved in football training in each local authority area.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive how many football coaches are involved in football training in each local authority area.","AnswerText":"I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-36238 on 24 September 2010. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament''s website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/Apps2/Business/PQA/Default.aspx. ","AnswerDate":"2010-09-27T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-09-27T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Shona Robison","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":242779,"EventID":"S3W-36240","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":1845,"Party":"Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party","RegionID":6,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2010-09-13T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-09-13T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive how many football training facilities are available in each local authority area.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive how many football training facilities are available in each local authority area.","AnswerText":"This information is not held centrally by the Scottish Government. Not all local authorities have in place sports pitch and facility strategies which outline current provision and help to determine future priority areas based on local needs and priorities. As of September 2010, 18 local authorities have pitch strategies in place with a further eight local authorities in the process of preparing them. A wide range of practical and technical advice is available to local authorities from sportscotland on the preparation of sports pitch and facility strategies and on the planning and development of facilities more generally.
The Scottish Government has invested over £17 million in quality facilities through the National and Regional Sports Facilities Strategy which will have a significant positive impact on football. These include indoor and outdoor synthetic football pitches at Aberdeen Sports Village, Toryglen Regional Football Centre, both of which are open to the public, with the Ravenscraig Sports Facility due to open soon.
In addition, sportscotland operate a Sports Facilities Fund which offers funding to eligible groups to help in the development and upgrading of facilities and since 2007 this has seen over £21 million invested in facilities throughout Scotland.
","AnswerDate":"2010-09-24T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-09-27T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Shona Robison","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":242780,"EventID":"S3W-36241","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":3763,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":8,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2010-09-13T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-09-13T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether a decision has been taken regarding the renewal of the contracts for the management and maintenance of the trunk road network.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether a decision has been taken regarding the renewal of the contracts for the management and maintenance of the trunk road network.","AnswerText":"I am able to confirm today that the existing contracts for the north west and south west trunk road units will be extended from 31 March 2011 to 31 May 2012. As a result, I am also confirming today that the procurement of the new contracts for these two units will begin later this month to enable new contracts to be in place by 1 June 2012. ","AnswerDate":"2010-09-14T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-09-27T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Stewart Stevenson","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":242781,"EventID":"S3W-36242","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2603,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":6,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2010-09-13T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-09-13T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive how many homicides there were in 2008-09, broken down by the (a) sex of the offender, (b) age of the offender, (c) police force area and (d) main method of killing.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive how many homicides there were in 2008-09, broken down by the (a) sex of the offender, (b) age of the offender, (c) police force area and (d) main method of killing.","AnswerText":"Information on the number of homicides recorded in Scotland in 2008-09 broken down by (a) sex of the offender, (b) age of the offender, (c) police force area and (d) main method of killing is given in Tables 2, 4 and 6 of the statistical bulletin Homicide in Scotland, 2008-09, published by the Scottish Government in February 2010, and available at:
","AnswerDate":"2010-09-21T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-09-27T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Kenny MacAskill","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":242782,"EventID":"S3W-36243","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2223,"Party":"Scottish Liberal Democrats","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":26,"ApprovedDate":"2010-09-13T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-09-13T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will list the consultancy contract that it has awarded in order to provide advice or carry out research on lifeline ferry services since May 2007, broken down ","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will list the consultancy contract that it has awarded in order to provide advice or carry out research on lifeline ferry services since May 2007, broken down by the (a) name of the consultancy, (b) value of the contract, and (c) description of the contract specification, and, in the case of contracts that have been completed, whether the full final report has been published or otherwise made publicly available.","AnswerText":"The following contracts have been awarded in respect of the Scottish Ferries review and Road Equivalent Tariff (RET) since May 2007 to carry out research or provide advice and similar services in relation to the provision of ferry services:
Name of Company
Value of Contract
Description of Contract
Transport Research Institute (TRi)
£108,740 (reduced from original agreed cost of £140,390)
Ferries Review Work Package 1:
· Methods of delivery, competition and procurement - report not published but subsequently released under Freedom of Information legislation.
· TRi pantrak freight report “ report published as part of the ferries review
MVA
£254,154
Ferries Review Work Package 2:
Fares, funding, cost and affordability, integration, services and routes, and coordination of all work packages and drafting of ferries strategy.
Published reports:
Cost and affordability report
Fares report
Funding report
· Routes services and integration report
MVA
£48,000
Ferries Review Stated Preference Study - Report not published but used in preparation of other reports
Colin Buchanan and Partners
£50,623
Ferries Review Data Collection - Report not published but used in preparation of other reports
Halcrow
Final cost to be determined.
Monitoring and analysis of RET pilot: ongoing work. Reports published so far:
RET Phase 1 Reports:
· Stage 1
· Stage 2
· Stage 3
· Stage 4
· RET 1st monitoring report “ Summary (July 2009)
· RET 2ndmonitoring report (February 2010)
RET Interim Evaluation Report (April 2010)
MVA
","AnswerDate":"2010-10-21T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-09-27T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Stewart Stevenson","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":242783,"EventID":"S3W-36244","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2963,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":2,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2010-09-13T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-09-13T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will hold Glasgow City Council to account for any carbon emissions that are incurred from possible increases in air travel arising from the authority’s Air Rou","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will hold Glasgow City Council to account for any carbon emissions that are incurred from possible increases in air travel arising from the authority’s Air Route Development Fund.","AnswerText":"Whilst the Climate Change (Scotland) Act 2009 places a duty on public bodies to contribute to reduction of carbon emissions in the course of exercising their functions, the act does not require Glasgow City Council to set sector-specific emission targets. Instead the act sets an overall net target for emissions reduction through totality of activity and seeks to ensure that the overall reduction is delivered in the most sustainable and cost effective way. ","AnswerDate":"2010-09-24T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-09-27T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Stewart Stevenson","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":242784,"EventID":"S3W-36245","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2963,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":2,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2010-09-13T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-09-13T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what methodology it considers local authorities should use when calculating the carbon emissions caused by direct and indirect financing of transport initiatives.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what methodology it considers local authorities should use when calculating the carbon emissions caused by direct and indirect financing of transport initiatives.","AnswerText":"There is no standard methodology for calculating carbon emissions from transport. Which is the most appropriate ultimately depends upon the type of assessment being undertaken. However, we are working towards establishing a common approach to measurement and reporting of carbon emissions across the public sector. ","AnswerDate":"2010-09-24T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-09-27T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Stewart Stevenson","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":242785,"EventID":"S3W-36246","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2963,"Party":"Scottish National Party","RegionID":2,"ConstituencyID":null,"ApprovedDate":"2010-09-13T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-09-13T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what its position is on possible increases in air travel and carbon emissions arising from Glasgow City Council’s Air Route Development Fund.","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what its position is on possible increases in air travel and carbon emissions arising from Glasgow City Council’s Air Route Development Fund.","AnswerText":"I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-36244 on 24 September 2010. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament''s website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/Apps2/Business/PQA/Default.aspx. ","AnswerDate":"2010-09-24T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-09-27T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"Stewart Stevenson","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":242786,"EventID":"S3W-36247","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2117,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":47,"ApprovedDate":"2010-09-13T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-09-13T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what the rateable value was of properties subject to non-domestic rates in each local authority area on 1 April 2009","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what the rateable value was of properties subject to non-domestic rates in each local authority area on 1 April 2009","AnswerText":"The total rateable value of all non-domestic properties, by local authority, as at 1 April 2009 is as follows.
Total Rateable Value (£)
Aberdeen City
338,017,485
Aberdeenshire
148,721,269
Angus
62,629,990
Argyll and Bute
69,440,478
Clackmannanshire
31,528,609
Dumfries and Galloway
95,115,433
Dundee City
167,677,602
East Ayrshire
69,075,385
East Dunbartonshire
53,658,753
East Lothian
50,086,207
East Renfrewshire
33,267,603
Edinburgh, City of
775,278,710
Eilean Siar
16,494,864
Falkirk
141,528,984
Fife
314,767,905
Glasgow City
821,710,457
Highland
228,909,335
Inverclyde
52,971,056
Midlothian
58,314,680
Moray
62,857,408
North Ayrshire
88,844,308
North Lanarkshire
259,614,495
Orkney Islands
18,272,775
Perth and Kinross
120,563,814
Renfrewshire
192,845,073
Scottish Borders
65,227,428
Shetland Islan","AnswerDate":"2010-10-07T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-09-27T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"John Swinney","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":242787,"EventID":"S3W-36248","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2117,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":47,"ApprovedDate":"2010-09-13T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-09-13T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what net increase there has been in non-domestic rateable values in each local authority area as a result of rates revaluation from 1 April 2010","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what net increase there has been in non-domestic rateable values in each local authority area as a result of rates revaluation from 1 April 2010","AnswerText":"It is not possible to split out changes in rateable values which are solely due to the 2010 revaluation.
Rateable values will vary when compared across any given time period, including a revaluation period, because of a number of reasons. This includes where properties are built or demolished and when existing properties are merged, split, extended or there is a change in use of a property.
","AnswerDate":"2010-10-07T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-09-27T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"John Swinney","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":242788,"EventID":"S3W-36249","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2117,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":47,"ApprovedDate":"2010-09-13T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-09-13T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what the rateable value is of properties subject to non-domestic rates in each local authority area","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what the rateable value is of properties subject to non-domestic rates in each local authority area","AnswerText":"Data on total rateable values in each local authority area is published on the Scottish Assessors website at www.saa.gov.uk. ","AnswerDate":"2010-10-07T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-09-27T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"John Swinney","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":242789,"EventID":"S3W-36250","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2117,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":47,"ApprovedDate":"2010-09-13T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-09-13T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what the total non-domestic rates payable were in each local authority area as of 1 April 2009","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what the total non-domestic rates payable were in each local authority area as of 1 April 2009","AnswerText":"I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-36251 on 7 October 2010. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament''s website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/Apps2/Business/PQA/Default.aspx. ","AnswerDate":"2010-10-07T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-09-27T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"John Swinney","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":242790,"EventID":"S3W-36251","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2117,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":47,"ApprovedDate":"2010-09-13T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-09-13T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what net increase there has been in non-domestic rates payable from each local authority area as a result of rates revaluation from 1 April 2010","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what net increase there has been in non-domestic rates payable from each local authority area as a result of rates revaluation from 1 April 2010","AnswerText":"The following table shows the non-domestic rates payable by each local authority in 2009-10 and 2010-11 and the difference between the two figures.
The Scottish Government guarantees each local authority a combination of distributable business rates plus general revenue grant, with the total amount calculated on the basis of assessed need in each local authority area. The actual amount of business rates collected by each local authority is then deducted from this guaranteed funding with the balance paid as general revenue grant. The amount of business rates collected locally therefore has no effect on the total guaranteed funding.
The revaluation of business properties takes place every five years. The income received from business rates in the year prior to a revaluation, in this case 2009-10, is depressed as many appeals against the previous revaluation (2005) are settled towards the end of the revaluation cycle. Conversely the income received from business rates in the first year following a revaluation, in this case 2010-11, is over stated as the majority of appeals, which although backdated to 1 April 2010, will again not be settled until later in the 2010 revaluation cycle.
Therefore, while the latest forecasts in the table show the amount of business rates income collected in 2009-10 and 2010-11, the comparison between the years is distorted by the impact of appeals which deflates the income collected in 2009-10 and inflates the income to be collected in 2010-11. It should also be noted that the 2009-10 figures are near final, whereas the 2010-11 are estimated and as such will change.
The purpose of revaluation over the five year cycle is to redistribute the tax burden, based on changes in relative demand for property, not to generate additional income.
Local Authority
NDR Payable
PNA 2009-10
NDR Payable PCA 2010-11
Change £
Aberdeen City
£142,763,016
£161,396,546
£18,633,530
Aberdeenshire
£58,804,592
£69,025,261
£10,220,669
Angus
£23,153,186
£24,481,666
£1,328,480
Argyll and Bute
£25,976,961
£26,781,666
","AnswerDate":"2010-10-07T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-09-27T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"John Swinney","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":242792,"EventID":"S3W-36253","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2117,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":47,"ApprovedDate":"2010-09-13T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-09-13T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what the non-domestic rates income was of each local authority in 2009-10","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what the non-domestic rates income was of each local authority in 2009-10","AnswerText":"The following table shows the amount of business rates income distributed in 2009-2010 broken down by local authority.
The Scottish Government guarantees each local authority a combination of distributable business rates plus general revenue grant. The total amount to be funded is calculated on the basis of assessed need in each local authority area. The amount of business rates raised locally therefore has no effect on the total guaranteed funding.
Business Rate Income Distributed 2009-10
2009-10
Local Authority
£ Million
Aberdeen City
88.1
Aberdeenshire
100.7
Angus
46.2
Argyll and Bute
38.4
Clackmannanshire
21.0
Dumfries and Galloway
62.4
Dundee City
59.8
East Ayrshire
50.3
East Dunbartonshire
44.1
East Lothian
39.7
East Renfrewshire
37.6
Edinburgh, City of
197.0
Eilean Siar
11.1
Falkirk
63.4
Fife
151.7
Glasgow City
244.9
Highland
91.5
Inverclyde
34.1
Midlothian
33.5
Moray
36.6
North Ayrshire
57.1
North Lanarkshire
136.7
Orkney
8.4
Perth and Kinross
59.8
<","AnswerDate":"2010-10-07T00:00:00","AnswerStatusID":null,"ExpectedAnswerDate":"2010-09-27T00:00:00","MeetingDate":null,"AnsweredByMSP":"John Swinney","OnBehalfOf":null,"ConsideredForMembersBusiness":null,"CrossPartySupport":null,"RegisteredInterest":null},{"UniqueID":242793,"EventID":"S3W-36254","EventTypeID":1,"EventSubTypeID":1,"MSPID":2117,"Party":"Scottish Labour","RegionID":null,"ConstituencyID":47,"ApprovedDate":"2010-09-13T00:00:00","SubmissionDateTime":"2010-09-13T00:00:00","Title":"To ask the Scottish Executive what change there was in the non-domestic rates income of each local authority from 1 April 2010","ItemText":"To ask the Scottish Executive what change there was in the non-domestic rates income of each local authority from 1 April 2010","AnswerText":"The following table shows the change in business rates income distributed between 2009-10 and 2010-11 broken down by local authority.
The figures for 2010-11 use the latest forecast of net income from non-domestic rates in 2010-11 and also draw on council estimates of the amounts they will contribute to the pool from non-domestic rates in 2009-10. Included in the estimated figures are a calculation of gross income, expected losses from appeals and estimated expenditure on mandatory and other reliefs as well as write-offs and provision of bad debt.
The actual income distributed to councils also takes into account prior year adjustments for under and over-payments to the non-domestic rate pool as result of councils collecting more or less non-domestic rates than estimated.